ledbythewind | [Accidental Voice/Action] (afternoon of the 21st)

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[Accidental Voice/Action] (afternoon of the 21st)

[Richard didn't initially realize what day it was when he woke up. In fact, it didn't even occur to him until he checked the calendar, at which point it hit him like a ton of bricks.

A year.

He's been in Luceti for one whole year now. And how much has happened during that year... some of the happiest and saddest moments of his life have occurred here, in this little village. A part of him wonders how his kingdom is doing back at home, what will await him when he returns... and then his thoughts drift to the news he received from Asbel the other day, that Sophie and the others are now here as well. There's a lot to think about, most of which he's already spent days agonizing over. Right now, he just needs a break and the chance to clear his head, which means aimless wandering.

Said wandering takes him past the item shop; on a whim, he decides to enter it, just to take a look around. A violin on a shelf catches his eye-- that's not something he'd been expecting to see. How long has it been since he last played? More than a year, at least. Yet something urges him to pick it up, so he does, heading out of the store and to a place where he can be alone... or so he thinks.

He settles himself under Ammy's cherry tree and takes it out to practice, not realizing that the wind has blown his journal open and it's now picking up everything.

His playing is shaky at first as he readjusts to the feel of the instrument, but soon a lovely, sad melody will be issuing over the journals to anyone who may happen to be listening in.]

(OOC: Tags to come in the morning, and just as a warning, my notifs are still all wonky. 8|)

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[Sorry, but your call could not be completed as dialed. Please hang up and try your call again.]

...What happened? [NOT MOVING, NOPE.]

[ She moves in closer to the situation now, though she stops only a few steps away. Asbel's here now -- she's not sure if that's good or bad. She's worried that Richard might hurt him ... ]

... Asbel, don't!

[There's a cold, detached tone to Richard's voice now that's reminiscent of their first meeting as children. He's not about to back down either.]

It's none of your concern.

[He recognizes that tone from Richard. He doesn't like it. It's far too reminiscent of their first encounter.]

...Sophie. Come here.

Asbel ...

[ She does as he says, and walks slowly to him, while keeping an eye on Richard. ]

Asbel.

[There it is again, that warning note to his voice.]

Richard. [Sorry Richard, but whether by choice or by accident, he's not receiving your message.

...No one ever said he was smart.]

[ And now she silently stands close to Asbel, making sure to switch between looking at Asbel and Richard. She isn't sure which she should focus on, so she's trying to focus on both. ]

Please move.

[And he's not looking at Asbel either, head turned off to the side, hands balled in fists by his side.]

[He looks at the man he's barring passage to.]

I can't do that, Richard. Not now. [He then turns his attention to Sophie, who's standing next to him.]

...Sophie. I have a question for you, and I want you to answer it with what your heart tells you.

[ She just stares at him for a moment, and then nods her head. She'll answer anything he asks her. ]

Asbel... you of all people should know why I am asking this of you.

[To Richard.] It's precisely because I know that I can't let you leave, Richard.

[And back to Sophie.] ...Sophie. Just who is Richard to you?

[ Sophie's eyes widen at the question, and then she looks down at the ground. Who is Richard to her? Who ...

He's caused her pain, so much pain, and fear. But, despite everything that's happened, she can't really bring herself to describe him as anything other than ... her friend. The main fear that she's had this whole time is whether he's still her friend or not. That's all she really wants. Vowing to remain friends -- it means a lot to her.

And she speaks rather softly at first. ] ... Richard is ... Richard.

[ Then she looks back up at Asbel, as if to make certain to get her point across when she speaks. Richard's important to her. She doesn't want to lose him. ] My ... friend.

[Richard's eyes widen and his breath catches in his throat when he hears those words, words he was afraid he might never hear again - words he wasn't sure he DESERVED to hear again after what he'd done. First Asbel still called him a friend, and now Sophie? He didn't deserve this. He'd hurt them both so badly. He couldn't understand why they weren't angry at him, why they didn't hate him for what he'd done. He'd hated Cerdic for his actions, yet he had tried to kill Sophie and Asbel both, and now they were forgiving him.

Why? Why didn't they feel that same pain and anger he had? Was it really just because they were friends?]

[Good... she answered the way he hoped she would. But now... comes the tricky part.]

...Richard, do you feel the same way?

[ She stays silent, waiting for Richard's response. She isn't sure how to prepare herself for him saying no; their friendship is truly important to her.

She's always considered him her friend, deep down. It's very difficult for her to think of him as anything else, even if he doesn't seem to think of her the same way. She won't give up on him -- she believes in their vow. ]

[His voice is shaking slightly when he answers.]

I... truly want to, but...

[But what happened with Naoki is still too fresh, too raw and painful in his mind, and now Naoki is gone and he can't even apologize for what he did and he could end up hurting Sophie and Asbel too because of the Malnosso and...]

[That "but"... That one single word sets him off. He's heard Richard make many excuses over the past week or so about this topic...]

But what? Richard, I know you've done things in the past you aren't proud of... But continuing to cling to them isn't going to make that pain and regret you feel go away. It'll only fester and grow worse... No one wants to live like that, and no one wants you to live like that!

...Please, Richard.

[ That "but" bothers Sophie, too, and she continues to stand there silently, watching and waiting. She's not sure what to think of that answer. He said he wants to, but it was followed by a "but" ... ]

[Part of the reason for that "but" is standing right in front of him-- not that he's going to say anything about that. He's pretty sure Asbel already knows, anyway.

But Asbel's words spark something inside of him, a tiny flame of anger. What does he know about this? He's the one who succeeded where Richard failed, isn't he? What does he truly know about that kind of pain when he always had people there with him?]

Are you implying that you know exactly what it is that I'm feeling?

[He closes his eyes, and shakes his head. Even so, he tries hard to keep his voice level, his emotions in check. Blowing up on Richard wouldn't be good for this.]

No... I could never understand how you're feeling, Richard. No matter how hard I try, I could never truly understand what you're feeling. No person deserves to go through what you've endured.

But... There is one thing I do know. That's something I know with absolute certainty.

[ Sophie's just standing there, watching intently. Normally she would cock her head to the side as a way to ask Asbel what it is he knows, but right now she's too focused, and doesn't move at all. ]

And what is that?

[He's honestly curious as to what Asbel is referring to right now, though it's a struggle for him to keep his own voice level as well.]

[He opens his eyes now, and looks directly at Richard.]

The one thing I do know...

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