[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[It's late in the afternoon when Richard awakens in the middle of the forest, clad only in the pair of white pants given to all New Feathers when they arrive. As if that weren't bad enough, it's currently raining, and he's disoriented and confused and why does his back hurt and where is he? There's something strangely familiar about this situation, though. He feels like it's happened before, but his memories are fuzzy and he can't seem to remember anything beyond... beyond...

And then, very slowly, like water trickling through a crack, it begins to come back to him. He's been here before. Twice, in fact, over a year in total, and Asbel and the others are here as well. He needs to find them.

So he'll be making his way through the forest - he remembers enough to follow the river, at least - to the village, feeling decidedly uncomfortable at exposing so much skin (he's royalty, this isn't proper, even if he's done it here before) and spending a few confused moments trying to remember where the clothing store is so that he can retrieve his own clothes.

That accomplished, he sets out for the house... only to realize that he can't remember which house it is. With only a vague memory to guide him, he wanders the streets until one house feels more familiar than the others. Let's just hope he's got this right.

And so it is that Richard opens the door to House 28, soaking wet and still trying to remember everything, but glad to be home.]

Comments

[healedbythelight]

[And inside the house he'll find someone who wasn't in Luceti before he left! That's right, Cheria is hard at work in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She's making curry, because Sunday is now officially curry day in the Graces house. ... As is Wednesday. Asbel is very insistent about his curry.

When she hears the door open, she doesn't turn her attention away from the frying pan just yet.]

Sophie, is that you?

[ledbythewind]

[Well, THIS is a surprise. He certainly doesn't remember Cheria being here before, which means she must have arrived while he was gone... just how long was he gone, anyway? He's starting to get a little bit worried. What if Asbel isn't here anymore? What if it's been years here in Luceti?]

... Miss Cheria?

[healedbythelight]

[At the sound of that voice, her hand immediately releases the pan's handle. Luckily, it was still standing on the stove, avoiding any freak accidents. She whips around to face him, surprise evident on her features.] Y-your Majesty!

[While she's passed the times where she would sink to her knees, she still lowers her head in what would be a bow. Goodness, why did nobody tell her King Richard was here as well? She could've gone to see him much sooner.]

[ledbythewind]

[This is even more awkward... Richard understands why she's doing this, but it still feels strange, especially given that he currently looks like something the cat dragged in. Plus, this is Luceti, not Windol, and there's no need for titles here, at least in his eyes.]

Please, there's no need for such formalities. I'm not the king here, after all.

[healedbythelight]

[She straightens up again, a somewhat anxious smile on her face. It's so strange to run into him here. She saw Richard outside Lhant, just before she came to Luceti, fighting monsters. The real Richard, free from Lambda's influence. And yet she still can't quite get used to it.]

My apolo- I mean... I'm sorry. You know what they say; old habits die hard.

[ingrate.livejournal.com]

[Isamu will be sitting at the top of the stairs, should he head that way. He almost doesn't want to get his hopes up, and he'd listened as Richard came in and talked to Cheria.

He wants to run down and smack him. Or hug him. Or something, but... he just sits there.

He's quite clearly been a worried mess. It doesn't help that Raphael's been missing too.]

[ledbythewind]

[He'd better decide between smacking and hugging quickly, then, because Richard will be coming this way in the hopes of borrowing some dry clothing from Asbel's room.

He stops when he sees Isamu, just looking at him for a moment. If the other had any doubts about whether or not Richard will remember him, the smile that spreads across his face should make it clear that that much of his memories at least is intact.]

Isamu.

[ingrate.livejournal.com]

[He just stares at Richard for several moments before slowly getting to his feet.]

Who the fuck said you were allowed to leave?

[ledbythewind]

[And Richard just stands, still smiling at him, though his expression softens somewhat.]

That's why I came back-- I made a promise, after all. And it's rude to leave without saying goodbye.

[ingrate.livejournal.com]

You're not leaving again at all, you got that?

Damn right you came back.

[And it looks like it'll be a hug after all.]

[drawnbythesword]

[When Richard opens the door, he will find Asbel in the living room.

...Asleep in a chair. It's been a long, dreary day, and the sound of the rain beating against the house has lulled him to sleep.]

[ledbythewind]

[... okay, Richard can't resist this one. It's just plain too easy. He'll be creeping over to Asbel and very carefully placing his hand over his friend's eyes to see how long it takes him to react.]

[drawnbythesword]

[At first, there's no reaction. But as Richard's hand is still likely cold and wet, it eventually does prompt a reaction, after about ten seconds or so, when he groggily responds.]

H-hey... What's going on...

[ledbythewind]

Honestly, you didn't learn in the Knight Academy that chairs aren't a proper place for sleeping? What did they teach you there?

[drawnbythesword]

[This must be a dream! But why can't he see, then? Hmm... Maybe he's blindfolded as part of a test!]

Ahh, I-I'm sorry, Instructor! Please, forgive me!

[godbent]

[Haruhi is actually outside with her umbrella, walking in the rain.

....Aaaand then a wet guy who is also shirtless walks past her.

Jiiiiiii]

[ledbythewind]

[Said wet guy may be recognizable if she looks a little more closely... but feeling a pair of eyes on him, he'll turn around to look for who it is.

... whoops. WELL. He'll just be smiling and acting as if this is perfectly normal.]

Good afternoon.

[godbent]

[Oh right, it's the boyfriend who used the attack on her. She falters a bit, but then smiles]

Afternoon.

[ledbythewind]

Haruhi... was it?

[He's inwardly cursing himself for being so fuzzy mentally on names. He knows it's only to be expected after being away for so long, but he still doesn't like it.]

[godbent]

That's right. [She inclines her head a bit but... well, rain. This umbrella isn't huge]

So why are you out here like this?

[ishisfriend.livejournal.com]

[People come back. They always come back. Leo hadn't paid much attention to that particular section of the Guide, but he'd seen Asbel's announcement of Richard having returned home and well, here he is.

...looking a little lost, in fact. What is he doing around House 53?]

Richard?

[ledbythewind]

[Richard blinks and looks around when he hears his name being called, thankful at least that he changed into his own clothing at the store and isn't just wearing those white pants anymore. That would be a little too undignified for his liking.

At last his eyes fall upon Leo, and he hesitates, trying to recall the name. He knows he's talked to this boy before, remembers the face, but he's having trouble attaching the name to the face.]

... that's right. And you are... Leo?

[There we go. He hopes that's the right name.]

[ishisfriend.livejournal.com]

[It's entirely undignified to be holding a watering can like this but who cares? Not Leo.]

That's my name. Are you looking for something?

[ledbythewind]

Ahaha... is it that obvious? I'm looking for House...

[... what number was it again? He can't remember. Damn.]

[ishisfriend.livejournal.com]

[He waits a moment for the house number but when none is forthcoming, he isn't surprised. It's okay, he can wait, though.]

Do you remember who you're looking for?