[Voice/Action]

[ledbythewind]

[It's been a tense week for Richard: with both Isamu and Cheria kidnapped, the king can't help but worry, and when he worries, that means things like eating and sleeping drop down several notches in importance. But it isn't just that-- that last experiment and the incident with Vanitas brought to the surface behavior that he swore he would never repeat again, and he's at once ashamed and frightened of the way he acted. Even without Lambda's presence, even if part of it was due to an experiment, that he could still be so possessive and seek vengeance for hurts dealt him... it scares him. What if he really can never escape that part of himself no matter how hard he tries?

It isn't until nearly midnight that he finally manages to fall into a restless sleep at last (the room seems almost unbearably empty with just him), but as fate would have it, he won't get to enjoy it for long...

The dream that follows is familiar, a scene that's replayed itself in his head night after night, almost painful in its vividness: the throne of Windol stained red with his father's blood, blood that's on the swords of the Royal Knights that are now advancing towards him as he runs to his father's side, and then pain as those same swords taste his own blood--

It's with a distressed cry that Richard jolts upright in bed, eyes flitting wildly around the room until he finally registers just where he is; it takes him a few moments longer to remember that he's alone. And right now? That's the last thing he wants to be.

He heads down the hall to his best friend's room, but once he's standing outside of it, he hesitates, hand half-raised as if to knock on the door. He really shouldn't be bothering Asbel over something this trivial, he knows that. He's not a child anymore. He shouldn't be relying on others all the time; he needs to stand on his own two feet... but friends are supposed to support each other, right?

Any housemates who come to investigate the yell will find him standing there, unable to move his arm that last distance to actually knock.]

[Voice]

[Some time later, in the wee early hours of the morning, Richard will pick up his journal. It's a bit too awkward for him to ask outright for what he wants because A) this is not Cheria he's asking, and B) he was half-joking that time he asked her anyway, so he'll couch it in slightly different terms.]

It's rather boring at this hour of the night... would anyone happen to know any interesting songs to pass the time until I fall asleep?

[Better than asking for someone to sing him to sleep, at least.]

Comments

[ voice ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I can be of some help to you, sir?

[ voice ]

[ledbythewind]

Please, call me Richard. And your name?

[ voice ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

Frederic Francois Chopin, it is a pleasure to meet you.

[ voice ]

[ledbythewind]

It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Sir Frederic. You said you might be able to help me?

[ action ]

[mistyarc.livejournal.com]

[Hubert isn't a particularly deep sleeper. Thus, he jolts awake when he hears the yell, springs out of bed and dashes past the door (never mind that he's in night wear, proper clothes can wait for once) to search for the source when he stops short of seeing Richard in front of Asbel's door.

He comes to a complete stop a couple feet away. Hubert is silent for a good few seconds before he speaks up, quietly.]

Your Highness. Did you . . . ?

[ action ]

[ledbythewind]

[The sound of Hubert's voice jolts Richard out of his thoughts and he whirls to face the other man, surprised and desperately searching for an excuse as to why he's standing in front of Asbel's door in the middle of the night. None of the things he can come up with don't sound at least slightly damning.

What is clear, however, is that he looks... unusually pale and flustered.]

I'm sorry, did I wake you?

[ action ]

[mistyarc.livejournal.com]

[The question, as well as complexion, confirms that it was indeed Richard who cried out earlier. Being in front of Asbel's door can mean only one thing: They are close friends, after all.]

Is Brother awake?

[As in, have you knocked yet?]

[ action ]

[ledbythewind]

[THEY'RE NOT THAT CLOSE, HUBERT. Looking chastized, Richard lowers his gaze to the floor, brushing his bangs away from his face out of nervous habit.]

I'm not sure. But it's all right; I'll just let him sleep if he isn't.

/GETS CR WITH LUNA. world ends

[acowardlyoak.livejournal.com]

[ Shuri doesn't like to sleep. He's in the living room, watching a film, listening to the journal. He doesn't really expect anyone normal to be up. ]

Songs?

OH SNAP, SON

[ledbythewind]

[That's an unfamiliar voice. From the question, Richard's first thought is that this boy might not know what songs are, so...]

Yes-- they're sort of like a poem set to a melody.

[acowardlyoak.livejournal.com]

I know what they are!

[ledbythewind]

Hahaha... I'm sorry, but I wasn't sure from your tone.

voice

[corvustuberosum.livejournal.com]

[this is waking-up time, not sleepless hours for this little one. She's been watching the book with consuming interest, for hours, and when she hears this question-- she responds automatically. She only has a human voice to work with, but does a fine job singing a song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39FoquBtwQ&feature=related) that's her own idea of interesting.]

voice

[ledbythewind]

[Well, that's unusual. A bird at this hour? It doesn't sound quite like a normal bird, though...]

A bird...?

[It's muttered half to himself, but audible enough to be heard over the journal.]

[corvustuberosum.livejournal.com]

[the quiet, throaty giggle answers that question-- and she repeats the song in a variation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDpydv6VbtU)]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard can't help but chuckle softly in return when he hears that giggle.]

You're very talented, you know.

[voice]

[ishisfriend.livejournal.com]

[Judging by that yawn he just made over the journals, your voice may have just woken him up, Richard.]

Interesting songs?

[voice]

[ledbythewind]

[Whoops, now he feels guilty. He hadn't meant to inflict his own insomnia on anyone else.]

I'm sorry, Leo... did I wake you?

[voice]

[ishisfriend.livejournal.com]

Not entirely, I was sleeping with my journal open. [on his face] Are you having trouble sleeping, Richard?

[Voice]

[memoryboxes]

[Oh, hello there, Richard. Sayo happens to be up all hours of the night and morning; when she speaks, she's quite lively, because that's just how she rolls.]

Not able to sleep?

[There's the sounds of clicking and wood skuffing back and forth behind her words, low and rhythmic.]

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

[He's a bit surprised by that lively tone, but it does cheer him up a little and inspire him to sound somewhat perkier than he was before.]

It seems like I'm not the only one. I hadn't realized there were so many other night owls here in Luceti.

Re: [Voice]

[memoryboxes]

Oh, it's just common for me, really. I spend the hours people sleep by weaving things, maybe to wear, or maybe blankets... Either way, it's a nice way to pass the time and have room to think a lot to myself.

[Action]

[drawnbythesword]

[KNOCK ON THE DOOR DO IT DO IT DO IT.]

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[OKAY FINE GOD. At last Richard manages to squash down the hesitation enough to just give the door a few light taps; then regret gets the better of him and he's about to turn around and make his way back to his own room...]

[Action]

[drawnbythesword]

[There's silence for a few seconds, but soon, if Richard listens closely, he'll hear the sound of bedsheets rustling, followed by a tired voice.]

Coming... One moment, please...