[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[Sometimes you just really, really need to get out of your house for a little while. That goes double when it is your birthday and your house is currently the residence of an ancient demon temporarily inhabiting the body of one of your best friends and a several-years-younger version of another friend in addition to the usual interesting cast of characters who reside there.

As much as Richard likes them, sometimes he just needs a little space, especially when he would much prefer that no one gets it into their heads to throw him a party or something. That's why this Saturday evening finds him at Good Spirits, nursing a glass of wine at the bar and just people-watching, though he isn't really making much effort to approach anyone. (Not yet, at least. Give him a few more drinks and that might change.)

Later on in the evening, he'll head back home and attempt to sneak to his room before anyone can jump on him to wish him a happy birthday. Of course, knowing his luck...]

Comments

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ ...... ] You're wrong.

[ledbythewind]

Am I?

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[ he starts back to the bar. ]

[ledbythewind]

And modest as well. That's even better.

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ there's a slightly self deprecating quirk to his lips but it's gone pretty quick. whatever. shizuo takes his place at the bar and slides the wine back into place. ]

[ledbythewind]

I'm sure you must have no shortage of admirers because of it.

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ ... richard, that is a dangerous button to nudge. you don't sound like you're mocking him, but... ] I don't.

[ledbythewind]

... I see.

[In Richard's case, it's the opposite. He can hardly escape the stacks of letters he gets from eligible young women and their families back in Windol, the irony being that he's not interested in any of them at all.]

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ he shrugs in response, leaning against the table - milkshake, milksha- ahh, there' the whipped cream he mixed into it. ]

[ledbythewind]

[... it is probably not a good thing that Richard's tactic for dealing with topics that make him uncomfortable is to troll.]

... then what about male admirers?

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

Huh? [ ... ] A lot of guys pick fights with me 'cause I'm strong.

[ledbythewind]

Have you ever considered that they might be picking fights with you for another reason?

[Tact, Richard's has gone right out the window.]

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

Because they want me dead? [ YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE SHOOT YOU OR HIT YOU WITH BRICKS YOU DON'T WONDER IF THEY HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU. ]

[ledbythewind]

I did say you were attractive.

[LET THAT SINK IN FOR A MOMENT.]

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ ...................... ]

[ledbythewind]

[Just smiling.]

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ ... ] Say...

[ledbythewind]

Was I not clear enough?

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

You're making fun of me, aren't you.

[ledbythewind]

I wasn't making fun of you at all-- I was just stating the truth.

[... yeah a part of him knew this was a bad idea.]

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

Saying things like that out of the blue. Tch... And that friend send you here, I bet. [ the wheels of irrationality turn turn turn, they tell us the lessons that he didn't learn.

you don't compliment people with low self esteem, richard. not when they're got superstrength and a dose of instability.]

[ledbythewind]

Friend...? No, Isamu doesn't even know I'm here. To be honest, I came here to get away from my friends for a little while.

[He's confused as to just what his friends have to do with anything until... oh. Suddenly it clicks in his mind, because he too used to be suspicious like that. Suspicious that everyone was just out to use him.]

... I wasn't saying those things because I wanted something from you.

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ of course, shizuo's still fuming. the hand resting on the bartop is digging in deep enough to leave cracks in the wood, and the cup - made of steel, actually - is starting to dent from the intensity of his grip. that irrationality has him about ready to throw the thing at the other man's head.

but he noticed. and that's at least lessening the pounding at his temples and... damnit he needs air. or a smoke. or both. right. ]

Then why? [ IN. HALE. killkilllkilllkilllkill. EX. HALE. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Those cracks and that dent aren't escaping Richard's notice, yet strangely enough, he doesn't seem to be as alarmed by them as he should be. If anything, he looks almost apologetic. This was definitely not the outcome he'd been expecting.]

I said them because to me, they were the truth. I'm sorry.

[moezuo.livejournal.com]

[ ... a suspicious look. he's still breathing kind of hard, but he lets go of the bartop stiffly. "true to him"? what the hell?

and then totally relaxed. like nothing happened. ]