ledbythewind | [Voice/Action]

[It started out as a normal day-- if it can be called "normal" considering that two of his housemates are currently about eight years younger than usual, but fairly uneventful regardless. The "keep Asbel from getting himself or Hubert killed" duties were passed back and forth between him and Cheria as needed until finally he managed to escape and leave them to pester Cheria about the dinner she's currently preparing.

... come to think of it, he hasn't seen Sophie all day. He should go let her know that dinner is almost ready.

He hardly gets the door open six inches before he realizes with a sinking feeling that something is terribly wrong. Sophie's room is empty, bare, as if no one had ever lived in it at all. And Richard has been in Luceti long enough to know what that means...

It's with a neutral expression born from years of practice that he shuts the door behind him and heads back downstairs to inform the others of this, opening his journal to send a short message on the way.]

For those of you who knew her, Sophie has been sent back home to Efinea.

[He really isn't looking forward to explaining this to Asbel and Hubert...]

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Richard! Richard! Richard! Is it true? Are we all Sophieless?!

[He nods absently, mouth thinned into a slight frown]

It'd be nice if knowing that made shit easier.

I see...

I'm Richard. And you are?

As well as can be hoped in this situation, I think. But thank you for your concern, Tear. I'm truly grateful, and I'm happy to know that so many people here cared about Sophie.

[Richard inhales, then exhales slowly.]

Yes, it is. I'm sorry, Miss Pascal.

I'm Kouki. It's nice to meet you, Richard.

[Hubert hasn't received the news yet, if only because he's sitting on the cough, reading back -- through the journal, that is. The idea that one can communicate with others with a book is fascinating, and he's basically become addicted since he got some free time. As a result, he's a little too engrossed in the journal and may not hear Richard approaching at first. He hasn't quite gotten to Richard's entry yet.]

...yeah. [...]

But. If you want to have a drink later or something, I'll be around.

I may just take you up on that offer if it doesn't have an expiration date.

[It takes Richard a bit of searching to find Hubert, although really, the living room should have been one of the first places he looked. Still, the fact that the boy seems to be in a relatively calm mood would indicate that he hasn't reached the entry Richard just made... yet. Good. Richard would far prefer to tell him in person.]

Finding anything interesting so far, Hubert?

I'm not surprised to hear that-- Sophie loves flowers a great deal. I suppose that's only to be expected of someone who was named after a flower from our world.

Well then, that might explain why she was drawn to me when I first arrived these few months back. After all, I am a youkai of flowers through and through. [How on earth does someone get 'Sophie' from a flower though?] A flower which I can only assume is specific to your world alone, unless the bloom in question is named gypsophila paniculata.

Yes, the name of this particular flower is the krosophie, and as far as I can tell it seems to exist only in our world. The petals are purple, much like Sophie's hair... truly a fitting name for her.

But might I ask what a youkai is? That's something we don't have in our world, unless they go by another name.

Might I ask how you knew Sophie, Sir Kouki?

Strange, a flower which I have never before heard of or come across. Though if it resides solely in your own world then it cannot be helped~

A youkai is what you are talking to right now. The humans in the village in my world used to regard myself and other youkai as quite dangerous. I believe we have even been called demons or monsters at one time or another.

Never. I'm always up for it.

[Richard takes a deep breath and fights the urge to look to the side while he addresses her. He really hates making eye contact with people when discussing things like this, but he knows that it's worse if he doesn't.]

... Sophie has been sent home. I'm sorry.

Thank you, Miss Nami. I really do appreciate it.

... Home? [She repeats it numbly, the meaning not quite sinking in yet. But even as she says it, she begins to understand what this means. Sophie was sent home... But then...]

To Efinea?

Yes. This is best for her... now she won't be subjected to the whims of the Malnosso any longer. She'll be safe and happy there.

[Seeing Sophie in pain after she'd been returned from her kidnapping had been hard on all of them, but Richard knows it had to have hit Cheria particularly hard to see her suffering like that.]

That's right, and if you watch it for too long, it will get up and run away once you finally look away.

Yes... Yes, it is best, isn't it? [Her mind says it's best, but her heart says otherwise. To be apart from a friend never seems right. She knows she's going to miss having Sophie around so much, and it hasn't even sunk in yet.

She needs to keep telling herself it's for the best, even if her voice is breaking a little and her eyes are beginning to burn from oncoming tears that she mustn't shed.]

She's gone back to get better and fight Lambda with us. Everything... worked out fine back home. So...

... so we shouldn't be feeling this sad about it. But... even knowing that can't erase the fact that we'll miss her.

[There's no point in denying what they're both feeling right now. Cheria is obviously on the verge of tears, and seeing that is just causing the ache in Richard's own chest to intensify. And the worst part is that Richard... really isn't sure what to do. He's pretty sure that a hug out of the blue would be far too forward, even though that's what makes him feel better in situations like these.

So he'll settle instead for just reaching a hand out to brush against her shoulder, as if asking permission to rest it there.]

Miss Cheria...

[Cheria doesn't mind the hand's presence. In fact, she rather appreciates the gesture, even if she doesn't know how to return it. So instead, she just hangs her head.

She was aware that Richard cares a great deal for Sophie, but now she feels that perhaps she hadn't given that care enough credit. It's just so strange, after everything that's happened, to share a moment like this with Richard.]

It's... selfish, isn't it? Wishing that she could've remained here with us a bit longer?

[This might be a good thing, because it would've made the situation far *more* awkward if she had returned it. As it is, he'll just let that hand rest gently on her shoulder in a quiet show of support and sympathy.]

Perhaps it is, but if given the choice, I think it's what Sophie herself would have wanted as well.

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