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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I am. Right now you should think of yourself for a while and leave Asbel and Hubert to me.

[She nods faintly, her gaze still on the food.]

... Thank you, Richard.

[Richard's only response is to give her shoulder a soft squeeze before he moves to exit the kitchen and leave Cheria alone for a while, if only to give her a bit of privacy, because he's pretty sure she doesn't want him to see her cry and he isn't the one who should be comforting her.]

You are pretty knotted up here.

I think.

Honestly I don't do this enough to be able to tell.

[What's Richard getting so serious for all of a sudden. Regardless, he's looking at Richard expectantly.]

Yes, I've spoken with Tear since then, but beyond that... I'm also sure there are many people who would rather not remember the events of that week at all.

I wouldn't be surprised if I was. But you don't have to worry about it; I can just take a hot bath later...

Do you remember how we told you that we can only return to our world when someone else decides that we can, and that it isn't something we ourselves have any control over?

Regardless of what others believe, I hardly think a real demon or monster would be holding such a civil discussion with me right now. At least, none of the monsters of the type we have in my world would do so.

[Richard inhales just slightly to steady himself, averting his eyes out of nervous habit as he does so. At least Hubert will likely take this better than Asbel, if only because he's more logical and less prone to acting on emotions.]

... Sophie has been sent back to our world.

[...Slowly nodding... What are you getting at, Richard.]

Sophie... has been sent back home.

Hahaha... except I'm the one who is supposed to be looking after him, not the other way around.

It's understandable. That experiment did affect our identities in a big way, even if we had nice memories.

[what you say]

Of course. [Tear will make no claims to know them very well, but from what she did know those three had known her for quite a while.]

Is there anything you would want me to do, or...? [She's not sure of what to do, in all honesty.]

Too late. Already doing it.

[He smirks, kneading his hands into Richard's upper back.]

Just tell me where's best.

[Hubert pauses, taking him in the news. It's still an odd concept to refer to this place and where they're from as another world entirely, so he rephrases it to something he finds himself more comfortable with.]

You mean . . . she went back home?

[Richard's a little uncomfortable with having someone behind him where he can't see what they're doing, but before he can voice any objections to it, Isamu finds a particularly tense spot with his fingers and an involuntary hiss of pain escapes Richard's lips.

Looks like that's good right there.]

She's back in Efinea now, where she'll be safe.

That's right. She'll be safe from the Malnosso now.

[He's trying to sound happier about this than he feels right now, but Hubert might be able to see through his act.]

There we are. [He eases up a little, focusing on that area.]

[It shouldn't be hard to focus on that spot; Isamu will likely be able to feel the knot as he works.]

... I'm worried that Asbel might go looking for a way to return to our world.

[He nods softly.]

Yeah . . .

[Then he looks up at Richard.]

Um, are you going to be all right?

I'm not sure. I think that the best thing would be to just give them space for the moment until they decide they want to talk about it, if they do.

[That's what he prefers when he's upset, at least.]

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