ledbythewind | [Voice, filtered from Isamu // 80% unhackable/Action]

[Okay, so between everything that's been happening lately, Richard ALMOST forgot what date was coming up. Fortunately he remembers just in time to actually do something about it-- and do something about it he will whether Isamu wants it or not, which is why he's carefully filtering this message away from his friend.]

For those of you who know him, Isamu's birthday happens to be on Tuesday. I'm preparing a small party for him at House 28; any friends of his are welcome to stop by to give him birthday greetings and enjoy some food. I just ask that you not say anything about this to him ahead of time-- it won't be much of a surprise if he knows about it, after all.

[Later that afternoon Richard can be found hauling home a sizable box of decorations (the birthday ones are hidden beneath a seemingly innocuous mound of Christmas decorations) from the store, looking in a much better mood than he's been in for weeks. He can't explain this sudden cheer and he's not sure he wants to; right now he's just intent on enjoying the festive atmosphere while it lasts and trying to prepare a surprise party for his friend without said friend finding out about it-- which might be a difficult task considering they share a room.]

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[Seeing Richard in such a good mood is definitely a relief to Cheria. She suspects it has something to do with Isamu's upcoming birthday, but she'd rather not make assumptions.]

Yes, I'd be happy to! [She peers into the box to see the top layer of Christmas decorations.] Is it customary to have that many decorations for Christmas?

[Still smiling, Richard pulls out one of what appear to be a couple of garlands that are in the box... and it might just be trying to get friendly with a strand of tinsel, too.]

I'm not sure-- I just took some of everything that I thought looked festive. After all, it only happens once a year, so we might as well make the most of it while it's here. Don't you think so?

Oh, yes, I agree. Some of the holidays they have here sound very interesting! Apparently, Christmas creates quite a festive atmosphere. I'd like to experience that to the fullest, if possible.

[She reaches into the box as well, pulling out a small ornate ball for the Christmas tree and examining it.] I just wonder how many decorations everyone else will put up...

If those lights all around the village are any indication, the Malnosso expect us to decorate as much as we want. I certainly don't plan on turning down such a generous offer.

[And then he blinks, head tilting slightly as he catches sight of something in the doorway to the living room.]

... although from the looks of things, it seems like someone here has already gotten started.

[She follows Richard's gaze, to see mistletoe hanging from the doorpost. But she's never seen this plant before, so a frown appears on her face. Why is there a twig hanging in the doorway?]

... Is that also a Christmas decoration?

Yes; that plant is known as mistletoe, and it has a very specific holiday tradition associated with it.

[... just ignore the gears in his head that are turning right now.]

Is that so?

[Cheria's been reading a bit about Christmas, but the basic rundown hadn't included anything about mistletoe.]

If two people stand beneath a sprig of mistletoe, tradition dictates that they have to kiss.

K-kiss?! [Huaaaah?! Richard, are you trolling her again?]

That's right. I'm sure you can see why it became so popular.

[Sadly, for once he's being entirely serious.]

But that's... What if you end up underneath it with someone you don't like?

Then you'll have to kiss them too-- that's why you need to be very careful when you walk through doorways this time of year.

Yes... Careful indeed. [But as she glances up at the mistletoe, plans are already formulating inside her head. Plans involving Asbel.

She's completely forgotten why she'd sought Richard out in the first place.]

[Fortunately for both of them, Richard may just be trying to sneak those birthday decorations out of the box while Cheria is distracted...]

[The sudden movements snap Cheria out of her thoughts again, and she glances back to the box to see the decorations. Isamu's birthday... Oh, right!]

Ah, Richard, I came to ask you... [And she drops her voice to something that's just a bit louder than a whisper.] Do you have any suggestions for Isamu's present?

[He may live in their house, but she doesn't know him all that well. She has no clue what he might like.]

For his present...?

[Richard pauses halfway in lifting a roll of streamers out of the box to consider this. What WOULD Isamu like for a present? When it comes to getting gifts for others, Richard is still something of a novice at the whole idea of getting the person something they'd want as opposed to an obligatory item given because that's just what you do for birthdays, especially when you don't know the person that well.]

... he might like something that would remind him of his home, since he can't ever go back.

[Or would that be a bad gift? Richard isn't sure.]

He can't ever go back...?

[What's this, now? Cheria read that everyone is bound to be sent home some day. She didn't know there are people who are actually trapped in Luceti. It must be terrible, being one of those people; Never getting to go home and continue your life where you left it off...]

[Richard just gives a quiet, solemn nod in response to that.]

Returning to Efinea with us is his only chance to continue living.

[Though he doesn't answer directly, the implications there should be obvious: that he doesn't HAVE a life to continue back in his own world.]

Continue... [She trails off. This is another thing she'd read about. That sometimes, people who are dead in their own world could still appear in Luceti. But Isamu...]

You mean he's... If he returns to his world, he'll die?

In his world, he's already dead.

[It's something he hates thinking about. That his dear friend is already beyond any sort of help, even if they are able to find a way to travel to other worlds.]

But that's terrible!

[She doesn't know Isamu very well and wouldn't consider him a close friend, but she'd never wish something like this upon him. It's making her feel guilty that she didn't get to know him better, even after all this time of living in the same house.]

It is. But there's nothing we can do to change that, even if we do find a way to travel to his world.

[Voice, filtered from Isamu // 80% unhackable/Action]

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