[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[Anyone who happens to walk by on the road beside House 28 this evening will be treated to a rather unusual sight: a cloud of fireflies hovering around the front lawn, greenish-yellow lights flickering as they fly back and forth, following the movement of a tiny orb of light.

Closer inspection reveals the source of said orb of light as Richard, who is seated in the grass-- he's using a tiny bit of Hyt's power to combine with his own magic (the base for a Holy Lance, not that he's going to cast the entire thing), creating a soft white glowing sphere that hovers a couple of inches above his finger. As he moves his hand to trace mindless patterns in the night air, the orb follows it, and the fireflies follow that in a parade of blinking lights. Richard can't quite hide his amusement at this, reflected in the slight smile on his face. It may be an odd way to spend one's birthday, but to Richard, it's more than fine-- not that he doesn't appreciate what Asbel and the others have done for him. He just needs a little time to himself to unwind after all of that.

But if anyone wanders by, he'll be happy to converse with them. He wouldn't be in a public place if he didn't feel like talking to anyone, after all.]

Comments

[presumablyalone]

[Oh! He didn't mean to startle you or the fireflies Richard. He gives him an apologetic smile]

Mm! I am... [Hesitantly, he slowly reaches out to touch one of the one's floating around Richard's hand but retracts his own hand in fear that he might scare them away again] They used to be everywhere back home.

[ledbythewind]

[Seeing what he's doing, Richard gently urges some of them over towards Seto with a slight wave of his hand and the orb so that the boy can get a better look.]

It's almost strange how some things can be so similar between different worlds, isn't it? It makes you wonder if there isn't some sort of reason for it.

[presumablyalone]

[And so he smiles, watching as the fireflies float closer to him now. He beams up at Richard as if to say "thank you" then looks back at the glowing bugs, lifting up his hands to try and carefully capture one. Once he cups his hands around one, he watches the light from the firefly shine in between his fingers as he thinks.

It is strange, isn't it? Never before would he have ever thought that so many things from his world, one that's so dark and lonely, would be similar to things in others. So he nods.]

It is pretty weird. [A beat] Maybe our worlds are connected to each other. Is that possible?

[ledbythewind]

I don't see why it couldn't be. It would certainly explain why some worlds have the same sort of food and currency. I'm not sure you can chalk that up to mere coincidence.

[He just watches Seto and the fireflies, a quiet yet thoughtful smile on his face. How many other worlds are out there? And just how similar are they? It's something he finds himself wondering every now and then, especially after trips to the library. All of the similarities just can't be a coincidence-- surely there must be something more at work there.]

[presumablyalone]

...What's currency? And what kind of food do you have back in your world?

[Opening his hands to let the firefly fly away, he looks at Richard curiously. The thought's made him curious since he knows nothing of his own world or the food that was made or anything. He and his grandfather couldn't exactly... cook much after all.]

[ledbythewind]

Currency is another word for money, and as for food, that all depends on which country you're in. The three nations have somewhat different tastes as far as food is concerned. My country, Windor, is known for its beef, so the people there make use of it for things like steaks and beef bowls.

[... man, now he's starting to want some Windor beef. Perhaps he'll be able to find some in the food store someday...]

[presumablyalone]

[Money? Oh, people have talked about that before, haven't they? Something you give other people to pay for stuff... so basically what he gave to the merchant back home!! So now--]

...What's beef taste like? [To be honest, he has no idea if he's ever had it here before. He just eats whatever people feed him without question.]

[ledbythewind]

You haven't tried it before?

[Honestly, that isn't too strange a concept to Richard-- it's entirely possible that cows don't exist in the boy's world, or the meat is too expensive to afford. There are a multitude of different reasons and all of them would make perfect sense.]

Oh, you simply must try it. The flavor of good beef is impossible to describe-- when it's cooked just right, it should be tender and juicy, so that it almost melts in your mouth. Yes, there's nothing quite like a good cut of steak.

[presumablyalone]

[Shaking his head to the first question.

Listening to Richard describe it makes him hungry. He's pretty sure he's never had anything like that before... nor does he know what something tender is like but it must be good!! Especially with the way he's describing it.

He swallows, like a starving kid staring at a piece of bread] Do they have some here?

[ledbythewind]

They should have some in the grocery store along with the other meats. I've seen it there almost every time I've gone shopping. It may not be Windor beef, but it should still give you the general idea of what it's like.

[Richard sees that swallowing and almost feels a little bad now. He hadn't meant to make the kid hungry like that...]

[presumablyalone]

Really?? [Lighting up] Next time I go to the store I'm going to look for it then! I'd really like to try some... [He's pretty sure the others would like it too--if he learned how to make it right at least]

How do you cook it so it comes out "tender" and juicy?

[ledbythewind]

The best way is to cook it over an open fire so that it absorbs some of the smokey taste from the wood. Failing that, it can be cooked in the oven as well.

[presumablyalone]

I don't know how to use an oven but I can definitely make a fire! [And so his camp fire making skills come in handy.]

...Hey, whenever I can find some beef and the weather's nice, do you want to eat some with me? We can camp out in the forest and have a big dinner and look at the stars.

[ledbythewind]

A campout?

[Richard looks a bit surprised for a moment-- this boy barely knows him, yet he's offering to go camping with him? Richard himself could never be so trusting. In a way, though, it reminds him a great deal of Asbel, and that alone is enough to get him to smile fondly.]

... I'd like that. But I think it might be a bit easier if we knew each others' names first-- I'm Richard.

[presumablyalone]

Oh--right! I-I'm sorry. [He smiles sheepishly] My name is Seto. It's nice to meet you, Richard.

[ledbythewind]

It's nice to meet you too, Seto. Are you new to Luceti?

[presumablyalone]

Nope! I've been here for... one year and three months now I think.

[Tilting his head back to look at the sky. Has it really been that long already?]

[ledbythewind]

I've been here for a little over two years myself. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's really been that long, but other times it feels like I've been here forever.

[presumablyalone]

I feel the same. [Though the only time he's felt a time has been forever was when he was blind. The days felt like they went by so slowly then, almost as if to tease and torture him. To make his suffering last longer]

Do you ever get homesick?

[ledbythewind]

To be honest, I'm a little homesick every day. That's why I just try to think of all of the good things that I have here. When I do that, suddenly it isn't so bad anymore.

[presumablyalone]

Like all of the friends that you've made here?

[ledbythewind]

That's right. I wouldn't trade having met them for anything.

[presumablyalone]

Me too. [He pauses then-] Do you think we can be friends, Richard?

[ledbythewind]

Of course. It would be an honor to be considered your friend-- I can only hope that you feel the same way as well.

[presumablyalone]

Of course! I'm really to happy to be your friend and I'm glad you'll be mine. [Friends are what keep him optimistic and stable after all]

I really am.