[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]

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.

[ledbythewind]

Shall we make a friendship pact, then?

[presumablyalone]

A friendship pact?

[ledbythewind]

[He nods.]

It's a vow you make so that you'll stay friends forever, no matter what happens.

[presumablyalone]

[OH So it's kinda like what he and Crow did back when they first met. Well after they met but details. He's more than excited about this, it means a lot to him.]

Can we really make a friendship pact together??

[ledbythewind]

Of course. I'll teach you how to do it so that you can make one with your other friends as well.

[presumablyalone]

[Oh wow this makes him happy. So happy he even wraps his arms around Richard for a hug]

Thank you, Richard!

[ledbythewind]

[Richard looks startled for all of two seconds before he smiles and gently returns that hug, pleased that he could make the boy so happy.]

Don't mention it. That's what friends do, after all.

[presumablyalone]

Mm! [Friends. Yes. He nods then after a moment, lets go of the other only to continue smiling at him]

How do we make the pact?

[ledbythewind]

I'm not sure we can carve our names into a tree right now, but we can certainly do the other part.

[He holds out his hand towards Seto.]

Here, place your hand on top of mine.

[presumablyalone]

Okay! [And so he places his hand on his]