ledbythewind | [Action]

[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.]

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It's strange... back in my own world, I wished for nothing more than freedom. Now that I have it, I'm not sure what to do with it.

[Something about the way he says it catches Tear's interest, briefly recalling that time she had comforted him after he had woken from a nightmare; it had been so long ago.]

You never had any form of freedom?

An extravagant cage is still a cage, no matter how beautiful it may be.

[She knows he's a king; he figures he doesn't have to say anything more than that by means of explanation. Of course, should she question further, he will answer.]

[She wasn't going to push that issue further, at least not right now. It didn't feel like the appropriate time to.]

But even if you do not know what to do with this freedom... are you happy with it?

I am. If I hadn't been able to live like I am here, there are many things I would never have been able to experience.

And those experiences can't be taken away from you. [A small smile makes its way to her face, just a little happy that Richard was allowed that freedom here.]

That's right, even if some of them weren't the happiest.

... That is part of the experience as well, regardless of where we are. [She doesn't know about what happened between Naoki and Richard, not that she would even know to ask about it.]

[He nods, his smile soft yet somewhat sad.]

I suppose there are some things that don't change between worlds.

[Even though she notices the faint sadness, Tear can't seem to think of a way to lift his spirits further. Knowing she was not the best at comforting words sometimes left her feeling helpless.]

... Why are you out here on your own? [He was allowed the freedom to be with his friends here, yet she had not seen them all day.]

[Fortunately, that's all it takes to lift his spirits enough to get him to chuckle and shake his head fondly.]

Actually, I needed a little time to myself after being ambushed earlier. I must be older than I thought if I can't even handle that much excitement anymore.

[Well if that worked she can't necessarily complain, even if she is left just a little confused by it.

However – ] Ambushed...?

They felt I needed a surprise birthday party.

[And he was surprised! He'd almost thought Asbel had forgotten all about it.]

It's your birthday?

[Sorry Richard, that's the detail that registered the most and she can't help dwelling on it more than a little. WELP.]

My 22nd, to be exact. Are you surprised?

Only just. [Even if she was aware Richard was older than she, Tear had never known by how much.]

I apologize, I don't have any gift to present you right now.

There's nothing to apologize for. Your company is already more of a gift that I could ask for.

[The nice thing is that when Richard says things like this, it's without any sort of ulterior motive, for obvious reasons. He really is saying it to be nice.]

Then I will stay here with you as long as you would like. [Though if he made any indication of wanting anything else, she would see what she could do about it.]

How many others are aware of your birthday?

Only my housemates, as far as I know. I haven't exactly gone around broadcasting that fact. Suffice it to say that I'm not much of a fan of large parties.

[It made sense, and to be honest she didn't believe she would be fond of large parties either, even if she had been raised with them.]

Then this small gathering is enough, or am I underestimating how much of a celebration they have prepared for you?

The celebration itself was earlier-- that's why I'm out here now. I wanted the chance to get away, have some space to myself for a little while. But I don't mind your company at all.

And as I said before, I will stay here with you for as long as you would like. The offer extends to whenever you would like, not just now.

Is that offer good for dinner someday?

[RICHARD WHAT. It's a good thing she knows this isn't necessarily a romantic invitation, but she may be blushing a little just the same.] If... you'd like?

I'm glad to hear that. We may not actually be related, but I've still wanted to get to know you better ever since that experiment. I can't say I didn't appreciate that aspect of it.

[If she had any questions as to whether there was a romantic aspect to it or not, hopefully that will answer them.]

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