[Written/Action]

[ledbythewind]

[The handwriting for this particular entry is far neater than what is usually seen in the journals: a strong, tidy hand, though it may look rather unusual to anyone not from Efinea.

He'd almost filtered it before realizing that doing so would be going against what he was working on at the moment, so instead he leaves it open to be seen by all.]To

Comments

[action]

[causeblocked]

[Don't worry, Richard. Isamu will only watch you for a moment or two before getting you back up on the cushions properly.

With his foot.]

[action]

[ledbythewind]

[Unfortunately, Richard does not take very kindly to being shoved around in his sleep and jerks awake like a startled rabbit, wide eyes searching the room for whoever it is who is touching him.]

[action]

[causeblocked]

Just saved you from waking up with a bump on the noggin', Richie. You can thank me later.

[action]

[ledbythewind]

Isamu...?

[He calms somewhat once he realizes who it is and leans back against the couch cushions, rubbing at his temples with his fingertips. If the dark circles beneath his eyes are any indication, he hasn't exactly been getting much sleep lately.]

... thank you. Was I about to fall off the couch?

[voice]

[bearingevil]

Well, you know you're doing it now, right? So stop doing it.

[Sano logic.]

[voice]

[ledbythewind]

I know I'm doing it, but I don't always know when I'm doing it. That's why I was asking for help.

[voice]

[bearingevil]

Well, then you need to figure out when you're doing it. It can't be that hard to know when you're lying to others.

[voice]

[ledbythewind]

Not exactly lying, but more like not being entirely honest with my feelings. I've been doing it for so long that it's become almost natural to me now. I'm not even conscious of holding back.

[action]

[cookingninja]

[While she saw the note earlier, Ayumu wasn't about to respond to it - giving someone else advice on how to be honest would be more than a little bit hypocritical, so she didn't bother. Still, it left her in a bit of a pensive mood in turn, and she went out for a walk as well. Certain things are just weighing heavily on her, especially since Susumu's disappearance.

As such, she notices Richard's presence just as she notices, calculates, and categorizes everyone she ever encounters, but she only gives a distant, polite nod without really paying too much conscious attention to him. He isn't anyone that she had particularly sought to deal with, nor a potential contact, but he's heading back into the village as she's going toward the outskirts.]

[action]

[ledbythewind]

[Fortunately or unfortunately for her, Richard is too polite to just walk past someone without any sort of greeting, especially someone who had greeted him in turn, even if it was only with a sort of perfunctory nod. And, whether he'll admit to it or not, he's feeling kind of lonely right now, so he's not about to turn down a chance at company. Just being able to talk to someone will help.]

Good afternoon.

[action]

[cookingninja]

[The voice recalls her to herself and Ayumu glances up, blinking once as she pushes a friendly smile into place.]

Oh... oh, hello! I beg your pardon, my mind must have been elsewhere.

[action]

[ledbythewind]

[The smile he gives in return is a slightly strained one, but still genuine.]

That makes two of us, I suppose.

[Written]

[no_use_running]

[These are subjects dear to her heart after her experiences with the Dark Kingdom, turned inside-out so that all her resentments and petty angers were what drove her completely.

If she could have been honest with herself, maybe she could have stopped those things before they grew so large. The handwriting that tries to express this without saying too much is neat, tidy, efficient - with the occasional flowery loop here or there.]

I think, for me, it helped when friends brought those things to my attention. [Osaka Naru calling her out for her passiveness and telling her to just admit the things she really wanted.]

But also, if I can't be honest with myself, I may end up doing things I'll regret.

[Not very helpful as it boils down to 'remember how important that honesty is', but it's her thoughts on the subject.]

[Written]

[ledbythewind]

[If only Richard knew how alike the two of them were... he too had had his insecurities preyed on, used to manipulate him into nearly destroying the world entirely, all as a means of getting rid of the humans who had caused him so much pain.]

That was how I first learned about it-- someone dear to me told me to stop holding things back. Before that, I hadn't even been aware that I was doing so. I'm afraid that I've already done things that I regret as a result.

Re: [Written]

[no_use_running]

[She did everything she could to get back at them for the loneliness and abandonment she'd thought they made her feel. She even almost killed her best friend; she'd thought she was dead, which finally broke the spell in that shock.]

I think it's hard to be that open. But holding back didn't do anything good, either. So I try to speak up more.

[Written]

[ledbythewind]

[It was hard, learning to move past that and to trust. Clearly he hadn't done as good a job of it as he'd thought he had.]

Just speak up, or is there anything else you try to do as well?

[Action]

[raizanshou]

[Asbel was just preparing to head out for a bit of sword practice. So he opens the door of his house, scabbard in hand, when he spots Richard standing there, as if to knock.]

...Richard?

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[... busted. Don't mind him just standing there blankly for a moment while his neurons try to fire enough to come up with a response.]

Asbel...

[Action]

[raizanshou]

[He stares at Richard for a moment. Normally the man at least sends some sort of notice he's coming, so to see him suddenly standing as his doorstep is slightly jarring.]

Is... something the matter?

[Action]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard's appearance alone should serve as something of a clue-- he's not his usual cheerful self, and the dark circles beneath his eyes hint to the lack of sleep he's been getting lately.]

I'd... like to talk to you for a while, if you don't mind.