02 [Action]

[raizanshou]

[Waking up in some strange room he didn't recognize was not on this young boy's agenda today. Whatever the place was, he wasn't too keen on staying in it for long. Thankfully, he found a note on the nearby desk that told him Richard was in "House #43". It looked similar to the boy's writing, and hey, would he really steer him wrong

Comments

[tiger_festival]

[Asbel, Asbel... it takes him a moment to process that name.

... and then he realizes that this isn't his bed, there's a strange person talking to him, and WTF has he been kidnapped? He bolts upright and scoots away from Naoki, fingers searching for a short sword that isn't there.]

Who are you, and what have you done with me?

[tiger_festival]

Are you a friend of Asbel's?

[The snow outside is only serving to make him more concerned-- it had been warm and sunny back in Windol. Had he been brought all the way to Fendel? But he doesn't remember a village in Fendel named Luceti...

His eyes narrow.]

What country is this?

[tiger_festival]

[Richard just stares at him with an expression that's a mixture of accusing and "are you out of your mind?" This man claims to know him when he's older? A country that doesn't have a name? That's impossible. Only idiots would believe something like that.]

... I don't believe you.

[tiger_festival]

[Richard falls silent. This man is clearly delusional, but he'd mentioned something earlier that might help clear things up at least a little bit...]

You said Asbel was here?

[tiger_festival]

[His next words have a commanding tone that Naoki rarely hears from his adult counterpart.]

Take me to him.

[tiger_festival]

Why should I ask someone who might have kidnapped me?

[... yeah, Richard was kind of bratty as a kid and very used to getting his way.]

[tiger_festival]

[This is not a pout. This is totally not a pout. And Richard totally isn't getting upset and kind of frightened, either.]

[tiger_festival]

[Richard's gaze is still suspicious, but he also realizes that he doesn't have much choice at the moment, and that angering this strange man with the glowing tattoos is probably not a very good idea. For now he'll just nod in assent, though he keeps his eyes fixed on the bedroom door in case he needs to bolt.]