Out with the old....

[sundead]

Who: Everyone
What: New Year's.
When: Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve, to Jan 1st, New Year's Day.
Where: Everywhere
Summary: It's New Year's, and the people of Luceti have a lot to reflect upon, and to look forward to. And on a more meta level, new journal names.
Rating: We'll see...

New Year's brings images of crowds, and songs, and fireworks; staying up til midnight and watching balls or bells being rung. But Luceti is a different time and place. Whether you're partying with friends or watching the sunrise, what are you doing today?

Comments

[ledbythewind]

[And he seems to deflate a little, though he's still tense.]

... I was just being selfish.

[Again.]

[musubi]

I'll give you that one, maybe. But I'm not gonna hold it against you.

[He had a teasing comment to follow that up with, but he held back.]

[ledbythewind]

I really am sorry.

[But he's digging his fingernails deeply enough into his palms to draw blood, knuckles white.]

[musubi]

Alright.

Then you're forgiven.

Matter closed.

[ledbythewind]

[That answer just causes Richard to look confused. He isn't angry?]

I know it isn't mutual, and I never expected it to be. That's why it was selfish of me.

[musubi]

I know why you said that.

[He shakes his head.] You know what would be good right now? Tea.

[ledbythewind]

[Instead of responding, Richard just bows his head and exhales a cloud of breath into the cold air.]

[musubi]

[Aaaand reaching over to bap Richard very lightly on the back of the head.]

[ledbythewind]

[Something flashes in Richard's eyes, and before he's even aware of it, his arm snaps up to grab Isamu's wrist in a grip that isn't exactly gentle.

Old habits of being jumpy die hard, especially when he's already on edge.]

[musubi]

[Isamu doesn't do anything, just sits patiently while Richard holds his wrist.]

[ledbythewind]

[And Richard just freezes, unmoving, staring at Isamu almost as if he's challenging him. There's obviously an internal struggle going on here, though he's doing his best to keep his face neutral...

... until at last he releases his grip and looks away, his voice cold.]

Leave me alone.

[musubi]

[Isamu doesn't budge.]

Don't think so, man.

[ledbythewind]

[Richard isn't budging either.]

That's a royal decree.

[musubi]

[That just makes Isamu laugh.]

[ledbythewind]

[... which in turn only manages to make Richard look even more upset.

Yeah, communication is clearly not his strong point.]

[musubi]

I don't get mad at you so you get mad at me, is that it?

Are you that determined to flounce off tonight?

[ledbythewind]

Are you that determined to continue bothering me?

[musubi]

Yes.

I'm quite the nuisance, aren't I?

[ledbythewind]

[Richard takes a deep breath, then exhales.]

Go. Now.

[musubi]

Make me, your majesty.

[ledbythewind]

[And for a second there, Richard looks like he's about to, muscles tensed as if to stand, though his entire body is shaking from the effort to keep his emotions under control...]

[musubi]

[Isamu just waits.]

[ledbythewind]

[... and then all of the fight just goes out of him and he slumps back down, still shaking, but for an entirely different reason this time.]

[musubi]

[He isn't going to reach over again just yet, but he'll continue to sit patiently.]

[ledbythewind]

[Honestly, at this point even Richard isn't sure what he's feeling, but he's pretty certain that it all boils down to 'miserable.' Right now he just wants to get away before his emotions end up betraying him, because if there's one thing he loathes, it's showing any sort of weakness in front of others. It's probably a little late for that now, though.]