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]

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.]

[musubi]

[Isamu sighs.]

...It's coming up on a year now, you know.

[ledbythewind]

... I know.

[He's been trying to avoid thinking about it, but the closer it gets to the date, the harder it is to ignore.]

[musubi]

I don't want you dwelling on it too hard.

I may not want your sloppy drunk make-outs, but you're still my best friend.

[ledbythewind]

Someday you'll leave me too.

[Because, to Richard, that is fact. He's seen the way Asbel looks at Cheria, knows how his friend feels about her. Someday they'll get married and start a family and he'll be just an afterthought off in the castle. Eventually Isamu will do the same thing, and he'll be left all alone yet again. That's how it's always been and always will be.]

[musubi]

[There's a long pause now.]

...Probably.

That's just how the world works. I can't make any promises to be around forever. That's unrealistic.

But you can't focus on that. You make the best of the time you do get, or you hole yourself away and avoid people altogether. I've tried the latter. I still don't go running around making friends left and right. But I know living while worrying about when the next person it going to leave you isn't any way to live at all.

[ledbythewind]

[Richard can't help but let out a bitter chuckle at the irony of the situation-- he'd said almost the same thing to Asbel regarding Sophie, yet in the end he still can't believe it for himself. ]

... I don't know how to live any other way.

[That's perhaps the most painfully honest thing he's ever admitted.]

[musubi]

Then you'll just have to do the best you can.

...Hang on, let me... [He digs around in his pocket, finally pulling out a ring, all sterling silver with a demonic face crafted onto it. He frowns.]

Eh. It's a little gaudy, but I always kinda liked it anyway. Went with my belt buckle. [He holds his hand out with the ring in it.]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard looks hesitant for a moment-- can he really accept something like this? But at last he does hold out his hand to take it, lips quirking up into a slight smile. ]

I think it suits you. I'm not sure it suits me quite as well, but I'll treasure it nonetheless. Thank you, Isamu.

[And he really, truly means it.]

[musubi]

[Isamu smirks.] Yeah, I know. It suits my monstrous personality.

[He pats Richard on the leg.] ...It's starting to get pretty cold, though. I really should get you back inside.

[ledbythewind]

Is that offer of tea still good?

[Because now that Isamu mentions it, it IS rather cold outside, and Richard doesn't exactly have much in the way of natural insulation.

But instead of moving to stand, he just... sits there for a moment, ring still held in his palm, not entirely sure what to do with it. Should he put it in his pocket? Should he put it on? WHAT DO?]

[musubi]

I dunno. You might have missed your chance there.

[Isamu does stand, but waits with his hands in his pockets.]

[ledbythewind]

In other words, I'm going to have to make it myself if I want any.

[Putting it in his pocket might make it seem like he doesn't care as much as he should... would putting it on his right hand be okay? But which finger?

... yes, he really is overthinking this that much.]

[musubi]

Nah, I can do it.

[He watches Richard a little longer, finally raising an eyebrow.]

Just stuff it in your pocket if you want. We can get a chain or something later.

[ledbythewind]

I'd rather not risk losing it.

[At last he settles for sliding it onto the ring finger of his right hand, since it's a little too small to fit comfortably on his middle finger the way Isamu himself used to wear it. There. Now it won't get lost.]

[musubi]

Classy.

[Isamu keeps on smirking and pats him on the shoulder.]

Up you go.

[ledbythewind]

Or would you prefer that I wore it on the other hand?

[You asked for that one, Isamu.]