Below...

[warriormayhew]

I want to go home.

I realized today how much I miss London Below. I was just beginning to feel at home there, to know my way around, to figure out how things worked. And now... I just... It seems I've been gone so long. I know I haven't, and I hadn't actually stayed there long, but...

It's home. And I miss it.

Comments

[cat_and_mice]

"I didn't know you'd come to think of it as home."

[warriormayhew]

"I didn't either. But I'm certainly feeling homesick." He smiles wryly.

[cat_and_mice]

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel similarly," he admits. "But I pride myself on being flexible. I can't imagine leaving London Below permanently, but we have a home here, as well. If we want it."

[warriormayhew]

He nods. "I do like it here. It's just... it doesn't feel right."

[cat_and_mice]

"It's strange when you first realize that a normal home feels wrong," he says softly. "You're not the first, believe me." He smiles. "I believe I could think of any place as home, given time and the right circumstances- but people like us, we belong to the world Below."

[warriormayhew]

"And it's not the first time it's happened to me, remember?" He smiles ruefully. "The feeling of security is welcome, but..." He shakes his head.

[cat_and_mice]

Richard gets a matching smile in return. "Well, you never did tell me why you came back, except that it was for us."

[warriormayhew]

He shrugs. "My life was boring. Deathly dull. And it wouldn't change."

[cat_and_mice]

"So you preferred possibly fatal doses of excitement?"

[warriormayhew]

"I prefered a world where I felt I could do something. Something important."

[cat_and_mice]

He smiles. "And are you happy now, Richard?"

[warriormayhew]

"Yes. I think I am." He smiles slightly.

[cat_and_mice]

"Can you be happy here a while longer? Until things are... taken care of?"

[warriormayhew]

"I can try. I'm not going to go off foolishly, you know."

[cat_and_mice]

"I should hope not."

[warriormayhew]

"Unlike some people I could mention," he mutters under his breath.