[Hubert isn't a particularly deep sleeper. Thus, he jolts awake when he hears the yell, springs out of bed and dashes past the door (never mind that he's in night wear, proper clothes can wait for once) to search for the source when he stops short of seeing Richard in front of Asbel's door.
He comes to a complete stop a couple feet away. Hubert is silent for a good few seconds before he speaks up, quietly.]
[The sound of Hubert's voice jolts Richard out of his thoughts and he whirls to face the other man, surprised and desperately searching for an excuse as to why he's standing in front of Asbel's door in the middle of the night. None of the things he can come up with don't sound at least slightly damning.
What is clear, however, is that he looks... unusually pale and flustered.]
[The question, as well as complexion, confirms that it was indeed Richard who cried out earlier. Being in front of Asbel's door can mean only one thing: They are close friends, after all.]
[NOT LIKE THAT, OKAY. Hubert rests a hand on his side, but then lets it slide off when he figures the gesture would make him seem stiffer than he intends. Well, if Asbel is asleep and Richard's hesitant about knocking, the least Hubert can do is hear him out.]
[Fortunately, Richard isn't even looking at Hubert to see that gesture. Torn, he sighs deeply before giving a light, bitter chuckle. He can't really deny it, not after screaming like that.]
[Now what? He fixes his glasses, which he'd put on haphazardly in the midst of his rush around the house. It would be wrong of him to pry when Richard meant to talk it out with Asbel, among other reasons.]
More than a year later, and I still can't stop dreaming about it.
[There's a definite self-deprecating note to that statement, as if he should somehow be able to control his own dreams. He should, shouldn't he? It's over. He shouldn't still be so bothered by it.]
[No longer His Highness -- not since the last couple of months, and it's about time he stopped using that old address and proceeded fully to the next. Richard is His Majesty the King of Windol. His late father has been out of the picture since that very moment Richard ascended to kingship.
But the memories are always there, aren't they? As well as the guilt.]
[ action ] oh yeah should probably mention this thread is getting spoilery. :|bledbythewindJuly 25 2011, 03:56:08 UTC
Regrets... [Another laugh.] It's ironic, isn't it? I said I would make my uncle regret what he did to me, but all that did was leave me with regret for what I did to him in return.
[He'd thought it would make him feel better. And, for a short time, it had, as he'd relished in his uncle finally feeling that same pain that had been dealt to him for years. But then, when Lambda was no longer influencing him, and the realization that he had delighted in another person's suffering had set in...]
He comes to a complete stop a couple feet away. Hubert is silent for a good few seconds before he speaks up, quietly.]
Your Highness. Did you . . . ?
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What is clear, however, is that he looks... unusually pale and flustered.]
I'm sorry, did I wake you?
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Is Brother awake?
[As in, have you knocked yet?]
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I'm not sure. But it's all right; I'll just let him sleep if he isn't.
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What happened? If I may.
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... I had a bad dream.
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[Now what? He fixes his glasses, which he'd put on haphazardly in the midst of his rush around the house. It would be wrong of him to pry when Richard meant to talk it out with Asbel, among other reasons.]
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[There's a definite self-deprecating note to that statement, as if he should somehow be able to control his own dreams. He should, shouldn't he? It's over. He shouldn't still be so bothered by it.]
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Yes. A year isn't that long a time, in retrospect.]
You say that as though it were your fault.
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And if I said it was?
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What do you mean?
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Perhaps what?
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[His voice is quiet as he says this, and he's deliberately avoiding looking at Hubert for the moment.]
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Your Majesty.
[No longer His Highness -- not since the last couple of months, and it's about time he stopped using that old address and proceeded fully to the next. Richard is His Majesty the King of Windol. His late father has been out of the picture since that very moment Richard ascended to kingship.
But the memories are always there, aren't they? As well as the guilt.]
We all live with regrets.
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[He'd thought it would make him feel better. And, for a short time, it had, as he'd relished in his uncle finally feeling that same pain that had been dealt to him for years. But then, when Lambda was no longer influencing him, and the realization that he had delighted in another person's suffering had set in...]
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