[Voice/Action]

[ledbythewind]

[It started out as a normal day-- if it can be called "normal" considering that two of his housemates are currently about eight years younger than usual, but fairly uneventful regardless. The "keep Asbel from getting himself or Hubert killed" duties were passed back and forth between him and Cheria as needed until finally he managed to escape and

Comments

action;

[outbranch]

[Hubert hasn't received the news yet, if only because he's sitting on the cough, reading back -- through the journal, that is. The idea that one can communicate with others with a book is fascinating, and he's basically become addicted since he got some free time. As a result, he's a little too engrossed in the journal and may not hear Richard approaching at first. He hasn't quite gotten to Richard's entry yet.]

action;

[ledbythewind]

[It takes Richard a bit of searching to find Hubert, although really, the living room should have been one of the first places he looked. Still, the fact that the boy seems to be in a relatively calm mood would indicate that he hasn't reached the entry Richard just made... yet. Good. Richard would far prefer to tell him in person.]

Finding anything interesting so far, Hubert?

action;

[outbranch]

[Even now, Hubert finds the thought of grown up friends both bewildering and fascinating, and he almost jumps out of his seat when he hears Richard's voice. He looks up with a weak smile, then turns back to the journal.]

Everything about it is interesting, really . . . [He blinks.] Ah, I didn't realize you made something just now.

action; the best part is I am tagging this while sitting with a friend dressed as Hubert

[ledbythewind]

[Richard manages a little smile at that... Hubert always was the perceptive one of the two brothers.]

Yes, in fact, I was just coming to speak to you about that.

action; your friend should write his tags for me

[outbranch]

[There's an obvious shift in mood at that, and Hubert lowers the book, suddenly feeling meeker with nothing between Richard and himself. There's nothing wrong with Richard, but it's odd to still be around "older" versions of people he knows.]

What is it?

action; ... LOL I really don't think you would want that

[ledbythewind]

[Richard inhales just slightly to steady himself, averting his eyes out of nervous habit as he does so. At least Hubert will likely take this better than Asbel, if only because he's more logical and less prone to acting on emotions.]

... Sophie has been sent back to our world.

action; You never know, it could be beautiful . . . !

[outbranch]

[Hubert pauses, taking him in the news. It's still an odd concept to refer to this place and where they're from as another world entirely, so he rephrases it to something he finds himself more comfortable with.]

You mean . . . she went back home?

action; NOT WITH ANNIE.

[ledbythewind]

That's right. She'll be safe from the Malnosso now.

[He's trying to sound happier about this than he feels right now, but Hubert might be able to see through his act.]

action; YOU SURE ABOUT THAT.

[outbranch]

[He nods softly.]

Yeah . . .

[Then he looks up at Richard.]

Um, are you going to be all right?

action; QUITE.

[ledbythewind]

Will I...?

[For just the briefest moment, Richard looks taken aback before his expression shifts into a practiced smile. Always the wearer of masks, Richard is.]

Yes, I'll be just fine. This is what's best for Sophie, after all.

action;

[outbranch]

[Hubert glances at the floor.]

It's still sad to see friends go.

[And they didn't even get to say goodbye for this time.]

action;

[ledbythewind]

But it isn't as if this is goodbye forever.

action;

[outbranch]

I guess not . . .

[But maybe it will be, for Hubert. Can he ever go back to Lhant?]

I wish I could have said something before she left, though.

action;

[ledbythewind]

If there's something you'd really like to say, you can always write it in a letter and leave it somewhere that only Sophie would know where to look.

[Never mind that he... still doesn't know whether or not Asbel ever found the letter he left beneath the tree.]

action;

[outbranch]

Somewhere that only Sophie would know . . . ?

[He doubts such a place exists. Probably, Asbel would know about it too, though Hubert isn't concerned about that.

He just would have liked to say "bye," at least.]

action;

[ledbythewind]

Yes. I'm sure we can think of one together.