drawnbythesword | 08 [Voice]

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08 [Voice]

[Filtered to Hubert, Sophie, Richard, and Pascal | 50% unhackable]

Lambda's gone.

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...I'd heard of it happening before, but this is the first time it's personally happened to me... What... [There's a hint of hesitation and sadness in his voice.] ...What exactly happens to someone who's sent away from here?

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[Sorry, Asbel, but if you want to give Richard that message, you're going to have to come tell him yourself-- he hasn't really been paying much attention to his journal at all lately. In fact, he's been spending most of his time asleep and recovering from the injuries he received in that fight, which is what he's doing right now.]

[After a while of not receiving a reply from Richard, Asbel decides to go check on him. Not just because he didn't reply, granted. They all need to make sure Richard is okay. He sustained some nasty wounds, after all, and not even healing magic will fully take care of them.

So here comes Asbel, knocking on the door of the room in Asbel's house they gave Richard to recuperate in.]

Richard?

[That knock on the door stirs him from slumber; blinking groggily, he makes a very careful attempt to sit up against the pillows, mindful of his injuries. Might as well at least try to look less out of it for any guests... though he's hoping Pascal isn't with Asbel, as he really can't deal with her energy level right now.]

Come in.

[Asbel opens the door, stepping inside. He takes notice of Richard's state, noting, he, well... still looks half asleep.]

Ah- Did I disturb you from your sleep?

No, it's all right. I've slept more than enough lately.

[Well... Richard's mood seems to be better than it has been the past couple weeks. It's been a while since he's seen Richard smile at him like that.]

How are your injuries?

[And sitting up a little more to show Asbel that he's doing just fine.]

Still sore, but thanks to everyone's help, I should recover quickly. And Sophie?

That's good... Sophie's fine. I'm sure she's still a little shaken up, but she's recovering fine.

I'm glad.

[He closes his eyes and leans back on the pillows.]

I'm sorry that I caused you so much trouble. I just wanted to protect her...

Please, Richard, don't apologize. [He steps forward now.]

I'm not happy you were hurt because of it, but... Nothing I do or say can possibly express how grateful I am that you did that for Sophie.

... is that really enough?

[It's half to himself.]

I promised Sophie I would always protect her, but... I purposely left her behind just moments before she was attacked... If you hadn't been there, she could have died. The fact that you were able to put what happened at home behind you and willingly protect Sophie means the world to me, Richard. And I'm sure she feels the same.

The pain I inflicted on her was far worse than the injuries I received protecting her. How can I possibly atone with just this alone?

Richard... Why did you protect Sophie?

... because I didn't want her to get hurt again.

I think the feelings contained in doing that say much more to Sophie than just doing it.

But... it doesn't seem like Sophie forgiving you matters, because you refuse to forgive yourself.

...

[Well, he can't really deny that, so instead he just looks away.]

Why do you continue to beat yourself up over this?

You know, Asbel... I may not have been able to do much, but I'm glad. I'm glad that I was able to protect Sophie, even if just for a moment.

[Subject change? Perhaps.]

...Ah, well... Protecting her doesn't have to end there, Richard.

[Damn you, Richard.]

That's why I need to become stronger, so that next time, I'll be able to do it on my own.

...Remember, we're all here for each other. We'll protect you just as you'll protect us. [But I'll do it best. |8]

You've done more than enough of that already, Asbel. I'm truly grateful for it.

[He shakes his head.]

No, I haven't done enough, not yet.

And how many times have you saved me so far?

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