drawnbythesword | 15 [Action]

[It was two weeks he was gone. Two weeks ago Asbel departed from Luceti to go on a mission. It wasn't anything too out of the ordinary. A simple mission off to the mountains to combat third party soldiers. If there was one thing Asbel knew how to do well, it was fight. Not that the mission went off without a hitch, but... Well, it was successful, at least.

Asbel walks through the plaza towards his house, his white coat draped over his shoulders instead of being worn, and his left arm is hanging in a makeshift sling. He probably should stop by the clinic to get that treated properly, but... Well, he's more concerned with getting home to everyone first. He wants to see Cheria and Richard again. If you spot him in the plaza, you're certainly free to inquire and perhaps try to get him to go to the clinic, but...

Regardless of what happens in the plaza, Asbel soon arrives at his house, calmly opening the door as he steps inside.]

Cheria, Richard, Isamu... ...I'm home. [He's looking pretty beat, and there's that whole arm issue, but... he's home.]

---
[Voice]
[Sometime later, after recouping a bit, Asbel pulls out his journal, wanting a few answers. Two weeks is a long time to be away in a village where things can change overnight.]

Did something happen in the village while I was gone? It looks like something went down at the Battle Dome.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It was two years for me on the 21st, not counting the times I returned to our world.

It was only a year before they got me...

[Richard just shifts slightly until he's resting his forehead against Asbel's good shoulder with a soft sound. He's not going to say anything, but he feels much more secure with Asbel around.]

...Richard?

... I'm sorry. You shouldn't be worrying about me while you're injured.

[Asbel just gives you the biggest lineface ever.]

You honestly expect me to not worry about you after telling me to not worry?

There are other people far more deserving of your concern than I.

Even if that's the case, then I'll just give all of them and you my concern.

Asbel...

[Richard isn't sure what to say in response to this. One thing that's become abundantly clear to him during his time both here in Luceti and in his world is that he's not like Asbel-- he doesn't face things the same way the other does, and his opinions and reactions are colored by his life experiences, which have been almost the opposite of his friend's. He's not sure he can ever be like Asbel, even as much as he wants to be. Maybe they're just too different.]

...Richard? [What's on your mind, bro? He can tell when you're in trouble, not what you're thinking.]

... you really are an amazing person.

[That much, at least, is the truth.]

Not at all. [He doesn't agree with you.]

[... and it's time for a subject change before Asbel starts trying to urge him to talk about what he's feeling, because he's getting a sense that the conversation was about to take a turn in that direction.]

How are things going with Cheria?

[Conversation diverted!]

Eh? Cheria? Ah- w-well...

Don't tell me you haven't made any progress since Valentine's Day.

N-no, we have! But... we're taking it slow. We don't want to rush things. [At least, he doesn't.]

[Oh Asbel. He'll be amazed if you two even kiss again before summer.]

There is a rather broad spectrum between rushing things and making no progress at all.

But we are making progress...

Oh? And just what progress have you made?

Well... [Give him a moment.]

[He's waiting.]

Well... We had a nice time together on our last date...

You went on another date with her without telling me about it? What am I going to do with you?