[She considered a letter, but that's a little too personal than she wants to get. Instead she'll just write him a little one-on-one thing on the journal.]
Hey, Isamu. I thought about just leaving things be since you didn't want to do this pen pal thing, but I don't want that weird rabbit hassling me to contact you. Once a month shouldn't be so bad though, right? I guess I should ask you what you're up to, or something like that. Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Guess we all better watch out for an experiment, huh? Have any plans? Never mind, I don't care.
Aw, you're being all friendly and everything. That's cute.
Okay, I'll bite. Personally I was just planning on collecting food and locking it away in advance, then not eating anything else for about a week. And also wearing a blindfold. I'll let you know how that last part works out.
That actually sounds funny. Keep me updated on how many buildings you crash into, all right? And if you're suddenly in love - well I guess I could find that funny somehow too. But if you're hiding from everyone I guess you don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend to try and be with?
[He's kept his promise. He taught Asbel how to treat a lady properly so that, with any luck, he and Cheria will be able to have a nice Valentine's Day together and FINALLY admit their feelings for each other. They can finally be happy together.
They don't need him anymore.
And with the thought of Valentine's Day comes a sinking feeling of dread that only grows worse the closer the date gets-- he's been diligently avoiding the journals and staying in his room as much as possible, but even then he's worried that might not be enough. At last, he decides he has to do something.
When Isamu awakens that morning, he'll find the bed empty, a note on the nightstand reading I'll be back in a week or so once this is all over. Please don't come looking for me; I'll be fine. Keep an eye on Asbel and Cheria for me.
He'll be fine. Maybe if he tells himself that enough, he will be.]
[Oh, Richard will read all of those messages, he just won't be responding. Unfortunately, reading them only serves to make him even more lonely than he already is, and he's torn-- at the same time he desperately wants to be alone, that's also the last thing he wants in other respects.
He's not sure what to do.
So he won't do anything at all. Those messages will remain unanswered for the entire week, and there won't be any sign of him anywhere.]
[...So someone's post reminded her to check up on the guy. She hadn't forgotten! Honest! ...Okay so maybe she did.]
Hey, you. How was your Valentine's? This one wasn't so bad for me. I wonder if it might be Karma or maybe I've already been screwed over enough. Do you stay inside a lot? I don't think I see you out that often.
[Still looking around the room until... aha, there it is, over on a chair. Richard's quick to go pick it up, then return to Isamu and set it on his head with a smile before taking a step back to admire it.]
There, perfect. That's exactly what was missing.
[Once again, he isn't sure why; it's just a feeling he has. But the hat looks right, so who is he to complain?
That done, he wavers for a moment, fighting back a rising urge to do something else besides just put that hat on Isamu's head. At last he gives in and leans in to press a brief kiss to the other man's lips, because that's what married couples do, isn't it?]
[It's been more than a week since they returned from the draft. More than a week, but the physical and mental effects still linger, and Richard suspects they will for quite some time. He's spent most of the past several days just resting with Isamu while his friend recovered from the physical damage caused by the virus, in part because he doesn't want Isamu to be out of his sight for too long. It's an irrational fear and he knows it, but after what they went through, it seems just that much more of a possibility.
They've both been having nightmares. More than once, in an ironic reversal of the usual situation, he's been awakened by Isamu thrashing and crying out in his sleep. He's taken to sleeping with his arms wrapped around the other young man's waist, curled up against him, as much to reassure himself as to soothe Isamu.
He's barely been checking his journal lately, but as fortune would have it, he opened it just in time to see Vivi's announcement of Nami being sent home. That is the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back. He can't take this anymore.
He'll wait until he's sure Isamu is fast asleep to slip out for a little while, just long enough to make his way to Good Spirits and ask for the biggest bottles of Going Merry he can carry-- one for him and one for Isamu, because hell if they don't both need it right about now.
By the time Isamu wakes up, he'll be back in his pajamas and curled up in bed, bottles sitting on the nightstand. If he gets his way, he has no intentions of being sober for the next... well, forever would be good.]
When he lays back down in bed, he'll find Isamu's eyes cracked open and staring sleepily at him. His absence was notable enough to filter through Isamu's subconscious and waken him, leaving him worried until the bond's return.
He's aware the feeling is irrational, of course. Richard is free to go wherever he wants. That's the only reason he hadn't gotten up to go looking.
[Richard's first (and logical) assumption is that he hadn't been quite as quiet when it came to coming in and undressing as he'd thought, and that he'd ended up awakening Isamu somewhere in that process, or perhaps just by climbing back into bed. He offers his friend a faint, apologetic little smile as he curls close again, glad for Isamu's warmth after the chill of the air outside.]
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. You can go back to sleep.
[He's so grateful that he doesn't even protest the hug. He still has experience being a cook and waiter, after all. He should be able to handle this. And while he's doing that he'll have more time to think and figure out exactly what's going on.
If anyone would treat his servants well, it would be Richard. Once again, he's lucked out on this.]
[At least this Richard seems to have an appetite, which is a plus right there. Lack of memories aside, he seems to be still himself in most respects. Whatever the Malnosso have done to him for this experiment, it doesn't seem to have altered his personality that much... that is, not in any ways that are immediately obvious.
Once they reach the kitchen, Isamu will busy himself finding out where everything is located. And this is a huge kitchen. Seventh Heaven probably doesn't have as much work space.]
[That is one thing Richard does not need to be told to do. He's clinging onto the harness for dear life and just trying to remember how to breathe, because that's suddenly become rather difficult.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thinks he sees a vague blue blur that must be the planet out the window of the pod. It's hard to tell, though; for all he knows, it could be a lake or something. Or the sky. He can't even tell whether they're still in the atmosphere right now or not.
[It's been a long time since Isamu's been on a ride like this one - mostly because he's been in Luceti. It's a good rush, and he figures he can take the rest of it if it continues to be like this. This is bearable.
Not that he's going to move much to see how Richard's handling it. He's clinging to his harness just as hard.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Written, Feb. 12]
Hey, Isamu. I thought about just leaving things be since you didn't want to do this pen pal thing, but I don't want that weird rabbit hassling me to contact you. Once a month shouldn't be so bad though, right? I guess I should ask you what you're up to, or something like that. Valentine's Day is coming up soon. Guess we all better watch out for an experiment, huh?
Have any plans?Never mind, I don't care.Anyway, good luck with that.
~Winry Rockbell
[Written, Feb. 12]
Okay, I'll bite. Personally I was just planning on collecting food and locking it away in advance, then not eating anything else for about a week. And also wearing a blindfold. I'll let you know how that last part works out.
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No, but with my luck I'd end up making out with Richard or something, since we have the most contact. If he hasn't run off, which he probably will.
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[Action, Feb. 14]
They don't need him anymore.
And with the thought of Valentine's Day comes a sinking feeling of dread that only grows worse the closer the date gets-- he's been diligently avoiding the journals and staying in his room as much as possible, but even then he's worried that might not be enough. At last, he decides he has to do something.
When Isamu awakens that morning, he'll find the bed empty, a note on the nightstand reading I'll be back in a week or so once this is all over. Please don't come looking for me; I'll be fine. Keep an eye on Asbel and Cheria for me.
He'll be fine. Maybe if he tells himself that enough, he will be.]
[Action, Feb. 14]
Isamu isn't going to be happy to find this note, and you can bet he'll spam the hell out of his friend's journal with private messages for a while.
But honestly, he understands. As long as the blonde isn't gone TOO long, Richard won't come after him.]
[Action, Feb. 14-23]
He's not sure what to do.
So he won't do anything at all. Those messages will remain unanswered for the entire week, and there won't be any sign of him anywhere.]
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[Written, Mar. 9th]
Hey, you. How was your Valentine's? This one wasn't so bad for me. I wonder if it might be Karma or maybe I've already been screwed over enough. Do you stay inside a lot? I don't think I see you out that often.
[Written, Mar. 9th]
My Valentines wasn't so bad. Got a few bruises from running into things due to being blindfolded, but that's about it. Looks like we got off easy.
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[continued]
Oh! My hat!
[THE CARD SAID THIS WAS IMPORTANT.]
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[Still looking around the room until... aha, there it is, over on a chair. Richard's quick to go pick it up, then return to Isamu and set it on his head with a smile before taking a step back to admire it.]
There, perfect. That's exactly what was missing.
[Once again, he isn't sure why; it's just a feeling he has. But the hat looks right, so who is he to complain?
That done, he wavers for a moment, fighting back a rising urge to do something else besides just put that hat on Isamu's head. At last he gives in and leans in to press a brief kiss to the other man's lips, because that's what married couples do, isn't it?]
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He isn't expecting the kiss, though. He stands there blinking for a moment. That shouldn't be weird though, right? Them being married and all?
Though it doesn't feel strange to think it.]
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[He's not really all that terrible, but Isamu starts snickering again anyway.]
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What do you think?
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[Action, November 10th]
They've both been having nightmares. More than once, in an ironic reversal of the usual situation, he's been awakened by Isamu thrashing and crying out in his sleep. He's taken to sleeping with his arms wrapped around the other young man's waist, curled up against him, as much to reassure himself as to soothe Isamu.
He's barely been checking his journal lately, but as fortune would have it, he opened it just in time to see Vivi's announcement of Nami being sent home. That is the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back. He can't take this anymore.
He'll wait until he's sure Isamu is fast asleep to slip out for a little while, just long enough to make his way to Good Spirits and ask for the biggest bottles of Going Merry he can carry-- one for him and one for Isamu, because hell if they don't both need it right about now.
By the time Isamu wakes up, he'll be back in his pajamas and curled up in bed, bottles sitting on the nightstand. If he gets his way, he has no intentions of being sober for the next... well, forever would be good.]
[Action, November 10th]
When he lays back down in bed, he'll find Isamu's eyes cracked open and staring sleepily at him. His absence was notable enough to filter through Isamu's subconscious and waken him, leaving him worried until the bond's return.
He's aware the feeling is irrational, of course. Richard is free to go wherever he wants. That's the only reason he hadn't gotten up to go looking.
Still, a warning might have been nice.]
[Action, November 10th]
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up. You can go back to sleep.
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If you think I need it, boss.
[He's so grateful that he doesn't even protest the hug. He still has experience being a cook and waiter, after all. He should be able to handle this. And while he's doing that he'll have more time to think and figure out exactly what's going on.
If anyone would treat his servants well, it would be Richard. Once again, he's lucked out on this.]
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[At least this Richard seems to have an appetite, which is a plus right there. Lack of memories aside, he seems to be still himself in most respects. Whatever the Malnosso have done to him for this experiment, it doesn't seem to have altered his personality that much... that is, not in any ways that are immediately obvious.
Thank goodness for small blessings?]
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Once they reach the kitchen, Isamu will busy himself finding out where everything is located. And this is a huge kitchen. Seventh Heaven probably doesn't have as much work space.]
What did you want to drink?
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[Malnosso Land continued]
Hold on, man!
[Isamu yells this with a laugh, hoping he can keep up the good spirits throughout the whole ride.]
[Malnosso Land continued]
Out of the corner of his eye, he thinks he sees a vague blue blur that must be the planet out the window of the pod. It's hard to tell, though; for all he knows, it could be a lake or something. Or the sky. He can't even tell whether they're still in the atmosphere right now or not.
... stop the ride, he wants to get off.]
[Malnosso Land continued]
Not that he's going to move much to see how Richard's handling it. He's clinging to his harness just as hard.]
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