003;

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[he's been dropping onto the Plane at random points in time over the last week. Richter never stayed long, only enough to go through various areas - the library, the kitchen and, on occasion, the forest - before returning to his prison. As the days pass, his demeanor grows steadily more distressed.

It can't be.

As the half-elf's distress grows, his pace seems to pick up as well... It wasn't much longer before he caved to the pressure. Reaching out to the nearest passerby, Richter asks;]

Have you seen a young man pass through? Blond, green eyes.... He should be wearing a lab coat.

[and while Richter keeps his voice steady, there's a noticeable tension in his posture. As if he was trying to brace himself for whatever news he would receive (if any at all)]

Comments

[foundmyarms.livejournal.com]

[John just happens to be that nearest passer-by. Being relatively new, he still hasn't met everyone on the plane, and he certainly hasn't met anyone matching that description. But this guy looks like he really needs an answer, and John won't just leave him alone like that.]

No, sorry, I haven't. But I can help you look for him!

[Watch out, Richter. You've just attracted the attention of a goofball friendleader.]

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[oh goddess, like Richter needs more of John-type people in his life...

He flinches at the answer (but maybe this boy just missed Aster, it's okay, it's okay) before replying a bit gruffly]

It's... fine. You don't have to trouble yourself.

[Richter, on the other hand, does not sound 'fine' at all]

[foundmyarms.livejournal.com]

It's okay, I don't mind helping. Two heads are better than one, right?

And don't look so down! I might have just missed him before. Now that I know what he looks like I can look for him specifically.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[green eyes harden for a moment at the 'down' comment. He wasn't in the mood to hear something like that]

... So? What are the chances of us running into each other again? You said you haven't seen him. That's enough.


[/jerk]

[foundmyarms.livejournal.com]

[Your jerk ways will not affect Mr. Optimistic here. He will help out even if Richter doesn't want help.]

Well, now that I've met you, I can remember what you look like and find you again if I see him. Or, better yet, if you tell me your name then if I see him I'll tell him you're looking for him, and I could even bring him back to you.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[... that last line hurt to hear more than Richter expected it to. 'Bring him back to you'... Heh]

Richter. If you into a kid named 'Aster' just... [pause, then he shakes his head] No, forget it. Thanks for the offer, but I'll manage. Somehow.

[foundmyarms.livejournal.com]

Too late, I'm not going to forget it. I'll keep an eye out for Aster.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[a puff of air] You're one of those types, huh? What did I get myself into?

Do as you like.

[foundmyarms.livejournal.com]

Alright, I will. And don't be a stranger, ok?

[Because he will totally make friends with Richter just wait and watch.]

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

Hmph.

[like Richter cares and he walks away without another word. 8| DO YOUR worst BEST, CHIPPER YOUR]

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies shakes her head, wondering why he looks so upset] Not on the Plane, sorry. [she adds rather dubiously:] Don't tell me people from here are going missing now.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[he grimaces before taking a deep breath to collect himself]

I wouldn't know. It's hard enough to tell whether people just returned to their world for an extended stay or if they're actually gone here.

[truth! But it doesn't help him at all]

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods] With this place being what it is, I bet there are more than a few people doing just that. [that's her attempt at being reassuring. it isn't exactly her strong suit] But I take it the person in question isn't from your world?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[he recognizes the attempt for what it is and... finds that he appreciates it even if it did nothing to ease his anxiety]

He's- [stop, then quietly;] No, he's from the same world as me...

[grip_on_reality]

[surprised] Then once you're done asking around here, I'd try there. See if he's just taking a holiday from this place.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[she might as well have punched him in the gut with that line with how pained his expression was]

That- [he falters then takes a breath to collect himself] It's fine, don't worry about it.

[grip_on_reality]

[she frowns, getting the distinct impression that checking for him back home is not an option. damn] Well, I'll keep an eye out for him. What's his name?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

... Aster. His name's Aster. [a pause] There's another kid here who looks [exactly] a lot like him.

[fidget, then quietly;] Thank you.

[grip_on_reality]

[she shakes her head] I've not seen either of 'em, but there are a lot of people about. [she pulls her notepad out of her pocket, writing down the information Richter has given her]

[but she smiles wryly at his thanks] I've never been one to leave my work at work. Detective Inspector Patricia Menzies. You?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[Richter looks at the notebook in her hand idly before replying]

Richter. [pause, because what? Is fate going to actually treat him kindly today?] Even if you don't find him, I'd appreciate any information.

[grip_on_reality]

[she nods, putting the notepad back in her pocket] I'll let you know.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[his nod is slower, more subdued. But with that confirmation, Richter drops off the Plane again]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Marta watches Richter from a distance, for a while. Something's amiss... and after a very long moment of hesitation, she does step forward.]

... You mean Aster. Don't you?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[INSTANTLY HEARTBROKEN EXPRESSION SOB I mean-]

...

[he doesn't want to talk to Marta about this but Goddess if anyone might have an answer]

Yes.

[like he could be this frantic about anyone else]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[SHE SEES THAT HEARTBREAK! It just does not quite compute so she's not exactly sure what she's seeing. Still, she gets the feeling she should maybe not be so confrontational right now...]

I... I haven't seen him. Not lately. [She thinks about that for a second, and then frowns.] Do you think he's alright?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[Richter will accept this small grace he has been given]

I don't know. [his hands clench into fists as he shakes his head] Last time I spoke with him, he said he could use healing artes... He did use healing artes.

[and the only reason Richter tells this to Marta of all people is because she could use those spells too, even though she was human. Surely she could understand the implications of it all]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes go wide. Of course she understands the implications.]

Healing artes... I wonder, do you think that maybe the Plane...?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

That's what I was assuming. From what I've been told, it sounded like something similar to an experiment... But Aster didn't tell me the full story, so I can't say for sure.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Well, Marta still has no idea what happened during the whole of the candy and uncandy bit other than Emil fessing up to being a monster for a brief time, so she's in the dark. Heck, she doesn't even know how exactly it ended for Emil, let alone what happened to Aster...]

Maybe he's hiding, then. Maybe the experiment is more than just healing artes, so maybe he's afraid? [pause] Are you sure he's not in the library?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[Richter meanwhile has a hunch he does not want about Emil and Aster... But when does he not?]

[at the notion of Aster being afraid of the healing artes (or of anything an experiment threw at him) Richter laughs. Though it sounds more like a scoff with how strangled it was... All the same, he sobers up immediately]

"Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality"... He wouldn't run from something like this. [he wouldn't run from a lot of things]

And I wouldn't be here if he was there.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She gives him a bit of a Look™ in response to his Attitude™... but lets it slide otherwise.]

That's true. I'll start looking, too. I hope he's okay...

[Unless... ... She hesitates, but then again, it may be something Richter already knows.] Richter... you know that sometimes the Plane sends people back, right? And they don't know anything about here anymore?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[dealwithit.jpg-- Oh goddess, why did you need to confirm it?]

...

[and that... That was so much worse, so much worse than when he first realized that Emil was Ratatosk with Aster's face. The tension seeps out of his body and he visibly folds in on himself. There was no one to blame this time, no anger or indignation to distract himself from the grief that came with the prospect of having to lose Aster again]

He... [Richter raises a hand to his face as he turns his face down so he wouldn't have to see Marta (or, really, anything at all). It takes a couple of tries before he grounds out;] He's dead, Marta. There's nothing for him to be sent back to!

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Okay, Marta's turn to get angry. She clenches her fists by her side, spins on her heels and faces the other direction. Her eyes are squeezed shut, probably because she's trying not to cry.]

I know that! Okay?! I do! I just... [He was here, and they could have been friends, which makes it hard to really grasp that someone is dead. Of course she knew, but it's just one of those things she pushed away, didn't want to face or accept...]

It's not necessarily true! Maybe he's still here, so I'm going to go look! Are you going to look too, or are you going to keep snapping at me?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[it takes him a while before he can even bring himself to reply without snapping all together. Richter takes a shaky breath, mutters something too quietly to be heard before lowering his hand. The expression on his face isn't quite as heartbroken just... resigned. He's so tired of this]

...

[as he turns to leave;] If you find him before I do, leave a note by the entrance of the library.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Fine!

[And so she goes. Though she's practically on the verge of stomping at first, her worry for Aster begins to push her anger away and she eventually just runs off.]

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[he listens to her runoff before returning to search himself, even if everything was pointing towards only one conclusion]

[dissedthesonic.livejournal.com]

[frowns, slowly shaking his head] No... No, I don't think have done. [he notices the man's posture and wonders why] Is he a friend of yours?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[for a second, a pained expression passes over his face before he gets his emotions under control and replaces it with an irritated look] 'Tch.

[the question catches Richter just as he turns to walk away] ... He's a friend.

[dissedthesonic.livejournal.com]

[yeah, he can't help noticing that] I'm sorry. Maybe...maybe I can help. Erm...[he trails off, trying to think of what they could do] Oh, what about the post box? Have you tried to send him a letter?

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

You've got nothing to apologize for. [/short

But he looks up at the mention of the post box] No, I haven't. Not yet, anyway. [some morbid part of him laughs at the idea of sending letters to the dead but...]

Where do I find that post box?

[dissedthesonic.livejournal.com]

It's... [looks around. sometimes, it seems like things move on him, but then again, that could just be the stars giving him that impression] Ah, I think it's this way. [points towards the ballroom] I can show you if you'd like.

[enduringwinter.livejournal.com]

[Richter watches carefully. His concern for Aster (which was bordering frantic when he'd first started the conversation) was being tempered by the usual wariness he had around people. It was easier to function when he had distractions...]

If you wouldn't mind.

[he still looked like he was fraying at the seams]

[dissedthesonic.livejournal.com]

[Rory keeps his voice reassuring and calm. (he's always been known for his pleasant bedside manner at work)] Yeah, sure! Come with me.

[and he heads off to the postbox! too bad he doesn't have anything to post himself, he doesn't visit it often--and anyway, he has no one to send something to.] Oh, and don't worry if your mate hasn't got a postbox or anything. Anything sent through here always seems to find the person it's intended for, it seems.