Asbel broke off the staring contest, his gaze falling to one side the same way his frown did. This was bad. What was Richard's doppel...no, the former Hero of Light, doing in a place like Aqures Ixen? Asbel had to have left an embarrassing impression on him the last time they'd met, and he found himself at a complete loss for what to say or do now. He couldn't just walk away, though. He was still Richard, and he might even be in trouble if he'd come all the way here from Flence.

He hated to admit it to himself, but being forgotten hurt a lot more than he'd ever thought it could. Of course it wasn't Richard's fault - he hadn't done anything wrong! - but it still hurt. Asbel was about to stumble his way through an awkward greeting when the other man spoke up first.

"Richard, you--" His eyes snapped back up, daring to hope that maybe something had changed. "Do you remember who I am?"

(After all, his clothes...had...changed...?)