riku (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shadowedheart) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
empatheias2018-03-10 07:05 pm
shadowedheart) wrote in empatheias2018-03-10 07:05 pm
open-ish
Who: Riku and others
Where: Around Verens
When: Middle of the month
Format: [ like this ]
open-ish
Summary: Just a gloomy gus needing some fresh air. Closed prompts will be top-leveled, open prompts free to anyone.
( TREE OF MEMORIES )
[ This place isn't anywhere that Riku has been before, though he's heard of it, somewhat. It's basically a tree that holds petals of memories from all those who come near it... or who inhabit the island... one of the two? Maybe both? Regardless, he's here, feeling the need to just get out and away from everything and everyone and he's made sure to keep himself relatively bundled up lest he end up sick again.
When a breeze gently drifts by, crisp and cool and allowing strands of silver to blow around his face, Riku catches sight of a drifting petal that falls from the tree and, perhaps without even realizing so, he holds his hand out and allows the petal to land in his palm.
The memory that it contains is one that seems almost ironic considering current circumstances of people within his life. It's distorted, perhaps a bit scratchy in a way, but it shows a sleeping Sora encased in what looks like a bubble. Standing outside that bubble and staring to the sleeping Sora is Riku, dressed in black and donning the blindfold much as he still does within this world. Off to the side, Naminé is there, sitting at a long table and seemingly sketching in a book, though she doesn't seem to address Riku within the memory. Gently, he reaches out with a gloved hand and presses it to the front of the bubble and the strongest emotion that can be felt even with watching this memory unfold... is grief.
It figures this memory would show itself now of all times and, to be honest, he almost finds it funny, as if a silent punishment personally dished out for him. Well-played, Tree of Memories.
Riku, of course, tries to brush off the memory and any feelings that might be attached to it. Though one can't exactly deny that the air around him seems a lot more chillier than anywhere else near the tree. ]
( IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING )
[ What had started out as something that should have taken maybe ten minutes at most has turned into a good thirty minutes standing outside the tea shop in the pouring rain.
The weather hasn't been the greatest as of late and yet Riku thought he could pick up this box of tea for Cloud and be out of here before it started to come down like it is now. How wrong he apparently was. Thankfully, he's standing under the awning of the shop, arms crossed, blindfold on, finger tapping against the box of tea he holds. The rain doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon and the shop has closed, leaving Riku out here in the damp without an umbrella. He sighs, head lolling to the side as he shifts his weight to one leg, contemplating the thought of just sucking it up and walking back to Cloud's in this weather. ]
It's never going to stop...
[ Maybe you're stuck under here with him. Maybe you're passing by. Maybe you have an umbrella to lend to him. Or maybe you're out enjoying the rain. Whatever the case, Riku's not looking too happy... and the frost that's come to coat the tips of his shoes is a little bit of a hint to that. ]
Where: Around Verens
When: Middle of the month
Format: [ like this ]
open-ish
Summary: Just a gloomy gus needing some fresh air. Closed prompts will be top-leveled, open prompts free to anyone.
( TREE OF MEMORIES )
[ This place isn't anywhere that Riku has been before, though he's heard of it, somewhat. It's basically a tree that holds petals of memories from all those who come near it... or who inhabit the island... one of the two? Maybe both? Regardless, he's here, feeling the need to just get out and away from everything and everyone and he's made sure to keep himself relatively bundled up lest he end up sick again.
When a breeze gently drifts by, crisp and cool and allowing strands of silver to blow around his face, Riku catches sight of a drifting petal that falls from the tree and, perhaps without even realizing so, he holds his hand out and allows the petal to land in his palm.
The memory that it contains is one that seems almost ironic considering current circumstances of people within his life. It's distorted, perhaps a bit scratchy in a way, but it shows a sleeping Sora encased in what looks like a bubble. Standing outside that bubble and staring to the sleeping Sora is Riku, dressed in black and donning the blindfold much as he still does within this world. Off to the side, Naminé is there, sitting at a long table and seemingly sketching in a book, though she doesn't seem to address Riku within the memory. Gently, he reaches out with a gloved hand and presses it to the front of the bubble and the strongest emotion that can be felt even with watching this memory unfold... is grief.
It figures this memory would show itself now of all times and, to be honest, he almost finds it funny, as if a silent punishment personally dished out for him. Well-played, Tree of Memories.
Riku, of course, tries to brush off the memory and any feelings that might be attached to it. Though one can't exactly deny that the air around him seems a lot more chillier than anywhere else near the tree. ]
( IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING )
[ What had started out as something that should have taken maybe ten minutes at most has turned into a good thirty minutes standing outside the tea shop in the pouring rain.
The weather hasn't been the greatest as of late and yet Riku thought he could pick up this box of tea for Cloud and be out of here before it started to come down like it is now. How wrong he apparently was. Thankfully, he's standing under the awning of the shop, arms crossed, blindfold on, finger tapping against the box of tea he holds. The rain doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon and the shop has closed, leaving Riku out here in the damp without an umbrella. He sighs, head lolling to the side as he shifts his weight to one leg, contemplating the thought of just sucking it up and walking back to Cloud's in this weather. ]
It's never going to stop...
[ Maybe you're stuck under here with him. Maybe you're passing by. Maybe you have an umbrella to lend to him. Or maybe you're out enjoying the rain. Whatever the case, Riku's not looking too happy... and the frost that's come to coat the tips of his shoes is a little bit of a hint to that. ]
no subject
Gently, he shoves his hands in the pockets of Cloud's jacket and turns a little, strands of silver brushing against his face again in that gentle breeze. ]
I came to see how you were.
[ A pause. ]
Because if I feel this way with Cloud disappearing, then I'm sure you feel the same with Zenyatta leaving.
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You and --?
[ Yeah, he had no idea. He pulls one hand up, like he's thinking, trying to parse this. Zenyatta was to him a teacher of meditation, so Cloud was...? Like a mentor?
Because, the rest of what Riku's saying... also doesn't make any sense to him. 'Came to see how he was doing'? Since when did he care? Arden didn't think one moment - okay two half moments - of barely tolerable dialogue, but that on the backend of a really intense argument, was enough to make Riku feel anything about his well-being. ]
... I'm sorry, did you say 'see how I was'?
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Yeah.
[ He says it softly but loud enough for Arden to hear before he allows himself to look back over in the other's direction. ]
But I get it if you'd rather be alone.
[ Because that's exactly what he would want... what he does. ]
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... I don't know what I need. I should be meditating right now to find out.
[ And since Riku's kind of sort of interested in listening... ]
I don't have anything to fall back on that I can trust except the last 15 months of new memories, learning from about four people in how they react to others, teaching me what I should be doing. Zenyatta and Nahyuta gave me calm enough to think through all of that.
[ And right now he can't get to that calm space. ]
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What do you want to be doing? Right here in this moment?
[ It's then that Riku looks over to Arden, allows his gaze to fall on him through the blindfold, waiting, watching, listening. ]
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That's what I'm telling you, I don't know. Talk to him, I guess, but I can't do that. He's gone.
[ For the first time in awhile, he feels empty, without any kind of drive or clear direction. He's not hungry so he wouldn't make any food. He doesn't clean or have any other nervous ticks to act upon while he's nervous, in that respect a little too perfect in his creation. The only remotely gut feeling he ever gets is the impulse to break out his weapon, but that's a gut feeling he's been likewise stomping down for the better part of a year now. It doesn't solve things the way he's been trained to believe. He can't destroy a training dummy or go create a massive illusion to wreck havoc on a part of the forest - well, he can, but it won't do anything to help him. That's what he thought meditation was for. ]
Maybe I'll just... go visit Naminé again.
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You and Naminé are close?
[ It's not said with any sort of accusation or suspicion attached to it. Just that... well, Naminé is someone who Riku has come to feel... a little protective over? At least with everything she's done back within the point of time that he's been pulled from. Nevermind the whole pretending to be Kairi thing, that didn't really bother him and he doesn't hold that against her. But with her being here, with her wanting him of all people to teach her how to use her own Keyblade... he's just being curious.
That's all. ]
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He raises a hand to his face in frustration, then pulls it down again along his neck. ]
Still close. There was a lot that happened at Castle Oblivion you didn't see. We talked through things at our own pace about what happened back then, and...
[ And... he shouldn't have any reason to hold this back from Riku, except that it's the most personal aspect of himself that he'd be exposing Riku to. Then again, he thought, Riku did tell him about his struggles with Squall. And that conversation had - eventually - turned out a less antagonistic step for them. ]
And then we started dating.
no subject
You're... what?
[ It's a moment or two later that Riku comes to stare a little ways past Arden. Naminé hadn't mentioned anything to him about that... then again, it's not as if they've talked much the past month, what with everything going on and all. But... still. He's... not sure what to think of this? ]
When... did this happen?
[ He's assuming while here within this world... ]
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[ That part gets added quickly, somehow feeling it important to make sure Riku understands. Then again he's only been around two months, but maybe that's why - that it's not a recent development and Arden didn't come to that relationship lightly by a long shot.
Or maybe it's just out of spite - the way Riku asked made a part of him wonder if Riku was....... actually no, there were so many possibilities, he couldn't bear to wonder anymore. So he just thinks back and finally answers, still a bit defensive and emotionally raw from everything else going on. ]
Nearly five months.
[ He was going precariously slow this time, not wanting to trick himself or push Naminé either, especially since they'd started right as he'd come back from turning into crystal himself. ]
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She didn't mention that to me.
[ He says this more to himself than to Arden but it can still be heard as he hums again, mulling over this. He can't say that he can't see it? The two of them, despite his not knowing everything else that came after Castle Oblivion but... ]
Does she make you happy?
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[ He sees those crossed arms. That's what has him worried. ]
If she didn't mention it to you, that's her choice.
[ Privately he's still not sure he should have told Riku without asking her first. ]
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If she makes you happy, I was going to say then go be with her. Don't even question it.
[ He turns a little then, though doesn't make any sort of movement to actually walk away. ]
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You don't... mind?
[ Hah... the last time he asked that question was... But more importantly, he's not reacting as violently as when they talked about Squall, so that's the main thing he's getting some relief out of. ]
I mean, I was waiting for you to tell me you're her big brother now or something, so there was some kind of approval you thought I needed.
[ Yeah... 'Big Brother.' Not crush, but that's the 'or something' implied. ]
Plus there's... about Cloud.
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But then Arden mentions Cloud and Riku glances away for a moment at the reminder before he gives a shake of his head. ]
Just go be with her if it's what you need. She can probably help more than I can.
[ Does that mean... he wanted to help? Perhaps a Riku mystery... ]
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... Did you have anything specific in mind?
[ You know, before he runs off. Naminé isn't even aware yet that he might come see her, so it's not like he's breaking a promise. ]
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Arden's question does, however, catch him off guard a little. ]
I'm not exactly the best person to ask something like that.
[ Considering, well, he can barely help himself and his own troubles. ]
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[ Which actually sounded weirder than he meant. ]
I mean, something related to me being here. So more than... what?
[ Right now he's just trying to prod Riku again. Habit. ]
That's what I was trying to ask.
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I didn't come here with some game plan in mind.
[ And that's the truth. ]
I just came to see how you were. I guess... if you needed anything.
[ Coming to look to Arden then, he brushes a few strands of silver away from his face. ]
I figure Naminé has a better idea of how to help.
[ Or at the very least, that her presence is much more soothing and comforting than his own. ]
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[ He smirks. ]
Cuz a part of me is feeling better about what will become of me already.
[ And that’s all on Riku for even checking on him. ]
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I'm not sure I follow...
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[ That's all it is. Evidence of his own growth as much as Riku's. ]
no subject
Fair enough.
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I'll see you around, then.
[ And he opens a Dark Corridor, clearly intending to go see Naminé if Riku's not interested in anything specific. At least now he's more confident he can actually find Riku again later on without stalking him. ]