empatheias | ( closed )

[ That figures and yet, Riku complies, walking alongside Sora. When he speaks up, however, the silver-haired teen can't help but glance to Sora out of the corner of his eye. An apology just seems so... random? ]

For what?

[Sora lets go of Riku and walks along. He tilts his head and a finger scratches his cheek.]

It's been a rough few months for you here and I just wanted to say sorry because I know it's a lot. I know everyone was pretty excited to meet you and all.

[And sure as anything he's expecting Riku to say something like "Your friends are annoying." So he's just being preemptive about it.]

[ It's true. A lot of them are annoying. But, rather than say that, Riku falls silent for a long moment as he looks ahead, still walking alongside Sora. ]

And I guess I disappointed them, huh?

[ Not that he really cares... right? ]

Edited 2018-05-04 22:37 (UTC)

No, they just don't understand yet...?

[Sora hums softly and sighs.]

It's my fault because I used to talk about you a lot so they wanted to talk to you too. And I know you weren't really ready for so much of it so fast. So, I'm sorry.

[Sora sometimes can't help himself, when he gets to talk about Riku to the people who matter to him he just gets a little... excited.]

[ A little excited? More like overflowing with love and adoration for him if Riku knows anything about Sora. But Riku just comes to sigh, allowing his head to drop a little, feet continuing to have him walk to wherever it is that they're going, which could very well be nowhere. ]

Sora... do you know what it's like to be told to your face that you don't act anything like Sora said?

[ Despite his words, he smiles a little, even comes to laugh softly under his breath. ]

It's like I'm the wrong version that's wound up here. The one that maybe shouldn't be here. That's what it felt like.

[Sora winces and shakes his head quickly. He can't help but stop Riku to hug him tightly, arms tucking around Riku's torso and head pressing neatly under Riku's chin.]

That's not true! You're supposed to be here! There's only one Riku! There's only you! Don't say stupid stuff like that.

[It hurts to hear. Yeah, he did gush to his friends with so much love and adoration but Sora only told them the truth. He just didn't know Riku would return to the island at such a different time than him. He still feels like he's struggling with it. But it still doesn't make anything that Sora told them any less true. They just need to see Riku how Sora does. Someday.]

... I told you. It's my fault.

[ When Sora latches himself onto him again and so tightly at that, Riku comes to stop and listens to the words that he mutters against him. The way that Sora has a penchant for being so emotional and so quickly... it causes Riku to smile a little- even laugh softly under his breath again. Coming to gently tilt his head some so as to have a better look down at Sora, Riku then places his hand against the nape of Sora's neck. ]

I guess it kinda is. You never did know how to not get excited over something or someone, huh?

[ And yet, his words hold a gentle touch of amusement to them rather than a bite with the intention to make him feel more guilty. ]

Sora, it doesn't matter. [ And he comes to gently brush his fingers against the back of Sora's neck. ] I don't really care what they think. When have I ever?

[Riku's gentle jab makes Sora bury his face a bit more as he tries not to chuckle too much but the noise escapes his lips anyway. What excuse does he have? He doesn't have one. He really likes talking about Riku and his feelings of love and pride for his best friend just never fade.]

I was just being honest.

[He does feel bad though, that Riku might have felt uncomfortable in front of his friends because of it. They all meant well, they all care about Sora, so it would only be natural for them to want to meet someone so important to him.]

I know. I just didn't mean for you to feel out of place for it.

I know you didn't.

[ Sora would never do something so malicious to him... let alone to anyone. But while it doesn't make up for the fact that his friends had bombarded him and he, evidently, was nothing more than a disappointment to them when he wasn't this "amazingly cool Riku" that he's sure Sora has filled their heads with, he knows Sora meant well. He just... wishes Sora didn't have to feel the need to apologize. Which- ]

Did something happen?

[ Did someone say something about him to Sora? ]

[Sora loosens himself from his hold and falls back into step with Riku. Maybe walking in the direction of the marketplace but with no real urge to get there quickly. He tucks his arms behind his head and tilts his head.]

Not really, just some friends worried and said what you said. That you're not exactly like how I said.

[A little bit of static light bounces off Sora's left ear.]

Ionasal told me about your argument with her.

[ Leave it to Sora to just oh-so-casually gloss over all of that in his typical way. But, it more or less confirms his suspicions of others bothering Sora about... him and how he doesn't exactly measure up to whatever it is that Sora has said about him prior to his arrival here.

However, rather than dwell on that for too long, Sora shifts the conversation onto a particular person and Riku glances to him out of the corner of his eye for a moment. Somehow? He's not surprised she did. ]

You mean her not understanding when to leave someone alone?

[ It's not said bitterly but it's not exactly said with amusement either. ]

I'm not going to bother her.

Edited 2018-05-07 01:23 (UTC)

[Sora slouches his shoulders and lets out a puff of nervous laughter. That's not what he wanted at all. He actually really wants them to be friends even if things are pretty strained between them right now. Ionasal was just being worried for Sora and really did want to get to know Riku.]

Ahhh, it doesn't have to be like that! It just needs more time, okay? It'll be fine. Really!

[Being the Sora in the middle sure is tough.]

[ He sees you slouching through shoulders, Sora. So, seeing that, he comes to bump his shoulder down against Sora's, a playful attempt at getting him to lighten up a little. ]

Hey, I told you. I don't really care what they think.

[But he wants them to be friends! D:]

I guess it doesn't matter.

[He's still going to silently hope Riku makes friends with them, but he knows better than to push it. He doesn't shove Goofy and Donald at Riku, so it's about the same thing.

They're nearly at the market so Sora tugs on Riku's sleeve and then heads that way.]

Let's go see what's around!

[ At least Sora knows enough to not push it with him? Let Riku come around on his own... or not, whatever's best for him.

When he's tugged towards the market, however, he blinks a couple times behind that blindfold before he follows in step with the eager Sora, wondering if this was part of his "plan" all along or if they're just winging it. ]

You want to go shopping?

[Sora might be pushy sometimes but he really does care about Riku doing what's comfortable for him.

So, enough about that for now. Sora walks a bit quicker as they enter the market and looks like he might be looking for a very specific place. A booth to be precise. Since this place is like a big farmer's market.]

Hmm! Where is it... Ahh-! [And he's waving for Riku to follow quicker.]

[ Alright... he seems to know where he's wanting to go? Not at all suspicious. Regardless, Riku stuffs his hands into his pockets and follows after Sora when he's waved over, taking a look around here and there to try and see just what it is that Sora's leading him to. ]

What are you looking for?

I'm looking for... [Sora hums and looks about and then--! Perks up!] That one!

[He heads over to a booth he's pointed at. On it is several trinkets and accessories including keychains, bookmarks, rings, bracelets, charms and more. Sora goes for some braided bracelets in several colours.]

Look at these, they're supposed it give the wearers good luck when they're together. We should get them and one for Kairi too for when she shows up.

[Proably a bunch of hullaballoo to make sales but Sora believes it.]

[ It's the when she shows up part of that sentence that has Riku raise a brow some but, rather than comment on it, he just stares to everything that this booth seems to offer. At least... for a few seconds. ]

You expecting Kairi to show up or something?

[ He glances to Sora sort of curiously before fingers come to brush over a keychain with a moon and a star on it and he pulls it off the hook, looking down to it... only to lift a part of his blindfold up for a second so that he can have a better look before it's back down again and if Sora wasn't quick enough, he might have just missed that blue-green eye. ]

This one seems like me, right?

Edited 2018-05-08 03:50 (UTC)

Of course I am! This way the three of us can match-!

[He hasn't lost hope of seeing Kairi again. There's no way he'd let go of that hope just like he hadn't about Riku. Like clockwork checking for her at the welcome center every single month like a lost puppy.

He'd hoped for Riku so hard and cried for him so maybe someday it would work again...

Sora's expression falters a little when Riku picks up that little keychain charm and it's very quick but Sora catches just a hint of that sharp eye. He makes a tiny noise of protest, fingers grabbing at Riku's arm.]

It's pretty. [Is he talking about the moon charm? Yeahhhh surrre-]

[ There's a pause that comes from Riku before he comes to glance down at the way Sora is clinging to his arm so tight. This... is totally not about the charm, is it? C'mon, Sora, you gotta do better than that with Riku of all people. ]

This is where I say almost as pretty as you, right?

[ Smirking just a teensy bit, Riku hums in the back of his throat, as if trying to hide laughter before he allows the tips of his fingers to brush over the sun and cloud keychain charm. ]

So this one would be you?

[He shakes Riku's arm and lets go in favour of using his hand to rub his nose to try and hide the fact that a light pinkish colour warms his cheeks. He laughs and shakes his head at the pretty comment because between the two of them Riku is definitely the pretty boy. Sora's always been just average.]

Talk about yourself, dummy.

[Sora glances at the sun charm and he goes to pick it up. It jingles slightly as he holds it up for the light to catch. He wonders if there's a connecting charm about these keychains as well and he glances at Riku's matching moon.

He wants them. The smile on his face is so evident.] Are we the sun and moon, Riku?

My light's not warm and bright like yours. It's more subtle and quiet, like a guide through the darkness whenever someone feels lost or alone.

[ He recalls the way in which he had been told something along those lines and even come to consider himself and Arden the moonlight. It seemed to fit him, especially with being shrouded in so much darkness at times with only gentle glimpses of it peeking through every now and then; it certainly seemed like Riku and his own light. ]

Sometimes dark clouds cover its light, but it's never really gone.

[ He's quiet for a long moment before he finds himself glancing to Sora out the corner of his eye. He can't help but wonder where that might have come from or if Sora even realizes how much potential him saying something like that has for better things to come where it concerns how he thinks of himself. Because in the moment? He does feel like it's possible.

Just for now. ]

You want these then?

[Sora watches Riku and for a moment it's as if he's watching Riku from another point in time. That gentle sureness in his tone and that acceptance of identity. It makes his heart flutter and it's hard to blink back the sting of tears he gets in his eyes and the soft smile he gets.

Because Riku really is a special light that shines in the dark. He can remember so vividly floating down into the darkness as Xehanort's hand wrapped around his throat tightly and for the only thing for him to be able to reach out to was Riku's hand to pull him out.]

You are like the moon, Riku. Without you the stars don't know where to look. The sky needs you just as much as it needs the sun.

[Sora quickly shoves his hands into his pockets and pulls out some money because he intends to buy both charms for the both of them. It's subtle but both charms seem to start glowing faintly when they get close to each other.]

I want them, I'm going to buy them for us!

[ Leave it to Sora to more or less confirm the sappiness of his words. But, rather than playfully chide the other for doing that, Riku comes to smile a little to himself. Even without being from whatever point in time Sora's from, he still looks to him the same, doesn't he? That's more than he can say for anyone else.

When Sora claims that he's going to buy the keychains, Riku lets him, staring off around the market for a moment before he finds himself looking back to the other. ]

Hey, did you want me to take you to that place I told you about? The one where it's a space of my own from everyone else?

[ Because it's relatively close by, thankfully. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject