empatheias | ( closed )

[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. ]

[Riku is always Riku, no matter what. That will never falter or change for Sora. ~~even if it was kh1 riku~~

He hands the money over to the person attending the booth and happily attaches the new charm key chain to the chain he wears on his shorts. He adores it.

Focus snapping back up to Riku, Sora grins brightly and nods quite enthusiastically. He hasn't gotten a chance to see it yet and Sora's excited to see.]

Yeah, let's go! Let's get some snacks first-! [Fooood. There's fruit and baked goods!]

[ And there he goes... thinking with that stomach of his again, which- ]

Always thinking with your stomach, huh?

[ Riku smiles a little, especially when he sees Sora clip the keychain to his shorts and, without a second thought, he reaches out to take Sora's hand in his own. ]

Come on then. Just don't get carried away.

[ As he goes to pull him through the market on this apparent mission of theirs to obtain food first. ]

[Don't judge him, it's Springtime now and that means strawberries might be in season?]

But I want to see if there's any strawberries yet-

[When Riku's hand slips into his Sora looks up at him. He curls his fingers neatly against Riku's gets a lopsided smile as he follows close to Riku now.]

Riku, you're in a good mood. [Just playfully pointing that out.]

It's because you're here.

[ He says that without missing a beat and continues to walk, not looking to Sora, no, just walking... maybe trying to hide that smile that's threatening to show itself again. ]

Strawberries then? That all you want?

[Riku--! Stop saying things like that Sora's got little sparkles of pink starting to float up around him--!! It's embarrassing!]

And here I thought you wanted to get rid of me earlier!

[Joking! He nudges his shoulder against Riku's and then points at the produce stand with his free hand.]

Just strawberries! And... Maybe some cookies too. But Snow White's cookies are better than what the market has. Strawberries will be good for now.

Edited 2018-05-10 01:05 (UTC)

[ Shockingly, not even the mention of Snow White is able to shift Riku's mood and he simply gives a gentle squeeze to Sora's hand before he comes to stop and pull him flush against him right there in the middle of the market.

Not even coming to say anything for a long moment, Riku leans in just enough to allow his arms to wrap around Sora's back and... hugs him. Right there. In the middle of the market. Without a care in the world.

He sighs, eyes falling shut behind that blindfold and simply just... takes in this moment while he can, resting his head against Sora's shoulder as he stands there, quiet, softly humming to himself a moment after. ]

Just strawberries then.

[Sora makes a small noise of surprise when Riku tugs him into a hug but there's no struggling away from it. Riku's warmth is a comfortable thing and he presses close to the other without much of a second thought to the rest of the marketplace around them. To be honest, it's so nice to see Riku in such a pleasant mood and for the first time in a while, he thinks Riku might actually be sincerely happy right now. If he was able to be a part of that, then who cares who's watching.

Arms coming to return the hug, his fingers wander up the plain of Riku's back to the tips of his long hair and tangle in it and brush over the fabric hanging down from Riku's blindfold. He doesn't tug this time. No, he just feels over the fabric like it's something fragile.]

I- [Sora chuckles softly,] I thought I was supposed to be the sappy and clingy one?

[But please don't let go. The little charms are glowing brighter.]

You are.

[ Riku mutters the words softly against Sora's hair as he turns his head a little, eyes still closed behind that blindfold and just... feeling Sora against him. There's still moments where it's almost surreal for him to think that Sora is here like this, that he can touch him and hear him, and not be met with nothing but silence like back where he's been pulled from.

It's only after a moment and a hand pressed against Sora's cheek that he pulls back then, fingers softly ghosting away from that cheek before they come to fall back down and grab hold of the other's hand. ]

Strawberries, right?

[Sora's buzzing with energy even after Riku lets go. Those little sparks of pink intensify in color and amount and follow Sora in such a way that he has to lift a hand to try and shoo some of them away. Maybe today he'll be okay with being pointed out as the sappier of the two even if he's still thinking Riku is the winner of that today. It's something to remember.]

Straw- [Then he sees them, a table nearby with baked goods and the bright gleaming red goodness of--] Strawberry tarts!!

[Pulling Riku that way. Today is a very good day. He's going to buy a bundle of six of those. Then they can be on their way!]

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