empatheias | ( closed )

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!]

[ Allowing himself to be pulled, Riku follows along to the table with the strawberry tarts and, without really thinking about it, pulls out some money to pay for them, figuring that Sora is going to be wanting more than two. ]

How many do you want?

Six.

[Sora grins up at Riku. Are they all for him?? Well-- He could probably eat all of them but he intends to share with Riku too.]

You gonna buy them, Riku?

What does it look like I'm doing?

[ Lifting a hand, Riku gently flicks Sora's forehead with a bit of a smile before he orders the six strawberry tarts and hands over the money to pay for them, watching as they're then carefully placed inside a box. ]

You sure that's all you want?

Ow- [He swats at Riku,] But I could have!

[Sora is the one who's supposed to be buying things?? Let him do it!

But he's more than happy to receive the box of tarts and he shakes his head at Riku.]

That's it. I wanna go see your secret place now. Lead the way!

[ Secret place. Riku almost laughs a little at that before he takes hold of Sora's hand and guides him through the market once the tarts are safe and secure. ]

Don't you be eating any of those on the way over and at least save one for me.

[ Because he knows you, Sora. Oh does he know you with strawberries. ]

[Secret Place or Break Time From Sora place??

Sora grins cheekily.] Just one. Maybe two if you're lucky.

Tch. I always knew you were a pig.

[ But he smiles even as he says that and continues to drag Sora through the market. Thankfully, the walk isn't that long and the place that Riku eventually leads him to is a little ways from the market, tucked on the corner of a cobblestone street with a few bushes trying to bloom outside.

The place itself is rather large and in a cylinder sort of shape, the roof on top seeming a little worn, as does the outside brick of the building itself. The window at the top seems to overlook the market and it's after a moment that he comes to look to Sora and suddenly... seems... nervous? ]

Well... here we are.

[ A beat. ]

Just... don't get your hopes up, ok? I'm kinda still working on it.

[Sora looks up at the building with a curious expression. It's not quite what he'd been picturing in his mind at first but he hasn't seen all of it yet.

He glances at Riku and tilts his head a little.] I wasn't really expecting Disney Castle if that's what you're worried about.

[He squeezes Riku's hand gently.]

[ Sora... that's just... so... ok, he laughs a little, strands of silver falling in front of his face as he bows his head a little. ]

Shut up.

[ But he pulls Sora along with him and goes about unlocking and opening the door.

The inside? Is stairs. Yes, that's right. Stairs. Well, a winding staircase to be exact, nothing else except that and Riku begins to make the climb while still holding Sora's hand. ]

Forgot to tell you about the stairs but it's good exercise for you.

[ Is he teasing you, Sora? He just might be.

When they do reach the top of the stairs, that's where Riku is able to show off his "little place" as he calls it and it looks like... this. Literally. Except there's a mattress set on the floor off to the side and a potted plant with a lamp and the journal Sora wrote for him but other than that? That's it.

Riku stands there, fingers gently stroking at Sora's hand as he... waits. Waits to see what Sora thinks. ]

Well, this is it.

[At least he gets that little bit of laughter from Riku. So, he laughs in return when he's pulled inside and very swiftly punches Riku in the arm when he jabs at him about exercise. Sora is plenty in shape, thank you???

--And then he actually gets to see the secret place. Sora blinks and glances around and gets a somewhat amused smile on his lips as he glances at Riku. It might be a little run down but there's something charming about it.]

Whoa... It's cozy! But you're right, you really are still working on it.

[Sora lets go of Riku just so he can wander around a bit more, looking up at the ceiling and poking a toe at the mattress. YEAH UMM- Riku better be okay with Sora buying a ton of things for this place. He's not going to let Riku say no. He's not even going to ask, he's just gonna start dropping stuff off.]

Riku, you need better lights in here! And a real bed.

Yeah, I'll get right on that with all the money I have.

[ To which, of course, he flicks Sora's head from behind and sighs as he walks past the other. ]

It may not be much but it's somewhere I can take a break from everything... and everyone.

[ Because to be around so many people all the time like Sora is... it's draining for the silver-haired teen. Speaking of draining, Riku comes to drop himself down to the mattress and stretches his legs out then, knocking his head back as he stares up to the ceiling that clearly needs a bit of work on it. ]

Do you want a key for here?

[Oh, poor introverted best friend. He knows why this place will be important for Riku so that's why he sets down the box of tarts somewhere neat and then crosses his arms as he looks up at the ceiling.

(also nodding vigorously about that spare key)]

I can do something about the lights for now, dummy.

[Sora then lifts his hands and stretches his arms up above him. He creates a storm of little lights using dunamis magic that float up to the ceiling to stay there and sparkle like stars in the night sky. They're not super bright but enough to illuminate the room nicely.]

These won't stay forever but long enough for you to get some real lights!

[ The sparkling little stars high above bring a tender smile to Riku's lips and the silver-haired teen can't help but recall younger days on a sandy beaches during the night where it was just the two of them, much like this, looking up to the stars that shone so brightly in the navy blue sky. ]

What, am I on a time limit for that now or something?

[ Riku smiles a little more over to Sora before he comes to roll over on the mattress for just a moment, coming back seconds later to drop a brass key in the other's hand. ]

Here. Just you, though. Don't bring others over with you.

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