(no subject)

[seasides]

[Kai is in a room he's been in before, dressed in a pair of long shorts and a t-shirt. he's seated by the edge of the pond, playing Disney Princess again- that is, he's surrounded by animals. there's a sparrow nesting on his head as well as some hanging out around him, and a number of ducks and even a couple swans in a semi-circle between him and the water. Apricot is dozing in his lap, most of the fish are milling about in the half of the pond closest to him, and there's a turtle that keeps tipping over as it tries to climb onto his foot. he rights it once again, then after a moment of thought he nudges Apricot aside slightly so there's enough room on his lap to put the small turtle. bunny sniffs at the turtle sleepily, then pushes at the shell lightly with a paw and goes back to dozing.]

There, you're up. Now stop knocking yourself over.


(ooc: ...I don't even know. I wanted to post, but couldn't think of an idea.)

Comments

[captive_destiny]

[Riku here is in long sleeves despite the weather, and moving to watch Kai from behind a tree when he realizes who it is. someone's figured out whose name it is on that charm of his, though he isn't sure what to make of it all]

[seasides]

[he's... pretending not to notice him there, instead playing with one of the sparrows while the turtle and bunny rest in his lap.]

[captive_destiny]

[he thinks he's being sneaky, not realizing Kai knows he's there. he's not making any moves to come forward, just watching to see how Kai acts when supposedly he thinks no one is around]

[seasides]

[well, he's not acting any different than normal! and one of the swans just bumped his shoulder, so it's getting some chinscritchies.]

[captive_destiny]

[he'll come out slowly, a little leery of such a big bird and not wanting to startle it]

[seasides]

[well, he'll get a bright smile from Kai, and none of the animals seem particularly worried.]

Hey.

/keeps getting woken up

[captive_destiny]

[ducks his head at such a bright smile, peering at Kai through his bangs as he makes his way over. one hand goes to the collar in subconscious reflex, his hand curling around the charms]

Mister Kai...?

D: /gives quiet

[seasides]

[the smile dims a little when Riku's hand goes up, but it stays.]

What's up?

;o;

[captive_destiny]

[looks down at the charms, picking at them now as he works up the courage to ask, finally holding up the shell charm]

... Is this your name?

[seasides]

...yeah, it is.

[he glances away at that, sighing softly.]

But I didn't put it there, I promise.

[captive_destiny]

[he doesn't know what to say to that, so he'll hold up the other one instead]

Do you know who this is?

[seasides]

Axel? Well... um. he's. someone close to me.

[orz he should've know he'd have to explain sooner or later.]

[captive_destiny]

[guess what else he also found out about? it's harder to ask about this, his voice wobbling a little and he can't meet Kai's eyes. he could really use a hug.]

H... How come I have a... a bad word on my back?

[seasides]

Oh, Riku...

[he gently moves the animals from his lap and moves to the boy to pull him into a hug.]

It's a very complicated story, but I'll try to explain it to you.

[captive_destiny]

[he's very clingy, not wanting Kai to let go before he's ready]

[seasides]

[that's okay, he's good at prolonged hugs.]

Now, this might be hard to believe, but normally you're not a kid. This place is very magical, as I'm sure you've noticed by now, and for some reason it decided to change you into one. It changed your mind back to the right age, but instead of doing the same with your body, it just shrunk it. So all the things that had been on it before, like that word and the collar, stayed on.

[captive_destiny]

[it's easier to accept this as a kid than if he'd been older, though it does leave him still confused]

Was I being bad?

[seasides]

No, no, definitely not. You see... in the world you're from at your normal age, you were being held prisoner by some very, very bad men. They were the ones who put the collar on you, and hurt you a lot, including putting that bad word on your back.

[strokes his hair a bit, looking up at the "sky".]

You've been here twice now. Whenever you tried to find a room to stay in, though, it would change into the room the bad men had kept you in. So I took a second room and told you you could use it, but since it was still my room, it didn't change. But... when you went into the room, the charm with my name appeared on that collar.

[captive_destiny]

[he doesn't like the sound of any of that, especially the part about being hurt a lot]

Then... Axel didn't do it either?

[seasides]

Put the charm on? No, he didn't. A while ago, I got stuck in something that put me to sleep for a a few weeks. I guess since I wasn't there to look after you, this place decided to add the charm of someone else who would be able to, which was Axel.

See, the charms mean that we're you're... owners, basically. Though I don't ever and won't ever treat you like a pet, and neither will the Axel that charm is for. But it means that if any of the bad men ever came here, or any of the bad people already here tried it, you wouldn't have to listen to their orders, because you aren't theirs.

[captive_destiny]

[that makes him feel a little bit better, even if he thinks being someone's pet would be strange]

The kitty said maybe Axel wrote on my back.

[seasides]

[he opens his mouth, then closes it and swallows thickly.]

...you know how this place has lots of different versions of people?

[captive_destiny]

[he goes somewhat tense, reacting to Kai's tone of voice]

Yeah?

[seasides]

One of the bad men in your world is an Axel. But the one that the charm is for isn't like him at all. He's really very nice, and wants to keep you as safe and happy as I do.

[captive_destiny]

[goes quiet as he thinks about that, a part of him glad he doesn't remember because it must have hurt a lot when it happened]

I don't have to go back, do I? I don't wanna go home anymore if it means the bad people will get me.