kingdomdressing | (no subject)

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riku

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[ It's pretty hard to tell when you're in a new place when you base all of your blind navigation on things memorized. This Riku's wandering around in one of the classic Organization XIII uniforms, and doesn't notice the change in atmosphere until she walks straight into a wall.

She bounces off of it, arms flailing before she regains her footing and appears to 'stare' straight ahead of her, then behind her as panic ripples up her spine. Did she just walk straight into a trap? ]

[ooc: recyclin' this journal, because I totally need more active 'kus.]

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[Anything that might have made it look like she was ready to believe him abruptly vanishes at the explanation.]

Right. What is this, Xion?

[at first he looks a little taken aback, then frowns, unhappy and a little worried. he spreads his hands in a vaguely placating gesture]

... the truth.

[She's quiet, trying to judge the situation in her head quickly and accurately. It's Xion, which makes things difficult, because she thought they had an understanding now. But at the same time, Xion could be being used...]

Show me.

... [without another word he'll turn and lead her to the main room. the "please" hovers in his mouth, bitter tasting. but asking her to trust him now would feel disingenuous, somehow.

she's right. he'll have to show her. and when they hit the main room, and there's at least three of Roxas and a handful of Axels, scattered Organization members and more than a few multiples of Riku herself, only male...

he'll just stand aside and let her see for herself, head down.]

[The minute she sees all of those doubles, the Roxae in particular, she freezes. Her heart's beating fast to fight off the returning panic, and she takes a step back. Her hand goes to Xion's arm, like she's ready to go back and force him along with her. Her voice is low, because she doesn't want anyone else to hear.]

What is this place?

[gently, very gently, he twists his arm slightly so he can grip her arm instead. he can sense that she's panicking, and he talks quietly but clearly.]

... I guess you could say it's a hub world. A hub for every possible dimension in which you and I and everyone else can exist. I think those dimensions might be infinite. [he looks out over the room, struggling to keep his expression straight when he spots a female Xion on the far side.] There are lots of people here, Riku. But a lot of them all share the same name, if not the same life.

[finally he looks back at her, eyes searching her face as best he can while she has that blindfold on.] ... you okay?

[She starts to shake her head, slowly at first, but it quickly turns into a faster one of denial. Her free hand goes to cover her face. Even when she can't see them, being able to feel all of them, the same thing over and over again so clearly... It's overwhelming.]

I can't be here. I have to get back to Sora.

[ooookay, it is rapidly becoming clear to Xion that coming here was a bad plan. if she'll let him, he's going to slowly pull her out of the room and back into the quieter hall, talking all the while]

Riku, you ... listen, Sora should be here. I don't know about your exact Sora, but ... even if she isn't here, she should be okay. [and he's shamefaced, because this, coming from him? what a joke. but he has to push on.] People have left here and come back before, and they usually don't remember being here, but life in their dimension went on as normal, so whatever was going on when you left... it should be that way until you get back.

[Don't feel bad, Xion. It was necessary. She was going to have to see it sooner or later anyway. Riku does let him guide her away, but she's keeping track of where they're going. She doesn't look very happy with him saying all of that, though -- it doesn't make her feel any better, at least. How can Sora wake up if she's here? Xion, too.]

... How long have you been here?

[oh, man. that brings him up short, and he slows in his walking so he can think.]

... a long time. I think... I think it'll be a year in October.

[None of this makes sense. It definitely hasn't been that long since she last saw Xion. Hell, he-- Riku frowns.]

You've really been here that long?

[Been alive that long?]

[runs a hand through his hair.] Yeah, guess I have. I hadn't even realized how long it's been until you asked me.

[Riku takes a deep, quiet breath - she's starting to look pretty calm, but she's still freaking out on the inside. She really hopes, if this all has to be true, that's he's right. She has to go back, and she has to go back during this exact time. She doesn't have a year to wait.]

[and he just watches her for a moment, making sure she's okay. he knows Riku well enough to sense that her outward face is at least something of a facade; but he also knows her well enough not to press, at least not now. instead he offers what he hopes is a reassuring smile.]

You'll get used to it after a while. Trust me, okay? I wouldn't lie to you. [he keeps the words light-sounding, but there is a very desperate wish behind those words.]

Mm.

[For some reason she finds it hard to imagine he would lie to her, but she can't rule it out, either. She can't help it. Riku's quiet for a long moment as she thinks the situation over.]

Tell me more about this place.

[that wasn't a definitive answer. knowing what that means, Xion's jaw tightens for an instant before he forces himself to relax and gestures her her to follow him again and starts walking. he's going to take a slightly more roundabout route, so as to avoid the main room.]

For one, it's big. You can find pretty much anything here, except an exit. You can find pretty much all the worlds, even some I'd never seen before, there's bedrooms and showers and laundry rooms and kitchens and rooms with beaches and rooms with TV's and video games and rooms with training simulators and weapons rooms... [last time he was in a weapons room, it ended with a poisoned arrow and some really awkward moments. MANFULLY POWERING PAST THAT MEMORY he takes a turn, deciding to take her to find a room first.] Sometimes you'll run into Heartless or basic Nobodies. I've even seen some... I think they're called Unversed? Whatever they are, they're another type of monster.

[taps on the side of his face, thinking, then turns around so he can walk backwards and look at her.] Anything else you think I might be missing?

[Sorry, Xion. You lost her somewhere around 'rooms with beaches'. She's probably looking a little stunned. She's still walking, but she'd be at risk for another wall-slam if he wasn't in front of her.]

How should I know?

... right, sorry. [very sheepishly.] Listen, I was going to take you to find a room... but would you like to see one of the world rooms, first? Then you'd really see what I was talking about.

[She looks around, then back at him. The idea of going to find some room and just... staying there to think about this and dwell on it and know she's completely helpless... is not appealing.]

Sure.

[if only he knew she was thinking that. but he doesn't! so he nods and turns back around.]

Do you mind using a portal? It'd be faster.

[Riku shakes her head. Why would she mind?]

Go ahead.

[hey, just checking. he taps on his chin, trying to decide which one, when he hits on it. smiling very slightly, he opens a portal in front of them and steps through.

when she follows, she'll find herself on the summit in Land of Departure, where it's night, and there are about ten million stars splashed across the sky. Xion is already staring up at it, hands in his pockets and a faint smile still on his face. once Riku steps through, he'll look down at her, then indicate the sky with a nod]

Nice, isn't it?

[Riku's not sure what to think when she first exits the portal. She doesn't recognize this world, but there's something about it that's pretty amazing already. It feels... empty, but there's something special enough to make her want to see it, and when she pushes up her blindfold, her eyes are immediately drawn to the sky. It's been a while since she looked at something and was struck by the beauty of it.]

...yeah.

[he genuinely smiles when he sees her lift up the blindfold to get a look. he always thought her eyes were pretty.

... swallowing that thought, he actually settles down on the ground, leaning back on his hands to get a better view of the sky.]

There's just something about this place. I'd definitely never been here before until the dressing room, but when I first came in here... I guess it felt... almost like home, I guess. It's weird...

[She leaves it there and looks down at him, then kneels down to join him and curl her legs up under her. Sitting down after that all that walking and freaking out isn't such a bad idea.]

Wonder why that is...