snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be ☆

[heaaarts]

[ Things are a little different this Christmas Eve. It's the first holiday season in years that many residents will be able to spend outdoors, and whatever drives the place has gone all out to make things festive. There are white lights and ruby garland strung up around lamp posts, red bows and wreathes adorning buildings. Even the trams are decorated, lit up on the outside and warm and cozy inside. There's a chill in the air, but for the most part it isn't too uncomfortable. Trees stripped bare of leaves by the change in seasons have had their leaves replaced by lights, and the occasional tree in the park bears large, shining baubles.

The ball this year is held in a new building, something that's popped up on the outskirts of the residential area overnight. (Of course, no one will be able to get inside until much later in the evening.) The park's a little smaller and crowded as a result, but not by much. It, like much of the outdoors, is covered in white. A light snow has been falling since early afternoon, resulting in a glistening bed of frost over the ground, the trees, and every rooftop. Much of it stretches out past the area, giving a wintery cover to most worlds. The fountains in Radiant Garden have frozen over into chaotic ice sculptures, and enough snow for a snowman (or snowmouse) can be found in Traverse Town, while the sound of carols comes from nowhere in particular in Disney Town. Hopefully no one tries to take the tram to Halloween Town for purposes of sneaking into Christmas Town. That world is barred off from entry no matter how hard anyone tries.

Somewhere around six in the evening, the doors to the ballroom open and remain so. Large wreathes decorated with red ribbon and crystal clear baubles hang on the doors. The building itself is decorated simply and tastefully, with red ribbons and streamers, dimmed lights and soft, instrumental music, perfect for the pristine dance floor. The ceiling, a true highlight of the room, is made of framed glass and gives a perfect, pristine view of the stars and snowfall outside. The tree this year is decorated with red, pale green, white, and more clear glass ornaments. Strangely enough, each is marked with a small tag. Just a simple old strip of paper, blank until someone gets close enough to see their name appear on one special ornament, in swirling red script. There are birds, hearts, stars... all kinds of simple, precious ornaments there to take. Maybe they mean something.

Like any good party in the DR, there's plenty of food. In the back room, separated from the ballroom by frosted glass walls, there are tables with glass tops and sheer white tablecloths, the largest of which is rectangular and has a placement of ham, roast birds, casseroles and vegetables, with nuts, popcorn, pretzels and cheeses further down. There are two smaller, round tables, one with drinks (non-alcoholic eggnog, ciders, and hot cocoa), and one with sweets like pudding, cookies, fudge, and sugared fruits. A group of much smaller, more cozy and personal tables are scattered in the corner near the food, with delicate placements decorated with classic red poinsettias. ]

{ ooc: LiveJournal mirror here. Happy Holidays, everyone! }

Comments

[captive_destiny]

[Guess who it is, hanging back from people as much as possible. At first glance he appears to be dressed normally, in a white button-up shirt and black pants. There's hints of metal glinting at his wrists and ankles, and a long, slim silver chain stretching from under his pant leg to a ring embedded in the floor near a decorative tree.

He isn't meeting anyone's eyes, and grows very still when he hears certain voices. Riku didn't want to be here, that much is clear.]

[seasides]

...Riku?

[oh no. Kai doesn't look happy, though Riku should know by now that when Kai looks unhappy when he's involved, it's generally directed at whoever or whatever is causing him pain or discomfort. so in this case, he's rather displeased with the DR itself.]

Oh jeez, I'm sorry. Did it force you here?

[captive_destiny]

[Some of the tenseness in his shoulders eases when he hears Kai's voice, and his head snaps up to find him. He looks a strange mix of miserable and happy at the same time.]

There's... too many of them.

[seasides]

[he looks back at the partygoers and sighs gently, turning his attention to where Riku's attached to the floor.]

Do you want me to try and get you loose, so we can head somewhere there are less people in the immediate area?

[captive_destiny]

If you can...

[There doesn't seem to be any locking mechanism if Kai looks, but the chain will fall away in his hand regardless if he touches it.]

[seasides]

[he has to just roll his eyes at that, honestly. rude, DR, sticking Riku here and then making it that easy to free him.]

I guess that's to be expected. C'mon, let's find a quiet corner. D'you want to grab something to eat? The food's probably amazing.

[captive_destiny]

[As if anyone but Kai or Axel would have the magic touch. Riku wouldn't have even been able to do it himself, and that chain certainly wouldn't have broken for him.]

I haven't eaten...

[seasides]

Sounds like that's our first stop, then.

[will he mind terribly if Kai hooks arms with him?]

[captive_destiny]

[It's an effective way to keep him from attempting to use Kai as a shield, or simply trail along behind him at an appropriate pace. He's still uncomfortable with so many people, but the contact itself gives him something to focus on. Kai will be able to feel how incredibly tense he is, especially near so many Axels and other Organization members.]

[lightyin]

[Staying away from people, eh? Well, what if the people don't stay away? There's a female Riku approaching, attempting to free a streamer from herhis outfit's headgear.]

It's not Halloween anymore, this is stupid.

[A pause. Hello familiar Riku.]

Hey...

[captive_destiny]

[He looks like a deer in headlights, because at first he thinks this is a different female Riku coming toward him. He still doesn't recognize who it is, but the lack of general disgust tells him it isn't who he thought.]

Hello.

[lightyin]

[He's pretty sure that only the biologically female Riku would recognize him as a girl anyway.]

...You're attached to something again.

[He's just spotted the chain on the floor. Stop ending up in these situations, Riku.]

[captive_destiny]

I didn't want to come.

["Again" only brings to mind the male Riku he met.. the one he slept with by mistake. He's not meeting this one's eyes, either.]

[lightyin]

Ah, that's probably why.

[Well, they are the same Riku, so that's not entirely the wrong train of thought.]

Is anyone here with you or are you by yourself?

[captive_destiny]

I'm not sure... I was alone in the house when I appeared here.

[Chain and all. It isn't even long enough for him to reach any of the tables.]

[lightyin]

[He'd try to break/unhook the chain if he were sure that it wouldn't stick to him if he did.]

I wonder if Kai is around somewhere...

[captive_destiny]

[Sorry Riku, even your Keyblade wouldn't work on this. It may be thin, but it's amazingly resilient.]

I don't want to ruin his time with Axel.

[frisbeeoflight]

[by now he knows that that's a Riku. Probably. This place is strange. Still, wasn't this a version of a little boy he knew? and he was chained!]

Hey, what the hell happened to you? Who caught you?

[captive_destiny]

[Riku isn't even sure how to begin trying to answer. Instead he stays silent, a familiar state for him these days. He looks away since he doesn't want to explain things to a child, things he may get in trouble for explaining anyway.]

[frisbeeoflight]

[well, that's awkward somehow... even for Lea. which means, after a moment of awkward silence, it's time for...]

Hey, don't worry! I'm friends with one little Riku, so even if I don't know this you, I will set you free if you wanna.

[captive_destiny]

[It would help if Lea didn't look like an Axel, but that isn't something that can be helped. He's really only comfortable around one, with the others making him wary because he knows what they're capable of. If Lea tries to come closer, Riku will only move away as much as he's able.]

[frisbeeoflight]

[notices the movement and stops, even jerking back a little... a Riku dislikes him... no, hates him? (still, can't he imagine that's not a Riku, just someone similar to a Riku? Isn't that easier? just an anti-riku)]

Still... if there's anything I can do, tell me, Riku? Uhm, if that's your name.

[shakily tries to smile]

[captive_destiny]

...Replica.

[It isn't that he hates him, he just doesn't trust him further than he can throw him. Age doesn't make a difference in his mind.]

[frisbeeoflight]

[so, not a Riku. Just a stranger called Replica. who needs help, cause, dude, chains.]

[give him a moment to feel all this relief] Hey, Replica. My name's Lea. Get it memorized!

[captive_destiny]

If you say so.

[Chains, he's used to. Over-energized kids, not so much. He hadn't even been fighting the chain.]