(no subject)

[dawnrise]

[ Here's something that's been coming on for a while. Riku's kneeling down in her hallway, where several photos have been scattered across the ground. Just another trick of the dressing room, it looks like someone tore apart a gallery of family photos. Some are in frames, some aren't. Riku's crouched over a medium-sized photograph, trying to carefully pull it out of the broken frame. There's a small smear of blood where she's holding it - no severe wounds, don't worry. It's just that she's putting a little too much effort into it. But really, who could blame her? It's a photo of Sora. Her Sora.

Her face is wet, a blaring neon sign that something is wrong, but she looks composed. For anyone who can feel that type of thing, the light in her is dimmed down to alarming levels. What makes it strange is that her darkness is the same as usual; there's no increase. ]

Comments

[seasides]

...Riku?

[worried Kai is quite worried by the sight, and heads over to kneel next to her.]

[dawnrise]

I'm fine.

[Automatic defensive responses are go. Just give her a second to try and work the rest of this picture out of the frame. She's holding it down with her other hand.]

[seasides]

Okay.

[he... won't help with that particular one, because he doesn't want Riku to get more defensive over it and being able to do it herself or something. he just puts a hand on her shoulder, waiting until she's got it out.]

[dawnrise]

[Kai's such a smart boy. It takes a little working, but the only reason it takes so long is because Riku doesn't want to damage the picture. She gets it out clean and shakes some of the glass shards off of it onto the ground.]

[seasides]

[as soon as that's done, Kai pushes the remains of the frame and glass away and wraps his arm around her properly.]

Do you want to collect any other ones?

[dawnrise]

Yeah.

[She can't just leave them here, and she definitely couldn't trash them. It's a good picture of Sora, too, out in the sun, on the beach.]

They just... showed up.

[seasides]

I'll help.

[he gives her a bit of a squeeze, then lets go so he can go for a nearby picture.]

[dawnrise]

[She nods and waits until he's doing that to reach up and swipe the corner of her eye with her wrist. The photograph is being treated with extra care.]

[seasides]

[Kai starts collecting the pictures as quickly and carefully as he can, looking rather down himself. it's not exactly a happy thing to come across for him either.]

[endlessxsky.livejournal.com]

*he doesn't really understand and it shows on his face, but he figures he can start collecting the ones that have scattered farther out of reach for her*

[dawnrise]

Keep picking up the photos. I'll go get a broom for the pieces.

[She wants to get away from here. There are so many pictures, all from her world. The trio, Sora and Riku, Sora and Kai, Sora alone... Each of them has her.]

gah typos

[dawnrise]

[She doesn't even look like she notices he's there, but she does. Just... being around him right now hurts. It puts focus on all of the heartache she's experiencing.]

[seasides]

[how cruel. he nods and reaches for another photo.]

Go on. I'll make sure these are all collected.

[dawnrise]

Thanks.

[She looks at the photo she's holding, then rolls it up carefully and stuffs it loosely in her pocket as she heads off in brisk steps to find a broom and dustpan.]

[seasides]

[he'll just... quietly collect the photographs, trying not to feel too down about them.]

[dawnrise]

[Easier said than done. Riku doesn't take long to return with the aforementioned items clutched in her hands. She pauses to look at him, but doesn't say anything.]

[f1re0nthesun]

[Axel was on his way from somewhere, or perhaps to somewhere. it doesn't really matter. he cautiously approaches her, fully aware that his presence might not be wanted. he's not going to say anything just yet, and crouches down near her, picking up a couple of photos that are within reach and carefully extracting them from the broken bits of glass and wood.]

[dawnrise]

[She doesn't even look over at him until she's slid the one photo out from under the glass. Riku shakes it to get the remaining glass off of it and swipes her hand over it, wiping any dust off on her jeans.]

What are you doing?

[summer_poprocks]

[he's a little in awe of the photos themselves, but is careful where he steps when he sees Riku. it never even occurred to him that she would ever break down and cry.]

... Riku?

[f1re0nthesun]

I'm helping you. These aren't things that should be on the floor.

[he looks at the one on top, in his hands, and smiles faintly; it's one of Riku and Sora and Kai together, arms around each others' shoulders, all laughing and smiles. Riku looks a bit like she might be moving in to noogie Sora. Axel's kind of jealous, really. he's never had friends like that.]

[dawnrise]

[She's not crying. Outright, anyway. And she really doesn't want to, especially out here where everyone could see her. But she can't leave the photos in this state.]

What?

[dawnrise]

I don't need help.

[She moves over to a pile of photos not in frames and starts to stack them in her hands, pointedly avoiding looking at him.]

[summer_poprocks]

[he can tell that she's upset over them, and it makes his voice grow quieter, as if she might get even more upset if he raised it.]

I'm sorry... Are they like your family, too?

[dawnrise]

[Keep talking like that and she'll crumble, Roxas. Her expression hardens a bit, though he won't be able to see it when she shakes her hair into her face.]

They are.

[summer_poprocks]

[he's only going by what he knows himself; sometimes his Sora feels like the only person who really understands. why shouldn't Riku's be the same? he's not going to try picking up any pictures just yet. he's going to make his way carefully over to Riku and kneel down beside her, where he can give her the hug she seems to really need right now.]