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[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[It's taken her a while, but this Aqua here has not only made it out and about, but she's made it down to the beach.

This feels so strange for her. Light glistening on the waves as they lap calmly at the shore, all gentle spray and foam... she'd almost forgotten that a beach could be a happy place.

As it is, she's gazing out into the distance, and idly throwing pebbles into the waves, listening to the splashes and letting her mind wander...]

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[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ there's something akin to a ripple of Light and Darkness, of heat and cold, of dusk and shadows on the shores of the sandy beach, and the splash of boots in the very edge of the wet waves of the surf next to Aqua as Riku curiously tilts his head slightly to the side at the "sight" of the silent, morose azure-haired women tossing peddles into the ocean and listening to the splashes.

(since the encounter with another Aqua, faint memories surface in his mind, but his meeting with her had been short and other then the fact it was strange the lady had assumed Sora would have to protect Riku, not the other way around, and her manner of dress, had been uninteresting. Riku had been a intelligent boy, mature for his age, but the young man's visit had been far more important then this lady's.)

the ribbons of the black blindfold wrapped across his sharp eyes flap behind him. he doesn't say a word, just stares curiously. ]

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[She's seen Rikus before. Hard for her not to have, really. But this one feels a little different to most. Just a bit.

Idly, she remembers the one she used to 'see' looking out for Terra (always Terra, to her) back home, the would-have-been-apprentice and would-have-been-master. But that was back there. Just a passing thought.

She glances over, and gives a nod.]

Hello.

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ a blink as the splashes as water met rock creased and Aqua's greeting rang out on the bright, sunny beach. white sand shifted under his boots, the clear blue waves edged with white hugged the curve of the shore. and the sun smiled overhead. an endless source of natural blinding light.

(the unknown lady hadn't interested him because she hadn't promised, promised to come back one day and break the too-bright-sunshine-on-water prison bars locking him in his tiny world. hadn't given him hope, had not laughed at his dreams of something bigger, something greater then a confined world of islands, seagull cries, tides and sea-foam, had truly listened to him and understood. even Sora who had been the only one to even try and understand the questions that buzzed around his head without end, had never connected to him like that.

dreams are seldom what they seem. and they're never easy.)

A flat, polite nod in return. there's something that pings him about this strange women-- he had met up with other Aquas before, but this version seemed a little... different. ]

Hey... Aqua, right?

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[She gives a gentle smile. No, nothing wrong here. Just someone taking time out to greet a - well, not new face, but new person behind the face.]

That's it. You'd be Riku, am I right?

had to go to sleep, sorry.

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ Riku stood in the very edge of the rolling waves of the surf, allowing thin ripples of water to slide across his boots before retreating back to the depths of the ocean and the salty-seawater.

he kicks idly one foot against the waves and watches as the water sprays up into the air in million droplets of seawater, sunlight reflecting though them and making the water shine and glow and sparkle for a short moment before the liquid streams plummeted down again. ]

Yep. What are you out here for?

It's cool.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[Glittering waves and spray - lovely sight. A little bit of a shame he's denying himself a look at it, she thinks, but it's not her call to make.]

I was just taking in the view. [She looks at the ground for a moment, gives a little bit of a chuckle.] I hadn't been down this way before.

^_^

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ after all he had done, he doesn't need his eyes to see anymore then a snake needed legs to move. the beach is quiet today. not many people lingering around, just the two of them and the shrill seagull cries. ]

You've been in the dressing room a while then? [ blindly his head turns from the rolling of the tide, and back to Aqua. ] It's a nice view.

[ not that he can actually see it. ]

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[She'll just trust he knows what he's talking about there: it certainly seems like he does, as she'd gladly agree.]

It is. And I have... I was here before it was a town, even.

[Back when it felt like she'd changed one kind of imprisonment for another, even if this was less harsh.]

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ it's cool today; despite the sun being out, it's tepid, sunny, and cool, bordering on warm but not hot. cloud drift over the blue drawing clothe of the sky and the great white blot of the sun hanging high overhead. ]

Quite a long time then.

[ a quiet laugh though the chuckle is not directed at her. ]

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[It doesn't matter if it's cool. It's open, it's pleasant - what else does she need, after everything? She picks up the laugh on Riku's end and returns it.]


You could say that. [Compared to some things, though, it's hardly been any time at all.] How about you?

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

[ a shrug; one gloved hand goes on his hip, the other gloved hand swings out in a wide gesture as if to indicate the whole place, the whole sandy white-washed beach, the whole sparkling blue ocean, the wide beaming sky, the whole world-- or maybe just to make a point. ]

Fine. Hnh, babysitting idiot Hero is a good way to pass the time at least. [ the outstretched hand drops and he folds both arms across his chest. ] Since the only way to leave is when this place deems fit, it's mainly a problem of filling the wait.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

I try not to think of it that way.

[She gives a soft sigh, but then turns to look more directly at him, for what it's worth.]

But babysitting a hero? Are there any of them that need it around here? I've seen plenty, and they seemed to - have things under control.

[existanceindawn.livejournal.com]

Why not?

Huh? I'm not talking about some random guy. Hero's my nickname for the idiot. [ a inhale of clean, salty air. a quiet huff as he blows it out of his lungs. ]

No, I doubt Xeha needs me to keep an eye on him. But I tend to think of it as babysitting.

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

[Beaches have intrigued Xemnas for as long as he can remember. There's something half-nostalgic about them, about the way the sea and shore and breeze all come together in one place. It feel right in some long forgotten twist of memory. It's why he knows where to find the dark shore at the edge of the boundary between worlds, why he's come out to this beach today.

He arrives by portal, much as he always does. It's easier, and there's absolutely no reason for him not to, in his opinion. He stands on the shore for a brief moment, before making his way over to where Aqua stands.]

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[Noticing the movement out of the corner of her eye, she turns to look at the new arrival, wondering somewhat what brought him here - not that she'd say he had bad taste in locations.

A nod, then-]

Hello, there.

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

[Hey, sometime even a Nobody decides to take a day off. Or as close to a day off as he ever gets, but that's the sort of detail that he'll keep to himself.]

Good afternoon.

[Even with his face hooded, there's probably some familiarity in that voice.]

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[A hint, an echo. She can almost imagine that she's - well, imagining it. Or that it's just coincidence.
But she's noticed it, at least. Friendly-]

So, what brings you down here?

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

[Xemnas doesn't shrug, but something in his position suggests that were he anyone else, he might very well have.]

An echo of a memory, perhaps. Or maybe it would be better to call it a wish to find something.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[Close enough will do.]

It doesn't seem like a bad place to come looking for things. [A little hint of a smile, there.]

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

Yes. It is a place of beginnings, and of ends.

[The words are truer than he realizes even, and after a moment, he pulls back the hood of his coat. There's no need for it to remain up at the moment.]

A fitting place, when one wishes to come and think.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[Oh.

Oh my.

Is this what he'd have looked like, had he grown up again by now? Differences, sure, and she can guess at what type of person she's talking to - but the face is the same as she remembers.
Trying not to let her surprise show... she does smile, though.]

The end of the land, the end of the sea... I can see it.

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

[It's one possibility, yes, although a part of the heart he no longer has would doubtless have complained his current coloration were it not for the fact that he can't remember having looked any different than he does now.]

Yes, I had thought you might.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

Have we met, then? [Yes, yes, something screams, but she wants to hear it from him - wants to hear that there is perhaps something left that she can't see in that kid from her world.] Or are you just good at guessing?

[twilit-naught.livejournal.com]

[Sadly, there's not much left of Terra in him, and surely not enough to say whether or not they've met with any certainty.]

I cannot recall such a meeting. But there is little enough of my life that I can recall as it is; there exist the possibility we have met in times now forgotten.

[stormytides.livejournal.com]

[She looks maybe a little disappointed, but mentally shrugs it off.]

Never mind, then. Let's call it a good guess.