backdated to mid-morning yesterday, oops!

[fading]

[if anyone has attempted to contact Nami to wish him a Merry Christmas, they'll have been informed that the number is currently not in service. this might have something to do with the fact that, inside Nami's trashed apartment, his phone is sitting in a puddle of paintwater, sparking. Nami's nowhere to be found!


there's a frantic Kai calling for Nami as he makes his way through the park. he can feel that Nami's still in the dressing room, but there's a wall between their connection so solid he can't sense anything other than that.]



(ooc: Nami got a heart for Christmas. unfortunately, he's had a lot of negativity 'bottled up' so to speak, and the sudden onslaught of proper emotion wasn't taken well. he's in hiding, having taken a portal straight from his apartment! responses will be from Kai, at least at first, despite the fact that the post is from Nami.)

Comments

[dawnrise]

[Riku likes running off to explore. Especially when she can take Serein with her. There's a pause, though, and then she glances around. Considering how cold it is...]

It'll be freezing, if it's not frozen. Are you cold?

[fading]

Not very.

[he'd already had a sweater on when he suddenly got his heart, so he's been kind of dressed for the cold, at least.]

[dawnrise]

If you say so.

[She has a jacket on over a long-sleeved shirt, and it's not the best outfit for hanging around outside for a couple hours, but she'll manage just fine.]

[fading]

[if she shows even the slightest hint of being cold, he'll probably suggest they go back, or at least somewhere warmer, because he'll feel guilty.]

[dawnrise]

[Riku's tolerance for cold is just that - tolerance. She doesn't like the cold much at all, but she won't say a word or even look like it. As they travel, Riku's eyes are mostly on how things change. Going from all that darkness and barren, scattered trees to thicker forest, and heavy, snow-covered limbs.]

[fading]

[if she ends up sick somehow because of him he'll be pretty sad. he's visibly relaxing by now, standing a little straighter, and looking less miserable overall. even if he's still feeling emotionally exhausted and all.]

[dawnrise]

[She won't end up sick, don't worry. She's glad to see he's starting to relax, even if it's only a little. It's not something that's going to be magically fixed under any circumstances, but seeing it start to ease up is good.]

What were your plans for today, before that happened?

[fading]

Nothing much. I was going to visit Kai and Axel, maybe pick up some sweets from the store...

[basically he had nothing planned.]

[dawnrise]

Good a plan as any.

[That was basically her plan. To visit Kai (and Axel), anyway. Red,too, and maybe Ri and maybe Roxas, depending on what they were doing.]

[fading]

I'm sorry you had to look for me instead of whatever you'd been planning.

[dawnrise]

I didn't have to look for you. I was worried.

[He is her friend. ): And her pack.]

[fading]

Then I'm sorry I made you worry.

[he is sorry. if he'd been thinking, he'd never have run off like that.]

[dawnrise]

[She stops, and will tug on his hand if he tries to move, because she's going to hug him.]

[fading]

[he is greatly surprised by that, and for a second his breath hitches in his throat before he returns the hug. hopefully she doesn't mind a clingy moment.]

[dawnrise]

[She does not mind a clingy moment. She does not mind at all, and lowers her voice to just above a whisper.]

I wouldn't worry if I didn't care about you.

[fading]

I don't understand why you do.

[he really doesn't! he knows better than to think it's just because of Kai, however, as Riku is not that type of person.]

[dawnrise]

Because you're my friend.

[And friends are important to her and stuff. ): God, c'mon, she grew up with Sora, they have some similarities. Especially now that Riku knows how precious friends really are.]

[fading]

[he lets out a shaky sigh and rests against her.]

But why? That's what I don't get.

[he doesn't exactly have a lot of redeeming traits that he'd think would draw someone toward him like that.]

[dawnrise]

... Because you're you, and I like hanging out with you. Because you've been there for me every time I've needed you, and I want to return the favor.

[She doesn't pull out of the hug, but it does loosen.]

I need a reason?

[fading]

No, I guess not.

[he's still getting used to the idea is all.]

[dawnrise]

Good.

[Well, he'd better get used to it.]

[fading]

[he will, he will, not to worry. it'll just take some time.

anyway, about that stream!]

[dawnrise]

[Right. Once the hug's over, she's going to get walking again. She's cold anyway. He'll have to initiate things if he wants to keep holding her hand, though.]

[fading]

[he will. as soon as they're walking again he'll reach for hers, fingers brushing against her hand like he's asking for permission before he actually tries to hold it.]

[dawnrise]

[She glances at their hands, then nods and takes his, turning back to the path in front of them easily.]