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[lightyin]

[Much like the others hit with the spell, this Riku isn't happy. Okay, maybe that's an understatement--he's pretty angry. He's not so concerned about the inability to form portals or even produce the smallest spark of Fira magic, but he can't call his weapon either--that's what bothers him the most. All things he's pretty sure are results of the symbol burned into his shoulder.

Riku's been hanging out in an empty hallway, debating whether or not he wants to find anyone else and see if they're affected. But it seems like a bad idea for some reason.

(ooc: Pretend this is happening in the afternoon instead of the evening.)]

Comments

[captive_destiny]

[He may possibly be within hearing distance of a sharp cry of pain from one of the rooms down the hall. The laundry room, to be exact.]

[lightyin]

[He does hear that, and looks towards that part of the hallway. He can't identify who it is by sound alone, but he's going to approach the laundry room anyway.]

Hey...?

[captive_destiny]

[He'll find Riku on his knees, a turned over basket of clothes beside him as he clutches his shoulder. His only response is to shake his head, hunching over further. There's tears in his eyes, and he feels like any second now another blow will strike.]

[lightyin]

[Well, this Riku certainly isn't going to do anything to hurt him further. He kneels beside the other, most of his attention on Riku's shoulder.]

I'm not going to hurt you. What happened?

[captive_destiny]

[The voice is familiar enough to keep him focused on the present, though he doesn't pull his hand away. It still hurts, leaving him with the feeling of the mark going deeper than even the scars on his back.]

Something just... burned me...

[lightyin]

On your shoulder, right? Move your hand.

[He wants to see if there's a mark on Riku's shoulder as well, and if it matches his--a segment of chain.]

[captive_destiny]

[He pulls his hand away reluctantly, revealing a fresh burn mark that does indeed look very much like the one on Riku. Not that he realizes any of that; it simply feels like a scorch mark to him.]

[lightyin]

[He was expecting to have to pry Riku's hand away. Oh well, much easier this way. He shifts the way he's sitting, moving to put their shoulders together.]

It's the same as mine.

[captive_destiny]

[The skin around it is an angry red that's already starting to fade. His breathing still sounds hitched, but he doesn't pull away from the contact.]

What does that mean?

[lightyin]

I don't know.

[He reaches out to trace the design on Riku's skin, lightly enough that his finger is barely touching the skin, since it's still red.]

I wonder if anyone else has the same mark.

[captive_destiny]

[Surprisingly, he still doesn't pull away. The touch makes him shiver, expecting more pain than he actually feels. It's still healing pretty quickly for a burn that hasn't been treated.]

I haven't noticed.

[lightyin]

[Probably because it's magic. Magic burn. Magic...healing whatever. He'd cast Cure on it if he thought it would work. As it is, he pulls away first, dropping his hand to his lap.]

I haven't tried to find out.

[captive_destiny]

[Within minutes it'll look much like Riku's, though he won't be any less upset about it.]

I just don't see any reason for this, unless.. we're being sorted somehow.

More timeskips!

[lightyin]

[Following the events here. A while after, anyway. Long enough for this Riku to have woken up and drag move him and his partner into the nearest empty room. Or small apartment, rather, but it seems to be unoccupied either way, aside from furniture and appliances. He's currently sulking on a couch in what seems to be the living room.]

[captive_destiny]

[He's curled on the opposite end of the couch, still moving gingerly when he does. It's where he woke up, and though he has an inexplicable craving for touch it's the last thing he really wants at this moment. He isn't looking at Riku.]

[lightyin]

[Completely understandable. He's not looking to get attention anyway. At least not for a few minutes.]

Are you awake?

[captive_destiny]

[He tenses, though he quickly tries to force himself to stop when he discovers how much it makes his body ache to do so. He's awake, but more than he wants to be.]

...yes.

[lightyin]

How do you feel?

[He doesn't know what happened after he got knocked out, or why Riku was. But most of him hurts from being thrown to the ground, especially his head and neck.]

[captive_destiny]

I hurt all over. After you were knocked out, all I could feel was pain, everywhere.

[He also feels incredible guilt for wanting to find Axel in the first place, and is only glad that he didn't find Kai. He feels empty and overwhelmed at the same time.]

I think it was because we lost.

[lightyin]

Probably was.

[He feels guilty about that. A little responsible as well, since, due to the spell, he's basically in charge of whatever they do.]

I'm...sorry we ran into that pair.

[captive_destiny]

[He closes his eyes, remembering the look on Axel's face at the realization that he was under someone else's control, and that they would have to fight each other. He's more than sorry, with a part of himself aching that it had to go as far as it did.]

Please don't make me fight any more.

[lightyin]

I'll try. I won't make you fight anyone you don't want to. But that means you might not be able to see Kai for a while.

[captive_destiny]

[He doesn't answer, having already come to the same conclusion himself. Riku may as well be talking to himself for all the response he'll be getting from his depressed partner.]

[lightyin]

[Well, talking to himself is boring, he can do that anytime he wants.

He's moving to Riku's side of the couch, settling far enough that he's not sitting in Riku's lap but close enough that he's difficult to ignore.]

Is there anything I can do to make the situation better? Or am I making things worse by trying?

[captive_destiny]

[Despite himself, he does relax a little more with the distance between them shortened. It shows more in the easing of some of the lines on his face than anything, because he's still quiet and still not looking at Riku.]

I don't know.