004 ♞ Voice

[darkbreak]

[When the audio clicks on, there's really nothing to listen to at first but the sound of the wind. Riku's somewhere up high, the roof of some building in Freya probably. And for a while he doesn't say a word until he sighs, and his voice sounds a little hollow.]

More people arriving again. They still give no explanation for it all. [Just the sliiightest bit of contempt in his voice.]

...Just make sure you all stick and stay, okay?

[Because Riku's spent the past few days running around like crazy looking for Sora and Kairi after finding their numbers unreachable and out of service. After all the work and promise to get her to remember Sora, it's all down the drain now. Back somewhere oblivious while Riku has to deal with the saving the world deal. Something Sora's better at.

He pauses, and scoffs lightly to himself. There's something metallic flying through the air; he's slashing at the air with his sword out of boredom.]

Anyone looking for a sparring partner? I need to get a few things off of my mind.

Comments

[Voice - Filtered to Riku]

[lethechained]

[....]

[Naminé... hasn't been a happy camper about this, either, it's true. Sora, Kairi, Roxas--....]

[Before, she was so relieved that everyone could all be together, and that she could be with them, too, but now... now what? There's the chance that they'll come back, of course, and yet, still, it hurts. She tells herself that it doesn't, that it can't, not for her, but Riku is very decidedly a different story, and her grief is also for him. He's the one who's really suffering because of this, isn't he? Even if she couldn't pick out with practiced ears precisely what's wrong in his voice, she'd know. After everything he's done for his friends, his most cherished companions, he has to be apart from them again, and that's enough to break her not!heart. She doesn't know how much comfort she can offer him, but that won't stop her from trying.]

... Riku.

[Voice - Filtered to Riku]

[darkbreak]

[His voice is still low, still somber, but he sort of perks up a little when he hears her. A fitting tribute and a nice reminder that he isn't quite really that alone. Namine's still a part of Kairi, to some extent and to some opinions, and someone he still needs to protect and watch out for. If he can't watch out over his best friends, the least he could do is watch over her. She deserves it and needs it, and he won't allow her to come to harm.

Which reminds him of the involuntarily leaving part and he grimaces, but manages to keep it away from his voice.]

Hey, Naminé. How are you holding up?

[Voice - Filtered to Riku]

[lethechained]

[She'd be glad to know she helped, but her focus now is on what's still wrong.]

... I'm... fine. [Because 'fine' is something she can't not be. Her voice, despite her claim, is somber itself, despite her efforts to the contrary. She does, at least, make some small headway in keeping it soothing; Riku doesn't need one more thing to worry about, and especially not if it's her.]

[There's a pause. The real question here is,] What about you? [And she doesn't say that she knows that he must miss them, that he must be worried, because those are things that she knows and things that he knows and they are not at all the goal, here. The goal is to make sure that he is 'holding up' as well as possible, himself.]

[Voice - Filtered to Riku]

[darkbreak]

[Fine. Fine was all they could be right about now, and all that they were will to admit right now. And right now, her voice was a little more telling than her words. They know each other too well. And that was good in his opinion. He didn't need to say or describe anything to her in detail for her to understand.] Fine is good.

I'll survive. [An aimless laugh. If the video feed was on, he'd be smirking, but it wouldn't be anything convincing.] Been through worse.

voice;

[orphean]

I'll spar with you. [She can hear it in his voice; it's not hard to tell something's wrong, maybe more than he's letting on.]

voice;

[darkbreak]

[For some reason, the idea of sparring against Minako kind of aches. But he pushes the idea from his mind. He needs a distraction, and she's sort of offering one.]

Thanks. [What kind of weapon does she use anyways.] Where do you want to go?

voice;

[orphean]

What about The Arena? It'd probably be able to give us enough space without hurting anyone passing through. [She'll be coming with a naginata in tow. Because poles with blades on the end are great multipurpose weapons, obviously.

voice;

[darkbreak]

Sounds good to me. I'll meet you there in a few?

[Voice]

[utenamobile]

A sparring partner? I wouldn't mind going a couple of rounds if you need to practice.

[Voice]

[darkbreak]

It's not necessarily practice that I need. [Lies, Riku. Lies. He still needs practice. Still needs to be stronger.] But, sure. Where can I find you?

[Voice]

[utenamobile]

I hang out in the Odin House. Erm... Isn't there an arena around here for more open room?

[Voice]

[darkbreak]

There is. In Thor's district. Do you want to meet there?

voice

[selfestheim]

... It's not really our choice, is it?

[there's the faintest hint of bitterness in his voice, though it's definitely not as cold as it could be.]

voice

[darkbreak]

Nope. We're practically at their mercy.

[Hey, he's fine with the bitterness. Having been here a few months, he's too bitter about the whole situation to really care anymore.]

voice

[selfestheim]

It's not fair.

[then again, few things are.]

voice

[darkbreak]

No. It should be, but it isn't. Not until the Gods start listening.

[voice]

[falenandawn]

I wouldn't mind a spar.

[voice]

[darkbreak]

Good. [It's kind of nice to find new people to fight with, now that he doesn't have Sora to rely on anymore.] I'll be hanging around the Arena in Thor.

[voice]

[falenandawn]

I shall meet you there, then. [And he will be there soon enough, though weather the other realizes it is his opponent remains to be seen. He'll just take to leaning against the wall, glancing around for anyone who seems to be seeking out someone else.

There's no visible weapon like a blade, knife or staff on him, though the bundle of rods hanging from a leather pouch on his back might be some sort of weapon.]

[persistentsong]

I guess they need more people, it's kind of scary to think they can just pull anyone they want here.

It's not right.

[darkbreak]

...More people to replace those that left, I guess.

[TOTALLY. NOT. BITTER. f u gods.]

[persistentsong]

[A small wavering smile.]

Mm. But it's good that some people got to go home. My good friend Sheryl got sent home even before I was able to see her.

But, I'm glad. She and the others have been through a lot. I don't mind being her e alone!

voice

[grows]

[oh... she doesn't know exactly what's up, but he sounds unhappy. that's for sure]

What's sparrin'? [something humans do when they're sad?]

voice

[darkbreak]

[He frowns. She's been here for the dragon and fairy attacks, but he really doesn't want to break the cutie anymore than he needs to.

Not that sparring is a bad thing, but who knows what it could lead to.]

It's kind of like a mix between training and... play fighting.

['This is the stupidest definition ever.']

voice

[grows]

Oh! Kinda like what we did in Karate! [pony... Karate... I don't even]

I don't think we'd be a good match for that, but... I bet we could still do somethin' fun together!