asgardeventide | ⒈ action & video

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⒈ action & video

[ Here is a young woman walking slowly through the streets of Asgard, noticeably new if only by the concerned look on her face as she glances about, her surroundings obviously unfamiliar to her. But perhaps of greater interest is the armor she wears, though her helmet is off and tucked under one arm, her strange key-shaped sword clutched in her other hand.

She's got a lot on her mind. The first thing she'd noticed is that her armor wasn't responding to her, only to lead very quickly to the realization that her Keyblade was ... inert. It felt dead in her hands, like all the light and all the power had gone out of it.

And as she walks, she notices other senses deadened, too. She cannot feel the Light or the Darkness. The only magic she's been able to produce has been a bit of ice - none of her normal spells, and nothing of her own personal magic, either.

When she finally stops, she stands before the Welcome Hall of Odin, staring up at it with more than a little uncertainty. She shifts her Keyblade into the hand also gripping her helmet, and presses her free hand to her mouth. ]

Restoring this world... and the one from whence I came.

Something about this is not right.

[ With a final sigh, Aqua lowers her arm and moves towards the door of Odin house, letting herself in to find "her" lodgings and perhaps come across anyone who might be able to explain things to her.

When she later does make it to her room, she will use her bracelet to make a video post to the network -- by now, she has managed to take off all of her armor and store it and her Keyblade out of sight, leaving her dressed in her normal clothes. ]

I've been told I can use this bracelet to communicate with all the other travelers in this place. My name is Aqua, and I'll be staying in Odin. Please, if anyone could help me, I'm looking for my friends. Their names are Terra and Ven. It's really important that I find them, so if you've heard anything at all, I'd really appreciate hearing it.

[ A beat, before she continues. ] Is ... it true that each person here is from a different world?

[ She remembers her charge: "do not tell anyone there are other worlds." But it was one of the very first things mentioned in the welcome letter she was given. Perhaps she can find out more about this strange place, what could very well be a nexus of all worlds -- the first thing of its kind that she's ever heard of.

How very strange indeed. ]

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I'm in Heimdall. You're Odin, right?

That's kind of a normal thing when you arrive here. I wasn't trying to hide from you, but... I didn't want to overload you with surprises in the first day.

Yes, that's right. I've only just gotten settled in here. Though if Ven doesn't contact me soon, I might be coming to you!

[ She smiles, warm. ] Anyway, you don't need to worry about me. I can take it. I like to think I'm made of tough stuff.

That's fine. I've been here a while so... feel free to ask if you need something.

I don't doubt you. You probably are.

I guess there is one thing. You haven't seen any strange monsters here, have you? [ She doesn't yet know that Vanitas is the one who produces the Unversed, so she feels a need to make sure this world is safe from them.

His statement of faith gets a small smile, but nothing more. She's too modest to really say anything to that, so she only nods, firm. ]

[He doesn't bother asking for more details, just assues she's talking about Heartless.

His expression does shift, if only for a second before turning normal. Thinking about the Heartless just reminds him again about how he doesn't have his Keyblade here.]

Nope. No strange creatures around here.

[ Still, she catches it, and wonders. He wouldn't lie to her, she can tell, even if she can no longer sense light or darkness - but something produced that brief, fleeting look. What could it be? ]

Alright. That's a relief. It sounds like there's enough going on without worrying about Unversed, too.

[Wait, wait. Back up here.]

...Unversed?

Yes. The Master described them as fledgling emotions that have taken monster form. You mean you've never seen them?

[The confusion on his face is from more than just the Unversed. Riku gets now that she's a matched pair with Terra and the others, therefore, knows all about the Keyblades. But Masters?

There were Masters that could train you?]

No. Never.

[ She pauses a moment, to think. ]

I want to say that's a good thing. But it's strange... nearly every world I visited was just infested with them.

[ Another pause. The logical next question is to ask if he's ever been off Destiny Islands - because if he hadn't, that might explain it. That place seemed free of their corrupting influence.

But she has no idea what may have happened to him between then and now, and it might be a conversation best saved for when they can meet in person. So instead she says nothing further, just thinking quietly to herself. ]

[He hums for a moment, looking away and thinking. Other than being immature emotions, they sounded rather similar to Heartless.

Is it worth it to ask? He knows a lot about the Heartless and how their formed. Could the two be related?]

They sound a bit like something I know. Similar at least.

[He frowns, but there's something awkward in it.]

Have you heard of Heartless before?

Heartless? No, I can't say I have. What are they?

Something similar to your Unversed. They were everywhere.

[It dawns on him a little that this probably isn't the best avenue. They don't have their powers here, but that doesn't mean what they say about their universe isn't important.]

...It's probably something better left to be told face to face. [He pauses, feeling awkward and remembering how she was looking at him when he turned his feed on. Meeting her in person might make him a little self-conscious, but...]

Do you want to meet up somewhere? To talk?

... I'm glad you asked. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Perhaps I can come meet you in Heimdall?

Sure. I'll just be in the Welcome Hall lobby. It's easy to find.

Alright. I'll be there soon.

[ She fiddles with the bracelet for a moment, rising from her seat, and the feed cuts. Now to find her way there. ]

[She can take her time. He'll be patient, finding a spot on the wall to lean against. He really should be sitting, resting a bit more since he's trying to catch up on his sleep again (keyword being trying). But Riku's nerves were working over time on this meeting, and he's too stiff and on edge to relax in a chair.]

[ It takes her some time. She's still finding her way around, after all. And though goodness knows she probably doesn't need it, she still carries her Keyblade with her. She would feel a little bare without it, even if it's not really working correctly.

Anyway, she won't keep him waiting too long. She lets herself into the main entryway of Heimdall, glancing around at this other God House - and looking for Riku, of course.

She's not really sure what to expect. Yes, she already saw him and spoke to him, but the Riku in her mind is still an honest little boy. The idea of seeing him in person is a little strange. ]

[He catches sight of her and isn't quite sure if she's seen him yet, so he gets off the wall and walks out a bit, taking a few steps closer to her. Riku keeps his distance though, a good couple of feet away. She can close it if she wants, but that's about as close as he'll go. Who knows how this encounter will go and how much space she'll really need.

He does, though, try to stand a little taller, shoulders and arms pushed back so he doesn't look hunched. But his hands make their way to his pockets out of habit, and his eyes look pretty tired from the sleepness nights spent looking for Kairi and Sora.]

...Hey.

[ Of course, she notices him then. And she freezes, her eyes going a little wider at the sight of him.

He's so tall. Somehow she hadn't quite understood that over the video - but here in person, his bearing strikes her. The Riku she remembers, the little boy, she saw maybe a few hours ago at most.

And he who stands before her is no child. This is a boy on the very cusp of adulthood. Something about the set of his shoulders reminds her, achingly, of Terra.

If only she could still sense the Light, and the Darkness. She would sense both, deep in his heart, and know.

But she does not, and instead presses a hand to her mouth in deep thought for a moment as she studies him. This is just so bizarre, but there is absolutely no doubt in her mind that this is the same boy. Before, she could feel that he bad been passed the power of the Keyblade... what became of Terra's gift? What became of this boy's life, and the life of his best friend?

Where is Sora, anyway?

Finally, Aqua lowers her hand, and she does cross the distance between them to set a friendly hand on his shoulder, and incline her head with a smile. ]

Relax, Riku. It's okay. [ She drops her hand, but she's still smiling. ] It's nice to actually see you in person. You've really grown up from what I remember.

Edited 2012-03-08 01:44 (UTC)

[Relax just wasn't in his vocabulary today. He tries to ease his shoulders to make him less stiff but her touch didn't help. It took a lot not to flinch away, or to try and shrug it off or anything. Instead, he swallows a hard lump that formed in his throat and just watches her and takes in all her movements, all of her reactions.

It takes him back. The memories are fuzzy and vague now, but he remembers meeting the two of them, Terra and Aqua, and they both gave him endearing pats on the head.

But he's not a fan of this. While he was opening himself up to being observed to her, the attention she gives him does nothing for his anxiety. Maybe once before he would have liked the attention, but now it just feels oddly placed. There are others that are better suited for something like this, like Sora.

Still, Riku smiles back, a small one though.]

Sorry. But it's good to see you too. I guess maybe it hasn't been too long for you, but it has been a long while.

About ... how long would you say it's been?

[ She can't help her curiosity. He must have been what, maybe 6? ]

[He had to stop and think about that. She hadn't asked that last she was here, and he knows it's been a while. But how long exactly... he lost track of the years as he grew.]

I guess somewhere around ten.

Ten...

[ She presses her free hand to her mouth again, then looks down at the Keyblade still in her grip. After a moment's quiet reflection, she looks back up at him. ]

Riku, if you're ready, I think you and I should talk about what happened during those ten years. But please, only if you're ready. It doesn't have to be right now.

[He bows his head, hiding his eyes again, darting to look briefly at her Keyblade too (how did she still have hers?), and subtly shifts his weight from foot to foot. Terra had offered his the same thing, and really, the past ten years weren't too bad.

It's just been the last two and a half that have been the most difficult. How in the world is he supposed to tell anyone how he nearly destroyed everything?

His tone's pretty neutral when he looks back up at her. There's no hint of nervousness or fear in it.]

Sure, but... I'd like it to be later.

[Maybe one day he'll get the courage. Maybe one day he'll be strong enough to tell the tale.]

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