asgardeventide | 010 ♞ Video

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010 ♞ Video

[The feed starts not with a face, but instead with a view from up above. It seems like someone's activated their bracelet by accident, and judging from the view it looks like the view from the very top of Heimdall's bank. A nice, beautiful aerial view of the city, showcasing some remaining snow on the roofs of some buildings.

At least it was beautiful until there was a jerk and a very loud sneeze.]

...Forgot how cold this place can get.

[Yup, that's Riku's voice, and when the video feed sweeps over to him, he looks a bit different. For starters, he's being a dumb island boy, dressed only in his vest. Checking in on the city and the damage that was still there was apparently more important than finding jacket.

And now, his hair's cut, bangs trimmed so that his eyes are now visible.]

You know, I thought this place was a dream or some vision before. Something that only happened to me. [He never mentioned it to Sora back home. Not if he wanted to be branded 'nuts' or have his friends fret over him.] I guess coming back here makes that theory useless. It's strange. [And not quite how the worlds work back home.]

Would anyone mind telling me what's been happening here. It's... been a while since I've been here.

...And anyone from our world-- ACHOO!

[He rubs a hand over the edge of his nose, sniffing and looking just a bit sheepish for all the sneezes. The islands don't get as cold as this place, and he's certainly not used to it.]

check in with me. [He needs to make sure all his ducks are in order here.]

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[It's true, if she still had that ability, it would make the situation a very different one, one that involved actually getting answers, actually being able to make a difference. Except she's got no real desire to have that power over people - rather, she just wishes she could help, and if that was the only way it could be done, then... so be it. But it's a moot point, anyway, it seems.]

[She's found herself slipping that way more often, as time has gone by. She still knows, still remembers, still chastises herself - yet the mistake happens all the same, every now and then. In this instance, she leaves it be. He knows what she means, and she knows drawing attention to it would probably only lead to an unnecessary conversation.]

I believe in you. Magic isn't everything. You still have your strength, and the things that you've learned. You're much more prepared than many of the rest of us are, even now.

[An unnecessary conversation topic that he's going to want to breach very, very soon. It might not be pleasant, but it is necessary, and in his mind, she's one of the ones that needs to know. No matter what.]

I know it's not. [The last part gives him pause. Prepared, ha. He's not even sure how exactly to tackle the Xehanort problem right now, aside from following Master Yen Sid's instructions. Just being reminded of it makes him sound a tad nervous.]

...Not quite as prepared as you'd think.

[How often what must be done is not pleasant, it seems. Or perhaps it's just a consequence of their lots in life - regardless, Naminé is no stranger to unhappy responsibilities.]

[She's quiet a moment, keenly aware of his pause and what follows after it. Her own voice is still a few seconds longer. She supposes that's something else she'll be told of later. Trying to keep it light,]

But still prepared.

[He wouldn't mind disputing her words. A large part of him still wants to. It's true, but during the exam, that was a big reminder at just how unprepared all of them are. Riku's not an exception, and Xehanort's always managed to be two steps ahead, somehow.

But no, this isn't the place or the time to argue over (what he thinks are) trivial matters with her. So, keeping silent on that topic...]

How far are you?

[They really do have a lot to discuss, perhaps that included, but... later. And even then, well-- despite the fact that she'd rather he not be burdened by such things, she'd also rather it be in his hands that the hands of many others. Maybe it's a matter of comparisons, but he's in a much better position to deal with it than almost anyone else she could think of. (And maybe it helps that he's earned her trust and her faith.)]

About halfway. How far are you?

[Well he is, especially compared to some others. But that doesn't make what he knows or what he needs to say/not say any easier.]

Almost to Freya. It's kind of relieving that not much has changed.

[No, perhaps it wouldn't. But he can rest assured that she'll do her best to make this as easy on him as she can. Maybe there isn't much she can do, but at least she's quite experienced with receiving news of all sorts - good, bad, bittersweet, it doesn't matter. She's learned to take things as they come.]

Mm. It's sort of strange, after everything that happened. For a little while, it seemed almost like things might never be the same again, but... as they say, 'life goes on'.

Well, it always does. One way or another. [Although if what went as planned back home during the exam, if he had lost Sora, that definitely wouldn't be the same.

Speaking of which...] I don't suppose that god ever came back, did he?

One way or another. [But not necessarily the same way. Things can change so much, and she knows that. She's experienced it herself, after all.]

[There's a pause.] If he has, they've kept quiet about it. ... Freya made a post on the network some time ago about there being some way to save him, but... she didn't say how, or that she'd managed to succeed. She seemed very upset, and said something about us not helping her.

His twin? [He doesn't remember seeing her reaction to her brother's sacrifice like some of the other gods had, but losing a sibling like that could never be easy.]

Us not helping her... [That almost earns a snort, but she probably was desperate.] Has anyone heard from her since?

Yes. It's... not hard to imagine why she'd want that badly to help him.

[Even if she's not technically in possession of biological relatives. ~~After all, doesn't technically have a twin, too?~~]

I hadn't heard anything about her asking for help before that. [Naminé shakes her head reflexively, futile though it may be.] It was very strange. No one has seen her, no - at least, not as far as I know. It's... troubling. I have no idea what she's planning and the gods don't seem to have spoken about what it might be.

Troubling might be putting it lightly. [He can't help but be a little worried and concerned. The gods had a unique sense of humour most of the time, and knowing that one of them has become so unhinged...]

Hopefully, she won't hide forever.

Mm. [But he got the idea anyway, didn't he? She was hoping to put it gently.]

Hopefully. She might be able to, since she is a goddess, but-- I have a feeling she won't stay away forever unless something were to happen to her, too.

...Let's not think too hard about the future. Or the possibilities. [He just got back after all. And if Freya was as upset as Namine says she was, then her return might not mean good things about the city.]

You here yet? [He has to admit, the cold is starting to get to him now.]

... Right. That may be for the best. [Because she's very much aware of that same issue. Who knows what will happen? But that's just the problem.]

Almost. [Really - if he's anywhere near where they agreed to meet, she's probably just come into view.]

There you are. [He cuts off the transmission after he spots her, and raises a hand in the air to greet her.]

[She's quick to raise her own hand in a similar (though perhaps smaller) gesture, a smile blossoming on her lips as she nears him.]

And here you are, too. It's good to see you again. [You know, in person.]

[He smiles easily, a little tempted to embrace her, because he has missed her, and she deserves it.

But maybe later. They still have things to talk about first after all.]

Yeah, you too. You've been doing okay?

[She'd be quite surprised, but it would at least be a pleasant surprise.]

Yes, I've been fine. [Despite what things have happened in the recent past, she's been fine. It's hard not to be, from a comparative perspective.] But I think I'm the one who should be asking you that.

[He blinks, the cold settling in again. Although he rather not, he can't help but rub an arm to preserve warmth.]

I'm fine. Trust me.

...

Maybe a little cold...

[All the more reason to hold that blanket she brought out at him. ~~Her mind was elsewhere for a little while.~~]

Then here. Let's try to fix that.

[He smiles lopsidedly. She's still the good and kind Namine he remembers. One that deserves more than she got.]

Thanks. [He'll take it, drape it around his arms and bare shoulders. Thank goodness for his height, or he'd probably drag it around as they go.]

[Maybe she might disagree with that assessment, but as long as he doesn't say it, she's content to fold her hands together and watch him place the blanket, a soft smile on her face as she appreciates the smile on his.]

You're very welcome. I couldn't just let you freeze.

Guess not. None of the other worlds were this cold. [Well, the Land of Dragons was, but he had a full length coat, and that helped a lot.]

So do you want sit down somewhere? This might be a bit of a lengthy talk.

Thank goodness. [Except that's a joke, or so says the quirk in her smile and the way she shakes her head slightly.] But I think it's kind of nice - as long as you can stay inside when you need to, that is.

-- Sure. If you think that's best. [He'd know more about the time necessary to discuss all of it than she would, after all. She sobers slightly as she looks around for a good place to sit, quickly spotting a bench without much trouble.]

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