010 ♞ Video

[darkbreak]

[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.]

Comments

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

I don't want to talk about it!

[Audio]

[darkbreak]

Alright, alright.

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

....

Where are you now?

[Audio]

[darkbreak]

Half way into Freyr.

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

Okay.

... The tea is on.

[Audio]

[darkbreak]

Keep it warm.

[Picking up the pace now.]

[Audio]

[occulthymns]

I will.

[She's going to sit by the door and wait >8]

[action]

[darkbreak]

[Awww, waiing like a little puppy :3

He knows he should keep talking to her, get her mind off things, but it's more important to be there too. That, and his social skills haven't improved that much. So he's just going to be hightailing it there, devoting more energy into running...

Until there's a knock at the door.]

[occulthymns]

[An adorable puppy ;;

She's opening the door as soon as she hears that knocking, and a split second later she's throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.]

[darkbreak]

Whoa!

[Given the state she's in, it is no surprise that she would latch on, but he still stumbles back a little and grabs the frame of the door for support.]

...

[Its a quiet moment before he's embracing her too, wrapping his arms around her. He still doesn't know what to say, what would make her feel better and him less socially awkward. But he supposes, for now...

This will be okay.]

[occulthymns]

[She's got a slightly better hold on herself than earlier so she thankfully isn't bursting into tears, but she isn't letting go of him right away.]

It's good to see you!

[darkbreak]

[He's not going to break it off just yet either, taking his cues from her.]

It's good to see you too.

[occulthymns]

[When she does finally let go she's clearly very reluctant, and she'll move out of the way so he can come in.]

The tea is ready.

[darkbreak]

[He's fine with her being reluctant. He needs to follow her lead and pace, and only enters when he knows she's okay with it.]

Thanks for keeping it on. Hope you weren't waiting too long.

[occulthymns]

Not too long. [After shutting the door behind him she'll hurry over to pour him a cup of tea.]

[darkbreak]

[He'll glance around the place, needing to make sure its safe and nothing's wrong.

But seeing her rush over does seem like something that's wrong.]

Hey. Take it easy.

[occulthymns]

I don't want it to get cold! Come sit down!

[darkbreak]

[He does so, but not without a sigh.]

Its not going to get cold. You just need to relax.

[occulthymns]

[She sits as well, looking a bit embarrassed.]

S... sorry.

[darkbreak]

Its okay. You just look like you're doing too much and stressed out. Just take it easy for a little while and talk to me.

[occulthymns]

[With a nod she takes a deep breath and sips her tea.]

... I miss him.

[darkbreak]

[Good. Its a good sign that she's drinking.]

...He probably misses you too.

[Its not a lie. Not a complete one anyhow. The fact that she's close enough to a jerkass like Vanitas proves that he probably has the capacity to return positive emotions like that. Even of those emotions may be immature.

Besides, if there's one thing Riku knows now, its that not all Darkness is bad. Vanitas wasn't a bad kid when he was cursed that one time. Just misguided and probably scared. He couldn't have been all bad.]

[occulthymns]

[At his response her grip on her mug tightens. He can't miss her, he's dead.

She isn't sure Riku knows that, but if he doesn't she doubts Vanitas would want him knowing, so she just gives a tiny nod.]

Do you think they'll bring him back?

[darkbreak]

...There's always a chance. Always a way they can bring him back.

[occulthymns]

I hope. I don't want him - [to be dead anymore] to be there alone.