eight (video) ♞ ❝but i won't complain; i'll open all the windows.❞

[limitstorm]

[ as usual, Riku's been helping Transports that're coming in. it's the courteous thing to do, he figures. but even he needs a break, and remembering what he was told as a kid during the event, he's ... made something of a makeshift soccer field in one of the gymnasiums. with two goalposts and lines in tape, it looks like a proper field.

without the grass, of course. he'd love to play in the rain, but with all the new Transports and with dirt turning to mud and good god, the chill... well, not much of a game if everyone's slipping and sliding and freezing, anyway. he bounces the ball on his head like the proper showoff he is. ]

Who's up for a game?

There's got to be soccer--uh, or football [ he glances to the Initiative staff member who coughed when he said 'soccer' with a raised brow ] on other worlds, too.

There's a lot of new people around, now, like there always is around this time of month. So if you just arrived and need to kick something--

[ there's a flash of yellow and purple suddenly, and the ball he'd been bouncing is suddenly gone. he has to turn to look off-camera, and he levels his gaze. ]

C'mon, Stellaluna. You can't...

[ ...!

he rolls his eyes and moves off-screen, himself. ]

That's not for eating. Spit it out.

[ off-screen wrestling; the ball shoots out, hitting the chair his device is sitting upon. it tumbles over and reveals Riku taking the ball from a flapping bat's grip.

once the ball's let go, the bat perches atop his head, and he gives her a pet before looking back at the device. ]

... oh, right. [ he starts to get up. ] If you helped me as a kid, I'd like to talk to you. Privately.

[ he moves over, and clicks off the feed. ]

Comments

priiiiiivate

[ex_symbioses706]

( this is a kind of unexpected request. )

About what?

permaprivate

[limitstorm]

I just wanted to say thank you.

Plus, I have something for everyone.

encrypted video

[salvagedsoul]

Oh... It's you. Riku, right?

encrypted video

[limitstorm]

Yeah, that's me. Kaworu... right?

[video; private]

[chargethesebatteries]

Good to see you're back to your old self; I think it would have been frowned upon for me to teach a five-year old what to do with a rifle.

Also looks to me like your bat there'd make a good goalie.

[video; private]

[limitstorm]

You are gonna teach me, though, right?

[ then, a look at Stellaluna. ] Nah. I think she's just hungry.

So, Sergeant, what kinda flavor pie do you like?

video → private;

[revelation]

Oh! You're back to normal too.

Is something wrong?

permaprivatevid; (god that's long)

[limitstorm]

I wanted to say thank you, that's all.

[ a small smile, a quiet laugh. ]

Especially to you, Madoka.

video

[fintastic]

I'd like to play! Can you teach me how? I've heard of it but I don't know all the rules!

video

[limitstorm]

I guess I could. It's pretty simple.

[video]

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel looks a little awkward, but only if you're really paying attention.]

Pass; I think I'll stick to frisbee. But if you're ever up for a game, let me know.




'Cuz I'm definitely gonna have to give you several more lessons before you're any good at it.

[video; private]

[limitstorm]

Hey, I would've been great at it if my teacher was any good.

[ crossing arms, awkward too. the only way he can battle awkward is with teasing back, so... ]

video; filtered

[rota]

... So, that was you, wasn't it?

[All the pieces come together then.]

video; filtered

[limitstorm]

Yeah. It was.

Thanks, by the way.

[video] [private]

[galactically]

I knew that was you back then.

[When she spotted little!Riku outside the base, that is, and the memory coaxes a faint smile out of Sheryl.]

What is it, Riku?

[video] [private]

[limitstorm]

I wanted to say thank you. And give you something.

I was kind of a handful.

video

[realady]

[Oh, she had been telling someone here about soccer just a month or two ago! Out of all the sports offered in the stadiums in Nimbasa City, soccer was definitely her favorite.

(Right next to tennis, but she was a better cheerleader than player.)]

Count me in. It's been a while since I played a good game!

video

[limitstorm]

Nice to hear. [ about time he got a few more players. ]

I'm Riku.

private video;

[nikubaka]

[ He's a bit unsure if Riku would consider "giving bento" to be "helping," but there's no harm in replying anyway. ]

Good to officially meet you.

private video;

[limitstorm]

[ look at him actually brighten. ]

You're Kuroh, right? Yeah, I was hoping to see you around.

video;

[motioned]

[There's a surprise at that voice, that face, but she doesn't want to say how familiar it is until she can determine if he recognizes her as well. So she turns on the video feed with a smile, looking at the bat.]

Where'd you get that?

video;

[limitstorm]

[ he raises a brow at her, and then thinks of where her eyes are probably gesturing to. looking to Stellaluna, he catches the ball in his hands and moves it to his side. ]

Stellaluna?

She came with me from my homeworld.

voice. private.

[ringletted]

I've never heard of soccer or football before, but you said you wanted to speak to everyone who helped you.

voice. private.

[limitstorm]

Yeah, I did. I wanted to say thank you.

Especially to you. [ kind of embarrassed. ] Me, as a kid, I would've ran off to try and fight.

video

[frorn]

[ Here have smirking Jack chinhanding at you. Although if one pays close attention, there's something forced about that smirk. ]

Oh, so he does know how to have some fun.

Nice bat, by the way.

video

[limitstorm]

Yeah, I do. Indoors. When it's not raining or snowing.

[ Riku notices, but isn't sure how to bring it up. if he did, he wouldn't beat around the bush at all. maybe... not over the network. in person. ]

Thanks. [ Stellaluna gives a happy little squeak, flapping around at the compliment. ] She appreciates it.

By the way, I need to talk to you, too. Don't think I didn't forget your ice skating lesson.

Video; (??what is a privacy lock??)

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[ Gwendolyn squints slightly at the video. She knows not what sport he speaks of, but there's something familiar about the young man on the screen. Not the hair, though that's certainly silvery enough, but--

'A kid'. Her voice is a touch uncertain. ]

Do I know you?

[ And then, the bat catches her attention. ]

Oh! ..What a strange creature. Is it native to this world? [ Surely not. ] Or your own?

Video; (private because he'll do it then B|X)

[limitstorm]

[ it's Princess Mecha Ballerina! ]

Sort of. I remember you; you helped me get to shelter twice as a kid.

As for Stellaluna, [ he looks up to his flapping bat. ] She's from my world.

voice;

[skennen]

[Connor studies (read: stares and makes perplexed faces at) Riku's video recording for a few moments before setting about replying to it.

His quickened footsteps can be heard in the background of his comment.]

What is this game you speak of? [He almost certainly won't have time to participate in any game playing, being such a busy man and all, but he's curious. The Iroquois often play a game his people call tewa'á:raton, but this... soccer or football obviously isn't that sport, considering the size of the ball Riku's shown them and the apparent lack of sticks with nets.]

voice;

[limitstorm]

Soccer?

[ there's an irritated football! from the side, and Riku shoots a glare at the staff member. "Don't you have something better to do?"

as they sulk away, Riku shakes his head. ]

It's a game where you can't use your hands or touch the ball, but you have to get it in the net by kicking it around. Someone stands in front of the net and tries to block you from getting it in the net, so your team can't score points. [ fairly simple when you don't get the strategy mixed up into it all.

and then, a pause; ]

Where... are you?

video;

[bittertears]

A friend of yours? [somewhat odd-looking, but also kind of... cute.]

video;

[limitstorm]

You could call her a friend.

[ Stellaluna would certainly like that. ]

She's a fighting partner, too.