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

[ 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. ]

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[ he exhales in some sort of relief as he straightens back up--

and catches connor's glancing around. ]

Good.

[ a beat, as his eyes drift towards the goalpost stellaluna's perched upon, hopping across the metal. ]

... were you looking for Stellaluna?

[He shakes his head lightly - no, he wasn't exactly looking for her, really- but he follows Riku's gaze when it shifts away and immediately his eyes are trained on the bat.

The possibly poisonous, dream-consuming spirit bat.

... Is that bat smiling?]

She is... [There must be an appropriate word for this situation. He takes his time to select the right one.] Unique.

[That term works quite well, in his personal opinion.]

[ that bat is totally smiling.

but riku seems to take this as a compliment. ]

All of them are. Your dreams could take the form of a bat, too, and it'd still be completely different.

[ but then he tilts his head at connor, and shakes his head. ]

Something tells me you'd be more of an eagle guy, though. [ he taps the empty space at his forehead, then points to connor and his beaked hood. ]

[Connor quirks an eyebrow at him, thinking the 'eagle guy' comment peculiar first. Then his eyes flick up to the dark shape hanging over his face. He's grown so accustomed to his hood, he usually isn't consciously aware of it intruding on his field of view.

He smirks lightly and ducks his head in a small nod when it clicks what Riku's referring to.

A moment passes and he takes a few milling steps to the side, back toward the door.]

Was there anything else you needed to speak with me about?

[He apparently hasn't heard the old proverb that starts "all work and no play"...]

[ initially, no, but that actually brings up the point madoka made to him. ]

I've got a question. How about, do you ever relax?

[Hmm... He keeps moving as he considers the question.]

I will relax when my work is finished.

You can do your work here?

[With a slight tip of his head-]

I have found other work here that needs doing.

[ hm. riku finds himself nodding, silently. ]

Yeah, me too. I guess a lot of people do.

Maybe I could lend a hand. [ a light shrug. ] If you aren't slowing down, it's never a bad idea to have people you could depend on.

[Connor's gaze changes, turning almost... appraising for a second or two as he eyes Riku.]

Help would be appreciated.

[ that glance is ... strange. not connor's usual gaze, and his mouth twitches a little into a smile. ]

Well, Stellaluna and I would be glad to help in any way we can.

[He nods a little before heading for the door, a parting comment sent over his shoulder.]

We will see what you can do.

[Do you have any experience stabbing people, Riku? How do you feel about stabbing people? Have you ever considered a career in stabbing people?]

[ ... huh.

awfully cryptic, for connor--he's never seen that side of him before, so he just sort of nods to himself and leaves him be.

he'll find out what connor's up to sooner or later. ]

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

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