exsilium | eleven (anon text) ♞ ❝you'll be smarter--more grown up and a better daughter or son.❞

Sort of, huh?

[Riku, you know that tone he has when he's teasing someone? It's very clear right now]

It doesn't happen to be someone you just like, right?

[ bluntly; ]

No.

[ ... he huffs a sigh through his nose, and it sounds like he's settling back into his chair. ]

There's no one like that here. [ there used to be. ]

Anyway, they're a friend I've known for a while. From our world. It's complicated.

Awww.

[How disappointing]

Huh? You mean from the Islands? But I don't remember anyone named Virgil.

Don't 'aww', don't you have your own love life to worry about?

You don't remember him. [ simply; not accusatory, but a fact. ]

You wouldn't. [ after all, sora wouldn't remember him. after a moment or two; ] He picked out his own name here, but he was a Replica of me, back home. We fought a lot, almost a year ago. When he died... looks like he ended up here.

Oh you don't have to worry about that, I got time to worry about yours too!

[And all my other friends. But wow, that explanation quickly kills the joking mood]

Your Replica? You mean like...a copy of you?

[ he exhales slowly. ]

It was a year ago--he sure doesn't look like a copy of me anymore. He's still short, but... he looks like I did, back then.

[a year ago, so this was probably when he fell into that sleep huh...a pause]

...I don't get it. Who would make a Replica of you- and why?

[he has a sneaking suspicions but...he'll let Riku answer]

[ ... he doesn't want to answer this. ]

A Nobody named Vexen. [ he speaks slowly, like he's stalling for time. ] I don't know why. I never got to find out. But... if I had to guess, it might've been so they had another Keybearer on their side, to make Kingdom Hearts.

Seems like that was the only plan they had, back then.

[ a sigh. ]

Meet me outside the observatory. I don't wanna talk like this.

[Sora, meanwhile, is oddly quiet at that explanation. Letting the thoughts and anger go through his head instead of out his mouth]

[A Nobody who wanted to make Kingdom Hearts...that would mean Organization XIII, just like he was suspecting. Virgil was yet another person they caused pain, all for that insane plan that Xehanort had.]

[But he'll reply to Riku, only shortly after Riku finishes speaking]

...Alright.

[And you can bet he's on his way. ]

[ riku's waiting outside the observatory as he said, hands pushed into his pockets with tense, raised shoulders.

the subject of riku having copious amounts of knowledge that he probably shouldn't have has always been a sore subject to him. he's always loved having surplus knowledge, being smart, being the knowledgable one, but as time wore on and sora was all over the place, he found that it felt a lot less good, letting his friend go around without a lot of the concrete facts. if sora knew all the sides to the story, maybe he'd think before swinging. it certainly paused riku's blade more times than he could count.

it was probably why he ran out of time, concerning roxas.

riku was starting to realize he liked sharing the information more than just having it. he hated just holding onto it; it felt like a burning coal that he couldn't pass off, and the more he wanted to, the more distant sora was. he couldn't catch up to him, they almost never had time alone to talk, and it was more and more frustrating to see his friend go off without everything he knew. if riku had been able to tell him... maybe the mastery exam would've resulted in two masters instead of one. he knew sora deserved that much. ]

[And Riku beats him there, as Sora's still working out how to get around on the moonbase. But eventually he'll show up, walking up to Riku. He's...not sure he's ready for whatever it is Riku's going to say, but...that doesn't matter right? Information is never given to him at the right time. It's almost always came when he was reeling from something emotionally, or too late for him to even do anything about it.]

[So this? Was infinitely better. Even if he wasn't sure he was ready]

[But at least he'll look a bit more serious as he approaches. If this is about the Organization, it wasn't something to goof around about, or take lightly. Sora...learned that the hard way]

...Hey.

[ riku pulls himself off the wall as he approaches, moving over to a little bench. ]

Let's sit down. This... might be long.

Okay.

[As per Riku's instruction, he'll sit down on the bench and look at his friend]

Whenever you're ready.

[ for a moment, riku actually... paces, running a hand through his hair. it's hard to figure out a place to start, with sora. there're things they didn't know since day one that he isn't sure that sora knows. almost idly, he huffs out; ]

It would've been a lot easier to stay on the same page... if we hadn't been separated on day one.

[ BIT BITTER ABOUT THAT TBH fucking maleficent and fucking donald like jfc

after a moment or two, though, he turns to sora. ]

Does 'Castle Oblivion' sound familiar to you?

Yeah...that would've made things a lot easier.

[Like maybe Riku wouldn't have had to suffer as much as he did, or Xehanort's heartless wouldn't have gotten his hands on him...but he doesn't remark on that stuff. Riku dwells on that stuff enough without him bringing it up.]

[But at the question, he pauses and he frowns. Castle...Oblivion? He feels like he's heard of that place before, even if no image comes to mind. Just a flicker, from the memories that Roxas passed on. Nothing truly substantial- those memories were too jumbled up to get any revealing details about the place. Only a couple things seem to stick out, the things that have strong emotional memories mixed in: worry, grief, loss]

That's...where they sent Axel for awhile. A lot of Organization members were annihilated there too.

[He frowns, as if realizing that will probably make little sense to Riku. He ends up shaking his head]

...Nevermind. What about it?

[ for a moment, riku's taken aback; how did sora know that? ]

... no, you're right. How'd you know?

[ did sora actually know more than he let on? ]

[Oh, right...guess he does have to explain. He rubs the back of his neck]

It was...during the Mastery Exam, or rather- when I was dreaming in The World That Never Was. I ran into Roxas and...he gave me his memories.

[ weeeeelp.

riku is taking two quick steps back right now. ]

All of them?

[Rude Riku it's not like he's gonna attack you!]

Not sure, most of it's all jumbled up and confusing. Only the memories with strong emotions attached have really stuck out so far.

[ oh, okay. he relaxes some. ]

I guess... that might be a good thing. [ he shakes his head. ]

We were both in Castle Oblivion at the same time. You don't remember because Naminé had to fix your memories.

[...He can guess what Riku means by that, but he decides not to pursue the issue. They can talk about...that, another day. Or maybe never. Either work for Sora really]

[Right now it was about Castle Oblivion]

We were? Why- [He was about to ask why he didn't remember- but oh that's why]

Why did she have to fix my memories? Did something happen?

[ he breathes in deep. ]

Organization XIII--uh, well... part of it, from what Naminé told me... were trying to overthrow another part. They manipulated her into changing your memories around, since she has that power, so they'd be able to control you through her.

[ he hangs and shakes his head slightly. ]

But as usual, you're you. You messed up their plans, and rescued her, too. That year you don't remember--most of it was her piecing your memories together. That's why people had some trouble remembering you, when you came back. Even I had some trouble.

So that's why...

[Why for a lot of things. Why he didn't remember a year, why he fell asleep, why he had to thank Namine, why some people seemed not to remember him, and why the Organization sure seemed to have less than 13 people. It was...really weird to think about, and a bit scary- that he had a whole other time the Organization messed with him and he didn't remember it. But at the same time, it made sense. ]

And....you were in that place too?

[ riku shifts his weight from one foot to the other. ]

Yeah. Somehow, the Realm of Darkness lead me there, and we ended up at the same place, at the same time. Except... I was in the basement, making my way up. From what Naminé told me, you started on the first floor and went up.

We never actually met up.

Seriously? That's ridiculous!

[WOW WTF IS WITH THE UNIVERSE AND AGAINST US MEETING UP?? Even if he can't remember it, it's still annoying...!]

But they didn't mess with your memories too, did they?

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