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

[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?

[ riku can't help but give a little smirk. that's definitely sora for you. of course, it falls when sora mentions his memories... ]

--no. I spent the year protecting you.

[ he scratches the back of his neck. ]

You were kind of defenseless while you were sleeping and getting your memories back, after all...

That's right...you were doing that.

[That's why he fought roxas and ended up looking like Ansem for a bit. Sora puts his hands behind his head and grins a little. ]

Heh heh, I hope I didn't snore too loudly on you.

[ a snort; he leans forwards and flicks his nose. ]

If you did, the pod sure is soundproof.

I started calling you 'the lazy bum in a jar' to Naminè, and it sounds like you don't remember that, so I'm going with soundproof.

[He lets out a small laugh] Gee, how nice of you.

Thanks, though. I'm lucky to have you looking out for me, huh.

[ riku shrugs, looking away. ]

We've got each other's backs.

Of course we do! But I can still be grateful for what you've done, you know.

[ geeeetting red. ]

It's-- [ fine, he wants to say, but he has a feeling sora might press on. ]

Okay.

Heh heh, okay.

[THATS RIGHT HE WOULD'VE PRESSED ON AND ON. You know how stubborn he can be]

So Virgil...he was made in that Castle Oblivion place when we were there?

[ unfortunately ]

Yeah. It's why he looks exactly like I did back then, and even has the same powers I used to. He's... more darkness than I was, even then.

More darkness...?

[A year or two ago, Sora probably would have written Virgil off as a bad person then since only bad people use the darkness. But...now, he tries asking before assuming- even if it's clear he's a bit tentative about it. Riku had showed him that wasn't always the case, after all.]

But he's not a bad guy, right?

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