6th Dawn ✯ Realized phantoms and a lone heart [Video]

[limitless_land]

//UNLOCKED//
[The feed clicks on to show Riku, curled up in his bed and staring out at something, or perhaps someone off camera. He seems composed in the mask and fancy clothes, but underneath that he's as pale as the sheets on the bed he shares with Sora and Kairi.]

I tolerated the crap you gave us all on Halloween, but... this?

[He tenses, as though whatever's off camera just hit a sore spot in his heart.]

...Screw you, Vatheon. Screw. You.

Where's my blindfold when I need it...?

[The feed seems to click off...]

//LOCKED TO TERRA//
...I'm ready to begin. Not sure about you, but I could use the distraction right now.

//LOCKED TO ROXAS AND XION//
I heard about your friend... How are you two holding up?

//LOCKED TO VANITAS//
... Probably would be good to take a break from practicing wielding the darkness until this stupid illusion fades, too. Did Xehanort always pontificate at length back then?

Comments

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

A...are you okay?

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

Mm. Just...a bad memory that this place has made to haunt me again.

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

That sounds horrible! Are you seeing...things too?

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a few ghosts from my past. ...You?

[It's easier to face if you have someone there.]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She quiet for a few seconds before admitting it.]

Yeah...my dead parents.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

[He gives her a sympathetic look.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[He pauses. Well, it's only fair that he admit to her who it is he sees after she admitted it to him.] ...My dead mother, and the person who I despise the most.

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She nods slightly.] They were murdered during the war by a man named Scar. They were doctors who were trying to treat him. [A tear slides down her cheek but at his words, she cries a little bit more.]

I'm so sorry.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

['The "Person you despise most," Riku? So I have left an impression on more than just the lingering darkness within your heart.' 'Don't listen to him, Riku. You know we still love you no matter how far you've gone-' Ugh, why won't they stop talking?!]

[His eye twitches at his annoyances, but he remains sympathetic towards Winry.] No, I'm sorry. No one deserves to lose someone so close to them like that.

[And since being he's technically a murderer...]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't know his eye twitching but she stares at her parents.]

They died when I was little, so I don't see their faces as much any more. [She cries even more now.]

You lost someone close to you too, you lost your mother.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

So did my mother. All I know is that she passed away protecting the people that mattered to her. [...Which explains so much of why he wanted to be stronger so he could protect them and not die.]

...Where are you?

[No one should be alone to mourn like this, and since Winry's friends weren't here yet...]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

You mother sounds like a remarkable woman. [She felt so bad for him, that she's crying harder. She glances back at her parents and sighed.]

It's not as bad as seeing someone who I despise. It's nice seeing their faces again but...[She doesn't really know how to explain it.

[She blinks and glances around her.] Well there's a forest near me but I'm not really sure where I am, I guess.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

She had her moments... [There's a faint smile crossing his lips as he sits up, pulling on the jacket before walking to the door, SFC still in hand.]

...It still hurts, I know.

[He listens quietly, giving a faint nod.]

I know the area well.

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[Winry wasn't quite sure what to say to that, so she let it go.]

Yes. [She responded as she looked around her some more. Her parents sat off to the side but she tried avoided looking at them.

[She blinks and graces him with a smile.] I'm glad one of us does.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

[His mother and Xehanort were following him, but he paid little mind to in...besides wishing he could hold his mother's hand again. Every attempt to do so, however, just went through his grasp. Yet another painful sting.]

I've been here for a few months now. The forest's become a hang out of sorts for me.

[A pause.]

...Though it isn't exactly safe, there.

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She hadn't tried to touch them but instead just stared at them.]

Oh. I see.

[She looks behind her at it.]

It's not? It seems perfectly safe to me.

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

It depends on the time of day, really. At night... certain unsavory folk tend to stalk the woods.

[He knows this from experience... his energy still hasn't fully returned, nor has his ribs stopped hurting from when he sparred with Vanitas after the last incident.]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you Riku.

[She's not a warrior, although she can throw a wrench pretty hard, but she'll be sure to avoid the forest at night.]

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

No problem.

[Good. Not only does that keep her safe from the others, but from himself and Vanitas while they're sparring.]

[And guess who taps on her shoulder?]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She smiled at him and turned as she felt the tap on his shoulder.]

Hello. [There were streaks down her face, where here tears had fallen. If she had known Riku better, she may have hugged the man, but she was able to restrain herself. After seeing her parents, it was nice to know that someone was reality. She hoped that he didn't notice, but she was shivering slightly.]

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

Hey. [He offers a tissue to her, having brought a small package with him. Whether or not it was just for her, or something he could light on fire without getting anyone peeves about a forest fire, who knows.]

You alright?

[Too late, he noticed. Though it's completely understandable, considering.]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She smiles and takes the tissue to wipe her eyes.]

I guess so..

[She tries to calm her shivering but she can't.]

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

[This is tempting him to hug her, but just settles for a hand on her shoulder. He sympathizes all too well, but is keeping himself from crying. After all, he had to be strong for more than just himself.]

[And at least, in a twisted sense, she'd be able to spend the holiday with family members.]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She's tempted to hug him as well. She needed one and she missed her friends and seeing her parents was making it hard. She has a feeling that its hard on him as well, she's upset for him too. Unconsciously she moves slightly closer to him, as if she wants his strength to pour into her.

If that's what it took, she would rather enjoy the holidays by herself.]

[limitless-land.livejournal.com]

[F-ffff. Even more tempting now, but instead he just gives her shoulder an extra squeeze. He knows all too well, and with the physical contact, he can see them too. They seem...proud of their daughter, at least.]

[So he gives her a faint and reassuring smile, willing Xehanort to shut up for just a moment. "You think that by playing 'nice' you will distance yourself from the Dark- my shadow? Do not be a simple-minded fool, boy-" ...Thanks God for a black mage mother illusion casting a Firaga spell on him.]

[automail-artist.livejournal.com]

[She tries to smile up at him. She glances over and freezes as she sees two other aberrations as well. Those must be, Riku's ghosts.

She hears the other's voice and stares up at Riku. More tears fill her eyes but these are for him. To have something chasing you, saying mean things like is just horrible. She reaches forward to hug him.]