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» APPLETREK: UNSPOKEN
Riku can't stay holed up in his room like other people can. But he isn't quite in the greatest mood or even in his right mind to cook as it stands. ninAxel, thankfully, knows how to help.
c!Riku: ... +finally, at about ten or so at night, decides to take a nice trip to the kitchen, because he's starving. peeks outside--shit Axel.+
nin!Axel: *zzzz has a Paopu in his lap!*
c!Riku: +hopes puppy doesn't wake up. tiptoes... damn it is hard to see.+
nin!Axel: *cracks an eye open and watches him go down the hall, waiting until he's turned a corner before getting up carefully, setting Paopu on the floor (where she continues snoozing) and creeping after Riku*
c!Riku: +turns towards the kitchen, puts a few lights on and searches through the fridge. ... nothing there, closes it. is generally lost. which is pretty new, he usually knows what to make.+
nin!Axel: *leans in the kitchen doorway, arms folded* *quietly* Y'want me to fix something for you?
c!Riku: +practically jumps a few feet in the air, clutching his chest. glares at him over his shoulder, before it softens, and he attempts to realign the very not bent faucet.+ ... sure.
nin!Axel: *goes to the fridge, shooing Riku towards a chair at the table. gets several things out and gets a couple of pans, setting them on the stove.* Bacon and eggs okay?
c!Riku: ... +feels weird, approaching the table and sitting down hesitantly. almost forgets to respond.+ --yeah. Sure.
Paopu: *hey you ran off and left me you jerk. D:* *trots into the kitchen, pausing to do a stretchandyawn, and then stands up against Riku's thigh and noses at his elbow*
c!Riku: +pets her head absently before crossing his arms and laying his head on them.+
nin!Axel: *goes about putting bacon on to cook and getting eggs mixed up to scramble, humming some quiet, soothing tune*
c!Riku: ... +picks up his head at that, looking at him over his shoulder.+
nin!Axel: *humhum~ pours the eggs into the other pan and stirs them slowly, obviously not planning on making conversation unless Riku wants it*
c!Riku: +after a while, speaks up, quiet.+ You really think it's okay for me to be upset?
Paopu: *curls up on Riku's foot and goes back to sleep \o/*
c!Riku: ... +leans down to get a good look at her, with a small smile.+
nin!Axel: *stops humming, glancing back at him briefly* Sure. I... I had my best and only friend at the time leave me like that, and I'm not sure I'll ever really heal from that. All you can do is wait for the pain to scab over, and learn how to ignore it. I'd consider this a much deeper relationship coming to an unwelcome end, so yeah, I'd say you have every right to be upset.
c!Riku: ... mm. +nods, more to himself than anything.+
nin!Axel: *stirs the eggs, picking a piece of bacon out of the pan and munching it, moving over to get a couple of plates down from a cupboard*
c!Riku: ... +pushes down the rant coming up, leaning down to pat Paopu's head.+
nin!Axel: *don't do that >:|* *dishes things out and sets a plate in front of Riku, grabbing a couple of forks and sitting across from him, sliding a fork over for him*
Paopu: *sleepdrools on Riku's foot*
c!Riku: ... oi. Don't be like your other dad, Paopu.
nin!Axel: *snrk* She doesn't have the hair for it.
Paopu: *goes bellyup under the table* *can has tummywubs plz*
c!Riku: +rubrub with one hand, tries to handle a fork with the other, which has his blindfold on it.+
c!Riku: ... +looks up at Axel.+ Look, I'm not one to badmouth people unless they're in front of me, and usually only sarcastically. ... and I know he has a reason for going back. It just... +shoulders slump.+ I can't help but feel ... used.
nin!Axel: *eats his eggs and bacon quietly for a moment, trying to choose his words carefully* ...that's pretty understandable. I mean... his own Riku's down there. Even if he didn't leave to be with him... I'd feel used too.
c!Riku: +frowns, pressing a hand against his head.+ I respect him. I really do--both of them. It's just... +ow.+
nin!Axel: *:c* I know. I do too. And even though I said some things that I really shouldn't have, before he left, I meant everything else, and I really think he shouldn't have left. He's trying to pick up an old life that moved on without him and that left him for dead, and... I don't think he'll get what he wants from being back there.
c!Riku: Maybe he will. +small shrug.+ I almost wanted to stay home, too.
nin!Axel: Must be nice to like your home that much. *munches bacon*
c!Riku: I said almost. I didn't like... +falters, frowning.+ ... my parents calling me out on my 'secret relationship'. I--I have a duty here, with Sora, anyway.
nin!Axel: Yeah... if there's anything I can do to help with that, by the way. I'd probably go to back Kai up, at least, but if there's more I could do... *eyes him*
c!Riku: +forces a serious look to his face.+ We need to move out. I've already got things planned.
nin!Axel: *nodnod* That's good! I doubt Sora could plan things, anyway. *tinysmile*
c!Riku: ... +small smile.+ Yeah. If I hadn't given him hints, he might've never finished his second journey.
nin!Axel: *snrk*
c!Riku: ... how long were you outside my room? --hell, how did you get there?
nin!Axel: I followed your scent. *:|* And I was only out there like... *glances at the clock* an hour or so.
c!Riku: +slightly relieved sigh.+
nin!Axel: *>>*
c!Riku: Means Kai isn't that lonely.
nin!Axel: *:|* We aren't joined at the hip, you know.
c!Riku: +small smirk.+
nin!Axel: What, we aren't! I spent several hours down in the engine room by myself the other day, thank you very much. *>:|*
c!Riku: Oh, calm down. +omnom.+
nin!Axel: *flicks a bit of egg at him*
c!Riku: +--catches it, miraculously, with his mouth.+
nin!Axel: *SNRK* Nice. We should hire you out for parties or something.
c!Riku: I can do wonders with my mouth.
nin!Axel: *opens mouth to comment, then thinks better of it, and closes it again*
c!Riku: ... +headtilt.+
nin!Axel: *cough* ...you don't say.
c!Riku: ... yeah. I can catch a lot wi--+oh shit facepalm.+
nin!Axel: ... *lmfao*
c!Riku: +cough EATS.+ Fuck you.
nin!Axel: Only if Kai's involved too, I don't want him to think I'm being unfaithful. *8)*
c!Riku: +... stop making me redder.+
nin!Axel: *n*
nin!Axel: *gets up to put plate in the sink*
c!Riku: +fuck you then. quiet, finishing up. presses his arm against his sleeve for a moment or two before shaking his head and standing, to do the same.+
nin!Axel: *leaves the washing for someone else to do. eugh, water.* ...so are you... okay? Upset? Undecided?
c!Riku: +will probably do them in the proper morning. looks at him.+ ... what, right now?
nin!Axel: *yeah, like we have such a thing as "proper morning" IN SPACE 8|* Sure.
c!Riku: +oh SHUT UP.+ ... undecided. I think I'll be like this for a long time.
nin!Axel: *n, it's actually been bothering my mun for like... EVER* *nods* That's good too. *smiles a little* And if you ever want to spar or something, or rant at someone, I wouldn't mind at all.
c!Riku: +interest was perked at 'spar'. :|+
nin!Axel: *aha, great minds, huh. :|*
c!Riku: +:| oh yeah. coughs and waves it off.+ Uh, sure... okay.
nin!Axel: *and now I'm going to hug you \o/*
c!Riku: +fjkl;sd tenses, and instinctively shoves at him.+
nin!Axel: *ninjahug!*
c!Riku: +murrrrrrsulk.+
nin!Axel: *:<*
c!Riku: ... do you want me to hug back.
nin!Axel: *:O* Sure, if you're up for it. I like hugs. *C:*
c!Riku: ... no, I just--are you going to let me go if I don't. +:|+
nin!Axel: ...maybe. *>.>*
c!Riku: ... +keeps deathly still, then.+
nin!Axel: *:|* I don't bite unless asked or threatened, you know.
c!Riku: I know. I've hugged you before. I just... don't... feel like... hugging.
nin!Axel: *:c* So don't.
c!Riku: I'm not. +... presses his face against Axel's chest, repeating it quietly.+
nin!Axel: *...pffft* *hugs him again, loosely, so he can escape whenever he wants to*
c!Riku: ... +murrr. hugs him back. he's shaking slightly.+
nin!Axel: *oh riku. :c* *sigh, rests his chin on the top of Riku's head; quietly* It'll be okay eventually, no matter how much it hurts right now, I promise.
c!Riku: I--... +breathes in, breathes out, and lets his shoulders tense.+ I know. I just... wonder, if I was just a substitute until he could come back home.
nin!Axel: ... *stays quiet for a moment, remembering things* ...you weren't. When Soras do anything, they do it genuinely. I don't even think subconsciously he was trying to make you fill the gap in his life. You're too different from the other Riku. Sora really did, and still does love you, he's just... conflicted, right now. But you two were one of the happiest couples I've ever seen, honestly.
c!Riku: +flinches at 'still does love you', before pulling away and casting his eyes elsewhere. his voice is sort of distant.+ I guess we were. ... I got what I wanted, though, when I set out to make sure that his world was the first we went to.
nin!Axel: *:\* *quietly* What did you want?
c!Riku: +hey, he wants to believe it, but the mean part of him says no way Sora still loves him. swallows, thickly.+ I wanted to see if he'd fly away. They say that if you love something enough, you set it free. If they really were tied to you, they'll come back. If they don't, they were never yours in the first place. +roughly sighs, brushing his hair back.+
nin!Axel: Well. We still don't know about that part, right? He might yet come back, once he realizes we're a lot more fun than missions and that stick-up-his-ass Riku down there. *encouraging smile!*
c!Riku: +looks at him, seriously.+ ... it's nice to see someone has hope around here.
nin!Axel: Heh. Guess I've been hanging around Kai too long.
c!Riku: +small shrug.+
nin!Axel: ...*sigh* This is why I got so upset at him. It doesn't make any sense at all, to me, on a gut level. That he could stand to just leave like that, but I know he had his reasons. *runs a hand through his hair*
c!Riku: ... duty, and ... making up for time lost is what matters most, I guess. To him. We just have to honor his decision.
nin!Axel: *stuffs down a great deal of frustration and GRRRR; sighs heavily* I think his duty is kind of misguided, but yeah, I guess so.
c!Riku: +opens his mouth--it looks like he'll agree for a minute, but he just. closes his mouth again. and goes to turn off the lights.+
nin!Axel: *follows him* C'mon Paopu, this is no place for you to sleep.
Paopu: *huhwhat. oh. yawns and gets up, trotting after Riku.*
c!Riku: +smiles, patting her once or twice.+ C'mon, girl. We need rest if we're going to try and cast off soon.
Paopu: *yeah sure you do that* *I mean*
nin!Axel: *yawns a little himself, following them down the hall* 'night, Riku.
c!Riku: Night. +door open, door closes after Paopu settles down in his room.+
nin!Axel: *goes on down the hall to his own room~*
Riku can't stay holed up in his room like other people can. But he isn't quite in the greatest mood or even in his right mind to cook as it stands. ninAxel, thankfully, knows how to help.
c!Riku: ... +finally, at about ten or so at night, decides to take a nice trip to the kitchen, because he's starving. peeks outside--shit Axel.+
nin!Axel: *zzzz has a Paopu in his lap!*
c!Riku: +hopes puppy doesn't wake up. tiptoes... damn it is hard to see.+
nin!Axel: *cracks an eye open and watches him go down the hall, waiting until he's turned a corner before getting up carefully, setting Paopu on the floor (where she continues snoozing) and creeping after Riku*
c!Riku: +turns towards the kitchen, puts a few lights on and searches through the fridge. ... nothing there, closes it. is generally lost. which is pretty new, he usually knows what to make.+
nin!Axel: *leans in the kitchen doorway, arms folded* *quietly* Y'want me to fix something for you?
c!Riku: +practically jumps a few feet in the air, clutching his chest. glares at him over his shoulder, before it softens, and he attempts to realign the very not bent faucet.+ ... sure.
nin!Axel: *goes to the fridge, shooing Riku towards a chair at the table. gets several things out and gets a couple of pans, setting them on the stove.* Bacon and eggs okay?
c!Riku: ... +feels weird, approaching the table and sitting down hesitantly. almost forgets to respond.+ --yeah. Sure.
Paopu: *hey you ran off and left me you jerk. D:* *trots into the kitchen, pausing to do a stretchandyawn, and then stands up against Riku's thigh and noses at his elbow*
c!Riku: +pets her head absently before crossing his arms and laying his head on them.+
nin!Axel: *goes about putting bacon on to cook and getting eggs mixed up to scramble, humming some quiet, soothing tune*
c!Riku: ... +picks up his head at that, looking at him over his shoulder.+
nin!Axel: *humhum~ pours the eggs into the other pan and stirs them slowly, obviously not planning on making conversation unless Riku wants it*
c!Riku: +after a while, speaks up, quiet.+ You really think it's okay for me to be upset?
Paopu: *curls up on Riku's foot and goes back to sleep \o/*
c!Riku: ... +leans down to get a good look at her, with a small smile.+
nin!Axel: *stops humming, glancing back at him briefly* Sure. I... I had my best and only friend at the time leave me like that, and I'm not sure I'll ever really heal from that. All you can do is wait for the pain to scab over, and learn how to ignore it. I'd consider this a much deeper relationship coming to an unwelcome end, so yeah, I'd say you have every right to be upset.
c!Riku: ... mm. +nods, more to himself than anything.+
nin!Axel: *stirs the eggs, picking a piece of bacon out of the pan and munching it, moving over to get a couple of plates down from a cupboard*
c!Riku: ... +pushes down the rant coming up, leaning down to pat Paopu's head.+
nin!Axel: *don't do that >:|* *dishes things out and sets a plate in front of Riku, grabbing a couple of forks and sitting across from him, sliding a fork over for him*
Paopu: *sleepdrools on Riku's foot*
c!Riku: ... oi. Don't be like your other dad, Paopu.
nin!Axel: *snrk* She doesn't have the hair for it.
Paopu: *goes bellyup under the table* *can has tummywubs plz*
c!Riku: +rubrub with one hand, tries to handle a fork with the other, which has his blindfold on it.+
c!Riku: ... +looks up at Axel.+ Look, I'm not one to badmouth people unless they're in front of me, and usually only sarcastically. ... and I know he has a reason for going back. It just... +shoulders slump.+ I can't help but feel ... used.
nin!Axel: *eats his eggs and bacon quietly for a moment, trying to choose his words carefully* ...that's pretty understandable. I mean... his own Riku's down there. Even if he didn't leave to be with him... I'd feel used too.
c!Riku: +frowns, pressing a hand against his head.+ I respect him. I really do--both of them. It's just... +ow.+
nin!Axel: *:c* I know. I do too. And even though I said some things that I really shouldn't have, before he left, I meant everything else, and I really think he shouldn't have left. He's trying to pick up an old life that moved on without him and that left him for dead, and... I don't think he'll get what he wants from being back there.
c!Riku: Maybe he will. +small shrug.+ I almost wanted to stay home, too.
nin!Axel: Must be nice to like your home that much. *munches bacon*
c!Riku: I said almost. I didn't like... +falters, frowning.+ ... my parents calling me out on my 'secret relationship'. I--I have a duty here, with Sora, anyway.
nin!Axel: Yeah... if there's anything I can do to help with that, by the way. I'd probably go to back Kai up, at least, but if there's more I could do... *eyes him*
c!Riku: +forces a serious look to his face.+ We need to move out. I've already got things planned.
nin!Axel: *nodnod* That's good! I doubt Sora could plan things, anyway. *tinysmile*
c!Riku: ... +small smile.+ Yeah. If I hadn't given him hints, he might've never finished his second journey.
nin!Axel: *snrk*
c!Riku: ... how long were you outside my room? --hell, how did you get there?
nin!Axel: I followed your scent. *:|* And I was only out there like... *glances at the clock* an hour or so.
c!Riku: +slightly relieved sigh.+
nin!Axel: *>>*
c!Riku: Means Kai isn't that lonely.
nin!Axel: *:|* We aren't joined at the hip, you know.
c!Riku: +small smirk.+
nin!Axel: What, we aren't! I spent several hours down in the engine room by myself the other day, thank you very much. *>:|*
c!Riku: Oh, calm down. +omnom.+
nin!Axel: *flicks a bit of egg at him*
c!Riku: +--catches it, miraculously, with his mouth.+
nin!Axel: *SNRK* Nice. We should hire you out for parties or something.
c!Riku: I can do wonders with my mouth.
nin!Axel: *opens mouth to comment, then thinks better of it, and closes it again*
c!Riku: ... +headtilt.+
nin!Axel: *cough* ...you don't say.
c!Riku: ... yeah. I can catch a lot wi--+oh shit facepalm.+
nin!Axel: ... *lmfao*
c!Riku: +cough EATS.+ Fuck you.
nin!Axel: Only if Kai's involved too, I don't want him to think I'm being unfaithful. *8)*
c!Riku: +... stop making me redder.+
nin!Axel: *n*
nin!Axel: *gets up to put plate in the sink*
c!Riku: +fuck you then. quiet, finishing up. presses his arm against his sleeve for a moment or two before shaking his head and standing, to do the same.+
nin!Axel: *leaves the washing for someone else to do. eugh, water.* ...so are you... okay? Upset? Undecided?
c!Riku: +will probably do them in the proper morning. looks at him.+ ... what, right now?
nin!Axel: *yeah, like we have such a thing as "proper morning" IN SPACE 8|* Sure.
c!Riku: +oh SHUT UP.+ ... undecided. I think I'll be like this for a long time.
nin!Axel: *n, it's actually been bothering my mun for like... EVER* *nods* That's good too. *smiles a little* And if you ever want to spar or something, or rant at someone, I wouldn't mind at all.
c!Riku: +interest was perked at 'spar'. :|+
nin!Axel: *aha, great minds, huh. :|*
c!Riku: +:| oh yeah. coughs and waves it off.+ Uh, sure... okay.
nin!Axel: *and now I'm going to hug you \o/*
c!Riku: +fjkl;sd tenses, and instinctively shoves at him.+
nin!Axel: *ninjahug!*
c!Riku: +murrrrrrsulk.+
nin!Axel: *:<*
c!Riku: ... do you want me to hug back.
nin!Axel: *:O* Sure, if you're up for it. I like hugs. *C:*
c!Riku: ... no, I just--are you going to let me go if I don't. +:|+
nin!Axel: ...maybe. *>.>*
c!Riku: ... +keeps deathly still, then.+
nin!Axel: *:|* I don't bite unless asked or threatened, you know.
c!Riku: I know. I've hugged you before. I just... don't... feel like... hugging.
nin!Axel: *:c* So don't.
c!Riku: I'm not. +... presses his face against Axel's chest, repeating it quietly.+
nin!Axel: *...pffft* *hugs him again, loosely, so he can escape whenever he wants to*
c!Riku: ... +murrr. hugs him back. he's shaking slightly.+
nin!Axel: *oh riku. :c* *sigh, rests his chin on the top of Riku's head; quietly* It'll be okay eventually, no matter how much it hurts right now, I promise.
c!Riku: I--... +breathes in, breathes out, and lets his shoulders tense.+ I know. I just... wonder, if I was just a substitute until he could come back home.
nin!Axel: ... *stays quiet for a moment, remembering things* ...you weren't. When Soras do anything, they do it genuinely. I don't even think subconsciously he was trying to make you fill the gap in his life. You're too different from the other Riku. Sora really did, and still does love you, he's just... conflicted, right now. But you two were one of the happiest couples I've ever seen, honestly.
c!Riku: +flinches at 'still does love you', before pulling away and casting his eyes elsewhere. his voice is sort of distant.+ I guess we were. ... I got what I wanted, though, when I set out to make sure that his world was the first we went to.
nin!Axel: *:\* *quietly* What did you want?
c!Riku: +hey, he wants to believe it, but the mean part of him says no way Sora still loves him. swallows, thickly.+ I wanted to see if he'd fly away. They say that if you love something enough, you set it free. If they really were tied to you, they'll come back. If they don't, they were never yours in the first place. +roughly sighs, brushing his hair back.+
nin!Axel: Well. We still don't know about that part, right? He might yet come back, once he realizes we're a lot more fun than missions and that stick-up-his-ass Riku down there. *encouraging smile!*
c!Riku: +looks at him, seriously.+ ... it's nice to see someone has hope around here.
nin!Axel: Heh. Guess I've been hanging around Kai too long.
c!Riku: +small shrug.+
nin!Axel: ...*sigh* This is why I got so upset at him. It doesn't make any sense at all, to me, on a gut level. That he could stand to just leave like that, but I know he had his reasons. *runs a hand through his hair*
c!Riku: ... duty, and ... making up for time lost is what matters most, I guess. To him. We just have to honor his decision.
nin!Axel: *stuffs down a great deal of frustration and GRRRR; sighs heavily* I think his duty is kind of misguided, but yeah, I guess so.
c!Riku: +opens his mouth--it looks like he'll agree for a minute, but he just. closes his mouth again. and goes to turn off the lights.+
nin!Axel: *follows him* C'mon Paopu, this is no place for you to sleep.
Paopu: *huhwhat. oh. yawns and gets up, trotting after Riku.*
c!Riku: +smiles, patting her once or twice.+ C'mon, girl. We need rest if we're going to try and cast off soon.
Paopu: *yeah sure you do that* *I mean*
nin!Axel: *yawns a little himself, following them down the hall* 'night, Riku.
c!Riku: Night. +door open, door closes after Paopu settles down in his room.+
nin!Axel: *goes on down the hall to his own room~*