34 - voice/action;

[stilldontgotit]

[Well, look who's back in town! Indeed, it seems that Riku's lost a good five or six inches, but judging by the fact that he's already got his regular attire, has a black cloak slumped over his shoulder, and his journal in one hand, it seems he's already well aware of what's going on

Comments

[markofthewise]

[It's kind of lonely at the smithy. Sure, Winry is around, but without Edward? Who does he get to bug? Just Winry. And that's no good. Well actually, there is one thing he gets to do. And that's puzzle over this new, freaky looking weapon that showed up this morning. Way back in the work area, away from the weapons display area in the front, Sokka is playing around with the freakish sword, trying to figure out what it's used for.

Eventually he discovers it's just a really weird back scratcher, which is what he's using it for now.]

[stilldontgotit]

[Sokka, are you serious?

Yeah, once Riku spots him, he's giving him a deadpan look.]

Hey, Sokka. Mind if you stop using my sword as a back scratcher?

[markofthewise]

[Sokka looks up from the stool he's sitting on. Something seems off about Riku, then he realizes what that is. He holds out the oddly ornate back scratcher. Riku actually called this a sword.]

This is a sword? [He then looks up and gives Riku a look.] Edward made this, didn't he? That guy really gets carried away with his designs...

[stilldontgotit]

[He shakes his head, reaching for the Soul Eater. In truth, he's not quite sure of its origins.]

Nobody made it.

[Not that he knows of, anyway.]

I've had it for the past few months-- at least, before I came back here.

[Hold on, he's tucking the journal beneath his arm.]

[markofthewise]

[Well, it's not much use to Sokka, he just hands it over. But one thing stands out...]

Came back? [You left?]

[stilldontgotit]

[He nods, taking the sword in hand. After a few quick swings, the sword vanishes in a cloud of darkness.]

Yeah. I don't know how long it's been, exactly, but they sent me back home a while ago.

[markofthewise]

[Blinks. Since when could Riku do that?]

Sent you home to... get that?

[stilldontgotit]

[Hoo boy. Riku shakes his head and, after shifting his belongings a bit more, he places his free hand against his hip.]

Not exactly. Let's just say it's been pretty rough back there. Everything Sora said about my future's been spot-on.

[Well, other than Castle Oblivion, but of course he wouldn't remember it.]

[markofthewise]

[This is Sokka's first time running into someone going home and coming back so soon.]

Oh. Spot-on in a good way, right? [He hops up finally and... wait. Wasn't Riku taller than him?] Huh.

[stilldontgotit]

[...Sigh. The things you don't know, man.]

Not exactly. I made a lot of mistakes back there, and a lot's changed since I left. It's been tough, but I guess it wasn't all bad.

[He met Mickey, and he came to grips with his darkness, after all.]

[markofthewise]

I'd just call it all a learning experience then. [He shrugs.] I'd welcome you back, but I think we both remember how the last month's been... in Luceti, anyway. Not much to come back to.

[stilldontgotit]

Sounds like I haven't been gone very long.

[Heh.]

Well, that does make things easier, at least.

[markofthewise]

If you say so. [...]

Was that really a sword?

[stilldontgotit]

[He nods.]

Yeah, it's a sword. It may not look like much, but it's actually pretty strong.

[markofthewise]

Well it's just. It doesn't look like a sword. Not even accidentally.

[stilldontgotit]

Maybe not, but I'm sure that could be said about a lot of other weapons, like the Keyblade. Doesn't mean it's useless.

[Translation: Soul Eater is sharp, Soul Eater, when used with a combination of darkness moves and skill is deadly.]