Terra and Riku in the SNOW (Land of Dragons)takethiskeyApril 21 2011, 01:16:04 UTC
[A mysterious, albeit nostalgic hand touches upon Riku's shoulder. The sounds of his approach hidden by the blustering winds of the cold, snowy mountains.]
/makes a snowman in the backgroundthe_daybreakApril 21 2011, 01:41:35 UTC
[He jumps -- he's paranoid and he knows it but he just can't help that -- and for a moment he nearly throws out a hand and calls the Keyblade. But the hand on his shoulder slows him, calms him down just a little.
Instead of summoning his blade, Riku simply... reaches out with the darkness, pats Terra's form tentatively with it as he turns. He does not pull down the blindfold -- he'll use his powers to see for now.]
Joe: *Makes snowangels in the background*takethiskeyApril 21 2011, 02:23:51 UTC
Makes sense, I think. [He's speaking casually, as if him showing up is no big deal. A relaxing, calm aura emanates from him.] You've done well, Riku.
I couldn't have asked for a better person to inherit the responsibilities of the Keyblade. I knew. [He exhales softly, relieved to finally see the boy from the island as a young adult.]
You're a keyblade wielder, Riku. Whether you have one now or not, you are. We're forced to make tough decisions to protect the greater good. You've got to be confident about them. You do what you know needs to be done. You're the only one who can do it.
[Suddenly, Terra slaps his palm against Riku's chest, smiling.] Keep your heart strong, Riku.
Strength of heart will lead you through the hardest of trials.
[He looks to Terra's face, ruffling his own hair for a moment.]
... If it were only that easy, huh?
[He's jaded and he knows it -- but Terra just doesn't get it. Riku doesn't have anything but selfishness driving him anymore. He hasn't seen Mickey in weeks, he's been slowly corresponding more with DiZ -- why does explaining this have to be so hard?]
[Now Terra's the one folding his arms. If there was one thing he could do before his heart was inevitably dragged back out to drift, it would be to help this boy. Even if it was only a little.]
Tell me, Riku. Why do you think you need to take up everything by yourself? I'm sure there's other people willing to help shoulder the burden. Going off by yourself...[He looks away for a moment and looks back.] It's not always the smartest thing to do. For anyone. [Terra learned that the hard way. If he had only spoken about the matters at hand with Ven, maybe they could've realized what was going on earlier, and maybe keep all of his family from fading away. From turning against each other when they needed to talk the most. But he has long since accepted his previous faults. He won't allow to let that pass onto Riku.]
Man, that pessimism is really ingrained into you, huh? [Terra is still smiling. If only Riku knew how proud he was of him.]
You won't be able to ever get past this, get any better if you keep saying this sort of stuff! You have plenty of people behind you, Riku. Myself included. I know that it isn't easy, but...You just need to allow yourself to step out of the darkness, even if it's only for a moment. Just to take a breath.
...You've grown.
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Instead of summoning his blade, Riku simply... reaches out with the darkness, pats Terra's form tentatively with it as he turns. He does not pull down the blindfold -- he'll use his powers to see for now.]
... You're the same.
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I couldn't have asked for a better person to inherit the responsibilities of the Keyblade. I knew. [He exhales softly, relieved to finally see the boy from the island as a young adult.]
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[Terra congratulates him, but Riku doesn't agree. He frowns a little beneath the strip of cloth, looking pensive.]
... Honestly, I... you made a mistake.
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Hey now, don't be so glum. Besides, I'm your senior, who are you to go making judgments on my decisions? [He smiles.] Only kidding.
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Terra, you don't... understand.
[He rubs a gloved hand along his arm for a moment, focus lowered even if the blindfold is still on his face.]
... I'm not... you should be talking to Sora. I mean...
[but he can't.]
... if he were awake, you should have gone to him instead.
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I know you don't know much about me...but. We're more alike than you probably think.
I'm no shiny, virtuous hero, you know. I made mistakes. Big ones.
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... If I said that... I was going to hurt someone to save him, would that be... how would you feel?
[He shuts his eyes behind the blindfold, folding his arms.]
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I felled my Master because I was trying to protect a dear friend.
...It was...a mistake. But I understand how you must feel, Riku. When I knew he was in danger I just...couldn't see anything else.
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It's the only way.
[And casual arm-folding has shifted, Riku hugging himself tightly. He touches the bridge of his nose through the blindfold, insecure.]
I just... wish it didn't have to end up like this.
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[Suddenly, Terra slaps his palm against Riku's chest, smiling.] Keep your heart strong, Riku.
Strength of heart will lead you through the hardest of trials.
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... If it were only that easy, huh?
[He's jaded and he knows it -- but Terra just doesn't get it. Riku doesn't have anything but selfishness driving him anymore. He hasn't seen Mickey in weeks, he's been slowly corresponding more with DiZ -- why does explaining this have to be so hard?]
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Tell me, Riku. Why do you think you need to take up everything by yourself? I'm sure there's other people willing to help shoulder the burden. Going off by yourself...[He looks away for a moment and looks back.] It's not always the smartest thing to do. For anyone. [Terra learned that the hard way. If he had only spoken about the matters at hand with Ven, maybe they could've realized what was going on earlier, and maybe keep all of his family from fading away. From turning against each other when they needed to talk the most. But he has long since accepted his previous faults. He won't allow to let that pass onto Riku.]
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[He sighs.]
Sora... I'm trying so hard to... help him. And Kairi's at home, and...
[And it's like he... shrinks a little, bowing his head in shame.]
... I'm not even sure I can recover. I've gone... almost too far already.
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You won't be able to ever get past this, get any better if you keep saying this sort of stuff! You have plenty of people behind you, Riku. Myself included. I know that it isn't easy, but...You just need to allow yourself to step out of the darkness, even if it's only for a moment. Just to take a breath.
Breathe, Riku.
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I take this blindfold off and I just... fall again. I can't do it.
[He can't understand how anyone would be proud of him, with what he's already done and what he'll do.]
I miss him.
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