[09 - Voice/Action open to Tenna Villa] backdated to the evening of May, 9th

[justabignobody]

[The sun has almost set by the time they arrive back at Tenna and Riku actually finds the head to give the all-clear on Sora's missing status. The last few days have been too long, too exhausting and he doesn't even want to think what might have happened, if not for Splendor's anti-violence rule... what he might have found himself forced to do, if

Comments

voice;

[grimreaping]

And the one responsible?

[ not a happy sounding Kid, no not at all ]

Re: voice;

[justabignobody]

He has been dealt with. Momentarily at least.

[That is about everything Riku is willing to say on this for now. He'll start worrying about Vanitas once he stops feeling the urge just to let himself pass out on the spot.]

voice;

[grimreaping]

[ moar sounding unimpressed ]

Momentarily, meaning?

voice;

[justabignobody]

[Sound unimpressed all you like, Kid. He might care sometimes later on.]

Meaning that he won't be able to harm anyone for a while at least.

[spazalot]

[She was about to reply when she got a pretty good look at him, which makes her say:]

Oh wow, you look awful. Have you slept at all?

[justabignobody]

[He snorts, half tired and half amused by that question.]

Do you really want me to answer that?

[spazalot]

[Winces. That probably wasn't the best question to ask. ;;]

S-sorry! U-um, standard question? Ehehe...

[Private]

[justabignobody]

[He chuckles weakly; the question might not have been the best, but at least it helped lifting his mood a little.]

I'm not angry. It's just been a long week.

[foreseen_future]

What's your name, young man?

[justabignobody]

It's An-

[He hesitates there, and it's funny because once it used to be the other way around. Now he almost doesn't even think about using Ansem's name. Things are different now though; different to how they were when he had arrived at Splendor. Mickey had been right to tell him that he couldn't keep it up and telling - trusting - Shiki had been a first step, but... too many people were getting hurt; Sora had gotten hurt because he hadn't had any way to be sure whether 'Ansem' could be trusted and when he thinks about it that way; this all is as much his fault as it was Vanitas'.

Finally he sighs. It's time to drop the pretense for good.]

Riku. It's Riku.

[foreseen_future]

Do you protect Sora?

[justabignobody]

Always. No matter what.

[It's an oath and a promise, not to Nura, but to Sora and himself. He has given it before to Aqua, and it's one that he would always give again in a heart beat, because in the end this has (almost) always been his heart's desire, even when he had wrapped himself in darkness, to protect the people close to his heart. He hasn't done a good job in that; never, really, in his eyes, but in this he is selfish, because protecting them is his job and he won't let that fall to anyone else.]

voice;

[uponhiseye]

Are you okay?

voice;

[justabignobody]

I'm fine.

[Even though he says that; he can't keep the tiredness out of his voice and to some part he doesn't even try.]

[uponhiseye]

[He's a little bit hesitant, but concerned enough to continue.]

You sound sad.

[justabignobody]

[Usually Riku would disregard that sort of concerns; his well being isn't really important right now, not after all that Sora went through in the last few days... but there is something about Milen's voice that makes him hesitate, because even though he doesn't deserve his honest concern, Milen deserves to be brushed off even less. Finally he sighs before he answers.]

It's nothing. The last week was just exhausting.

Action;

[tiny_promise]

[Sora is holding on to Riku's hand tightly, not wanting to let go. He's otherwise unusually quiet and lacking energy. He's tired, too. And he just wants to stay here, with Riku, and not do much of anything for the moment. Just... Hide away.]

Action;

[justabignobody]

[Riku looks down at him; lips twitching into a soft, sad smile as he squeezes the hand lightly before crouching down to his eye level. He is not going to ask if Sora is 'alright' or anything similar; it's obvious that he isn't, that the experience has taken its toll on him, and he can't even tell him that Vanitas is never going to hurt him again, because Mickey is hurt and Riku knows he isn't strong enough to defeat him by himself; and perhaps not even with Ansem's power. So he offers the only thing he can give and silently opens himself for a hug.]

Action;

[tiny_promise]

[Sora takes it. He's quickly burying himself in the safety of Riku's arms. He's still a bit hurt that Riku lied to him, sure, but all that matters is that Riku is here and he's safe and warm. Before Sora even realizes it, he's crying.]

Action;

[justabignobody]

[Riku closes his arms around him, settling one hand in his hair, gently ruffling it. He is so very, very sorry... for lying, for not being able to prevent Vanitas from getting to him in first place, for all those things that Sora doesn't know have happened... seeing that they still have to happen to him in what probably seems far distant future. After a while he shifts in order to pick him up and move them to the privacy of his room, murmuring a half remembered children's song under his breath.]