towerofjamjars | (no subject)

Ladies. And gentlemen. And ladies who dress like gentlemen.

[If anyone ever were to ask, Riku would definitely insist on this being about everything but a date. Or anything close to it.

This is just him accompanying Naminé to see the shops and maybe later the Sunset Hill. Because honestly, staying all day in the mansion for weeks and weeks... he has no idea how she stands it - the air is stuffy as it is and DiZ is totally not helping the atmosphere of the place.

So what if he has left his coat there and is you know, trying to be... well not as tightly wound. The king has been telling him to allow himself to take a break anyways. It's still just two friends spending a day out. Right?]

[Right, of course...! Only, she's still afraid that she has no right to use that word in regard to him, though not for lack of desire to. While finally having the chance to go outside and spend the day in the town is a startling and magnificent thing on its own, she definitely hasn't forgotten who she's with. The opportunity wasn't one she was expecting, but it also wasn't one she was about to turn down. She's used to being trapped and hidden away, yes, but that's probably the problem. This 'break' is a break for her, too, and a rare one; best to enjoy it.]

[The company's good, anyway.]

[She'd smiled a surprised but pleased little smile upon seeing him like that, and this whole time hasn't strayed too far from his side, enjoying the town and its sights without forgetting to stick close, just in case (and really, she doesn't mind at all; maybe they'll never get the chance to be real, good and true friends - she doesn't know if she's even capable of such a thing - but she truly is ~~quite~~ fond of him).]

[ So, Link wasn't sure what to think at this point.

Sure, she liked Zelda and all--as a friend, no less--but was there something more than that? Everyone else, especially Sky, seemed to think that her and Zelda had some sort of something for each other.

Problem is... she's a brick wall. Kind of like Zelda.

How does she even... okay, it's not hard, right? Okay. Just ask Zelda how she feels, right? ]

Ah...

[ Clearing throat. Okay YES IT IS HARD... ]

[As far as Zelda's concerned, Sky has been pushed off one too many cliffs. As for everyone else... well, clearly they misunderstand. Yes. Link is a dear friend, nothing more. The only reason the Princess tends to react more... extremely when it comes to the hero is simply because she worries about her. That's all.

Yes.

She has no romantic inclinations towards her friend. She can't.

... She is a brick wall coated in layers and layers of denial. But, of course, this is all far from her mind at the moment, so she looks up from whatever she was doing, a curious expression upon her face.]

... Yes, Link?

[You seem to be having trouble with something...]

[ ... How do you ask someone if they have feelings for you when you aren't sure how you feel about them yourself?

IT COULD BE LOVE. Or it could be indigestion for all she knew. ]

Do... you mind if I ask you something?

[There's just a bit of worry to her brow, now. Link is... acting strangely.]

Of course not. What is it? Is something wrong?

[Het only, please.]

[ Shifting oddly. Um. Well... ]

... If I asked you what you thought about me, what would you say?

[Blink. Blink.

There... may just be a touch of nervousness to her own voice now.]

What do you mean? You know very well what I think of you; I believe I have said as much several times here. I think you are a kind, brave, and noble person whose deeds are inspiring, to say the least.

[Think, not felt.]

[ ... That's not what she meant. Damn you, words, why is she so bad at you!! ]

A-ah... no, I...

[ She deflates a bit, embarrassed. God, she's bad at this. ]

... I apologize. I... did not mean anything.

[ NO STUPID THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU MEANT. GODDESSES, she is so stupid... ]

[Just. All of the unsure looks. On the one hand, curiosity. Link is acting oddly, and clearly has something more on her mind than she's not talking about.

... But on the other hand, FEELINGS ABORT ABORT ABORT--]

I... see. If I may ask, what brings this up?

[~~If it's Sky she is going to find a statuette and--~~]

[If she ever were to tell him about that particular insecurity, he would insist that she has more than the right - he probably wouldn't have managed the last few months of near solitude without her, Xion's and the King's company. The break is certainly necessary and even if DiZ ever were to say anything about it, he will make sure that he would be saying it to Riku and not to Naminé.

He is glad that she is enjoying this maybe a little at least though; that she has a chance to relax and take (at least most of) her mind off things.]

Is there anything in particular that you want to do?

[His insistence would be appreciated, but might run the risk of falling on uncertain ears. Sometimes she thinks he's too kind to her; she's hurt him as surely as she's hurt Sora (and in the same action, no less). Not as directly, perhaps, but he's got plenty of reason to be angry with her, to be unkind. The fact that he hasn't, well-- that speaks more of him than it does of her. If she's helped him, assisted in making him less lonely, then surely that's him, too. She doesn't imagine herself to be particularly pleasant company. Surely one without a heart is lacking something, in that arena. She doesn't, however, find any similar fault in him.]

[It's true that it's only most of her mind that's distracted. Her duty has consumed her life since-- well, always, in one form or another, and although the form it takes now is the flip side of what it was before, she's no less driven. More so, really, now that the goal is something not forced upon her by anyone else but something she desperately wishes to accomplish, too. Part of her mind will always be on that duty, restless and anxious - but the rest of her can compensate well enough. His question makes her look up at him, hesitating - in an almost pleased way, though, like the things she's debating are all happy ones - and then she admits,]

... Everything. [But there's no time for that, and she knows it. She's not bitter; if anything, she's filled with joy that she has even this chance, and it shows. Almost embarrassed, she turns her eyes to the ground, letting out what might have been a laugh, were it to have come to fruition - it turns out something soundless instead, almost apologetic, though not fundamentally unhappy.] I... think I'd really like to try some sea-salt ice cream.

[Maybe she is right, maybe there are certainly reasons for him to be angry with her... if it were not for one very important fact: He has done just like she had, had hurt Sora out of selfishness; even worse - had betrayed him over his own ego. There is a difference between striking due loneliness and striking due anger. This is why he'd never even consider being angry with her - at least she had never wanted to hurt Sora, but he...

Better they don't even go there.

She is perfectly pleasant company, if she weren't, he certainly wouldn't drop in as often as he does (even though... over all maybe that is not often enough... but there are other - far, far less pleasant - Nobodies to be watched out for and Xion to be taken care of and between that and trying to figure out how to get rid of Ansem's darkness...). And then, he can't quite see himself to be all too pleasant company either, just maybe probably better... which doesn't say all too much considering that the alternative is DiZ.

He just smiles at her answer - she's had too little chance to truly see the worlds and all the things in them, non really outside of Sora's memories, so maybe it's kind of nice to be able to give her some of that. They won't be able to do everything, certainly; can't even, that would be too careless - there is always the chance to be stumbled across by Axel or Roxas... which is at least part of why DiZ would consider this outing to be utter foolishness if he knew.

(He would consider it that anyways, regardless of risk, Riku supposes, but DiZ is too wrapped in his hate and prejudice for all Nobodies to see that they maybe are more than cast shells that shouldn't exist, so his opinion doesn't count much anyways.)

A soft chuckle spills from his lips, because getting sea salt ice-cream is definitely a wish he can fulfill, even though he maybe wishes that he could do more and then finally he turns his hand palm up, offering it for her to take.]

Let's go then.

[Except the repercussions of her actions seem, to her, further reaching. What she did has cost many people dearly - and though in her case it wasn't a matter of ego, it was still a matter of extreme selfishness. (Of course, it could also have been called self-preservation, since if one's being honest, the Organization might well have ended her existence and been done with it, had she not cooperated.)]

[She hasn't looked at it that way; his visits, surely, have been out of necessity? Or a visit to Sora, rather than her? Or a loneliness for which her company is a marginally acceptable balm, in the right situation. Whatever the reason, she's neither in a position to or inclined to reject his presence. Even Nobodies get lonely, it seems. And DiZ-- well... Riku's right; he's better company. DiZ might have helped her significantly, but never without an edge, never without at least a hint of distaste for what she is. Even though she knows~~, or thinks anyway,~~ that he's right, that she is less, that she shouldn't exist and, by that reasoning, 'shouldn't' a lot of things... there's a peace offered her, ashamed though she might sometimes be by her desire to accept it, in being with someone who doesn't look at her that way, who treats her like a person, not just half of one.]

[She's well aware of how careless it would be to dally too long; she'd never do something like this on her own, even if she did have the desire and nerve to stand up to DiZ for such a self-centered reason. It's risky - only she hadn't been able to say no or to deny that she wanted, very badly, to do this, to have this chance. It might not sit right with her, going behind DiZ's back, but she won't tell if Riku won't. He's sticking his neck out for her, and she's not about to let him get in trouble, if she can help it.]

[The offered hand seems to suprise her, and she looks between it and him with slightly widened eyes and lips beginning toward an 'o'. She finds a hint of hesitance in herself, grown by a life full of people unashamed to grab and drag and strike - but an offer, that's something else, and she knows it. It's foolish to hesitate; her trust in him is unfailing, she was just momentarily distracted by memories of feelings that have no place, here.]

Okay.

[Gently, she places her hand in his. It's a small hand and a soft one, in keeping with her slender frame and life lived behind closed doors.]

[Only because in his case, Sora had stopped him, had stopped Ansem, before any worse consequences could come to pass - he doesn't even want to imagine what would have happened, if the Door to the Realm of Darkness had stayed open, if Ansem had really reached Kingdom Hearts...

(He'd certainly be inclined to rather call it self-preservation, even if she doesn't consider it that.)

Hardly pure necessity when he simply has no other place to return to - as spare as his visits might have been, the abandoned mansion is still the closest things to a 'home' he has had since leaving the island... as dysfunctional as it might be.

The risk, while certainly existent, was at very least somewhat calculable - after months of watching, Riku has somewhat of an idea of the Organization's movements; they have branched away more and more from Twilight Town in the last few months and while Roxas and Axel do tend to hang around the clock tower in the evenings; they hardly ever visit the Sunset Terrance, making that district relatively safe for them.

A smile flickers over his face as she places her hand in his and he holds it gently, carefully, like he is maybe slightly afraid that he might hurt her, that she might pull away at any moment. Even so he leads her towards the Underground Concourse and from there to the Sunset Terrance - using the train to get there, would really just be asking for trouble he thinks.]

[Quite possible, yes - only it didn't happen that way. She can't say the same for what she did.]

[(Yes, but her 'self' isn't likely to be as worth saving as the others.)]

[Ironic, then, that it's the same for her; Castle Oblivion was no home. The mansion, Twilight Town, is where she's lived the longest (and the best). If home is where the heart is, she can't call any place home - except, perhaps, the heart of her Other - but that place is the closest she has ever been... and maybe the closest she'll ever get.]

[There's no accounting for chance, but... she feels much safer with him. She knows he'll do his best to handle it, if something does happen - and he's already put effort into making sure it's an acceptable risk. (Of course, 'acceptable' varies, depending on who you're asking.)]

[That smile doesn't go unnoticed. The corners of her own mouth raise just slightly before she turns her eyes away. He needn't worry about her pulling her hand away; it's significantly belated and a little ginger, but she lightly curls her fingers around his hand - or as much as she can manage to properly hold, anyway, when there's such a difference between the sizes of her hand and his. Many would find this kind of thing romantic, only-- that would be absurd, in such a situation, and all but a tiny and easily ignored part of her rejects the concept as ludicrous. It's a good way to keep track of each other, not get seperated - although traversing the tunnels doesn't exactly encourage her to wander, and she follows his lead attentively. The feeling of their joined hands is a distracting one. She's unused to contact so... extended? pleasant? not-quite-intimate? Regardless, she keeps her attention on their surroundings. That's the point of this, isn't it? To go out, see the town? Think about other things? ... Like the town, not like-- anything else.]

[Only due to sheer luck. And if they are honest... Castle Oblivion could have ended far worse for all involved - ultimately, even though there are so many complications now, they have gotten away quite well.

(It is too.)

The chance of being discovered indeed exists - it always does - but Riku is confident; he will sense anything or anyone that comes too close before they can be spotted. And, if they are... well, he'll deal with that then.

His heart jumps just a little when her fingers curl around her hand and causes his smile to widen... even though he isn't quite looking at her as they exit the Underground and he leads them towards the Sunset Hill, only stopping once - letting go of her hand to buy sea-salt ice cream for them. Once he's payed he turns back to her to offer her one of them.]

[That's very true. Everyone could have had their memories permanently damaged without any hope of repair, or... never have left the castle at all, for a variety of reasons.]

[(Is not.)]

[Though she'd much rather he didn't have to, especially not for her sake, but his confidence helps, anyway.]

[The not looking at each other is mutual, and stays that way even as they step out into the light. She does, however, finally glance over when they stop, and, seeing that he needs his hand back, relinquishes it without protest. She lingers nearby as he gets the ice cream, her now free hands clinging together as she waits. She finally meets his eyes again when he offers her the ice cream, and she does so as she takes it with a small but genuine smile.]

Thank you.

[Exactly. There you have it.

(Is too. B|)

He meets her smile with his own, offering his other, now free hand again - just because it's a convenient way ensure they stay closely together, not because he's enjoying the feeling. (Except that the very faint blush on his cheeks may be betraying his true feelings about that matter.)

It's still a bit until they reach the top of the Sunset Hill after all.]

[That doesn't mean it was okay, though.]

(Is not. :c)

[It is very efficient, it's true. ~~Not that he'd have had to worry about her wandering off, really, but accidents do happen.~~ All the same, she's surprised once more by the offer. Not so much as the first time, perhaps, though there is some small part of her that actually is even more flabbergasted this time around. None of that stops her from reaching on to gently clasp his hand again. (She's looking at the right time to see the blush, but brushes it off as a trick of the light and turns her eyes away, wondering if maybe the reason she's feeling so warm is the same thing making his cheeks pink; is it hot out, and she hasn't even noticed because she's been too distracted?)]

[... Well, surely ice cream will help with that. It's-- supposed to be cold, right? So she'll be regarding it for a moment before giving it a small try. ~~-- Woah, that is cold.~~]

--!

[~~Yes, it is, and surely something awful could happen between here and there, so they're totally justified in sticking close to each other, right?~~]

[No, it wasn't. But it's not like any of them had had a choice.

(Is too! B|)

It is, it is ~~even though he knows it's not really necessary. It's still reassuring, okay?~~.

He takes not to really quite look at her, except through the quick side glances he shoots her as they wander along the street towards the gate that leads up to the hill, a smile flickering across his face as he catches her reaction upon trying her first bite of ice cream.]

[She had a choice...! It's just that her choice was between compliance and-- death, most likely.]

(Is not. ;~;)

[~~She wouldn't dream of taking that away from him, then. If he wants to do this, he's more than welcome to.~~]

[She catches on after a while, and, realizing she's been seen, she turns to blink at him, looking slightly sheepish. There might also be a hint more color sneaking onto her cheeks, though whether that's from embarrassment ~~of because of that smile~~ is hard to tell.]

[That's not really a choice. >.>

(It totally. Does he have to go and break out the big font tags? :|)

~~But isn't that forcing it onto her? That's really the last thing he'd want!~~

His smile just widens, even though now he's no longer looking at her, his thumb just carefully tracing over the back of her hand. At least now they've finally gone past the gate and are walking up to the top of the hill.]

[Maybe not to most people, but in retrospect, she can't deny it would probably have saved a lot of people a lot of trouble. ~~Also her self-esteem is terrible.~~]

(... Maybe. ;;

[~~It might sound like it... but she's actually a lot more willing than she might seem.~~]

[Her eyes drift downward, hiding her quiet surprise. That... was a little uneccessary. She'd be lying if she said she minded, though. ~~But it is unsettling, that curious and unexpected thrill that the gesture gives her. She's not sure what to make of it, though he hand does unconsciously hold more tightly to his.~~ Realizing the ground is sloping more sharply upward, she raises her gaze toward their destination, lips parting ever so slightly.]

[But then, he would probably have lost to Ansem. Who else could have shown him the road to dawn?

~~Oh... uhm... okay then.~~

Maybe, but uhm yeah... ~~He can maybe feel his gut tighten - in a good way though. He might be admitting to himself though... he doesn't really have an idea what he's doing.~~ He glances over to her again.]

We are almost there now.

[For all they know, perhaps Sora would have been able to if he hadn't been so busy getting having his memories screwed around with. ... Or at least kicked Ansem's behind, something like that.]

[~~That's okay, neither does she (and that applies to both of them. She's not sure what he's doing and she's not sure what she's doing.)~~ Regardless, it seems harmless enough. Seeing him look her way out of the corner of her eye, she turns to return the look, though not facing him as fully as she otherwise might.]

Mm. I think I almost see it. [... Here, Riku, have a smile. This whole thing might be kind of confusing, but that doesn't mean she's displeased.]

Edited 2012-05-17 18:27 (UTC)

[The Organization probably would have found some other way to keep him busy. ...That wouldn't have been much of a permanent solution though.

~~Oh uhm... okay. They can derp together then and maybe sort of figure this out, right? Or maybe not. Uhm~~ Oh, oh... yeah, he's glad to see that smile ~~butterflies-in-his-gut-happy even~~. It means this has been going alright so far, doesn't it?

Also, here they are now, on the top of Sunset Hill. Best few of the Sunset in all of Twilight Town.]

[No, no it wouldn't. Sora does seem to have a way of ruining the best-laid plans.]

[~~Or they can be awkward turtles about it together and pretend there's nothing going on. Sigh. Way to denial.~~ Yes, that expression does seem to imply that she's not at all displeased with how this is going, for her part. She's actually quite enjoying herself.]

[Sunset Hill. It's a nice place, really, though she wasn't sure if she'd get to see it in person. No more guessing about that, then. Stopping next to him to enjoy the view, she takes a deep breath. Fresh air isn't something she's ever gotten much of, either.]

[... It's funny. Though they've spent little time in town, she hasn't missed the whispers amongst the people, and she does know a little about this place, not necessarily from personal experience but from what study she'd managed, and... if she's not mistaken, she's heard this particular place referred to as 'romantic'. It's an absurd thing to think of now - or, well, any time, for someone like her - but suddenly she's very conscious of the fact that she did come here with-- no, no, that's silly. She blinks quickly, trying to nudge that thought away. There's neither time nor room for musings so preposterous.]

Edited 2012-05-18 16:58 (UTC)

[True enough.

~~Yeeeaaaah. That's probably more likely. orz~~ Well that's good. That's really good. He's very glad about that.

While Riku is somewhat aware of how this place is seen by the locals, it's hardly why he's chosen it - it's secluded, and yet open and free. It's a peaceful place.

Though... he's still holding her hand, huh? That's. Not really necessary anymore, isn't it? So... He carefully pulls his hand away, not really looking at her again as he takes the lat few steps over to the rails, turning and leaning back against it. Then he looks up again, not quite smiling, but his expression is peaceful.]

[She makes no concrete assumptions regarding his choice of venues, but she can definitely see the value of such a place. It's not one of the most crowded places in the town, that's for certain, and yet it still affords a view. Seclusion in this case is desirable. (She refuses to consider that those things are also probably part of why this place is referred to as romantic.)]

[Her eyes flicker toward their hands and away again when he lets go. She releases her own hold without resistance or hesitation, but not hurriedly. Focusing elsewhere, she takes a long look around before her gaze makes the circuit back to him. She regards him with a small smile for just a moment, almost contemplative and also very quietly fond. ~~He really is lovely, and she can't help noticing, but she makes no comment.~~ That over, she steps closer, except not quite his direction so much as to go to stand next to him, hands raising up to rest on the railing he's leaning against as she looks out over it, next to him but neither too close nor too far away.]

... Thank you, Riku.

[(There is really no reason to consider it, since this is just about her having a good time and not really about anything else. Despite what it might seem.)

~~She should really never tell him about that. Unless, of course, she wants to see him look very flustered.~~ He tilts his head, while slowly crossing his arms, lips now tugging up into a smile again. He'd argue that really... she doesn't need to thank him for anything, but... he knows how that's going to go, so...]

You are welcome.

[(Seeming might require more assumption than she's yet willing to make on that particular subject; it still appears to her, given her own observations, that this is objectively a good choice of location.)]

[She's not quite as quick to harass as her counterpart, but if in the futue she were to say such a thing, it would be more out of honesty than an attempt to ruffle him. ... She can't, however, say that it wouldn't be amusing. Poor Riku. Good of him to keep his mouth shut on the subject, then, because yes, that would have probably gone like he thought it would. She turns to offer him a smile at the acceptance.]

I really do appreciate it. It--... means a lot. [Guess he's not getting away without some more gratitude he doesn't think he should get--]

[(Good because it really would be just an assumption. Since this isn't meant to be anything like 'romantic'. Or a date. Really.)

~~He knows she'd mean it as honest gesture. Probably. He'd still be flustered no matter what. And maybe attempt to sulk a little the moment he catches onto her amusement.~~]

I'm just glad, you enjoyed yourself so far.

[Or at least he hopes she has.]

[(Of course not. That's preposterous.)]

[~~Hey, hey, no sulking allowed. Not unless he wants to get smiled into submission /what~~]

[She nods firmly.] I really have. [~~There, hope realized.~~] It would have been hard not to. [She's both temporarily sort-of-free and in good company, after all.]

[(Exactly.)

~~Hence 'attempt' to sulk. He'll probably be able to keep it up for so long, before he can't help smiling back himself.~~

Pretty much, like he can't help that now. He is glad to see her happy... and a little bit more carefree than usual.]

[(Clearly.)]

[~~Good boy.~~]

[She regards him for a long moment, just smiling. Then she turns her eyes back toward the horizon, though the smile stays.]

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OOC: Questions and so on about the meme

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het, no smut

2(?)

Preseton Marlowe

Sure. C:

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Since people keep demanding it and all jeez - 1. Sort of.

SO PUSHY, PEOPLE. GOSH. /tsun

I know right goooshhh

It's hard, being your game's OTP. It's hard and no one understands.

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IT IS SO HARD...

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