002

[justabignobody]

Characters: OU!Riku and OPEN
Setting: All the floors, Night time
Format: Gonna go with action; but if you are more comfortable with prose, go for it!
Summary: Riku decided to go out at night and take on a private fact-finding mission. Someone has to start taking notes on the different monsters after all, right?
Warnings: Some violence, will update as needed

[Ever since the Tower had folded itself together into one room and almost overwhelmed its residents/prisoners with that army of monsters, the floors have become far more unsafe... at least, as far as Riku had noticed.

He is used to the constant threat of being attack, has gotten used to it long before he had been drawn into the tower, but the constellation of creatures it has thrown at him so far... is interesting to say at least. Some of them he knows of course, but there are many, far too many, he thinks, that he knows nothing of, that don't feel like Heartless or Nobodies or anything else he's ever encountered and he's pretty sure that only some of them are creatures of the tower.

Tonight he has assigned himself a fact-finding mission in that regard - to find out just which Heartless have made it to this place, just how many other creatures aside of them, to get an idea how to fight those he doesn't know.

He is wandering the floors in silence, head slightly bowed, his hand gripping tight around Soul Eater as he stretches his sense the best he can - he prefers not to be surprised if he can help it. While he won't ask or even accept help if offered aloud, he most likely won't stop anyone from helping out either, if he happens to be in the middle of a fight. He won't hesitate to come help out, should anyone find themselves in trouble either.

Help/bother/distract/talk to him?]

[ooc: If you haven't, please take a look at his permissions post!]

Comments

[lethechained]

[Naminé's made a point of staying in her room upon the arrival of night ever since the monsters started causing trouble after dark. That's where she is right now, in fact, safe and sound in her room as she should be. How long that lasts, though, probably depends on how much noise is made in the hall outside her room and whether or not she realizes who's out there.]

[justabignobody]

[Riku is on his way back to his own room now, having spent most of the night fighting Heartless and other monsters and now feeling rather run down. Still, that hardly stops him from taking out that pack of Neo Shadows that is lurking in the hallway - he does his best to be quiet about it, but when you are fighting almost a dozen of these things there is so much you can do about noise.

So yeah... there might be an occasional bang or two indicting the fight that's happening.]

[lethechained]

[She's a pretty light sleeper. Growing up surrounded by people prone to causing her no end of trouble and later on living in fear of being discovered by the comrades of those people left her rather restless and prone to waking easily. Living in the tower didn't exactly do much to help, so one of those bangs is sufficient to make her startle awake. Her eyes dart around the room, but, not seeing any motion, she grows still again, sitting up in bed. Another of those noises tells her that whatever's going on, it's going on outside.]

[Brow knitting, she wonders what might be going on. Is someone out at night with the monsters? It's not a good idea, but she wouldn't be surprised, not when she knows what kinds of people are in the tower. Still... she's awake. Perhaps it's for the best if she sees what's going on; if someone got hurt right outside her room and she didn't help when she could have, she'd have a hard time forgiving herself. That's why she moves quietly over to the door to open it just a crack and peek out into the hallway.]

[justabignobody]

[By then, Riku has dealt with about half of them, Soul Eater high as he fights with the remaining ones. Right now, he's sliding back a little to avoid the after-shock wave of one of the Neo Shadows jumping up from the ground, left hand up to cast Dark Shield as the rest of them move closer.]

[keybearer]

[Is that... Sora's sword?

But who is this guy? Riku narrows his eyes and silently follows his double along, carrying his Keyblade in hand. Something's awfully fishy about this.]

[justabignobody]

[With his senses so focused, it doesn't take all too long until Riku notices his tail, even though he does puzzle a little about how much it smells like 'self'. It's not quite his own smell though; it lacks the distinct note of another darkness tangled with it, so he would almost think it's his replica, except that that guy probably would have called him out instead of followed quietly.

So... a double of himself then, perhaps? Just like other!Sora?

Only time will tell, he supposes, grip tightening ever so slightly around Soul Eater as he wonders just what to do with that now.

...

Well, he could let this play out for now, let himself be followed and maybe turn the tables when the opportunity presents itself... if the other doesn't decided to confront him before that.

If he doesn't... then he shouldn't be able to complain about not being the one to choose the playing field, because it's not like Riku hasn't left him the option to.

So for now he just continues to go his way, taking care of a group of Shadow Globs when they cross his path, but otherwise not letting himself be bothered as he climbs up towards the twentieth floor.]

[keybearer]

[Too tall to be Sora. Besides, didn't he wield two of them now? Riku watches his movements carefully, and he'll keep trailing behind for a few moments.

But eventually he'll speak up.]

So... you part of the Organization?

[It's sadly the only thing he associates that cloak with.]

[justabignobody]

[Well that answers the question of replica or double once and for all, because his replica would have never asked and probably just attack outright.

So a double. Of himself. ...He is not sure what to think of this.

He supposes he owes him an answer though, so he after a moment, he stops and lowers his blade, reaching up to pull back his hood as he turns towards the other and replies.]

Considering that they've been calling me an 'impostor'... hardly.

[attheclocktower]

[So many people not in their beds tonight. Xion, for her part, has been feeling restless, particularly since meeting the other Riku. She'd hoped getting out of the room would help. Moving around at night isn't something she does normally, plus she's heard about the monsters at night, though she hadn't encountered any. Yet.

Still, floor 25 isn't far from her room, and the air is... fresher, at least. She's still a little jumpy though, ready to summon her Keyblade at the slightest sound.

It's not exactly the most conducive situation for deep thinking, but it was better than tossing and turning on her bed.]

[justabignobody]

[Being jumpy is good, especially when wandering this place at night. Still, she won't have to worry about him at least - he is up on his way to catch some sleep himself now. ...Or at least he would be, if he hadn't sensed her as he climbs up the stairs.

He did though, and while he knows that she can more than take care of herself... he'd still rather now that she's alright.]

...Xion?

[attheclocktower]

[And sure enough, the sound of her name startles her and there's a -shing!- and flash of light as her Keyblade appears in hand and she turns around quickly. Upon catching sight of who it is, though, she lowers it and straightens up, before taking a few steps closer.]

Riku?

[He's wearing the black coat, and as soon as she gets a little closer, she can make out the blindfold. He's definitely the one she knows. That at least is a relief.]

Hey.

[justabignobody]

[He should try to get out of that habit to sneak up on others, shouldn't he?

Dismissing Soul Eater, he walks up to her, meeting her in the middle of the room.]

Hey. Can't sleep?

[thebigsister]

[Well, how about that nice, rhythmic clank approaching him? And the faint green light, as if perched on someone's head, like a miner's helmet, moving slowly in time with that sound.

Eleanor hasn't been able to sleep much, and though she's been warned night time is dangerous, she felt the need to go out for a walk. Maybe tire herself out enough to rest. She didn't slow down enough to consciously make noise, however, until she reached the spring floor, dropping the stealth for her now usual slow, determined movements that serve almost as warnings that she's around. Perhaps stealth would be the better option, considering there are monsters roaming the floors, or so she's been told. But she figures she can take it... and that maybe by doing so she'll be less likely to be confused for one of those monsters in the first place.]

[justabignobody]

[Indeed he notices both noise and light, and the only reason why he doesn't confuse her with a monster is the scent of her light - and the knowledge that the monsters of the tower lack any of that.

Still, it doesn't hurt to be careful, which is why he tightens the grip around his weapon as he calls out.]

Who is there?

[thebigsister]

[The clanking steps do not stop, but the green light does not change, either. Eleanor approaches the sound of the voice, keeping her pace steady, cautious. It won't do to startle someone into an unnecessary fight, after all.]

Eleanor.

[She approaches the source of the voice, finally spotting Riku. She stops a prudent distance away, noticing he's holding... some sort of sword? She's not entirely sure. But better safe than sorry.]

I'm another... guest of the tower, you could say.

[justabignobody]

[He lowers his weapon a little, but frowns - he still is a bit on the edge. Given all the monsters out and about, that's kind of understandable though. Right?]

Out late too, huh?

[selenic]

[Estelle has decided that she might as well know what she's up against in the tower. She's learned to be pretty good at taking care of herself, after all. And anyway, what if someone is trapped on one of the floors and needs help.

For the most part, though, the place is deserted, so when she spots someone else wandering the hallways, she can't help but stop and greet them.]

Hello!

[justabignobody]

[Riku frowns, startled to see someone with such a bright light wander outside now. He bows his head slightly in greeting, drawing Soul Eater back so that the tip points to the ground.]

[selenic]

[She tilts her head slightly, smiling at him.]

Are you having trouble sleeping?

[forceless]

[Sorry Riku, no time to bother you directly, though you might be distracted! Because once he made it up to the 20th Floor, there was a spikey-haired blond derp practicing his technique with a wooden keyblade. He had been too lax on it lately, after all.

So, wanna be a sparring partner with the lookalike of your best friend's Nobody?]

[justabignobody]

[And distracted he gets.

How can he not be, when stumbling over a kid that looks just like Roxas and yet... doesn't seem to be him? At very least going off stance and scent.

So since he is not really out training, or looking for anyone to spar with him (though going of what he sees as he watches from the shadows, Ven would probably make a good sparring partner), he'll just stand in his shadowed corner for now.

Care to notice that cloaked figure in the corner, Ven?]

[forceless]

[Why yes, he shall!

He didn't notice Riku at first; people passing in and out weren't a weird thing in this place after all. He did notice however, when he took a break and realized someone hadn't left.]

Uh... [And so he awkwardly turned to look at the figure and gave a harmless wave with his free hand.] Hey? Need something?

[beknightedheroine]

<sub>[Going out at night was a habit from her witch-hunting more than anything, one that Sayaka hadn't gotten cause to break yet. Oh, monsters? She could handle those. That was all she COULD handle.

The imps that had beset her were strange and reminded her too much of familiars, all mismatched features done up in an unsettling way. She had transformed, started to fight - and utterly neglected to notice any signs of someone approaching.]</sub>

[justabignobody]

[Riku has settled to watch for now, there is as much to be learned by watching others as by fighting himself, especially when the scent of the person fighting is so puzzling.

There is nothingness mingling with the smell of a heart... which is unusual to say at least and he can't help but be just a little bit wary.

Still, he holds himself ready to interfere and back her up, should she end up fighting more than she can handle.]

[beknightedheroine]

<sub>[The imps are easy enough foes. They don't flee and they don't hit hard enough to down her in a single hit, so she's pretty much safe. Of note would be the intricate little circles of musical notation that appear over where she does get hit, that vanish with a chime and take the wounds with them.

As a wielder of a sword she isn't elegant in the least, and it's clear Sayaka's not really had any sort of training. But while her attacks are brash, they definitely do damage.

She seems startled when the enemies are all dispatched, looking around wildly as if she's sure there's something still there.]</sub>