(no subject)

[keybearer]

Characters: Riku [AU3], OPEN
Setting: Room 1-14, hallways, various rooms throughout the tower (your pick), and finally the graveyard (floor 48)
Format: Action please.
Summary: Riku wakes up to discover his little 'prize' from the event. Later, he stumbles upon an unfortunate new room and makes an unpleasant discovery.
Warnings: FEELINGS. Also, the graveyard room and all its implications.

Room 1-14;

[How many times had he died now? Two, three times?

At this rate, he'd lost track. But after spending weeks collecting candy and running around in a tacky suit, returning to his good, old self and familiar clothes came as a relief. Getting a rude awakening from a technicolor dragon? ...Not so much.

Those passing room 1-14 may hear an abrupt scream coming from the room. Should their curiosity get the best of them, they'll find Riku pinned to his bed by the big, goofy Spirit.

Riku eyes the strange creature, half tempted to call for his Keyblade, but the dragon, for whatever reason, just blinks at him and nudges him with its head. Oh yeah, it's at least six or seven feet long, with a clubbed tail. If it weren't so bright, it'd probably pass as one of the monsters easily.

But, once the initial shock wears off, Riku groans and pushes the dragon to the side, eying a note one the floor.

"Awww, too bad. But you tried hard and did a lot of work anyway, so here's a consolation prize!
♥Ruana

...It figures.]

Hallway and throughout the tower;

[It seems that no matter where Riku goes, that dragon scurries close behind, stopping once or twice to scratch itself like an oversized cat. Occasionally, Riku tries to zip ahead of it and get some time alone, but it doesn't take long for the dragon to screech and zip right after him.

The aquarium, the cafeteria... No matter where he turns, that oversized lizard's hot on his trail. Care to point and laugh? Mistake it for a vicious monster? The sky's the limit!]

Graveyard;

[Later on, however, the silly dragon shenanigans come to a grinding halt. After convincing his new pet to hang back in the room for a bit, Riku's managed to do a little exploring on his own, to clear the air.

What he didn't expect to find was a spooky graveyard lined with stones bearing familiar names.

Wincing, he creeps deeper into the room, skimming stone after stone.

Some names appear completely foreign to him. He passes them with a raised eyebrow and a shrug, pressing on. Some, on the other hand, stick out a fair bit more. Vanitas, for one. Is this some kind of trick from the admins?

But the names keep piling up. Eraqus, Aqua, Roxas... another Roxas, and it only gets worse from there. The name "Donald Duck" sends him stumbling back, rubbing at his eyes. But the name remains.

It has to be a trick. Since when was Donald even in the tower? Maybe... maybe Jason decided to toy with people. Throw in some familiar names, and--

In the corner of his eye, he catches another familiar name. Twice. At that moment, he freezes. With deep breaths, he turns, a lump forming in his throat.

Kairi...

Twice, just like with Roxas. Riku falls down to his knees.]

No! This... it can't be--

[But when was the last time he saw either Kairi? Or Aqua, Eraqus... any of them?

It had to be a trick. But... what if it wasn't?

No matter how hard he tries, he can't look away. His eyes remain fixed on the stones, his body petrified with fear.]

Comments

Graveyard

[clumsyjesus]

[Colette could swear this floor was not here before. The last time she remembered, the stairs from Floor One led to some prison cells? Weird...

So far, none of the names on the grave she knew, so she was safe...

Wait a minute, that boy over there.....she's seen him before! Something is wrong, though....he looks petrified.

...Does he the name of the person whose grave this is? Colette doesn't know about people disappearing from the tower or respawning when dying yet, so it's the only conclusion she can come to.]

Graveyard

[keybearer]

[He doesn't seem to have noticed her yet. Too busy staring. Too busy trying to rip his eyes away before his mind starts jumping to all sorts of crazy conclusions.

He lets out a dry laugh.]

Bet this was Jason's idea...

Re: Graveyard

[clumsyjesus]

[Out loud to herself. Riku may or may not be able to hear] Jason....? [Who is this 'Jason'? Did he....?]

graveyard

[chainsawn]

[ Urotsuki is looking.. well, surprisingly blank, even in an environment like this. Like she's not even fazed by all the names on the gravestones, or the fact this is a graveyard to begin with. She's staring at one of the stones though, even if it's with that blank expression, but then she hears another person's voice.

Her gaze slides off to the side before she steps over. ]

What can't be..?

graveyard

[keybearer]

Kairi... everyone else. They can't be dead.

[He winces. Do pardon his sharp tone.]

All these stones... they're people who aren't around anymore.

[But they couldn't have died, right? How could they?]

[chainsawn]

[ Apparently his tone doesn't bother her, since the same blank expression remains on her face even now. She glances back at the stone before turning back to the boy instead. ]

.. You don't know if this are their graves, right..? Just ones with their name.

Dorm, because I'm a ball of lols like that and Riku might need snark in his life.

[risingshepard]

[...Technicolor dragon. What even. Shepard finds herself stopping at the bizarre sight as she makes her way down to the observatory this morning, tilting her head at the thing, then at the boy it was following.

...She's not sure of what to make of this. Really not sure.]

Snark is always good before an explosion of woe~!

[keybearer]

Oh, c'mon. Knock it off.

[Squeeeak, squeeak! More headbutts. The dragon's tail swishes back and forth, prompting Riku to roll his eyes.

Annnd it's about that time that he spots Shepard.]

...I look pretty ridiculous right now, don't I?

[risingshepard]

I've seen and heard sillier.

[...Like a magazine specifically geared to the tentacle freaks, not that she's going to tell him that. ...Though there's a hint of amusement in Shepard's tone that'll probably give her away. She'll give the dragon another once over.]

...Don't think I've ever seen any of these before, at any rate.

On the stairs going [somewhere]

[whiteblackknight]

[A golden orb with wings flutters around next to Mr. Walker.]

[Upon sight of the dragon...thing, however, and it flies behind its master's neck and clenches tightly.]

[It's been eaten by everything on four legs to not know better.]

What is it, Tim?...

Maybe towards... the media room? :O I'm flexible, though!

[keybearer]

[Oooh! Shiny orb. Maybe another Spirit? The Dream Eater grunts and scurries after it, forcing Riku to zip on after it.]

Sheesh, slow down, will you?

[Nope, not slowing down! Just gonna slide up to Allen and stare, tail swishing from side to side.

Riku watches the dragon for a moment before placing a hand on his neck.]

Don't mind him. He's been acting up all day.

[At least, Riku thinks it's a he. Maybe it's not. Bwuh.]

[whiteblackknight]

Oh, I wasn't. I think Timcanpy has something of a phobia for small creatures. Ones that are fast and likely to capture and eat him. [He delivers this line with a certain relaxed tone. This is certainly no issue to him.]

[The spherical, winged golem suddenly opens a mouth that didn't appear to have existed before and began gnashing it's teeth at this...dragon thing. It sounds very sharp, but otherwise nonthreatening. It's tiny, after all.]

*laugh* If anything, I think it's Tim who's overreacting. It's not like getting eaten hurts him or anything.

Graveyard

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch was taking advantage of his numb calm by loitering on this floor, killing monsters before they could harass would-be mourners.

And, when he saw someone collapse, he'd approach them, empty-feeling, still, but all the same wanting to help even if only by knowing he should be feeling for them. Enoch kneels on the other side of Kairi's grave, a hand resting on the headstone. For the moment, he's offering nothing more than a presence.*

[keybearer]

[Even if it's not much, he appreciates the presence. Once he spots Enoch, Riku glances up every so slightly and takes a deep breath.]

Place just keeps getting worse...

[He shakes his head.]

[warriorscribe]

If this was an attempt at giving us a sense of peace or closure, they've done a poor job.

*He isn't sure if they're really gone. It makes as little sense as the morgue. Why are there corpses at all in a place where the dead don't stay dead?*

Graveyard

[justabignobody]

[After having his own fill of strange pet-shenanigans, this 'ku has managed to lock away his bat-pet into his trunk and explore the new floors himself a little... though he had skipped the graveyard floor on his way down at first... it had given him a bad feeling.

It still does as he walks along the graves now, gut clenching more and more with every familiar name he comes across, lips pressing together, his heart aching. And then he sees his double kneeling in the dirt - his blood freezes at the sight; he doesn't quite dare to think just what would cause that kind of reaction.

A moment later he finally forces himself to move, paling when he sees the names - the name twice. Kairi.

For just a moment it's almost like he's back to that moment in May, back to when he had been forced to watch Sora be killed over a screen. Back to that week when he had been nothing but a ghost, when he had drawn back into the shadows and distanced himself from everyone, recklessly venting his anger and despair at what monsters he stumbled across when he wandered at night.

It's almost enough to force him on his knees as well.

Except... things are different now.

He knows more, about the tower, about their situation. He knows there is a way out. To restore those that are lost. (There just has to be. He needs to believe there is.)

And so he keeps steady as he reaches down to settle one hand on his double's shoulder. He understands grieving, but this is probably not the best place for it.]

[keybearer]

[It takes a moment, but he soon looks up at his double and winces. Of all the times for them to cross paths...]

I probably look ridiculous right about now.

Graveyard

[determinedhowl]

[He'd likely hear a small whine from behind him, light footsteps only preceding a gentle nudge of a cold, wet nose. At least the creature gave a few seconds warning first?

Yet he had a similar smell as one of his roommates, so this little human was likely going to have been bothered sometime. This place wasn't a good place, though... even if physically harmless. Are you okay, human? :c]

[keybearer]

[...bwuh? The nudge immediately snaps Riku out of his daze, and he looks over to find... a dog.

Well, okay then.]

Hey, what are you doing all the way out here?

[Not exactly the best place for a puppy, after all.]

dorm because KIDDO WHAT EVEN

[handstands]

[he was making his way downstairs when he heard the scream. without ceremony or warning, Terra SHOVES the door open with a BANG!, Keyblade drawn and battle ready.]

Riku, get down!

[because he shall SMITE THE BEAST]

TERRA, YOU DOOF

[keybearer]

Terra, wait!

[The dragon squeaks and hopes to the side, nearly knocking Riku down on the floor.]

Let's go with the cafeteria, because DRAGON *^*

[earthshards]

[Terra will settle for looking amused at your predicament, Riku. He doesn't sense anything malicious from the creature; if he didn't know any better, he'd almost say it was acting like a pet that was very attached to their owner.

And it's a dragon. He's interested by default.] Looks like someone made a new friend.

[Riku. Riku, it's a dragon. That's acting more like a dog than a dragon. It looks like the tower was actually nice to you.]

DRAGON LOVES YOU, TERRA

[keybearer]

More like he found me.

[Oh, hello, new person! Watch as the dragon scurries up to Terra and sits on its hind legs, cocking its head to the side.]

Near the Graveyard

[derping]

[Looking around on the new floors as a distraction was probably a bad idea. Sora wasn't nearly as focused as he should have been, but he had to do something besides...besides sit around and worry. Maybe let out some energy, because he was probably just blowing this way out of proportion.

He hadn't seen Kairi for days. That wasn't an easy thing to get his mind off of.

Still, it couldn't be that bad, right? Even if she wasn't in the Tower right now, it would probably be just like what had happened with Riku - she'd come back really soon. Nothing to worry about, right?

So instead he kept climbing the steps, trying to see all he could of the new floors without leaving the staircase to get an idea of what did and didn't look safe. In fact, Riku would probably find him on the staircase near the graveyard floor, trying to get as good of a look as possible.]

[keybearer]

[It's definitely hard to miss Sora, even from the stairway. Once Riku spots him, he turns away from the sea of headstones and books it towards his friend. The last thing Sora needs to see is a place like this. If seeing familiar names hit Riku hard, then it'd be ten times worse for his best friend.

Once he makes it to the steps, he slows his pace, but his movements and expression remain tense until he finally reaches his friend.]

Hey. What are you doing all the way up here?