The meaning of being lonely

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

Characters: reverse_destiny and you!
Setting: Floor eleven
Format: I will change to suit
Summary: Sora is realizing how alone he really is with no Ansem to order him around. An identity crisis ensues.
Warnings: Possible psychological stuff and violence. If anything else crops up, I'll add it.

Alone. Alone. Alone alone alonealonealonealonealonealone--

Even surrounded by other survivors, others who are trapped here and finding themselves at the whims of this strange place, Sora finds himself alone. But that's what he wanted, right? To always be alone with Dad so no one could ever hurt him? But... Dad isn't here now. He's not been abandoned, but he still finds himself yearning for more contact, more interaction that's positive. Praise, attention, anything so long as he isn't alone anymore. And yet...

And yet he just sits here in the open air, on the side of that strange lake. The Green Requiem and the Shadow both tumble about behind him, paying no heed to the boy they came with. the sound of the waterfall, at least, is somewhat comforting--a constant rush and ripple of water, drowning out his own thoughts while the creatures, oblivious to the internal plight of their master, roll across the floor and enjoy themselves.

Comments

Sorry for the TL;DR

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

Naminé had not had any particular intention of staying on this floor for long as she passed through. It was fascinating, certainly, but she well remembered the warnings of dangers lurking in the tower, and so she couldn't help feeling safer in more... enclosed spaces. They were more familiar to her, anyway, and the lingering effects of her previous captivities had done nothing to encourage her to move about much (it was the opposite, rather), although the desire to do so was not extinguished.

However, plans or no plans, the all-too-familiar silhouette was not one she could ignore. Reflexively, she stopped in her tracks, attention wholly diverted from her previous endeavor. She knew right away that it was Sora, and had only to pay a little more attention to be sure (despite her hopes that it might be otherwise) that this was, in fact, the strange not-Sora-- well, alternate universe Sora. Immediately she was torn between the desire to move on due to his very unsettling differences from the Sora she was used to and the desire to make sure that he was okay, because alternate universe or not, it was still Sora. She hadn't seen him in a while, after all, and the recent confirmation of her fears that there were, in fact, people prone to kidnapping and using others in the tower made her all the more concerned. Something didn't seem quite right, either, although that instinctive thought was based on just that - instincts, which might have been entirely wrong in this instance, since they were created in reference to the Sora she was familiar with.

Still, what would it hurt to check on him, frightening or not? Even if something did happen, well... things in this tower were not as permanent. Despite that knowledge, she was quiet when she took a few steps his direction and stopped, hesitating, several feet away from him.

It's okay!

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

The Heartless notice her first, ceasing their play and instead simply staring at her, the Requiem hovering just off the ground. Sora only notices because of the sudden quiet from the two, and so he turns--quickly wiping what looks to be tears off his face.

"...You lost or something?"

It's supposed to be cold and somewhat cruel, but in his current state, he can't even manage that much.

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

The Heartless' attention did not help her nerves, but they didn't seem to be attacking, at least for now. She supposed she didn't have anything they'd want, anyway, not that that would stop them should they have orders. She did watch them out of the corner of her eye, but most of her attention was on Sora. She saw those tears, and, ironically enough, she couldn't help feeling less unsettled. Sympathetic, yes, but also more sure that she shouldn't leave him be and more conscious that, alternate universe Sora or not, he was still a person just like everyone else (except for her, but that was beside the point).

Despite his attempts to be unpleasant, she tilted her head just slightly, continuing to regard him with an expression calmer than she'd just been feeling. "...No."

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

The Heartless chitter amongst themselves for a moment, before the Shadow moves to peek out from behind Sora's legs and the Requiem perches on his head. He tries to keep a neutral expression, but it's hard.

"...Then what're you doing?"

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

What was she doing? Well, she knew the literal answer to that, but at the same time, she was beginning to have second (third?) thoughts about this. Still, there was no backing out now.

"...Finding out if you're alright." That's about it, in the simplest and hopefully least offensive terms.

[goingtoloveme.livejournal.com]

Fluttershy hated seeing people looking even somewhat upset. She frowned and hesitantly crept up, just watching the waterfall.

"...Are you okay?"

Ogosh that took more effort to say than she really wanted to admit and she shrunk back down a little. But she couldn't just let someone be upset.

oh man i tl;dr too, sorry :C

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

Aqua was considerably wary when she descended the staircase into the strange open-air room. It wasn't like she'd never seen the level before, but it was just...unsettling, to see such a peaceful-looking place in the tower. She, understandably, had never bothered to stick around it in her previous ventures out of her room.

But she'd never run into another person here before. Especially not one that looked so distraught.

An expression of concern overtook Aqua's countenance as she looked at the boy from the foot of the staircase, her hand relaxing around Stormfall's grip. For some reason, she couldn't help but feel like she recognized this boy. It wasn't a feeling that she could ignore (especially when her Keyblade seemed to react to his presence, a light buzz that only she could perceive), so she made to approach him, the creatures of darkness in the grass escaping her notice.

She approached the boy with caution and kept a respectable distance when she did finally stop. "Hello," greeted the young master gently.

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

That shocks him. People don't normally care about him, so this reaction is... Unexpected. And that shows on his face. He'll blink a few times, then just nod slowly. finally, he sits back down and just quietly pats the ground next to him. That's what they do in books, right?

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

...A talking pony. Welp, if he didn't live with heart-eating monsters, he'd be more freaked out.

"...I dunno."

He's not hostile, really. Shocked that people seem to care about him.

It's okay!

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

That voice... Slowly, Sora looks over his shoulder, then suddenly climbs to his feet and staggers forward. He... Remembers her. It had been long ago, but he remembers her well. And a promise... He shakes his head a bit, then...

"Y-You... You're here...?"

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

Her own expression did not betray much of her surprise at his surprise; there wasn't much to show, anyway. It was slightly jarring only in the sense that some part of her had still not quite gotten the message that she shouldn't expect out of this Sora what she expected out of the one she knew. His gesture was also fairly unexpected, but this time she managed to catch herself in time to make sure the only expression on her face was a small, almost encouraging smile. With a hint of gingerness, she sat down next to him and folded her legs to the side.

<3

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

When he turned to show his face, recognition hit her like a kick to the gut. Her practiced soldier's facade slipped away in the surprised widening of her eyes. She did know him. And he remembered her, too.

The name was on her tongue before she could reign it in: "Sora?"

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

He's quiet for a good while, the Shadow curled up on his lap like a puppy and the Requiem resting on top of his head in a nest of soft spikes. But finally, he speaks up, what's on his mind.

"...Do you... Know what it's like to be alone?"

Sorry, Aqua. >: He didn't turn out how you expected him to.

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

"Aqua... Right...?" he asks, hesitant. He'd broken his promise--had no choice, really. In fact, he'd been the one to go down a dark path and gotten lost. But Dad had taken him in, right? So maybe it's not so bad, maybe she'll understand.

:C it's okay. nothing quite turned out the way she expected.

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little at the sound of her name. "That's right," she confirmed softly, blissfully unaware of the unfortunate fate that this Sora had chosen. Her expression held a hint of nostalgia. It was rare that she actually showed those ten (eleven?) extra years of age she had technically accumulated, but something in that look seemed to carry the weight of the endless wandering as she peered down at Sora. "You've grown so much..."

Sora's ended up pretty bad, though. >:

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

"You haven't changed at all."

It's an observation. She really hadn't. Now that she's right in front of him, he can tell she doesn't look any different than she did before. It's jarring, in its own way.

...it could be worse? ;n;

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

Aqua spared herself a glance (the best that she could, anyways). It was strange, she knew. But she just could never bring herself to question it -- she was sure that not aging helped stave off the feeling that all those years stuck in that world were wasted. A quiet chuckle eventually left her. "I guess I haven't, have I?" she prompted.

Her gaze returned to Sora, lips still upturned in a warm smile. "How have you been, Sora? It's been a long time."

...How so?

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

Sora's about to respond, when it seems his two partners finally notice her. An immediately, the Shadow is letting out an indignant series of squeaks before waddling over to stand next to Sora. The Requiem floats by his head, charging up healing magic, but neither creature seems happy to see Aqua.

"Huh? C-Calm down, you two, I can't make out what you're saying."

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

She left him to his silence until he chose to end it, and when he did... well, her expression was very telling. It betrayed both her surprise and her immediate concern; why ask something like that unless that was what was bothering him? The weight of her own experiences crept up on her and forced her eyes toward the ground.

"...Yes." And what it was like to be worse than alone. "Very... very well."

[goingtoloveme.livejournal.com]

Fluttershy took the lack of hostility as a welcome sign and smiled just a little.

"Well...I'm sorry if you're upset about something."

...she could actually have seen Vanitas' face. that'd make this pretty awkward.

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

Sounds drew Aqua's attention away from Sora momentarily, and her eyes widened at the sight of the Shadow. They weren't Unversed, but she recognized the small black creature from her time in the darkness, and-- why were they with Sora? Why weren't they attacking him?

She raised her Keyblade marginally, apprehension crossing her face. "What are those?" she questioned with a trying calmness, instead of posing the more pressing question of 'why are you friends with them?'

...Yeah, that would make things awkward.

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

"Heartless. Creatures that devour hearts," he explains, bending down to pick up the squeaking Shadow to hush it up. However, the Requiem keeps up its own, quieter squeaks. Sora blinks, looking over to it. He nods a few times, then nudges it with his forehead. It seems to get the message and quiets.

"...They're telling me I shouldn't talk to you."

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

"...How... Do you stop?" he asks after a moment. He's only ever had Ansem and the Heartless. But now, there's only two Heartless and Dad's nowhere to be found. He's... Alone, really.

so yeah, totally could be worse.

[prayerless.livejournal.com]

Her eyes widened at Sora's explanation. They...what? But Sora was so...he'd had so much light the last time she saw him. Had something happened to him?

Aqua desperately wanted to inquire as to just how much she'd missed while trapped where she had been, but she pushed down her more urgent queries for the time being. "Why don't they want you to talk to me?" She had a feeling she knew the answer, but she was really hoping that this wasn't going in the direction that she thought it was.

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

"...." It was... ironic, really, to be explaining this to the alternate version of the person who saved her from exactly that, but that thought didn't cross her mind. "...Find someone to be your friend." It seemed like too obvious an answer. "There are-- a lot of good people here." ...And some not so good ones.