002 | ❝Don't pretend...❞

[acceptedoblivion]

Characters: [ou] Riku Replica and you!
Setting: Option 1: Floor 62, backdated to February 6th; option 2: Floor 78
Format: Starting with action, but I'll match you.
Summary: Repliku found floor 96 on accident and left in a hurry when he realized what was going on. Breakdowns ensue.
Warnings: Possible violent reactions.

Option 1 - Floor 62

[This wasn't the first time he'd wandered into a situation and come to find that he couldn't remember what happened. On the contrary, it was the second or maybe third. He couldn't recall anymore, even as he fled first the castle he wanted to never see again, then that floor. Why, why did he hate it though? Why did he have a bad feeling about all this?

What does he even do with these feelings that he can't shake?

He has no idea how long or how far he ran, only that for some reason, the sound of the waves of this floor seemed calming to him. Maybe he'd heard the sound somewhere before...? No, that didn't sound right. He'd only been in one place before now, hadn't h-

I always wondered why we're here, on this island. Suppose there are other worlds... how did we end up on this one?
... Did he say that? It didn't feel right. With a frustrated sigh, he walked to the water's edge, but didn't step into the artificial sea. Just watched the tide come in and out. For once, he felt calm. He didn't need to worry about things- Wait, what things? What was it that he needed to remember? And why did it hurt that he didn't?

'Maybe it's better that I don't remember...'

What would I want with a heart of a loser?!

His eyes widen, knees buckling underneath him as they hit the sand and hands went to his forehead. What-?

Like everything else, Namine will erase the memory of me knocking you flat... and implant the prettiest memories. So what if they're all lies?

N-no... NOOOOOOOOOOO!

If anyone should come close, they'll likely hear him muttering something unintelligible, the only thing understandable being:]

"No, stop. This isn't...

[Life sucks. Why can't he just stay faded away?]

Option 2 - floor 78, everywhere and anywhere

[It took a while for him to calm down, and thinking back on it, made a note to stay the hell away from floor 96 for his own sanity... or whatever's left of it. Still, it wasn't going to stop him from wandering and exploring the rest of the tower. When he got to the mailroom, however, he was surprised that he was handed a key to one of them. Wha-?

Then he saw which number mailbox it was for.

... He throws it across the room, before storming out. Nope, he can't handle it. But do you return the key to him? Or simply come across him somewhere else in the tower after?]

Comments

Option 2

[withak]

[Where did that flying key come from, other than someone who had something against his head?

Katsuya rubs his face and picks the key up from the floor. 0006. Random number.]

[acceptedoblivion]

[...Oops.

Not that he seems to notice though, because the person who threw it seems to still be walking away.

Stop him?
> Yes.
> No.
> da fuq is his problem it's just a key???]

[withak]

Is this your key?

[It's tempting to toss it back at him, but no.]

[acceptedoblivion]

So what if it supposedly is?

[he'd probably deserve it, sob. Still, he looks back and- oh. That guy who tried to name him when he first arrived in the tower. Oddly enough, he seems to calm just a bit when he realizes who it is. Better someone he met once than not at all, right?]

...It's not like I want it. [Did he hit you with it on accident he's been doing that a lot lately.]

[withak]

That's no reason to go around using it as a projectile weapon. -Even a rock would be more practical.

[He tosses it over to him underhand, gently.]

Floor 62

[lethechained]

[Naminé comes to an abrupt halt. She'd been hoping to explore some of the new floors, maybe see if there was anything that could be made use of or anything that needed to be avoided, and then-- it was strange, but... it felt like something was off. Assuming it had something to do with the floor she was just reaching the top of the stairs to, she stays put for a moment, listening. She can't hear anything from there, but--]

[Hesitantly, body tense, she ascends the last few steps to get a proper look around this new floor. And what - or rather 'who' - should she find but him, apparently in distress. Even through her tension, she is concerned; fear that this might be some trick of the towers slows her, but she does eventually step out onto the floor and hurry toward him. She stops farther away than she otherwise might, but,]

What's wrong--?

[acceptedoblivion]

[He's silent for the entire time, eyes wide behind his hands after he heard his friend's (screw the truth; he'd always view her as one of his few friends) voice break through the returning memories. ...and Geez, he'd been a jerk. Why were all his memories-?

...The pain seems to lessen a moment, but it takes a minute for him to respond.]

...I remember-- I remember what Vexen did.

[How he'd been betrayed by the very person who made him, all for the opportunity to mess with Sora's head. How much he was a tool to them instead of a person like Sora kept insisting he was until the very end. But most of all, he remembered how terrified he was before everything went black.

...He hates it. Why couldn't he never remember?]

[lethechained]

[And she stands through his silence with restrained distress, waiting for his answer. She's just considering stooping next to him when he finally speaks. That he speaks at all is some comfort, but what he says... that's a different matter. She sucks in a breath, hands clasping each other tightly. He remembers--?]

How--...?

[Guilt churns in her stomach and twists in her chest. She'd failed him then, too - it wasn't just Vexen. But does he see it that way...? The answer may not stop her from feeling responsible, but it does make a difference in how he might see fit to treat her now. ... She'd deserve whatever she got, she thinks.]

And-- what exactly is it that you've remembered? [In a place like this, after all, such things are decidedly suspect.]

[acceptedoblivion]

Floor...96--

[It's all he can say for a moment until finally, the pain passes. That doesn't mean he's calmed down though, and for a moment, he isn't sure if he should be because of what she did due to them ordering her to. It's blurry, but the most he remembers about it is that pain, the electricity (which explains a few things), and-]

"I told you I'd make good use of you, didn't I?"

[It's like he spat it out, how he said it; all this anger he had no idea why it was there... now he did, and yet... he can only stare at his hands. Not react. Least of all against her. (Axel, on the other hand...)]

[lethechained]

[She tucks the information away; she'd run across that floor briefly before and had immediately turned and left before getting more than a step away from the stairs. Her frown can only grow at that new knowledge, however; she's not yet certain how much damage the floor is capable of. Her hands tighten around each other.]

[Reflexively, she turns away slightly at those words, almost as if he did spit them - and in her direction, no less. Squeezing her eyes shut only briefly, she considers her words, but there's really only one thing she can say.]

... I'm so sorry.

[It's earnest and anguished and it's just not enough, because what's done is done and she knows it (and will always regret it).]

Option 2

[servessithis]

[Vicente's been watching you, stalking from the shadows.

Finally he catches up to Riku in a hallway, walking silently.]

My, my, weren't we in a foul mood earlier?

Re: Option 2

[acceptedoblivion]

[irk- Why was this stranger stalking him?]

What's it matter to you? [Oh, Vicente... If only you knew he almost always was.]

Re: Option 2

[servessithis]

[He likes to size up any potential prey.]

Merely a curious stranger.

[acceptedoblivion]

[Dude you wouldn't want this one. He'd likely disagree with you.]

Too bad. Not in a sharing mood.

[servessithis]

So testy. Not a healthy attitude at all.

Option 1

[alae]

[There's another replica walking the beach. He should just leave the guy on his own, but he looks like he's in a bad way.]

[... Fine. He'll help. Dammit, why does his copy have to be the protagonist and have gotten feels all over him. He kneels down near 'Riku'.]

What happened?

[acceptedoblivion]

[Probably would have been easier if he was left alone, but...

Sigh. Give him a moment; let the migraine that comes with painful memories relinking together pass before he responds, okay? Otherwise it's just going to be unintelligible.]

...Stumbled on a bad floor for someone like me; I'm fine.

[Lies. Well, the last part was.]

[alae]

[Yeah, he's quiet, letting the guy take it at his own pace.]

Yeah? Which one?

[He should probably make a note to avoid it... or at least be careful.]

[acceptedoblivion]

[If he were the kind to say "thank you", he likely would... but he's the one of the face twins to say it in a different way.]

...Floor 96. May want to avoid it; less of a headache.

[Like looking out for others.]

[alae]

Huh. I'll try to avoid it, then.

[Or view from a distance. Or make Pit do it.]

You uh... need anything?

Floor 62

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji recognizes the distressed individual on the sand, but even if he didn't, he'd want to help. He hasn't spoken with Riku much, but he seems nice, and he certainly doesn't deserve any pain.

Cautiously, Ryoji kneels next to him, lightly placing a hand on his shoulder.]

Hey... Riku-kun?

[acceptedoblivion]

['Riku' seems to freeze up for a moment as he's touched, but luckily for Ryoji, his head is throbbing too much for him to react too violently other than trying to weakly push him away.]

I'm not Riku-!

[Ugh, yelling was probably a bad idea with this memory-induced headache. So, quieter:]

...I'm just something that was... made to look like him. [A shadow, but like the kind you know of. ...Please don't touch him without warning it freaks him out.]

[notsogrimreaper]

... Made to look like him? A Shadow?

[Ryoji keeps his distance, but now he's even more worried. Riku was obviously in a lot of pain, and the situation that caused it sounded like it may be similar to his own.]

It's okay... Just calm down a little. Please tell me what happened.

[acceptedoblivion]

...That's one way to put it.

[Yet not completely accurate, judging by his tone. Thought it's a little ironic, considering what he'd yelled at the real thing when he picked that fight. He'd always be in Riku's shadow, always look like him... and he hates it because for a while, he thought--

He shakes his head, trying to clear it the best he can. Not the easiest thing when his first instinct is to fight.]

...I was exploring the other floors, and stumbled upon one that... looks like the place I was created. Didn't think about it at the time.

['Until I began forgetting things.' But he stops from saying more, because it's both obvious and...why should he say more when he doesn't know this guy?]

Floor 62

[notayoungkitten]

[There's someone she hasn't seen before. But then, it's not hard for her to miss people inside of the tower.

He's young, but that doesn't matter much here after all. And he looks like he's in distress. She approaches him cautiously, unsure of the cause.]

Is something the matter?