towerofanimus | Backdated to the event;

Entry tags:

[au3] riku

Backdated to the event;

Characters: Riku [AU] and YOU!
Setting: Various locations including the Dormitories, Floor 19 Library, Floor Four (lounge), Cafeteria.
Format: Action, please.
Summary: Just a general grab bag of prompts. Seeing the messages on the walls, Riku sets out to investigate. Over the course of the event, he discovers that a flying whale is indeed attacking the castle once more, scopes out those missing sections of the library, and seeks out a deck of cards for some unforeseen reason.
Warnings: May get violent? We'll see how it goes.

Dormitories, halls, and throughout the tower;

[There's no way he'd ignore the freakish rumors on the walls. Talk of giant whales attacking again and later giant chickens makes him roll his eyes. Yet as he wanders throughout the tower and stumbles upon a message about card games, any disbelief fades in an instant. Suddenly, he's overwhelmed with the desire to dig up a deck. In fact, he shuffles back into his room and digs through his trunk to no avail.

Those passing through may find Riku asking if they've seen any spare cards lying around. It's probably best to roll with it.

His tune changes at night, however. With his Keyblade in hand, he performs his usual monster-bashing routine, but on his way back to his room, he can't help but feel a certain... chill. At the sight of a plush bear, he slips around the corner and watches closely. Odd, but then again, the tower's packed with oddities. Oddities such as that shapeless blob of a boogeyman that's opted to trail after him when he finally resumes his trek to his room.]

Floor 19 Library;

[The missing library materials have captivated Riku for what seems like an eternity. Seeing the message that they've returned naturally piqued his curiosity, and so he's ventured to Floor 19 in order to investigate. He's joined by his chipper Ryu Dragon, who noses at one of the books soaked in black ink.

When a book crumbles in Riku's grip, he lets out a sharp groan.]

Sheesh. It figures there'd be a catch, huh?

[The pages reading Data Expunged are rather fascinating, though. Just what could they have said before?]

Floor Four;

[...Lo' and behold, a giant whale has indeed attacked the tower. Except, like a fly splattering on a windshield, it fails to breach the barrier. Under normal circumstances, Riku might find this alarming. After all, the last whale attack more than damaged the tower. Instead, he's hoped to curl up on one of the couches and watch the display. It's almost sad, really.]

You'd think it would've given up by now. What's it been? Two, three hours already?

[His Ryu Dragon chirps and shivers before sliding behind the couch. Unlike his Master, it seems the whale's left him a little on edge.

But, should anyone decide to step up onto the fourth floor, Riku will gladly make room. After all, it is a morbidly amusing display.]

Cafeteria;

[By now, he's already seen the messages about poisoned food, and it's left him less than enthused about the meal offerings. Does he really want to risk death? While Riku does take some time to mull over the prepared meals, he soon wanders into the kitchen in an attempt to make something a little more salvageable.

Except he's not the greatest cook, knowing only how to prep the most basic of meals. Anyone care to lend the guy a hand here? While he's managed to whip up a salad, he's eyeballing that pork something fierce.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Tohko, of course, was performing her library duties as usual, with her retrieval unit of a stalker following her, making sure that she didn't get too far away from him. However, when she heard a boy speak, Tohko wandered over to him..and paused when she saw something that looked like a dragon. Sighing, she spoke to him, her stalker not to far from the two of them, and watching everything.]

It's not really a catch..they're just messing with us now. Honestly, they should be smacked seven times just for dipping some of the books in ink! This is absolutely unforgivable!

[She sighed, trying to calm down, before making another comment.]

By the way..you probably already know this, but keep an eye on your dragon. Even if these books are damaged beyond repair, if a fire breaks out, I'll get even more annoyed!

You know, I think they deserve to be smacked for a whole lot more reasons than just books, but maybe that's just me.

[He shrugs before casting a glance to his Dream Eater. Said Dream Eater squeaks and tilts his head to the side. Fire? Where?]

Anyway, I don't think you have to worry about the place going up in smoke. He only gets fired up around monsters.

[Not that it's stopping him from pawing at said book. Why does it look so weird?]

[And here's a Riku who does find this alarming. Which paired with the paranoia over the other things happening around the tower, is not a good combination.

He enters the floor just in time for the whale to make another attempt at attacking the tower and jumps when it does, startled.]

...Ugh, how long is going to keep doing that?

[Heeey, clone. Your 'Fake' is just gonna look over there with a smirk.]

Until it gets results, which could be an eternity.

[Given its failures thus far, Riku's lost any edge he had before.]

[No, stop that. No smirking, it's annoying. He scowls in response, making his way in Riku's general direction, stopping a sizable distance away.]

Do you know why it's even trying, then?

[Oh, c'mon. You know this couch looks tempting. And just look at the silly dragon waving one of its paws. Hi, person who looks like Riku but isn't!

Riku shrugs.]

Maybe it's just insane. Isn't trying the same thing expecting different results the definition of insanity?

It could find somewhere else to be insane. There's enough about this place to worry about without dealing with something trying to bring it down on our heads.

[Try harder, whale. Try harder. Also no, he's not interested in the couch, but is interested in the dragon behind the couch, raising an eyebrow at it.]

See, it wouldn't be so bad if it just ate Jason and Ruana. Then we'd have a chance at piece.

[Also, said dragon is now scurrying over and sniffing at Rep's coat. You even smell like Riku!]

...Wouldn't it have to get into the tower first?

[Hi dragon, 'Riku' is going to tentatively pet you. What are you, exactly?]

[Pettings! Congratulations, 'Riku'. You now have a sparkling dragon, who's proceeding to flop on his back.

Riku, in the mean time, strokes his chin as he mulls it over.]

You've got a point... unless it somehow managed to suck them out of the tower by breathing in or something, but I've got a feeling it'd take down others with them.

Well..they do..but they deserve to be smacked for this too! A a book girl, I can't stand for this! It's a crime to the books!

[While Tohko had looked a little deflated at the boy's first comment, her small speech had fired her up again. But at the comments about the dragon, Tohko smiled and nodded.]

Alright then! That's good to hear. I don't mind dragons, but I wouldn't want what remains of the library to turn into ashes.

Somehow, I've got a feeling they aren't gonna budge on the issue. After all, the admins live to make our lives miserable.

[There might be a touch of bitterness in his tone, clashing with the smirk on his face. He's so used to the admins' behavior that it bothers him less than it used to, but boy does he hate their guts.]

The fact that they haven't set this place on fire themselves is a pretty huge miracle, I'd say.

[...Why is it sparkling? Weird dragon. But whatever, it's something to focus on that's not the whale.]

Probably. Maybe it will...it hasn't been around very long yet.

[Maybe it'll eat Jason first.]

Just don't jinx it, otherwise we might get swallowed up. And personally? I'd rather avoid a repeat Monstro incident.

[The sparkles continue, though, as Riku's Dream Eater trills and squeaks. Yes, keep it coming! He'll even wiggly around to expose all the really good spots.]

Edited 2013-05-28 05:54 (UTC)

Well, not all of them do. And if they aren't going to budge on the issue themselves, then I'll make them budge myself! Treating books like they're useless toys is an insult to them and the people who can keep living because of them!

[She wasn't a book girl for nothing. However, at the comment, she sighed.]

It might be..but I hope they don't. When you burn or damage books, you're hurting dreams, hope, ideas, and knowledge that might not be found anywhere else. It's a huge crime!

Yeah, so would I...

[It's not his fault if they get nommed by the space whale, he'll place the blame on you, Riku. And now it's time for a conversation change!]

By the way, what is this thing? It's bizarre...

[Referring to the sparkledragon, of course. Wtf Fake, your pets are weird.]

I think he's called a Dream Eater. They're supposedly from our world, but I never bumped into one beforehand.

[Aww, he's not weird! He's just big, dorky, and sparkletastic. Also, he's totally going to headbutt Rep's hand now.]

All I know is that I haven't had nightmares in ages thanks to this guy. I'd say that more than makes up for all his pent up energy.

You've got guts, I'll give you that. Just don't expect them to budge that easily; if it were that simple, Jason would've been booted eons ago.

[That, and the punching request wouldn't have backfired so severely.]

But I can tell you're pretty serious about books... Belle'd probably get a kick out of you.

Well, I never said it would be easy. Most of anything worth doing is never easy, but that doesn't mean I won't try my best with it.

[That last comment made Tohko smile though. So, in this universe, Beauty and The Beast was a reality. While the original tale hadn't said anything about Belle being a bookworm, Tohko had watched the Disney version of the movie when she was little, as she was always interested in seeing how other people adapted the literature.]

Well, of course I'm serious about them! I am a book girl, after all. However..is The Beauty and The Beast not just a story in your universe?

The fact that it's a story in any universe is news to me. I met Belle and Beast back in Hollow Bastion, and I'm pretty sure they're both real.

[And what is this Disney you speak of? Granted, he's probably heard of Disney Castle from Donald or Goofy, so if it comes off, that'll be his first thought.]

[Well..that was very interesting. While Tohko was still smiling, she was a bit puzzled by this.]

Well..I'm not surprised that they might be real in an alternate universe..but what's Hollow Bastion?

It's another world. From what Leon told me, it used to be pretty peaceful until Maleficent and the Heartless trashed the place. Now all that's left is a creepy castle and the shabby old town.

[Of course, Leon and the gang have been working to fix the town, but it's still got a ways to go.]

[Ah..so, in this boy's universe, there were many worlds that you could travel to. However..that word-'Heartless'-reminded Tohko of Ienzo, that horrible, horrible boy. The mention of Maleficent made Tohko pause as well. She had watched the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty as a child a few times and had much preferred the story.]

What? How come? Did they forget to invite her to a party? Or was Aurora there? And..pardon me for asking, but do you know a boy named Ienzo?

I've never seen one.

[Yes, hi, he's still petting you, dragon-thing. You're a nice distraction from the general insanity (and Fake sitting over there).]

So he's some sort of Heartless that goes after bad dreams instead of hearts?

Ha, Mim mentioned something about parties, but I doubt that was her real motive.

[Then again, Madam Mim's kinda kooky to begin with.]

Long story short, Maleficent wanted to rule over the worlds using the power of the Heartless. So, she rounded up a bunch of creeps like Jafar and Ursula, tricked my best friend into thinking they were actually heroes, and wound up making him "rescue" princesses so they could use their pure hearts to open a Keyhole to the darkness. Aurora was one of them.

[Whew, that was long winded. As for Ienzo...]

And no, I can't say I've ever met anyone by that name.

[Would you like some nuzzles, not!Master? He can give more of those!]

Not exactly a Heartless, but otherwise you've hit the nail on the head. Maybe I should give you a gold star for good measure.

[The Mim almost threw her off, but..there was a chance that he was referring to the Sword In The Stone's Madam Mim, the beautiful but evil witch who lured in Wart and almost killed and ate him.]

Hang on, are you talking about Madam Mim? The one who was only stopped by Merlin? And that does sound like something Maleficent would do to people. I'm sorry to hear about your friend..but what's a Keyhole? It can't be just any ordinary keyhole to be mentioned like that.

[Huh. So he hadn't met the crazy scientist.]

That's alright. It might be best if you don't. He's a horrible scientist who might have tried experimenting on the Darkness in human hearts..on human test subjects.

The one and only. That hag was a nightmare to fight; if Merlin hadn't stepped in, my friends and I would've been knee deep in trouble.

[It probably didn't help that she had Heartless on her side on top of all her crazy black sorcery.]

And experiments on the heart? That sounds like the kind of stuff Ansem pulled.

I'm glad to hear that she didn't kill you..but what do you mean by 'hag'? Her story in my world might be different, but I remember reading that she was a beautiful woman.

[Well..that piqued her curiosity.]

Pardon me..but who's Ansem?

Not interested. Keep your gold star.

[Nuzzles? Sure. He can live with that.]

Does it have a name?

Well, the Mim I saw was anything but pretty. She was stout with a shaggy mop of purple hair and a face only a mother could love. Cackled like a madwoman, turned into all kinds of animals and a dragon... She also treated everything like a twisted game.

[In a way, it made her a bit more unnerving than Maleficent, who kept a cool demeanor.

Riku's expression darkens at the mention of Ansem, however.]

As for Ansem, he used to be Hollow Bastion's ruler, but his obsession with learning the heart's secrets twisted him. When I met the guy, he'd lost his body and became obsessed with darkness.

[..There..had been a Disney film with a Mim of that description. Not that Tohko would mention that. This boy probably didn't know what Disney was. She just sighed and nodded.]

Alright then. I guess she was an alternate version of Mim. At least she could still transform..the one I'm aware of did that as well.

And Ansem..sounds pretty horrible, to put it lightly. Hopefully he didn't take over anyone's body..but why was he so obsessed with Darkness?

He tried taking over mine, but I kicked him out. The worst he did to me was... draw upon my darkness to make himself stronger.

And I've got no idea why he became so obsessed. All I know is that he wouldn't shut up about it.

[He rolls his eyes, fully recalling every cheesy darkness speech of his.]

Not yet...

[And cue a sheepish laugh. Riku kinda sucks at pet names, really.]

Thought about Highwind, but the other Riku's already used that name for his Dream Eater.

[Well..that sounded pretty horrible. Tohko sighed and tried to pat the boy on the head as she spoke.]

I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been horrible..but it's good that you were able to kick him out eventually!

As for his obsession..maybe it's like murderers who start with rabbits and end up killing people. The experiments might not have been enough for him after awhile, so he turned to the real thing without any safety holds.

I think it was all about power and control more than anything. Ansem saw darkness as the beginning and the end-- the source of everything, and he tried to command it.

[He snickers, placing his hands on his hips.]

But in the end, he got burned by the very light he thought was weak.

[Tohko didn't laugh, but she did sigh before smiling a little.]

Somehow, I'm not surprised. The source of everything wouldn't be solely darkness or light. It would have to be both, since not everything is just good or bad. If someone was going to command it, they would have to have an understanding of both.

Where I'm from, darkness is... mostly bad, yeah, but I wouldn't say everyone with darkness is necessarily evil. My best friend's a Heartless now, and they're made of darkness.

But it's still dangerous. Tap into the darkness, and it's way too easy to let it consume you.

[It's one of his own fears, in fact.]

[..To be a Heartless, one had to have their heart pulled out of them. That was..pretty horrible, especially for those around them. Tohko sighed and tried to pat Riku on the head as she spoke.]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend..really, I am. It must have been terrible to see something like that. But you're right-it is easy to let the Darkness consume you if you're not that good at mastering it, or view it as something different than what it actually is.

But..I imagine that if you viewed it honestly and were careful with it, that you wouldn't get swallowed or used. Not that I would use it, mind you.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Backdated to the event;

Library

no subject

Floor Four

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject