001

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

Characters: Riku and OPEN
Setting: Dormitories + Floor 20-18
Format: Action, though I'm fine with Para if that's more your thing
Summary: Waking up in a new world with no clue how he actually got there is not entirely new, The sleep paralyzis and the collar are both however pretty original. Needless to say, Riku is not amused.
Warnings: Non... for now. Will add as needed.

[Riku awakens with a low groan, blinking beneath the cloth of his blindfold - what is he doing here; hadn't he just been in the World That Never Was, watching, waiting for just the right moment to intercept Roxas? His mind goes blank with panic for just a moment - he can't move his body, why can't he move his body - memories of being drowned by darkness, of a malicious laugh, of losing control over of himself, rising, rising...

He snaps himself out of that thought, scolding himself, doing his best to push away the fear and disgust of the thought of being possessed again. He can't dwell on anything like that, can't grant the faint, amused whispers in the darkest corner of his heart any more power over him.

Finally, after what feels like eternity, he finds himself able to move again, immediately jumping of that bed, twirling around, trying to orientate himself, to get a feel for this place he had found himself at... how had he drawn here; was this perhaps another trap of the Organization... just like Castle Oblivion?

He flips up one half of his blindfold; frowning as he reads over the two letters... the Islands destroyed!? As if he'd believe that, he thinks with a snort, absently reaching up to his throat, expression tightening at the feel of the collar around his neck.

Someone is playing with him.

Letting the cloth fall back into place, he draws up the hood of his cloak to hide his tell-tale hair - even if this is an Organization trap, even if they know that he is the one posing as one of their own, he isn't about to make it easy for them - and then he is off to explore the hallway and the nearby floors.

Time to find out just what kind of mess he has stumbled into this time and how to get out of here and back to where he should be. The rest of Sora's memories won't return to him by themselves after all.]

Comments

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

[And it doesn't take much time for him to run into a certain someone. Or rather, as Riku is exploring the dormitories, someone will come across him. And that scent is so very familiar... like... Like Riku--

Sora will just... freeze up and stare at the other, clenching and unclenching his fists. He'd never thought he'd see Riku alive again. Last he'd seen, Riku was fighting for his life on the remnants of the Islands. And yet, this is... When did Riku get taller? Still, Sora has to hold himself back--his first instinct is to kill the person. But maybe it's not Riku. Maybe not... Noses and scents don't mean a thing here, right? Someone out there could smell similar and not be him?]

...Riku?

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku stops as well, expression tightening beneath his hood as he tries to make sense of what his senses are telling him. This... person before him... there is darkness within him rolling of in waves, mixed with the far too familiar scent that belonged to his best friend.

Except that it couldn't be him.

And given what he was assuming of this place, the answer to who this guy before him was seemed rather obvious.]

So they made another one, huh? Tch.... should've expected as much, I guess.

[Yet another replica... Looks like getting the rest of Sora's memories might not to be as 'easy' as collecting Roxas, after all. Great.]

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

[Except he's dead wrong, and that voice? Only clinches it. This is Riku, except he's strange and talking about things that don't make sense. Still, Sora just adapts him uncaring and nearly haughty demeanor, trying to seem cool and collected when he's boiling over with rage.]

So it is you. I guess that means you survived my present back on the Islands. Can't say I'm really surprised--you always were good at fighting when we were little. Not that you remember anything about those times since you didn't recognize me last we met.

[He'll try and piece together what you're talking about as he goes. Sorry, Riku, but he's not happy to see you at all.]

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku narrows his eyes beneath blindfold and hood; just what is this guy talking about? What present at the Islands? Was this guy involved in what that letter had talked about? The destruction of the Islands? Or was that just meshed-up memories of the real Sora talking.]

I have no idea, what other kind of nonsense they fed you, but you really think you are the real one, huh? How pathetic.

[It really was, compared to her and that guy. They had fought to become someone else, to become their one person. Maybe this one wasn't far enough for it yet, maybe he was just made to be different to them by the Organization.

He doesn't care either way. If this guy truly held more of the true Sora's memories, then he would get them back. One way or another.]

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

Gee, you really have a messed-up memory. First you forgot me when we were best friends for the first four years of our lives--though I can't blame you, it had been ten years since we even saw each other--and now you can't even remember a few weeks ago? Man, that Darkside I left you to play with after our little reunion really must have messed you up.

[He taps his head to indicate memories, because really, it hadn't even been that long! How amusing, something Sora just shrugs off. Riku's talking nonsense. He won't let it get to him.]

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Messed-up memory? Him? Considering just whose replica was telling him that, it's downright hilarious. Except that Riku isn't laughing. In fact, he is feeling anger rising, cold, cold fury at the thought of yet another Darkside entering the Islands, right when there is no one there to defend them, when Kairi is waiting there for the real Sora to return, thinking herself safe.

It has to be a trick, he thinks, he'd know somehow, if the Islands, if Kairi was in danger! So, this guy has to be lying. Even if he doesn't smell like it.

Lips pressing together, he pushes the anger away again, adapting an almost mocking stance instead.]

'To play with' me, huh? That what Heartless are to you? Play things to control and order around?

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

They're servants of those who reside in darkness. Servants of me... and Dad.

[And then, to demonstrate? He snaps his fingers. Instantly, darkness swirls and a Green Requiem forms, twirling and floating near him. And peering our from behind his leg is a Shadow. And Sora doesn't mind the mocking--he has no reason to let it get to him.]

But you know what? That doesn't matter. All that matters is you're alive, and that's not something I'm really liking. I thought I'd end you back when we met again on the Islands, but it looks like I was wrong. Still... Looks like something happened. You grew... Maybe that darkness did something, after all.

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[That display causes especially bitter memories to rise, of Neverland and Hollow Bastion, when he had been twisted by anger and insecurity and just so goddamn stupid.

He wonders if this replica is result of those memories, if they had been twisted and turned until they had become this mockery of his best friend and just the thought of it makes him angry. He doesn't care about whatever 'Dad'-figure this guy is talking about, but he does recognize the threat to his life and there is only one proper way to response to it.

Sliding his right foot back, he shifts into stance, black smoke crackling beneath his palm as he summons Soul Eater. If this Sora-clone wants a fight, then he is certainly going to get one.]

[reverse-destiny.livejournal.com]

[Immediately, Sora stops the teasing and mocking and insulting. He instead stands and summons his Keyblade. But then, from his feet up, darkness twists around him, the darkness forming over his body to create and all-too-familiar suit.]

...I guess we're done talking. I'll just end you here.

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

[Naminé's been working hard lately on a project she hopes to finish before Christmas, spending a lot of time out of her room and on floors where there's actually a table at which she can draw comfortably. The slight discomfort she feels when leaving her room that she's never quite been able to shake has been worse, lately, after the incident with the nightmare realm, but she has a goal in mind and come heck or high water, she will reach it. She woke up this morning with every intention of grabbing breakfast and getting straight to work, and that intention remains intact until the moment she comes far enough down the stairs to the 20th floor to catch sight of a mass of black on the edge of her vision that is exactly the right shape to be an Organization coat.]

--?!

[She freezes in place right in the middle of the staircase, tensing automatically as she desperately tries to make sense of what her eyes are telling her she's seeing. There's no doubt about it; that's an Organization coat, as much as she doesn't want to believe it, and she feels her blood run cold at the sight before she even has the presence of mind to try to figure out who might be wearing it.]

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku startles a little at that familiar scent, like sea and sunshine and a ting of nothingness - how can he not recognize it, when she is one of the very few people he had talked to in the last ten months...]

...Naminé?

[It takes him a moment to actually spot her then, a small smile flickering over his face, when he finally does. He is a little torn between the relief of seeing a familiar face and worry - just how had she gotten caught up in this as well? ...And why did she look like she had seen a ghost?

...

...Oh. Well that had been the effect he'd been going for, hadn't it? A moment later, he is already reaching up and pulling back the hood again.]

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

[Silently, Naminé chastises herself for deciding to take the long way this morning. She'd wanted fresh air and a little walk, but when was she going to learn that it was too dangerous to wander the tower? Perhaps she's gotten too comfortable; this cage is larger than any other she's ever had, and moving to the farthest point its bars would allow is just too tempting. She starts to back up, only to have her heel hit the stair above the one she's standing on, and she's just about to turn and make a run for it when she hears her name.]

[She knows that voice, even though she hasn't heard it in some time, and it makes her stay put, her eyes widening. There's no doubt about what she's heard when he reaches up and pulls his hood down.]

...Riku?

[It's hard to believe when she knows how much the tower likes to play tricks, and it's even harder to believe after the tower has so recently played such a vile one. Still, the possibility draws her down to the bottom of the stairs with ginger footsteps, at which point she stops to regard him cautiously. It's been a long time since she's used her powers, but in this instance, it's better to be totally sure than to be caught in one of the tower's traps, so she reaches out with her magic to quickly glance over his heart, just to make sure that he's real. It might be possible for him to feel it, if he's paying attention.]

...It really is you...!

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[He feels whispers of her power wash over him and opens himself up, so that she can be sure - he is not an illusion, not a trick, but the real thing.]

Yeah... it's me.

[The fact that she thinks it necessary to check makes him worry though, along with her presence in this place - had she been taken as well? In that case, had their hideout in Twilight Town been found out? And what about Sora and DiZ? Were they safe?

So many questions to be considered, sorted and asked, yet there is just one that takes absolute priority.]

Are you all right?

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

[She's grateful for and relieved by the assistance; she'd have hated to upset him with such an intrusion, but there had been no other way to be sure. Even her powers have seemed untrustworthy, sometimes, but they're the hardest to fool out of all the methods available to her. She exhales a quiet sigh as she steps forward again so that they're at a more comfortable speaking distance.]

I'm all right. [His blindfold worries her, though, as does the Organization coat, and it shows on her face and the way she's searching his, brow knitted.] Are you? Riku, why are you wearing your blindfold again? Did something happen?

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[He can hardly be upset when he approves of her making sure; if this place is anything like Castle Oblivion, then it's better to question everything than to take for granted.]

I'm fine... [Except that that other question leaves him rather confused actually.] What do you mean by again? I haven't taken it off in months.

[lethechained.livejournal.com]

But--....

[--Oh. It's been so long since she's met a newcomer from her own world that it was easy for it not to come to mind immediately that not everyone is on the same point in the timeline. She exhales an,] ...Oh. [of understanding, a frown settling on her face. Perhaps it had been too optimistic of her to hope that he'd be from he same time; she hadn't looked closely enough at his heart to ascertain more than that he was who he appeared to be. Now, how to explain it?] It's... probably better if I explain it this way. Riku, what's the last thing that you remember from before you woke up here?

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[He frowns right back - the question seems just so very strange to him. But he trusts her, knows that if he answers she will hopefully be able to explain just what in the world was going on here.]

I was in the World That Never Was... waiting for Roxas.

[savedbyasong.livejournal.com]

[Shion was on floor twenty, staring out into the mist. It was so strange to have a view unlimited by buildings or walls and yet to be able to see nothing. It felt like he should be able to see everything for miles around, to take in this strange land he had found himself in and yet there was nothing. Nothing at all.

He turned to see the man who was also on this floor] Hello!

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku just bowed his head in greeting, glancing at the other man before him from beneath hood and blindfold, wondering... he certainly didn't look or feel like a member of the Organization. But in that case... who was he? What was he doing here.]

...Are you local to this place?

[savedbyasong.livejournal.com]

[Shion looked at the man, he was wearing a blindfold which seemed very strange. But he just shook his head at the question]

No, I only arrived about a week ago. Have you just arrived?

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku just nods slightly in reply.]

Yes.

[savedbyasong.livejournal.com]

[A small smile] I'm afraid I still don't know much about this place, but I can try to help you if you have questions.

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[He frowns for a moment, then nods again.]

Have you seen anyone else, who wears a cloak just like this one?

[savedbyasong.livejournal.com]

[Shion thought for a moment, he had a good memory but none of the people he had spoken to so far had worn a cloak like that one. He shook his head.] I'm sorry, I have not met anyone wearing such a cloak.

[justabignobody.livejournal.com]

[Riku nodded yet again, still frowning... Well at least this guy hadn't run into any Organization members so far. Which might not mean much, except that if they were truly the ones to set up this place, then they were keeping far lower profile than they had in Castle Oblivion.

Not that it mattered; he would find the truth sooner or later, he is certain of that.]

Thank you.