towerofanimus | Awakening

Entry tags:

Awakening

Characters: Sora and YOU.
Setting: His dorm room (1-06), the dorm floors, and then wandering. Feel free to choose whatever floor you want to run into him on!
Format: Starting with action, but I'm fine with either that or prose.
Summary: Sora wakes up in a world that isn't his own, and decides to so search for his friends. Maybe he'll find some answers, too.
Warnings: None initially. Will be updated as needed!

[This was all a dream, wasn't it?

That's what Sora had wondered when he first woke up. His head had been foggy, and for a moment he couldn't figure out where he was, or why he was so tired. But it wasn't long at all before everything came rushing back to him. Everything that had happened the night before...no, that definitely hadn't been a dream.

So where was he now, he wondered? And where were Kairi and Riku? He almost panicked when he realized that he couldn't move, but thankfully it was only about fifteen more seconds before he had been on his feet, looking around the room. He notices the collar on his neck, but hasn't quite decided what to make of it by the time he spots the letter.

"Your world has been destroyed."

So...the islands really were gone. He could have stood there staring at the letter in disbelief for a good long while, but that wouldn't have helped him answer the main question...]

So...what is this place, anyway?

[Well, there was only one way to find out, and it wasn't by sitting around all day. If he was here, his friends had to be close by, too, and he would never find them if he didn't get moving. Sora got on his feet and decided to head for the door, not taking the time to read the second letter through carefully. He could do that later - right now, he couldn't focus on anything but the idea that, first and foremost, he needed to find his friends.]

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[~~Or maybe he wouldn't have. Even Riku himself can really say.~~

He is just staring blankly for a moment, before shifting into a casual shrug, crooking his head and waving his hand in a manner that somewhat spells "Around."

Yeaaaahhh, he's not the most talkative right now.]

[Sora just stares at him for a minute, wondering if he's ever going to say anything...and eventually figuring out that he isn't. He rubs the back of his head while he thinks for a second, hoping that he got the gist of those gestures right.

Not that it tells him much anyway.]

Er...right.

[Still, maybe this guy could help? It couldn't hurt to ask, anyway.]

Hey, have you seen the person who's staying in this room? [He points, indicating the door to Riku's room.] His name is Riku. He's my friend, and I really need to find him.

[Just... what has he gotten himself into now, Riku wonders, as he considers what to do. He could pull back to hood, end the games right then and there, but still, he is reluctant to, because he can't help the feeling that he isn't really the Riku this Sora is expecting him to be.

Which is just one more reason not to reveal himself, isn't it.

He shrugs again, opening his arms in a stance that can be read as something like: "Maybe I have; maybe I haven't."]

What's that supposed to mean?

[Sora can't tell if he's trying to help or not, to be honest. It's not really possible to figure out what's going through this guy's head just from a few gestures, especially when it was impossible to see his face.

He could say something, at the very least. Something about this exchange - what little of it there had been thus far - was giving Sora a weird feeling.]

[It means what it means, meaning that Riku is pretty much at his most unhelpful ever right now. Though he supposes he could give Sora a clue... especially if it's one that helps him figure out just from when in the time line Sora comes from.

So he just summons Soul Eater, waving playfully at the other before lifting his blade - it's a challenge and if Sora wins he just might tell him what he knows.]

Huh?

[That was unexpected. Sora is alarmed, and it shows in the way his guard suddenly goes up. But there's no sign of recognition on his face when he sees the strange man's weapon...nor does he immediately think to summon his. Kingdom Key appears on it's own, more in response to Sora's sudden need to defend himself then to a conscious desire on the part of the boy to use it. He even seems a little surprised by the Keyblade's appearance, as if he's not at all used to having it around.

That alone, if Riku can catch it, probably says plenty about what timeline he's from.

But Sora recovers quickly, holding the Keyblade in a battle ready stance. If it was a fight this guy wanted, then bring it on!]

[Riku feels a twist in his gut when Sora doesn't show even the slightest hint of ever having seen the Soul Eater before, one that turns and turns even further when he is startled by his own Keyblade - as if he had just barely received it.

He can only just barely keep himself from groaning and cursing out loud; whoever is controlling this tower, is choosing just what point one is drawn from, really really is out to get him, it seems.

He shifts a little, just until he's reached battle stance himself - one that should be rather familiar even to a Sora from that early. Not that he'll have much time to think about it, because Riku is already rushing forward, blade high and slashing down when he comes in close.]

[It takes a minute for the familiarity of the man's stance to sink in...but by the time Sora realizes that it reminds him of something, he's already moving, and he doesn't have time to finish the thought.

He doesn't react quickly enough to even consider trying to dodge. The best he can do is guard against the attack, just barely managing to protect himself from getting hit.

But even for someone as inexperienced with real fighting as Sora is right now, it's easy for him to realize that he's not going to be able to hold him off for long. But, for now, there wasn't much else Sora could do but wait for him to back off.

This...might be a littler bit harder then he had thought it was going to be.]

[Riku is admittedly going easy on him - not moving quite as fast as he could be or putting all his strength into his hits or using the slightest bit of Darkness; this is supposed to be a sparring match after all and he already has the advantage as it is.

He allows Sora to back off and gather his wits, just standing there, blade raised in stance, and maybe he is waving at Sora with his free hand, inviting him to attack him.]

[He's more grateful then he wants to admit when he gets the chance to back off, and when the man doesn't move to attack again. But even while he's catching his breath, he notices the wave.

His move, huh?

Sora doesn't hesitate - he quickly closes the distance between them, swinging when he finally gets close enough. His movements are still much like they were on the islands, however; a little slow, and not as careful. He's trying, but it's probably all too obvious that he doesn't quite know what he's doing. Not yet.]

[Riku just blocks his blows, every of Sora's moves only confirming what he already knows and he's angry at all those invisible forces at work here, because Sora now doesn't know anything, doesn't understand anything - not how to fight and defend himself, nothing about the outside world, about how and why he's changed.

Finally it gets the better of him as he stops being defensive and snaps his blade up with what should be enough force to break the other's grip, if he isn't careful.]

[It isn't long before Sora gets just plain frustrated with how things are going - he can't even get a hit in! Who was this guy? He's determined to keep trying, to keep aiming until he can find an opening, but his movements just seem to be getting less effective instead of more.

And, unfortunately for Sora, he isn't being very careful.

The unexpected move forces the Keyblade out of his hands, sending it sliding across the floor. For a moment, he's stunned.

But there's only one thing he can do - run to go retrieve it. And that's exactly what he's going to try to do.]

[This time, Riku doesn't allow him to back out, to just go after his weapon. Instead he slides forward to intercept him, moving a lot faster than he did before.

He goes in low, keeping the Soul Eater down; he doesn't want to hurt Sora after all, just sliding out his foot wide enough for Sora to trip over, if he decides to try passing him.]

[Sora doesn't stand a chance of moving quickly enough to get past. He thinks quickly, trying to figure out a new way to get to the Keyblade mid-motion. But there isn't much room in the hallway; if there is a way, he doesn't think of one.

Not quickly enough to stop himself from tripping over Riku's foot, anyway.

Smooth, Sora. Smooth.

He does stand up, but there's still the obvious problem; how is he going to get past? With no immediately obvious solution in mind, he just glares at the hooded man, still looking as if he's ready to fight - even though, without a weapon, he's the exact opposite.]

[Well, as far as Riku is concerned, this fight is over. It's served it's purpose, he knows what he needs to after all, anything beyond this point would just mean someone getting hurt. Sora most likely.

He loosens his grip around Soul Eater, letting it fold itself away in black mist as he turns away from where Sora is standing and walks over to where Kingdom Key is lying, bending down to pick it up.]

Hey, don't touch that!

[But there's not much Sora can really do to stop him - he doesn't realize how simple it would be to just summon the Keyblade, to make it reappear in his hands before the cloaked man can touch it. All he can do is continue to glare from a distance. He may not be ready to give up, but he's not exactly full of ideas right now.]

What's your problem, anyway?

[His hand hovers over the handle as he turns his head a little, facing Sora as he finally speaks up.]

If you don't want me to touch it- [He reaches down again, hand closing around Kingdom Key as he picks it up and straightens, turning his face again as if to inspect the Keyblade.] -you shouldn't let go of it in first place.

[He almost kind of wants to laugh, because this whole scene is so very familiar, and amuses him and makes him feel almost kinda sick as well.

But instead of laughing he just shakes his head, flicking his wrist to throw the Keyblade back to it's owner-] Catch. [-then reaches up again to pull back the hood.]

[It takes a moment for what he's hearing to sink in after the man finally speaks. Once it registers that he's not just hearing things, the anger in Sora's expression fades into shock; slowly but surely, he begins to let his guard down.

He has every reason to be surprised. That voice sounds so familiar; of course it does. Sora's known it for almost his entire life. But could it really be...?

There's no time to answer that question before the Keyblade is thrown his way; he manages to catch it fairly easily, if not without a "woah!" and some fumbling. By the time his grip on the weapon is secure again and he looks up, Riku has already pulled back the hood.]

Riku...?

[He looks so much more different than Sora had expected; taller, older-looking, longer hair...even though Namine had warned him, Sora hadn't really taken the time to imagine what a Riku who was a whole year older would look like.

But it was definitely him. Sora was sure of it.]

[Once upon a time he would have smirked, would have called out some smart line like "Cat caught your tongue?" or something similar. Instead, there is just a small smile sneaking over his face as he crooks his head again - who else would he be?

~~...Or you know what; don't answer that.~~]

...Next time you lose your grip, don't run after it. Call it back instead.

[Sora doesn't really react to what Riku says. Honestly, the words themselves don't sink in. The boy is far too busy being happy (and relieved, to tell the truth) that the person speaking them is there at all.]

Riku! Why didn't you tell me that it was you?

[He should have expected that, shouldn't he? Really, Sora.

Riku doesn't answer the question; not with words anyways - all he does is shrug. His reasons are just that; he doesn't really want to talk about them. Especially since he doubts that Sora will understand any of it.

Instead he asks a question of his own.]

How much do you know about this place?

[Though Sora finds it odd that Riku has been giving more shrugs than answers, he decides not to push the question. Maybe he has a really good reason for not saying anything. How would Sora know? Besides, Riku is his best friend - Sora trusts him.]

A little bit. I met a girl named Namine who told me a bunch of stuff. Umm...[He looks off to the side, trying to recall everything that he's learned.] I know that we're stuck here...and that this tower brings in people from a lot of different times. Actually, she said that you're probably a whole year ahead of me. And I got a letter that told me where everything is.

[It's not much, but at least he knows a little bit.]

[He'll find that Riku is kind of doing this a lot more; he has grown a lot more quiet since leaving the Islands.

He nods at that; he had figured right it seems. As for the distance of time between them...]

...More than that, actually. Counting the time I've spent in the tower, it's been eighteen months since I left the Islands.

[He frowns a little, he should probably pick up where she left off. It's better for Sora to know what awaits him, rather than be caught unaware after all.]

Did Naminé tell you about the doubles?

[Sora doesn't even try to hide his shock when Riku says that it's been eighteen months. Eighteen months. That's...well, a really long time, when he doesn't even feel like he's been away from the islands a full day.]

Er...doubles?

[No, no she did not mention that.

But right now, there's something that Sora's a lot more worried about.]

Wait, Riku, just forget about that for a second!

Look...I know it's been awhile for you, but it's only been a few hours since the islands got attacked for me. And, well...

[He hesitates, closing his eyes for just a second and trying to think.]

Well, I still don't really understand what happened.

[He doesn't even have to say that he needs help - that he's looking for answers. The look on his face does that well enough.]

[...He probably should have expected that. Not just the shock, but that particular question as well. He hesitates himself as he tries figure out what to say, because what happened to their Islands is simple and complicated at the same time... especially with his involvement. Which he doesn't want to talk about. But probably should anyways... it's better if Sora doesn't find out about that second hand.

Finally he sighs, walking up and past Sora to his room.]

...Come. This isn't a conversation for the hallway.

Awakening

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