stilldontgotit | 38 - voice/action;

[There's something seriously ironic when your friends get kidnapped again and again and you yourself have not... in almost two years.

So, today, as Riku flips through the journal, he takes a moment to speak.]

You know, I've been here for almost two years, and I've never been kidnapped. It's happened to my friends a few times, probably most of the village too... But it's pretty weird.

Anyone else in the same boat? And if not, how long did it take them to get you?

[Hmm... With that taken care of, he tosses up a quick filter.]

Filtered to Terra//100% Unhackable

Hey. You doing okay?

[A little later, he leaves the house, heading out to the Battle Dome. Once there, he sets up the simulation in a strange area full of floating stones and rushing waterfalls. Several different Heartless appear in large numbers.

At first the fight isn't too hard; he's dealt with Heartless before, after all. However, as the fight progresses and the Heartless increase in number, it becomes a bit harder to dodge all of them. One of the Wyverns swoops down from above with its talons at the ready, and Riku has little time to react.

So, without even thinking, he steps back, as darkness envelopes his body. He reappears right behind the Wyvern and has little time to consider what just happened. Instead, he blasts a thundaga spell to finish the beast.

A few minutes pass, and he leaves the battle dome. For the next few hours, passers by can expect to see him opening up dark corridors to test the waters. It's true that he's held back a little with his darkness, but the fact that the portals work again is enough to merit some experimentation. He'll be all over the place within the village and forest. ]

[ooc: Mods okayed the use of dark corridors a while ago, but I never got around to an IC discovery of them on Riku's behalf, so here we go.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Totally not fair. It's a little later that Terra shows up, and he takes a good look at Riku as he approaches.]

...Definitely a long time since then. [He muses aloud.]

[And Terra looks exactly the way he remembers him... Heh.

Riku tucks his hands in his pockets and steps away from the fountain.]

Like I said, it's been more than ten years.

I think part of me needed to see you with my own eyes to believe it. [But he smiles easily at his 'successor.'] So you've been here for two years?

Just about.

[He shrugs.]

Next month, I'll hit the two-year mark. Kind of hard to believe...

You've probably picked up a few stories in that time. [pause] Or maybe we should start with what went on outside of this place.

[Hoo boy. He really should tell Terra about that, but where to start?

He's had a rough journey, but... he can't just hide it from him.]

Probably a good idea. It's... pretty complicated, though.

I think I'd be surprised if you said the last ten years have been boring.

Might want to sit down, then. This could take a while.

[They could always go locate a bench... Hm.]

[Terra nods, looking around at the benches near the fountain. He gestures to a nearby one, but is quick to comment before taking a seat.]

I'm reserving the right to call a lunch break if this takes too long.

[He's really not expecting anything dramatic. Riku's home world had looked pretty peaceful.]

Last thing I'd want is for you to go hungry.

[He smirks, turning towards the benches.]

C'mon.

[With a smirk of his own, Terra follows closely after Riku.]

So let's start with your age. How old are you now?

Well, I would be seventeen if I hadn't been sent back home.

[He shakes his head, taking a seat on the bench.]

But right now... I'd say around sixteen.