24 - voice;

[stilldontgotit]

[Private]

I've been slacking. Just goofing off won't get me any closer to that Keyblade. And this "dawn"... It has something to do with darkness, but it isn't the same.

Dawn comes before day. So... heh. Why didn't I think of it before?

[/Private]

[Riku's speech seems...almost nasally. But that's what happens when you goof off in the snow and wind up totally drenched.]

Sora's been kidnapped again. Figures it would happen eventually... the Malnosso just don't know when to quit.

[and there's a pause]

But I wonder what they're up to. I can't be the only one who got a letter. This better be some kind of sick joke.

[Kairi]

Hey. You get one too?

[/Kairi]


[Xion]

Feeling any better?

[/Xion]

Comments

[fourteen]

Yeah ... you do.

[ she paaaauses, then gives a quiet sigh ] I mean, my friends are here, and I like the new people I've met, too. It just feels wrong to ignore it ... I might go watch, I think, and just see what happens. No one can stop me from doing that, right? It couldn't hurt.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying you can't, Xion. In the end it's up to you.

But I think it'd be best to wait and see what does happen.

[fourteen]

No, I ... I had to make a decision like this once before. Back then it was pretty clear. But now ... now, it's really not the same. So it couldn't hurt to wait.

If it really is a trick, though ... it's pretty cruel.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

I guess it's none of my business what that decision is, so I won't bug you about it.

Worse things have happened here, I think. We've been told to kill off people we know before.

[fourteen]

... [ a tiny laugh ] It's weird. I mean, you were the one who helped me make that decision... in your future, that is. I don't mind telling you, one day, if you want to know.

--what?! But ... no one could have really done that! Could they?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

I'm up to it, but only if you are.

Most people didn't, so the Malnosso took it into their own hands.

[fourteen]

[ wait wait wait. I'm sorry I am too horrified by this idea to continue. ]

They ... they what?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

They took matters into their own hands. Luckily death's only temporary here.

[fourteen]

... that's terrible.

[ she's quiet, for a bit, thinking. ]

Was that the first time they ever did something like that?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

I'm probably not the right guy to ask, but I think it was a one time deal. See, people here were possessed by some kind of spirits, and the Malnosso weren't exactly happy about it.

[fourteen]

... spirits? You mean the spirits who control that other kind of magic here? That's weird ... then again, I guess weird is kind of normal, for this place.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Like I said, I thin that was the only time. Even Kairi got possessed, and she couldn't even talk like that.

But experiments happen just about every month.

[fourteen]

...

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Xion?

[fourteen]

I don't like this place, Riku. There's something all wrong about it. If all of my friends weren't here ... I think I'd definitely try the gate, trick or not.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

... I shouldn't have said anything. Whatever did happen then's in the past now, so you don't have to worry about it.

I've been here seven months and nothing's been that bad since. Still, I can see why you'd leave.

[fourteen]

Well, let's put it this way. I didn't think I'd ever meet anyone as bad as the Organization, but the Malnosso are worse.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Can't say I disagree with you. Still, sometimes you have to make do with what you've got.

And it's like you said, you've got your friends here. Roxas can't go back-- not without merging, and as for Axel... I really have no idea, but all I can say is enjoy it while you can.

[fourteen]

[ kind of surprised ]

Riku, you're my friend too.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Heh. Really?

[fourteen]

Of course!

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

Guess it's Roxas... He doesn't exactly think highly of me. I don't really care what he thinks, but you are one of his friends, too.

[fourteen]

[ with an obvious frown in her voice ]

I know what he thinks. And I know you don't like him either. But you're both my friends, and that's that. [ /very stubborn ]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Didn't say we weren't.

At least you're not letting his opinion affect yours. Chances are he won't be happy about us being even close to friends.

That's how bad it is between us.

[fourteen]

[ sulky ]

I don't care if he's happy about it or not.

[ totally cares, actually ]