![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Race against the clock
Who: Terra and Riku
Where: the edge of the Forest Quadrant, then the Clinic
When: Backdated to just after this log wraps up
Style: Initial entry written as prose, but Action
Status: Closed
Warnings:... um... KH is suffering? Seriously, darkness, worry, grieving/breaking down emotionally, and other things as they come up.
It had already a difficult couple of weeks so far; Terra hadn't needed those last frayed nerves being hit right on the bulls-eye. Between Aqua's departure, Minnie's departure (thank goodness she had returned; any longer, and Mickey would've keeled over from exhaustion) and the news about Master Eraqus's impending death (that had been accompanied by a very vivid blow-by-blow vision) and the resulting near-breakdown that followed, he was exhausted mentally. But Ven's Light had disappeared, which had only further eaten at him, sending him on yet another man-hunt throughout Vatheon, even though he already knew in his Heart that his other best friend was no longer here.
That surge of Darkness had been the last thing that his nerves had needed. It knocked the air out of his lungs and stopped him cold. "Riku--"
That Darkness that was so like his own, yet at the same time wasn't, was laced with rage and grief, and it wasn't letting up. It pulsed, and then steadied, as if--
'He's... he's using it?' Not just using it; no, disaster had just happened, and the emotions feeding this Darkness were overwhelming his apprentice, giving it more strength. Alarm bells started going off, and Terra's mind quickly became filled with panic and worry. Not wanting to waste any time--for all he knew, Riku needed help--he called his Keyblade, and then not even a second later his Glider. If he followed the path that the pain was tugging him along, he'd find Riku.
'Please don't let me be too late...'
Where: the edge of the Forest Quadrant, then the Clinic
When: Backdated to just after this log wraps up
Style: Initial entry written as prose, but Action
Status: Closed
Warnings:
It had already a difficult couple of weeks so far; Terra hadn't needed those last frayed nerves being hit right on the bulls-eye. Between Aqua's departure, Minnie's departure (thank goodness she had returned; any longer, and Mickey would've keeled over from exhaustion) and the news about Master Eraqus's impending death (that had been accompanied by a very vivid blow-by-blow vision) and the resulting near-breakdown that followed, he was exhausted mentally. But Ven's Light had disappeared, which had only further eaten at him, sending him on yet another man-hunt throughout Vatheon, even though he already knew in his Heart that his other best friend was no longer here.
That surge of Darkness had been the last thing that his nerves had needed. It knocked the air out of his lungs and stopped him cold. "Riku--"
That Darkness that was so like his own, yet at the same time wasn't, was laced with rage and grief, and it wasn't letting up. It pulsed, and then steadied, as if--
'He's... he's using it?' Not just using it; no, disaster had just happened, and the emotions feeding this Darkness were overwhelming his apprentice, giving it more strength. Alarm bells started going off, and Terra's mind quickly became filled with panic and worry. Not wanting to waste any time--for all he knew, Riku needed help--he called his Keyblade, and then not even a second later his Glider. If he followed the path that the pain was tugging him along, he'd find Riku.
'Please don't let me be too late...'
no subject
Everything was a blur, as the fog finally lifted over his mind--as he calmed himself. What had just... happened?
At first all he could numbly do is stare at Soul Eater in his hand before he dismissed it, shakily getting to his feet and looking around in a daze. This scent- Had he lost control? ...but then he saw whose body it was that lay nearby, didn't smell any of his own darkness on him that couldn't have happened just from being a pillow.
He was drained, and yet he knelt down beside his boyfriend and brushed the blue hair from his face before closing his eyes. He...he needed to get him somewhere. Anywhere but here in the dark-tainted forest. Thus, Riku slowly picked him up after doing the basics of crime scene investigating. If the others wanted to check it out, then fine. They could. Right now though, he couldn't bear to see this anymore.
Hood down, shoulders shaking a little as he walked with the extra weight in his arms, he began the walk out of the forest. It...wasn't long before he heard the sound of a Glider either. Looking up, he almost panicked before he recognized the scent.
'Master Terra...' How could he face him, when he... he couldn't even...
The young Keyblade wielder fell to his knees, still cradling Katsu's form in his arms as the entire thing finally hit him like a ton of bricks. 'Death isn't permanent here. Don't worry, d-don't...'
He couldn't look up when the sound or presence came even closer.]
no subject
['He's okay! So why did his Darkness spike like that?' After closing in for a landing and sliding to a stop, the full scene hits him even harder than the spike of grief-driven Darkness had been.]
That was... the boy that he and Mickey had been teasing Riku about. Katsu. Who was now very clearly not among the living anymore.
His mind wouldn't stop racing. What could have happened? How? Why? What enemies could the boy have that would warrant... this?
His tone comes out quiet, rougher, laced with the horror at the sight, and regret over not making it here sooner. But... there's not even a hint of accusation, of disappointment.] Riku... what happened?
no subject
Third. He had a terrible, terrible headache just trying to think about it and the tears were beginning to fall. He'd done all he could, but in the end... he'd arrived here too late, too.]
I don't know... I... I sensed his presence dimming, raced here, and...
[-nothing. His muscles say that he put far too much power into his swings--he was still sore from that--but he couldn't remember who or what had caused it... yet the fact that Terra didn't seem to accuse him of wrongdoing like so many others would have is a little bit of a relief.
Yet he can't look up, or show his face. He's almost afraid that if he does look up, his eyes will be yellow like Xehanort's...]
no subject
['I was too late... and so were you, weren't you? You saw it happen. That's what the spike I felt was.' It made the most amount of sense to him.
He takes in what detail he can stomach of the heartbreaking scene in front of him. The wounds... blood on Riku's hands...
Despite the anger that had started to well up at the thought of someone callously murdering someone and striking his apprentice where it would hurt the most, there's grim satisfaction and pride bubbling up as well.] ... I know that as your Master, I shouldn't be saying something like this, but... I'm glad that whoever did this paid the price for their actions.
[You can be shocked about this later, Riku. Terra's closing the remaining gap and kneeling in front of you.] Where are you taking him? I'll come with you.
['You shouldn't be alone. Not now. Not like this.']
no subject
Yet nothing came, not for a moment until those words leave Terra's mouth. It leaves him perplexed, mind trying to wrap around it while his heart was filled with grief and loss. He'd never been that great at following his heart consciously. 'G-glad...? How can he say that?'
Despite himself, his fears, he looks up, eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill over. It's hard to look up, with the guilt shining through as well. If he still had access to the corridors of darkness... No. He couldn't think like that, couldn't fall into the same pit of despair that it took someone he'd begun to see as a younger sister to pull him out of.]
...I just didn't want anyone else hurt, even if it's temporary here. ['It still hurts...' and that's what the one who'd done this deserves. At least, that's what the anger in him said... Not exactly thinking clearly right now. Yet... he knew he had to take him to the nurses. Let the others handle the investigation and answer for what he himself did later.]
...The nurses. They'd... find him here later anyway, but... I can't just--
[He can't finish the sentence.]
no subject
[The clinic... he roughly knew where that was, but carrying two additional people on his Glider to hasten the trip would be more than uncomfortable. But he doubted that Riku would want to linger here for much longer.
He stands, and in one seemless motion, turns, summons Ends of the Earth, and holds the blade up with the blade parallel to the ground, the prongs pointed perpendicularly. Light gathers at the tip, before forming a beam that shoots forward and meets some point in space a few feet away from them. An almost inaudible 'click' is heard, along with the faintest outline of a keyhole, and what appears to be a Light-construct very similar to a Corridor of Darkness finishes forming.
Without turning back around, Terra lowers his arm and dismisses his Keyblade.] That should get us there. You first.
no subject
It's light.
It's a corridor.
... How.
In his time, the only way via corridor anyone he knew used was darkness, aside from the Door to the Light. He had no idea what Mickey used, and his time in darkness caused him to pick up corridors of them with ease until recently. This, he repeats mentally to himself: How?
Congratulations, Terra. You may have just moved Riku into a state between grief and pure shock. Did someone take his brain with that piece of his heart that the seed was trapped within?
He can't say a word, only stand with the limp form still cradled in his shaking arms before walking through it. He at least trusts his Master that much...
... ... ...
It isn't long before Katsu's body has been taken into the care of the nurses, and while he hates trusting them with someone he loves, he'll let himself be dragged away...]
no subject
Another thing he'll have teach Riku, once lessons actually start.
He follows through, and waits outside the clinic for Riku to return. As he waits, he frowns, trying to think of what to do next. Whoever had done this was likely long gone by now, hiding and recuperating from whatever wounds Riku had managed to inflict on him or her.
Recalling the sheer amount of Darkness that he had sensed, he settles on a course of action that (hopefully) will not only be beneficial to Riku, but to himself.
Hopefully.
When his apprentice finally returns outside, Terra is quick to turn, a destination clearly in mind.] Follow me.
[What could Terra be plotting...?]
no subject
He blinks at the command, but doesn't think twice about it. After all, it was his Master and friend...
But he couldn't help but be curious.] Where are we going?
no subject
Given how fights between Keybearers tended to go, even if they were just practicing or venting,... the island on the surface it was, then. A sharp turn as he heads for the elevator, and he frowns slightly unseen, trying to think of how to explain it so that Riku would understand.
Well, explain without sounding crazy. It was harder, considering he was still learning how to handle his own Darkness.] ... It's hard to think right now, right? Your emotions are threatening to overwhelm you. It's... hard to maintain control?
[It was hard enough just guessing based on what Terra knew of how he acted when everything was threatening to spill out.] It's hard to think like that. Our friends have it easy; they can follow their hearts without much issue. People like us... we need to be able to think before we act, and we can't do that when our emotions are in the way.
[Fighting is probably the last thing he wants to do. It's not really on the top of my list, either.' But all that Darkness...
'It needs to be let out.'
It ran against everything Master Eraqus taught him; Darkness had to be contained, it couldn't be let loose in your Heart. But that didn't work.] If you bottle up all that Darkness, you might lash out at someone on accident. It's better to get it out, so you can think more clearly.
['So he can grieve without it overwhelming him.' Bottling it up never helped, but neither did having it overpower you.]
no subject
[He'd let his guard down, and he should have known better than to do so in the first place regardless of how this world was. After all, he knew better than most what could happen if it happens for even one second. What's scary, though? ...Most of it is still there, trapped deep within him in a place not many could even dream of reaching.]
It's... a little easier now, but still. [He hesitates to say it out loud, so his gaze says it for him. 'I could snap again. I spent all this time, learning how to tame it on my own and this happened...'
That's what worries him. Not even mentioning what would have happened if he didn't have as much control of his darkness like he did.
'He's right, but at the same time... I know I can neutralize it with the strong light I know still exists along with it. Maybe if both happens, I can...'
He's so lost in thought, he doesn't realize where Terra is leading him.]