vatheon | Even cross-canon social links = baw

Entry tags:

Even cross-canon social links = baw

Who: Minato Arisato (

messianic) and Riku (

limitless_land)
Where: The park.
When: May 14th, shortly after this.
Style: Action because lazy.
Status: Closed.

[It hadn't been long after he asked Terra to be alone that he contacted him. After all, he was both a friend and someone in charge of the defense force--it was something that seemed logical, even with how everything else was seemingly falling apart around him. He can't even remember most of it other than feeling exhausted as hell right now, but that's something he hadn't said. May not due to the craziness of "oh, I found him but can't remember how I collapsed nearby soon after to find him like that again."

That part doesn't make sense at all.

So there he waits after hanging up, sitting on a bench with his head in hands. Just... admitting that much is a step for him, and a painful one at that. Especially since he's so introverted it hurts. What happened, and... did he do something to whoever did this?

He has no idea.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...

Minato hurried.

He's not one to hurry, but he hurried then, tossing his SFC into a pocket and stepping out immediately to find Riku. Because Riku is a friend in need, and he'd never hesitate then--he can mourn Katsu after, when things are steadier, because Katsu was his friend too--but he simply makes his way over.

And when he catches sight of the tell-tale light hair, he simply sighs and steps over to sit on the bench next to him, hands still in his pockets.

...]

Riku-san.

[Minato didn't really need to hurry; he would still be there regardless, because...

Kairi's gone, so going home and not sensing here there, waiting to tease him for some reason or another after finally opening up again is painful all on it's own. Something he's more than learned how to deal with. She'd gone home, after all--was safer there on the islands. Katsu's murder, on the other hand.

...

Death really wasn't something many from their worlds were accustomed to. Sure, they would each meet their ends in some way. Some would go to the Underworld, some would rejoin Kingdom Hearts. That's the way things went and neither way left a body behind.]

...Hey, Minato-san.

[He didn't even have to look up or hear the voice, but he does anyway. He's sorry about the bombshell he dropped, but at the same time... how does he say that?]

Thanks for coming.

[He merely nods quietly, sitting equally quietly for a moment. His response comes easily at that, a simple truth of the universe--]

I'll always come.

[Whenever a friend needs him.

But...He can't just leave it like this. It isn't an awkward silence, per se, but he knows Riku is hurting, and while he can't fix it, he came here to at least help him--]

How are you doing?

[He won't ask 'are you okay?']

[He doesn't say anything to that first sentence, but he does appreciate it. '"Always," huh.' Part of him wondered if that was because of their mutual friend- No, even with the strange aura his friend's heart gave off, he wasn't that kind of person. How did he manage to find even a few good friends in the first place?

It takes a lot of willpower not to lie and say 'I'm fine' when he obviously isn't.]

...Better than I was an hour ago. [He sighs, looking up.] How about you?

[...He appreciates the honesty. He wasn't sure if he was expecting it, but it means a good deal to him.

The first step towards ~~ranking up~~ making progress in helping Riku.

...But he wasn't expecting the concern for him at all. A blink.]

Ah. I'm alright, Riku-san. Don't worry about me.

[Yes, Katsu is his friend. Yes, his death hurts, but he'll worry about that later. Because here and now, Riku needs him to be strong.]

You and Katsu-kun are close, aren't you?

[Are, not were.]

[It was better than pushing the other away, which was almost second nature to him. Also, deal with it. Because he knows that you two are friends and he's just the kind of guy to put other's pain over his own when not being an envious jerk.

Riku raises an eyebrow before shaking his head. Everytime someone said 'don't worry' always made him worry more, even if he doesn't show it often. He appreciates the use of present tense, at least.]

...Heh. You could say that. [Or the SFC could. Stupid thing... Was it really that obvious, otherwise?]

[To say 'don't worry' was the natural response for Minato, of course. He appreciated his friend's concern for him, but he was always okay. It was simply part of who he was.

But he nodded at that, unassuming, merely wanting to be there for whatever Riku was willing to talk about.]

...Do you know what happened?

[And are you willing to talk about it?]

[Guess he's just lucky in that, since Riku rarely is. But then, that's where his strengths lie even if he doubts them at times. After all, who ever heard of a future Keyblade master whose skills resided in darkness? It just doesn't happen without them going insane or crossing the point of no return. And now, with grief and helplessness fueling it...

Well, there'd been a reason it took him a while to contact anyone. He needed to get it out of his system before he ended up hurting someone else on accident.

He shakes his head.] I remember sensing something off... His aura began dimming- [No, no he wasn't going to mention that he'd been keeping a close 'eye' on it with Kairi vanishing from the city entirely and in the directory again. Wasn't helping his emotional state, either.] -so I followed the traces.

I don't remember what happened between stepping into the forest and waking up, but I think I might have attacked them... [Serves them right, he thought- no, that was his darkness. He knows what happens when the darkness consumes a person-]

[...Ah.

Harming people...is never an okay thing, but that's not what he's here to focus on. Minato has kept company with embezzlers, alcoholics, everything possible. Because he is not there to pass judgement.

He has never been there for that.

So he just nods quietly, and it might be repetitive, but he's asking a different question this time, though the words are the same. His hand reaches for Riku's quietly, and his gaze is steady as he looks at him and--]

Are you alright, Riku-san?

[There is something beyond Katsu's death that's bothering him here, and he wants to help. But he can't if he does not know, so he simply continues quietly:]

What happened happened, and while we can't change the past...we can definitely change the future. Can't we?

[No, no it wasn't an okay thing. Hell, he'd avoid most of it if he could after all that's happened. Still, there were people he had to protect both here and back in his own worlds. Others who were counting on him to do so, even if he had to go it alone some of the time. He sighs under his breath, because while he can get that the way he does it isn't acceptable in some worlds, it was kill or be killed in his and the ones in the shadows weren't so keen on 'changing their ways' like he did. He didn't mind, no. Yet not having to face things alone, like right now... It could be a little overwhelming.

Especially for someone who was once so headstrong he didn't... couldn't accept help from his own best friend before.]

...Heh. [He smirks faintly, tucking his chin only a fraction closer to his chest. He isn't certain whether he is or not, so he'll wait to answer the repetition a little longer. As for the other question?]

I wouldn't be here if the future couldn't be changed. [It was as simple as that. The fact it's a miracle he's himself after all he did isn't lost to him, nor is his power regardless of the price.] ...A lot's happened at once, but I can manage it. There are others counting on me, after all.

[He doesn't want to burden anyone with too much, because he knows his life would be impossible to handle for many others. That's why it's his alone, just like the path he chose.]

[He gets that, he really does--the not wanting to burden others, the desire to take everything on his own shoulders so that nobody else has to deal with it. He understands, because he is the same way, because people are counting on him and people need him to be that way.

...But Riku is counting on him here.

And Minato isn't 'others'. So his tone is quiet as he looks at Riku, level-headed, calm.]

Just because they're counting on you doesn't mean you can't lean on someone, sometimes.

[He offers the faintest of smiles, shaking his head.]

You don't always have to be alone. That's what we're here for. That's what I'm here for.

[That is why he came all this way so quickly the moment Riku left that message on his SFC. Because regardless of what happened and what he could do, Riku should never, ever have to be alone.

And so, even more quietly--]

You're not alone.

[He's heard it all before, that he can lean on others instead of taking it all on his own. The thing is, it's what he's used to. Because it meant that he could stop and think before acting, and he really can't afford to do otherwise anymore.

However, the calm tone; the sincerity is enough to at least begin poking him out of that state.]

Sometimes I wonder... ['Just what have I done to deserve such good friends?'

He lowers his head slightly, chuckling despite himself. In the end, he nods. That's right... He never really is, is he.]

...Thanks, Minato-san.

[> Despite his aloof and distant response, you feel like your relationship with Riku has grown stronger...]
[> ...?!]
[> A mysterious voice rings in your head...]

Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou shalt have our blessing when
thou choosest to create a Persona
of the Chariot Arcana...
At least, were it possible in where
thou hast found thyself...

[Ah. Sometimes, he's happy the voices never really go away.

At least he knows that maybe, just maybe, he's actually helping.

So he offers a faint smile at that.]

Nothing to thank me for. That's what friends are for.

[And he means that sincerely--that's what he is there for. Always. But for now, he thinks that maybe it couldn't hurt to just spend some time with Riku. To make sure he's okay.

> You spend the rest of the afternoon with Riku...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Even cross-canon social links = baw

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/late as always orz

you are beautiful and perfectly on time