witchesreign | 001 ♡ [action]

Entry tags:

001 ♡ [action]

[ Making their way from the Garden Lobby to the Fisherman's Horizon inn are a boy and a girl, each with a course catalog tucked under their arms and matching confused faces. Their bodies are turned into each other slightly, enough to let onlookers know that they're friends. The girl's eyes keep darting about, whether in amazement or sheer surprise is difficult to tell. The boy looks warier, shoulders hunched, stooping like a silver gargoyle over his companion. At some points, the girl rushes into the fancy shops, leaving the boy alone on the street, his eyes snagging on every pooled shadow.

They're probably going to get epically lost. Help them out?

ooc: Feel free to tag either one or both of them--no guarantee Bun and I will be on at the same time, sadly. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There are docks nearby, if those are suitable. We will not be eavesdropped on as readily, but it is also still in the open.

[He himself is on edge, but more because he isn't sure what to expect from them. They're different from their data entries. It's... confusing.]

[Riku looks over to her and nods when he feels her hand on his arm, understanding what the motion had meant and trying to reassure her. But unlike her, Riku can distinguish between Sora and this dark form, especially when it's certainly not sounding like Sora.]

That's fine. [His voice is cool and he nods to the Heartless to take the lead. He's just hoping that he isn't going to regret this later.] Lead the way.

[ She follows along, trying to keep her movement relaxed. They're just three friends, walking along...of course, the black shape leading the way is just a grotesque imitation of her real best friend. At least, that's what she tells herself, but then--she'd seen Sora as a Heartless. She'd held him in her arms and willed him back into his true shape. Who knew, maybe there was more than a superficial connection between this Heartless and Sora.

As they came upon the docks, heralded by the sharp cry of gulls, the smell of the ocean hit her full-on, reminding her of home, only dirtier. Making sure to stay close to Riku, she turned towards the Heartless. ]

Well? What have you got to say?

[Once they're at the docks, he'll step completely out of Keyblade distance--just in case. He's survived this long for a reason.]

I am unsure if you have deduced this, but I am not Sora. However, I am using his designation within the Garden as it is the only thing close to a designation I was given.

[He'll shuffle uncomfortably, looking down at his own reflection through the corner of his eyes--not that they could tell, since said eyes are solid gold.]

Yes. I am a Heartless. However, as I have already told Aerith, I have not once devoured a human heart. Wild animals, yes, but nothing human. In fact, until coming to this world, I was nothing more than intelligent and evolved data within Jiminy's Journal. I am not Sora--at least, not the one you know.

[Honesty is what might save him, he tells himself. Perhaps it's true. There are moments he is unsure of that. But that's besides the point. All available data shows that honest is likely to get him further and keep him alive longer.]

[Riku keeps his face neutral as best he can while listening, keeping himself just beside and a step in front of Kairi as a precaution. Although he can't help but narrow them at the explanation of the Heartless's name. Even if he had good behaviour, he didn't want his best friend's name ruined because of a mistake someone else made.

Not to mention most of this explanation the Heartless had just brought up more questions for him. What did he mean by data? Could he be one of those Heartless Sora's he made over a year ago?]

You aren't Sora. Sora's Heartless wouldn't be this eloquent. [He pauses, eyes narrowing further.] Did someone make you then?

You can't just...use someone else's name like that!

[ Especially not Sora's. Kairi's of a mind with Riku on that one--if the real Sora ever appeared, they couldn't have two boys running around wearing his name. Still, she drops it in favor of following Riku's interest. ]

Right--what did you mean, 'data'? Like in a computer?

As I have stated, it is the only thing I have. My designation is Sora's Heartless, and I think you can see how Heartless wouldn't work as any sort of designation.

[...Oh boy. He's going to have to explain a lot and... Leave out a few details. Like how he was in the process of deleting the datascape. How to word this...]

...To put it simply: I am the journal entry within Jiminy's Journal over Sora's Heartless. Through time and glitches, I was able to gain awareness and my own sense of self, evolving into what you see before you.

Then pick another name. [It came out colder than he wanted too, but having been in a situation where someone was given his identity, he wasn't pleased that this was happening to Sora.] You want to be different from Sora? Prove it and make a new identity for yourself.

[And here comes the eyebrow rise. They've seen a lot of weird things, but this didn't make sense.] A journal entry? Last time I checked, journal entries were sentient.

Yeah--you should pick a name of your own, instead of using Sora's.

[ She's more confident now, with Riku to rely on. ] How does a journal page turn into data in the first place, anyway?

If you don't like it, perhaps you should come up with a name.

[And, well, great. And answer he doesn't have.]

I don't know how or why I am sentient. As for how it became data... Thank the King for that one.

No. That's something for you to decide. I don't like you using his name, Heartless, but I'm not about to name you either.

[His jaw tightens and he balls his hands into fists. First Sora, now the King? Well, Heartless, you're all the sore spots today aren't you?] What does Mickey have to do with it?

[ Kairi decides to remain silent for the time being--Riku's getting angrier by the minute, and she's out of her depth. She doesn't know Mickey much at all, besides a few minutes on the beach and his letter. ]

Then I'll simply keep my designation as Sora.

[He'll just grin and relax--hands behind head in a very Sora-like move. Is he doing it on purpose? Perhaps.]

He had the entire journal transformed into computer data in order to work out what was going on with it--to try and restore it to how it was.

[GLA-RING. But Riku doesn't move an inch. Even if the Heartless was asking for it, he's not about to initiate a brawl while he doesn't have the Keyblade.] What should happen if the real Sora arrives like we did though? You're not the real Sora. You're just a pathetic Heartless imitation.

[Maybe that's what Kairi was referencing before with the letter?] Mickey was looking for answers. You're just an unwanted byproduct.

Riku. [ She puts a hand on his bicep, as if she could physically hold him down and keep his temper in check. She can't, obviously, but she can try. She turns to Heartless. ] If you're that keen on keeping Sora's name, I can give you a new one.

[Anger flares. He clenches a fist, and for a moment, there's a strange pulsing to the air--it fluctuates and bends, like something's about to happen. But then he calms himself, and grins rather wickedly.]

Though I am an imitation, I would hardly say that I am pathetic. But if you must give me a new designation, then so be it.

[Although she might not be able to physically hold him back, that touch does just enough for Riku. He looks over at her and eases after sighing, letting go of his fists and shoving his hands into his pockets, trying not to glare at that grin.]

It's your call, Kairi.

What about...

[ She pauses for a moment, afraid the Heartless is going to reject it outright. ]

...'Ardos'. It's 'Sora', plus a D.

[ For 'darkness', but anyone with half a brain cell can figure that out. ]

...This will do.

[He doesn't mind. A name is a name. Having his own is convenient. That's all.]

[Still is Sora's name, and it makes him inwardly grimace. But the chances of anyone putting two and two together at this rate and point in time are slim to none.]

Alright. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about or are we done?

[ She figured the golden-eyed creature wouldn't want something too far removed from his current identity, so... She gives Riku an apologetic look. ]

Riku and I need to get settled in.

I've not caused any trouble. Don't worry about me. I'm not stupid enough to give up my safety for the sake of eating a heart.

[He's going to make this much clear before they part. Maybe then they won't bother him too much.]

So long as I am allowed to go about my business of data absorption, then I will not bother either of you.

[Given the level of intelligence that he's displaying, Riku's fairly sure that he can trust him on that.]

So long as that's not code for eating a heart or touching one, then fine.

[He turns around, holding one arm out in front of Kairi as a gesture to leave.]

We're not worried. Just...stay out of trouble, okay?

[ It's incredibly how motherly Kairi sounds in that moment, especially in contrast to Riku's harder edge. She accepts Riku's cue, though, and slowly leads the way back up the boardwalk into town. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 ♡ [action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject