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[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

[One moment he and Isa'd just been thrown out of King Ansem's castle; the next, he was here, and Lea had barely had time to look around before he'd been caught up in a whirlwind of explanations and ended up -- well, here.

Garden something? Seed something? His head had been spinning by the second sentence, but he definitely caught the bit where they told him there was no way to get home.

After that it had mostly been nodding and smiling and waiting until they let him out to explore the 'garden' he'd be stuck in. He doesn't know what to think about any of this: being here, being stuck, and worst of all, having left Isa behind.

Isa is going to kill him. When he gets back, which he is definitely going to figure out how to do. They've got plans, after all.

He's just got to figure this place out first. And find someone to explain it in smaller paragraphs that make more freaking sense.

So this afternoon there's a skinny teenager with spiky red hair sticking his nose in absolutely everywhere that isn't locked: the lobby, library, cafeteria, dorms, quad.... If you happen to be there, he may pounce!]

Comments

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[Well Riku was planning on grabbing something to eat in the cafeteria, just a sandwich and a drink, when he does catch sight of a familiar hairstyle.

He stops in his tracks, just watching Lea for a minute... or five. It looks like an Axel. Who knows if he talks like an Axel. But he sure wasn't as tall as the Nobody, and Riku didn't think that he would wear something like that.]

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

[Lea's halfway through downing the hamburger and giant heap of fries on his plate when he gets the creepy feeling that somebody's staring at him. He glances up. Silver-haired guy, bright green eyes, definitely a stare. He waves.]

Hey! What's the look for, man? There's an extra seat over here if you wanna say something to me!

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[Definitely sounds like an Axel, though something is off. Too happy and cheery. It couldn't be another younger clone of the Nobody could it.

Riku heads on over, expression not changing and grabs the seat near Lea. It is rude to stare after all.]

You new here?

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

First day. I'm still learning the ropes. [For his next trick, the Amazing Lea will stuff four french fries in his mouth at the same time and still talk clearly.

Sort of clearly, anyway.] I'm Lea! What about you? And you didn't tell me what the weird look was all about.

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

You're taking this awfully well for your first day. [Riku takes a bite out of his own sandwich.

It takes a lot for Riku not to raise an eyebrow at his name. Staring was bad enough earlier.] Riku. And sorry about that. You just look a lot like someone I met once.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

I was hungry. This is pretty good food for a cafeteria! [He shrugs, glancing away and letting the smile drop for a minute.] Sure it's freaky, but yelling at people isn't gonna get us home any faster, right?

Who's the guy I look like? Somebody around here?

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

Got to have good food when you're housing a bunch of castaways and foreigners. And no, it's probably not going to help us at all, but we have to keep trying new ways to get back.

[A faint, faint smirk on his lips. This is all you're going to get out of him, Lea.] Yeah, he's around here. I'm sure you'll run into each other soon enough.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

Fine, be all mysterious about it. [Making a note to himself to look for spiky red hair. Whoever he is, he couldn't look like Lea without that.

He grabs another handful of french fries, finishing them off before he smirks at Riku.] Just give me the heads up if screaming and yelling'll work. I can do that.

What've people tried so far?

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[He can't help but lightly chuckle at that.] Sorry. Force of habit.

To be honest, I'm not too sure. But knowing that people have been here for a year already, they've probably tried a lot of things already.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

I ought to ask around a bit. I mean, somebody's got to have more of a clue than I do.

How long've you been here, Riku?

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you'll probably find some clues. [Or not. What kind of clues are there when you've been here for a year?]

About a month, give or take a bit.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

It can't hurt, right? [Lea attacks his hamburger, falling silent for a bit.]

... There's gotta be some way to get home. We just have to figure it out.

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

Nah. We've always got to keep trying. [Man, it's kinda nice to have a little mini Axel be so positive and easy to talk to.]

Where you from anyways? Your world.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly!

I'm from Radiant Garden. What about you, Riku?

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[That almost phased his cool attitude. He was kind of sure that Radiant Garden wasn't around anymore, although he missing a few key details.]

Somewhere else. It's called Destiny Islands.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

[Lea misses Riku's reaction, what there was of it, thanks to a giant bite of hamburger. He nods, chewing.]

Islands, huh? That's cool! I've never been to the seaside.

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

It's pretty nice, and fun. You should go and visit if you have the chance.

[A pause and he takes a bite out of his sandwich.] There actually was a trip recently for the students here. A weekend at the beach.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

And I missed it? Man. [Making a face.] That time compression thing has crummy timing.

I guess there's some time left before classes start to check it out, though!

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[Chuckles and finishes off his sandwich.] Sorry. Maybe next time.

Well, I guess you could. I'm not sure who exactly was organizing it, so you might have to ask around a bit.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

Are we allowed to visit the town on our own, or do we have to go with a group or something? I thought I'd just head out.

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure you're allowed to. I'd just watch out for the locals. They're not physically hostile, but they don't take well to a lot of physical differences.

[Like his hair. He's still kinda hung up on that.]

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I heard something about that. They've got issues about people having any kind of weird power, right?

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

Just about, or anything that is foreign to them at all. I've gotten looks and comments on my hair before, and I know I'm not the only one.

[vestigiaflammae.livejournal.com]

[One hand goes to the back of Lea's head. Yeah, okay, he hasn't seen a lot of people around here with hair like his. Spikes must be out of fashion this year.]

They're just jealous. [Leaning back, chair wobbling on two legs, and crossing his arms.] And my hair's cooler than yours, so I bet I get twice as many looks.

[...he can take funny looks, anyway. As long as he doesn't have to worry about getting beaten up in an alley or something.]

[betweenpaths.livejournal.com]

[Riku snorts a laugh and moves to get up from his chair.]

Not sure if jealous is the right word. But if you're fine with getting stared at, by all means.

Besides, I've got a friend who could beat you at in spiky hair department any day.