maskormenace | 7th dawn → video

7th dawn → video

[Riku's face, when he appears on the network today, is a little exasperated, and a little apologetic. Behind him, something tiny and black moves, and he picks his hair up and away from it, pulling it over his shoulder for lack of anything else to do with it. A sharp-eyed observer will note that the black thing is a wing. It's small, but it's clearly a pointy, leathery bat wing. Presumably, there's a matching one.]

So... I guess I was ported out.

[His very first port-out after a year and a half. What a strange experience. Riku pauses. He's pretty sure he... owes some people an apology.]

Uh -- sorry. From what I can tell it hasn't been very long, though...? A day or so tops, I think. I saw Kagami made a post, so I thought I should clear things up.

[He's surprised you all panicked, honestly...]

I guess I should thank you all for worrying, though.

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The way I saw it is I'd have a job finally after being stuck in the house for two months with no powers.

[He then scoffs and snorts.]

So what happened while you were gone?

I took my Mark of Mastery exam. And --

[Riku stops short, stares at Kagami for a moment.]

I saw you, [he says slowly.] At least, I think it was you.

[Kagami's heart nearly stops when Riku says that, yet he scowls.]

... What? You're lying. You know what happened to me back in the castle.

I know. I know.

[Of course he knows.]

But... okay, the exam -- happened in a dream world. It -- it's basically the place worlds that fall to the darkness go, before they're restored. And when I was there... I saw someone who looked like me. Who else could that have been but you?

[He moves to the couch and grabs Riku's collar, obviously he's getting more angry.]

So then you killed me for nothing. I died only to come back to a dream world and have to see your stupid face again. I'm surprised I didn't smash your face into the ground when we saw each other.

Uh, technically, if I saw you there then you didn't die at all. It's not the 'dead people' world.

[And now commence the shouting.]

I faded out of existence, moron! You saw me and I felt it! You know what that feels like too! You can't just say I didn't die, because I did!

So who was it, then? It wasn't me, because I'm me.

Oh no, you're not doing that again. We had this conversation back in the castle and it ended with me fading away. [He's now just frustrated.] What I want to know is why would I even be there in the first place?

I don't know.

[He shrugs, then belatedly reaches up to loosen Kagami's fingers around his shirt collar.]

You were in a black coat, like the Organization wore.

[Okay that catches himself off guard and he now yanks himself off Riku as he falls backwards on the couch.]

What? Why? [This was too unreal.] Me with the Organization? I thought you took care of them.

I... yes, and no. Turns out the Organization's goal wasn't... quite what they'd told us it was. The Nobodies making up the Organization as we knew it weren't really the Organization at all. Just candidates for it.

What? Then... [If that's the case, is he now considered a candidate for their group?] Then what does that mean for me?

Then...

[Just say it, Riku.]

... they want you as a vessel for Xehanort's heart.

[So, he was going to be used again by the Organization. Typical. Of course it would happen to him.]

Tell me right now, who is Xehanort and what's going on. I refuse to be used by the Organization again. I won't be their puppet or tool anymore.

Xehanort is -- you remember Ansem? The man he was, before he was a Heartless. His heart is split into pieces, and Nobodies being the way they are, initially, means he could force them to accept a fragment with little effort. He's trying to force a prophecy to come true.

So Ansem or the guy who took over your body is the Heartless to this Xehanort guy. And to make some prophecy come true, he needs vessels? I think I'm starting to get it. But why me? I'm not even a real person, I'm a replica.

It doesn't matter. DiZ didn't think Nobodies were real people, either. All that matters is that you have a heart, or at least, a space made to hold one.

[Because, with the truth about Nobodies now -- the fact that even if they start off without hearts, they can grow one -- it doesn't matter whether you're real or not, it seems.]

You're a real person, anyway. Origins don't matter.

No, I'm not a real person. My heart isn't even real, so it's useless to Xehanort. He's wasting his time going after me as a vessel.

[That's what Kagami is convincing himself at least, he doesn't want to think he can be so easily used again as some tool or puppet.]

[He can hear the insistence in Kagami's voice -- that what Riku is telling him isn't true, that he's safe. That he won't be used for anything anymore. Riku decides then not to pursue it. That's the easiest thing. It doesn't matter, anyway. Not while they're here.]

You're probably right, [he says finally.]

[There's not only an insistence, but a frustration. He won't be used again. Never. He's done with the Organization having their fun with him. He even slams his fist against the back of the couch.]

I'll never be used again. I'm not a toy or plaything for anyone.

Of course not. I won't allow it.

[Pretend brothers or not, he's being genuine about this.]

... I know you and Sora would try to stop it, but what if Xehanort shows up here? I mean, I'm willing to fight him if I have to.

[He doesn't think of it as pretend, some part of him wants to think they can be like actual siblings.]

We'll all fight him, but -- I'm a Keyblade Master now. He and I are even. And I've got people to back me up, whereas he's only got himself.

[Suddenly his expression turns very serious.]

.... I want to be on even ground with him too. I want a Keyblade of my own, just like you and Sora have. How do I get one, Riku?

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