Voicemail / IC Contact

[boundbynaught]

My name is Cadence.
I'm busy right now, otherwise I'd have answered.
Texts, audio, or video - I don't mind.
When I get the chance, I'll call you back.
[Changed on 6/2 in-game]

From 3/26-6/2 in-game days the message was:
[ Rep hasn't actually set this thing up yet, but you're more than welcome to leave him a message and he'll answer after he sorts out how to work the darn thing. ]

Comments

[boundbynaught]

[A solid weight drops into the pit of his stomach, but not because he's immediately resistant to Riku and Edmund knowing each other or living together - he knew they knew each other from his very first conversation with Edmund.

It's that this adds yet another complication into his own decision.]

I...

[Geez, where to begin? He can't dawdle too long or Riku will get the wrong idea!]

I think that's kind of funny, actually. I um... Nico asked me about the same thing.

[He's fairly certain Riku knows who Nico is. No one can have known Edmund that long without hearing that name at least once.]

Remember when I said I needed several days to recover from the storm? ... Edmund and Nico were the ones taking care of me.

[dark_to_dawn]

[Too late. That pause makes his blood sink and he's glad that the visual feed isn't on. A hand rests across his forehead and he runs so many possible problems through his mind at the reasons for that pause. Cade knew he was friends with Edmund, right? He knew he'd been with him. They'd talked... But he'd be an idiot not to realize there was something here.

And Caden reveals exactly what that “something” is.]

…

[It's silent on his end now. Yeah, he knows who Nico is. He was with him and the others when they went to go rescue Yurick. A quiet boy that had an air of darkness about him as well. One of Edmund and Caden's friends. Nico had asked Cade to move in with him?]

Yeah. [He remembers that. Edmund had told him earlier that night. His mouth opens, but he cuts back the words. The first instinct is to once again back off. “I can turn it down.” Is what he wants to say. But last time, his “first instinct” had led to something jarring between them.]

Congratulations... [It's a little hesitant, but sincere.] … [Yeah. Awkward. They'd gone from going to not wanting anything to do with each other to now suddenly staring at the idea they might actually be... roommates.] I...

[boundbynaught]

[With the long pause, he decides to cut in.]

If I say no... It won't be because you called. I might have agreed already, if Edmund were home from work yet to talk to about this. It's still his mansion first.

[That much is truth. There's still this new matter though.]

But, Riku... If I say yes... it could be because you called.

[That's an offer all it's own, anyway.]

We talked about hanging out more often, and you called to make sure I'd know where to find you, right? Well...

[There's a small laugh]

I'd certainly know where to find you this way, huh? But I know it won't just be me either... Yurick's here, and Zael, and of course Edmund... That's a lot of people who could help you keep the Darkness away, to keep him away. I know that. It's just...

[His chest clenched, and he knew he was going to end up talking about the completely separate issue.]

Some things I know are... easier... when you can keep all those people separated. And if I need to be one of those people, I'm not going to be upset. Because I get it. I'm... dealing with that too.

[dark_to_dawn]

[Words come back and forth in conflicting messages. The fact that Caden is still deciding is what rocks him solidly the most.]

Could be.

[He shifts a little on the bed at that laugh. Cause he knows its there to cover up some of the other's frazzled nerves at the moment.]

Caden. It's not about hanging out more often!

[His voice tenses whether he wants it to or not and he growls mentally, clenching his fist over his face. This kind of thing... They'd promised this kind of thing wouldn't happen. And now...]

And this isn't about Ansem.

[Okay so maybe that was part of the deal. His voice goes a little darker and slightly pissed off. Cadence had an issue with bringing Ansem up pretty often. It was nice, to know he cared, but it always reminded him that he, Riku, was always some kind of risk, some kind of threat. Something that maybe shouldn't be settling in among his friends. He'd kept himself to his apartment for a reason for so long after all...]

This is about you. [It's always been about Cadence as far as Riku's concerned. Caden's comfort. Caden's life. He's that important. Enough that Riku is willing to make life choices around Caden's own. He's already ruined his life before Ariel; the last thing he wants is to ruin it again here.]

They're your friends... more your friends than mine... [His voice softens, but the emotion behind it is unclear.] If anyone is going to be the one that has to be kept separate, it'll be me.

[He's right. There are things that need to be kept separated sometimes... even if it's just a small percentage of the “all the time” around it.] I made you a promise, Caden. I'm not going to break it.

[boundbynaught]

[He's really taken aback. He'd forgotten the exact wording of that promise, only really felt the impact for awhile now, but he understood clearly what Riku was trying to say. Sometimes, Riku wanted more for Cadence than Cadence wanted for himself - a name, a chance, friends...

But then Cade would never forgive himself if Riku gave up something this big for him. Sure, Riku could be protective to the point of jealousy, he could beat himself up about not being around to help, but this would be actively denying himself some measure of comfort - the same kind of cozy welcoming environment Cadence had learned to love while he'd been recovering there.]

You're right.

[A smirk perked up on his face.]

It is about me. And you. My match. And... whatever I decide, that doesn't change. Maybe I'm the one who'd like reminders at breakfast that you're around if I need to talk - like you wanted to talk now. Or the chance to say goodnight when I have a bad day at work and a little reassurance tomorrow will be better. Did you think about that? That maybe living together, you'd have a better chance of keeping that promise?

[dark_to_dawn]

[He has that sacrificial attitude to a fault and it's not just Sora that's brought that up. There's something different in his experience with Caden. When you actively have a hand in ending someone's life... after being the bane of their entire existence already... You end up not wanting to make a single mistake around them again. And it's happened more than a few times. Like now.]

Maybe you are. [He slides his hand off his head, gazing up at the ceiling.] Yeah. I thought about that. [To stop keeping that wall between them and simply... be friends.] But, if we live together...

[And now would begin that game in the back of their minds. Would Cadence accept the offer simply because he wants to make Riku feel like it's okay to accept the offer? Or would he reject it, thinking that Riku's happiness depended on that separation? And as for himself, would he second guess Cade's decision, turn down the offer, to keep that space between them? Or trust that his match can make his own choice? Trust himself to trust the bond between them despite its fragility.]

I... [Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us. Hn. A softer smile rests on his lips.] I've got some packing to do.

[I trust my own heart.]

[boundbynaught]

Alright.

[And he's about to hang up, but then thinks better of it.]

Hey Riku... Do you want help tomorrow?

[Independent of his own decision.]

[dark_to_dawn]

[The bed creaks a bit as he sits up and rises to his feet. That sealed that. Regardless of what Caden's own decision would be.]

If you're available.

[A calm agreement that still leaves the decision up to Cadence.]

And Cade... I did think about that. [...] I'd like to see you for breakfast too.

[boundbynaught]

I guess we'll see if I am.

[He smiles. He might be a bit more interested in staying at Mansion 16 now.]

... Riku?

Do me a favor and keep the room I was using before open. If I'm going to see you at breakfast, I might need it.

I'll let you know tomorrow morning when I come over to help you pack.

Later, Match.

[dark_to_dawn]

Hm?

[He glances back towards the window, as if Cade might be over his shoulder rather than in his head.]

Right. I'll put your name on it.

[He nods to the voice in his head and a smile comes to his lips at the farewell.]

Later, Match.