boundbynaught | IC Inbox for empatheias

[ That reassures Arden not at all. Only the last several conversations ending on positive notes reassures him that 'need to speak with you about something' shouldn't be answered with 'Should I prepare to defend myself with a keyblade?' ]

Is this serious enough I should leave work on a short break, or am I leaving early and not coming back today?

Something happened during my fight with Vanitas.

[ Pausing.. ]

It's better if you see it in person.

... I'd been wondering if we should talk about that guy.

[ Since Riku wasn't part of the group chat from that evening. ]

Alright. I'll finish up what I'm doing. Backyard or in the house?

In the house is better. Preferably somewhere private.

[ Like one of their rooms or something. ]

I'll knock on your bedroom door when I get there.

[ Which is what he does about 15 minutes later, following a short Corridor jaunt into the upstairs hallway. ]

[ Now here's some place that doesn't look too lived in: Riku's bedroom within the KH Clubhouse.

However, when Arden knocks on the door, Riku opens it a few seconds after and leaves it open for him to step inside. ]

Could you close the door?

[ Arden's combat senses are so on edge right now. He's significantly less convinced that Riku is going to attack him, but that impression on his nerves and the adrenaline running through him is the same.

He doesn't say anything, just closes the door and looks around the room at last to try and get a better look at Riku to see if he's currently in the state that he's supposed to see, or if he's about to change into that. ]

[ With the door closed and it now just being the two of them, Riku sighs. No sense in beating around the bush with Arden being here and having asked for him to come here like this. ]

I ended up running into Vanitas when he first arrived here. I could smell him... it was so strong it almost made me puke.

[ He figures Arden probably dealt with the same. ]

That alone was enough for me to know he wasn't Sora.

[ The fact that he wears Sora's face annoys him but, that's not what this is about. As he speaks, he begins to roll up his sleeves and even come to unbutton his shirt. ]

We fought, naturally, but I wouldn't call it a victory on my end. [ A pause. ] I ended up reaching into my darkness, to the depths of it so I could power up Soul Eater. Sora was able to heal the wounds Vanitas dealt me, but he couldn't heal these.

[ To which, Riku turns around and shows his arms to Arden. On them, dark blotches that almost look like burn marks are littered across his skin. ]

[ Arden knows well enough that his own story of fighting with Vanitas could wait, especially since it sounds like his ended... 'better' for lack of any other word. He squints down at Riku's arm. It's strange to him because... wounds like this hadn't ever happened to him before. ]

... Is this something you've done before? Outside of Verens?

[ Because it sure sounds like Riku's done used this power before and what he's concerned about is the aftereffects, not the fact that he found an enemy he had to 'power up' Soul Eater to fight against. He's not sure what Riku thinks is the 'weird' part that Arden's attention is supposed to be drawn towards - unless it was... wait... ]

Oh, you mean this is- his attacks left those marks?

No... this isn't his doing.

[ ... ]

It's my own.

[ Gently, fingers come to open his shirt where more of the dark blotches are strewn across his chest and collarbones. ]

When I was reaching within for my darkness... [ When he was more or less ripping it out of him to use. ] ...it felt like it was trying to escape, like it was burning my body from the inside.

[ Slowly, he comes to button up his shirt, strands of silver falling in front of his face. ]

This has never happened before. I was wondering... if you knew what it was... how to fix it. Because they're not going away and Sora could only ease the pain they were giving me.

[ Arden takes a step back after Riku shows his chest too. It feels so much different from the previous times they'd talked and it's starting to freak him out a little. Of all of the personal things they'd talked about, it was usually something happening in the present, like the coughing up ice. This is just... different. Riku was actively asking him for help. Him.

... Him who hadn't needed to do anything remotely resembling this in order to fight Vanitas, and escaped from the guy unscathed. What. ]

First ice, and now fire. A dark fire, I guess, but still...

[He's not being sarcastic either - this seems really strange that so much of Riku's powers are directly causing him harm in much more physical ways than Arden's powers hurt him. He rubs at the nape of his neck.]

The worst I've ever had happen to me was using Zexion's powers made him look like me for awhile.

[It's been long enough now that he can say that in a very bland way. Then he looks back up, looking worried at his suggestion.]

The closest thing I can think of... I mean did Sora suggest you ask me?

[Because that's where Arden's mind is, the two times that he had to connect with Sora when he succumbed to parts of his darkness in Antiform.]

No.

[ The word is said softly while fingers finish with buttoning up his shirt. He can't even blame Arden for thinking this was Sora's idea. Although, sure, their last conversations hadn't been as bad as their first couple but, still, it's not as though they're... friends.

Coming to run a set of fingers through his hair, he allows his hand to fall to his side and stares to Arden and only Arden. Typically, it's been looking at him or around him. But right now, in this moment, he's looking to him. Completely. ]

You're the only one here who can understand this.

[ Understand the darkness... his darkness. ]

[ Arden's fists clench at his side - nervous to even talk about this now not because it involved Sora but because of the implication he would be willing to do something similar with and on behalf of Riku. He can scarcely believe that telling stories about what happened to Sora would cease to be the thing that most worried him when it came to talking with Riku. Sora wouldn't get mad at him for telling Riku things the same way that Riku would get mad at him for telling Sora things, of that he's pretty sure.

... But this stuff happened to Sora during a time when he was still very strongly attached to Sora in a way that he called love. So that stressed him out like none other to cut out of the stories. Then there was the suggestion that maybe Riku could benefit from something similar - if that was even possible. ]

I understand... that... Sora has had problems with his Anti-Form before. I helped him after those two times. It didn't hurt him like a dark fire though and nothing like this has actually happened to me.

[ He purses his lips flat and then swallows hard before continuing. ]

So the only way I know of that might get rid of that... It... It's a half-Verens emotion thing.

[ A connection that is far, far away from barely-tolerable housemates. ]

[ That's what he had been waiting to hear: if this had happened to Arden at any point in time. It hadn't and that alone has Riku sigh. He wasn't sure what he had been hoping for, what he had wanted that answer to actually be and so, he comes to sit down on the bed, fingers pinching at the bridge of his nose. ]

It's fine.

[ The way he says those words... he sounds tired... emotionally, head hanging some while fingers slip away from his face and comb through his silver hair again before another sigh leaves his lips and he glances off to the side. ]

I figured it was just a me thing. It's just getting worse instead of better.

[ His darkness, he means. ]

[ He's not really sure he can phrase this delicately. Maybe he shouldn't even try. His fists unclench, but his head stays lowered, still feeling second-hand intensity from when Riku had been staring at him before. ]

I'm not saying I can't do it. I'm saying you're asking to create a bond between us that you specifically told me you didn't want anything to do with.

[ Of all the things that Sora can do, this is one aspect he can't help Riku with. For all he knew, Naminé could be capable of it as well, just because of her strong ties to the people in Sora's life. Arden knows that the only reason he can do anything like this now is because he allowed a piece of light back into his life, while working to stop rejecting how he was created out of darkness and thus shared an eternal connection to it - through Riku. ]

Depending on how much it hurts, how long you think you can last before it consumes you, I can try to think of something else.

[ That fight with Vanitas had already been awhile ago, after all. Arden knew exactly what day Vanitas fought Riku, because it had been earlier on the same day Arden fought him. ]

Edited 2018-04-16 06:03 (UTC)

[ A bond... it hadn't been what Riku had called Arden here for. Some insight, yes, perhaps even a means to understand what any of this could mean. But a bond... no, that hadn't been the reason for this and Riku can only sigh again.

But with how unpredictable his darkness has become over the past few weeks, he isn't so sure what might happen anymore. Nightmares on top of marks that have scarred his body... add to that the whole emotions physically effecting ones surroundings and he has no idea what to expect anymore... let alone if there's much hope for anything to get better.

So, it's after a moment of silence that Riku finally speaks. ]

Arden...

[ And it's the way Riku says his name that is almost a foreshadowing of something morbid to come... ]

If this becomes too much... if it doesn't get better and anything happens to me... can you take care of Sora?

Please.

Edited 2018-04-16 06:26 (UTC)

[ His fists clench again. ]

First of all, of course I will. You don't know how many times I've done that already. I owe him my life.

[ He thought he told Riku that - not why, but that he did. Maybe. He's not going to argue that part, simply reinforce. ]

But second of all, are you trying to say you don't think I can pull this off? Because I'm over here trying not to force you into something you'll get mad at me for. I didn't say I wouldn't... try...

[ There's nerves that could very well betray his boast, but that's because he's so torn up over this. To be in a position where he COULD help Riku but to say that he WON'T... how could he ever face Sora again like that? He couldn't. Which leaves him with this one option that he has to make sure Riku is actually turning him down on. Make him refuse, then Arden's conscience is clear. ]

[ Riku is silent for a long moment as he sits there on the bed. Of course he figured the other would say something like that in regards to taking care of Sora and yet... he felt it just needed to be said, even if for his own sake... or perhaps peace of mind.

However, as listens to Arden, as he comes to understand what it is that he's trying to say in regards to the whole not being able to pull it off thing, he stares to some of the marks on the inside of his arm, sleeve pushed back, the pads of his fingers brushing over them as he sits there. Thinking. ]

I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm asking what you think this could mean, if you knew what it could be or how to make it go away. [ But, after a moment- ] What kind of bond are you talking about exactly?

[ He rolls his eyes a little at 'how to make it go away' - that's exactly what he's trying to explain, isn't he? At least Riku hasn't told him to get lost. Yet. ]

Well Sora and I were friends when I did this - both times.

[ And... more on his end but... he's going to assume that friendship is the low bar here. ]

The point is that I was looking into his heart, trying to help him balance out his Light and Dark again. I know your... I know you can withstand more of the Darkness than he can, but it was still over his limit. I tried to help him get back closer to that level he was comfortable at, but I wasn't doing it with some kind of spell the way I cast Fira or a Sleight. I have to assume it was dunamis, the kind of thing where emotions... and hearts connect.

[ HENCE HIS CONCERN. ]

[ Make it go away in a way that isn't forming a bond!! Sheesh. However, Riku's silent as Arden explains and slowly comes to blink behind his blindfold as he considers... what that might mean. ]

Is this permanent?

[ This... bond. This... connecting of hearts. ]

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, I don't think so.

[ He'd like to believe the friendship was stronger for it, but he knows that's not what Riku's asking. He's asking about the bond, and the way that Ventus described his connection to Sora makes Arden think of a permanent bond. It's definitely not been like that for Arden. ]

You don't think so.

[ The words are muttered softly, not to chide or be sarcastic. More like... an understanding of what it is that Arden is telling him: it could very well be a gamble for the both of them. ]

I guess it's an option.

It's not like I have anyone else to compare this against in less than two years in this place.

[ As if Naminé would ever need something like this to happen, nor has he been around her for as long as Sora. ]

... Fine, I'll go ask Sora first.

[ Since to him, this still sounds pretty time-sensitive. He's moving to leave the room since he's either going to find Sora somewhere in the house or contact him on the Amulet to ask him that way. ]

[ He's about to let Arden leave when he speaks up then- ]

How exactly do you think this will work?

[ This... bond, connection of hearts. ]

Do you need to... face my darkness?

[ He turns back. It's a strange question to him, but then he knows this isn't something either of them are used to even in their own world. ]

No, it's not like that. You're the one struggling. In your case, since you're conscious...

[ He places his hand on his own chest. ]

I'd have to let you see my heart first. That lets you use me as a sort of... compass? To help you do what you need to do on your own.

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