[video]

[idkmybfftheking]

[There is no illuminating exposition to accompany the unusual image that arrives onto the network, where a SFC lying on its side grants viewers an askew sight of a certain (considerably damp) silver-haired young man presently under a pile of perhaps three or four extremely enthusiastic dogs.

A cat trots over the SFC too, yowling.

The menagerie seem to be particularly interested in their visitor, or at least in licking all that salt water off his face, his hair, and giving him one hell of a cowlick on one side. Everything about the teal-eyed teenager's expression proclaims how unplanned this is, and he's resigned himself to putting up with the small zoo's attention for the time being.

Guess who discovered the residence he supposes belongs to his friends and utterly failed in his attempt at being sneaky? THIS GUY.]

Gimme a break. Look--Just forget the towel, I'm going to need a bath.

[Yeugh, dog breath.]

Comments

[Action]

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora wasn't too far away from the apartment, when a curious glance at the SFC shows him a face he thought had left from the bubble. Riku's name left his lips in a moment of shock when Sora literally dropped what he was doing, poor eggs, and took off at a run for the apartment. H

He threw open the door to a more personal display of the 2 large dogs, 2 smaller dogs, and 1 cat, who knew where the other three were, all greeting Riku enthusiastically. ]

Riku!

[ Sora launched himself at Riku, wrapping his arms tightly around his best friend who had left so suddenly and was returned just as quick. ]

Riku, I'm so glad you're back!

[Action]

[idkmybfftheking]

[Add to his situation the heavier weight (well, compared with a dog) of one of two best friends, along with the surprise of being suddenly accosted, and this has the back of Riku's head thudding against the floor.]

Woah!

[Okay, smelling now like dog, the sea, and giving one graceless flail means Riku's intention of sneaking in and having a cool entrance has been sufficiently demolished.

His response is to put an arm around Sora's head. It's a headlock, not a hug.

Okay, so it's kind of both. He's just going to grind the other fist against that head of unruly hair, though.]

Hey, you say that like I'm the one always running off. What are you guys even doing here?

[Action]

[runbysmiles]

Ow! Hey!

[ Despite the sharp pain on his head Sora laughed. It felt like forever since he and Riku shared a moment like this. Sora still felt it was his own fault for the feelings he'd revealed, but now he was determined not to lose Riku again to that. He held on tighter to Riku's middle as if scared he'd disappear out of his grip again. What if this was the start of another curse? Of course, Sora was still under the effect of the honesty curse. That would end till later tonight. ]

We were brought here.

[ Sora pulled away a look of sadness and relief mixed on his face. ]

You don't remember do you?

[Action]

[idkmybfftheking]

[There's a desperation in Sora's limbs that he just doesn't like. Something happened. Something worth keeping an eye on him, least until he can figure out what.

And yeah, that sadness in his expression doesn't sit so great with him either.]

What, we playing this tired old tune again? Come on, Sora, you keep that face up and it'll stick that way.

[He takes this opportunity to climb to his feet.]

You can fill me in after I get this dog slobber off.

Re: [Action]

[runbysmiles]

[ Sora smiled though it was still a little sad. Riku didn't remember. This was a good thing. If Riku didn't remember anything then things could go back to the way they were.

[ He stood up and walked into the apartment. ]

Come on, the bathroom's this way. Your room is over there. There's still some clean clothes in the drawers too so you can change!

[Action]

[idkmybfftheking]

[Propping a fist against his hip and plucking at his disheveled hair where the aforementioned 'dog slobber' has it standing a little up on end, Riku disguises his concern with his efforts to tame the cowlick.]

So you're saying I was here before, left, and now I can't remember a thing.

[Eyeroll.]

Great. Gimme a few minutes, then let's continue this story.

[Oh man, if the only shampoo available is Kairi's he's probably gonna smell like a flower garden for the whole darn day.]

Re: [Action]

[runbysmiles]

[ Come on do you really think Sora would use Kairi's shampoo too? No worries that's what best friends are for, and he can practically read Riku's mind as they walk back, pausing in front of said door to the bathroom.]

You haven't been gone for too long. All your stuff is still here so don't worry!

[ Riku would find his towel, just as he would have wanted it, and his shampoo and soap, and toothbrush all wee he would have put it had he remembered anything. ]

I promise I'll explain once you're out!

[ Unless Riku wanted the company in the bathroom, but Sora doubted that. He still hasn't turned to look fully at Riku's face so the new haircut was lost on him. He did now though and he just stared for a moment before trying not to laugh.]

[Voice]

[coolerthansora]

[All the SFC catches on this end is a snicker. He didn't mean to turn the thing on, but Riku's quick return caught him a little by surprise, too.

At least for Sora's sake, he's glad of it. And the completely undignified manner of his return is a nice bonus.]

[video]

[idkmybfftheking]

[Woah, where did that come fr-- well, hello, shiny new communication device.

And hey, no one laughs at Riku unless it's Kairi or Sora or... yeah, Mickey too, because when the King laughs, you know it's with you.

And that can't be Sora, because Sora's already here.]

Sure, laugh it up. This could be you, you know.

[MYSTERIOUS VOICE FROM BEYOND THE SFC.]

[Voice]

[coolerthansora]

[The laugh does almost sound like it could be Sora... but the voice that follows, not so much.]

Not likely. I know how to stick around.

[Video]

[idkmybfftheking]

What?!

[Oh yeah, no way he doesn't recognize that voice now.]

But Sora-- [Is right there.] --and you're-- [Actually talking to him.

Ugh, hold on. This has shot straight through the Land of Unexpected Surprises and right into the Realm of Aggravating Twists.] What's going on?

[Video]

[coolerthansora]

[All right, he'll switch to video. You can see him looking kind of smug now. How's it feel to be the one who doesn't have a clue?]

You didn't read the brochure, did you?

Vatheon's not like any world you've been to before. Anyone can show up here.

[Video]

[idkmybfftheking]

[How about 'uncertain', 'uncomfortable' and 'kind of dumb'?

In any case, Riku's not a fan, and less of a fan of how something twists unpleasantly in him at the sight of the boy he helped - at any cost - to reunite with Sora.]

Anyone. Good to know.

But something tells me that brochure isn't gonna explain how you aren't with Sora anymore.

[Video]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas shrugs. There really isn't a good explanation, except that it's Vatheon, and crazy shit happens here.]

I'm not complaining.

video;

[ninthserenade]

<sub>[Gee, talk about rubber glue. Didn't this guy just disappear again?

Yeah, he did, didn't he? ...Well, okay maybe a week isn't 'just', but it's close enough! Or maybe it's that other Riku--?]</sub>

Huh? Didn't you just--Riku? Waitaminute, which Riku are you? The real one or the replica-whatever?

video;

[idkmybfftheking]

[Vatheon just can't quit him.

UGH. Man. No. That replica is old news, and... okay, yeah, he felt really bad for that guy, but he's trying to move on from all that, okay?]

You think if he was even around he'd refrain from getting up in my face, 'Real Thing' this and all 'I'm going to prove myself' that?

Get real, and if you've got plans for either Kairi or Sora, get lost.

video;

[ninthserenade]

<sub>[But replicas tho!!! They're so

fun.

...Okay, maybe not really, all things considered.]</sub>

After I kicked his ass for killing Zexion here? Kinda, yeah.

C'mon, that old schtick again? Do I really look like the kind of guy to have creepy plans like Saix and Xemnas did? 'sides, I'm not even with the Organization anymore as far as I'm concerned.

video;

[idkmybfftheking]

You're right, who am I kidding? Even if you were, just invoking the word 'work' would make you roll over.

[Rumors overheard while skulking around the Organization's digs notwithstanding.]

Still doesn't mean I trust you.

video;

[ninthserenade]

You forgot the complaining, dude.

_{[At least things are on a better note this time around!]}

Hey, if it means anything? I wouldn't trust me either on a first encounter.

video;

[idkmybfftheking]

Right.

[There are certain former adversaries Riku feels genuinely bad for -- Roxas got dealt a lousy hand, and he's not terribly proud of what he had to do, as necessary as it was to get his best friend back, for example -- but there's really no love lost with him and most of the other members of the Organization.

They used Sora and Kairi.]

I wouldn't hope for a second, either.

video;

[ninthserenade]

Yeesh, and they say we don't have hearts. What'd I do to you?

_{[He tried to tell them that they had hearts all along, but did anyone listen? Nooooo, they never listen to the slacker. There's a good reason why he quit the Organization not too long after he arrived in Vatheon; do this, do that, go fetch 'Roxas', redo your reports, stop slacking, yada-yada-yada.]}

[Video]

[chainedpromises]

[It was really amusing to see all the animals so excited. Namine couldn't help but laugh at the sight. She was glad to see Riku again.]

It looks like they really like you, Riku.

[Video]

[idkmybfftheking]

[It's seeing familiar faces he hadn't expected to stumble upon again, like Roxas, even Demyx, that cause Riku's surprise to be significantly more abbreviated than the widening of his eyes.

Can't really blame him, either; he hadn't expected to see her again, short of the ghost of her lingering behind Kairi's smiles.]

They're a real pain, kind of like a guy we know. ...Hey, Namine.

[Video]

[chainedpromises]

Hmm...we know a handful of those.

[Though she was sure they were thinking of the same person.]

How do you like Vatheon?

[Video] SORRY RL ATE ME

[idkmybfftheking]

[There's brief laughter then, the sort that says 'tell me about it!' almost more eloquently than words.

Except it occurs to him that he probably shouldn't; although she willingly reunited with Kairi, Namine had been used. And he'd been complicit enough in that already.]

So far? I've seen worse. [Actually, it's not that bad. But without something attacking at every turn, it's almost dull.] So, you've been stuck here as long as Sora?