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It was refreshing to see Sora bounce back like that, and Riku was surprised he'd worried.  Things between them seemed just as close as before, and yet there was still so much left unsaid.  Sora never concentrated on that stuff though--it was always water under the bridge to him, so Riku tried to leave it be.

He rolled his eyes up and to the right in a quick mental checklist of the people he'd met here--most of whom had either been sobering conversationalists or didn't respect personal boundaries.  "...Yeah, of course."  That didn't sound quite as genuine as he'd hoped.  "Any sign of trouble out this way?"

Not that Riku couldn't go more than a few hours without fighting something, but he was used to having this or that enemy dragging itself up out of the ground or convalescing in mid-air specifically to try to slam his head through his pelvis.  The fact that no such enemy had shown its face out here was starting to feel...a little too calm.

Riku rolled his eyes at this broad definition of sheer distance, since being apart in one way or another had become such a norm between them.  Which…was really kind of sad.  And come to think of it, wasn’t Mogultown—wait no, Moogletown, Riku was not pulling a Goofy today—just another example of this?  It hadn’t occurred to him that Sora might be off somewhere that wasn’t adventuring…

It should have occurred.

Especially now.

But there was nothing to gain from punishing himself for it after the fact, so Riku tried to relax with a vexed sigh.  If he was going to then make some snarky comment, Sora derailed it with that pout, which made Riku’s lips part and then pull back around an incredulous grin.

Did he expect that to work?

“If you’re not careful, your face is gonna get stuck like that~,” he said and boldly plucked Sora’s lower lip like a bowstring.  It was the act of a young man who did not expect to get bitten, in part because Riku was also pretty sure Sora might just believe him.

“So let me guess, you’re already friends with half the town.”  One or two short years ago, that line might have been thick with sarcasm and jealousy, but Riku was past that so his tone was only fond.  Besides, Sora’s personality was bound to help them out here when Riku still had so many questions about the place.

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His return to Moogletown was not a joyful and happy as Freya would’ve liked, instead it was only sadness. During Reno’s absence, something terrible had happened to him, forcing back his painful and persistent feelings of guilt and remorse. The Dragoon was sure that he’d already pushed past that and was ready to move forward with her, together, but that dream felt far away and unreachable.

“Ahem… I’ve met some people here that I may never see again. But I suppose I’m used to it by now.” Now memories of Fratley? Suddenly, this day felt as though it would be full of bad reminiscences.  

Disappear...?

That whole concept was never any good.  Riku was reminded with a pang of the Heartless he hadn't fought in some time and the people who vanished when their hearts were taken from them, becoming Nobodies or worse.  Maybe, as in many worlds like Traverse Town, certain borders were protected against the Heartless--meaning stepping beyond those could make people disappear that way.  But in that case, it seemed like it might be general knowledge.

He couldn't just assume it was the Heartless when it could always be something else.  So what got to people out there?  And why was it keeping them here?  Maybe going on a quest of his own would answer a few questions.

Meantime, Riku picked up on her sorrow.  "Sorry," he said ruefully, wishing the word were more appropriate.  "I didn't know.  Maybe those people just went home," he added.  At this point, worrying about breaching the world order was a little pointless--it was clear to Riku that, also like Traverse Town, this was a hub of off-worlders.

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“Hmmm… Well, sometimes they just disappear and are never seen again. Although, a lot of people also leave to go on quests and eventually return.” Freya’s mind reminded her of Reno, and how horribly their reunion had gone.

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oops meds

[yeah so things aren't going so great here, i'm on a new prescription that doesn't really let me feel like myself, mainly because i haven't felt like myself to begin with.

so things'll be slow, but like that's news.  just...more so than usual.

i'm callin' this a one-week hiatus with scattered activity if i can manage it and we'll see if there's any improvement by then.]

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Riku rolled his eyes at this broad definition of sheer distance, since being apart in one way or another had become such a norm between them.  Which...was really kind of sad.  And come to think of it, wasn't Mogultown--wait no, Moogletown, Riku was not pulling a Goofy today--just another example of this?  It hadn't occurred to him that Sora might be off somewhere that wasn't adventuring...

It should have occurred.

Especially now.

But there was nothing to gain from punishing himself for it after the fact, so Riku tried to relax with a vexed sigh.  If he was going to then make some snarky comment, Sora derailed it with that pout, which made Riku's lips part and then pull back around an incredulous grin.

Did he expect that to work?

"If you're not careful, your face is gonna get stuck like that~," he said and boldly plucked Sora's lower lip like a bowstring.  It was the act of a young man who did not expect to get bitten, in part because Riku was also pretty sure Sora might just believe him.

"So let me guess, you're already friends with half the town."  One or two short years ago, that line might have been thick with sarcasm and jealousy, but Riku was past that so his tone was only fond.  Besides, Sora's personality was bound to help them out here when Riku still had so many questions about the place.

“What? Of course it’s been a long time! I haven’t seen you in… Days!” he huffed as he let go of his friend reluctantly. Sora often felt when he wasn’t in physical contact with Riku in some way, he would slip through his fingers. Perhaps it was a reflex he had developed after being reunited with his silver-haired best friend…

No matter what it may be, Sora patted Riku’s upper arms in a friendly manner, letting his hands linger there because he simply felt the need to. He furrowed his brow and attempted to make his friend feel some form of guilt about not being around by pouting a pout that put all his previous pouts to shame, while his bright azure eyes checked to see what little details of Riku’s appearance had changed.

The taller teen had probably grown a bit more, maybe a half inch or so, and Sora couldn’t help but notice the slight changes in his friend’s jawline and cheekbones. He looked more mature, just a tiny bit, something that would go unnoticed by most people. But Sora noticed these little changes. He always had. It was just something that he had always done, and he never found it strange.

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I see...

-It was an easier thing for Riku to understand than he was really ready to admit.  This whole situation smacked uncomfortably of waking up alone, with icy sheets of water on all sides, and screaming out his friends' names where only his enemies could hear.  He hadn't been rattled enough to do that this time, since this kind of thing happened to him a lot and getting yanked off to some other world usually had a logical ex--that is, an explanation of some sort.-

Any idea where they go, or how they get there?

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It was difficult to explain exactly what Moogletown was, seeing as how Freya didn’t even know how she got there; she just kind of… Did.

“Well… It’s hard to explain. Most of us just showed up here one day without any reason, and other just stumbled across the town during their journey’s. A large majority of the people that show up, stay and create homes here; although I do know of a few people that leave and don’t return.” It was the best summarization that Freya could conjure up, yet Freya felt it was still lacking.

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Riku was not yet a master at smiling away uncomfortable situations, so his grin was a little forced--but probably not so forced that someone who didn't know him very well would pick up on it.  "Riku," he returned, and chuckled softly because Luneth's nervousness set him at ease.  "Don't sweat it.  It kind of reminded me of someone I know."  Maybe a few people, actually.

The reach immediately invaded Riku’s personal space and he twitched free of Luneth’s grip with a startled noise.  ”Hey—what?”  He blinked, taking in the stranger’s look.  ”Oh…so it is,” he murmured, and cut his eyes to one side in mingled confusion and embarrassment.  On the one hand, he didn’t want to go flipping out and making enemies, but on the other hand, his personal bubble was important.

And so was his hair.

“I see this color around a lot, so I guess it doesn’t stand out to me,” he added with a shrug.  Sure, it was more rare around the islands, and really he’d only seen it on Ans…and…

On second thought maybe not so common.

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Yeah, you could say that.

-Aquamarine eyes roved their surroundings as if in search of a new path.-

Where...is here, anyway?

I know "Moogletown," but...

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“Ahem; no not at all.” Freya replied hastily, trying not to appear awkward. “I’m Freya, and who might you be…?”

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-The temptation to come back with something arrogant like "Yeah?  Because you just met me," was strong.  But Riku felt again the air at the back of his neck, where a sheet of silver used to keep it warm, and knew he was past that.-

Well, you're the first person I've met to have so much faith in it.  Where I come from, people put more emphasis on Keyblades.

-Wait, was that an oops?  Did he just tip the world order here?  CRAP.  This whole Master thing was doing the opposite of working out, and since when was he this free with information?  Could he blame Sora for this?  Blaming Sora for this.-

Uh--!  Well I don't buy it, so I'll let you know how tough it was once I take them down!

-The enthusiasm overwhelms him for a moment and his eyes widen in a startled blink, but it quickly fades back into mild annoyance.-

No, I can’t say that I do.  (But that name sounds familiar…where did I hear it before?)

If you ask me, chasing after a weapon that powerful is more trouble than it’s worth.  What do you plan to do with something so over-the-top once you find it?

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Source 

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The reach immediately invaded Riku's personal space and he twitched free of Luneth's grip with a startled noise.  "Hey--what?"  He blinked, taking in the stranger's look.  "Oh...so it is," he murmured, and cut his eyes to one side in mingled confusion and embarrassment.  On the one hand, he didn't want to go flipping out and making enemies, but on the other hand, his personal bubble was important.

And so was his hair.

"I see this color around a lot, so I guess it doesn't stand out to me," he added with a shrug.  Sure, it was more rare around the islands, and really he'd only seen it on Ans...and...

On second thought maybe not so common.

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“Wow you have hair like mine!” He called reaching out for it without thinking, he gently grasped a few strands looking at it closely. “Thats funny.”

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His lips parted when he saw her, and his heart opened, and his fingers twitched like he might reach her way.  "K...Kairi?" he asked, even though he knew that wasn't the right name.  It wasn't the right shape to his lips, and it fell on his ear funny; too familiar and not familiar enough.

A pang at his temple made him put a hand there with a faint grunt, but the true pain was somewhere deeper within.  It made his chest ache with each new breath, but not in a bad way--only in that kind of dull twinge that sharpens reality and nothing more.

"Have we...met before?"

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“Riku!” Xion shouted. She was wondering where the silver boy went. The last time she met him, he was out to get her.

They may have been friendlier now but Xion still finds it hard to trust him. He’s so mysterious and it scared her.

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At about T minus one second to Sora launch, Riku realized his mistake.

"Sor--HAGH."

It seemed like he really should have learned by now to expect sudden and physically taxing shows of affection from his best friend-come-rival-come-best friend again.  But, as evidenced in many ways, it sometimes took Riku a while to learn things.

He got over the assault--hug?  No, assault--with a lurching step back and a shuffle that avoided a straight fall, and a giddy feeling in his gut made a smile touch his lips where Sora couldn't see.  Even as over the top as it was, it touched Riku that seeing him could still engender this much joy in Sora.

But like he was gonna let Sora know that.

"Khh--hey, what's got you so worked up?  It hasn't even been all that long," he scoffed.

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-The corners of his mouth start to turn up for just a second, as though tickled by that brush with self-consciousness, but he doesn't follow it up with a chuckle to keep from being rude.-

My name's Riku.

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Oh, hi there.

-He hesitates.-  Is…something the matter?

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-The enthusiasm overwhelms him for a moment and his eyes widen in a startled blink, but it quickly fades back into mild annoyance.-

No, I can't say that I do.  (But that name sounds familiar...where did I hear it before?)

If you ask me, chasing after a weapon that powerful is more trouble than it's worth.  What do you plan to do with something so over-the-top once you find it?

Foolish mortal! One can never have too many weapons! I am on the search for Excalibur, the ultimate sword of legend! The blade that can pierce the heavens themselves and tear through eternity. The sword of kings!

So…you…don’t have that really long, cool sword?

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Oh, hi there.

-He hesitates.-  Is...something the matter?

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“There sure have been a lot of newcomers lately…” Freya mumbled to herself before looking up at the silver haired boy. “Hello,”