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Entry tags:
video | un: wayfinder
WHO: Ventus & YOU
WHERE: Labyrinth & Libra Network!
WHEN: End of March
WHAT: Ventus' intro! Escaping his Labyrinth posting on Libra.
WARNINGS: End of Kingdom Hearts 3 spoilers, since that's his canonpoint.
[ a - castle oblivion | locked to roxas ]
[he fell asleep again.
not by choice, but of course that was the frustrating part. it seemed almost like a dumb prank the universe was all too eager to pull over on him - 'yes, yes you were busy with far more important matters, like finding sora, but what if instead you fell asleep yet again and leave all the work to aqua and terra?'
but now wasn't the time for petty frustrations, especially not when he was faced with the stark white walls and near minimalist design of castle oblivion around him. it didn't make sense, not when the land of departure had been put right again after aqua's return, but here he was seeing in person the familiar emptiness he once only knew through the memories sora shared with him.
ventus leaves the chamber he'd awoken in (again) behind and ventures out into the winding and labyrinthine hallways. he looks down one way, then turning his head he glances down the other end.]
Hello? Is anyone else here?
[ b - video | un: wayfinder ]
Woah- Hey! Is this on?
[some might recognize a familiar face popping up on the network, but to the keener eye one might tell this is definitely not roxas. especially not after he properly introduces himself --]
Uh, hello! My name is Ventus, but everyone calls me Ven. This world is, um... really something, huh?
[the camera flips to show an unopened green matcha boba drink, the wrapped straw still taped to the side. ven taps the side where some of the boba floats.]
Also, this kinda fell outta the sky! Almost hit me, too... Is this normal around here or is it supposed to mean something?
WHERE: Labyrinth & Libra Network!
WHEN: End of March
WHAT: Ventus' intro! Escaping his Labyrinth posting on Libra.
WARNINGS: End of Kingdom Hearts 3 spoilers, since that's his canonpoint.
[ a - castle oblivion | locked to roxas ]
[he fell asleep again.
not by choice, but of course that was the frustrating part. it seemed almost like a dumb prank the universe was all too eager to pull over on him - 'yes, yes you were busy with far more important matters, like finding sora, but what if instead you fell asleep yet again and leave all the work to aqua and terra?'
but now wasn't the time for petty frustrations, especially not when he was faced with the stark white walls and near minimalist design of castle oblivion around him. it didn't make sense, not when the land of departure had been put right again after aqua's return, but here he was seeing in person the familiar emptiness he once only knew through the memories sora shared with him.
ventus leaves the chamber he'd awoken in (again) behind and ventures out into the winding and labyrinthine hallways. he looks down one way, then turning his head he glances down the other end.]
Hello? Is anyone else here?
[ b - video | un: wayfinder ]
Woah- Hey! Is this on?
[some might recognize a familiar face popping up on the network, but to the keener eye one might tell this is definitely not roxas. especially not after he properly introduces himself --]
Uh, hello! My name is Ventus, but everyone calls me Ven. This world is, um... really something, huh?
[the camera flips to show an unopened green matcha boba drink, the wrapped straw still taped to the side. ven taps the side where some of the boba floats.]
Also, this kinda fell outta the sky! Almost hit me, too... Is this normal around here or is it supposed to mean something?
video; un: captainkenway
Ventus, hm? I'm Captain Edward Kenway. Welcome to Kaisou, you've come at a good time—nothing's exploded yet.
a
Ew.[... but there's something about this place. Roxas has never been here, but the architecture and the design of it makes his blood run a little cold. He might have his hatenna out to keep him company were it not for his anxiety; she'd pick up on it, and it would scare her. He doesn't want to do that to her.
[So for now, he's going it alone, feeling the itch at the tip of his fingers; if something happens, he has Oathkeeper. He has healing magic. He's good in a fight and he's been practicing with his Keyblade. But even then, he hasn't summoned it because this doesn't feel like danger.
[It just... well. It feels like this is a him problem. Like these walls are sneering at him, like his clothes are wrong for this occasion, like the echoes of his footsteps should be boots and not sneakers. He doesn't remember anything about it. But he knows this is from his world.
[... and it gets even weirder when he hears his own damn voice. His heartbeat picks up, scalp tingling as something distant and small tells him "you know him."]
... Hello?
[Roxas is calling back, peeking around a corner in the direction of the sound and catching sight of a bit of buckwheat blond hair.]
video
Woah, so you're an actual real captain? [ven smiles,] That's pretty cool!
no subject
Hey!
[it hadn't been long since ventus had last seen roxas, but even if that time had been stretched and thin there isn't a chance he wouldn't recognize someone so close to his and sora's own hearts. ventus immediately perks, waving a hand in roxas' direction and smiles.]
Roxas! Boy, is it a relief to see someone else here too! I was starting to think maybe I was in some kind of weird dream, haha... [he chatters as he makes his way over, that waving hand going to rub the back of his neck while laughing sheepishly.]
It's strange being back here again, huh?
no subject
You're not too far off! Far as I can tell, it's made from tea leaves grown in the shade. It's really quite tasty, though.
[As to being called cool—Edward tips his hat at Ventus, clearly pleased.]
Aye, and I've two ships of my own to prove it. They're both in the harbor, you can drop by any time—though I'll advise you now to avoid the afternoon tour groups.
video; un: h1ghw1nd
But nothing could have prepared Riku for the rush of memories seeing Ven would cause.
It's a jumble, confusing and alarming. A mess of fights, of being lost, of wandering, of watching an all-too-familiar castle unfold itself and become whole again. Of fighting side by side with this boy, familiar but not, and seeing just how bright the light in him shone.
So when Riku replies, he may look a little frazzled and unsure, but at the very least he has a menagerie of animals crowding his space to try and both give comfort and see what has their human in a bit of a tizzy.]
It's-- actually, yeah. It is kind of normal. Seems to happen every few months, here. When I first moved here I was almost hit in the head with a Roomba.
[Give him a second, he needs to shove the rainbow mess that is Komory Bat out from in front of his face.]
It's nice to see you again, Ven. ... technically.
video
[ventus grins, surprised but delighted regardless, at the sight of riku on screen. the last time he'd seen his friend had been just before their journey into the realm of darkness, leaving riku in charge as they continued the search for sora.
seems like now they'd fallen into yet another mystery, if riku's fussed appearance told him anything. ven tilts his head, stifling a small laugh as he watches the komory bat angle for riku's attention.]
Dunno what a roomba is, but that sounds worse than being hit with grass milk... milk grass? Hm.
[matcha, not grass. he'll get it right at some point, probably.]
But yeah-- it's really great to see you again, Riku! Do you know if anyone else is here too?
no subject
But at the very least, the fact that Ven a) doesn't seem to know what matcha boba is and b) doesn't know what a Roomba is... is confirming something Riku had been a little concerned about. He's been with POKEGO for so long, now. He knows aaaaaaaaaall about the "isekais" wandering around.]
Matcha boba. The boba's the little... balls at the bottom. Matcha is a type of tea powder.
[DEEP BREATHS, RIKU.]
Technically, we're meeting for the first time. But yeah, I do and... there is someone else. Technically.
Where are you? We should probably talk about all this offline.
no subject
[--and he knows his name. what?
[roxas is shocked enough by the call-out that it honestly takes him until this doppelganger says something about being back here to snap him out of the internal panic. he remembers riku. he remembers the feelings he had, fighting the heartless. he remembers that riku knows him. that they're from the same world--or...were. in their past lives.
[... so this has to be someone from then.]
Uh--not... I mean, kind of..? [he takes a second to look around, trying to get his bearings.]
But not because I know where we are. I don't... know who you are, actually. [awkward.]
no subject
[he doesn't sound entirely convinced that's supposed to be an appetizing food item, but talk about bobas and matchas can come later. keep breathing, riku.]
First time, huh? [ven hums. lots of 'technically's being thrown around here.]
Not really sure... there's a lot of super tall buildings? [he flips the camera around (manually, not by pressing the flip camera button mind you) to show riku his current surroundings, downtown, before turning it back to face him again.] By someone else, do you mean Roxas? 'Cause we found each other earlier.
no subject
he listens, eyes widening slightly at that very last part.]
You don't? [it's a little alarming, but ven's certainly no stranger to missing or foggy memories. he hums thoughtfully, arms crossing over his chest.] Well... that's not great, but I'm sure it'll be fine!
[that smile returns, warm and welcoming, and offers out his hand.]
That just means we get to meet again! My name is Ventus, but you can call me Ven.
video > action because riku can't be normal about anything
Either way, that's not something to focus on right now, because as much as most of what Ven is showing off around him doesn't really help, Riku is able to see a familiar shop just down the road.]
... you already met Roxas? [Ohhhhhh that must have been really confusing for that brat. As much as Riku thinks this version of Roxas is an insufferable ass, he wouldn't wish that level of confusion on anyone.] That must have been-- actually, hold on.
[He stands up, detaching his menagerie from him and calling Kori back to her pokeball just in case.]
Do me a favor and look towards that sandwich shop just down the street from you?
[Which is the only warning Ven is going to get before Riku takes a breath, pulls at his shadow magic, and takes a step forward, sinking into the shadows of his apartment and stepping out of the shadows at the corner of the wall and alleyway, almost walking face-first into an old lady and her startled chihuahua.
After a fumbling, awkward apology, Riku is turning and covering the little bit of distance between himself and Ven, rubbing at his left wrist just slightly as the fingertips of that hand recover from just barely becoming see-through. Don't wooooooorry about it.]
Hey, Ven. Welcome to Kaisou.
action bc of course he can't
[it doesn't take long to spot what shop riku had mentioned, especially when he watches as the other step out of the shadows - something that might have been cool, if he hadn't bumped into the old woman. her little dog yips at riku as he makes his apologies before heading ven's way. even with all their differences right now, it would seem riku was still the same no matter what.
ven grins.]
Heh, thanks, Riku. It's a good thing you came out here or else I'd probably be even more lost. [as he chatters, ven takes in the riku that stands before him now. outwardly, he didn't seem too different from the keyblade master he'd last seen before heading into the realm of darkness. he folds his arms behind his head, leaning back on his heels as he breaks his attention away from riku to gaze up at some of the skyscrapers.]
Sooo... Kaisou, huh? You live here with... Roxas?
no subject
At the same time, he can't help the way his chest twists and burns because-- gods, it's all true.]
With how much of an issue we have keeping everyone together... I wasn't going to let you wander around alone for too long.
[Pleasant, normal, casual. He can do this. He can carry on a conversation that spans across timelines and lifetimes. He can pretend to be the Riku Ven knows, he's... been trying to do that ever since he was little, after all.
But no amount of trying to act normal about things could combat the absolute deadpan annoyance that escapes him so immediately with what Ven is asking next.]
No. Absolutely not. I don't live anywhere near Roxas.