[Audio]

[ordalias]

[ She's been contemplating this, yes, ever since she got her ass handed back to her by Vanitas. She's lost, sure, many times in fact... but this one in particular... ]

How... when do you know you're strong? That you're not weak?

[ She might end that last sentence in a bitter hiss. Sure, she's lost, but when it involves her friends (and Pokemon), it becomes another thing. She couldn't beat Vanitas, came out even more battered, and well aware her appearance would worry friends. So lately she's been hanging around the roof of Goldenrod City's Department Store.

It sounds like she's going to say more, but whatever it is dissolves into a sigh and stops. ]

Comments

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She'd see the wariness if she was directly looking. As it is, she's gonna have to go on tone. She'd know that voice anywhere, though. ]

Is that really all there is, Riku?

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Depends on who you ask. Sora or Ven'd probably say something about following your heart, that sort of thing.

But if it helps, I think you're already pretty strong. Not everyone has the guts to take on a level 100 Aerodactyl.

[C'mon, Xion. Cheer up! He'll even smile, if it helps.]

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Strength of heart, right?

... Hehehe. [ She laughs a bit, albeit slowly and unsure. She knows it's his attempt to cheer her up and it's working, but... Leon LINEFACING at all that sort of not made her feel all proud about that stunt. ]

It didn't change anything, though.

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[Leon can go grump in a corner, as far as Riku's concerned.]

But at least you tried. Besides, you can't always win.

[That's what people kept telling him after he lost to Leon, after all.]

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it was a matter of "winning" here, but... That's true.

[ Siiiighs. All the melancholy. ]

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Point is, sometimes you've gotta take risks. Doesn't always work out, but it's better than sitting around doing nothing.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... I don't know what I should do now.

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Well, what brought this up in the first place?

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... Have you heard about a guy named Vanitas, Riku?

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've heard of him alright.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

I got into a fight with him. [ And it really didn't end well for both. ]

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[Xion, did you really--

...sigh. He's not gonna scold her, but he is worried.]

Yeah, I've been there before. Guess it didn't turn out so well...

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... Not really, but I made it hurt for him, too.

[ Not that she sounds particularly proud of that. ]

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Good. He deserves it.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

You got into a fight with him, too?

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was a while back. Right after Sora and Kairi left.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... I see.

Yeah, I didn't think badly of him, at first. Kairi did tell me something about him, but he didn't give me any reason before.

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Hah. I didn't trust him from the start, but let's just say my first impression wasn't a good one.

Can't believe Ven puts up with him.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... Yeah. [ She doesn't know if Riku knows that Vanitas is Ventus' Darkness, personified. ]

Ven's a really kind person. Like Sora.

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

A little too kind, sometimes. I know he and Vanitas are connected, but that doesn't mean he should go easy on him, either.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Oh. So he does. ]

... Do you think he can change?

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.]

I seriously doubt that.

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Sighs. ]

But it can't stay like this.

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[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Then what do you think we should?

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[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ ... more sighing. ]

... I don't know. But... something. [ Maybe when she's more clear-headed she can think of what that something is. ]