[001// Audio] REUSING 1ST PERSON SAMPLES GO!

[oathbreakers]

[The communicator clicks on—the sound of rustling. After a moment, there is the distinct click of something being set down.]

So. After a bit of exploration, I think I’ve managed to figure this thing out.

[The voice is young and smug—Riku is very pleased with himself.]

We’re on a ship, right? You can tell by the windows.

Now, just need to figure out why I’m here and not in Hollow Bastion any more. If this is Maleficent’s idea of a joke…

Anybody out there?

[Pause.]

Better yet—anybody out there heard of a girl named Kairi? I’m… looking for her.

[No, he’s not mentioning Sora. Not at all.]

Comments

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi starts down the stairs to deck eight.]

Oh... Four months, heh.

It's been great, some of the time. There are so many people from so many different worlds, and strange things happen for no reason.

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

[Well, that's not too long. It's four months, but nothing -too- bad seems to have happened to her while he was gone, so Riku's not splitting hairs.]

It sounds like this is a pretty interesting place, so far. Lots of people, lots to see, somewhere new to go... what makes it so that it's only great some of the time?

[Riku's heading down the stairs too, looking around as they step off onto deck eight. As they enter the deck proper, he lets out a low whistle. There's stuff -everywhere-, he'll have to come back to this deck to see what all there is to be seen. But right now, he's following Kairi in search of these bears she spoke of.]

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi leads the way through the Casino towards Kuma Ko, shooting quick glances at Riku to see his reaction.]

Hmm... Well, a couple of months ago, a girl was trapped. Some people set her free but... She killed them, and then she changed the ship.

A lot of people were hurt.

[Sushi restaurant ahoy! Kairi stops at the entrance and waits for Riku to notice the sushi bears.]

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

[Riku's paying attention to what Kairi's saying, but he's definitely looking all around as they're wandering through the casino. ...subtly, of course. 'Cause he totes isn't impressed or curious or anything. He's cool; he's seen this stuff before. But he stops looking around when she mentions the girl, looking straight back to Kairi. Blunt Riku, go!]

Seems like a lot of people get killed here.

[He's about to say something else, but that's about when he catches sight of the bears and the words die in his throat. They're... -bears.- And it's not like he's unused to sentient animals! After all, Sora had been traveling with a duck and a dog, but... these bears are different.

Kairi, you're getting a rare sight. Riku is just kind of staring blankly. He has -no idea- what to think about this!]

They just... work here?

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi nods.]

They do, but they come back. Most of them come back.

[As not-funny as death on board is, Kairi still can't keep a straight face at Riku's expression.]

Sure. They make sushi. Are you hungry?

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

So death isn't permanent?

[That's... odd, but he'll accept it.]

Sure, why not? [And leading the way in is Riku! Like he -owns- the place, man.]

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi is more than happy to follow, grinning all the way. Ordering from the bears isn't hard, and following Riku's lead is comfortably familiar.]

No. It hasn't happened to me, but it seems a lot like losing you're heart. People disappear for a day, and then they're back.

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

[That's good, because if Kairi had been killed by something, there would be another death on the ship within the day! But at Kairi's explanation he's going to turn back to her with another blank look, though this one's a little less σ_σ and a little more "that doesn't sound quite right..."]

Yeah? But normally when someone loses their heart, they don't get to come back.

Still, I guess it's a good thing they can here.

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi shrugs. She lost her heart and came back. Sora lost his and came back. But she's not going to gainsay Riku on it. She sounds hesitant when she speaks again.]

Some people do die for good. Or at least, they disappear. They could have escaped, but the crew says they die.

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

[Riku's gonna backtrack to Kairi's side, moving to put an arm around her shoulders again. Hey, hey, no sad faces! Riku's not gonna stand for that.]

Hey, come on... if they've always come back before, what makes that time any different? They just don't want to let everyone know there's a way to get out, that's all. That's why the crew says they die--so people won't try to find the way off themselves.

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Kairi leans into the hug and manages a smile, but for a moment it's like she's focused on something very far away.]

It's different because... Sora was here. He disappeared before I arrived, but people here remember him. I don't know if he escaped or...

[She looks up at Riku, dry-eyed. She's accepted the possibility. Even if Sora is dead, the Captain can still choose to bring him back and she never gave up on finding either of them. But she can't exactly bring herself to say it.]

[Commentlog]

[oathbreakers]

[WAY TO TWIST THAT DAGGER THERE, KAIRI. Riku's expression hardens a bit, but he won't let on any other indication that he doesn't quite care for the turn in conversation. He can't deny Kairi, but he also can't look straight at her as he responds.]

Eh, I'm sure he's fine. Sora's probably off gallivanting around with that Keyblade of his as we speak.

[A little harsh, yeah, but it's better than the "Sora probably just got bored and decided to move on to a new world" that originally flashed through his mind. Bitter, him? No, never.

...okay, okay, he should probably give her something more than just that.]

Besides. [Squeeze.] You really think some place like this is gonna off Sora? He doesn't even notice he's bleeding half the time; he's not gonna realize that he's supposed to lay down and die. Sora'd just get back up and keep going.

[It's hard to be positive when he's talking about Sora, but damn if he's not gonna try for Kairi's sake!]

[Commentlog]

[lightwithin]

[Lucky for Riku, making fun of Sora had always been something they'd both enjoyed. He sounds a little harsh, but then Kairi just told him their best friend might be dead. What can she expect?]

Heh. You're right. He never did know when to quit.

[Where have you been Riku? All this time she had been following her feelings wherever they might lead her, without stopping to think logically about any of it.]

Come on, let's get some food.