#incandescentkey

{ ~ * Riku * ~ }

The Library had so many books. Stacks upon stacks, upon stacks of books. It seemed that for every one book he drew from the shelf, three more replaced it. Some seemed promising, like they might hold relevant information, others were easily set aside, while others still were set into a pile of question marks, an unknowing pile. Sequestered away in the Radiant Garden castle library, Riku sifted through book after book, researching the power of waking, looking for any scrap of information that might lead them a step closer to finding Sora. His best friend had seemingly vanished and they’d all looked everywhere they could think to look. Now he knew how the brunet had felt while searching for him. Delicately turning the thing, parchment page of an ancient tome, Riku breathed a small sigh. He had a headache, it was about time he stopped and got some fresh air. Besides, this book was proving to be difficult to decipher, full of enough thou’s and thine’s and thee’s to make Shakespeare happy, it was slow going. The needed words between the useless ones neither pertaining to what he needed or being remotely useful.

There came a sound as thou floated off the page in three different places and tearing his tired eyes away from the yellowed paper, Riku looked up, giving the girl a friendly smile as she approached his table by the base of the stairs.

“Thank you, Runa.” His voice was warm and genuine and he reached out to take the cup of hot coffee from her, not realizing until that moment just how much he needed it. He breathed in deep its aroma and took an exploratory sip, sighing in contentment as the bitter drink warmed up his dulled senses. “That hits the spot.” He took another sip and leaned back in his chair, tilting his head at Runa. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” He asked, cradling the coffee in his hands and glad for the distraction from the dusty old books.

“No problem, Riku,” She replied with a smile before taking a seat across from him, careful as to not ruin the layout of books on the table. Runa had to stifle a laugh at mere amount of stacks he had surrounding him. 

The girl had brought her own cup of coffee on her visit, although hers was more on the sweeter side of things. She took a sip before setting it on the table and casually crossing her arms. 

“Ienzo told me you were down here for quite awhile and thought you might’ve needed something. So, here I am.” Runa answered with small giggle and a shrug of her shoulders. 

“And by the looks of it, I’m kinda glad I showed up. You look like you haven’t had a break.” She gestured to the books with a tilt of her head. Although, she could understand why. Trying to find something, anything that could help find Sora was proving to be alot harder than they thought. 

“And what exactly are you doing here?” 

Harsh panting breaths punctuate each word with the sunset’s eternal light turning cerulean eyes a hue darker as they fixated on the person in front of him. Man he really must have been focused if he didn’t hear them approach. Though that wasn’t surprising considering that the Nobody had been at it since the Clocktower struck five that morning. 

 Of course little breaks were taken to rest and catch his breath, but he pretty much had spent the whole day training. Magic, dodging, practicing with the Keyblades, pushing the limits of his agility. But that was fair, to him since as far as the blond was aware, he had the whole day off.

Both his cloak and his white jacket lay crumpled up near the base of a tree, a stick and a now empty bottle sitting beside them; the usual black zip up top sticking to his skin. Hearts he was soaked in sweat. Definitely would need a shower when he got home.

▹ ☆  ??? ☆ ◃

                    ✣ 「 ヴェン」 ❦❧ ─  Every passing day felt like it was on the same time. On a perpetual rewind.. REPLAY , on a motion always the identical with one and another. Making it difficult to distinguish if another day have passed... or this was just on the exactly interchangeable hour. A loop in time. He didn’t know. He didn’t know how long he’d always stood there, in the shadow, underground where trains ran. The express tunnel, the lightning flickering on and off. Sunlight leaking in through any cracks. The indistinguishable people, passing by like picture blur motion of face phantoms.  

               The busy crowds, the buzzing static background noises. It tuned down, like rumbling behind thick double glass panels, as he stood by the far back wall observing... staring off to space. The scent of musk. The cheap cologne. The white smoke wisp of cigar and the ashes as it falls. That stray cat prowling along the alley way, and the pigeons gathering in flocks perching above. The busy people on their daily lives, ignoring what’s irrelevant around them. Disregarding the blond under the black hood of his coat as just   A n o t h e r  street punk, that should heed no attention to. It didn’t matter, Ventus didn’t need the unwelcome attention anyway.

                                              ...but humans were incessantly ignorant bunch.

        Shun what can’t be explain or destroy them with their conventional weapon.

            It was always the easy way, or the destructive way. No one said they were perfect beings, it was a mockery joke when biblical religion believe they are imagery of the Almighty Creator themselves, but humans were flawed. They were imperfect in every way possible. Too arrogant. Too ignorant. And he was just one of those flawed and imperfect said humans too. Who to say he have anything to say about those who at  LEAST  have something to believe in. For Ventus... there was nothing for him to believe in. What did he believe in? What did his old self believe in? There’s no answers for someone without memories of the past. 

                     The past made a person... but what about a person without one?

       Humming of trains. The sound of automatic metal double doors opening. And people hurriedly in. Ventus pushed himself off from leaning against the back wall. Blending with the mass sea of crowds, and too entered the stopping train. What was his destination? Was there there a placement in mind? No. The blond covered under the black hood of his coat just went wherever the railroad took him. Sapphire eyes glancing over to the man reading the newspaper. To the woman talking on her cellphone. To the mother caring for her infant child in her arms.  or giggling couple of noisy teenagers. None of them even notice what’s around them... none of them saw the truth, blinded by blissful ignorant.

                        None of them saw the tiny black fluff of negativity floating around.

           None of them saw the things that was out of alignment. Or things that painted the picturesque of distortion. As distorted as Pablo Picasso’s painting, or those ugly painting of Francis Bacon hung in the gallery. Little things that seemed to move freely, among the ignorant mass of people. And everyday, Ven would watch them, floating by, harmless just... EXISTING . Why did they exist, even he didn’t know. They were a daily thing in his life, having seen them as far as he could remember... the blond had stop questioning what they are. Watching, observing, and standing by. The mass of fluff... spores sometimes it grew in density... and in places scarce. It wasn’t them he usually watched for... it was..

                                                    ... the H U N G R Y  ones that prowls at night.

                         The Malevolent Ravenous ones that made him rode the trains. 

The room...graciously provided for him was small. It contained a bed, a nightstand, a small bookshelf filled with books, a window that peeked out to the empty World. There was another door, leading to the bathroom with the normal bathroom furnishings. It was a boring looking place for someone with actual taste, but standard for the World That Never Was. So empty, so miserable.

Vanitas is almost always sitting on his bed, the shackles around his wrists and even the magic on the door prevented from leaving. A bead of sweat rolled down his face, the magic on the door not only trapped him, but zapped him of all his magical abilities. His head hung, gazing down upon a book he had taken from the bookshelf.

At least Xehanort allowed him to read when he wasn’t forced into a training session with him or the vessels. Or...himself.

The raven haired boy gazed up when he faintly hears the sound of footsteps approaching his door. It was difficult to tell what the time was, considering the fact that time didn’t seem to be a thing here on this World, there was no sun, just eternal night it seemed. However, it was near dinner time, according to his stomach at least. Now who was to bring him food this time...he wasn’t sure. 

//They look awesome!!!!! Nicely done!

YOU SAID THINK ABOUT IT.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I WISH I HADN’T.

A Secret Santa Gift for: @frenziedsteam​ !!

It isn’t much, but I drew Aqua for ya!! Feel free to do whatever you want with it! I really hope you like it!! :D