#litoredeem

Ew, it's Riku.

He acknowledges that. More important, he accepts that.

There comes a certain brand of pride he carries despite the natural tug of the 'blues' that want to wade their way in. Sora wasn't the sort however to go and let such emotion serve to triumph above all else. No, for all of the blood, sweat, confusion and tears they waded through, what developed amidst their bond was something that even grappling force of Space itself could never conquer. So much of this unforgettable time found itself beginning on these sunny shores, where a pristine shine, great friends and a loving family had drawn him into the world.

Now, it was time for the nurtured build of Heart to be a blessing for the hands of another, someone who truly saw him at his best and worst of days. They have futures to see, and right now, no greater machination would find the grounds of ever trying to bend or pervade the very gesture. The lively hum of a Gummi ship amidst Destiny Islands, familiar faces, it was an understandable well of emotion growing on this very scene.

Sora would be a liar if he were to say that the same wasn't being experienced through him. Why wouldn't it? After all, it was a surprising first for his perspective, to be at the celebration of his best friend's new journey. It'd be directly upon those same shores he raced upon that he'd find Riku, that studious, firm gaze peering off to drink in the memories of this scenery one more time. Burning it ever deeper into the resolute heart that managed to endure through so much. A few steps upon the sunkissed sands, and without a moment's hesitation, a firm, spirit rousing whap of the hand would be made on their shoulder.

Thus they would remain, an all too familiar size difference still being ignored to this day. A soft sigh would spill from the Keybearer's lips. "So, big shot. I heard for this particular script, you're the one who's taking the main lead and ensuring it gets where it needs to go. A raft of your very own.. Mind you, one I'm giving ya permission to name whatever ya like!"

A bundle of emotion builds once Riku peers over to him, that telltale fondness in his gaze, carried firm by a blatant disregard of his friend's antics. "Joy. Sora, to think all this time the main thing I need was your permission."

To that motion, he'd wind up giving the Master a wink, a nudge, and inevitably the two of them would burst out laughing on the spot. It was the sort of laughter that found itself belly deeper, as if allowing the very currents of their history to flow within this singular moment of action. Everything precious, everything stupid, everything worthwhile. It really dawned to the spiky haired hero just how much has changed, while in the same vein, remained the same this whole time.

Growth just had a lot of surprising ways of teaching them that.

..In truth, it was a little strange, a little natural.

"Riku, if it's you. I know you're gonna do great out there. You showed everything just how much you really changed, right, here." Sora finalizes, drawing his knuckles forward to tap upon that built chest. It would be directly where that vessel of unfathomable potential rests, nestled deep, forever growing with each and every new passing day. The confirmation of it all draws a sense of longing, a sense of peace, but above all else?

There was genuine excitement for this new chapter. For the two of them, there would be no tears for this farewell. Far from it.

When Sora peers up to Riku, tucked within those skylit eyes was a determination that no longer held doubt. A solemn strength that wouldn't buckle to the uncertain, or any worries that such a vast unknown would carry along.

"And man, I'm proud of you. ..This new life of yours, show 'em what you got, alright?"

"This bunch raised from Destiny Island have always been built a lil bit different. So show that off! If I gotta even find a note you're struggling too much out there!" Dramatically furrowing his brow, raising up a dramatized finger in tune..!

It'd immediately be lowered.

"Me, Kairi, our folks.. all of us. We'll be right there to help. Just know we'll always have your back."

"And thank you."

@litoredeem

_____

JAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

I want this to be my big thank you to ya you lug! A nice shoutout to whatever you decide to do from life here on. (not that it's different! Just one less hobby on the menu.) Thank you for giving me that unforgettable RP experience with your muses. From the awesome showdowns with Satsuki, the broships with Riku, not to mention the sweets with Kairi. (Ur Aqua is still a nerd tho.)

It's just been fun, and in kind, you really lit the invigorated fire under my ass to really be putting my best foot forward for the KH Franchise. Just think of this little drabble as a memento you can peek at if the mood reaches you! You've had an impact here, full on awesome and true to our dumbass ways.

There is no subtle way to go about doing this. White Day chocolates, as he had explained, were a display of love. Platonic or otherwise. And though he oft’ tried to rationalize it, that all she had felt probably lingered somewhere between those things, he knew his ears were far too hot to think his feelings were merely friendly.

But he couldn’t just up and give her the chocolates. It was no different from taunting her with ideas of other worlds, that he... unproudly did a little too often. He knew her, grounded as she may be, to be a restless sort. Always needing something to do. Not so dissimilar to him. But what confined her to this ran much deeper than he could ever know.

Most he could do was lead her into the kitchen, show her a recipe, and cast his gaze to the floor when blurting out, “Can... you help me with these?” And the fine print would indicate it. White Day Chocolate. 

Well it’s like Valentine’s day. But... where I come from, it’s on two days, a month apart. White Day is when the guys usually give something. Or whatever.

Or whatever. And now he’s standing in her kitchen asking her to help him make some, or whatever.  “I want to make some with you.” 

Because they’re for you! Say it, you fool!!!

[ White Day ask :) ]

The call of spring rings. From their slumber, the once-dormant tulips, daffodils, and a myriad of wildflowers sprout from the soil, dappling the Folding Valley. As the sun's warmth reaches down and drapes across the peaks, it revives their once-chilled petals and stems, casting a golden wash over the greening canvas of Ingary's most northern landscape.  

On the outskirts of Market Chipping, lingering snow receding reveals damp and fertile soil, signaling the start of the tilling seasons. Eager farmers, readied with their tools and accompanied by sturdy oxen, begin preparations, envisioning the bountiful harvest ahead. With barn doors flung open, livestock revels in their verdant pastures, basking underneath the sun without worrying about the frost threatening their hooves, webbed feet, or paws.

Market Chipping, too, blossomed in the new season. The once-empty farmer's market was slowly repopulating, with regular faces reopening their stalls. Opened windows invite the fresh spring breeze to waft in, carrying the blooming flowers from the valley. Children, no longer burdened by heavy garments, dash through the streets, their laughter and energy contrasting the measured and scheduled paces of the adults around them. The road was loud with life: some townsfolk leisurely enjoying their day, others bustled to their places of work, and still more jogging to their next endeavor. The diligent carries tools -- paintbrushes, buckets, and the like. For this season, spring cleaning also includes spring refreshing! Storefronts receive fresh coats of paint, and window boxes check and replace the old soil and plants with new colorful blossoms. 

In a home tucked away in Market Chipping, the Hatter's cramped house is also shedding its winter coat. The hearth in the entrance room of the home, burning brightly throughout the earlier months with demands of logs, now only has a milder glow, quieter and less demanding. The heavy drapes were pulled back, streaks of once-rare sunlight pooling into the abode's bedrooms, kitchen, and living space. Even on the small round table that makes up the dining space, freshly picked daffodils are in vases, pale yellow petals swaying ever-so-slightly from a cracked window in the kitchen, the one small window above the sink that overlooks the Hatter's small patio. 

Sophie Hatter, the eldest daughter, is folding a large, heavy quilt that warmed the foyer's couch throughout long and quiet winter nights. When Martha and Lettie were much younger, Sophie, as the eldest sister, took to her sewing needles and worked throughout the rest of the seasons to prepare for the girls shivering and crawling into her bed to get through the frigid nights. As the two got older, the quilt was in the supply closet or folded over the couch's back-support cushions.

Every square of the quilt holds a different story, from a first-failed snowflake, pine trees, frosty leaves, and several simple solid colors, all of which have faded with time. Methodically, Sophie's hands smooth out each section, her index finger tracing the pattern, drawing her lips into her mouth. 

How much time has passed...

"Thank you for your services," Sophie sighs with a soft smile. She folds the last corner of the quilt and holds it over her forearm. 

A gentle voice, filled with hesitation, meets Sophie's ears. Typically, personal inquiries would be met with a slight frown and some reticence on her part. However, today, the pervasive nostalgia averts that reaction.

Riku, the man who hailed and traveled from the stars and from a place she could only dream of visiting, glances towards her. His eyes dart away when he realizes her undivided attention is on him. 

"Ah.." Sophie muses. Inspecting the quilt, she pinches one corner and, with delicate motion, rids of any wrinkles with a quick wrist flick. "Baking is a pastime I've enjoyed since childhood. However," she chuckles softly, "you might be asking the wrong Hatter."

"You might have seen her in Cersari's anytime you've been in town, Mister Riku.--" Speaking obliquely, the eldest sister is reminded of her younger sister's compromising situation. The baking genius is now at the bakery, but she was not assigned to take an apprenticeship there! 

Ah, the convoluted tale of Martha and Lettie switching places remains a secret. Only Sophie is aware of this circumstance and was sworn to secrecy. 

Even Mother has yet to take notice. In complete oblivious bliss. However, when has she seen what her daughters wanted? When has she actually noticed them..? 

"Although," she continues, a warmer genuine smile emerging, her eyes squinting. "Take that not as an indication that I've ceased baking. Any moment I can, I will esteem my siblings." 

As Riku shifts, moving further into the house, Sophie's attention ricochets to him. Setting the quilt aside, she whispers, "Mister Riku," before pursuing after him. 

A man of few words and many actions, his movement was nothing to be ignored! They both quietly weave through and enter the kitchen. 

"If you are parched, you could simply ask for a drink," Sophie remarks with a raised eyebrow. With her hands resting on her hips, she observes Riku rummaging through his pockets.

He carefully flattens the crumpled paper with his black-gloved hands before extending it towards her. Avoiding her gaze, he silently offers it for her perusal. Sophie gently takes a corner, steadying the paper as she scans the written words. 

"White Day," the name lingers on her lips, query implied, as her eyes heavy on the paper. A recent memory surfaces: the woman born far from the ocean yet seemingly carries sea salt in her spirit; the rare individual capable of brightening the often solemn countenance of the key bearer; the one back in Riku's home. 

"Is that what it is?" She murmurs. "On Valentine's Day, one presents something to their beloved. If these days are interconnected, is White Day a kind of 'reciprocating or response day for men who received something on Valentine's Day?" She blinks. "Assuming that you specify 'guys,' as you put it, giving something on this day means that women initiate the gesture on Valentine's Day." 

An uncharacteristically loud inhale from the nostrils comes from Sophie upon hearing Riku's simple request. It felt as 'simple' as turning felt back into its original wool form. It is as straightforward as crafting a tapestry without the aid of a loom. Or as effortless as hand-spinning raw cotton straight from the plant.

How would she prevail in hiding the sharp prickling in her chest? It burns like vile, burning the insides of her throat. She gazes around the vacant kitchen, seeking a semblance of grounding. The burgeoning dread, she swallows it back; it is one incomprehensible from the point of origin, but all at the same time, it feels too intimate.

"Of course, Mister Riku," each word is drawn out. When Sophie's eyes find his cerulean eyes, they are the deepest sea she has ever seen. Sophie's gaze returns to the cerulean eyes, the deepest sea she has ever seen. Perhaps that was the cruel irony: a girl from the Folding Valley, so removed from the sea, could never make it there. Too far, never meant to be.

"I would do anything for you," her voice wavers, barely above a whisper. Her breath hitches, and she quickly adds to recover: "To help you bake the chocolates!" 

Kiss Roulette Answered

"Riku...! Riku....!" Strelitzia called out, hands on his shoulders, shaking him. Trying to will him awake, she frantically searched over his body, taking in every wound and making sure none of them were life threatening. Lacerations cut through his skin, bruises littered his arms and face and a cut on his lips bled down his chin. He looked worse for wear, which only panicked her further.

He had gone above and beyond to ensure she was safe, and had stepped right into the middle of a Heartless attack when he saw her struggling to fight back. How could she not be grateful and not worry about her savior?

"Please wake up...!" She leaned in close, pressing her ear to his chest for any sign of a pulse, his body laying limp in her arms. Luckily, the faintest sound of his heart thumping was enough for her know he was alive, and she sighed with relief, glad to know that there was still a chance to return the favor and save him, too.

Then she felt a hand on her head, jolting her away from his chest to look at him. She met his tired gaze and gasped, surprised to see him awake despite how crucial his battle wounds were.

Though it was strange, it was as though he wasn't truly seeing her.

"D-Don't worry, Riku...! Just a moment and I'll heal you, okay?! You're going to be fine!" She said, letting him know that she was there for him and she wasn't going to go anywhere until she helped him. Reaching into her pack, she helplessly scoured through her wares until she found a potion. Grabbing the lip of the bottle, she was about to pull it out when she heard him whisper a name that stopped her in her tracks.

She paused, turning her gaze back to him. Was he calling out for his friend? Did he need her help? Maybe he wanted someone more capable on the battlefield with him...

"Did you want me to call--" But she never got a chance to finish what she was going to say.

That hand that had been on the back of her head slid its way to her nape, pulling her down faster before she could stop him or question him, her body falling atop of him. His lips found hers in a sudden kiss that seized her body, stiffening up from shock.

Then his body went limp once more, giving her the chance to pull away and wipe her lips with the back of her hand, her wide eyed gaze staring, bewildered, at the boy who just kissed her and... possibly confused her for someone else.

❝ Hey! ❞ SHOVES HIM. ❝ I'm not that small, you big jerk! ❞