[normally his optimistic nature would say that it's not so bad and maybe it's that simple, but for once something tugs in the back of his head. they have no way of knowing how to collect the nova, and yet the team who collects the most nova gets any sort of unlimited wish.]
Either that, or the way we collect the nova is a lot harder than we think it's going to be. They said they were like memories, didn't they?
[it's fine. but also, he knows she has a point. it won't be easy at all, and in fact he has to wonder just how complicated this is going to be. if they're meant to work together, why split up into teams at all?
it doesn't make any sense, and it's why he doesn't respond for a second as he thinks over the possibilities.]
I don't care how hard it's going to be. We have to do it, don't we? Otherwise everything we know will fall apart.
What if...[there it is. the "if", the question of possibilities that might not be real. she will have to get used to him asking these, probably.] What if we find a way to make sure we don't forget? There's gotta be something we can do.
Um...[hm...he looks toward the ceiling, hands behind his head as he racks his brain for an idea.] Oh! There's that note app on our PHS things isn't there? Maybe we can write stuff down that we really want to remember.
[he is. so smart.] When we were traveling across the worlds, Jiminy wrote down everything about the places we went and the people we met. Even when we forgot some of it, there was still a note that gave us a hint of what to do next.
[ oh, that's actually not a bad idea! she digs around in her robesleeves for her phs. ]
Good idea. Though that doesn't really help if there's stuff we forget that we didn't know we wanted to remember. [ a beat. ] Wait, are you telling me you had your own hint NPC just wandering around with you?
Good point. But at least we'll guarantee we remember the most important things no matter what. [and even then, the heart won't completely forget but he doesn't say that to her yet.]
It's not really like that. Jiminy was traveling with Donald and Goofy while they were out looking for the Keyblade, so when we all met he helped us out by keeping track of everything.
[....so yeah it's actually just like that, but whatever.]
[ stop you're going to fuckin ruin me with this heart won't completely forget stuff i'm too soft ]
So like, a hint NPC. [ she says, tapping through her phs. ]
Hey - uh. Someone offered this for me so I guess I'll offer it for you too. Is there any memory you want me to hold on to for you? Something I can try to give you the details on, if you forget.
[he kind of wants to argue that jiminy's not an npc but the cricket becomes less important when she suddenly offers him something like that. it's a lofty sort of thing, an offer that doesn't come lightly and for a moment he's caught between being grateful that she asked and scared to take the offer. if he has his way, his memories will stay and he won't lose them at all.
but...it's not like it hasn't happened before. blocks of time he doesn't remember at all, mysterious messages that hinted at things that happened. it wouldn't be smart to let the offer go to waste. not when it was something so important.
so after probably the longest span of silence, he moves to reach into his pocket and comes up with a charm. he doesn't offer it to her or anything, but he holds it flat in his hand as he stares at it.]
...all of my friends are important, but there are two that matter the most. My journey started the day I lost both of them. I didn't know what to do or how to find them. Becoming a Keyblade wielder wasn't supposed to happen, but when the Heartless came and destroyed our island, and we got separated, I was able to summon it.
After that, I woke up on a whole new world. I didn't know how I got there or where my friends were or what I was supposed to do. I was completely alone until Donald and Goofy found me. They were supposed to find the Key as an order from the King because it could lock worlds and protect them from being destroyed like mine was. [there's more to it than that, but it's the condensed version.] At first, I only agreed to go with them to try and find my friends. But they became my friends, too.
...it felt like such a long time before I saw either of them again, and even when I did things kept happening and they would slip right out of my hands. I would find one, but the other would be just out of reach. And if I left the other behind, they would be taken from me, too. More things continued to happen and more worlds needed to be saved. I couldn't return to my island for a while...I didn't want to go back until all of us could be together again.
I'd do anything just to make sure they stay safe. They're my strength. One of them protected me from the dark, and the other was the light that guided me back. [and now, finally, he brings a hand up to his heart with the charm carefully pressed to him.] Even when we were apart...they've always been with me. I know they have. But I don't ever, ever want to forget anything about them, or that I have to go home to them someday.
Riku and Kairi. That's what I don't ever want to forget.
[ sora is so, so sincere, and she really does her best to not react like this amount of honesty and emotion about his friends is making her want to squirm out of her skin. he's a good kid, he doesn't deserve it, and like, she asked.
instead, she fiddles with her hair, staring at the charm until sora pulls it to his chest. ]
Well - I can't make any promises about you seeing them again, because that's way out of my wheelhouse. But I can remember those names for you, sure. Riku and Kairi.
[like. it wouldn't be the first time he was called out on his sappiness but usually that's by bad guys so thanks for keeping a lid on it, lup. but he seems to perk up when she speaks, looking up suddenly to face her.]
Thank you. That's all I need to remember. [there's a slight smile then.] Besides, I have to give this back to her somehow.
[.......so maybe there's also a little more than friendship there, too, but shh. don't embarrass him.]
[NO LEAVE HIM ALONE AHHHHHHH. he leans back like he's suddenly baffled and it's possible that he is. also now that she's closer she can see that the charm even sort of looks like him. gross.]
It's--[he's about to say it's not like that except hm. well. it sort of is? it's hard to explain but he does care about her very much, more than anything. so. he just remains flustered for a bit.] It's her lucky charm. After I found her again the first time and brought her somewhere safe, she gave it to me to hold on to until I could make it back home.
Yeah...I know. [and now he sounds a little morose, like he's thinking of something, but it's quick to disappear with a smile.] I won't keep her waiting. Not again.
Atta boy. [ she reaches over to nudge him. ] Look, I don't say this often, but I think if anybody is annoyingly optimistic enough to brute force their way to seeing a long lost friend again, it's you. Good luck.
[he lets it happen like he's used to it and his expression grows soft again.]
Thanks. We've always managed to find each other, so this time won't be different. [it can't be.] ...is the memory you want to hold onto a person or a thing?
[he's not expecting her to tell him exactly what it is, but it seems important to ask.]
no subject
You know, like I wish I had a million dollars and then you get a million dollars but it's because your house burned down.
no subject
Either that, or the way we collect the nova is a lot harder than we think it's going to be. They said they were like memories, didn't they?
no subject
And that nova's attracted to people. Whatever that means.
no subject
So...if nova's attracted to people it should be easy to contain somehow. We'll at least know where to find it. If that's true.
[but then what?]
no subject
Can I tell you something, Sora? It is one hundred percent not going to be that easy. Otherwise we wouldn't be here.
no subject
it doesn't make any sense, and it's why he doesn't respond for a second as he thinks over the possibilities.]
I don't care how hard it's going to be. We have to do it, don't we? Otherwise everything we know will fall apart.
no subject
But you're right. There's stuff on the line that I have to care about, so it doesn't matter if it's difficult. I'll do it.
[ a beat. ] Before we forget.
no subject
no subject
Yeah? Like what.
no subject
[he is. so smart.] When we were traveling across the worlds, Jiminy wrote down everything about the places we went and the people we met. Even when we forgot some of it, there was still a note that gave us a hint of what to do next.
no subject
Good idea. Though that doesn't really help if there's stuff we forget that we didn't know we wanted to remember. [ a beat. ] Wait, are you telling me you had your own hint NPC just wandering around with you?
no subject
It's not really like that. Jiminy was traveling with Donald and Goofy while they were out looking for the Keyblade, so when we all met he helped us out by keeping track of everything.
[....so yeah it's actually just like that, but whatever.]
no subject
So like, a hint NPC. [ she says, tapping through her phs. ]
Hey - uh. Someone offered this for me so I guess I'll offer it for you too. Is there any memory you want me to hold on to for you? Something I can try to give you the details on, if you forget.
no subject
but...it's not like it hasn't happened before. blocks of time he doesn't remember at all, mysterious messages that hinted at things that happened. it wouldn't be smart to let the offer go to waste. not when it was something so important.
so after probably the longest span of silence, he moves to reach into his pocket and comes up with a charm. he doesn't offer it to her or anything, but he holds it flat in his hand as he stares at it.]
...all of my friends are important, but there are two that matter the most. My journey started the day I lost both of them. I didn't know what to do or how to find them. Becoming a Keyblade wielder wasn't supposed to happen, but when the Heartless came and destroyed our island, and we got separated, I was able to summon it.
After that, I woke up on a whole new world. I didn't know how I got there or where my friends were or what I was supposed to do. I was completely alone until Donald and Goofy found me. They were supposed to find the Key as an order from the King because it could lock worlds and protect them from being destroyed like mine was. [there's more to it than that, but it's the condensed version.] At first, I only agreed to go with them to try and find my friends. But they became my friends, too.
...it felt like such a long time before I saw either of them again, and even when I did things kept happening and they would slip right out of my hands. I would find one, but the other would be just out of reach. And if I left the other behind, they would be taken from me, too. More things continued to happen and more worlds needed to be saved. I couldn't return to my island for a while...I didn't want to go back until all of us could be together again.
I'd do anything just to make sure they stay safe. They're my strength. One of them protected me from the dark, and the other was the light that guided me back. [and now, finally, he brings a hand up to his heart with the charm carefully pressed to him.] Even when we were apart...they've always been with me. I know they have. But I don't ever, ever want to forget anything about them, or that I have to go home to them someday.
Riku and Kairi. That's what I don't ever want to forget.
no subject
instead, she fiddles with her hair, staring at the charm until sora pulls it to his chest. ]
Well - I can't make any promises about you seeing them again, because that's way out of my wheelhouse. But I can remember those names for you, sure. Riku and Kairi.
no subject
Thank you. That's all I need to remember. [there's a slight smile then.] Besides, I have to give this back to her somehow.
[.......so maybe there's also a little more than friendship there, too, but shh. don't embarrass him.]
no subject
Ooh, she? She, huh? Is that a token? That's like, her handkerchief that she left you! Oh my god, that's precious.
no subject
It's--[he's about to say it's not like that except hm. well. it sort of is? it's hard to explain but he does care about her very much, more than anything. so. he just remains flustered for a bit.] It's her lucky charm. After I found her again the first time and brought her somewhere safe, she gave it to me to hold on to until I could make it back home.
no subject
She has a thing for you, little dude. You better sweep her off her feet when you see her next, she's waiting.
no subject
Yeah...I know. [and now he sounds a little morose, like he's thinking of something, but it's quick to disappear with a smile.] I won't keep her waiting. Not again.
no subject
no subject
Thanks. We've always managed to find each other, so this time won't be different. [it can't be.] ...is the memory you want to hold onto a person or a thing?
[he's not expecting her to tell him exactly what it is, but it seems important to ask.]
no subject
[ she says it immediately. no hesitation. and she's not elaborating, though it might be easy to guess what that person is. ]
no subject
...your heart won't forget him. Even if your mind does.
no subject
He is my heart. You're right.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)