first quake ☆ first text then video because tower's network is a troll

[handstands]

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hello?|

search: location|

results not found

search: where is this?|

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[then, to the sound of furious typing, the video feed starts. for anyone who knows the Tower well enough, it looks like the terminal in use is in the third floor library. the one using is is a frustrated-looking young man, typing very fast without noticing that he's being recorded and getting more and more irritated, until--]

Oh.

[--he looks up, mildly surprised. he shifts uncomfortably, slightly embarrassed:]

Hello? [he clears his throat.] My name is Terra. Is anyone there? I came here from-- [he stares, mouth forming the next words, but his expression darkens and he clearly changes his mind, shaking his head.]

What is this place? [a pause.] Is this world dealing with monsters that you can't control? I can-- [--nope, he can't. Terra's jaw visibly clenches.]

I may be able to help. But... Please. I need answers. [whatever thoughts were distracting him finally catch up for a moment:] I shouldn't be here. This isn't possible.

[he shakes his head again, before fixing the feed with a firm stare:] Thank you for any help.

Comments

video; 1/3

[keybearer]

[... Hold on.

Brb, trying to process this.

It's... it's him. It's really, really him.]

video;

[keybearer]

[At least, it looks like him. The way he remembers him... granted, those are ten year old memories, but...

Okay, pardon Riku if he's staring a bit. He doesn't really realize that he is. Um.]

video;

[keybearer]

[Okay, he should just... pull himself together. Keep it cool. First impressions are important.

Right, he'll, um. Clear his throat.]

I might be able to fill you in.

[... ... ...]

But I think that's something we'd better discuss in person.

[handstands]

[Terra's expression doesn't change, except for a twitch of an eyebrow.]

...Okay. I don't know where I am, besides from "a library".

Action!

[drknss_bnd_lght]

[Ventus was on his way out of the library when he heard Terra. And he froze, hand clenching as the last memory of the teen came to mind. That of being dragged away to a wasteland then 'left' to face Vanitas on his own.

First Aqua, now Terra. Ventus isn't sure if this is 'his' or not. Aqua wasn't the one he knew - but it doesn't matter, does it? He still dislikes his former friend, his or not.] The tower.

[Please don't mind an older version of your bff. just with a blindfold and unreadable look standing not that far away, hand on the nearest thing.] A tower of nightmares.

AKSHEEOWNES

[handstands]

[so because he didn't hear anybody behind him Terra jumps a little and whirls around and stares--]

...Ven?

[almost complete disbelief, but not negative; Terra barely registers the blindfold because he knows that face and voice too well. he scrambles to get off the chair and hurry over, his arms outstretched like he was asking for an explanation.]

Ven, you're here--

[there's happiness creeping into that disbelief; let's face it, Terra had a sneaking doubt that he'd never see his best friends again, trapped as he was until now. he reaches out and places a gentle hand on Ven's shoulder--]

<3 oh yea. can has http://drknss-bnd-lght.dreamwidth.org/2403.html? filled out please?

[drknss_bnd_lght]

Ventus. [He hates that nickname. Hates it so much. His Vanitas used and twisted it so that it was more of a mockery than anything.] Not Ven, never Ven.

[You don't have the right call me that. Not that he says it, but it... might be there in his tone.

Of course, when Terra moves, Ventus moves backwards - not because of the touch, but just as a reaction to hearing, what is for him, someone who 'betrayed' him. It is nothing personal Terra, but - this Ventus? is broken. And if Terra can sense it --the light of Ventus' heart's far darker than it should be too - scarred (not tainted), heavily, by darkness.]

video;

[pitiedthefool]

You're in the Tower, and you aren't alone. What would you like to know?

[And then he spares a nod.] Yu Narukami. Nice to meet you, Terra-san.

[handstands]

--I'm not sure you could answer what I really want to ask. To keep it simple - what's going on here?

[pitiedthefool]

You've been brought here by the same people as everyone else, they claim to have "saved" us from our worlds being destroyed. They seem to like playing games with us, so I doubt it's true.

There are monsters roaming the tower though they're most active at night, a restaurant that asks for body parts- [He tries to think of how to word it...]

...and you might see doubles of people you know.

voice;

[attheclocktower]

[Xion's taking a break from her book search to check the computer terminal, and when she runs across this entry... well. It sounds like a new arrival. She turns the feed on to reply.]

Hello.

[She hesitates] I'm... not sure I can answer all your questions but... There are monsters here. They tend to come out a lot more at night, and they seem to be from a lot of the different worlds people are from.

Like there are some from the worlds I know called the Heartless.

[There's another pause, before...] If you just got here, I can help with that too.

[After that she falls silent, though... wait is he in the Library too? It looks like it, judging by the video feed... She glances around behind her, seeing if she can spot him in any of the other terminals.]

[handstands]

[instantly alert] Hey.

[he almost feels like he's hearing double of her voice, so he looks around--] How has everyone been dealing with these monsters? And...I'd appreciate any help.

[attheclocktower]

[Yeah, that's definitely the library. She thinks she might see him too, on a terminal quite a ways away, though she should probably not just... walk over. Not yet at least.]

The monsters never go into our rooms at night, or the bathrooms. The best way we've found to stay safe at night is to stay in them. There's no other way to stay safe that I know of, unless you can fight or protect yourself some way. Some of the monsters are really tough though. [She thinks about the one that she and Sora and the other Riku had been fighting, three-on-one, that ended with Sora getting knocked out, and herself with a dislocated shoulder, before they'd given up and retreated.]

I'm in the Library too. I can be there in a little bit... if you want.

[Video]

[forceless]

[Nope he's not even paying attention to the text fumble or something about monsters or what even, he's just focused on one thing.]

T-Terra?!

[He was here and he was alive.]

I-Is that really you?!

[handstands]

Ven--

[okay that last encounter was ALL KINDS OF PAINFUL but this one sounds genuinely interested in seeing him and oh god his heart]

Ven, I'm-- Yeah. It's me. I'm here-- Where are you?

[god that was horrible. and he came from a horrible place. and he's confused and upset and CONFUSED and oh god little bro]

[forceless]

I'm-- I'm in the library...! [His voice was already breaking up a bit, oh geez he wasn't going to cry.]

A-Are you here too? [He definitely wasn't imagining things, right?]

[Not Here]

[justabignobody]

[But. uhm... staring just as much as the other Riku. Just not in front of a running camera.

But yeah. He's just gonna trust his double to handle explaining everything and hope that he doesn't forget about certain things this time around. >.>. And well. Do other things. While, you know, feeling kind of maybe even more guilty and usual.]

[Not Here]

[handstands]

[don't be like that bro come here for comforting talks]

[Not Here]

[justabignobody]

[Uhm, how about no. Too much awkward. and guilt. He's had enough of that in the last two weeks.

Also, gdi leave the hair alone. :|]

[Text]

[lethechained]

[Another new arrival, then.]

[She shouldn't be surprised, she supposes, but it's still more than a little jarring to see that particular familiar face on the screen.]

[So shortly after Master Xehanort's appearance, too. The coincidence, if it can be assumed to be such, makes her thoroughly uncomfortable. Still, she doesn't intend to leave this be. (There's a reason she keeps to text, though.)]

I can try to answer your questions.

text;

[handstands]

They've been mostly answered, thank you. I'd like any information about this place that isn't part of the obvious questions, though.

[Text]

[lethechained]

[Ah. Well, good for him, then.]

You're welcome. I'm glad you've gotten help.

[... She should probably warn him that,]

There are dangerous people here.

[video] [locked to Terra]

[prayerless]

[She's on the feed almost immediately, wearing a look of shock.]

Terra?

[She doesn't dare get too happy to see him just yet. Even if it is him, she has bad news that he needs to be informed of.]

[handstands]

Aqua! [oh my god so much relief]

You really are here--!

[prayerless]

[Despite everything weighing on her, she can't help but smile at his sincere relief.]

Yeah, I am.

It's so good to see you again.

[She'd been wondering if there was no chance she'd ever see him again, if it had been this long without the Tower turning him up.]