On being accepted at asgardeventide and his mun's impatience |D;

[dataprotector]

I would apologize, but you seem rather excited to hear my voice again. Still, I hope that I won't take too much of your time away from my Original. You should rather focus on him, than on a mere memory.

I'm still not sure what purpose I could serve at that place you send me to, especially now that I'm no longer truly who I was meant to be... but I guess we might figure it out together along the way.

Don't rush into it though; I know you can't wait to throw me into the middle of things, but right now it will be better to wait and observe just a bit longer.

There is much to learn about this world and I would appreciate to be given the time to orientate myself before taking any kind of action.

Thank you.

Comments

[lethechained]

Welcome to the city.

[dataprotector]

[Oh, it's her... one of those that have been hurting. And... also the one that added a few extra pages to the journal. Not that he minds.

He has memories of her, of course, of Castle Oblivion, but... this is still the first time he meets her. Even if this maybe doesn't count quite yet.]

Thank you, Naminé.

[abovetheprogram]

Don't worry, Riku! I'm sure you and your mun'll figure out something to do there!

[Not worried at all here, bro.]

[dataprotector]

[Optimistic as always, aren't you, Sora?]

I suppose, we will.

[There are quite a few people of interest around after all, and even if he isn't data anymore, he will hopefully find a way to help them and the worlds, even if only just a little.]

[lethechained]

[She nods, smile staying in place. She... isn't exactly proud of the trouble she's caused him, but there are other matters to attend to, right now. Apologies can come later.]

It's nice to finally meet you. [Though her mind follows a similar path;] Or, it will be.

[trinitylimit]

Oh man, everyone's gonna be so surprised. No one expects Riku to have a copy hanging around! Especially one so little.

[dataprotector]

[He would never think of blaming her or consider it necessary for her to apologize; in a way she is maybe the reason why he had been given the responsibility to guard the memory from within the pages in first place and her message had been a truly important one.

The truth she had hidden... he is glad if he had been able to help relaying it to the right people.]

Likewise. I only hope that I'll be able to help you and the others like this.

[dataprotector]

Probably. Though I'm glad that it won't be quite so easy to mistake us... I wouldn't want to cause trouble for you or the Original.

[lethechained]

[All of the people in the data seem so... forgiving of her transgressions. She doesn't regret sending that message; the price of not doing so was too great. But that doesn't mean she doesn't wish things could have been different, less painful for all involved.]

You'll still be welcome, no matter what.

[trinitylimit]

You won't cause trouble! Not like that Data Roxas. What a jerk.

[abovetheprogram]

[Always, Riku. Always. Gotta make up for when you're worrying or guilt tripping yourself.]

It sounds like a really cool place! I bet you'll make some new friends there too.

[All he knows is he's heard is that there's a bunch of people and ngl that sounds awesome.]

[dataprotector]

[If she hadn't, who knows... maybe they would have ended up on a shelf in Disney Castle and ultimately been forgotten. The datascape might not have been created like does now. So all in all, they probably have reason to be grateful.]

...Thank you.

[Really what else can he say; for someone like him - a memory, a mirror image, a now broken records of things that were - to be so readily accepted...]

[dataprotector]

[That guy, huh...? To be honest, he is actually quite curious to meet him. He is not surprised by Sora's opinion of him, but...]

That sounds like him, I suppose. Though you should know that probably can't be helped.

[Not considering the other's task.]

[lethechained]

[Possibly, yes. It might help to temper her guilt, but... that won't get rid of it. She tilts her head slightly.]

You're welcome. [In more ways than one.]

... Have you heard, yet? About-- who else is there?

[dataprotector]

[Probably. He's definitely thankful for that.]

I'll certainly try my best to.

[Seems like he is getting the chance to venture out and meet people now... talk about role reversal, huh?]

[trinitylimit]

He's pretty angry about what happened to Roxas. I don't know why he's coming after me though. It wasn't my fault.

[abovetheprogram]

[Anytime, bff]

... So what kind of place are you going to anyways?

[Yeah, now Riku gets to go out there and make connections and bonds. Hopefully he'll have better memory for it than Sora did. Not that Sora minds - the connection will always be there, because feelings don't go away.]

[darkbreak]

Well, at least someone's willing to sit and wait a bit. Mun's too impatient to see your arrival.

[You know, before everyone has brainbreak all over again.]

[darkbreak]

[...Excuse me?]

...'Little'?

[trinitylimit]

Look how small you were! Gosh, you looked so big back then.

[darkbreak]

That's cause I'll always be bigger than you, shrimp. Doesn't matter when or how old you are.

...He's probably taller than you, actually.

[trinitylimit]

No way! I got at least an inch on him. Besides, you're older so it's normal for you to be taller! I'll catch up before you know it.

[darkbreak]

[Scoffing] You do know that using your hair spikes is cheating, right?

Only in your dreams, Sora. Until then, you make the best armrest I know.

[trinitylimit]

Some best friend you are, using me as furniture. Okay, I'll be your armrest if you beeee... my punching bag!

[darkbreak]

Heeeey, no no no. I'm not agreeing to this. I've been your training partner for years. I'm not taking both your blades and your fists to my face.

[trinitylimit]

Aww, come on, you know I wouldn't hit you in the face. Have I ever really hurt you?

[darkbreak]

Fine. To the gut. Whichever one you can reach.

[Do you see that smile on his face, Sora? The trolly kind that's slowly creeping up?]

Well... there was that one time.

[trinitylimit]

[Riku is so good at getting under his skin. Or maybe he's letting him because he's his friend. Whatever, they're both having fun so he can't complain.]

That time doesn't count, it was an accident. You're bad at dodging.

[darkbreak]

You're bad at trying to miss your best friend.

[Nah, Riku totally knows it was his fault. But he likes to riff with Sora and egg him on every once and a while.]

[dataprotector]

It is not that I prefer to sit back, but I'd rather like to at least have an idea of what purpose I might serve in that world.

[Since he is aware of what kind of 'brainbreak' his presence is likely to cause. Reasons why he had never event thought of striving to leave the datascape.]

Mine is probably just as impatient I think, but thankfully understanding enough for now at least.

[darkbreak]

Join the club. None of us have a real purpose in that world beyond what they've 'chosen' for us.

At least one of them is. These girls get awfully silly when they're impatient.

[dataprotector]

Maybe, but...

[Everyone else (not counting ???) has always been real. They are meant to be real. He on the other hand is a memory... a frozen image of what once existed. How can it really be alright for him to be in a 'real' world, to co-exist with the Original when he has nothing constructive to offer?

He just shakes his head.]

I suppose they do.

[dataprotector]

['Coming after' Sora, huh? Now why does that sound familiar.]

It... might not be just connected to that. You shouldn't worry too much.

[dataprotector]

Supposedly, it is a place tied to all worlds. The gods of that world are bringing in people regardless from their world or time and replace their powers to make them compatible to Asgard. Apparently they are preparing for some sort of war...

[Or so his mun is telling him.

Fffhhhh as said, he'll certainly try his best. Even though, he suspects that he won't be quite as successful at it as Sora would be.]

[dataprotector]

[He hesitates a moment, then nods.]

...I have.

[lethechained]

[It takes her a moment longer than it otherwise might for her to speak, and she spends that moment regarding him. Her expression is benign, even friendly, although she feels a hint of tension.]

What will you do?