keychained | [018; video/action for goldenrod]

[hey there, Johto! it's New Year's Eve, and as such the network is receiving a video feed from Father Time himself-- who knows where the hobbling little bearded old man came from, but he's currently curled up warm and toasty leaning up against the inn at Goldenrod, with his hat and his windbreaker and his scarf and his Girafarig blanket and-- wait. it's just Sora.]

[it appears he's wearing as many Christmas presents as he could pile on today (yes, the beard was a Christmas present. it's long and gray and glorious and one of these days he'll notice the stuffed pidgey in there, too). and when he starts speaking, it sounds like Father Time is having a really difficult... time... keeping a straight face.]

... My egg exploded into a dinosaur! See? [the feed turns to reveal a very tiny Tropius-- even though she's just a baby, it's pretty obvious that she's on the small side... probably around knee height to Trainer. the Tropius squeaks in greeting and flaps a leaf like she's trying to wave.]

The pokédex said that these guys start to grow their favorite fruit around their necks because it's the only thing they eat. Sooo, I was wondering... Has anybody seen a star-shaped fruit around? I already checked the stores here, but no luck.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ the last time she'd seen Riku back home, he'd been holding his own body back, yelling at her to run. And the last time she'd seen Sora, she'd been reaching desperately for a hand she couldn't hold onto anymore. Being here with them now, even from their different times-- Kairi hadn't taken any of it for granted. She just hadn't said it.

But she's still too disoriented to dwell on it too much right now, and lets Sora pull her in. At the very least, she'll meet his eyes, looking a little lost. ]

... Which part?

You told me you're always with me, right? Back before we met up in Violet.

Well... I'm always with you, too. So you don't have to worry about me going anywhere-- because I'll always be right here.

That's...

[ ... true. She'd known that, even before he'd said it. Maybe even the reason she'd sought refuge inside of him without consciously realizing it. Kairi's eyes clear a little, and although she's all sorts of tired and feverish, she moves closer. After a minute, she lowers her gaze to her necklace-- her one constant. ]

You were always there... weren't you? Even before I knew it.

[Sora's not really sure what she means by that, but... he's positive that he's not only done his best to be there for Kairi, but he'll continue to be there-- thick or thin, Heartless or human. so he nods, a little smile on his face as he rests his head against the cool pillow.]

'Course, Kairi...

[ She'll tell him soon, about having met Aqua and the spell put on her necklace that had saved her-- brought her to Sora and Riku. Even if she doesn't remember it, she'd somehow known that Aqua was telling the truth. She'd been the one to connect them at the moment, even if none of them had known it. ]

... Yeah. [ she wriggles just a bit closer, but that's about all she can manage. She's too tired to lift her head off the blanket or risk dislodging the washcloth. ] Thanks, Sora.

Don't...

[there's no need to think him, he means, but Sora's practically falling asleep himself. he curls up, fumbling around for a minute and drawing the blankets over the both of them.]

[ Kairi's perfectly content to curl up against him, still generally a mess but a comfortable one. If it was Sora or Riku, she'd never had any problem with proximity. And, after a few seconds of shallow breathing and settling in her spot, she breathes a sigh and she's out.

Hopefully the food will still be okay by the time they're a little less fail. ]

[018; video/action for goldenrod]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]