asgardchrysalis | Bound by chains of memory

Entry tags:

kingdom hearts - sora

Bound by chains of memory

Who: Sora & open
What: Memory plot/event.
When: late in the month of February
Where: around Asgard
Warnings: cute bitties Sora and Riku, sparring and hurting each other I guess. Sora stabbing himself at Hollow Bastion and becoming a Heartless are I guess the biggest ones here at the moment.

a: Destiny Islands; BBS Era

[Sora is about four, Riku a year older at five and as always, thus taller, bigger, stronger and faster. Not that this stops Sora from trying, as they play together on their play Island back at Destiny Islands. They're on the beach, going at each other with wooden swords. Sora does his best in attacking, though Riku blocks, and then it's Sora's turn on the defense. He's not as strong, but he definitely seems to be coming into his own the more they practice over the years. As he gets more experience, gets to know how Riku fights. And his own style starts to form.

He gets knocked back though, this time, whimpering and clumsily wiping at his bleeding nose. Of course playing like this it is inevitable one of them get hurt. The memory fades then, being short as it is.]

b: Destiny Islands; Older.

[Riku and Sora are older this time, a year or so younger than currently at Asgard. They're now joined by a girl with red hair at the Paopu Island, usually Riku's spot, as they all sit or stand against the tree, talking about their desire to leave, see what else is out there and what they might find when they finish their raft.]

c: Destruction of Destiny Islands

[Sora finds Riku, in the midst of the Heartless taking over their home. Riku talks about how this is their chance to leave, how they might never see their parents again but this was a chance they had to take. He says how Kairi is coming with them, something about a door being opened. Sora seems less sure, but does try to reach for Riku when Darkness starts to consume them.]

Riku....?!

d: Hollow Bastion; Freeing Kairi's Heart

[Sora defeats the possessed Riku, still unable to unlock the Keyhole there in Hollow Bastion. He needs to free Kairi's heart from his own, hers having taken refuge there in the middle of the destruction of their home, Destiny Islands. He uses the Keyblade Riku had that he'd claimed unlocked hearts, stabbing himself in the chest in order to free her heart and return her to herself again. The last thing he hears is Donald and Goofy calling his name, before he seems to disappear. He feels himself falling into Darkness.

At the cost of Sora himself becoming a Shadow Heartless, wandering the castle until he finds her again and she returns him to normal.]

e: Traverse Town; Reuniting with Riku for the first time since leaving home

[Sora's kind of ecstatic to have Riku back, all but pouncing and putting his fingers in Riku's mouth as if to reassure himself the other is really there. They talk about how they need to find Kairi still and how Sora has a new weapon - the Keyblade. Sora invites Riku to come with him, Donald and Goofy with the Gummi Ship but Riku wanders off on him.]

f: Sora meets Donald and Goofy

[Sora is running around minding his own business when the duck and dog just. Literally fall on top of him. And then they have to fight a huge armored Heartless. Because nothing forges a friendship like that, right? Even if Donald and Goofy are initially more in it for the Keyblade, since King Mickey told them to find the one wielding it.]

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A false memory? How would that happen?

[He doesn't get how terrifying this might be for her. How guilty she feels for everything now. He doesn't know her role in it all. Maybe more just confused, perhaps wondering if the gods had done something perhaps. Not so much thinking she had anything to do with this herself.]

The time I was asleep? You mean when I woke up and we found that note to thank you in Jiminy's journal?

[ The girl wilts visibly at his initial question, hesitating before murmuring a soft, 'Well...' that she never actually follows up with anything. In her demeanor there are other signs of how unnerved she is, even if the reasons why are hard to assess; she hands are curled into anxious fists, for one thing. There might even be some relief for her in being asked a question she can answer, because she's quick to confirm, ]

Yes, that's when I mean.

[ Maybe that puts her at more risk of him putting two and two together, but she's already skirting the edge of this as it is. ]

A lot happened during that year. [ Even now, when she has other worries, her voice is a little sad. ] And just before it. Like I said, it's... hard for me to explain everything.

[ Actually, strictly speaking she called it a long story, but-- the sentiment is the same. Her fists curl just a bit tighter as she confesses, ]

I'm sorry, Sora. I wish I could tell you more, but...

[ For his sake, she doesn't dare. ]

It's okay. I just thought, since I was confused, I should check with you because you'd know about the memory or something.

[Sora's just confused. Still. False memories? But he at least did get an answer from her that she never was really on the Island, like he had originally figured since he didn't remember her being there before now.]

You can't tell me because you're not sure where to start or.....? It's okay. You don't have to get all tense and worked up. It's just me.

[Sora tries to reassure her, reaching a gloved hand on top of her clenched fists, to try help her relax.]

[ Naminé gives her head a small shake, lips parting in subtle, self-conscious surprise. ]

No - you were right to come to me. I'd want to know about anything like this that happens to you.

[ Whether she can provide him as much comfort as she wants to or not. As he speaks again she repeats her earlier gesture, headshake growing firmer. ]

It's not that...! [ Her eyes follow his hand, and once it settles on hers, her fingers curl a little tighter, then relax as she concentrates on forcing them to. ] I know you wouldn't be angry with me.

[ Although that has everything to do with him, with his nature, and nothing to do with whether or not she feels she deserves for him to be angry with her. Exhaling a quiet breath, she makes the same effort to relax her shoulders. ]

The truth is... [ She knows she'll tell him this much, at least, and yet still she hesitates, lips poised for a moment before she finally allows the words to pass through them. ] ... That you forgot the things that you did because you were supposed to forget them.

[ Frown prominent on her features, she carefully removes one of her hands from under his and places it gently against the top of his knuckles, her palm down. ]

And it's very - very important, [ she continues, expression grim as she meets his eyes, ] ... for those memories to stay buried.

I was...supposed to?

[Sora's not sure what to make of that. It's....unnerving, to say the least. That he can't remember. That there was the ability to mess with memories like this, here and back home. But whatever her reasons, whatever the reasons were for him forgetting, it obviously happened for a reason. So even as he frowns in confusion and tilts his head, he then gives an eventual nod.]

If you can't tell me, you can't.

[ She confirms it with a nod and a soft, 'yes,' though her eyes never stray from his face. Closely she watches him, studying him for any sign that he might disagree. He'd be well within his rights, she thinks, to be bothered by the idea of so much time being lost from his mind.

But there's an obvious relief on her features when he accepts it, and she doesn't quite manage to hold in the small exhale of her held breath. ]

Thank you, [ she tells him with subtle emphasis, earnest. ] I hoped you'd understand.

[ Her momentary gladness, however, ebbs again quickly as her brow begins to knit anew. While they're discussing this as close to openly as possible, she admits with some reluctance, ]

But... that's what has me worried. It's just so strange - for one of those memories to appear again so suddenly. I don't know what it means, or what could have caused it...! So for now-- please, try not to think about it.

[ For the sake of not pulling up any other memories intended to be lost. Her hand tightens just a little around his, beseechingly. ]

Can you do that?

You think I might remember more? If I do, should I just come see you again about it?

[If he already remembered one thing he wasn't supposed to somehow? He doesn't mean to cause her to be so worried and all about him, and isn't sure what might happen if he keeps remembering more of these false memories. But he purses his lips, giving a nod of agreement anyway that he would try not to dwell on it too much. At the least, if not because it was confusing then for her sake.]

[ Naminé begins to shake her head, but it's not to negate the idea of him having further memories; rather, she's left a bit at a loss by this whole situation. ]

It's hard for me to say. Until I know why it's happening, and whether this has to do with Asgard, or whether it has to do with you, I can't be sure what to expect.

[ It looks as though saying as much troubles her, yet she musters a serious expression through her worry. ]

Still, there... is a chance that you might. And if you do, then-- yes, tell me as soon as you can. Whatever's going on, I want to do my best to help, even if it might be hard here.

Hm....I'm not sure either. What to make of this. If it's a problem, maybe if you're not sure, the gods might be able to help?

[They were pretty powerful after all? He's not sure if they might be powerful enough to mess with memories like this though. If it is something that they did to him or something wrong with him in him somehow now accessing these false memories somehow for some reason even if he shouldn't be able to. He doesn't want to worry her like this.....]

But....even if it wasn't real, if it was false....that wasn't a bad memory.

Maybe... [ she agrees slowly, and yet she doesn't look as though she's eager to take up that plan. Her mouth tightens into a line, a subtle shake of her head supporting the insinuation of her expression. ]

But this is something I'd rather keep between us. [ Although saying as much makes her feel as though she's admitting to having done something wrong. Trying not to shift in place too guiltily, ] I'm not sure what their reaction would be, or what they might do.

[ It could do more harm than good, is what she's saying, since there's no telling what the gods can and can't actually manage. As preoccupied as she is by all of that, however, she's not so much so that his comment doesn't make her stop. Blinking, she glances back up at him with an almost startled expression. ]

It wasn't?

[ Oh, she'd made it not to be, made it to be a meaningful recollection from childhood with good connotations, and yet to hear him say that unsolicited makes her feel... strange, in a pleasant kind of way. ]

But if it's not just me, shouldn't they know so they can figure out what's going on so they can fix things?

[Sora isn't sure if this was just something with him, given she talks about his false memories or something. Or if this was something impacting others as well, not just being specifically an issue he was dealing with. He gives a small nod, even a slight smile in answer.]

No. It was....nice. That feeling like I could protect you.

[Given everything that happened back home, that he still had to do yet. In saving everyone.]

If it isn't just you, then surely they'll find out from the others.

[ Frown still firmly in place, she lets out a little of her shame in a quiet sigh. ]

You're a... special case, after all.

[ And after so long fretting over getting his memories into just the right arrangement to be functional, she'd very much prefer that no one touch them at all, even herself. The furrow in her brow finally starts to ebb away once he speaks again, her features softening. It had been a nice feeling for her, too - knowing there was someone who wanted to look after her, even if it might all have been a lie. ]

You've always been good at protecting me, [ she tells him, voice quiet. ] From the very start.

I guess....

[He tilts his head when she calls him a special case. But he figures she just means because of those false memories he had from before? Probably because of the Organization or something. Sora doesn't recall them messing with him like that but still. He gives a nod then, as she says about him protecting her.]

I try. I mean, even here we kinda need to be ready.

[ Though she can see his uncertainty, she's as concerned about elaborating as she has been this whole time. It's a bit of a relief when he doesn't ask more, so she tries to let her previous explanation speak for itself. ]

And I'm glad that you do.

[ She has a different reason to feel guilty this time; it's never seemed right to ask any more of him than he's already given her, but she knows it's important to him to look after her, just like he looks after all of his friends. ]

I don't want to know what Asgard would be like without you. Even though the Organization isn't here, I-- don't think it would feel the same.

[ And he's right; there's plenty of danger here even without considering the risk of bad guys showing up from one of the other worlds. ]

No? You'd still have Riku! And all your other friends here too.

[She isn't wrong that he looks out for his friends. Usually at risk or sacrifice to himself. That given how many friends he's made here of course he would end up rather well known and missed. Sora isn't really considering that. He doesn't usually, acting in the moment in what he thinks he has to do for his friends.]

But...I guess it'd be weird without you. And I'd want to be here, if any of them showed up or something.

Well, yes, but... you've been here with me since the beginning.

[ Which isn't to say that she doesn't care for Riku, or the others - of course she does. They're all important to her in their own ways, but Sora's been a part of her life the longest. ]

I wouldn't want to lose any of the others either, even if-- even if we don't actually belong here. [ Which is a fact that she seems to grow soberer after remembering. It's tough to imagine leaving when Asgard's been so kind to her. Her expression saddens slightly at his last comment. ]

That's the one time I would be more worried to have you here, I think. I know they couldn't cause as much trouble in the city without any powers, but I'm not sure that would stop them.

Well. Yeah, we have. Even if Roxas and Ven and Xion are gone.

[Sora still misses them. He's not sure if or when they or others might come here, or come back. But at the least, he's never been entirely alone. Even aside from the others he has met here, at the least, she had always been with him. She was a constant in his life here thus far.]

Ah, if I had to I'd stop them somehow.

[Even if they had new powers here. Sora himself has more to work with. Though it is admittedly mostly with defensive abilities than anything offensive to fight if he had to himself.]

[ Those names bring a flicker of sadness across her face, regrettable as it is that they're cause for that instead of joy these days. ]

Sometimes... I think about what it would be like if they came back. [ She doesn't realize she's reflecting some of his own thoughts; she looks very slightly hesitant about admitting to it, herself. ] What they might think if they saw how much Asgard has changed. But-- it isn't right for me to hope that they will, is it?

[ For them to be stuck here, too. As for the Organization, she pales very slightly, giving her head a small shake. ]

I know you would, [ she says even so, despite her trepidation about the matter. ] Or that you'd do your best. I just don't want you to keep having to fight them, over and over again. Nobody benefits from that, not even them.

Hm. It's....been a while. Quite a bit has changed since. But it isn't like we have a say yet. In who comes and who goes and when. I'll let you know though. If anyone from home does show up.

[He reassures her. They just had to wait and see, for now on who might come or come back. Sora does miss them but he knows they all have people waiting back home. The same way she does. And Riku. He purses his lips then, glancing down as she talks about his situation with the Organization.]

They don't usually give me a choice.

Please, [ she agrees softly, because it's always been important to her to know who's in the city. ] And I'll do the same for you. Maybe someday it won't be quite so hard to know before it happens.

[ Faltering, she wilts at his other words. Her head tips slightly lower, and she winds up looking in much the same place he does. ]

It isn't your fault. [ Her voice is tinged with regret for even having said anything that could have been construed that way. ] None of this is. But it feels like I've spent my whole life watching all of you struggle, and I--

[ She frowns against the words, angles her face away slightly, but there's no getting around it; ]

… I hate it.

You think there might be some sort of pattern? Some way to tell when we might get new arrivals?

[Maybe. If Sora were paying more attention. He might figure it. The timing at least. Generally. Still, he blinks then, biting his lip when she says about watching him struggle all this time.]

That's -- I mean. I didn't exactly ask for it, but. I've managed. So it's okay.

[Or. Well. As okay as anyone could be, considering? More or less. He's okay with it. Used to it by now after a couple of years of it or so at this point.]

Well... they seem to come here pretty regularly now, don't they? It's usually close to the same number of days apart each time. [ Naminé's been keeping better track of the timing, perhaps, than he has. ] And in the beginning, a lot more of us were from the same worlds. But... now, that doesn't seem to be the case. At least, not from what I've seen.

[ Which makes it feel a bit less likely for there to be others from their home arriving with any predictability. Looking at him as he bites his lip, her own frown. ]

Is it? [ Okay, that is. ] Even though you've been able to withstand it--…

[ That doesn't make it fair. But that's a futile thing to fret over, and so after a moment she exhales a sigh, shaking her head. ]

I'm... sorry. I shouldn't complain.

I guess. I hadn't really thought about how often it happens that we get new arrivals. But we can keep an eye out together!

[Then she asks if it really is okay. Instinctively, of course he wants to agree. To nod. To reassure her. Because....it is? He's still alive and fighting, still able to fight if necessary back home and all. He's become used to it, in the last couple of years. Having grown up practicing sparring against the kids on the play Islands and all, mostly Riku.]

It is. I'm okay. And you're allowed to complain. To be upset.

Yes, [ she agrees, giving half a nod. ] Between the two of us, we should find out pretty quickly if someone from our worlds arrives here.

[ Then there are also other folks who would know to keep an eye out, too. As Sora reassures her, however, Naminé only frowns, albeit by a small degree. ]

But... if I show that I'm upset - that only makes things harder for you. [ She learned that one a long time ago, didn't she? ] And I can't fix what's wrong, even though I don't like it. I know you want me to be open with you, it's just...

[ Well, she feels guilty about-- feeling, more often than not. ]

And Riku! If he sees someone too.

[Sora says with a grin, before that fades at what she says next. He shakes his head in protest at it. He can't deny that it's worrying when his friends are upset but he doesn't want her making things worse for herself bottling things up either.]

Is it easier if I say it like this. If it were me and I was upset, you'd want to know, right? It doesn't matter if we can do something to help or not, but at least...talking about it. So we know. Listening at least. Even that can sometimes help.

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