glocksuke | Summer Festival in the MGU

Summer Festival in the MGU

Wherever you are, whoever you are, one minute you’re at home minding your own business and the next you’ll see a shower of sparkles before you blink and find yourself teleported elsewhere.

The elsewhere, it seems, is an open grounds lined with stalls, pathways and gardens. Lanterns light up the pathways in soft glowing oranges and pinks, and even though it’s evening the weather is warm and enjoyable for a fun summer festival.

As you set off to explore, you’ll find that there are countless stalls with every type of treat you can imagine from a variety of cultures (including some from your own home worlds, strangely), all of which smell delicious and enticing. There are other stalls available with different carnival games as well. Go ahead and give it your all! Win a prize for that special someone, or just keep trying out of sheer stubbornness. Other stalls seem to be selling wares such as clothing, household items, flowers, and other things that can be given away as gifts. It seems that every time you look around, a new stall opens, almost as if this festival is responding to your every wish.

Speaking of wishes, there’s a small cluster of bamboo trees nearby as well, tables set up with baskets of arts and crafts supplies to write your wishes on the colorful paper and tie them to a branch. It’s a sweet thought, no?

And of course, what’s a festival without fireworks? Every now and then fireworks will light up the night sky, bursts of color in fun shapes such as stars, hearts, faces of people you know, whatever! Sparklers and bubble wands can also be found to play with throughout the evening near the viewing gardens. Flowers bloom and cover the area, though the paths lead to several small alcove-like areas and gazebos for those of you who wish to have a little romantic privacy. No matter where you are though, you’ll always be able to see the starry night sky.

Do try to play along and enjoy yourself for the evening. It’s only when the last firework bursts several hours later that you can actually leave anyway. Have fun!

[ooc: you know the drill, past mg characters from any of our past games, please don't make me list them again but go nuts.]

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[Hmmmmmmmmm. Meow Wow out here telling on Sora's bullshit. He sees, he sees. He offers the puppycat another good scritching.]

Yeah...

[He twists his head to glance back at the stalls briefly. Kairi would have fun here for sure, especially if Sora was also here to ping-pong their bubbly energy. But he's frowning a bit! Are the three of them ever going to really end up together for more than a few moments?

He misses when they were kids stuck on the island almost.]

Are you going to sit on top of me the entire time? I think you crushed a few of my ribs... plus, I can't breathe.

[Looks like even though he had been pretty emo, he's still refusing to let go of that sass.]

[meow wow is a traitor, and sora can't even glare at the puppycat properly since there's still a wholeass bat balanced on his head with its little wings wrapped around his eyes. he reaches up with one hand to scritch komory's head, hoping it'll get the bat to unfurl and let him see again.

it's a thought he has too, however. there was such a brief time that the three of them were together again back on their own island and they were all safe. at the time he knew what he had done was the right choice, but now that it's been over a year (and meeting so many other people, and now especially seeing riku again) he's still wondering if he'll find a way back.

but again, riku doesn't have to know all of that and instead he smirks at him.]

You could've pushed me off any time, y'know. [but he does roll to sit back and in front of riku instead of on him. he moves one of komory's wings so he can see as he pops up into a crouch, reaching out for riku's hand to pull him up to his feet.] Better?

[Bold of Sora to think the bat will release him. Just kidding. It wobbles on Sora's shoulder, and then floats up into the air by the other boy's head. FREEDOM.

ALSO, STOP, PLEASE CEASE SCOLDING HIM FOR BEING A SECRETIVE EMO WHEN YOU LITERALLY ARE DOING THIS, SORA. He'd be SO MAD if he knew Sora was hiding this from him! In fact, he'd be so mad he would probably (lup voice) say something extremely mean and hurt his feelings.]

You probably would have cried. [Has this Sora grown up from being sad when a certain best friend broodily pushed him away?] Better.

[Without hesitation, he reaches out to grab Sora's hand, using it to help himself up. Komory chirrups.]

Thanks.

[THANK YOU FOR LETTING HIM SEE AND BREATHE, KOMORY. there's a light laugh as the bat floats up and spins its way into the air, even if he rolls his eyes at what riku says when they get to their feet.

riku doesn't have to know that sora is maybe a little overwhelmed seeing him after so long. shut up. don't look at him. HE IS ABSOLUTELY AN ADULT AND NO LONGER EASILY MOVED TO TEARS. probably. that's exactly the reason he doesn't entirely let go of riku's hand right away either, turning his head a bit to glance toward a row of stalls a little further in the distance of the festival.]

Would not. [it's a belated answer, but he glances back at riku with a grin.] Meow Wow and I were gonna get a snack. Are you coming?

[riku gets no choice, but sora's polite enough to pretend he does for now.]

[Goes hm about being no longer easily moved to tears (no, I'm kidding). He uses his only free hand to dust himself off once he's up, and he really only briefly considers the fact this Sora is reluctant to release his hand.

This Sora. "This" Sora? It's the same Sora, he reminds himself. This is his Sora, too... only... later. Apparently.]

We get transported to another weird world, and the one thing you can think about is food? I know you're really Sora for sure now.

[Not that he had too many doubts before exactly. His eyes lift around Sora to the stalls. Yeah, he's coming. He's got no choice, and he doesn't want one. Gotta keep an eye on Sora.]

Should we really eat the food here...?

[don't you hm him. but yeah. this sora is the same sora he's always been, but he does seem to regain some awareness that maybe, perhaps, this is strange behavior for riku to witness.

and yet all he does is laugh while rolling his eyes.]

Hey, the food's usually pretty good. At the Christmas party there was all kinds of stuff that people could take back with them. [but he pulls riku forward. snack time. meow wow wobbles after them.]

It's weird...I don't know what's causing these things to happen, but they've usually turned out to be nice. Like it's just a way for everybody to see their friends again. I've got a few people I want to try to find later. [and here he glances at riku from the corner of his eye.] Do you?

[did you make friends, riku?]

[DON'T. LAUGH. Ugh. There is something heart-wrenching about having even a slight inkling to Sora being "off" but not being able to call it out much less do anything about it.

He makes a little face at the Christmas party details. Not because it's a Christmas party, but because he's literally always skeptical of every single thing in his entire life.]

...

[There's not a bit of reluctance when he lets himself get pulled along. Komory flaps after them, care-free. Sora gets a brief glance of surprise, and then he hastily turns his eyes away. (Don't perceive him...) Though it seems more like he's expecting to find other people trying to wave him down.]

Friends...? You mean ones from the place where you were? Who...?

[HE DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.]

[try to call him out on it, coward. sora thinks he's getting away with it and doesn't seem bothered, a little more relaxed and cheerful with riku following after him. is he making a beeline for a stand of what looks like cotton candy? yeah, probably.

on the other hand, he's perceiving just a little as he lifts an eyebrow at that.]

Don't tell me you didn't make at least one new friend. [it's supposed to be teasing but now he's concerned? riku? your friends? that sounds like it would be miserable and yeah okay riku's not like himself who makes friends literally everywhere but??? but!!!]

But yeah. I mean those kind of people. I think they'd probably be pretty mad if I didn't say hi while I was here. [two can play that game, ANSWER HIM!!!]

[Nnnnnnnnnnng, dumb Sora! ANSWER HIM FIRST!!]

I...... made friends.

[He says this exactly like he'd say if he was trying to keep from calling people friends in front of Sora, his best friend.

STOP, LISTEN. Sometimes you struggle to make friends for a long time because you're a huge butt. Sometimes you only have two best friends, and that's all you think you need, and then you get butthurt when you are not THEIR only best friend.]

...how many is "they"?

[riku you truly are still a huge butt. the hesitance he hears in the tone means that sora's trying not to laugh before he's grabbing a stick of cotton candy for himself in his free hand and waving it in riku's face. grab one, loser.

simultaneously there is a sense of relief then. riku wasn't as along as he initially thought. that's what matters. he's still not sure why riku's being resistant to giving him details (they're stupid, that's why) but he's not really embarrassed about his own friends.]

Depends on how many of them are here, but two for sure. They were some of the first friends I made in the Realm. [and because he's not a coward:] Lup and Clementine. They have to be here somewhere and I want you to meet them if they are.

[STOP

ALSO STOP x 2. He makes a slight face and leans away from the stupid waving cotton candy. SORA!!

The true reluctance is him taking the stick of cotton candy in solidarity.] This stuff is going to rot your teeth. [He is truly so DRAB when he's with Sora, help.

Hearing this, he really wants to say, "You always make friends," but he shockingly keeps his mouth shut for once.] ... [Hm.

He peers at Sora.]

Well... I met Clementine. [He met your girlfriend, Sora.] What does Lup look like?

[how can you say no to this face? he looks so pleased even if he's busy pulling off a chunk of sugary, sticky junk to shove in his mouth with a shrug. oh well! that's what a dentist is for! do they have dentists on the island...i sure hope so.

anyway, he doesn't bother gracing riku with a response about his cavity-inducing snack and instead seems more interested in talking about his friends because of course he does.]

Taller than me. Blonde. Pointy ears? Kind of always looks like she's half-torn between being nice and making fun of whoever she's talking to. Her brother might be here too though. They're twins. But Taako's hair is usually braided and Lup's isn't all the time. They're wizards! And elves.

[yeah. but riku also mentions he met clementine so sora sneaks another look at him.] ...what'd you think of Clementine?

Oh. [Hm.] The lady who smacked me.

[It was for a good reason (?), at least to Lup. It's fine. He watches Sora eat the cotton candy, and then goes back to looking at his own. Hopefully the island has oral hygienists.

Can Dream Eaters have cotton candy? Komory is perched on Riku's shoulder, looking at it curiously.]

I don't know... [She cusses a lot............. It takes a moment before he sliiiiides his eyes at Sora. And then he kinds of smirks a bit to himself.] We agreed you were a dummy.

[...]

She's... cool, I guess.

[cool, now he just looks alarmed. meow wow's waddling along, bouncing around sora's feet and whining a little but sora's more focused on the other thing.]

What do you mean she smacked you? Why? [mom!!!! he looks a little unhappy with that but riku keeps talking and then he just. pouts. hey!!!] I guess it's fine you guys found something in common.

[jerks. both of you. except he's still smiling at that and shrugs a little.] She's great. She's...different, but she's really important. She was gonna come visit someday anyway.

She said I told you something not nice. That she saw it in a memory.

[He says this very--leadingly? Like he's trying to get Sora to both confirm and explain what this means since Lup didn't do that, and left him paranoid and somewhat disgruntled with himself. (His future self?)

...And it also left him worried, too.

Anyhow, LISTEN HERE. He zooms right in on the "she's really important," and he keeps side-eyeing Sora.]

Come visit? You mean the island?

[...ah.]

Really? [he will not! he is not going to confirm or explain because that's terrible, actually!] When I find her later I'll tell her to apologize. She shouldn't have said anything like that.

[there's a reassuring little grin like he's just saying it's nothing to worry about, actually.]

Lup's...pretty overprotective, I guess. She wanted to come visit the island too someday. [so yes, clem, too. which is also a thing he's not going to confirm when riku still hasn't even confirmed what kind of friends he made.] I told both of them that they could come and meet everybody. I really wanted both of them to meet you and Kairi.

[Great. Now Lup is going to think he's a big, stupid tattle tale who can't handle being bonked a bit for (apparently) saying something rude to his best friend.

WHO STILL WON'T TELL HIM WHAT THE HELL THAT WAS ABOUT!! SORA!!!!!!]

No. Don't--worry about it. It's fine. She didn't even hit me that hard. [Hold on, dammit. There's a lot to unpack here!! He makes a bit of a face. There is a section eaten out of his cotton candy now that he hasn't noticed because he's too busy (as usual) paying attention to Sora.] She wouldn't tell me what I even said. Or why.

[SORA.]

They're that important, huh?

[he's still not that thrilled about it but he's tearing away a chunk of cotton candy with his teeth and sulking for a few moments.]

It's no big deal. It was just...you were right when you said it, but Lup took it the wrong way. That's all. [very helpful. but there's a nod immediately after that.]

They're really, really important. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it out of there with them? [my friends are my power, etc.] Clementine and I had special jobs for our leaders, and Lup knew about all of us and helped us whenever she could. She kept a ton of secrets for us to help us make sure we got out of there and brought everybody back.

[Sora. This literally tells him NOTHING. He's going to shove this cotton candy stick up Sora's behind.

So yeah, he's making a FACE at "you were right" and also "Lup took it the wrong way" too. What does this MEAN? What did he SAY? The fact Sora isn't telling him is proof enough it's something serious. Why is Sora being so dodgy? A hard, cold pit settles in his stomach. He doesn't like the idea of Sora being dodgy when he's from the future.

Anyway, now he's thinking about stupid Yamato and Taichi. And the others, but mostly them because Sora is talking about Lup and Clem.]

You're not giving yourself enough credit. Even though... having friends helping you is better than doing it alone.

[riku doesn't get to say shit after he spent a literal year running away. it's fine. sora thinks he's being sneaky and not at all suspicious.]

Our game had these rules...we had to do things a certain way without doing too much or too little in order to have a chance to fix stuff. Except the whole thing was just a test anyway. In the end everybody started working together to vote if we'd redo the cycle again like we'd done before. I'm not sure how many cycles we went through before that because we didn't remember them.

But I think...those two would have been friends I had in every single one.

[STOP.]

You... did it over and over again?

[Well, now he's really frowning. What does Sora mean he doesn't remember how many cycles?! That's HORRIBLE. He's electing to ignore the sappy mention they would have been his friends in every single one.

Sora always can make friends.]

...to get the best ending. The one that'd send everyone back home.

[That he understands.]

So we were told. And I believe it, because the Leaders had memories of past cycles and some of the stuff we learned made it pretty obvious, too. I think that guy said the last round was the twentieth. [sora's fine. he picks off a piece of cotton candy to hold out to meow wow and see if he'll eat it.]

At the end, we were given one last vote. "If this wasn't the last chance and you failed, would you be willing to go through this again?" Some of us picked no, but other people picked yes. And it didn't matter what we voted because we were successful that time and everything was over. He said he was doing all of this as a test and research about how to save the worlds. Or maybe destroy them.

[. . .]

I don't know who he is. But he had a black coat. [he does not think to specify because even a KH2 Riku should know what a black coat means.]

[Sora is really out here throwing all these frown-inducing things at him, huh?! HELLO. As an idiot who absolutely waltzed around in a black coat, he knows what it means, and his expression visibly hardens.]

...The Organization.

[Well, shit. Now he's wondering if they missed something, if the Organization was behind what happened with him, too. Was the plot hole... something they were messing with?

Hilariously, even though Sora can't see what he's thinking about, he can absolutely tell Riku's brain is going inward a mile a minute, spiraling uncontrollably. Komory may have stolen some cotton candy, but the bat chirrups uncertainly.]

He was researching how to cycle a world's fate...?

[surprise! meow wow eats his cotton candy but he seems to be wiggling less, picking up on the uneasiness of the conversation. sora on the other hand shakes his head a bit. he can tell riku's starting to spiral, so time to put an end to that.]

Not the Organization. But he knew Xehanort. He mentioned him on his own. [so that was fun!] He was really weird and vague about it, but that seemed to be close. Like...maybe something to do with saving the worlds that have been destroyed but destroying others. The heart of the worlds. The place we were in was actually virtual. Data. The whole thing wasn't really real, but it felt real. What felt like months was really only a few minutes.

[...] He knew enough about us to run these tests, too. And enough to take away certain memories to see how we'd change things. I wish I had more time to talk to him, but he was just a hologram. He wouldn't give me answers.

Edited 2021-09-27 19:38 (UTC)

[He looks very :\ about that. Behind the irritation and frustration in his eyes is definitely a little worry. Not the Organization, but in a black coat and knows Xehanort...

Ugh.

His eyes lower to Meow Wow, even if he's looking through the puppycat really. Data. He doesn't know whether to be relieved, or upset. It wasn't real then. But it felt real.

And being data just means someone has access to all of that data. He wonders if... Yamato and Taichi would have any idea how to help. (laughs in Riku's data future)]

That doesn't surprise me. [...] Data and memories. It sounds a lot like the Organization even if he isn't. [The black coat doesn't help.] Well... don't worry. We'll find him, and we'll get more answers. And if he's up to something bad, we'll stop him.

Don't tell me you're trying to go back there, Sora.

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