...And also these.

[thespaceopera]

[ Calibration Rooms ]
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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - Q Nami Natasha Romanoff Nelkeila Tarid Nux Nyssa al Ghul Octavia Blake One Peggy Carter Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève

R - U R. Daneel Olivaw Rapunzel Remy LeBeau Riku Robin Redbreast Rogue Santanico Pandemonium Shawn Hunter Stefan (Alesci) Salvatore Steve "Orion" Rogers Steven Quartz Universe Souji Seta Stiles Stilinski Syeira Tadashi Hamada Tekhetsio

V - Z Vash the Stampede Vima Sunrider Vision (The) Wanda Maximoff Wrath Yamanaka Ino

Comments

Riku

[limitstorm]

[ ( music - dearly beloved (music box vers))

when you open your eyes, you're standing on a pillar in the middle of darkness. a white light shines from up above, illuminating the stained glass below your feet. the stained glass is a strange design, small circles outlining the edge while a silhouette of a young man is in the middle. everything is a shade of seagreen, black or white--and on the circles at cardinal points, there is a yin-yang sign.

even though it is stained glass, it's surprisingly sturdy--but you may be able to see cracks and splinters in some places.

the main event, however, is the boy in the middle.

if you know riku, you might know who it is--after all, it's hard to mistake that silver hair and peekaboo belly button--but he looks younger. he just seems to be... standing there, his eyes closed, hands at his sides. he doesn't seem to be moving at all, almost as if he'd fallen asleep standing up. if you're perceptive, you may be able to see a soft glint, like there's something attached to him, leading upward.

the only movement, however, comes from five objects on five pillars around the room.

the one to the southwest looks simple, clean-cut and almost minimalist in design.

the one at the northwest looks like it's forged out of malice and wrought iron.

the one sitting at the north, mostly obscured by riku's form, is a little scary--but almost strikes a complete balance between a darkness and a light.

one looks almost angelic in design, shining like mother-of-pearl. it sits northeast.

the last blade, sitting at the southeast, looks in a word, sturdy, like it's made of bronze and wood.

all five hover and turn, as if on display for someone. ]

[ ooc: warnings for: depression, emotional/mental abuse and probably physical abuse of a minor, depending if someone gets that far. you can choose multiple keyblades, but you can only wield one. ]

[got_it_memorized]

[Axel is used to darkness, but there's something really eerie about this place. The lighting is too stark, the colors are too bright. He examines the translucent glass under his feet, then lifts his eyes and frowns when he spies the figure in the center of the circle.]

Riku?

[He's hard to mistake, though he looks younger here than Axel recalls. He looks the way he did when he watched him in Castle Oblivion. He ignores the Keyblades for the moment and approaches Riku's still form, reaching out and waving a hand in front of his face.]

Yo. Riku. Anybody in there?

[Is he sleeping? Standing up? Man, that's some dedicated napping, even Axel has to admit. He moves to touch his shoulder, then withdraws, remembering the way Riku flinched the last time he reached for him. Whatever's going on, he doesn't want to startle him (he might kick his ass).

[Turning his attention to the Keyblades instead, Axel just peers quietly at them. He recognizes the Kingdom Key--that's the one Sora used, the one Roxas usually carried. He recognizes Oblivion and Oathkeeper, too--those are the ones Roxas whipped out during their final altercation in the illusory Twilight Town. Way to the Dawn he's sure he's seen before, too--that one's Riku's Keyblade of choice, isn't it? So what's the last one?

[Moving past Riku, he approaches Way to the Dawn, wondering if touching it might wake Riku up. It's worth a try, right? He reaches out hesitantly, the Keyblade spinning slowly before him, but he can't quite bring himself to touch it. He's not a Keyblade wielder, what will happen if he tries to take it? He glances back over his shoulder at Riku, then huffs.

[He's gonna touch it. What's the worst that could happen?]

1/2 (memory)

[limitstorm]

[ video accompaniment. ]

At least you can fly.

Well, glide. It’s not really flying, you muse—you right yourself and catch a flicker of silver out of the corner of your eye. Once you see him, you head over, coming to a stop before the boiling volcano. Everything’s too dark—but you can vaguely tell his shape. This is the same unknown boy you’ve been seeing all over the place, causing trouble in the dream worlds.

“You waiting for me?” you call, shoulders back. You need to be imposing. The volcano makes you a little nervous (islanders know above all how dangerous volcanoes can be) but you mask it as best as you can.

He’s prompt to answer, at least. “Yes. The boy chosen by the Keyblade--Riku.”

Startled, you flinch slightly. “What?”

Even if he doesn’t smirk, it’s like his voice does, all smugness and pride, like a taunt. “It was yours first, wasn't it? But you succumbed to the darkness you could not control, and your prize--the Keyblade--passed onto Sora instead.”

You grit your teeth, shoulders hunching and hands fisting at your sides. You can’t help it—you stare at your feet, guilt and self-hatred boiling in your chest and stomach like bile. Like lava.

“Your mistakes always end up being other people's problems.” He says, and you might as well hear Xehanort’s Heartless’s laughter as he possesses you all over again.

You can’t let that overcome you. You’re quick, you stamp out your feelings, and you peer back up at him with a stern smile and a victory forced into your eyes. “Maybe so. But I'm here to change all of that.”

It’s a bold claim, to be sure—and you’re not sure if you’re saying it to intimidate him, or if you’re trying to remind yourself of what you’re trying to do to complete this exam. The title of “Master” means nothing to you, after all. Being worthy of the Keyblade, worthy of sharing responsibility with Sora—that’s the true prize.

He almost sighs. “Once again you performed predictably, although on a grander scale than I imagined.”

There’s some anger that festers in your chest, so you tip your chin up. “If you're feeling so chatty, let's skip to where you reveal what this is all about.”

A tense silence falls between both of you. Neither of you wants to back down, but eventually, the unknown boy does.

“I don't know how you did it,” he starts, his voice resigned—but also somewhat impressed. “but you really have found a way to trap darkness inside your heart. And a boy who's immune to darkness is of no use to us.”

You tilt your head. “Well, there's some good news.”

“Your abyss awaits.” The volcano erupts, and you start—smoke and ash pour outward, and the boy disappears. From the black smoke emerges a demon, huge and powerful, and you hunch your shoulders as you ready to fight.

2/2

[limitstorm]

[ ready to fight, indeed. once axel grips way to the dawn, riku does awaken-- but probably not in the way he wants. immediately, riku turns, and there's a blast of darkness from behind him as xehanort's heartless appears. he's more of a ghost than a person, hovering threateningly behind him as he races towards axel. his eyes are amber. ]

[got_it_memorized]

[He's not sure how much time actually passes as the memory plays through his head, and when it ends, Axel staggers, feeling a little lightheaded. What the hell was that? It was so vivid--much clearer than a dream, and that voice, he was sure it was Riku's... how could he see something through Riku's eyes? Who was the strange silver-haired young man taunting him?

[He stares down at the hilt of the Keyblade in his grip, and for a moment he's startled. He can hold it? Riku had told him he has a Keyblade of his own, sometime in the apparently not so distant future... is it really true? How else could he hold this one? A Keyblade is tied to the wielder's heart, isn't it? Shouldn't a Keyblade that belongs to someone else vanish from his hand?

[He doesn't really have time to speculate. He feels the blast of darkness, like a ripple of wind before a lightning strike, and he whirls sharply in time to see Riku turn to face him. Over his shoulder, the hulking form of Xehanort's Heartless looms over him like a warped and twisted shadow. But it's Riku's eyes that send the shudder down Axel's spine: they're not that striking green-blue anymore... no, they're the same sallow, tarnished gold color of Xemnas' eyes, of Xigbar's eyes... of Saïx's eyes.]

... Riku?

[He barely gets the name out before Riku lunges at him, and Axel lets out a yelp of surprise, bringing the Keyblade to bear reflexively. He's not sure how much good a borrowed weapon will do him, but he knows he can't beat Riku in a fight.]

[stefanged]

[Stefan hasn't felt cold in over a century, and yet, as he stares up towards the white light, he feels something gnawing at him. If this is a dream, it isn't his. He remembers faintly, the ability to waltz through other dreams and manipulate theirs. Is he doing that again?

He hopes not. This feels way too intrusive and-- and that's Riku. Stefan rushes towards him. Other objects be damned, the kid is way more important.]

Riku!

[He kneels down, trying to discern for any possible injury. So far, nothing. The kid's somehow managed to fall asleep standing up? Still, Stefan reaches out for his hand, as if that'll do something - anything - to wake him up.] Hey, Riku? You alright?

[limitstorm]

[ at first, there's no movement, but his eyes suddenly tighten shut--and his chin tilts up, almost like he's trying to wake up. almost as soon as he tries, though, it's shut down. he exhales as if exhausted and falls back into a peaceful, slumber-like trance. stefan has seen riku's darkness, just once before--but it's unmistakable as a man seems to fade in behind him, like a ghost. he grins fiendishly, like a cat toying with a mouse. he says nothing, but raises a hand, and riku mimics the action. the glint is clearer now--the man is controlling riku like a puppet, to put a hand against stefan's chest-- and blast him back with the darkness pealing at his feet. the man disappears, and riku is once again still. ]

[stefanged]

[A shiver runs through Stefan's spine as he stares up at the shadow of the man behind Riku. There's no denying the kind of power he has - and just as Stefan's about to unleash his true strength, that hand comes down.

His speed can't save him, or Riku, and so - as he's pushed onto his backside, Stefan lets out a low groan.]

Nope. Definitely not alright.

[Stefan folds his arms, turning his attention back towards the objects he'd seen earlier. Maybe one of those'll wake Riku up, or at least cut the puppetmaster's strings... They're pretty strange-looking keys, but their blades could be strong enough.

Instinctively, he heads for the object in the northeast, holding onto the handle as if it were the most sacred thing in the world. He's no metalsmith, but he can tell the skill and effort needed to create such a piece.]

[experiencepoints]

[Stained glass... Something so simple still sends chills up Nightingale's spine. The memories associated with it will probably never fade.

But... That's not important. She eyes the blades, but puts them out of her mind soon enouhg. That boy seems important. Right now, she has to do something about that. Is he hurt?

She approaches, concern evident on her face.]

Hey. Are you okay?

[limitstorm]

[ there's no answer--not yet. there's a haze behind him, like smoke, however, when she gets close. ]

[experiencepoints]

[That's enough to raise her guard, but she continues to approach regardless, setting a hand on his shoulder to try to wake him.]

Re: Riku

[notkittenaround]

[ She takes it all in a moment, and determines it by threat. The boy does not move, does not seem aware of her, so he is not the immediate.

The second is how she will deal with threats, and for that, a weapon is best. The light attracts her she is the warrior of light, after all and so it's to the northeast that she stalks - With every intention of grabbing it, if she can. ]

1/2 (memory)

[limitstorm]

[ music accompaniment. ]

It feels like it’s been months without seeing Kairi’s face.

Once she’s found, you huddle up near where she’s placed, wondering what exactly could be going on. Maleficent said she was in some sort of comatose state—that she would be asleep until they could fix it. To help her, you needed to get stronger. You can feel the Darkness fester in your chest like a dull ache, like fire eating away at paper. It makes your head hurt and your breaths shallow.

You figure it’s a little better than being unable to even react, like Kairi.

You look over your shoulder, a little nervous and cautious. Maleficent’s friends seem to have disappeared. Can you even call them friends? Really, Maleficent doesn’t know how to keep company—that Jafar guy was especially creepy.

Even so… you have to keep on your toes. Sora’s already betrayed you, after all—who knows who else will? You don’t trust any of these people any farther than you can throw them, and you can’t throw adults, anyway. All you have left is—

“Kairi?” you ask, your voice quiet and soft, almost like maybe she was playing pretend and just… asleep to make sure she was safe. No such luck. You hesitate, reaching out to touch her shoulder, then to make sure she still has a pulse and is breathing. She’s still alive. She’s just lost in slumber.

For a moment, you’re not sure what to do, standing there listlessly before you clear your throat. “You know—you remember that time Sora got hit in the head?” you ask, your voice laced with pain as a lump grows in your throat, but you force a smile anyway. “He blacked out for ten minutes, and you kept yelling for the teachers. We stayed in the nurse’s office for a half hour, y’remember?”

She’s not opening her eyes, and you hesitantly rock the arm closest to you, just—just once, this is your last time of checking if she’s really asleep…

And you breathe in very slowly, calming the harsh beat of your heart.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” you venture, your chest feeling hot and your eyes stinging. “We were supposed to go together. I wanted you and Sora to come with me, not for us to be separated, but somehow…”

Had you been too hasty?

You shake your head. “Now he’s just leaving us behind.” Your shoulders stiffen, and then you feel aglow with new determination. “If he’s gonna find new friends, then we don’t need him! I’ll find a way to bring you back on my own—who needs Sora, anyway?!”

You do.

You clench your jaw, squeezing your hands into fists before you look around.

You didn’t want to be alone. Sharing this adventure had been the whole point of leaving. Even when you didn’t mean for any of this to happen…

“Maybe my parents were right,” You say, defeated for a few brief moments, all of your adrenaline leaving you. “Maybe I can’t do anything right, but… no matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Kairi.” You have to. She doesn’t have anyone else, and neither do you.

2/2

[limitstorm]

[ that same darkness that marhi has felt before, when dealing with riku--it resurfaces in a snap. riku gasps for air like someone had a hand around his throat, before he's forcibly turned towards marhi's direction. her reputation and riku's previous experience with her is what has him stalling the best he can, so he's not as fast when he lunges for her. ] She's gonna knock me out in one hit, come on!

[notkittenaround]

[ --> Scholar
----> {I'm getting ready now.}
--------> Keyblade master.

{Dodge roll} {Can I have it?} ]

Why do you attack me?

[save_the_souls]

[This place...it was both pretty and eerie. The darkness just seemed to go on and on, with the stained glass beneath his feet being the only light source. The silence though...it reminds him a lot of the quiet you might find in a church.]

Where am I now...?

[He looks around now, finally noticing Riku. It doesn't seem to occur to him right away that Riku seems younger. He instead zeroes in on his friend as he moves closer to him]

Riku! [Something...was off. Why was he looking like that?] Riku are you alright? What is this place?

[limitstorm]

[ when allen gets closer, riku struggles, his eyes tightening shut--it's like he's trying to wake up, but something's stopping him. a haze of darkness appears behind him, not unlike the darkness he'd used when he sparred with allen before. ]

[save_the_souls]

[He notices the darkness- it causes his eye to turn on as he sees it around Riku. That's- that's definitely worrying.]

Riku?! Riku wake up!

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[well. this is concerning.

he doesn't take a single step. he eyes everything first--Riku's form, the large keys floating above pillars, the endless darkness around them. the light must come from somewhere, but he can't make out what it could be... and the soft glint attached to his friend isn't overlooked either.

he's had dreams like this, kind of. he's also had living, waking adventures like this, but he was kind of hoping he'd never have to think about those ever again.

eventually, he takes some steps. he wanders northwest first, keeping an eye on Riku to see if he moves... or speaks... or... shows any signs of being alive...]

[limitstorm]

[ other than a gentle rise and fall of his chest, riku shows no signs of actually being awake or conscious. the closer he gets to the keyblade, though, the stronger the darkness permeating it seems to become... ]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[hm. okay then. he'll pay attention to the keyblade.

he likes this one the best, by far. it's the most interesting, seems powerful. dangerous. something about the way it looks makes him think of the familiar spite in the pit of his stomach. it's a thing that hurts, but it also keeps him strong, alert, and alive. darkness has not scared him for a very, very long time.

if he was going to choose one... it would be...

his eyes slide away from the wrought iron, to the one on his right. the strange one.

and he walks to that one instead. he reaches for it, guided by no thought of his mind, but a little pull in his heart. this is the one he needs.]

[everydayhero]

[there's something inherently reverent about this place. it feels, somehow, more sacred than the other rooms he's been in; hiro chalks the feeling up to the stained glass.

[at first, he's going to approach his teacher, but the energy feels off.]

... Riku?

[he didn't say his name quietly. he's not surprised that there's no response just yet. he looks at the keyblades instead, and ends up headed for the oblivion first, just because it looks coolest. he picks it up, and turns it over in his hands.]

1/2 (memory)

[limitstorm]

[ manga adaptation. ]

You wait for [ ---- ] to stand up, at least before you feel the spike of fire, of light.

You know those energies. You’re blindfolded, but it’s easy to see this way—it’s easy to smell, to feel energies as they come and go. You can see everything in truth, just different by energy levels. It’s more like radar. You don’t really see them, but you can tell that it’s both Axel and Roxas.

You need to go. Both of you.

You’re thankful that [ ---- ] makes the first move, even after Roxas shouts for her. The moment he starts lunging for her after she opens a dark corridor, you get in between them, stern.

Funny how everyone in Organization XIII keeps talking about not having emotions, and then here’s Roxas, glaring at you like you just committed mass murder. “Don’t interfere!” he yells, summoning Kingdom Key.

You know summoning Way to the Dawn is far more trouble than it’s worth. Way to the Dawn, after all, is a Keyblade—and the Organization wants Keyblade wielders to carry on their dirty work, it’s obvious. Summoning Soul Eater wasn’t a good idea, either.

You decide to run, instead. “Hold it!”

“Roxas!” Axel shouts after him when he bolts after you.

“After him! That guy’s definitely done something to [ ---- ]! He’s headed for the underground routes!”

You need to make it back to the haunted mansion. You’re not safe out here—the Organization is still trailing and chasing after you like a dog, you’re not going to last long.

You duck and swerve through the corridors, water running through pipes as you take a sharp left and run down the underground tunnels of the town.

--what’s that?

You just barely swerve to protect yourself from an incoming spear. There’s a new energy now—like breakneck wind, the smell of biting sand and glass.

“So you’re the imposter…” says a new voice, and you hesitantly peer up towards their direction. Catalog that energy and feeling, and keep running, you tell yourself, even as he speaks again. “You’d better be well prepared!”

“Xaldin?!” Roxas sputters.

You bolt, but barely get a foot forward before bullets pepper around your feet—you have to throw yourself into a flip to actually get a little farther away.

“Freeze!” You know this energy—Xigbar. He’s chased you before.

You’re out of breath and you turn your head. Two new energies—no, one. Luxord, the card thrower, he’s chased you before, too. Demyx, was that what Roxas said? You’d never seen him before, and it’s hard to miss the smell of saltwater on him—you can almost taste the sea.

“What a rare card to be played,” Luxord chuckles. “To face off against the combined forces of Organization XIII! The epically-miraculous six-man mission!”

Epically-miraculous? You’re not sure about that, but you’re quite sure about one thing: you’re completely surrounded. Everyone’s bigger and stronger than you, save probably Roxas. This is not a good situation to be in. You stand still, listening to them talk, not moving a muscle. You need to find a way out of this mess—can you just run? You can pull off some pretty fancy footwork when you put your mind to it.

You’ve evaded these guys for months. You’ve had to learn, to survive… for Sora.

Maybe…?

“This guy is heavily outnumbered, there’s no chance he’ll get away!” you hear, and you realize that sounds an awful lot like a challenge. “Why don’t you give yourself up quietly like a good lil’ boy?”

“Let’s not get sloppy, now!” you hear Xaldin call, and you realize you’ve had enough of these games. One of your hands silently comes up to tug at your blindfold. If you can just dislodge it a little, maybe you can use the power of Darkness to—

“I thought I told you to freeze!” Bullets pepper the air again, and you have to dodge, swerving sharply to the right and down as Xigbar cackles. “Let’s see how you dance!”

Oh, good. They hit Demyx instead.

Doesn’t look like Demyx took that well at all, even going as far as to summon a waterspout to aim right at Xigbar. Xigbar, of course, dodges behind Xaldin, and Xaldin’s spears shoot out in every cardinal direction.

“I can’t believe you hit me!” “What’re you doing?!” You’re not sure who’s saying what, but it doesn’t matter—you’ve got an opening, and you’re taking it, bolting off into the underground passageways.

2/2

[limitstorm]

[ that makes riku awaken. once hiro's hand is firmly around oblivion, his head turns, and a smoky darkness turns into a figure behind him, a man with long silver hair and dark skin. he eyes hiro for a good moment or two, before riku bolts at him. he brings a blade down that pulses like electricity, meaning to cleave hiro in half. ]

[everydayhero]

[he's a little dazed when the attack starts, but he senses the energy just in time. he'll have to thank ino later; his immediate reaction is to pool his chakra into his feet and leap high at an angle, dodging just in time to avoid getting himself killed.]

Riku?! Snap out of it, it's me! It's Hiro!