40 - video/action for Vermilion;

[islandshore]

[It was kind of strange, really. After their match in the tournament, Riku hadn't seen hide nor hair of Xion. He thought he might've kept missing her and that she was somewhere in town; the city's huge, after all, and with so many trainers, it'd be easy to lose her in the crowds.

But when he tried contacting her over the Pokégears, he got no response. Then, when he checked his PC, he caught several familiar Pokémon inside what would've been an empty box (the others were safe at the TC, after all). Then there was that note... Really, it didn't take much to add two and two together.

So, when he addresses the network, it's with a somber expression. There's an Arcanine bounding around in the background, but Riku doesn't pay him much mind. Making it to the semis in two cups is worth celebrating, sure, but not when he's lost a close friend.

He hesitates before, finally, he speaks up.]

To those of you that knew her, Xion's gone. I've got Bahamut and a handful of her other Pokémon, but if anyone else wound up with some her roster, could you let me know?

She probably wouldn't want us to worry about her. If anything, she'd probably want us to keep smiling, but I know she made a lot of close friends here. It's only fair of me to give you guys a heads-up.

[There's a pause, followed by a sigh.]

And good luck to everyone else in the tournament.

[With his message complete, he shuts off the gear and wanders out to the docks with Flare by his side. It's still mind boggling to think about. After over a year, he hadn't expected her to just... vanish. And after he beat her in the tourny, too.

How ironic... depressingly so.]

Comments

lights... camera~

[heartdive]

[ friends coming and going aren't easy. there's always a comforting thought though, for Sora anyway. he knows that even when the distance is great, there is still a connection. Riku probably knows this too, so Sora doesn't say anything about that.

what he does instead is hunt Riku down, with the best surprise that he can muster. doesn't take much to find him. if anything, Sora and Riku are very predictable people where the ocean is concerned - they'll always be at the docks or at the beach.

Sora doesn't say anything though. not yet, nope. he will just kind of reach up to drape on Riku from behind, shaking some - you guessed it - ice cream in front of his best friend's face. it's just starting to drip, so Riku might want to latch onto that real fast before it gets on his clothes or shoes. ]

[islandshore]

[The draping action and the ice cream both catch Riku off guard. Briefly, he just sort of stares before he finally reaches out, takes the ice cream in his hand and looks over to Sora with a weak smile.]

...Dork.

[heartdive]

If that's how you're gonna be...

[ reaching out to snatch that ice cream back ]

Then I'll just take this back!

[islandshore]

[Nope, gonna hop to the side and dodge Sora's arm. Hah!]

Nice try.

[heartdive]

But you're making fun of me here. I don't think you deserve it.

[islandshore]

Nah. I'm the one in a bad mood; think I can afford a little teasing.

[Just gonna... lick that ice cream.]

[heartdive]

Yeah, I know. I was just thinking about how to cheer you up.

It's working, right?

[islandshore]

Well, it's a start, anyway.

[He smirks. Probably a sign that it IS working and Riku's just being a butt.]

[heartdive]

I shoulda brought myself one too.

[ but he didn't. so Sora just snorts and goes to sit down on the docks. ]

[islandshore]

Tell you what.

[He'll follow suit, taking a seat right next to him.]

I'll buy you one later. Deal?

[heartdive]

You're on. Don't think I'll let you forget either.

[ swinging his feet now. ]

You'll see 'em again, you know.

[islandshore]

If I do forget, you have full permission to get in my face about it.

[He jabs Sora with his elbow.]

And it figures you'd say something like that.

[heartdive]

[ JABS RIGHT BACK ]

Hey! You know I'm right. You've got sooooo much catching up to do.