islandshore | 54 - video/backdated to the 9th;

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54 - video/backdated to the 9th;

Nightmare;

[It happens late at night, while Riku's locked into deep slumber. Rather than peaceful dreams about exploring other worlds, he finds himself dropped in the middle of Route 29, knee-deep in tall grass. But something's off. Brow furrowing, he turns around, half expecting to spot blocks of distorted pixels.

Instead, he sees himself, three years younger with a Pidgey perched on his shoulder while a tiny Nidoran whimpers and cries. His past self points a finger at the tall grass and glares.]

Can it, Slacker! If you're gonna be my Pokémon, then fight. Otherwise, you're just a waste of space. Isn't that right, Highwind?

Screeeeeech!

[The Pidgey ruffles up his feather and dives at Slacker, scratching at his eyes. The Nidoran, too petrified to move, takes the hit and tumbles back into the grass. The past Riku merely rolls his eyes as he watches, while Riku cringes and dashes towards his dream self.]

Shut up!

[He passes straight through him, and his surroundings ripple, melting. Riku plummets into blackness. As soon as he hits the ground, a chill washes down him from head to toe. Low moans and growls echo before the ground rumbles. A Nidorino rushes at him, growing larger, swelling to a mountainous size. Riku's heart stops. He hears his own voice echo in the black space.]

Slacker, that's enough! STOP!

[The Nidorino persists, drawing closer and closer until his surroundings flash red. Once again Riku plummets, this time through further darkness.

No image accompanies him: only growls, whines, and voiceless whispers.]

You replaced me...

[There's a brief flash of his Charizard, Flare. Said image melts just like everything else.]

You abandoned me... You forget I exist!

No! It's not--

[His words are drowned out by one more growl. A giant Nidoking appears, giving a bellowing roar. Purple spikes shoot up at its feet. Rows upon rows of Toxic Spikes. Riku's falling accelerates. He draws closer, closer, and closer until--]

No!

[He wakes up on the floor, sweat racing down his skin. Heart pounding, threatening to burst from his chest. The sound of heavy footsteps draws his attention across the room. Flare, having seen the whole thing, plops down right next to him, giving a low grunt.

Riku can't meet his eyes.]

...Don't worry about it, Flare. I'll deal.

Video;

[It's late at night when Riku addresses the network. His hair's kind of a mess, and he looks like he hasn't slept at all. Still, he forces a faint smirk on his face and runs a hand over his head, trying to look a bit more presentable.]

So, about that fighting tournament... Anyone think we should have those more often? It's kind of a bummer I didn't get to fight most of you guys. Can't really get stronger unless I--

[He stops, sighing. His words came out halfhearted, anyway. Even a complete stranger could probably tell something's amiss. For the next few seconds, he stands there in silence, glancing off screen. A Charizard briefly passes by in the background, folding his arms and snorting. He gives a look that screams, "Stop being dumb". He and Riku exchange stares, complete with utterings of, "It's nothing". However, once Flare spreads out his wings and gives a low growl, Riku reluctantly turns back to the camera.]

...Never mind. That's not really what I wanted to talk about anyway.

[Granted, he didn't want to talk about this either, but with a persistent dragon peering over his shoulder, he's kind of been boxed into a corner. Sigh...]

I guess what I want to know is how you're supposed to deal with regret. I'm not good at talking about this sort of thing, but... let's say you get a reminder of some stupid mistake you made a while back. What are you supposed to do about that? Especially if it happened so long ago that it really shouldn't matter in the first place...

[It's dumb. He knows it's dumb and he shouldn't put so much stock into a nightmare, but given how little time he's spent with Slacker, who knows?

Either way, he'll just have to hang tight. Now that he's made his case, Riku clicks the video feed off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Flare shouldn't worry. because Sora is concerned enough that he's not gonna let Riku just get away with that sort of answer. he pats Flare's snout and plants himself on Riku's bed. ]

You're my best friend. I'm kind of supposed to worry when the bravest guy I know starts screaming like a banshee.

[He slugs Sora on the shoulder.]

Screaming like a banshee? C'mon, aren't you exaggerating a bit?

[Apparently Flare agrees with Sora's description, given the smirk stretching across his face. Looking to Sora, he snorts and gives him a thumbs-up. Nice call.]

Nope!

[ even rubs his shoulder as he grins. Sora gives a wink to Flare. there's no way that Riku can hide this sort of thing from his best friend. well... he won't push too much. Riku is just weird like that. gotta think he's manly or something.

Sora knows how much THAT'S not true. silly Riku. ]

Nah, I'm pretty sure you were. Since when do I scream like a girl?

[Nope, he's just gonna keep defending his raw manliness, Sora. You can't stop him.]

Since whatever you just screamed at that you won't tell me about?

...Fine, I'll talk.

[SIGH. Sora, you are a little pain sometimes, but he knows he probably should. Flare's been trying to squeeze an answer out of him, anyway. How the heck is he supposed to hold back with two people on his case?]

Just promise you won't laugh, okay?

Why would I laugh? C'mon, Riku...

Because...

[He averts his eyes.]

Talking about stuff like this isn't easy, okay? It makes me feel weak.

No offense, Riku... But you really shouldn't feel weak. Everyone's got stuff that they're scared of. I know I do. Flare does too. Do you think Flare's weak for it? Do you think I'm weak for it?

[ pauses... ] Don't answer that last one. I kinda know that one already... Kinda agreed too.

[ a little laugh. ]

Anyway! I've seen you at your worst and you've seen me that way so I dunno. I don't think you should be worried about that with your friends.

[He spends several seconds in silence, fiddling with one of his wristbands. Of course Sora's right. He reads Riku like an open book, always knows what to say and when...

Heh. What the heck is he afraid of?]

Can't argue that.

[He really needs to air his thoughts out, anyway. It'll help clear his mind.]

Anyway, long story short? I had a nightmare about Slacker.

[The gritty details can come in a sec. He just needed to get that out there.]

[ well... not expecting that. granted, Sora's had some pretty "interesting" nightmares before. sometimes it involves people he loves! so... nothing really to laugh at but still... ]

Did he try to eat your hair or something?

No.

[It's said with a scowl, and his hands snap into fists. This is no laughing matter. It's serious!

Yet that anger at Sora's joke fizzles out within seconds, replaced with a somber expression.]

It's not about what he did, Sora. It's about what I did, back when I first came here.

You couldn't have done anything that bad, Riku.

Oh yeah?

[And just like that, his face twists back into a scowl, and his posture stiffens. Flare's eyes widens, and he holds up his hands, shaking his head like crazy. This isn't good!

Riku seems oblivious to his gestures.]

When I first started out, I treated Slacker like trash. Hence the name? I mean, I shoved him around, talked down to him because he lost his first battle, because he was so timid and didn't take fights seriously. I kept telling him to shape up, that he was an embarrassment to me and the team.

[He fully expects Sora to show disappointment. After all, that's what he did before...]

[ well what does Sora say to that? it is true that Riku can kind of be a meanie butt... ]

You can be kinda mean sometimes... Never thought that made you a bad person.

[ just pushing. always pushing. Riku has goals and is that ambitious kind. Sora is too, but in a different way. ]

You don't treat him like that now and it doesn't look like he holds a grudge for it to me. Isn't that what matters?

Of course I don't treat him like that anymore, but...

[He shuts his eyes, fingers flexing.]

That dream still brought back bad memories. It's... well, what if he's kept a grudge to himself the whole time? What then?

So... Wouldn't it be better to go and talk to him about it?

That's the general consensus.

[He shrugs, flopping down on his back.]

Maybe we can head out there tomorrow morning. Travel's gonna be a pain at this hour, and he's probably passed out by now.

[ guess who is flopping down right next to best bro? tinier bro, that's who. ]

I'm surprised we haven't gotten back already.

[ pause. ]

Not gonna have another nightmare, are ya?

Man, I don't even know.

[Sigh. He's not even gonna argue with Sora being there, opting to roll onto his side.]

That's the thing with dreams. You can't really predict what you'll see.

Luna could help with that. The dream thing at least...

...Right. I almost forgot about that.

[His eyes widen by a hair.]

Well, I'd sure take her over Phantom, at any rate. Chances are he'd only fuel my nightmares.

Do you really think I'd let Phantom get away with that?

[ Sora won't. but right now? he's gonna get up and fetch Luna. ]

Sora, this is Phantom we're talking about. You'd only encourage him if you tried to hold him back.

[He's a rebellious, mischievous ghost. It's in his nature.]

[ sticks out tongue. don't be a butt, Riku.

but sooner or later, having to hunt Luna down, Sora skids back into the room. almost trips over himself, the Munna still in his arms. ]

54 - video/backdated to the 9th;

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