[ AUDIENCE: NIER ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[darksubverted]

Alright, I guess.

[He leads Nier to the stairs. If Nier peeks, he can see a little of the common room, but there isn't anything extravagant about it right now. It looks very cozy and fall-like. There's a couch in there, though, with purple colors.

They pass by the suites and keep going to the third floor where Luke lets Nier into the room. Surprise! It's sort of a little studio apartment. I'm sorry, but I now have to list all of the things he has on the desk and the corkboard over to the side of the den area.

A picture of a very young, familiar silver-haired boy squatted beside a familiar brown-haired boy and a red-haired girl on the beach. A picture of Fall Dorm posing with a Claude cardboard cut-out. A picture of a Halloween-themed Christmas tree. A stolen Anime Night poster. A paper airplane with two dogs dawn on the wings. A manila envelope with a drawing of the same two boys watching the sunrise, signed "Dawn." A selfie of a grumpy cat mascot and Manwol. A picture of Beau in a Naruto headband, and an actual Naruto headband. An origami red mouse, and some teabags.

There is also a small, dented hole in the wall by the desk about chest-level.]

[amain]

[ ... Can Nier take this couch on his way out of this audience pc?

Aw, these are all so cute? He knows times are dire, but seeing all of this puts a smile on his face. ]

Your room is very vibrant.

[darksubverted]

[.....he can try, sure.

He glances at Nier, confused, and then looks around the room.] It's just a room? [Weirdo.]

So are you here to babysit me, too?

[amain]

[ You don't think he can, Anna?

Can he take a seat anywhere? He's polite, so he'll wait for Riku to show him where he can sit. ]

... I wanted to spend time with Riku.

[darksubverted]

[He has to get the couch out by himself? HE'S ONE PERSON.

This is funny because I was going to have him gesture to the couch in the last tag but didn't. So he will gesture at the couch now. He sits in the chair at the desk beside it.]

Riku? Don't know him. You're in the wrong place if you're looking to spend time with him.

[amain]

[ Have you played the NieR game, Anna—anyway.

Nier will sit on the couch! Thank you. ]

So you really don't remember you're Riku.

[darksubverted]

I told you already. I'm Luke.

[There isn't any kind of recognition in his eyes hearing the other name.]

[amain]

Right. Can you tell me about this picture?

[ He points to the one with the three obviously kingdom hearts kiddos at the beach? I swear, if it isn't them. ]

[darksubverted]

[Hmm?

He follows Nier's indication to the photo, looking it over quietly.]

It's the boy and the girl I met on the beach back home when I was little. I don't know who they are, though. We played all day, but never asked each other our names.

[amain]

... Is this not Sora?

[ Nier points to the brown-haired boy. i lost this in my flurry of cyoa-ing. ]

[darksubverted]

[He

looks at the photo.]

...who?

[Sora?]

[amain]

Sora, the friend you love so much? [ Gay. ] You said you couldn't leave him in the darkness, so after all of this... You'll go back to him.

This is my sketch of you and Sora from the memory you gave me weeks ago.

[ He points that out, too. ]

You two were just as young then... He was crying, but didn't know why. You told him that every world is connected by one big sky and that there might be someone out there must be hurting, looking for help.

[darksubverted]

[His eyes linger on the photo while Nier explains, brows pinched, resistant and without reconization.

The friend I love so much...? I don't even know either of these people...

His eyes shift to the drawing. The drawing...... Why does he have a drawing of them? He doesn't get it.]

I guess you drew it when I told you about meeting them on the beach for that day...?

[That sounds stupid...

One big sky?

His eyes flutter.

Someone... was hurting... Sor...a.]

[amain]

“Luke” never told me about the time you met other kids on the beach.

[ Very funny Nier knows nothing about “Luke.” ]

In the memory, you—Riku—said that these hurting people must be waiting for him to help them and he told you that you say weird things—and you do. You say weird things sometimes.

I don’t think Sora can help you right now… It’s your turn to help him again, Riku. You said you won’t abandon him in the Realm of Darkness. Please try to remember… For him, for Kairi.

[darksubverted]

[The expression on his face breaks, and then pinches, almost like he's getting ready to sneeze, or he's bracing for a sharp pain in the head that doesn't come yet. A grimace.

It goes away slowly, and then comes back. The hand on his leg is fisted tightly.]

None of that... [Sora.] makes any... sense. [Kairi.] Is this some kind of... prank?

[amain]

... It isn't, Riku. This is real. What I'm saying is real. You did so much to get Sora back when he lost his heart and memories? [ what the fuck does that mean nier doesn't know ] You had to give up your body to be strong enough to capture his Nobody, to save him. You didn't know if it'd work... But it did. He's waiting there for you.

[ Does he also need to mention the furry. ]

I might not be King Mickey, Sora, or Kairi, but I'll be here because they can't be. Don't let this darkness change you.

[darksubverted]

[His head snaps around to stare at Nier, expression shocked. No, this is crazy! as a fuzzy haze is pierce through with, The King!}

Shut up!

[Both hands rise to clutch the sides of his head as he bends over in the chair.] Shut up! You...! [A strained groan comes out of him, and without warning he he bolts out of the chair. Where is he going? Who knows.

He only makes it a foot or two before collapsing onto one knee.

I deeply hate I'm going to give this to you because no one else has tried to mention the furry.]

[amain]

[ ... It is something to see a boy startle onto his feet, then dart off, only to make it 1-2 feet away, then finally collapse. ]

Riku?

[ Nier is quick to come to his side, abandoning the couch entirely. He places a hand on his shoulder as concern paints his features. ]

Are you okay?

[darksubverted]

[For a long moment or two, he doesn't move or say anything, just clutches at his heart with one hand, breath labored.

Then finally, he slowly sits back on his heels. When he glances up at Nier, there's a certain kind of clarity in his eyes.]

Nier...

[He pulls his hand away and glances down at it.]

[amain]

[ Why do people talk about Annie and Kovu when it's really about Riku and Mickey. Anyway, Nier gives Riku's shoulder a firm squeeze... That's a good look, despite the pain and confusion. ]

... Are you back?

[darksubverted]

...Yeah. Riku.

[He reaches up to rub a hand over one side of his face like he's exhausted.]

It's... happening more often.

[amain]

[ First and foremost, Nier brings Riku into a tight hug, relieved that he has returned... That he remembers who he is and his loved ones. ]

Welcome back. [ To the happening more often part, though. ] I thought you had people on watch all the time?

[darksubverted]

[He has a second of surprise jolt, and then he curls his fingers into the back of one of Nier's shoulders. You think you're real strong until someone hugs you, and then the flood gates of realizing you're Not Fine are opened.]

Yeah, but... they still have things they need to do, too.

[amain]

[ Hugs really do have that power, don't they? He pulls back. ]

Mm. You left them with enough to help you get out of that trance, right? You might need to tell me more, too... In case this happens when I visit again.

[darksubverted]

I guess...?

[He gives Nier a skeptical look even if it can't be seen.]

Is this your way of trying to weasel more of myself out of me?