On its surface, it could appear to be a callous disregard for the lives of all those who take shelter in Beacon. That they have the right to pick and choose who survives, like Robin's dreadful, lonely duty as the Lighthouse Keeper. It reminds him of what Bruce said, when he was inquiring about this experiment in the first place.
There's a deeper meaning, perhaps, and Riku doesn't think he would have picked up on it at all if he couldn't recognize the scent of the Darkness that pervades, that rolls off of Vanitas like he's perpetually burning with fever.
He's reminded of those days he struggled and wandered through the dark, hounded by how near the choice nipped at his heels: a despair so deep he could give up under its weight. What kept him going was the need to see his friends, to see Sora and Kairi one last time.
And what does Vanitas have? A few sparse moments of vicious glee amidst the grief he assumes Vanitas experiences?
He wonders. If it's as bad as he thinks. If he's not just reading what he hopes is there, some potential glimmer in all that darkness. If Vanitas is talking about himself when he says they don't all need to make it through. If Riku is trying in vain to relate because he's-
cw: suicidal ideation
On its surface, it could appear to be a callous disregard for the lives of all those who take shelter in Beacon. That they have the right to pick and choose who survives, like Robin's dreadful, lonely duty as the Lighthouse Keeper. It reminds him of what Bruce said, when he was inquiring about this experiment in the first place.
There's a deeper meaning, perhaps, and Riku doesn't think he would have picked up on it at all if he couldn't recognize the scent of the Darkness that pervades, that rolls off of Vanitas like he's perpetually burning with fever.
He's reminded of those days he struggled and wandered through the dark, hounded by how near the choice nipped at his heels: a despair so deep he could give up under its weight. What kept him going was the need to see his friends, to see Sora and Kairi one last time.
And what does Vanitas have? A few sparse moments of vicious glee amidst the grief he assumes Vanitas experiences?
He wonders.
If it's as bad as he thinks.
If he's not just reading what he hopes is there, some potential glimmer in all that darkness.
If Vanitas is talking about himself when he says they don't all need to make it through.
If Riku is trying in vain to relate because he's-
He slides off the bar stool and turns away. ]
When you're done here, let's go.