[ It would have been easier if it had been a memory, just one distilled moment caught out of context. Less personal, less a deliberate choice on someone's part, because of what that implies. Riku lowers his eyes to the floor between his boots, thinking, until he breathes a mirthless laugh, pulling himself together, using as a shield the wry half smile and cocky roll of a shoulder that follows. The truth is, that hurts. ]
So that's what he remembers... That's what's left of me. I guess that's only fitting.
[ The pew creaks as he puts his back against it, his head tilted away and his arms crossing over his chest. It's easier to look at the shadows where they gather in the distant corners of this candle-lit space than to talk about this while looking at anyone. The only reason he stays to say anything at all is... he admires Soldat, and if he had tried to murder his own best friend, maybe he would understand. ]
Sorry. It's not my style, but there's no short answer.
[ If he doesn't commit to this he'll just go brooding silent Squeenix protag and the plot won't advance! Do it for the exposition! ]
Sora and Kairi were my best friends, we grew up together. Stuff happens. People change. She started to look at him a certain way, he'd give her that stupid smile he used to give me. I got jealous.
[ He felt like he was being left out, so he acted out, trying desperately to tear back some of that attention. Some people reach adulthood cringing at themselves at 16 for things like awkward behavior, earnest love poems and questionable fashion decisions. Riku has "nearly destroying his homeworld, all his friendships, and getting possessed by an evil geriatric" but you know, same hat (and questionable fashion choices). ]
I threw away everything, my home, my friends, I nearly destroyed it all, consumed by the Darkness that was growing in my heart. No wonder the Keyblade left me and went to Sora instead.
What he told you... I thought I was taking back what was mine, convinced that I'd been replaced with other friends. Only came to my senses when that bastard possessed my body and tried to make me take out my friends.
[ Possession? That's an abrupt escalation; Riku's summarizing in a big way here. ]
I'm sorry this is so long ugh
So that's what he remembers... That's what's left of me.
I guess that's only fitting.
[ The pew creaks as he puts his back against it, his head tilted away and his arms crossing over his chest. It's easier to look at the shadows where they gather in the distant corners of this candle-lit space than to talk about this while looking at anyone. The only reason he stays to say anything at all is... he admires Soldat, and if he had tried to murder his own best friend, maybe he would understand. ]
Sorry. It's not my style, but there's no short answer.
[ If he doesn't commit to this he'll just go brooding silent Squeenix protag and the plot won't advance! Do it for the exposition! ]
Sora and Kairi were my best friends, we grew up together. Stuff happens. People change.
She started to look at him a certain way, he'd give her that stupid smile he used to give me. I got jealous.
[ He felt like he was being left out, so he acted out, trying desperately to tear back some of that attention. Some people reach adulthood cringing at themselves at 16 for things like awkward behavior, earnest love poems and questionable fashion decisions. Riku has "nearly destroying his homeworld, all his friendships, and getting possessed by an evil geriatric" but you know, same hat (and questionable fashion choices). ]
I threw away everything, my home, my friends, I nearly destroyed it all, consumed by the Darkness that was growing in my heart. No wonder the Keyblade left me and went to Sora instead.
What he told you... I thought I was taking back what was mine, convinced that I'd been replaced with other friends. Only came to my senses when that bastard possessed my body and tried to make me take out my friends.
[ Possession? That's an abrupt escalation; Riku's summarizing in a big way here. ]
That was almost four years ago.