MOCK ROUND - EPILOGUE

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When the flowers cry....

Finally, Sunday is here. At a certain time, everyone is rushed towards the ballroom, again - Where Lambdadelta awaits, in a very frilly dress - somehow even frillier than her normal ware.

With all the dignity of a reigning queen, she steps forward - motioning them to the piles of delicious food prepared for them, all warm and delicious - from extravagant roasts to the sugariest, softest desserts.

And when they all sit down, all the butlers....begin to clap, which echoes loudly in the halls. It almost sounds like the loud applause of a massive audience, praising them for their efforts, and enthusiastically seeing them off, until the curtain is drawn across the stage...

They've done it.

All of them save two....have won a wish from the witch of Certainty.

Such a monumental effort...deserves the highest of praise. And as they can settle in and enjoy their final meal among each other, they will know...that they truly earned every bit of praise and applause.

Comments

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Riku is tugged between a sense of severity about this situation and giving into the teasing, coming along with this, so he's conflicted!! Thanks, Jack. ]

Dangerous, how? I'm only allowing you to 'see my hair for a moment', anything else more in-depth to that requires negotiations.

[helmdivide]

I never did say how long a moment is to me though. Maybe it'll last a long time?

[ Giving his hair a gentle tug. And then putting his best thinking face. ]

Yeah, I think pigtails will definitely be cute.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ In the end, try as he might, he can't match Jack's cheer for long, and it shows as he goes into another moment of quiet. It wasn't for lack of trying, but he doesn't want to forget Jack, Vanitas, Asuma, Lunafreya...even Takashi and Silver. Even if he didn't know the latter two as much.

And on a more important note? He didn't want to forget that this was going to be ran for real, and it bothered him. All of this bothered him so much that he can't shake it off. ]

...I don't know how you do it. But, I don't think I can put up the façade anymore.

[ He'll raise a hand to lightly place it on the other's shoulder. ]

I can't believe that none of us will remember any of this, or any of each other.

[helmdivide]

[ He'll look down at Riku to catch his gaze for a moment. ]

Because I know that sinking down into sadness isn't going to make things better. It'll just make it harder to picture something better in the future.

[ A beat, as he let's go of Riku's hair to let it fall back into place. ]

Besides, I have something pretty great right now that makes me happy.

[ Putting his arm across the back of Riku's chair as he leans in closer. ]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ It kind of reminds him of when Sora had been all bright and smiles when he was basically sulking, his lips turning upwards into a wry smile. Jack was an interesting man, and Riku wished he had time to learn more. ]

...What do you mean?

[ Ah, well. When the other begins to lean close to him, the light-haired male doesn't quite know what he intends at first. Why would his first thought be to assume anyone would just...suddenly kiss him?

But, once he's encroaching further on his space, he sort of realizes it's a possibility. And honestly, he has no idea what to do, so he just goes still, watching the other. ]

[helmdivide]

[ Maybe he just likes being up close and personal. He feels like he's going to miss this. Sure, the memory of the person is gone, but he knows what it's like to miss someone you can't remember. The ache, the emptiness, and knowing there's something important you can't remember. ]

Maybe I want to keep some mysteries.

[ Said in a softer voice than he meant. ]

Well, right now I still remember you and everyone else. I'm feeling pretty lucky for that.

[ With that said though, he'll actually close the space to press a chaste kiss against his lips. ]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Riku is not sure if he can even stand to forget that. Even if it's been just two weeks...he kind of huffs a soft laugh at the other male's words, and then right before Jack kisses him - ]

A good bye kiss, huh? You're really a cheesy guy.

[ But, Riku doesn't pull away. After the kiss, the light-haired male smiles, even if it's a little sad. ]

I'd ask you to come back to Destiny Islands with me, but you have things to do on your world, don't you?

[helmdivide]

[ A good bye kiss, huh? It doesn't really hit him hard until after the kiss. There's a moment where his eyes will betray him, and Riku could probably see just how down he is about this, and then it's gone as he moves to help himself to sitting at the wider end of the chair with Riku, close to his knees. So now he's sideways and putting his hands on the edge just in case Riku gets any bright ideas to shove him off.

Riku's next set of words surprise him. Just going to churn it over as he focuses on the first part. ]

What if it's a thank you kiss? If you want a good bye one though...

[ If he wants one. He's not going to make the first move this time. Leaning back a little as he doesn't meet Riku's eyes. ]

All I have left is to get back to the rest of the Class. You know, I'm who I am because of them.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ That moment is all Riku will need in order to see such a thing, and his expression does soften infinitely so at the moment. Though, Jack hasn't any need to worry for him pushing the other off the chair, considering that he's not quite in the mood to do that. ]

The rest of the class...they're your friends, aren't they?

[ Riku turns over acting and giving a "kiss", but it isn't so easy a decision for him to make, even now. He imagines that it wasn't easy for Jack to, even if he knew that none of them would remember any of it.

Still, he's never had much time to think on relationships lately, and now...this. It's all new for him and there was far too short of a time to properly explore it. His hand will reach out, fingers brushing softly against the other's cheek, and needing to lean some to do so. Then, he'll let it drop. ]

[helmdivide]

[ Turning his head towards Riku after that touch, as he tries to meet his eyes again. He wasn't expecting that, or really any of what's between them. After a moment longer he'll turn his body towards him, too. Let's just snag that hand. Like after the finger war, but this time he's holding Riku's whole hand hostage. ]

More than friends. I guess you could say they are like home?

[ The people, and not really the place.

Though talking about them and what's waiting for him is making it harder not to just spill his guts. Riku is one of the people who definitely earned his loyalty here. And he deserves the truth. It's not really fair, right? ]

You know, you never did tell me about Sora and Kairi.

[ Lifting his other hand to run through Riku's hair. ]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Sure, why not? ]

I think I can get that. It sounds a lot like Sora and Kairi to me - they're everything to me, you know.

[ Riku would gladly die for either of them. Not that he's going to go for dying for them but if he had to, he'd do it in a heartbeat. ]

They're my childhood friends, and I've known Sora longer than Kairi, but I don't think I could say one's more important than the other. We've...all been through alot.

[ His hand clenches tighter onto Jack's hand. ]

[helmdivide]

[ Yeah, he gets that, too. Dying for them or you know, finish dying with them. ]

So, what would we do if I did go with you? Do you think we'd get along?

[ He can't, but there's nothing stopping him from pretending a little longer that the option is there. Giving his hand a squeeze in turn. ]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ He kind of laughs a little at that, and the light does come back into his eyes. ]

First, I'd introduce you to Sora and Kairi. Then maybe we'd have fun on the beach, finish going to school, and maybe fight a few bad guys from time to time whenever they crop up but then go back home to chill. Hang out, play a few games. [ He'll give a snort. ] I think we would get along...we're getting alone nicely right now, aren't we?

[helmdivide]

[ The laugh makes him want to close the space between them again. ]

That sounds like it would be pretty nice.

[ Like a vacation for him. He would have no idea what to even do with time off to relax or play games. Jack is going to casually tuck a strand silver behind his ear. ]

Haha, well yeah. That's because you're pretty great. They're pretty lucky to have you.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Maybe if you weren't a bum and going to go back to being deda you could come, buddy. ]

That's because it would be and you know it.

[ Honestly despite the fact that Riku's been on the islands for years adjusting to a normal life would be ... interesting. It's been quite a journey, fighting the Heartless and such, even if he hasn't been like let's say embroiled in a war his entire life or something like that.

And he's just letting Jack do that with his hair, though given how much of a mess it is, it probably doesn't take long for it to fall back into place. ]

Careful. You keep complimenting me like that and you're going to make me blush.

[helmdivide]

[ Resting his hand on his cheek for a moment. ]

Sounds like someone really wants me to come with them.

[ He hasn't even felt this loss yet, but it already is weighing heavily in his chest. Anything he's thinking of saying though stops at that though. Riku, did you just... ]

Are you stealing lines from me?

[ Wearing a mock shocked expression for a beat before he laughs. Maybe he should demand compensation for that theft there. ]

Maybe I wouldn't mind seeing you go all red again.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ ...he blinks.

There's a moment of silence on his end before he even seems to realize that, yes, he managed to steal a line from Jack. It was actually completely and entirely unintentional too... ]

I was, huh?

[ ... ]

Should I be worried about what you might be up to now?

[helmdivide]

[ No comment about really wanting him to go. ]

Hey, you wound me. I'm not up to anything.

[ Moving his hand to curl under Riku's chin. Kissing might not do much to crack that exterior, but he'll let Riku think that might be his goal. Just leaning in close before giving a smile. ]

In case it's not obvious, I really like you. Probably could have seriously fallen for you.