[audio] @riku [open] (backdated to 7th Aug)

[equinoctials]

This is Riku. I've met some of you already, building the boats or around town.

[ He's not the most outgoing guy, preferring to show his community spirit by working around Beacon. One might have seen him patching rooftops with handmade shingles or filling potholes with sand and stones. Those from the first ferry in might recall he helped move excess furniture from rooms in the Invincible so people could live in them. ]

I know we've all got a lot going on. I wouldn't ask for your help if it wasn't important.

[ Riku says it like he's not used to this. Thunder growls heavily in the background. ]

Some people went missing. I need to go find them before this rain gets any worse.

[ So why take his concerns to the network? ]

I can't be in two places at once. The lake... It's rising, and so is the river. We need to protect our supplies, whatever's left after the rats.

You can use the boat building materials down by the boathouse if you need them. Just get to it before they wash away. And-

[ He exhales, hesitating to give such an obvious warning when so many are assured of the dangers. For his own edification, he does anyway. ]

Be careful. It's down to us.

(OOC: backdated to 7 Aug)

Comments

[originallutece]

Which people, precisely? And are you asking for help protecting the supplies or looking for them?

And if it's the former, Riku, [because she can well guess how this might be playing out in his head,] what makes you think they're still around?

[equinoctials]

[ She's a genius, so he shouldn't be surprised to discover she's thinking several steps ahead. Riku doesn't sound nervous, there's a deep and resolute quiet in his heart he's felt before, a different rush than the Darkness he wields.

There's no room for doubt or fear right now. That doesn't mean this doesn't hurt. ]

Look after our supplies. I'll worry about the ones missing.

[originallutece]

That answers one of my questions. Not the other.

I'm not saying you oughtn't look for them. But at least acknowledge the rather large possibility they may not be here any longer.

[equinoctials]

I won't know unless I look.

[ That's pragmatism that he can respect. But what else can he do? ]

Sora's searching for Kairi. He's done it before. He's probably made friends with a forest spirit or two out there already.

[ That's Sora down to his dumb, precious, and lately too-rare smile. ]

[originallutece]

[She exhales slowly. At least he's not blindly arguing with her.]

Come by before you leave. You can at least outfit yourself sensibly.

SWEATS

[equinoctials]

[ The silence is punctuated by the slosh of boots through muddy runoff, the hungry grumble of thunder.

He speaks, with this awkward, stilted quality that eventually reveals itself to be embarrassment. ]

I...

[ He glances aside at Vanitas, anticipating he'll leap on this like a ravenous dog on a steak. ]

Already left.

she's not mad she's just disappointed???

[originallutece]

[There is a deliberate, significant pause.]

And what, exactly, would you do if none of us agreed to your little plan?

[equinoctials]

[ Years ago, he might have argued. A lot has changed. ]

People will protect their interests. It's our nature. There's no need for anyone else to risk their life when they have nothing to gain.

audio;

[telepathos]

[ She recognizes the voice, but it takes her far too long to figure out how to use the device to reply to his message. It should be like a walkie-talkie, but...alas. ]

I can help. [ Keep the supplies dry...whatever supplies they are, and whatever they're being used for. ] And I can keep the rats away.

[ Easy enough to sit around with whatever items he wants protected, and she can fling the rats out into the water, should they get too friendly. ]

[originallutece]

That's a particularly self-sacrificial way to look at it.

Tell me this: did you prepare before leaving?

voice

[callada]

Already on it, trying to dig trenches around the Invincible to divert the water. Who's missing? I'll let you know if I see any sign of them.

[equinoctials]

Thanks. That's a lot to put on one person. If you can convince anyone, maybe somebody can do something about the general store.

...It's Sora, I think he went to search for Kairi.

[equinoctials]

Yeah.

[ He doesn't elaborate. He doesn't feel he has to, but between himself, Dawn, and Vanitas, Riku feels he might have his hands full of other concerns than food and dangerous things in the forest.

Vanitas can't help but press his fingers into open wounds, and Rikus have a track record of speaking with their fists when pushed too far. ]

Isn't my first time. ... Still, thanks for the offer. Guess I didn't expect it.

[callada]

Yeah, I've seen a few others starting to pitch in. Nobody wants to get washed into the river.

Kairi went missing first? How long ago was that?

[equinoctials]

That's good.

[ Riku exhales, conservatively relieved. That's what he wants, that he can leave to search for his friends and not feel like he's left others in the lurch. Not that it all rides on the shoulders of a few, but more that Riku has a strong sense of duty to the community, this selfishness is not something he can resist acting on.

It's just... Sora needs him. ]

Since yesterday. I looked around town, but...

[callada]

Must be outside town, then. They didn't say anything before they left?

[equinoctials]

Not a thing.

[ But this... it's not about his missing friends. It's about the town, it's about making sure they have enough to get by until the next ferry comes in. ]

Don't let me keep you from your work. We'll come back soon.

[callada]

Good luck, then. Let me know if you need an extra set of eyes - or when they turn up, for that matter.

[originallutece]

Regardless of the way I may present myself, Riku, I don't actively have a desire to see you needlessly hurt or slaughtered. If nothing else, I still need you to tile the roof of my lab.

LAUGHS HARD

[equinoctials]

...

[equinoctials]

[ After a stunned pause, Riku exhales through his nose, offering a dry: ]

Yes, ma'am.

[originallutece]

[Surprise! You thought it was compassion, but it was me, pure selfishness!]

Indeed. Best of luck.

[A beat, and then:]

Regardless: call me if you wish. Perhaps if nothing else, a steady conversation will keep the spirits away.

[And keep her company while she builds-slash-fights-rats, so, again, it's a mutual thing.]

@missprincessmary; voice

[withsadness]

Are you going to be okay?

[She has a huge worry...please don't go missing, too, Riku.]

[equinoctials]

[ That's not possible, unfortunately; the flash floods begin in earnest during the search, and Riku will be drenched, cold, and definitely distracted searching in the storm for two friends. But for now, he appreciates the offer. ]

Thanks, we'll be back soon.

[equinoctials]

If Sora and Kairi return before we're back, please-

[ He stops for a moment, waiting for that latest flash of lightning to resolve into a heavy snarl of thunder. ]

Don't let them leave, if you can.