Riku rolled his eyes at this broad definition of sheer distance, since being apart in one way or another had become such a norm between them. Which…was really kind of sad. And come to think of it, wasn’t Mogultown—wait no, Moogletown, Riku was not pulling a Goofy today—just another example of this? It hadn’t occurred to him that Sora might be off somewhere that wasn’t adventuring…
It should have occurred.
Especially now.
But there was nothing to gain from punishing himself for it after the fact, so Riku tried to relax with a vexed sigh. If he was going to then make some snarky comment, Sora derailed it with that pout, which made Riku’s lips part and then pull back around an incredulous grin.
Did he expect that to work?
“If you’re not careful, your face is gonna get stuck like that~,” he said and boldly plucked Sora’s lower lip like a bowstring. It was the act of a young man who did not expect to get bitten, in part because Riku was also pretty sure Sora might just believe him.
“So let me guess, you’re already friends with half the town.” One or two short years ago, that line might have been thick with sarcasm and jealousy, but Riku was past that so his tone was only fond. Besides, Sora’s personality was bound to help them out here when Riku still had so many questions about the place.
Sora pulled back from Riku as his lip made a wet slapping sound against his teeth. He took his hands away from his friend’s biceps and rubbed his still-tingling flesh. He furrowed his brown eyebrows at his best friend’s teasing and resisted the urge to pout again lest his face actually become stuck in that position. He broke into a grin, however, at the question of whether or not he had greeted the other residents of Moogletown.
“Maaaaaaaybe?” he said with a cheeky grin, his hands moving to rest behind his head as he continued to emit a jokingly cocky attitude. It was true that he had made friends with many people here, but he wasn’t sure he had befriended half the town. Maybe just a third or something like that.
“Everyone’s really nice here, Riku. I hope you’re having a good time!”
It was refreshing to see Sora bounce back like that, and Riku was surprised he'd worried. Things between them seemed just as close as before, and yet there was still so much left unsaid. Sora never concentrated on that stuff though--it was always water under the bridge to him, so Riku tried to leave it be.
He rolled his eyes up and to the right in a quick mental checklist of the people he'd met here--most of whom had either been sobering conversationalists or didn't respect personal boundaries. "...Yeah, of course." That didn't sound quite as genuine as he'd hoped. "Any sign of trouble out this way?"
Not that Riku couldn't go more than a few hours without fighting something, but he was used to having this or that enemy dragging itself up out of the ground or convalescing in mid-air specifically to try to slam his head through his pelvis. The fact that no such enemy had shown its face out here was starting to feel...a little too calm.
