𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇

TO PROTECT WHAT MATTERS .

[tidecrux]

. . CARRD , PINTEREST , PLAYLIST , SIDEBLOG .

i want to see the colors of another sky . a certain darkness is needed to see the stars . my heart is different now . you are forgetting how far you have come . when i'm brave , other people feel brave .

. i can't let my past drag me down .

[jv-draws]

Finally watched kh2

[corderis]

❛ i guess i'll let you have your gifts. i worked so hard to pick them, it'd be a shame if you never got to see them! &, y'know, i don't think any of us are on the naughty list. we were pretty good this year! ❜

❛ well, as long as you & sora took back what you said about not believing in santa. ❜

[tidecrux]

he  lets  loose  a  quiet  laugh  of  defeat  and  smiles  ,   ❛  i  guess  you're  right  .  ❜ 

then  ,  pause  .

❛  . . . i  can  think  about  it  ,  but  just  this  once  .  and  don't  tell  sora  .  ❜ 

[corderis]

❛ well, lucky for those who walk that path, i work very hard to make up the difference. unless, of course, you don't want your presents this year...? ❜

[tidecrux]

❛  don't  jump  to  conclusions  .  we  were  discussing  santa  ,  not  friends  .  besides  ,  i  got  sora  something  and  i'll  bet  he's  definitely  on  the  naughty  list  .  ❜ 

[corderis]

❛ i still get presents from santa because i never said he wasn't real. ❜

[tidecrux]

❛  consider  yourself  lucky  .  us  who  walk  the  path  between  naughty  and  nice  don't  get  gifts  or  coal  .   ❜

[separatethingy]

I'm just sad.

[tidecrux]

. . . @corderis ,

a mission undertaken proves simple enough , even after he'd dismissed his partner from his duties that he might go this one alone . but , only for a little while . his aim is meet up with kairi , deliver her new garb , and hopefully have a moment for them to catch up . to talk about things . he misses her so dearly through the chaos of things . . . he finds himself yearning for those simple moments between friends , reminiscing on the joy born simply from time spent at her side .

finding her shouldn't prove too difficult , he hopes , as he traipses through the world , ears taking in the sounds of water's movement , eyes defying the brilliance of the sky that shines down on him . he can feel that warmth on his skin , and it reminds him of the islands , but only briefly . everything's so different here and now .

and as he loses himself to thoughts of memories , he hears familiar footsteps , a distinguishable scent meeting his nose . guess she found him first . she calls his name as if she's asking what he's doing here , and without her having to ask , he's here to deliver the answer .

❛ kairi . ❜ her name is a complete thought from his lips , emitted with comfort and relief . ❛ i have something for you . ❜ and he draws forth the lightweight suitcase , motioning as if to tell her it's in here , but maybe this isn't the best place to open it .

[lockedfighter]

ˏˋ°• ׂׂૢ་༘࿐           starter call . ♡ @tidecrux

༊⋆｡˚                                  the  darkness  was  slowly  becoming  too  much  to  bear  ;  the  light  diminishing  with  every  heartless  attack  .  it  was  putting  a  strain  on  her  —-  a  burden  her  shoulders  were  weighing  down  with  .  anxiety  building  unable  to  fathom  the  sheer  amount  that  seemingly   p  l  a  g  u  e  d   hollow  bastion  .  another  battle  ,  another  win  but  what  was  the  victory  ?  to  be  rewarded  with  more  hard  work  once  the  next  set  joined  .  turned  attention  to  the  male  beside  her  .  ❛  how’re  you  holding  up  ?  ❜

[tidecrux]

strength and courage go hand in hand , yet one is only born from the other . this world , he can feel , is sinking , and he'd do all in his power to defy the fear that sometimes threatens to consume him . he holds his honor in his hand , a new keyblade born of his heart , and would fight until his dying breath to protect anyone he could .

❛ don't worry about me . ❜ he reassures with certain confidence ; he's not tired yet , but he fears the worst if they stay here for too long . ❛ what about you , tifa ? let me know if we need to make a break for it . ❜

[tidecrux]

❛ you wont find it ; you won’t find whatever you’re looking for . ❜ ⸻ @otlaw

the usual hustle and bustle of the hideout has grown more and more still as each hour has entered further into darkness . a quilt of stars blankets the skies , and he finds himself beneath its unfounded comfort , draped in a shadow of the past . the air has grown colder , and he's aware of it , but he hardly feels it . he simply sits in his solitude , contemplating the complexities of mixed feelings , old failures , and the strength to try again .

his eyes focus in again as he hears familiar footfalls approaching , and he knows its clive before he even turns around to face him . the way he walks , his mere aura , is all too recognizable now . his anticipation is confirmed as a stool is pulled out from beside him , and the man finds a seat in it . riku hardly even looks at him , a sinking shame in his gut born of guilt and words that have escaped him . they stay that way awhile , and he's all too aware of the scrutinizing stare that peers into his vulnerability .

his voice is soft with uncertainty , ❛ do you think - ❜ and he stops himself . maybe he doesn't want the answer to his aching thoughts . and then , gently , he's intercepted .

' you wont find it ; you won’t find whatever you’re looking for . '

and such words spark something defiant in him . perhaps it was his goal , perhaps it wasn't , but the ardent desire to prove him wrong lights a fire in his heart . his fingers curl into his hands and he stares forward , never meeting eyes with the other .

❛ i have to . no matter what . ❜

[raccoonscity]

Kingdom Hearts || Riku on the Paopu Tree

[tidecrux]

❛  it wasn’t the same without you  ❜ ⸻ @keyschosen

oh , how well acquainted he's become with such a feeling . a feeling brought on by the unfamiliarity of nothingness , and the heart's black hole of emptiness . how dreadfully lonely , with only the company of the enemy who threatens to make a home in his body . . . lonely , he supposes , sure . but never truly alone . perhaps he would have preferred to be . the feelings are so mixed up and convoluted , he can't separate them from one another ; knowing what he'd wished for and what he'd accept as part of his journey . . . he hasn't figured it all out yet . but he takes a moment to decide whether it truly matters , because if there's anything he did know for certain , it's that he missed his closest friends .

shame is one hell of a hiding place .

❛ c'mon , sora . ❜ he brushes off these complications with a sly smile . sora's depending on him , lost to the feelings of the past , and the guilt crawls up riku's skin . he lets it , but he ignores it . what would sora do in this situation ? he thinks to himself . he reverses their roles in his head , and stretches his arm out to reach his hand atop his dear friend's head . he makes a mess of his hair , ruffling it with a brave smile upon his lips , and the canoe atop the water rocks with his movements , ❛ i'm here now , aren't i ? ❜

he knows all too well the pain of longing , but they're together now , and he doesn't know for how much longer . let's just enjoy each other while we still can .

[tidecrux]

❛  have you noticed anything different about me lately?  ❜ ⸻ @13nth

the salt in the humid air clings to his skin , but he welcomes it . this nostalgia is a whirlwind of mixed feelings , of complications , but here , with all of these cherished people on this journey together , he finds peace . this is the area of the islands he always called home ; away from his parents , away from societal and academic pressure , away from pain . this is where he spent his days with sora and kairi , tidus , wakka , and selphie . the fondest memories he can recall . he laughs at himself , quietly , softly , at how miserable he thought he was at the time . but he'd never take it back . the things he's learned , the people he's met , how his heart has grown . he wouldn't take it back for anything .

and now , sora is gone , but he trusts in his heart in him , and himself . and roxas seated beside him offers him some strange sort of comfort that he can't quite place , but he doesn't question it . he sits with him in the tranquility of the air , as if their bitter past has been buried and they are living life anew . his hands are folded lazily over his knees as he stares out into the waves that crash upon the shore ; he used to count them when he was younger , waiting for sora or kairi to show . things are so different now . . . and , while sometimes painful , he loves the differences too .

' have you noticed anything different about me lately ? '

yeah . of course . he'd never thought roxas , who once carved regret into his heart with actions he never wanted to commit , actions he'd shielded himself from , sight , heart , light , would find himself at his side , at his home , asking vulnerable questions in the wake of seaside tranquility . the answer seems so obvious that riku almost wants to laugh . but he doesn't . he folds his fingers in and out from one another , eyes kept to the blue of oceanic eternity .

❛ yeah . i guess you could say that . ❜ he answers earnestly , still avoiding the true depth of the question , though not with ill - intentions . if roxas would like to continue the conversation , he would wait until he is urged forward . their history is rocky , after all . he's not sure what trust exists between them , despite having had let go some time ago . there are no ill feelings . just a bit of awkward tension .

he never had to forgive him , he only had to forgive himself .

[tidecrux]

just finished watching 7+ hours of every ri,ku scene in all of kh

[tidecrux]

❛  are you okay? are you hurt?  ❜ ⸻ @onegil

a familiar scent invades his senses and sends his body into high - alert mode , adrenaline kicking in before his eyes have a chance to address just where this potential threat is coming from . he's never wrong , though , and as he turns upon the streets of radiant garden , he spots a shadow approaching aerith with an aura most threatening . slinging his keyblade into action , he jumps in front of her and guards before slaying it from existence . he takes a few breaths , and greets her with a silent nod .

steady becomes the heart that once raced with ferocity ; he regains his bearings as braveheart dissipates from something tangible . the heartless he'd defeated wasn't particularly strong , but if he could take the brunt of its force so that no one else has to , he would continue to do so until he is no longer able .

❛ don't worry . ❜ he's alright , and he offers a small smile to affirm her of this , ❛ if you have somewhere to go , i'll go with you . you shouldn't be out here alone . ❜

[poohsources]

🐝  *  ―  𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑴 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺.

❛  are you always so competitive?  ❜ ❛  are you okay? are you hurt?  ❜ ❛  are you sure you can do this on your own?  ❜ ❛  are you thinking what i'm thinking?  ❜ ❛  can you go take care of this, please?  ❜ ❛  can you show me how to fight?  ❜ ❛  can you tell me more about your adventures?  ❜ ❛  do you believe in ghosts?  ❜ ❛  do you ever think about anyone other than yourself?  ❜ ❛  does it really have to be like this?  ❜ ❛  don't you think you've already done enough damage for one day?  ❜ ❛  has no one ever given you a compliment before?  ❜ ❛  have i ever told you how beautiful you look in the glow of the moonlight?  ❜ ❛  have you noticed anything different about me lately?  ❜ ❛  haven't you ever wondered why i never talk about my childhood?  ❜ ❛  how can you just go to sleep like nothing happened?  ❜ ❛  how many more people have to suffer before you realize your madness?  ❜ ❛  is there anything else i can do for you?  ❜ ❛  is this really how you want this to end?  ❜ ❛  isn't it ironic?  ❜ ❛  what are your plans for today?  ❜ ❛  what else do you want me to say?  ❜ ❛  what else have you hidden from me?  ❜ ❛  what happened here? where is all that smoke coming from?  ❜ ❛  what has happened in your life that made you like this?  ❜ ❛  when were you going to tell me?  ❜ ❛  where are we supposed to go from here?  ❜ ❛  who will be able to stop them now?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just act like a normal person?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just leave me alone?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just stay focused?  ❜ ❛  why does everything always have to be so complicated?  ❜ ❛  why should i believe you now when you've told nothing but lies?  ❜ ❛  why won't you just tell me what i did wrong?  ❜ ❛  will it ever stop hurting so much?  ❜ ❛  will you go out on a date with me?  ❜ ❛  will you just shut up and kiss me already?  ❜ ❛  will you please text me when you get home safely?  ❜ ❛  you're completely out of your element here, aren't you?  ❜

[weltenwellen]

Ocean Vuong, from “Deto(nation)”, Night Sky with Exit Wounds

[tidecrux]

well.... looks like riku is back on the horizon