paixaorpg | Not in the Spirit(s) [Forward-dated slightly, Active/Closed]

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Not in the Spirit(s) [Forward-dated slightly, Active/Closed]

Character(s): Riku and Link
Content: The two meet randomly over harmless drinks.
Setting: The Cheap Prayer
Time: Day, post-Fog, week 26, Saturday evening.
Warnings: Contains MILK

The Cheap Prayer. It was someplace Riku hadn't been, and he needed a distraction. He'd never been to a bar before, except for the tiny one on the Islands when his dad had taken him to go find someone.

There was a secondary bar, and he strolled right up to it. The bartender blinked at him, opening his mouth and clearly about ready to tell him he was too young when Riku cut him off. "Root beer."

The man behind the counter gave him an unamused look, which the teen reciprocated. "We have milk and sarsaparilla. Or water. That's it for you."

"Sarsaparilla. Same thing." With a raised brow he held up several gold silk leaves, shimmering in the artificial light. It was more than the drink would be worth normally, and the bartender knew it. With wide eyes, he gladly took the payment and went to go get the soft drink in a rush. Meanwhile, Riku took a seat on a bar stool, resting his mouth against his knuckles.

Fog or not, that's a sorry excuse. He needed out of the castle. Riku was more fed-up than ever, and even readier to escape. He wasn't sure why he hadn't tried to visit the giant new floor, but that was about to change. The Organization was going to get a house-call soon.

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Link had been extra cautious since his first (and so far last) encounter with the heartless. He had made a mental note not to go exploring into the different worlds by himself, or if he did, to have plenty of healing items on him. He didn't know where to find such items though, as no shop seemed to carry any kind of potion he was used to in Hyrule, and he didn't want to try anything here if he didn't know what it would do to him.

Instead of exploring the worlds, Link limited himself to the main floor of the castle where the city of Paixao was. He ended up finding a bar like the ones he had seen in Hyrule Castle Town before it was destroyed by Ganondorf, and some of them there had sold Lon Lon Milk. The milk they had at this bar certainly wasn't Lon Lon Milk, but it still wasn't bad, so he drank it anyway.

Link had a few emerald leaves in his pouch which normally held rupees as he strolled into the bar. He wasn't a regular quite yet, but the bartender seemed to recognize him. "Let me guess, kid. You want milk?"

Link just nodded and placed the leaves on the counter and sat a few seats away from a young man with silver hair. Link shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the bartender slid the glass of milk across the bar which Link caught. He didn't know why, but that guy was making him uncomfortable. Maybe he was just in a bad mood, but Link definitely sensed something in his gut about the kid, and he didn't know what to make of him. He couldn't help but to keep glancing at him as he sipped on his milk.

Riku didn't even make eye contact when the bartender gave him his drink, just catching the drink when it he saw it coming into his peripheral vision.

Now what do I do? Riku knew Sora wasn't too happy about what he'd done himself, but this wasn't Riku's first time causing trouble for his best friend. Life never was as simple as saying sorry, something he firmly believed in. Actions always did speak louder than words. He considered first something to at least cheer his friend up, but it was going to take more than that to set things right. Riku hummed a thoughtful note as he finally took a drink from his sarsaparilla. It was then he caught out of the corner of his eye someone seeming to look at him. He paused, pressing his lips together a brief moment to lick off a little of the foam. He waited to say anything until he felt eyes on him again.

"Need something?" He turned to look at the man. He appeared to be similar in age to Riku, if not maybe a little older. Then again, Riku mused, judging ages based on appearances may not be the best route here. With eyes that blue the chances his eras were simply pointed from darkness was unlikely. Riku suspected he was looking at some kind of elf.

Link shrank back a bit, like a child caught trying to steal candy. "Oh, no, sorry. You just seemed...concerned about something, and I was wondering if I could help." he was also interested in that silver hair. Was such a thing common where he was from? This kid reminded him of Impa...

In fact...

"You haven't heard of the Sheikah before, have you?" Impa's hair had been silver, though, hers could have been that way due to age. Still, he thought it was a reasonable question to ask.

After leaning an arm on the bar, Riku slowly replied, "Yeah, something's bugging me. But it's my screw up. I'm the only one who can haul myself out of it."

Riku breathed in deeply, beginning to turn back to his beverage when he found himself with an inquiry. He looked back at the elf. "Sounds like you're on your own quest." The teen leaned an arm on the bar, taking a drink. "No, sorry." He glanced away, but curiosity led his eyes back. After all, he'd never met an elf before. "What is the Sheikah?

"Sorry I can't help." Link sighed a bit. He felt a little helpless and useless here. He had gone exploring a few weeks ago and had gotten his ass handed to him, and now he can't even help out the other people here. It was a real damper considering he was this 'chosen hero.'

"The Sheikah are a race from Hyrule that were sworn to protect the Royal Family. I thought you might have been one, because of of your silver hair." Link gave him another look-over. No, he didn't have the same mysterious aura as the Sheika, though there was definitely something about this guy. "There was some problem with the Sheikah years ago, and now there aren't many left."

Riku shrugged. "Not your problem, don't worry about it." He looked to the sarsaparilla as if he wondered if drinking it fast enough might provide some form of relief despite being non-alcoholic. Not that Riku knew the effects of alcohol on his own body, nor did he care to wake up in a puddle feeling like his head would explode, but getting his mind off this would be nice.

...He thought I wasn't human? "Sorry. Never heard of Hyrule or the Sheikah before." He repositioned his body to face the elf. It was a distraction at least. "Royal families, different races, mysterious problems. If you look like an adventurer and you sound like an adventurer..."

Link couldn't help but smile and chuckle a bit. An adventurer. That was one way of putting it without letting the whole 'Hero of Time' thing out. He kind of liked it in fact. Link: The Adventurer. Yeah, it definitely had a ring to it.

"I've been around. Well, around Hyrule, that is. I've never been to a place like this." Link waved his hand out towards the door, meaning that he had never been to a place like Paixao. He had seen plenty of bars in Hyrule Castle town.

Link put his elbows on the table and took another sip of his milk. He missed Lon Lon Milk a lot right now. He missed Hyrule right now, and not just because he had more temples to go through and more sages to awaken. He was familiar with Hyrule. It made sense there. His friends were there, minus Shiek. He sighed. "I'm afraid I'm not a very big fan of this place."

"Join the club," Riku said in a lowered but still quite audible voice. The locals didn't care enough for outsiders as-is, though luckily, the surrounding patrons seemed to be more interested in their alcoholic beverages. "Too bad for me, I have been to a place just like this. I thought I was done with Castle Oblivion a year ago."

It was true that basically any outsider, good or bad, disliked being stuck here. The elf seemed like more of a heroic sort than anyone he's have to contend with later, but still, a few questions would be for the best. There was little point to lie to some stranger in a bar, especially when no offers had been made to make them inclined to do so.

Riku slid his drink in a small circle, watching the foam of his drink swirl. "What do you have to go home to?"

Link raised a brow at the mention of the castle. Castle Oblivion?

He was distracted from the mounting questions in his head by the young man's question, and Link couldn't help but stare at what was left of his milk with a worried expression on his face.

He sighed. "There's a darkness that's taken over Hyrule. Ganondorf managed to grab a hold of the Triforce and cover Hyrule and the Sacred Realm in evil." He grimaced a bit, knowing that part of it was his fault when he took the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. "I'm the only one who can stop him, but I have to break the curses on the temples around Hyrule and awaken all the sages so they can help me."

There was no secret about any of this. Ganondorf probably knew what was going on, and was probably trying to put new curses back on the temples he had already liberated. Right now, with him being stuck in this terrible place, the situation in Hyrule seemed almost hopeless."

Link didn't want his milk anymore. He just stared at it, or rather through it, lost in his depressing thoughts.

That was to the point. And not quite what he expected, either. Riku himself had his home to go back to. A never changing paradise where the biggest danger was falling into boredom. Riku's home was at least safe. When he finished with Organization XIII, it would be time to really relax. This guy didn't have that luxury.

But that was quite a reveal. It at least sounded like this guy wasn't bad news. Enough to go by for now.

"Wow. ...Rough doesn't begin to cut it, does it?"

Riku took a long drink from his mug. "I'm sick of this. Which is why I'm going to explore that new floor soon as I can."

"You can say that again." Link moved his glass of milk, watching the liquid swirl around in the glass.

He perked up at the idea of exploring. Surly, going with someone this time would be a lot better than going alone like he did last time. They could watch each others backs instead of having them broken by gigantic heartless.

"You wouldn't mind someone tagging along, would you?" It wasn't a very subtle attempt, but Link wasn't too much of a subtle person. In fact, he usually missed subtle things that people said to him. Mostly with Sheik.

The teen smirked slyly, obvious it was what he'd been hoping for. He leaned back on the bar again and he thumbed to himself. "Riku."

He then motioned back to the elf, holding his hand open.

Of course, he'd have to check with Mao, too. And likely warn the two about each other. That could be a challenge. Still, someone who didn't seem to have a lot of darkness, at least, based on appearances, would be a good balance.

Link grinned and took Riku's hand. "I'm Link."

Another adventure. Link was excited. This time, he wasn't being stupid and going alone. That, and he'd get a chance to show off a little. Link is a pretty humble guy, but he's still a guy. Showing off a little can be kind of fun.

"Link." Riku nodded. "I'm probably going to ask someone else, too. He's nuts and says he's evil, but I figured out he's got a moral compass in there somewhere. Think 'evil genius in training' from what I could see from his journal. He'll be good with any machines we find."

"What about you? What skills can you bring to the table?" With that, Riku summoned his Keyblade, point against the ground, into his hand. He leaned his arm on the hilt.

Link pointed back with his thumb. "I'm a pretty good swordsman." He also brought out his bow, quiver, bomb bag, and long-shot. "Let's just say I'm an adventurer."

He grinned. He might have been unprepared when he had gone to the crystal forest, but now that he had an idea what was out there, plus going with a couple people, he didn't think he had too much to worry about.

"Or the best boy scout I've ever seen," Riku remarked with a smirk. "Looks like you're ready for anything."

He remained silent a brief moment. Seeing that much and having a decent idea about Mao, it slowly began to dawn on him that given his Keyblade, he might end up as just the brute force of the group. He frowned for a moment, unsatisfied with that concept, but then reached into his pocket. He pulled out a jar with green liquid and a star with a smirk. "I'm not great with most magic, though I know a couple spells. But I can make one of these go a long way." He set it on the seat between them. "So I got injuries pretty covered."

However, one thing nagged him at the back of his mind. Still, maybe it was better to put a positive spin on this rather than make it out to be as bad as it could be viewed. "As far as your kingdom. I don't know know if it's the same kind of darkness. But if we run up against darkness itself, I can fight fire with fire." He held his palm open near himself, but only as an indicator that he had the power, not in a way as to actually demonstrate.

Boy scout? It must be a term from his world Link just wasn't familiar with.

"I'm not the best with magic either." Link could use Din's Fire to burn things up, and he could use Farore's Wind as well. "I know a fire spell, and a wind spell for warping, but that's about it." While mentioning his own magical abilities, he picked up the jar that looked like it contained green potion for closer inspection. "What is this stuff anyway? They said it was potion in the shop, but they didn't say what kind of potion it was." Riku mentioned healing, so Link assumed that's what it did. Still, why was it green? Healing potion was supposed to be red.

Link put the bottle back on the table and turned to Riku. "You know dark magic?" Link was taken aback by this. The only person he knew that could use such magic was Ganondorf, and he wasn't a good guy. Still, it wasn't the magical ability that defined the person, right? It's what they did with it. If Riku used his for good, Link could get over the fact that he used such magical skills.

Riku gave Link an odd look. "Just a basic, plain healing potion." He guessed potions looked different in Link's world, or else they didn't have healing potions, so he continued. "There are healing potions a lot stronger than this, but they're bulkier and cost more. Not that price matters here." The counter could easily support Riku's upper body as he leaned on it. It was a good thing it could withstand his confidence in this, too. "If you're hurt bad, a potion won't heal all your wounds by itself. But with a little help, just a small portion of it could."

With a more serious tone, he continued. "More like darkness. Just darkness. Though it can do some spells." His tone was very-matter-of-fact as he looked back to the remainder of his drink. "I walked a winding road during a long night. Ended up with a few souvenirs at dawn."

Hmmm. Link gave the bottle of potion a sour look. Red potion could heal just about anything, no matter how severe. If only he knew how to make it himself, he would.

He gave Riku a look of confusion. He didn't understand how 'just darkness' could really do anything, but he had a feeling that if he went on this little exploration with this guy, he'd find out. Link also had trouble understanding the last thing riku said, so he just brushed it off.

"When are we heading out?" Link took the last swig of his milk and set the glass back down on the counter.

Riku smirked. "Depends on when I can get that guy to meet up with us. Besides, I got something to show him anyway." He nearly polished off his sarsaparilla. "In the meantime, stock up on your stuff. We should probably bring some food, too. Sure you know the drill. I'm probably gonna buy a pack."

Sliding off the barstool, Riku clapped a hand on Link's shoulder. "I'll contact you on the journal." He reached over and grabbed his drink to finish it.

Link grinned and nodded.

"Sounds good to me. See you then." Link packed up his supplies and waved Riku good-bye before exiting the bar. He had to visit the park to find a bit more jewels to pay for extra food and supplies. He wanted to be ready to go as soon as he could, so as not to keep everyone ready. Besides, he really wanted to know more about this place, and what kind of fun would it be not to explore anyway?

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Not in the Spirit(s) [Forward-dated slightly, Active/Closed]

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I know he's not an elf, Riku'll just have to be corrected later. XD;

I know Riku doesn't know he's not an elf. It's cool.

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"That's rough, man."

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