05 ↔ Shock

[darkercalling]

[Riku looks like he's seen better days. He may be fine physically (as far as anyone can see), but he's carrying himself oddly - like the weight of the world is on his shoulders, but at the same time, he's... learned things. Freeing things. Still, even before his little trip to the back of the shop, there was...

... something he refuses to think about. For now. He has a job to do first. Angst later.

He walks around the Plane with his blindfold on and the hood of his robe pushed back. Specifically, he's looking for Menzies, and he's carrying a ripe, delicious looking apple to give to her. If he's staring at it, it's only to keep his mind from wandering too far.]

This had better work...

Comments

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies spots him staring at it. she's none-too-happy about the apparent state of him, so she isn't exactly going to let him walk on by]

If that's your red riding hood impression, I've seen better.

[darkercalling]

[... Yep. That's her. He shakes his head and walks toward her, bad luck or whatever be damned. It's almost over, anyway. ... In theory.]

I thought I was the one with bad eyesight. It's not even red.

[grip_on_reality]

You know, I was gonna say Snow White, but that seemed a bit too ironic.

[but she tenses when she realises he's coming toward her. backing up, she says sharply:] Don't do anything stupid. Stay there.

[darkercalling]

[Hmm? She knows about her? Ah well, probably a realities thing. He just smirks.] No dwarves around, as far as I know.

[He'd roll his eyes, but there's no point if she can't see it. He does take a few more steps forward, but then he stops. He doesn't really want to make her mad.]

Fine, then I hope you can catch. [He tosses the apple to her.]

[grip_on_reality]

[she smirks back] So Red Riding Hood it is.

[she was about to yell at him again, but instead she focuses on catching the apple--which she does. she's not wearing the gloves anymore, and thankfully the patch of Lish's skin on the back of her hand doesn't impact her grip]

[she turns the apple over in her hand curiously] What's this, then?

[darkercalling]

[He shrugs a shoulder.] I picked it up for you. In the back of the shop.

[grip_on_reality]

[her eyes widen. she had a feeling either Riku or Conan might do that--they've both insisted on checking up on her, after all. and while she's grateful, it's clear that Riku went through something for this]

You know, you're about on par with Red Riding Hood when it comes to listening. [which is, of course, her way of saying she's grateful--and annoyed]

[uncertain, but daring to hope, she takes a bite of the apple. she pauses, wondering if she's supposed to feel anything. she doesn't, but even so, a glance at her hand tells her that one thing has changed at least. she shifts her grip on the apple, poking at the back of her right hand] Would you look at that... I think it's done it. [but she takes another bite, just to be sure, debating how she should test this]

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Is Riku still doing his blindfold routine? Either way, Conan's going to pause and try and gauge what is going on here.]

[darkercalling]

[Riku manages to spot Conan. He's not entirely sure how he feels about being watched, either. So, he makes his way over.]

Hey. [Pause] Everything okay?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

You're asking me? I'm not the one with the blindfold.

[darkercalling]

Ah. [He shakes his head.] It's nothing. I just can't see very well in the light.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

That's a relief! Though -- why are you here then?

[darkercalling]

[He holds the apple forward for Conan to see.]

I got this for Menzies. Pretty sure if she eats it, she'll stop giving off bad luck. [Bit of a smirk] It's better than the other solution.

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Conan's smile is immediate -- it's a relief to know that someone on the Plane has the right idea.]

Much better! You're friends with Inspector Menzies?

[stillshinigami]

[A strange guy walking about with a blindfold on wearing a dreary robe? Not something you see everyday. Duo is heading off towards the bar as he glances over to Riku for just a second. That's not really any of his business is it? Huh. Though as Riku passes, Duo nods and offers a casual wave of the hand.]

Hey. [And hand goes back to the pocket.]

[darkercalling]

[Riku nods in response. He's used to the stares at this point. He knows the blindfold is odd. Probably even makes him look pretty suspicious. He doesn't let it bother him.]

Hey. [Pause. You know, weird things are still happening on the plane... ] Something wrong?

[stillshinigami]

Not today. [As opposed to?]

I guess about as much as anything but you probably get that, huh? [He chuckles humorlessly and carries on his merry way.]

[darkercalling]

[Riku shakes his head, giving his own short, humorless laugh.] Yeah. You could say that again.

[He watches Duo go, then turns his attention back to his own plans. He seriously needs to find Menzies before his own thoughts catch up with him...]

[bit_impossible]

[raises an eyebrow at the sight of Riku. he's quickly reminded of the young man's demeanour the last time he saw him after their encounter in the maze, but he has to wonder if this time, it's thanks to that apple in some way. his own box of raisins is still tucked into his pocket, unopened]

You know, you could do with a sack or bag of some kind if you're going to go trick-or-treating, but you might run into a little trouble going up stairs with that blindfold.

[of course, he doesn't think the young man would be doing such a thing; such celebrations might not even exist in his reality, but he figures catching him off-guard might lead him to what is really going on. (and he hopes that's easier to do than it is with Oliver.)]

[darkercalling]

[It definitely catches Riku off-guard. He turns to face the Doctor, looking puzzled at first. Trick-or-treating...? Wait, he heard mention of something like that in Halloween Town. Not that he has any idea what it really is. ...He shakes his head.]

I don't think stairs will be a problem. [He crosses his arms, smirking just faintly.] You get used to it, you know.

[bit_impossible]

[scratches the back of his neck innocently] Well, I suppose one would after a while. Were you in an accident of some kind?

[darkercalling]

[He shakes his head.] Not an accident. I was just in the darkness for so long, it's hard to see in the light. [You know, if it were anyone else, that would just be a lame dodge of the question.]

[bit_impossible]

Just need to give your eyes time adjust to the light again. It has this way of getting in, light does. Be it though a crack or even a pinprick, light will find a way. I mean, just look at the stars around us! [makes a broad, sweeping gesture with his arms] All these stars around us, their light has taken millions and millions of years of travel just to reach our eyes. Well, the real stars, anyway. These aren't exactly the real McCoy. [taps his foot on a cluster of stars on the ground]

[darkercalling]

[He smiles a bit at that.] Yeah. The light is pretty relentless. Maybe one day I won't need this thing anymore [He's not really sure how likely that is, but... well, he can hope. right?]

I learned a little about the stars in school. Of course, the next thing the teacher said was that it meant the star could have gone out long before we'd know it.

[bit_impossible]

Of course, you could go with a nice pair of sunglasses. Far more stylish. [reaches into his pocket quickly, then lightly throws a pair of super dark-lensed aviator sunglasses at him] Here.

Well, your teacher was sort of right. All depends on when the star was born, the size of it, and how far away it is from your point of view. Sometimes, the brightest ones are already on the verge of dying.