Oog:
And while I know Fox has been wrestling with this particular fact for quite some time, Merlin is canonically a time traveler in The Sword in the Stone, so there's a chance he'll have more information.
*HIISSSSS*
Damned time wizard.
Time travel in KH is
freaking weird.
IG:
Day 46
The Traverse Town
Time -
Endless Night
Huh... That was... interesting, you guess.
Riku and Donald are chatting a bit, and Kairi's dozing. Goofy is talking with the Chief, and while the armored man seems annoyed at first, the two seem to be hitting it off.
You lean forward, to address your fellow visitors. "So, uh... hey."
The boy startles a bit, and the blue-haired girl simply turns to look at you. "Uh..." The boy starts.
"Name's Sora. What's yours?"
"S... Shinji. Shinji Ikari."
"Rei Ayanami."
"Wow, those are mouthfuls."
"... Is there something you want from us?" Rei asks. Her voice is very... even. No inflection at all. You're not sure whether she's snapping at you or simply asking a question. It's a little spooky.
You blink. "Not... really. Just wanted to talk. I didn't see you around when I was here last."
"..." Shinji doesn't reply to that.
"Our world was lost a week ago." Okay, scratch that. Rei is extremely creepy. How... how can someone say something like that so... easily? Meanwhile, Shinji seems to slump a little more.
"... Sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up."
"You left this world, then?" Rei asks. Well, at least she's kinda talkative.
"Yeah. I'm... we're..." You scratch the back of your head. "We're actually looking for a way to stop the Heartless and put all this stuff right, and doing what we can to protect the worlds. Not to brag or anything... but we've made quite a bit of headway, I'd say!"
"..." Rei doesn't respond at all to that. You know, you'd have thought that would have provoked some kind of reaction from either of them.
"So... you guys find yourselves a job or something?"
Shinji frowns. "... No. Not yet. I... there's nothing I can do."
"I am working part time at the Tools of the Trade. I take care of the register. Beyond that, my manager, Bowser, gives orders, and I follow them."
"I know Bowser. He's a pretty nice guy, I think. Really loves his son. I'm sure you're in good hands with him! And as for you, Shinji... I'm sure you'll find something. Everybody's got SOMETHING they can do."
"... No. I... I'm worthless. There was only one thing I could do... and now it's gone."
You're... not sure how to respond to that... And you don't get the chance as you're distracted by the sound of doors opening.
"Now, remember what I said, alright?"
"Ugggghhhh. Fine." A redheaded, blue-eyed girl in a red... skin tight suit... thing... saunters down the hall into the front room. Laguna follows her, and gives you a wave.
"Riku, Sora, Kairi! And Donald and Goofy, too. Good to see you!"
"Likewise," you reply. "How are things?"
"Pretty good, all told. I'm afraid you've come at a bad time, though, but if you can wait a few hours, I'll be sorted to talk with you." Laguna says as the girl beside him scans the room, eyes landing on...
"Well, what's a guy like you doing in a place like this?" The girl says in a loud tone that you're pretty sure is
designed to draw the attention of everything in the room, smirking at Riku while taking a rather... aggressive pose. "Name's Asuka. Asuka Langley Soryu. And... you are?"
"Riku. Just... Riku." Riku asks, looking confused.
"Nice name." Her grin becomes a little... predatory. "You know, how about after you're done here, I take you out on the town?"
"Sorry, I have other arrangements," Riku replies. "Friends to catch up with, that sort of thing." He then goes back to chatting with Donald, leaving her in a frozen state of shock. "Sure, we can wait, Mayor." He gets up, and starts for the door. You nod and nudge Kairi awake.
"Looks like we'll have to wait a bit, so we're gonna check on our friends, alright?"
"Sure." The five of you walk out the door.
It's only five minutes later, as you enter the Back Streets to visit Joshua, that Riku stops. "... Wait. Was that girl... asking me out?"
Donald snickers.
"Oh gods. She was asking me out. I'm no good at this sort of thing. I mean, oh gods. How do I let her down easy? What if I tick her off? What if she starts
stalking me? What if Serah finds out...? Oh no. What if
Light finds out!? She will
kill me."
"Calm down, Riku," Kairi grabs him by the shoulders. "Look at me. You didn't give her any reason to think that you were interested, did you?"
"I... I don't know! How am I supposed to know that!? I'm not a mind reader! How do I know whether I gave her any ideas?"
"What did you say?"
"Umm. I told her I had other arrangements."
"Riku... You went noncommittal. You never go noncommittal. It leads them on! What will you say if you see her again?"
Riku makes a choking noise.
Kairi sighs. "... Okay. Needs work. Just... tell her that you're already taken. Simple. Straightforward. Got it?"
"Alright. Thanks."
Kairi lets go of him. "No problem. Now, let's go."
The three of you move on, and eventually arrive at Joshua's club.
Music is leaking out from inside. There seems to be a new addition to the place, though: the entrance has been gated off, and there's a line to get in... with Beat at the front door, apparently keeping things orderly.
He notices you three, and shouts, "Hey, hey! Quit staring. Either get in line, or get out of here-!" You see Joshua step out of the club, and smile at you.
"Ah, Sora, Riku, Kairi. Let these five in, Beat, I was expecting them."
"Er... Al... right..."
You walk up to him, and smile. "Good to see you, Beat. Good luck with this line."
"Um, thanks... uh..." He seems to be thinking hard about something as you head inside. "Where have I seen those guys before...?"
"So, what's with the new setup, Joshua?" Riku asks.
"Hm? Oh, well... Beat needed a job, so I found him one that suited him. Although, I'd say it turned out better than expected for my business. Far fewer brawls breaking out, or lost kids wandering in," He gives the three of you a significant, though teasing look.
"Glad to see your friends are back. Though... I heard about some kind of side effects?"
Joshua smiles. "It's nothing worth mentioning, I think. Just... an issue that arose from how I was keeping them from fading. They'll be fine, especially once you all find a way to restore our world."
"So, they adjusting well, other than that?"
"Yeah. Shiki, I hear, found a job over in the Second District. I'm fairly sure you know her employers. She's just in heaven. And Neku's busy slapping advertisements all over town. He's drawn up quite a few customers around here. Apparently the Back Streets aren't the best place in Traverse Town when you're looking for exposure. Rhyme ended up enrolled in the local school. Beat's is hoping... I mean...
we're hoping that by learning and befriending others her own age, she'll develop goals, hopes and dreams... and claim anew the things she lost.
"What about you, Sora? I can tell you've gotten a fair bit stronger... How are things beyond Traverse Town?"
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘χ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
Music:
Kingdom Hearts - Traverse Town
Neon Genesis Evangelion - Rei I
KH:Re CoM - Just Wondering
TWEWY Solo Mix- Jump Over Yourself
Characters:
KHVD Main Party Sheet
KHVD Main Party Growth Chart
Link Shards
Gummi Ship
KHVD Minor Party Members Sheet
Shop Sheet
Jiminy's Journal