damned_institute | Night 60: Activities Shed.

[from here]

The shed gave another noticeable creak as Riku stepped inside. A part of him wondered why everything here had to be mood-setting. It wasn't just the eerie lack of light at night or the way the place managed itself, but things like this, too. The stability of the institute seemed to always fall into question the moment night fell. He wondered if some of the things found in the outskirts were just as unstable in the daylight hours, or if all of this truly was a massive illusion upheld by the powers of Landel. Riku realized anything could be possible. That seemed to be the man's MO, anyway.

Riku flashed his light toward a couple baseball bats and glanced toward Loki. "Take what you want," he said. "Some are heavier than others. If you're too delicate, just take a lighter one." The mocking in his tone didn't cease, and he didn't bother to wipe away the smirk that bloomed soon after. If this guy was going to work with their club, he would probably need a real fighter by his side every night. Hopefully, he would turn out to be just as smart as he presented himself. He had to make up for what he had going—or rather, didn't have going—for him somehow.

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[from here]

Riku watched all of Loki's movements inside of the shed, and his curiosity peaked when he grabbed the jersey and the laces from the padding. His lips twitched down into a frown that left just as soon as it arrived the moment he turned around. The fact of the matter was that he never doubted this guy's intelligence; the way he behaved, as well as the way he just responded, indicated strongly enough for Riku that he knew what he was doing. But that didn't mean that his plans were good.

He wavered over his response before acting as if he didn't put stock into his intelligence. That usually got more of a "know it all" answer, anyway, and that was what he wanted out of this situation. Riku took a step back, but didn't head in any direction just yet. "Hope you don't think that's gonna do you any good," he taunted. "You can't just trip things around here."

Loki regarded Riku steadily for a moment, turning the taunt over in his mind as he searched for a reason behind it. Considering he and the boy had just met, there were only so many possibilities. Now, there were quite a few people in the world that just didn't like Loki no matter how he was acting at the time, and that was always a possibility here. Sometimes people just did not get along, and he had to fit that into his calculations; it could even be useful if manipulated carefully.

The other more distinct possibility was that the young man was trying to test him and see if he could make his temper fray, or get him to say something foolish.

Loki smiled, his face once more a polite mask. "As you like," he said, tone mild to the point of blandness. He shrugged. "I've just always found that a bit of string is a useful thing to have around, but if you object I will throw it out." He cocked his head slightly to the side. "Or would you prefer I get upset and shout at you, or try to insult you?" A slight smile curved his lips.

He had a certain amount of patience for those sorts of tests when it was necessary. But in this case, it seemed better to just flatly state that he knew what Riku was trying to do. Riku seemed the sort that would appreciate that kind of directness.

Though of course, from such a quick read the certainty wasn't as great as it could be.

"You think I like to bother with shouting matches? Come on, that's a complete waste of time." Riku knew his mannerisms were a little too brusque at times, but that didn't stop him from his typical treatment of things. He didn't see how it as an adequate assumption for what he wanted, either, but he figured it was probable. His plan to see if there was something greater down the road with his items failed. Instead, it was as if it was meant to be obvious the entire time. A few ideas came to mind—rip the shirt and tie the string around for bandages—but that didn't help at the moment.

He still didn't make any moves yet, because their next options were simple: head inside and try to look for something good or hop over the wall. Riku didn't feel like babysitting if they went for the latter, so waited as he internally made up his mind.

"You can keep what you want. But I won't be too surprised when you end up finding it to be a waste. It isn't my loss." The whole night was a waste, anyway, the moment he got stuck with someone who couldn't even fight. It meant he had to keep accounting for that factor in his plans.

"I don't really know what to think at this point," Loki said quietly. "It's not as if I know you. Though I am sorry if I've caused any offense." He fell silent then, just waiting to see if what the next move would be.

Though if this was the normal way things went for this Arts and Crafts club, he had to say he didn't think much of it. He made a mental note to ask Soma at the next opportunity. It was likely he'd be better off on his own as long as he didn't draw attention to that fact.

"Can you even feel sorry?" Riku asked. It occurred to him that being sorry probably was born somewhere from fear—fear of offending someone, of having made a mistake, and the recognition that someone had to right a wrong. His question came out clipped, because it was the way his mind went. "That's what you said, anyway. I'm just keeping up."

It really was better that it was him instead of Sora or Kairi here. Either of them wouldn't be as cognizant of what this guy was saying or doing. In fact, he had a feeling the next day wouldn't go too well as a result.

Loki simply stared at Riku, actually rendered speechless by the question. He'd been accused of a lot of rather nasty things in his time, some of them even deserved, but this wasn't one he heard all that often. It was actually a bit insulting and...

It hurt. And that was somehow worse, that this boy had gotten under his skin, just a little. Of all things to ask him, with his life already in ruins at his feet and more shame and regret than he was yet even capable of processing choking him...

There was some part of Loki that urged him to just walk away. This was obviously a waste of his time. Or he also wished that he had one of his knives, because it made him angry, angry enough to actually want to fight, but he was still far too cognizant of the situation even with his temper flaring up. All he really had were words.

His thoughts barely showed in his expression, though it said a great deal about how off balance he was that they did at all: a brief flash of shock, hurt, then a narrowing of his gaze as anger set in.

Loki's voice was quiet and still surprisingly pleasant when he spoke. "Really, Riku, have you earned the right to ask that question of others?"

"You just don't seem like the type," Riku explained. "I doubt you bother with it all the time. Why would you? It's one of those things that come along when you need it, and you don't seem like you ever would." His words were delivered in a very set manner. So what if this guy looked upset? In the end, it all played into the same line of thinking: if he was upset, it didn't matter. He didn't bother with fear. That always led to the same place. People had to be afraid somewhere, and even if they overcame their fears, it was different.

"Sora assigned me to work with you, and that isn't the job I like to take. So I'm not gonna cut corners," he added, making it clear that this was the way he worked. If his friend was here, he would be disappointed in him. But if his friend was here, the same click wouldn't have happened. Sora wouldn't have taken as much from those words as Riku had.

Loki gave Riku an incredibly bitter smile. "Because I have a heart," he said. "And you haven't lived nearly long enough to question that. You seem to mistake quiet for a lack of feeling. You are not the first, and I doubt you will be the last." He laughed once, a sharp, pained sound. "I seem like the sort. I would find such a simplistic view of the complexities of life pitiable if I weren't so utterly tired of it."

Loki shook his head. "You remind me far too much of the people I... of the people I tried to escape. Which also means all the words I've uttered have been wasted on you." He gave Riku a bow that was pure mockery in a gesture. "Please, feel free to consider your job completed, since it obviously pains you so."

"You don't know anything about what I've gone through," Riku replied. He didn't need years and years of life experience. He had watched over his friends twice, fearing both times that he might lose them for good. That was enough to add years onto his life. And then there were his mistakes. He had made enough of them to make himself feel somewhat justified in his judgments. There was a small twinge of uncertainty at the mention of the "escape," but he didn't let himself falter at it.

Riku turned and pointed in the direction they came. "If you're done, then, just head on back. You know the way."

Loki laughed, because there was no other reaction he could think of. "And you likewise know nothing of my life. May your hypocrisy some day known an upper bound, Riku." Another mocking bow, and then he turned and strode toward the institute.

Night 60: Activities Shed.

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