[003 || Written]

[darknessinside]

[There aren't any words, just a random sketch of an island showing up in the journals. If it looks like it was done by a 5-year-old, WELL...that's because Riku isn't an artist, so whatever. Shut up. He's just trying to pass the time anyway.

If anyone on his crew needs him, they can find him sprawled on his hammock in his room.]

Comments

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie leans forward, folding her arms on her knees, and resting her eyes against her elbow. Either trying to remember, or trying to disappear, she's not sure herself, but she hears Riku and shakes her head against her arm without looking up*

N-no. It's okay. This is just so... Amazing. But so...sad.

[darknessinside]

Alright...

[Shifts and scoots a little closer until he's sitting pressed against her side.]

There was this one time when we were younger -- I think I was around nine, so you were probably eight or so. It was your parents' anniversary and your dad... Man, he went all out. There was a big party on the beach and there were all these lights and decorations and stuff and all our parents went. Kids, too. But they all kept dancing and I remember thinking it was really gross. There were fireworks at the end of the night. Your mom didn't know about it, the whole thing was a surprise.

...You know, now that I think about it, your dad is kind of a romantic.

[Maybe that's where Selphie gets it from.]

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie wipes her eyes against her arm, then moves to sit back up again slowly, keeping herself close to Riku. Despite how teary her eyes might seem, there's a big smile on her face as she imagines the scene. And he's right, it does sound very romantic. She laughs a little as a small tear falls*

That's so sweet! I bet...I bet my mom and dad were real happy together?

*It sounds a bit more like a question, because while she wants to believe that it's true, she doesn't want to be making things up*

[darknessinside]

Oh yeah.

[It's an immediate answer. Not that his own parents or Sora's or anyone else's weren't happy, but sometimes Selphie's were something else entirely.]

There were always flowers in your house. Your dad would bring them home. I asked him why one time and he said something about how it made your mom smile and seeing her smile was always the highlight of his day.

[His nose wrinkles as he makes a face reminiscent of the one he would've made when he was seven and that kind of stuff seemed weird and stupid.]

[booyaka_boom]

*That makes her laugh all the more, and her hands clasp together in delight at it all*

My dad sure sounds like a keeper! No wonder my mom was happy!

*Perhaps it wasn't any wonder, then, that that was the kind of relationship she herself had always dreamed for herself. She giggles at Riku's expression and touches his nose*

It's very romantic!

[darknessinside]

[Cracks a grin to go with her laugh, playfully brushing her hand away.]

It is, but I didn't get all that back then. I guess now I do a little better.

[Leans his head back against the wall, letting the memories wash over him as he searches his mind for any other tidbits he can share.]

...There's someone like that out there for all of us, you know.

[booyaka_boom]

Hmm...

*Selphie watches him a moment then swings her legs forward and back gently over the edge of the hammock. All the talk of romance makes her wonder if maybe what had happened with Ikki was the right thing. She was born into a world of love and romance, while he disliked, or at least didn't care about either*

Maybe there is... I'm just not gonna go out of my way looking for him, whoever and wherever he is...

[darknessinside]

[Nods.]

You'll find each other when the time is right.

[Bumps his shoulder against hers.]

I danced with you at that anniversary party. Mostly because my mom made me, but still.

[booyaka_boom]

Well, here's hoping...

*Despite how unsure she might sound, she does manage a smile*

Oh, did you? I bet we made a super cute couple, even if you were forced!

[darknessinside]

[Laughs a tad awkwardly.]

Yeah, well. Wakka laughed at me, so I'm pretty sure I went on a sandcastle destroying spree the next day to rebuild some manliness.

[Says this with an obvious self-mocking tone.]

[booyaka_boom]

Oh, great... Even when I was a kid people were laughing at anyone being paired me with in any way...

*That was good to know, too. Maybe she just wasn't built for this stuff*

But I bet you really showed those sandcastles, you big meanie.

[darknessinside]

[Just raises his eyebrows and gives her a look.]

Selphie. We were nine. And he was laughing at me, not you. Because that's what dumb little kids do, especially boys.

[Pause.]

And then we destroy things. I'm telling you, not a single one survived. It was brutal.

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie just laughs off his comment, because she had only been partially serious about it, after all. She thinks*

Boys are stupid creatures, no matter what age they are.

*This, at least, she has decided, is definitely the truth*

[darknessinside]

[Barks out a laugh and gives her a wide grin.]

Yeah, that much is most definitely true. I apologize on behalf of our entire gender.

[booyaka_boom]

Hmm... I'm not sure that's a big enough apology for all of your gender, but I'll accept it for some of them, yourself included.

*Now it's her turn to nudge him playfully, shoulder to shoulder*