piratejournal | [Voice][Private to Riku]

Help you work on using your powers? Like being a test subject again?

[There's a slight pause, and then:]

Sure. I can do that.

That's exactly what I mean.

[He glances at the time. It's about nine in the morning.]

Only if you're sure though.

Yeah, I'm sure. Just tell me what you need me to do.

Hang on. I'll let you know.

[Natsuno isn't going to say anything else. Riku will feel nothing for a bit. Around 9:30 he should feel a bit peckish and decide to have an apple for snack. At quarter to ten, he'll fetch himself a nice glass of ice water and at ten he'll get fed up waiting for Natsuno to tell him what he wants that he'll respond around then. The suggestions are subtle, and the desires should present themselves as naturally as possible. He was working on guiding people with as light a touch as possible over distance. In the meantime, he'll wait.]

[Just as suggested, he does get hungry around 9:30. The feeling is present, but not strong enough that Riku actually gets up to find something to eat. Even though he's randomly in the mood for an apple. He manages to ignore the urge, but when 9:45 rolls around, he does find himself getting up to pour himself some water. He didn't even realize he was thirsty, but he downs the glass anyway.

Fifteen minutes later, he huffs impatiently.]

Helloooo, anytime now. Natsuno?

You're right on time. What have you been up to?

[He might be teasing Riku, just a little bit.]

[Since sharing every detail of how he spends his time isn't something Riku generally does, it doesn't occur to him to answer the question with specifics.]

Seriously? I was waiting for you, you said you'd let me know what to do.

[He frowns a little.]

Wait, right on time?

[Natsuno contemplates calming him down, but no, he'll let Riku be annoyed if he wants, since it was his doing.]

Almost to the minute in fact. About an hour ago I gave you some suggestions. What've you been doing?

[He's not really annoyed, just wasn't sure what was taking so long.

That makes him blink, though.]

Oh. Uh... I had a glass of water? And then I was just sitting here.

That's interesting. No apple?

[Hmm, suggestion might need work if Riku didn't do everything he said, although he didn't put much force into it.]

Did you notice anything strange, or think that I was doing it to you?

...No. But I wanted one.

[That explains that, then.]

I felt hungry but not enough that I wanted to get up and grab something. But no, I just assumed that was me. Didn't even occur to me it might've been you.

Ikki's given me some suggestions when it comes to things that are a little more malicious, although that in itself is pretty dangerous.

[He pauses a little bit.]

Although, I wonder if some of the effect is from biting you.

You mean, you can persuade me easier because you've bitten me so many times? ...I don't really know anything about vampire beyond what you've told me, but that doesn't not make any sense.

Well in theory I should be able to give you orders because I've bitten you, but I'm not entirely sure how long that effect lasts. The best person to try it on would be Ozaki-sensei, I think. I bit him once, a long time ago now, well to me but long enough he's healed, I think.

[He sighs softly.]

Even if I can give you orders, it doesn't mean I would do that though, I don't want you to worry about it. Well, not without your permission anyway.

[Depending on Riku is, he might see Natsuno making his way on deck to sit on one of the railings.]

That was the easy test though...and not a very creepy one.

[He's still in the galley, eyeing that apple again simply because they were talking about it.]

No...not creepy at all. But at the same time, totally creepy. Maybe even creepier than the other stuff, if only because you could control someone like that and they'd never know. I didn't realize it was you at all.

Have you asked him if you could try it on him?

No...and I don't think I will. He's had enough of vampires for a lifetime, I think.

[He thinks about what Riku is saying, nodding a little.]

Well the application of this would be to influence the Navy we come across. It does take a lot out of me though...it's not really easy. I want to build up my stamina and scope...make it useful.

[Isn't this the kind of thing Riku was talking about?]

It goes with remaining well fed.

It's a good idea. And definitely something that would be useful against enemies.

[He hesitates for a second before continuing.]

Plus if it means you'll stay fed then I really approve.

I thought you might.

[He exhales.]

At least I know for you the distance between our ships isn't much of a problem. That's good news.

Alright, I'm going again. This time it'll be scary.

Okay, I'm ready. Do your thing.

[BRACES FOR SCARY. By just...sitting back in his seat and crossing his arms.]

[Instead of forcing an illusion like he did last time, he decides to try Ikki's advice. He'll let Riku's own memories and fears do it for him.

This time he focuses on making Riku feel. At first it's just a nagging feeling that something's wrong. Then it escalates, step by step. He's hoping that Riku's mind even fills in an illusion, but he isn't sure what to do except to will him to see his worst nightmare.]

[Seeing as how he's lived through his worst nightmare, or several of his worst nightmares, about fives times over now it doesn't take much persuasion on Natsuno's end for the images to swiftly takeover.

The galley around him darkens at the edges, inky black pooling in from all sides and covering the floor. It seems to bubble and churn like it's alive, and maybe that's because it is. Heartless start taking shape in the Darkness and Riku stands abruptly, his chair toppling over, but when he goes to summon his Keyblade it won't come. He feels a grin stretching over his face instead as the Darkness rises around him, clinging to him, welcoming him home, and he wants to move, wants to fight out of this mess, but his body doesn't seem to be his anymore and won't listen to his commands.

Sora's there suddenly. Then Kairi. The Darkness seeps out of the galley, slowing consuming the rest of the ship and their crew with it, but Sora will fight him, will stop him, he knows that.

Except he doesn't. His mouth is moving, he's babbling something at Riku that he can't hear, probably some heartfelt speech about faith and trust and believing in him, come on, fight back, he can beat this—

But Riku has no desire to beat it. Instead he lifts a hand, directing the Heartless to attack Kairi, who swiftly disappears under a wave of them.]

No...

[Sora is still talking, with that earnest expression on his face, and all it takes is one flick of Riku's hand for a Heartless to jump at him. Or -- no, it's not a Heartless. No, the ghost that floats toward Sora instead is chilling and horrifying and Riku's heart stops as ice fills his gut.

Move, Sora. Move.

But he doesn't. A hand reaches out, a single, skeletal finger touching Sora's forehead, and he drops to the ground, lifeless, his eyes wide and unseeing.]

NO!!

[The illusions should end abruptly. Natsuno lets out a strangled cry. He couldn't see what Riku was seeing, but it didn't matter. He could feel the fear he was feeling, he could hear him crying out and knowing that he did that to him...

It was overwhelming. He didn't feel particularly empowered, but rather guilty and nauseated. It must have been effective, he could tell it was effective on Riku but he isn't sure he wants that kind of power over people. There is no one in the world he hates enough to do that to them.

Natsuno isn't sure exactly what he's feeling, everything is just bubbling too close to the surface to tell.]

[They do end, thankfully, and Riku finds himself on the floor, backed up against the wall. Though it takes a second for him to really place where he is and remember what was going on. But eventually the confusion and panic fade and he tries to slow his racing heart by taking a few deep breaths.

Wow.

Natsuno...really has some power there.

He swallows thickly, but when he speaks his voice is a little unsteady and he probably sounds far away, since his journal is still on the table and he's not sure his legs would support him if he tried to stand up and move back over there right now.]

...Well. That worked.

[Natsuno isn't sure what he can say to make it better, probably nothing. He can feel that Riku is still off balance, he can hear it in his voice. He wasn't expecting it to be so effective, to get that kind of reaction out of him.

There's really only one thing that comes to mind.]

I'm sorry.

[It helps that Riku knows exactly what his nightmares are, and since most of them have happened he can see them with picture-perfect clarity.]

Don't apologize.

[He sounds a little less shaky now, and grunts as he pushes himself to his feet.]

You did warn me.

I don't know exactly what I did to you. I didn't see it...I didn't even think of what you would see.

[He exhales.]

I know I warned you but I've never felt you get that scared before.

It's because I knew what was coming.

[He slumps back into his chair again, leaning over the table and pillowing his head on his arms.]

And I couldn't stop it. Same as before. But it was my fault this time, just like...home.

[He's quiet for a moment, running his hands through his hair.]

It wasn't real Riku. You didn't do anything I just..made you see your worst nightmares.

Are you alright? Do you need me to come over there?

[Shakes his head against his arms, not that Natsuno can see it.]

It was real. Not...I mean, I know it wasn't. But it was real enough. They're nightmares for a reason, and all stuff I've lived through before.

[He lets out a long breath.]

I'll be okay, don't worry about me. That was—impressive.

Whatever it was is in your past now. It isn't going to hurt you anymore even if I made you relive it again.

[He lets out a choked hysterical laugh.]

Impressive. Huh. I don't think I'm the kind of person who can do this. My hands are shaking.

I know.

[But that doesn't mean the memories aren't painful.]

...Well. Just because the skill is there doesn't mean you have to utilize it. Not if you don't want to, not like that. Maybe you can use it in other ways.

I know it doesn't really help to hear that. Sorry.

[He's quiet for a moment, sighing.]

I'll have to think on it.

I said don't apologize. Really, it's fine.

Anyway, it's your call, of course. But you could use it to do something as simple as persuade a line of Navy soldiers to leave the battlefield. It doesn't have to be anything...mentally damaging?

That's possible perhaps. I'm not sure how many people I can persuade at once. I guess that's why I wanted to practice. I'm not sure how gentle a touch to use or anything really. You really are my guinea pig at the moment.

[He smiles just a bit.]

That was a lot more tiring than the first time.

Heh, well I don't mind...

But yeah, I guess having to do it to several people at once would be pretty different, huh? And probably a lot more taxing. I didn't think about that.

If I can use it to stop a few people from fighting it might be worth it. It's difficult to guess exactly what the cost to me would be. I probably won't know until it happens. Even if I could make them sleepy or something...I don't really know. I don't think anyone gave these powers much thought before.

[Voice][Private to Riku]

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