Second Link

[colorbymemory]

[The video shows only Namine at first, then she backs away--it looks like she set her communicator on something and is moving away to show the background. Which...actually isn’t the hotel, but the inside of another building. Not much furniture, but that doesn’t seem to be bothering Namine as she calls offscreen to someone else.]

Ienzo, I got it set up.

[Ienzo walks into view, standing next to Namine, and inclines his head to the camera.]

Hello, everyone; I’d said last week that I hoped to find space for a storefront, and as it happens, Namine wished for the same, so we’ve found a space that will work for both of us. Several of you said you would be willing to help clean the space out when I located that, and we hoped we could request your assistance sometime later this week.

The sooner we get everything ready, the sooner we can open. Ienzo wants to have a tea house, and--

[She’s cut off by Batty’s appearance. Only, he’s looking a little blue; quite literally so. With the exception of the markings on his wings, which are white, he has now been painted varying shades of blue; darker for his wings, lighter for his head, face, and feet.. He doesn’t seem to mind this.]

I thought that if anyone wanted their Spirit painted a different color, I could help.

If anyone interested in helping us clean up could reply to this post, that would be best; our location will be off the plaza in the middle of the Fourth District. I highly recommend using the stairs that are to your left as you enter from the back streets, as the right side is infested with nightmares.

There were some on the way through the back streets, too, so be careful on your way.

Comments

[nightmaresfear]

Did he tell you that? Because if there's one thing he's good at, it's acting like something he isn't.

[Just because Lea switched sides didn't mean the rest would throw aside their old loyalties so easily, with or without hearts.]

[dork_of_keys]

He did. And he mentioned what happened between you and him at Castle Oblivion. He seems to think he kind of deserved the outcome of that. Would it really be a problem to give him a chance to make up for his mistakes?

[Lea's certainly an interesting case, but who even knows with him?]

[nightmaresfear]

And suppose he turns out to be lying? Is it really worth the risk?

[Riku's not worried about himself -- he could see through Zexion's illusions easily once he embraced the darkness. But trusting him might put Sora or Naminé in danger, and that's the last thing Riku wants.]

...If he really feels guilty about what he did, I'll hear him out. Just be careful, Sora.

[dork_of_keys]

It might be worth it. I just don't think it's right to deny someone a chance to make amends just because there's a risk that they're not sincere.

[It's kind of hard to -not- want to give any of the former members of the Organization a chance to make amends, especially after finding out that Xemnas had been lying to them about having hearts. Sora had been more angry about that than he had been about finding out he'd fallen into a trap.]

That's really all I'm asking you to do.

[nightmaresfear]

Sora... You always forgive people so easily.

[Muttered more under his breath than to Sora. For him, things are always so simple, so straightforward.

Still, maybe he's right. If Sora extended that same trust and forgiveness to him, even if he didn't entirely deserve it, maybe he can do the same for others. He's not the only one who's been manipulated by Xehanort, after all.]

I trust your judgement. [Which doesn't mean he trusts Ienzo just yet, but he'll try.]

[dork_of_keys]

Maybe not that easily. I'm not so sure I'd give Xehanort the same chance.

[Sora just doesn't like to complicate things if he can help it. Aside from the noted exception, he's pretty much willing to give anyone a second chance.]

Thanks, Riku.

[nightmaresfear]

I don't think Xehanort's even capable of remorse.

[Riku finds it so much harder to trust and to forgive, that Sora will always continue to surprise him. Still, he's grateful for it.]

You don't have to thank me, Sora. Just keep doing what you think is right. [And Riku will be right there to support you -- and bail you out if things go wrong. That's how it always goes.]

[dork_of_keys]

That's why I don't think that I could forgive him. Everyone and everything is a means to an end for him. Just tools. He doesn't even pretend to care.

[Sora would just rather look for the good in someone first.]

When have I ever not done that? [Sora greatly appreciates his friends being there for him... and bailing him out when he inevitably runs into trouble.]