30th treasure [text]

[captainash]

Hey, tell me about your best friend.
Or best friends, I'm not picky.
Are they an absolute saint that would stay by your side even if you started eating babies? A complete dick you feel like punching one day out of two? Are they good at convincing you to do really stupid things?
Are they here? Do you want them here?

Or you can just ignore my drunken questions and rambling, that works too.







Happy birthday, you idiot.

Comments

[islandshore]

He's a total dork. Sora's always got this stupid smile on his face, and he's way too friendly for his own good. He's the kinda guy who'd call you his friend when you've barely known him for five minutes.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

[...For a number of reasons, but partially because it's just part of his charm. Silly and sappy as he is, Riku couldn't ask for a better friend.]

[captainash]

He sounds like a fun friend to have.

[Which is exactly the sort of story he was hoping to hear today. Excellent.]

If being his friend takes five minutes, how long does it take to be his best friend?

[islandshore]

You know, I'm not sure. We've always been close, ever since we were little kids. And when you grow up together, you kinda get an edge over the competition.

[...As if there's competition for being best friends. Riku's not sure if there really is.]

And then there's Kairi. She's sassy, with tons of spunk, and whenever Sora and I start pulling stupid stunts, she's always the one to step in and get us back in line. Wouldn't call her pushy, though. Truth is, she's.. sweet. Smart. Always upbeat and energetic.

Man, I'm starting to sound like a sap over here.

[captainash]

That's making it unfair for everyone else, really, though I'm sure no one would begrudge you a childhood friendship. Especially not if there's three of you.

[Two boys and one girl, huh. A familiar pattern, if one that does not always end well.]

Having to keep two guys in line is thankless work, though, isn't it? Being energetic has to be the minimum requirement.

[islandshore]

Well, I kinda got an advantage for... other reasons. But still, Sora usually isn't the kinda guy to rank his friends. Kairi and I might be the closest, but he still cares a ton about almost everyone he meets.

And now Kairi's gotta deal with the fact that we're older. There used to be a one year gap between us. Now I'm nineteen, he's almost eighteen, and she's fourteen. Plus, we've had all this time to ourselves.

Think we kinda got spoiled.

[And they definitely did, though he's certainly glad to see her again. The trio's finally together, and he hopes it'll stay that way.]

voice;

[heartdive]

Since you got one of my best friends talking, should I make him embarrassed by talking about how I see him?

[text]

[captainash]

Yesyesyes do it. Embarrassing best friends through sappiness and amusing anecdotes is a timeless tradition!

voice;

[heartdive]

All right, so. My friend Riku and I grew up together. When we were kids, we'd watch stars together and he was the one that told me that I should always have my heart open and listen for people that might need me. I've done that ever since.

But I kinda always wanted to be better than him. Riku's always been faster. Better looking. Stronger. More skilled. He'd win at everything, you know? The idiot would even be all smug and cryptic like too!

Something about him, though? He'll do whatever it takes to help his friends. Whatever it takes. He's saved me so many times and been there for me even when I didn't know it. Riku's strong but gentle. Stubborn, but dependable and loyal. You really couldn't ask for a friend that's better than him and I know that I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him. A lot of people have made me who I am, but I'd like to think that it's Riku that really started it all.

[text]

[captainash]

Awwww, that's so sweet. Well, and annoying if he keeps winning and winning every game and competition you have, but mostly sweet. I hope you remind him that he's all that once in a while? That's the sort of thing you should make sure to tell your best friend while you still have the chance.

[text]

[beholdmydemons]

Are you asking to be cheered or will a story drive you further to drink?

[Because people do weird shit when they're drunk and he wants to be sure.]

[text]

[captainash]

Some cheer would be nice, but I can drink in your place if your best friend's antics tend to drive you to the bottle.

[Considering that drunken parties are his crew's way of mourning dead comrades...]

[text]

[beholdmydemons]

[ahaha okay then.] No need.

There's two I'd call closest who I won't choose between because one friendship was made in this world and one in my own. Both are here. Pick one.

[text]

[captainash]

Let's go with the one you met here, than, since friends from home seem more popular at the moment.

[Text]

[babel_hacker]

He's the best friend I could ever ask for! He can be a little weird, but I can't complain about that when he puts up with my rambling about my hobbies and programming. Not only that, but he always means well and work the hardest for all of us.

If he's not around, I'd probably won't be here and the person I am now.

[Both figuratively and literally.]

[Text]

[captainash]

Sounds like a nice guy to spend time with, weirdness included. The type to take responsibility for the people he cares for. Is he in this world too?

[Text]

[babel_hacker]

No. He used to be here before, but he left a long time ago. Things was pretty great when he was here!

[Text]

[captainash]

Oh. I'm sorry for that. Well, not sorry things were great back then, but sorry he's not around anymore. Was he here only the one time, or is he one of those people that leave and return twice or thrice?

text;

[timelymaid]

when i was younger my best friend was a very good hearted troll who played games with me
at least i thought of him that way
we were flarp partners 0u0
however it has been many sweeps since i saw him last
and sine we truly did anything together
that is true for most of my former compatriots
here my best friends are the humans from my session
john egbert and rose lalonde and their ilk

text;

[captainash]

Not seeing each other for years or sweeps shouldn't mean anything to best friends. Would you want to spend time with him if he showed up here?
So you met them in your world, but they only became your best friends here? Are you traveling together?

text;

[timelymaid]

well i died
and then he died
and we became different people
those sorts of things happen i guess!
however i wouldnt mind spending time with him again
though my childhood was a long time ago
and yes
we were a bit busy at home and i scared john that one time apparently
im travelling with roxy at the moment
john and rose are settled down more

text;

[captainash]

I'd really like to believe that death and people changing would have an effect on very strong friendships, but I guess that means it does. I do hope for your sake that you'll have that opportunity, though.
Just that one time? What exactly did you do to the poor guy?

[ text ]

[imthe_shit]

He's a huge nerd. Naive, childish... But he's suffered a lot of hardships. You couldn't meet a more pitiful guy, really.

But he's my friend. We've been through hell together, and I'd do anything for him. And I know he'd do the same for me. I have no idea what he's talking about most times, but we understand each other. We're the only ones in the world that get each other.

I think sometimes he still dreams and longs for a normal life. Finding love, growing old together, that kind of thing. I can see it in his eyes whenever we all sit together and laugh... But there's no place for me in that kind of world. And I think he knows that, too.

So instead of being happy somewhere, he chooses to stick with me. It really means a lot.

[ Snake may also be drunk, he's not usually this open. ]

[ text ]

[captainash]

He chose you over the happiness that comes with the rest of the world? That's one true friend you have there. The kind of friend that most people never even get the chance to meet.

[Wasn't that what Zeheart did, in the end? Choose someone's dream instead of the normal life he wanted?

...Then again, the person Zeheart had chosen had not been Asemu, and it had not been Romary, either. And that choice had gotten him killed.]

It must mean a lot to him too, if he's willing to make that choice.

[ text ]

[imthe_shit]

I don't know if he could find happiness in the world after meeting me. After what we've been through, it's hard to live a normal life. I've tried it, and I couldn't do it. I just started to rot away in seclusion, until he came for me.

We both realized we were useless unless we were fighting... But this time we weren't going to fight on someone else's behalf. We were doing it on our own terms. We were nobody's tools.

I'm sure there are days he wishes he could just live a normal, happy life. Hell, I do too. But we can't.

And we know that.

[ text ]

[captainash]

...Maybe the two of you can't have a normal life. But even if it involves fighting, even if it keeps you apart from the rest of the world, it can still be happy, right? Especially since it's on your own terms, and you're not alone.

Having someone at your side can make even the most terrible situation bearable, after all. From what I've seen, at least.