genessia | [Video] / [Action]

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[He doesn't look super amused...

AFTER GETTING SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH A NEWSPAPER, WHO WOULD BE.]

...Pigeons...? Why would I need to watch out fo- WOAH!

[The device is dropped as Sora has to duck to avoid a...YOU GUESSED IT...a seemingly angry pigeon!]

Wh-what the heck?!

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[Now, Gaara is fighting the urge to smile. Just a little. That fire and determination… it’s very reminiscent of their bond. Rather, the one they used to share. How optimistic. He and Naruto would most certainly get along, if Naruto happened to come to this world someday.]

You will befriend many others… Your spirit and demeanor draw them toward you. It is… a magnetic effect, of sorts. [And he nods in agreement to the comment about different versions. He has just witnessed several instances of it, in this world. He wouldn’t discount the theory.] I believe it is a viable possibility. You are one such case, with regards to the facility.

[Gaara tilts his head a bit, in a curious gesture.] You are not crazy, Sora. I don’t consider you to be.

[And then he quirks a brow.] I bear a resemblance to whom? Riku?

[He can’t help smirking at this point. Sora is easy to rile up. He runs on his emotions, just like Naruto. Gaara hadn’t intended to elicit such a strong response from him. He was stating facts… nothing more.]

It isn’t my place to make that decision. The choice is yours.

[He isn’t offended by the yelling in the least. Not the first time he’s ever heard someone making passionate exclamations at him. Individuals that allow their emotions to dictate their actions… it is a dangerous path to tread down.]

Scared? [A long pause.] …Perhaps.

[He blinks, tilting his head to the side.] Draws them in like a magnet? [A light smile appears. He appreciates Gaara's agreement to the mention of different versions of people.] Heh...I'm glad someone believes me. Glad you don't think I'm crazy, at least!

[He laughs, since it's a bit of a joke. It's not like he's actually told anyone else his theory. The resemblance question has Sora blinking, though.] Oh, uh...no...There was this guy named Natsuno who used to talk about how he wasn't a good friend to have. What you said about there being better choices for friends...reminded me of him.

[Is that the ghost of a bitter look on Sora's face? Maybe. Nonetheless, his expression softens at the admittance of Gaara possibly being scared.] ...Of what, exactly?

Yes. [Sora, do not make Gaara explain physics to you, okay.] There were multiple versions of individuals that passed through the facility. [Naruto being the most prominent one in his mind…]

I see. [He doesn’t know this Natsuno person, but he will take Sora’s word for it.]

......

[He isn’t exactly eager to discuss this matter with Sora, despite knowing him for so long. The memories aren’t mutual.]

…Repetition. [He mutters quietly, and leaves it at that. Sora is intelligent. He should be able to figure out what he means by it.]

I can understand that, I...guess. [Hey, he doesn't need the physics explained. He does have the ability to wield the magnet element, after all!] Multiple versions...? I see. That sounds a little similar to the place I was just in.

[He nods.] He was a vampire, and didn't see the point in anyone being friends with him. He didn't always know when his thirst for blood would get the better of him. He and Riku dated for a bit.

[That last part is added in without him even realizing he's saying it...until it had already been said. He shrugs, however, attempting to appear just fine with that fact.]

...Repetition, huh? [Sora lets out a sigh.] You know...you're not the only one. [A weak smile.] Back in that other world, I began to wonder if I'd just- keep losing friends, or failing to save them. Every day was spent wondering when the next thing would happen, where we'd have to fight for our lives or the lives of our friends. All I could do was...not think about it. I know it's not the same for everyone. Maybe you just need a break, though! Find something to...maybe make you smile?

[Seriously, though, this guy seems waaaaay too serious. It's enough to make Sora want to drag him out for ice cream, or...or to a room full of kittens. Anything to find a way to cheer him up.

~~Guess who Sora's new friendship project is going to be focused on?~~]

[He nods, curtly, though his eyes do light up with a bit of intrigue.] You encountered a different version of your friend… one without matching memories.

[Vampires… Gaara narrows his eyes with disdain. He didn’t exactly get along with the vampires back at the facility. They often targeted his friend, Ishtar, as well as a number of other residents, and fed from them without any thought to consequences.

He intends to comment on the existence of vampires, until that last mention…] Riku? As in, your boyfriend?

[No kittens, Sora. Gaara might accidentally squish them with his sand, or something equally horrible. Because how do pets?]

......

[The look in his eyes deadens, with indifference. He feels inklings of sympathy toward Sora for the experiences he has endured, but part of him is still reluctant to reinstate their bond.]

That is a typical lifestyle, for shinobi. [Gaara tells him in a quiet tone.] Forging bonds is discouraged, for the most part. They are not expected to last. [He quirks a brow at the remark about smiling… because Sora will be waiting for a long time, if he expects to see a smile on his face.] I will be fine. I don’t have time to enjoy leisure activities.

[He looks to the side.] Yeah, and I met someone who was...kind of like me. He was the original form of a guy I'd fought alongside and watched die, back in my original universe. He...went by a different name, and everything. But, he basically had the same face.

["Basically", since he hadn't had the tattoos under his eyes.]

............

[Sora's expression tenses, with surprise, at the question of Riku being his boyfriend. His face turns red, and he genuinely doesn't look as though he even begins to know how to respond.] My...my what?

[Finally, he appears to regain composure, and he shakes his head.] What- what are you talking about?! We've never dated! [And, now there's a lot of jumbled thoughts all trying to get out, at once.] Besides, he and Kairi are my best friends, and...sure, there was that one time, but...I can't just pick...and, well...I...

[Sora tilts his head at the response to the last part, looking to the side.] ...I don't see why it'd be discouraged to have friends, though. That doesn't make any sense. For me, having friends is how I...even made it through everything! If it weren't for Riku, I wouldn't have defeated Xemnas. If it weren't for Kairi, I'd still be trapped...in that darkness. If it weren't for Donald and Goofy, I'd have never even made it to fight Xemnas.

I still have them with me...here. [He puts his hand over his heart.] I think...the more it hurts to not have them with you, the deeper the mark they left on your heart is. And, all that really means is, you have to fight harder to keep going. Giving up on happiness wouldn't make them happy, right?

And part of happiness is to do something fun, at least every now and then! [He forces a smile.] Honestly...I...could use the company. [His eyes aren't matching his smile- he genuinely means he could use the company.] If you don't have anything to do, maybe we could get something to eat, together?

[Sora did always have an amazing ability to cope, Gaara notes mentally. Most people would regard these circumstances with disbelief, fear, hatred, rage… a variety of negative emotions. Though, he does notice that Sora isn’t as cheerful as he remembers, from the facility. That might have to do with the difference in his memories. Harsher hardships, more so than the experiments. Exactly what kind of hell had Sora been forced in, prior to this city?]

I see. [Gaara realizes, belatedly, that maybe it isn’t the smartest idea to outwardly mention details from the facility. A romantic bond with Riku might not be something that this Sora recalls sharing.]

…I apologize. [He is starting to want to rescind what he told Sai, about speaking more freely… It is fine for some people, but not everyone.] It was an occurrence at the facility. You and Riku were boyfriends. [And now it’s Gaara’s turn to tilt his head a little, in curiosity.] What did you need to pick?

Forging bonds of friendship encourages the utilization of emotions – and forming attachments to others. [When it comes to certain aspects, Gaara can understand why his father was so adamant in teaching the Suna shinobi these lessons. Konoha is more lenient, which explains why Naruto’s attitude and philosophy are admired and followed.] Those factors can affect the outcome of a mission, as well as stunt the potential of a shinobi’s development.

[The corner of his mouth twitches a little, threatening a smile to crease, but he quells that dormant urge.] I know how much you revere your friends. You are similar to Naruto Uzumaki. [He has to break eye contact when Sora starts talking about his heart. The memories are still too vivid for him not to feel the effects. Wounds to the heart… he doesn’t need or want any more of them. Nor does he have a definitive answer for Sora, in his current mindset.

He also knows Sora well enough to recognize the terseness of that forced expression. Sora’s eyes are just as telling as everyone else’s, when it comes to revealing their true inner self.]

......

[In all honesty, Gaara doesn’t know what compels him to comply with his request. Perhaps he is more tightly bound to his emotions than he would care to admit. He is trying to ignore the insistent voice inside his head, that wants him to believe there’s no purpose in befriending Sora once again. It isn’t like Sora would lack friends; given his personality, he can easily acquire many new ones, in Genessia. So why is he stubborn about retaining this one, between them?]

Very well. Name the time and location.

[If Sora were asked, he would always say it could have been worse. While he might not be cheerful, he's never given up his ability to move forward and remain...positive. Though, Gaara hasn't been given the chance to interact with this Sora in person. He still carries himself with that cheerful posture. Old habits die hard.

Still, though...this one hasn't had it easy.

The brunette blinks at this, and then his brow tenses in confusion. He'd...dated Riku, at one point? His stomach flutters lightly and he's instantly looking away from the camera. Well...uh...] I...see.

[Then, the question has Sora letting out a somewhat awkward laugh.] W-well, uh... [He glances back at the camera and lets out a sigh, before he scratches at the back of his head.] Both...of my best friends confessed...things to me. One said that they were in love with me, and the other said that they liked me, in...that way. It happened kind of- close together. I wasn't able to just pick between them, though. I've known them for years, and well... I couldn't just choose.

[Sora tilts his head at the mention of Naruto. It dawns on him-] Oh, I...remember that name. He was in the same world I was just in. I remember reading something about him showing up injured. Some girl named...Haru...no... [There's the sound of a question on that name- she'd introduced herself as Haruno Sakura, though.] ...had been really worried about him. Last I'd heard, she managed to find him, and he was fine. He and some guy named...Sasuke got into this argument because Naruto accidentally ate this really important thing that fell into his...ramen? [He tilts his head to the side in thought- he'd done a lot of journal-stalking, before he'd left.]

After that, they talked about these things called jin...chur...reki? [It's a very difficult word to remember, okay. He's doing the best he can, for having only heard it once.] Aaaand fighting Kurama, and this girl named Sakura being really, really scary when she's angry? Anyway! He has blond hair, blue eyes, and wears a lot of orange, right? [The "Haruno" girl had given a detailed description of Naruto on the journal, when she was looking for him. So, even though Sora never met a single ninja, they weren't exactly...secretive during their discussions that were available for the entire population of journal-users to see/hear.] And I think she said he was...17?

Oh! Really? [He brightens up at the agreement.] Um...How about I see what my work schedule's gonna be like, and then contact you, later, with the answer?

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