"As if it would let me finish..." he nearly growled, but repressed it as he looked between Lin, who seemed to be hiding her hurt feelings, and the others who'd just arrived. Well, the other him definitely got that right--he had hoped that the others would find him, maybe. A little regret may have crossed his expression when he heard Naminé speak, though. She and Vanitas had just gotten here, for all they knew.
"It's alright, Naminé," Lin began, looking back briefly with a faint smile. "I... made a promise to Sora and Xion, that I'd protect him, too, kupo. Even if it means from himself!"
"Lin..." Ira began to protest, but was drowned out by the Shadow.
"Of course she did. Even after she'd read our file, or perhaps she needs a friendly reminder of just what you've done." The grin it gives just does not belong on any face that looks like Riku's, as it takes yet another step forward, pointing at the mess of Heroes and moogle. "Not even a second chance was enough for you. You had to be the only true survivor of the destruction of our worlds, and in a rage for your continued existence, you killed yourself over and over again, despite other versions of those close to us trying to stop you. Even our sister, who you distanced ourselves with 'to protect her' from the monster you decided to side with until the very end.
"'I'll show you what it means to manipulate the Dark.' 'No; you followed his paths right to the scientist he placed "in charge"... and then to me.' 'I'll do whatever it takes to protect them from him.' Which of these sounds more right, I wonder? You tell me, double agent."
"Of course, that would mean you knew in the first place. All that exists in that soul of yours are lies and illusions. The sins you just couldn't ever shake. So you lie, kill and cheated your way into both sides as they both fought for a freedom that'll never come, now. All because you were summoned here. Again. At least it means Xehanort will never get his way, right?
"Truth is, they can all rot for what we care. You discarded them already, just like you did the real feelings of the girl behind you. You'd much rather welcome an oblivion that refuses to accept you."
Ira's fists clenched tight throughout the entirety of the Calamity Self's speech, letting him talk. Yet as it continued, he found himself walking straight to it, and unless stopped, punches it with everything he's got.
"So what if death refused me? If I'm a replica and will always be one?! I know that... I always knew that!" No matter what he did, what he said, he'd always be like Riku and it continued to tear him up inside. Even the real promises he made wouldn't change this simple truth. "That's no reason to attack those who actually care."
Or, at least he hopes so. "Then where is she, huh? The girl you promised to drag yourself out of the darkness-blanketed realm of sleep? Talk about one-sided friendship."
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"It's alright, Naminé," Lin began, looking back briefly with a faint smile. "I... made a promise to Sora and Xion, that I'd protect him, too, kupo. Even if it means from himself!"
"Lin..." Ira began to protest, but was drowned out by the Shadow.
"Of course she did. Even after she'd read our file, or perhaps she needs a friendly reminder of just what you've done." The grin it gives just does not belong on any face that looks like Riku's, as it takes yet another step forward, pointing at the mess of Heroes and moogle. "Not even a second chance was enough for you. You had to be the only true survivor of the destruction of our worlds, and in a rage for your continued existence, you killed yourself over and over again, despite other versions of those close to us trying to stop you. Even our sister, who you distanced ourselves with 'to protect her' from the monster you decided to side with until the very end.
"'I'll show you what it means to manipulate the Dark.' 'No; you followed his paths right to the scientist he placed "in charge"... and then to me.' 'I'll do whatever it takes to protect them from him.' Which of these sounds more right, I wonder? You tell me, double agent."
"Of course, that would mean you knew in the first place. All that exists in that soul of yours are lies and illusions. The sins you just couldn't ever shake. So you lie, kill and cheated your way into both sides as they both fought for a freedom that'll never come, now. All because you were summoned here. Again. At least it means Xehanort will never get his way, right?
"Truth is, they can all rot for what we care. You discarded them already, just like you did the real feelings of the girl behind you. You'd much rather welcome an oblivion that refuses to accept you."
Ira's fists clenched tight throughout the entirety of the Calamity Self's speech, letting him talk. Yet as it continued, he found himself walking straight to it, and unless stopped, punches it with everything he's got.
"So what if death refused me? If I'm a replica and will always be one?! I know that... I always knew that!" No matter what he did, what he said, he'd always be like Riku and it continued to tear him up inside. Even the real promises he made wouldn't change this simple truth. "That's no reason to attack those who actually care."
Or, at least he hopes so. "Then where is she, huh? The girl you promised to drag yourself out of the darkness-blanketed realm of sleep? Talk about one-sided friendship."
Okay, yeah, he actually winced at that one.