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[ Riku disappears first. Vanished in her sleep, in the middle of the night, collapsing in on herself in a shimmer of starlights. This isn't like last time. No warnings, no chances to say goodbye, no hesitation or resistance. She just isn't there.
Lea goes minutes after Riku, in the same way. But she's awake, lounging on her couch, having a conversation as she flips through her phone. Here and then gone, like a flame. This isn't the first time either of them have gone home, but it's the first time it's so abrupt. At least it isn't death. The last time Riku went home was seven years ago. She was gone for a month, and she came back with shorter hair and the Mark of Mastery. The last time Lea went home, no one really noticed. She thought she was used to it by now.
Things are different this time. Disorienting. Lea meets Kai in the training, for real this time. Riku has her memories, or at least most of them. They're hazy, dreamlike, but real. She has them all. She remembers how old she really is and how long she's been gone. She remembers everyone she cares about, and everyone that won't change here. She keeps her ice magic and takes what she's learned here to use there. But time is fluid. She doesn't feel like she's been gone for seven years.
Lea's are gone, for now. She lives everything new and fresh, with the dressing room appearing only in dreams vivid enough to unsettle her.
Things aren't the same for every world.
Things go better than expected.
The core story is the same. The heroes rescue the ones that need it, they bring everyone back, they defeat the darkness, and they go home. How and when and who — these things vary, but they do it all together and they go home together. And then their story is over, at least for now, and they come back.
Unlike how they went out, Lea and Riku reappear together on the beach. Coming back is just as disorienting, and neither has their phone, so they get their bearings and confirm memories with each other, of the dressing room and of home, and then separate to find their friends.
They've been gone two months. ]
Lea goes minutes after Riku, in the same way. But she's awake, lounging on her couch, having a conversation as she flips through her phone. Here and then gone, like a flame. This isn't the first time either of them have gone home, but it's the first time it's so abrupt. At least it isn't death. The last time Riku went home was seven years ago. She was gone for a month, and she came back with shorter hair and the Mark of Mastery. The last time Lea went home, no one really noticed. She thought she was used to it by now.
Things are different this time. Disorienting. Lea meets Kai in the training, for real this time. Riku has her memories, or at least most of them. They're hazy, dreamlike, but real. She has them all. She remembers how old she really is and how long she's been gone. She remembers everyone she cares about, and everyone that won't change here. She keeps her ice magic and takes what she's learned here to use there. But time is fluid. She doesn't feel like she's been gone for seven years.
Lea's are gone, for now. She lives everything new and fresh, with the dressing room appearing only in dreams vivid enough to unsettle her.
Things aren't the same for every world.
Things go better than expected.
The core story is the same. The heroes rescue the ones that need it, they bring everyone back, they defeat the darkness, and they go home. How and when and who — these things vary, but they do it all together and they go home together. And then their story is over, at least for now, and they come back.
Unlike how they went out, Lea and Riku reappear together on the beach. Coming back is just as disorienting, and neither has their phone, so they get their bearings and confirm memories with each other, of the dressing room and of home, and then separate to find their friends.
They've been gone two months. ]

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Thank god. I was really worried when it was just us. We showed up on the beach and it was just— it just happened really suddenly. Lea's looking for you. She said she was going home.
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Sorry, I- she needs me, we can all catch up later. I'm glad you're all back, though.
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Go ahead. And— thanks. For whatever you did while I was gone.
[ She can't even fathom it right now but her dog is here and obviously likes Isa so it was something good. ]
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Lea!
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Also all the memories came back really suddenly, and now she gets it. She is absolutely in tears, more than just the quiet elegant Hollywood kind, but not quite to the point of being a gross mess yet. Good luck getting her to let go any time soon. ]
How did you go that whole time without saying anything?!
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I got your share of self-control along with my own the day they were handing that out.
[and to be fair, she dropped a lot of hints, most of which Lea willfully ignored. but ugh, come on, we can hug and walk at the same time, kind of, and this needs to move indoors somewhere comfy and stop happening in the middle of the street.]
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No kidding. I can't believe you didn't even say anything about Xion. I didn't even remember—
[ Ah there's more tears. ]
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I know you didn't. None of us remembered him until suddenly we did.
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I can't believe you got so good at keeping secrets. I thought I was the cool new hero, but you—
[ Uuuuuuuuuuggghhhh. ]
They'll be okay, won't they?
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[it still hurts, but the fact that there are versions of Lea and Isa somewhere who can enjoy it helps, a little. it's especially rude for Lea, but she'll be okay too, eventually.]
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That's my shirt.
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[and that's said with the softest, most genuine smile that's ever been on Isa's face, probably. it's the truth, and she's been slowly relearning how to be that sort of person.]
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Dork.
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I missed you so much. I'm so glad you're back. You did so much stupid shit that would've gotten you killed!
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[toddler meltdown carry then, got it. and technically it did get her killed, indirectly, but w/e. through the magic of rp, here we are, and Isa's awesome enough that she can open the door without having to put Lea down. in we go, and the door gets kicked shut so Isa can go sit on the couch and Lea can arrange herself however she wants.]
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Yeah, while I was waiting for you to come back. Could've gone worse.
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Did you at least get the couple of weeks with them that I got?
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Yeah, I did. It was great. Even better with us all there.
[ There's a pause, but— ]
I never thought I'd see you getting along with either of them.
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[but god is she grateful. she'd been missing out that whole time due to her own stubbornness and spite, but whatever, someone had to keep up appearances and keep all those plates spinning properly anyway.]
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[ Just saying. Lea's leaning against the couch staring off into space, andshe's down, but she's already becoming pretty resigned about it. She's not new to the dressing room, after all. ]
So, Twilight Town?
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[gonna rub ur back, friend. no one likes a sad Lea, but especially not Isa. :( ]
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[ Which is not even remotely close to being the same, as they all know. ]
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