otherfathering | Reprise #1 [Voice

The sun's barely rising when he's ushered quite quickly out into the snow-layered town, no good-bye and a newly-acquired Chatot flying behind him. He had originally thought it would be positive to get going quickly, to head and find his family and friends and home... and then he felt the freezing early-morning cold. Oh holy chicken breast, the cold. Pumpkins are warm-season vegetables; apparently his body temperature is reflecting that, which is why he takes a moment to stand there shivering, his lack of a coat and gloves seriously being problematic right now.

They travel a small while to a tiny eating establishment that just seemed to be opening for the day.

[The feed switches on as voice at first, a bird's whistle filling the speakers with its simple repeat tune; it's amateur, but it's catchy.]

Hoo~... he~re we go!

[The still-partially shivering voice will be familiar to some, but the face that just clicked onto the feed's screen'll jog your mind if you can't quite place it. His inquisitive face breaks into a big, toothy grin as he realizes that- yes- it' broadcasting! Which means, people, and more importantly his family are on the other end.]

Wou~ld've said I was back earlier, but our mom sent me away pretty quick this time. o~hoo, think she remembers me?

[A single eyebrow raises with that playful little smirk that always comes out in situations like these.
The fact he turned up at the door of her house to collect his ill-as-fuck wife, who had considered burying this 'Mom' alive aswell... Well, I think there are reasons why she's going to want to get rid of him.]

'Didn't mean to leave in the first place, would've stayed in an instant if I could've. Still, that makes three times from the Otherworld, hm? Maybe it'll bring back some'a the others? It'd make my day to see my little Coraline again.

I'll try'n be home as so~on as I can, kiddos. 'Gonna need to make my way to the next town soon, too! I'm freezin' like a pumpkin out there.

[Hardy-har, Other Father.

As he goes to shut off the feed, he gives a wave to the screen and begins to whistle a much more complex tune that fits perfectly in with the Chatot's, though it does seem to be vibrating a bit. 8| stupid cold.]

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[And then promptly slams his palm into his forehead.]

Aww, man. This is gunna require an explanation...

You don't have a heart?

[Huh...]

[It takes him a few moments to speak again. When the words finally do come out, they're uncertain and strained.]

...No. It got stolen. By Heartless. Creatures born from darkness, they hunt people and steal their hearts. When you get...When your heart is stolen by them, you become a Heartless too. Sometimes, though, if you've got a strong spirit you leave behind another thing as well.

A body without a heart. An empty, emotionless shell with your memories and personality left without the spirit or heart to feel and live a true life. A Nobody. Before I came here, I was a Nobody. One of a group of them that had banded together to seek out a thing called Kingdom Hearts. The source of all hearts. We wanted to find it and take back our hearts from where they had been stolen away to. I...never got the chance, though. I was defeated before I could see the Organization's plans through. I...I died, twice. So...that's the story. I'm alive here, though, and I've got my heart back where it belongs. Sure, this might be some weird version of the afterlife or I might have been pulled from the grip of death and flung to some weird other world right in the nick of time. But, either way, I'm here. I'm a somebody, a normal human being, and...I'm happy. So...Don't worry about me, okay? I know it's probably a lot to take in, but don't worry.

[Other Father feels really bad for him as he explains what he went through, but he kind of understands him. And you know what? he trusts him. Demyx just admitted that he hadn't been human before, which Other Father doesn't really do. But friends deserve to know the truth, and he's certain after that speech that he won't judge him either.]

Feels nice to finally have a heart, doesn't it? I'm just as much a fan of souls myself.

[He taps a finger twice beside his left eye, a small smirk on his face. He knows Demyx won't understand the gesture, but as a guy who seems happy to finally be a normal human being with every importance that a normal human being has, he's sure he'll understand the situation. Just so long as he doesn't go too deeply into it, anyway.]

Y'gotta get used to it all over again when it's back, though. I'll tell ya, though, emotions being new ain't always a sunshine and rainbows. It's nice to feel happiness like it's brand new, the moment I woke up and felt the beating of my own heart I could swear I was on cloud nine... But, bein' hurt, bein' alone, bein' afraid. All new, and all more powerful than I could'a ever thought they'd be.

You didn't have emotions? [Okay, that's something he can't really relate with. He always had his free will- although Mother did try to suppress him feeling anything that wasn't 'perfect']

Came with the territory. I couldn't feel anything. Like, literally. Nada. No emotions.

[Except for uncertainty, pain, and the need to have his heart returned. But, telling him anything more would just make it too difficult for them both. He had said enough for now, likely too much, and perhaps for both their sakes it would be good to move the topic back to something more palatable.]

So...uhh, how was home?

Only thing I~ didn't have was eyes. Think I got off lucky, hm? [He's trying to lighten the mood, make him chuckle... Father, I don't think that's the way to do it.]

Depends which home?

No eyes? That...must'a been weird. I mean the home you came from, though. Your world. With your wife. I hope things were alright, at least.

We were more used to the buttons.

[He smiles softly.] Best they could've been.

[He's not lying. He's dead back there, but it's probably better than the alternative; he couldn't have watched another child die.]

Reprise #1 [Voice > Video] Encore!

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