#Still think that the Xehanort being descended from Ephemer thing wasn’t executed well enough so

[recusant-s-sigil]

ok but Riku and Ansem having a heart-to-heart (ha) while possessed about how similar they are.

Xemnas recognizing Riku and that their pasts are basically the same (using darkness to leave their prison surrounded by water), even if he barely remembers the time on the islands from his Xehanort half and even the Terra part recognizes him a little from the bequeathing so it coalesces into that strange familiarity that you get from someone you met in a dream.

YMX knowing about Riku from time travel shenanigans but it’s not until they actually meet for the first time in Traverse Town that he’s like “oh” and starts to tug at both of their insecurities because “Riku is just like me” so he knows how to get under Riku’s skin.

Even the old man sees something of himself in the silver-haired boy standing before him in the Keyblade Graveyard; the same curiosity about the world in his oddly familiar soft green eyes. He also sees someonething else in the kindness Riku shows toward his friends, the quiet determination to always be there for them and protect them when they need it, especially Sora. Reminiscent of someone from another’s memory he holds, one from long ago.