#especially if they like soriku

[aitsuheart]

I've been trying to write longer things but because of that I'm often getting writing blocks.

Here's a short wip of one of the fanfics I'm writing, the fanfic is basically Kari's POV through what happens. It's about her thoughts and her friendship towards Riku and Sora.

I added a scene during KH2 after Kairi sees Riku where they talk about what Riku did.

[sirladysketch]

Hey guys! My initial run of samples are finally done, thanks so much for your patience! I made an interest check form but someone fed it to bots and I had to close it, so if you think you might want one of these, please let me know directly in the notes or reblogs so I can get a better estimate on whether people actually want these or not.

For now I'll just post the listing on Etsy as a made-on-demand sort of thing and hope for the best; that'll happen later this week sometime.

[candyriku]

I just posted my incredibly self-indulgent retired ballerina Soriku AU oneshot over on Ao3, so I drew this to celebrate! :)

Title: Pas De Deux

Rating: G

Words: 2,178

Chapters: 1/1

[ok4ru]

When you gonna deal with your little sibling's “relationship problems”

[themelodiousnobody]

i hate it when people draw sora looking like a little child

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

Okay, so I went looking for the Sonic 2 game manual last night for...reasons, and I decided I needed to share this page

So as I've said before, it's not as if I've consumed even half of the Sonic media out there. So my idea of the origins of Sonic and Tails I gathered through a tiny bit of Osmosis, tidbits from different tv shows (namely Sonic's depiction of how he met Tails in Sonic prime), and different origin stories via tv shows and comics. This is all to say that I was more than a bit uneducated, so I was under the impression for a while that Sonic saves Tails from the bullies who pick on him, and then he decides to take him with him (and so begins Sonic 2)

But given what a friend of mine described as implications that Sonic 1 (the game) is not the first time Sonic and Eggman have fought in addition to this page, my friend pointed out that this page from the manual may imply that Sonic and Tails were crafted originally as childhood friends. And that both blew my mind (!) and caused a couple puzzle pieces to click into place in my brain.

Despite Sega getting rid of the canon character ages, we at least know from the past that Sega/Sonic Team has had no problem depicting younger (and often very young) characters as fighters in battles against Robotnik or other villains (and this isn't even to mention this in various comic or tv show continuities). Back then (at least with just this game manual as context), there is not only a non zero chance that Sonic has been fending off danger (and potentially even Robotnik) since he was very young, but also the implication that he and Tails have known each other the longest. Since there are no ages mentioned at this point (for the record, I have no access to magazines or reporting on the game at the time of release, so you can take this with a grain of salt), to me it's possible to interpret Sonic and Tails originally being only a couple to a few years apart in age. To me it's possible to interpret their backstory as this:

Before Sonic would fight Robotnik and come to be known as a hero, he'd fight off these bullies picking on this little fox kit. The fox kit himself, known to the animals as "Tails" came to regard the hedgehog as his hero, so he came to follow Sonic around and try to catch up with him. Eventually, Sonic would officially begin to travel with Tails and look out for him, but he had a tendency to leave Tails behind when going on adventures focused on fighting off villains such as Robotnik, who would threaten the natural land and its inhabitants. But the young fox, determined to be like his hero (the young hedgehog) and to not be left behind (both when it came to fighting and because Sonic tended to get a laugh out of speeding ahead while Tails struggled to catch up), would practice flying until he could keep up and learn how to fight (partly by trying to use his Tails to his advantage, and partly by watching Sonic).

And to me, this sets up an interesting dynamic with them. Sonic is a bit of a jerk, but he ultimately cares about Tails' well-being. Tails deals with his hero acting like a bit of a jerk and leaving him behind by trying so hard to be able to join/catch up with him (and later be able to stand on his own too). This also sets them up as younger, likely orphaned, children who travel together and take care of each other. With all of this in mind too, it also makes more sense to me as to why the original Sonic Movie (currently known as "the ova") depicted Sonic and Tails having their own personal home base they live at together.

And this is more of a side thing, but after reading that excerpt from the manual my friend and I just couldn't help but think about Sora and Riku (Kingdom Hearts). While I have for a while found my brain drawing many lines/parallels between these pairs (although compiling all of these would be an essay for another time), this excerpt sort of set it in stone for me. I'll explain under the cut.

ㅤ

So, in case you're not a Kingdom Hearts fan or entrenched in the part of Soriku fandom doing deep dive analysis and theory making and making fan translations, I'll set up Sora and Riku for a moment.

Sora and Riku are two young boys who live on Destiny Islands. They've known each other since they were very young, and, although they had other friends, the two have always considered each other best friends. They also often went out to a small island (dubbed "the play island") to play together, where they had a "secret place" to play. This "secret place" was a place where the two played together and was to be a secret between only the two of them. The two would play and dream of adventure, and Riku would dream of leaving the islands one day. At the young age of 5, he was given proof of the existence of other worlds in the form of Terra (a stranger from another world—a keyblade wielder) who would ask him why he wants to see "the outside world".

"To protect the things that matter" is a desire that lasts even until Kingdom Hearts 3 (11 years later), and (as fan translators have found out) takes a progression over time in the original Japanese from "the precious things" to "the precious people" to "precious person" (or person I cherish). The "person I cherish" in question, is highly implied to be Sora. I don't have the space to throw evidence here unfortunately, but there is a good amount (I'd suggest checking blogs such as @/blowingoffsteam2 and looking into the necklace theory and the sleeping realms theory as a start, as these will lead you to other blogs. Or you can dm me I suppose. I have a store of screenshots and kh media to draw from, just know...it's a lot).

Anyhow, with all that in mind, I also offer up an excerpt of Riku's story from the KH character files (this is a fan translation of the Japanese version), which serves to tell us a bit about Riku, he and Sora's relationship, and his perpective of the Dark Margin scene from KH2.

Translation by keijithekit on twitter

After all, when you're a child, a year is a big age difference, so I played the older brother and took Sora around with me everywhere. When did that change?

Other fan translators have also interpreted the original japanese as saying that Riku not only played the "older brother" role, but tried (perhaps not very well) to play this role. This is a short story that gives implications of feelings (and even the roles you take in another's life) changing over time. This is to say that Riku had once tried to play older brother to Sora, protect him and play with him, but over time things...changed.

Sora and Riku, as young children and all the way through to KH2, were best friends and friendly rivals. The two would often race, spar, and start up contests, with Riku winning the most. This is an important part of their relationship—as friends who drive each other to become better through competition. As Sora would fight to catch up to Riku, to beat him just once (which would also start him down a path of proving he doesn't need to fully rely on Riku anymore), Riku would fight back, get stronger and run faster so he could still be better.

Riku in KH1 (like classic Sonic as implied by the earlier excerpt from the Sonic 2 manual) is a bit of a jerk, and he often enjoys proving that he's "better" than Sora (faster and stronger). Sonic values the idea of freedom, and Riku too wants to be free, wants to explore the outside world. And Tails is a bit like Sora, who tries until he can catch up to Riku, until he can beat him just once. When Riku tells Sora in kh1 that he can go home and he (Riku) can handle everything else, Sora proves that he has the fighting prowess to stand on his own feet now and doesn't need to leave it all to Riku. Of course, Tails is a bit like Riku too. He doesn't just want to be able to catch up to Sonic, to stand on his own two feet, he wants the kind of strength Sonic seems to have (to be able to fight on his own, and to be able to protect what he cares about). And likewise, while Sora isn't initially as driven to leave their home as Riku is (as he both wants to see the outside world with him and likes his home), he also comes to value the idea of freedom, of living your own life.

And this is all to say that the parallels aren't one to one for me (especially as I believe Sonic and Tails can each parallel both Sora and Riku), but I see them regardless.

Let's return back to the Sonic 2 manual and that excerpt from Riku's story in the character files and compare the the two possible interpretations of these different backstories.

"Two childhood best friends grew up together. The older one often took care of the younger one, and the elder would try to play the older brother role to the younger as they took the younger everywhere with them. Likewise, the younger idolized the older one. The two would often compete, which would drive each of them to become better as the older would try to stay on top and the younger would keep trying to catch up and win even once. One of them desires strength to protect the things that matter (such as their best friend). The other desires to be as strong and fast as the other, fighting to be able to rival them competitively. While the older would spend time protecting the other, the younger one day is able to prove that they can stand on their own, no longer needing the older as they once did, not allowing the older to make them stay behind."

"Once, a very young kid was saved by one just older. The younger started to idolize and admire the other as their hero and began to follow the older around. Eventually, the older would begin to take care of the younger, but the older would often show off their own speed and strength and leave the younger behind. The younger, determined to be able to catch up, to be able to stand with the older, flies and trains until they can (and desires too to be able to stand alone, to have the kind of strength the older possesses, to not need the older). As the two grow older, the younger eventually is able to catch up with and fight beside the older (and too develops their own ways to fight). The two, from this point forward stick beside each other as much as they can (to the point that if they aren't adventuring together, they are often in contact)."

ㅤ

Okay, I've kept you all here long enough. I mostly was hoping I could shed a bit of light as to why this excerpt from the Sonic 2 manual reminds me so much of Soriku. Food for thought, right?

[raidergamerspice]

Thinking about how that Re:Chain of Memories cutscene compilation by Gamer's Little Playground on YouTube suspiciously skipped the scene where Repliku says to Sora "You're always trying to worm your way into my heart!" Like, that's not a scene you could possibly miss, right? Especially not in your first playthrough. So if it's not in that compilation...it was a deliberate choice, wasn't it? Choosing to omit that one cutscene from your cutscene compilation while promising to include the entire game kinda sends mixed signals. 😬

[dodzishere]

Well said soldier

I am not responsible for who I become when hyperfixating

[aitsuheart]

I want more games by square Enix to feature good representations of LGBTQ canon couples.

I heard FFXVI was not.... good in the representation and I am disappointed. I haven't played or seen anyone play it, but I was really hoping because of them, it could allow more media to allow other couples to be clearly stated and canon.

Even though they weren't good, hopefully it forms the pathway for more of those types of couples or characters showing up in these games.

Also if I am wrong, for someone who has experienced it, feel free to correct me or explain how they were not good

Then what if Kingdom Hearts canonize some of their couples

[non-bird-nary]

salvation

more details about this piece and my ideas behind it under the read more, bc i love this piece and i MUST gush about it!!

originally started this for soriku week last year in 2023, hence the subtitle "salvation". i finished it in two days sometime late January after getting back on my ADHD medication, which kicked my ass into high gear and cleared the fog of executive dysfunction.

this is i think the first full illustration that i've completed and posted, and i'm really proud of it! i'm also proud of the the stained glass texture and the lineart, especially since it's my first time fully utilizing the former. this is also the first time i did full shading. a lot of firsts wrapped up in this piece.

i'm so happy that i was able to capture my exact thoughts when i imagined this piece, because this scene is one of THE soriku moments ever and i was shocked that no one had yet made something like this. prime example of make the art you want to see in the world.

anyways, here are some alternate versions with different color filters! wanted to try it out and i think they turned out pretty good! mainly made them to see if i could make the colors more ~romantic~, so i slapped some magenta over it a couple times and these are the results.

[cloudofash]

Soriku Endgame will most likely not be a kiss, I don't think any of the Disney couples have ever kissed to begin with. (I could be totally wrong but I don't remember ever seeing a kiss anywhere).

Unless they introduce kissing via the Disney couples, I don't think a Soriku kiss is on the table. I think Soriku endgame would mirror how the Disney couples currently are: an embrace (DDD), looking into each others eyes knowingly, and especially hand holding.

(Update: OMG IGNORE THE TOP PART OF THIS, APPARENTLY NOMURA HAD BEEN HIDING DISNEY COUPLE KISSES IN THE END CREDIT SCENES WTF. SORIKU KISS ENDGAME ACTUALLY)

Hand holding alone is considered a romantic gesture in Japan, Sora taking Riku's hand and interlocking his fingers (known in Japan as koibito-tsunagi) would be all we need to know they're canon. Sora's already held Kairi and Riku's hands many times, but never has he interlocked his fingers with either.

If he interlocks his fingers with Riku when he finally takes his hand out in the ocean, it's endgame.

[daylighteclipsed]

ik it’s been said but Sora’s lack of reaction to seeing Riku alive again after Riku literally died for him really is a huge sign that something is wrong with Sora’s memory. Especially after DDD shows how Sora reacts to Riku just risking his life to save him — tackle-hugging Riku in near tears. Past examples like DDD, the KH2 reunion, and actually even the first tunnel scene in KH3 when Sora is desperately calling Riku’s name trying to reach him highlight how absolutely bizarre Sora’s non-response is later

[fj10gaa]

Soriku Headcanons

It's incomplete. I just want to organize my thoughts.

Childhood

Sora:

looks up to Riku

praises him for everything he does

(has his first crush on Kairi)

Riku:

always does his best to protect Sora

love to be praised by Sora

has a good onii-chan vibe

KH 1

Sora:

looks up to Riku (wants to be like him)

think Riku is his bestie and his good rival (that's maybe why Sora doesn't praise Riku in front of him)

(be attracted to Kairi)

feels like Riku is mad at him but can't even guess the reason

wants to be besties again

Riku:

wants to be praised by Sora again, so bad

teases Sora because Riku wants his attention

cannot get his eyes off Sora who try hard to keep up with Riku

(be irritated by Sora who is into Kairi)

be glad that he can draw Sora's attention whatever the process is

starts to find out that his feelings might not be just jealous

 noticed his feelings to Sora in the end, but also understand Sora’s feeling to Kairi

decided to back down- wishing Sora's happiness at the last scene

KH 2 (Especially at the last scene)

Sora:

finds out what his bestie hided

has no bad feeling about his confession but not sure his feelings to Riku are the same kind love as Riku has

asks Riku to give some time to think

Riku:

confesses something he never tell Sora, include his feelings for Sora (by accident maybe)

KH DDD

Sora:

tbh relieved a bit that he can have some distance from Riku and some time to think about the relationship between them

can't stop thinking about Riku since after his confession

Riku:

be worried if his confession makes Sora confused

however never regret to have such feelings for Sora

At some point, Sora would realize how much Riku loves Sora. But I'm still thinking about when Sora would bring up Riku’s confession again.

[blowingoffsteam2]

Truly I think I can count on a single hand the number of sorikus I’ve encountered that actually “hate Kairi because she gets in the way of the ship”. It’s an extremely uncharitable accusation that gets slung around at every soriku that doesn’t just absolutely love her though. I mean I understand wanting people to like the character you like, because maybe they have traits you relate to- so that when people dislike or just don’t care about them it can feel personal. But especially for a character who is almost universally agreed to have been written disappointingly, no one is obligated to love or enjoy them (and I think even if Kairi’s lack of development was intentional the execution has never been very good- that is a problem with writing).

[rikunih]

I know this has been talked about like a million times already but i just can't stop thinking about it, and I'm losing sleep. Sooo i'll just keep parroting the same old stuff to get it out of my system, hehe.

The whole talking with Anna scene is so potent in its soriku parallels it's crazy. Even Sora himself brings attention to this. I want to bring up Anna singing this very specific part of do you wanna build a snowman. It gives such a good insight on how sora feels about Riku.

Sora wants to be close to Riku just like they used to, but he can't quite reach him.

Riku won't let him in. He keeps a wall between them. Sora doesn't understand why he does this. Which makes him confused and even a bit sad.

Sora wants to be there for him, to reach him and understand why Riku is so sad, but is unable to. due to a lot of stuff...like Riku having his guard up, a war and...uhh a romance fruit?? Little things like that. He also tends to forget a lot of things and keeps fucking dying or falling into a coma. Not helping his case at all unfortunately.

This sort of distance between them has been there since the 1st game but to me it seems to have grown especially by the end of Kingdom hearts 3. They still are in much better terms now. They fight along each other and are besties again after all. Two reeds are stronger than one or whatever the emperor of China said.

There's still a lot of unspoken things between them that need to be said, so a conversation is long over due. (Nomura please just let them talk things over for Christ sake It's been over 20 years!!!).

My train of thought ended here and i don't know how to end this...so uhh soriku kiss in kh4 BYEEE!!!!

Edit: i made so many typos its embarrassing

Ps. Also not to reach or anything (totally reaching) the last few lines of the song reminds me of Sora's breakdown at the keyblade graveyard.

[whyarewecalledtheshipname]

just thinking about this bullshit again 🫠

Ok but like that last line doesnt even. If you were rly in denial or just. Insist the "heart" line is sOMEHOW platonic-- how does the last line even work. That last line just, proves that the first line is more about what riku feels vs what sora does or is like.

Like repliku isnt just being all "tch, friendship is cringe". He's literally saying that the way sora is has caused r(epl)iku to become attached to sora to an (in rikus eyes) unbearable amount. And that's why he gets mad at sora for not caring that riku caught feelings.

Like. Imo, but like. LIKE—

Posted these on twert too. Bc listen to him. This guy.

SHIT I didnt screenshot repliku running away NOOO