[action/voice] Fourth Wall

[perplexme]

[Not much can be said about the sudden boom in the village. Roxas has a vague sense that this has happened before...but he's probably imagining it. Maybe mixing it with Sora's memories.

So today he's out in the village walking his cat--yes, walking his cat and just generally making observations about people. He may or may not be looking for certain people, but he's not going to admit that.

Finally though it drives him crazy enough that he eventually addresses the journals.]

...hi. [He was going to comment on how crowded everything is, maybe ask what is going on or if anyone remembers but then he gets a look at what everyone else has to say--]

...you know what, never mind.

Comments

[rememorize]

Maybe I should have got you a dog instead.

[Oh look who is about ten feet behind you.]

[perplexme]

Nea's just as good. [But he turns, suddenly blinking in surprise because while he was on a mission to see if Axel was in Luceti? He hadn't actually expected to find him.]

...

...

[It's useless to ask "what are you doing here" or "how did you get here" because he knows the answer wouldn't be satisfactory. Instead he just bends down to pick up his cat, walking those ten feet so that he can stand in front of Axel and stare up at him.]

...so how many times does this make?

[rememorize]

Too many.

[He pauses for a moment before reaching out and ruffling Roxas' hair. Hi Roxas it's been a while.]

Sheesh, when did you get taller.

[perplexme]

[He ducks, making a face and using his free hand to bat at Axel's. He's trying to fight off a grin though.]

A while ago. Guess you weren't paying attention. [This is a recent growth spurt Axel don't let him fool you.]

[rememorize]

Heh, it was probably harder to notice when I got to see you everyday. Guess it's been a while, hey?

[perplexme]

I think we're a little over a year now. [He tries to give him a casual look, but it's not working. He looks way too hopeful.] But at least you left a note. Thanks for that.

[rememorize]

[Guh, Roxas, don't give him that look.]

Had a few things to do back home, you know? Still working on keeping my promise.

[requital]

[Really, a cat? Roxas, it's more common to be walking dogs.

Very well. He'll indulge you from a distance.]

Looking for someone?

[perplexme]

[Oh look, someone he wasn't actually looking for. He does stop though, regarding Zexion warily.]

Yeah, maybe. What gave it away?

[requital]

A cluster of new arrivals appear, all without wings. And their number is quite impressive.

Predictably, you choose this day to take a walk. Your very action is self-explanatory.

[perplexme]

Deducted easily as always. Nice to see you haven't changed at all since the last time we spoke. [Not that he was expecting him to. Roxas might even venture to say he was starting to like Zexion a little when the other Nobody was in Luceti early on.]

[requital]

["Like" should not be in your vocabulary, Roxas.]

Nobodies are far removed from creatures of change.

[He extends a hand during this, then retracts it.]

Though time is another matter entirely. Some of the changes in Luceti are relatively immense.

[perplexme]

Are they? I'm not so sure about that. [Luceti's made it easier for him to express those kind of thoughts.]

You mean besides the wings? Because those are pretty obvious and immense. [It's hard to gauge if this is the Zexion he knows from home, or if it's the Zexion he knows from here. Not that it matters, seeing how Zexion is still Zexion and sometimes frustrating to Roxas. Just less frustrating than a lot of the others.]

[requital]

[It does too matter. They played chess, of all things. Chess!

. . . But as usual, Roxas proves his tendency of convoluting things, at least in respect to the topic of themselves. Or the lack thereof. Zexion will set that aside for now.

He shakes his head.]

Besides them, though the wings are the most. The lack of them is curious—after all, those who lose theirs perish.

[thebeholder]

[Kino isn't one to judge or question, not even when she sees a person walking a cat, because each country has it's own way of doing things. She's seen pretty much all there is to see that's strange so nothing phases her.

But she approaches not because of the cat, but because she has her own concerns and questions about this country. And where Hermes is. Maybe he's seen her motorrad.

Hi Roxas, have a Naoto look alike]

Excuse me.

[perplexme]

[He stops on his journey, turning to face Nao--no. It doesn't sound like her, of course, but she's pretty dang similar.]

Yeah?

[thebeholder]

Do you mind telling me a bit about this country? As well as if motorrads are often seen here? [She needs to get a good idea so she knows if she needs to describe Hermes more accurately]

[perplexme]

It's sort of not a country...but sure. Only if you tell me what a motorrad is.

[soracles]

[on these sorts of days, Luceti is always filled to the brim with unfamiliar faces — and then, on occasion, some familiar faces, too. you know, like the guy eyeing Nea critically, an eyebrow quirked as if he's thinking hard. considering something.]

[.....]

[and then he grins.]

What, haven't mastered the skateboard yet?

[perplexme]

[Well, there's only one version of Sora who knows about Nea the skateboarding wonder. The version that didn't make him feel weird and uncomfortable with questions, the version that was more of a friend than an Other.

And he grins widely while Nea meows at him.]

Nah, he got tired of crashing into the snow. He's not as resilient as you and me.

[soracles]

[that's the kind of warm greeting from Roxas that he likes to see!]

Hmmm... think he'd be willing to wear a helmet?

[perplexme]

Now you're just being ridiculous. [He's going to scoop the cat up and head closer so that he's face to face with Sora.]

[soracles]

I'm... going to take that as a compliment.

[certainly no more ridiculous than a skateboarding cat, right? but Sora straightens, offering the same old warm smile he'd always worn around Roxas. he knows he's missed being here, being around his friends here, but judging by the lack of wings, he's on borrowed time here.]

[he'll take what time he's got.]

[perplexme]

Probably a good idea. [He stops in front of Sora then...and extends a hand in friendship. Hugs aren't appropriate between Others, are they?]

[soracles]

[well, it isn't his first instinct, but a hug wouldn't be entirely inappropriate — a handshake, however? he's all over that!]

It's good to see you again, Roxas.