[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

[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.

[perplexme]

[A firm handshake it is! It lasts longer than it should, but that's because he's totally missed his bro.]

Yeah, definitely. We've been waiting for you to come back, dude. [He knows that Sora's technically here, but it's not Sora, is it? It's hard to explain in Roxas' head.]

[soracles]

[to that, Sora... checks over his shoulder briefly, then turns to look back at Roxas again, his expression and hunched shoulders sort of helpless. without the wings... he knows he can't stay, nor is he meant to.]

[and he doesn't really have much of an offering of reassurance.]

M'sorry.

[perplexme]

Don't be too sorry. I know you. You probably put up a good fight before they kicked you out. I guess I was just hoping you'd come back remembering us. Xion and I both did.

[soracles]

... Wait, back up. I did what? [he came back right here! he remembers! that's. what?]

[perplexme]

...wait what are you confused about?

[soracles]

The part about coming back and not remembering. That's what you meant, right? I did that?

[perplexme]

...yeah. You did. I mean you knew who we were but you forgot everything about this place.

[soracles]

[it's just one blunder after another, isn't it?]

I'm sorry about that, too.

[perplexme]

[A shrug. He's trying to just blow it off, it's fine.]

Let me ask you this though. What do you know about me being my own person?

1/2

[soracles]

Your own person?

[soracles]

[that's an easy question.]

Well, it's like I told Xion a while back. I think, if you've got things that are important to you, if you've got that kind of stuff to hold on to, it doesn't matter where you came from. You've got the right to live your own life.

So you are your own person, Roxas, no matter what anybody might try to tell you.

[perplexme]

So because of that...I shouldn't have joined you? [See this makes a little more sense.]

[soracles]

I think...

[Sora doesn't really know the finer details of what all happened while he was sleeping — the memories will be there when he leaves Luceti again, sure, but he hasn't been through any dreams or Mark of Mastery tests to access them yet. all he knows is at some point, he needed Roxas. Xion, too.]

I think, if I had any say in it, back then... I would have let you decide what you wanted to do.

[perplexme]

[He likes that answer, and that's all he needs to hear. The grin on his face is evident.]

...glad to have you back. Wonder how long we can keep you here this time.

[soracles]

[and Sora's right there to match Roxas' grin with one of his own, slightly teasing.]

Long enough to take advantage of the free food?

[perplexme]

Wanna come to Seventh Heaven with me? I think Nea could do with some food, too.

[soracles]

Yeah, definitely! It'll be nice to see everything again.

[perplexme]

Have you seen any of the others yet? [He starts to head that way though.]