realityshifted | • day 4 •

[…that doesn't look comfortable. Hawk was going to get something himself, but he goes to shake the kid's shoulder instead.]

Hey. Are you alright there?

[Roxas startles into waking. He flails a little bit, ineffectively, and then he gets a hold of where he is. The Plane. Right. He's not in Wonderland or something...]

Y-- yeah, I'm fine. Didn't mean to fall asleep.

[The ice clinks in his untouched soda. There's not much left. He frowns, still nervous and jumpy from the dream.]

Sorry if I bothered you.

[Hawk pulls back a little, just enough to not be hit, and nods.] Mm, I didn't think so.

Ah, it's not a bother, I just thought you might be a little more comfortable somewhere else. The bathhouse, maybe? Or somewhere else?

[He scratches the back of his head.]

I don't want to sleep here at all. It's not... safe.

…that's what I've heard. What brings you here now, then?

[Here is where someone else might try to smile, but he just frowns.]

I needed to straighten my thoughts out, but it's not working. Nothing makes sense, you know? It's scary.

[He nods, pursing his lips; it sounds somewhat as though this kid doesn't have all the information about the situation, and that frames his mindset.]

Can you describe what's going on, though? Maybe I can help sort it out. Or at least be confused with you.

[…that wasn't so much supposed to get out. He's starting to look a little puzzled already.]

[Roxas blinks at him, and then shies away a bit. At least mentally.]

One of my friends keeps hanging around this really bad guy. And my other friend thought... the only way to bring her back was to drag her against her will.

Everyone knows something I don't, but they won't tell me anything. It's really worrying.

That doesn't sound good. Either part.

I'd be worried too, in that situation. Worried and frustrated. Is there some way you could convince them? [He pauses, frowns, and adds] Anything you could tempt them with?

[He shakes his head.] Either they're too busy to ask, or they just aren't around. It's like... like watching everyone drift away.

[He lifts his head.] Tempt them...?

Ah… that's not good. I can't swear there's anything I know that you can do, but still…

Well… do something for them, and tell them you expect to find out what's up in return. It's doing something to get something, basically.

[His eyes half-lid in thought.]

Maybe... Something about that worries me, though. It just doesn't feel right.

Mm, I suppose. [still, he wants something to help.] But you're not getting anything asking straight out, are you?

... No. I'm not.

[He looks at his warming soda.]

I'll-- I'll think about it.

Thanks.

I hope it helps. Or- that something does.

[He stands, and begins to turn away before stopping and turning back.] Ah- I don't think I got your name. I'm Hawk.

[Roxas looks up, a little in surprise. He's hesitant, mostly because making friends outside of the Order is a little odd still, but... this guy, he seems all right, despite everything else Roxas is worried about.]

I'm Roxas.

Roxas? [It's kind of an unusual name, but considering this place- there's bound to be something he finds odd. He smiles, and holds out a hand.] Well, then. Nice to meet you, Roxas.

[He glances at the hand, and tentatively offers his own gloved one.]

Uh... nice to meet you, too.

[handshake get! and he lets go after a moment or two]

And I'll see you around another time, I suppose?

[Riku, also oblivious to the gas's effects, comes in... and the sight of Roxas there, sleepy or no, immediately sets him on the defensive. And snarky.]

This isn't exactly the best place to be sleeping.

[That voice. It draws him out of his nap with a start. The tiredness doesn't wear off, but it's overshadowed by anger.]

You!

[He backpedals and falls off the barstool, but catches himself against the counter.]

What do you want!?

[He glares, but he doesn't move any closer. He didn't come here to pick a fight, but he's feeling like if Roxas wants one, he'll oblige.]

Nothing from you. Unless you have something to say?

[Roxas stands up straight, still scrambling to look awake and not like he'd been napping on the bar.]

Maybe I do! I think it's your fault Xion's been acting funny.

Yeah? Well, it isn't.

[He crosses his arms, eying the blonde down, defiant.]

If you want to toss blame around, maybe you should start with your Order.

[Damn you, Riku, why are you so much taller?]

Why is it always about them? Xion and I don't have memories like the others! We don't have anywhere else to go! We never knew anywhere else!

[He should be calming down but he doesn't. The anger fuels him. And so do the flashbacks, the dreams he can't explain: Riku's voice echoing in his head saying, 'Still don't got it.']

Why would she want to leave that badly?! And you-- you keep making it worse. If she hadn't left in the first place, Axel wouldn't have had to knock her out like that!

[Well, it helps that he isn't the clone of a short kid. Just sayin'.]

Yeah. You don't have your own memories.

[Was that too much? Should he not have said that? More importantly, does he care right now? In all honesty, Riku should be calming down as well. He very much isn't. Just looking at Roxas fuels some of the guilt he holds inside of himself, and this fight that they're having is just serving to get his adrenaline pumping as well as his anger. He can't let any of it go. Not right now. Something's different about this time.]

I told you - I'm not making anything happen! And what makes you think you know what's best for her? I bet you don't even know what's best for yourself!

[His mouth moves but no sound comes out, because god damn he's actually right about that. It's weird and wrong to have memories that aren't his. He's always known that. But are they dreams, or memories? How is he even supposed to know?

He, too, feels the anger rising. Something about Riku just sets him off. He stands right up to him, toe to toe.]

What gives you the right to decide anything? You aren't me! I'm not you! It's none of your business!

No. I'm not you. Not at all. But it's more of my business than you'll ever realize!

[Because dramatics are what these boys do best, right? He glares down at him, not at all menaced by the fact that this blond Soulless boy is trying to stand up to him and be defiant.

Even if it feels familiar.

... No.

And he shoves Roxas backward - not all that hard, just enough to get him out of his face. He's acting before thinking now. It's probably going to get ugly, but he doesn't even care.]

What--

[He barely gets one syllable out before he's shoved. He trips over a barstool and actually falls over this time, clattering and making a mess.

Roxas' glare is sharp and cold. He picks himself up, jacket and cravat crooked, but he doesn't care.]

Why won't you stay out of my life?!

[He steps forward, throwing his weight behind his words and trying to push Riku back.]

[Riku was expecting that, so he stands his ground, refusing to fall when the inevitable shove comes though he does stumble backward a half of a pace.

He retaliates by grabbing Roxas' wrist, so that he can hold the smaller boy away from him.]

Not until everything is back to how it should be!

[He struggles against the hand on his wrist, but Riku is extremely strong-- and Roxas, well, his health hasn't been too great recently. There was a point where he might be able to pull away easily, but that's not now.

He doesn't have time to worry about his sleepiness or his weakness. He needs to get out, and now. But if he pops off the Plane with Riku, there will be hell to pay.]

L-Let me go!

Fine.

[And he does. He crosses his arms, still glaring down at the shorter boy like he's expecting him to lash out at him again. He wouldn't put it past him, at any rate.]

[Roxas gives him a long, argumentative look, his fists balled at his sides. He looks like he wants to sock him one, maybe two or three.

But a pang of tiredness reminds him that he's in no shape for a fight. Still angry, he pops off the Plane without warning, leaving Riku alone with a half-empty soda and knocked-over barstools.]

• day 4 •

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hi gmail ate this tag apparently. ;; but i found it again! I'M SORRY

HAHAHAHA i wondered but i'm always patient :3

sob you're too good to me ;;

AND THEN MOVING HAPPENED

I WOULD HELP IF I WERE THERE /CLINGS

I GOT IT UNDER CONTROL :|b

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and then life continued to be a bitch >:

/punches life in the tits