• day 7 •

[otherness]

[Roxas has had it. The food is-- well, it's fucking nasty, the books have been tampered with, and he can't seem to sleep in the usual places because of eldritch monsters, pissed off trees or Saix chiding him from the fog.

Dressed in a worn shirt and pants (thanks Castor), and no shoes, he doesn't seem too intimidating. But he's incensed enough to jump onto the nearest roof and start yelling.]

Hey! Whoever did this, I know you're listening, so put it back the way it was!

[Yeah, okay, sure. But then he reaches out, a flick of the wrist, and summons a black and white keyblade reminiscent of a clock's hand.]

It's not funny anymore!

[If there's another way to get the people in the shop to listen when he's behind bars, he's totally up for suggestions. Otherwise: yelling.]

Comments

[fallbythesword]

[Jacqli doesn't see him make his way to said rooftop, but she certainly hears him and turns to watch his miniature tirade.]

It wasn't funny to begin with.

[She quirks a single eyebrow, one hand on a hip as she looks up at him.]

I'm interested to see if your shouting actually works. I think I'll wait around a while.

[otherness]

[Oh hey, it's that girl with the robot thing. He hasn't seen her for a while.]

You're right-- it was never funny. But it started out more like dumb pranks than anything else.

Now, it's just...

[He gestures at the fog blanketing everything, frustrated.]

I hate it when they experiment on us. And I don't want to go back home, so I'm stuck with this.

[fallbythesword]

[She's been busy, to be fair. But she remembers that you were pretty okay, for a young, blond, human male. Plus, you're calling a lot of attention to yourself right now. So, here she is~

She nods. She's noticed the same - the weird goings-on are getting more and more malicious. She doesn't like it.]

It's good that you hate it. Anyone should. But I still haven't ruled out the possibility that it isn't an experiment.

[A beat.]

So. What are you hearing?

[otherness]

... You think people can do this on their own?

[He never considered that possibility. He settles down, hanging his feet off the edge of the roof. He might jump down soon.]

Oh. Uh... I keep hearing my former superior. I know he's not here, but it still bothers me.

[fallbythesword]

There are countless worlds and realities, each with their own sets of rules. So, yes. I do.

[She shakes her head at his admission.]

I'm hearing the overly optimistic dreams of a fool from my own world. It's like you said - I know he's not here, but it still bothers me. A lot.

[otherness]

I... I guess that's true. I just didn't want to think someone could be so mean about it, but it's definitely not impossible.

[Especially if it was someone from his world.

At last, they have something in common besides a penchant for tight black leather.]

I can't find a way to make it stop.

[fallbythesword]

They might not think it's mean. They might not be thinking at all. Who knows?

[She can name a few people from her own world who might be dumb enough to pull something like this (if they were capable of such) and have no idea of the repercussions.]

I can't either. The only way I've found is to get out of the fog, but that isn't always an option.

[Stay here and listen to not-really-Lyner, or go home and deal with Lady Cloche? Tough call...]

[otherness]

Yeah. Unless someone steps forward, we might never know.

[Hrmph.]

I'm kinda stuck myself.

[fallbythesword]

[She humms, understanding not wanting to go home, even if she doesn't know specifics.]

Do you know of anyone here whose world is safe for you? You could make them take you back for some time.

[otherness]

[He considers, and then he shakes his head.]

No... not really.

[fallbythesword]

Hmm. How unfortunate.

[Sorry kid, her world's too dangerous (and she's too protective of it).]

So, if all of your yelling up there actually draws someone out, what will you do?

[otherness]

[Oh no, it makes sense. He'd offer her shelter if he could, but he's just... rotting in jail right now, so his options are just as limited.]

If it's the person who did it, then I'll try to get them to stop. Even if that means fighting them.

I... I'll protect this place if I have to.

[fallbythesword]

That's a pretty strange sentiment to have for this place. After everything they do to us... you still want to protect it?

[Not that she isn't the same way, to an extent. She's just playing devil's advocate. As always. Consider it a test. Just how much of a blond, foolish shounen hero are you, Roxas? C'mon, prove her stereotyping wrong.]

[otherness]

[He clenches his fists.]

There are people I never would've met if the Plane wasn't here. That doesn't mean I agree with what they're doing.

... No, it's more than that. I want a place where I can exist, and this is all I have.

That's why I want to protect it.

[fallbythesword]

[Unfortunately, Jacqli doesn't know how true that statement about existence is for Roxas. She just assumes he's being dramatic. She can appreciate that, though. She's a writer, after all...

So she doesn't comment on any of that, just silently accepts his answer. She looks thoughtful for a moment though, as her mind goes off on its own tangent.]

It'd be better if we could put the control of this place in our own hands. Don't you think?

[behisequal]

[Loki, who does not need to feign anger by now, raises his voice as he nears, knowing this young man cannot see him as he can.]

Yes, cease this experiment! How much more must we suffer at your hands?

[He allows the fog to thin just enough so the young man with an odd-shaped sword can see him approach. Seeing the weapon makes him glad. Yes, this anger is good. They should all be angry.]

[otherness]

[Roxas stops his yelling when someone else joins in, looking around for the source of the noise. And then, by chance perhaps, the fog shifts and reveals a tall, thin figure.

His eyes widen slightly. He peers, trying to see what he can see, but... in the end he can't really decide what to think of the guy. He looks sinister, that much is for sure, but Roxas has never been a great judge of people.]

Have you looked in the kitchen lately? This place is all some people have, and someone just... messed it all up. It's awful.

[behisequal]

[He hasn't quite evolved to the "sinister" level. Once he starts indiscriminately killing people, perhaps...]

Oh, I have, and its current state is absolutely deplorable! They must know what they do only hurts us over and over. Always, constant torture and pain! When will it end? When will they be satisfied?

[otherness]

[... Yeah, that.]

It's not just the kitchen. I keep hearing stuff, and the forest is nasty, and... It's the people running this place, right? Can't we do something to make them stop?

[behisequal]

If we could, my friend, then this realm would be peaceful and without conflict--and would have been for years. [A man like Mu and any of the others who came after him surely would have brought it about if there, indeed, was such a way.]

However, yes, I fear the carnage is as wide-spread as you have heard, and I dare to wonder how much farther it may yet go.