• day 6 •

[otherness]

[Roxas looks worse for wear. He's tired and exhausted if his face is anything to go by. His signature black coat is gone, leaving him in a dirty, bloodstained shirt and pants. All the fight in his eyes has gone. The blood is old, at least.]

Didn't think I could still come here. [His voice is quiet, almost disbelieving. He gets up, carefully feeling the air in front of him for hidden walls, and then he begins to walk. His steps are slow, careful, and tender.

He stops in front of the movie theater and doesn't move for a long time, just looking at the sign.]

Comments

[spiritofadventure]

It's up to you. You could make the whole thing up and I'd be none the wiser, if you wanted to.

Yeah I...kinda figured. Do you want me to see if I can find you something?

[otherness]

... I wouldn't do that.

[He tugs at his ruined shirt.]

You've already done so much for me, and all I did was make things worse. You sure you still want to help?

[spiritofadventure]

Hey now, there's nothing wrong with telling a good story, and the best ones are based in truth.

People screw up, it's part of life. Doesn't mean I think any less of you for doing it. [So yes. She does.]

[otherness]

[He doesn't argue the former point. He's not much of a storyteller. Storytellers are people who have actual lives, who aren't just failed copies of other people.]

... Thanks. [Something else occurs to him, then.]

I-- I never got your name. I'm Roxas.

[spiritofadventure]

Won't be anything glamourous, but I think I can dig up something in your size.

Roxas huh? I'm Castor.

[otherness]

It's not like I need my uniform anymore.

[A pause.]

It's... nice to meet you again. Though it's probably a bad time for that...

[spiritofadventure]

It's as good a time as any, I think. Sit tight- I'll be right back.

[Castor climbs to her feet and pops off, coming back several minutes later with some clothing items slung over her shoulder and an apple in her hand. She tosses the piece of fruit to Roxas before sitting back down and pulling the garments off her shoulder.]

Here we go. It's not much but I didn't want to keep you waiting. Nothing too fancy I'm afraid, but they should fit you, at least.

[A pair of soft, dark wool trousers and a simple, short sleeved tunic of indeterminate fabric.]

[otherness]

[Good enough. Roxas lights up a little when she returns. Food? Food is good. He can't actually remember the last time he ate anything, and he doesn't hesitate to bite into it.]

Thanks, [he says around a mouthful of apple.] Really... thank you so much.

[He'll put on the clothes in a bit-- he's more concerned about eating the apple before it turns brown.]

[spiritofadventure]

I'm here to help people.

[But she sees the way he goes at that apple. She recognizes the looks of hunger and desire - she knows it all too well. Wordlessly, she pops off again, returning with a loaf of bread, and judging by how she's handling it, it's still hot.]

Here, eat. I'd get more, but it'd start to get suspicious.

[otherness]

[He finishes the apple by the time she returns.]

Fresh bread. I haven't... [He ducks his head, and reaches out to take the bread instead of finishing that thought.] I don't know how I can pay you back.

[spiritofadventure]

[She drops it into his waiting hand before she sits back down across from him. It's still warm.]

Then don't. Pay it forward instead - help other people if you can. That's the best way to pay me back.

[otherness]

[He tears off a piece and shoves it into his mouth gratefully. He doesn't respond until after he finishes that bite. God, it's so good.]

That's kind of weird, but okay. I'm just not sure I'll-- I'll ever leave the place I'm in.

[spiritofadventure]

Hey...

[She crawls a little closer, trying to meet his face.]

I don't know what's happened, but you'll pull through, alright? You just gotta keep your chin up.

[otherness]

[He shakes his head slowly.]

There's nowhere for me to go even if I did leave. I don't have a purpose.

... I should be dead.

[spiritofadventure]

You know, funnily enough, I can sympathize. I should have died a long time ago, but here I am.

[Her face darkens briefly, but lights up again as she remembers:]

Besides, you gotta pay forward those favours. There's a purpose for you.

[otherness]

Castor...

[Roxas just looks dark. His eyes are big and blue and sad. He's really given up.]

But I wasn't supposed to exist in the first place. I'm-- I'm a flawed copy of someone. And now that they're awake, they don't need me anymore.

[spiritofadventure]

[She's silent for a while afterwards, trying to think of what to say to that because, well, there isn't much.]

Now that I can't sympathize with[Or even understand,], but if it helps any, I think you're pretty fantastic for being 'flawed'.

Just because things aren't supposed to happen doesn't stop them from happening anyways. Besides, think about the good that wouldn't have happened without you - your friends sure as hells would have been lonelier.

[Someone hasn't read the script, obviously.]

[otherness]

[Her comments are appreciated, but he just looks sadder somehow.]

Xion could've lived.

[spiritofadventure]

[uh oh.]

Who was she?

[otherness]

[He lets out a shaky, small breath.]

She was a clone, like me, but made a little differently... I guess. [He runs a hand through his bangs, remembering.] She wasn't stable. She had to keep drawing from me, and then... and then the Superior did something to her and she just... fell apart.

She was my best friend.

[spiritofadventure]

[Castor definitely didn't understand the half of that, but it doesn't really matter. She scootches a little closer to Roxas and pulls him into a hug.]

I'm sorry.

[Even if it did sound like one of them was doomed regardless.]