• 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]

[Castor is pretty good at remembering faces, if not names, but even she has to stop and stare for a minute at the state this kid is in - she doesn't even recognize him at first.]

Hey...You're not doin' so well, are you?

[darkercalling]

[Riku has been more than frustrated with the situation. And what better way to deal with it than to come to the Plane and angst about it, right? ... Don't answer that.

He isn't expecting to see Roxas, actually - even though it makes perfect sense, seeing as while he's here, he's not... stuck. ... Maybe it's time to clear the air a bit. He starts toward the blond.]

I guess sometimes, this place really is better.

[otherness]

[He's a little surprised to see her. He thinks it's been an eternity since the last time he was here.]

Oh... hey.

[He tries to smile, but it's a little weak.]

I'm okay. Just a little worn out.

[otherness]

[Roxas is surprised to see Riku. There's no reason for Riku to continue caring about his well-being. Sora is off and well, and DiZ tossed Roxas away like he's nothing. And maybe, well, that's what he is.

Roxas is too defeated to fight, or even argue. He doesn't smile though. He's just confused.]

I thought I wanted freedom. But now... I don't know what I want.

[A delicate pause.]

Aren't you with Sora?

[darkercalling]

[That's the thing - Riku does care. He may be a Soulless and, well, Nobody - but he's not nothing. There's a difference. And the fact that DiZ can't seem to see that is just part of what makes him twitch.

Riku isn't here to fight, anyway. There's no hostility in his demeanor, only a little bit of caution that comes from speaking up to someone who has every damn reason to hate you just for who you are and what you've done up until now.]

I think I understand what you mean.

[And at Roxas's question, Riku's expression darkens, just a little, purely out of guilt.]

No. ... I can't.

[spiritofadventure]

That's an understatement if I've ever heard one. You look about ready to drop.

[desertdaggers]

[Roxas might not be wearing the coat, but he's still fairly recognisable. Hawk watches him for a few moments before approaching, hands behind him.]

More trouble found you, huh?

[otherness]

[Roxas blinks once, twice, almost not recognizing him.]

Hawk? It feels like it's been forever.

[He runs a hand through his hair.]

It was... inevitable. I guess.

[otherness]

[He peeks at Riku curiously, not expecting him to understand. But he lets it go, for now.]

What? But... you woke him up so you could be together again, right?

[A rather simplistic view of things, but... that's really all Roxas can see, considering his position.]

He's... your friend.

[Something Roxas doesn't have anymore.]

[otherness]

Well, I haven't really gotten out in a while.

[He sits down, not wanting to worry her any more than he already has.]

I'm tired, but I think... I'm just tired of fighting more than anything else.

[spiritofadventure]

[She folds herself down beside him.]

Hey, if you need to talk about it, I'm here, alright?

[There's a beat, and her nose wrinkles up a bit]

But I think we should start with getting you a change of clothes.

[otherness]

You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you. [He looks a little embarrassed at her comment, and adds:] Sorry. I don't really... have anything else.

[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.

[desertdaggers]

You don't look old enough for it to have been forever.

[he's maybe being a little facetious, but things are just feeling too serious. He doesn't like that.]

Inevitable? Why… what makes you say that?

[He doesn't hold with life being guided almost completely by fate, whatever the fortune tellers may say.]

[otherness]

[Roxas appreciates the humor. It makes him smile a little-- strained but mostly tired.

He slowly lets himself down against the outside wall of the theater.]

I thought I could run from something, but in the end-- I had to face it.

[darkercalling]

Yeah. That's part of it.

I woke him up because he's my friend. And I'd like to be together again. But it's not that simple right now.

[It's because Sora is his friend that he feels like he should stay away. He doesn't exactly deserve to be around right now.]

[otherness]

[Roxas still doesn't understand.]

What do you mean, it's not that simple? Even when things got really complicated with Axel and Xion, they still—

[He cuts himself off. Does he have any right to call Xion his friend now? He looks down at his feet instead. He takes in a small, quiet breath and murmurs the following:]

You should be with him. He worries about you a lot.

[Roxas should know-- they have a bond no one else can understand.]

[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.]

[desertdaggers]

[that's something, at least!

He goes to sit beside Roxas, face turned towards him.]

Mm… some things are like that. Does this mean… it's over with now, though?