[It's a lion! Get in a fast-moving vehicle!

Well, to be more specific, it's two lions. One of them has an uncharacteristically dark red fur tone with a creamier underneath and an unmistakable spiky red mane. And that voice? The red lion is definitely Axel, though it's hard to tell who the other one is while he's gloating on top of his victim.]

Pinned ya again.

That's not fair!

[ ... Yep, that was Roxas' voice. Coming from the creamy yellow lion cub. What. ]

[Axel grins like the bastard he is. It is somehow twice as frightening in lion form as it is when he's normal.] Are you a lion or a mouse? Just try to get me. [He lets Roxas go and tries to dart away, but somehow manages to trip over his own (four) feet and facesmush into a nebula.] Grrfflb—!

[ Cue Roxas rolling onto all four paws, then pouncing onto Axel from the side. ] Gotcha!

[Axel appears on the Plane in the midst of one of the rain-showers. If you could call it rain. Whatever the hell it is, it soaks him in almost one second and makes him look like one of those terrible punk kids who cries at prom and has his makeup running.]

Are you kidding me? [He practically screams as he yanks his hood over his head.] Agh! I hate snow, but rain is worse. It's wet and it gets into everything and— [He looks down at his fingers and sniffs experimentally] ... Oh, GREAT. Not only do you decide to rain on all of us, but it's dirty or something, which is so hard to wash out that I might as well just get new clothes.

[He shakes a fist at the "sky", then waves dismissively.]

You know what? Screw this. I'm going home.

[But before he can drop from the Plane, he stops in his tracks and turns his head slowly to the right, as if hearing something that's not there... ( [ cut for character death ] )

[ooc: let me know if i did it wrong ): thanks. I figured Darksniffersense would tell him that whatever he's perceiving is just an echo of a memory and not actually real.

Unfortunately, the Plane is neither Zexion nor the Axel clone so that approach didn't work.]

[Axel is, as usual, poorly dressed when he appears on the Plane. And he can blame it on someone else this time! He's barefoot, sporting the tiniest hint of a future sunburn, and he's shirtless. OH BABY. It should be noted that Axel is sickeningly pale, so unless you're into the so-white-they-blind-you-in-the-sun-like-Edward kind of guy, he's probably not that attractive. He's also bony-edged and scrawny and lanky and other awkward high school adjectives.

The long coat, sash, and poofy pants can only mean one thing.

Agrabah!

With him comes a rush of hot air and sand, which he shakes off on his way to the kitchen for a nice, cold drink. He muses to himself while unscrewing a glass soda bottle.]

Man, I love double standards.

[Axel's poking around at all the golden dust that's left over from exploding stars. He's dressed in casual clothes-- soft black shirt, pants, glasses, and a new book on fire magic he filched from Merlin. He also has an awesome pair of MAGIC CONVERSE sneakers and damn does he look like a cool kid with those on.]

I guess it's kind of pretty, but it's more like Tinker Bell just...

[SNEEZE]

... ugh. [He sticks his tongue out.] I think I just inhaled a galaxy. Medic! Medic! [OH GOD and it's all over his shirt. Eff his life, clearly.]

[ If anyone happens to be taking a nice, relaxing walk along the Plane's beach, they might be privy to the SPLOOSH happening just off its shores. Roxas pops out moments later. He's also shirtless. At the moment, he seems to be looking from side to side for... something. ]

[Someone with dark hair-- apparently a redhead-- surfaces reluctantly a few feet away. It's Axel! He's shirtless, too, and a little more impressive than Roxas. His hair lays flat against his head until he shakes himself out like a dog, then it puffs back out again.] Oh man... here, too? I thought the castle's past was just a fluke.

[ Roxas paddles over with his hands, shrugging once he's closer. ] Looks like it wasn't. It's not so bad, though. At least there's some water around... and now we can get in as much practice as we need!

[Axel responds by sinking back into the water to his chin.] I don't need practice. I just want to get this over with and leave. Is that too much to ask?

Oh, come on, Axel! Ariel needs some distraction, right? It's the least we could do! [ Then, he does something like an aquatic backflip, showing off that nice, awesome... fish tail? Well, to be more precise, it's closer to a killer whale tail. When his head pops back out of the water again, Mr. Voiced By Jesse McCartney opens his mouth, and... ]

♪ Swim this way, we'll dance and we'll play now,
It's very— ♫

[Nice fins. But now that Axel is above water, it means he can toss a teeny fireball in Roxas' general direction.] Singing wasn't on the contract!

[ PFFFBBBT Roxas ducks under the water momentarily to shake off the fireball, then reappears. ] What about helping a friend?

[Axel has a very busy schedule what with saving worlds and all, but he doesn't let that get him down. He's doing some extra training on the Plane to make up for it! Axel can be found dressed in his ringmaster best, surrounded by at least twelve training dummies, with two spiked chakrams clutched in his hands.]

Let's see if I can get that little trick to work again.

[He releases them suddenly, and they speed around him in a circle, slicing every single dummy before they pass each other directly behind him. He extends his arms forward and snatches them right out of the air, then straightens. There's a moment of silence before each of the dummy's torsos fall off and land beside the poles. Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

And then they all burst into flame.

Axel looks pleased with himself.]

Ha! Check this out!

[Appearing on the Plane are Roxas and Axel (in some snazzy new threads). Roxas has a strange weapon in his hand that he twirls around to his side, which seemingly results in a light fwoosh and a ring of flames temporarily igniting around him. The effect on the threads of his new outfit can be summed up by the word "shiny."

Axel claps slowly.] Congratulations. You almost make that look as good as me.

[Roxas huffs and, with his free hand, sends a small icicle in Axel's direction. Fortunately it's small enough to dissipate before it would reach him. Roxas' magic without a conductor is not all that strong. ):] We can't all be pyromaniacs like you, Axel.

[Axel recoils with a girly squeal.] Hey, watch it!

[ooc: Next post won't be a double-post. Promise. XD]

[Axel appears on the Plane, and he's not alone! He's got a certain annoyed blonde captured in the crook of his elbow, as if dragging him away from a fight. In fact, they're both showered lightly in sticky rice and sporting a few scratches and bruises. Also some vaguely Chinese clothing.] Hey, chill out!

Chill out? He hit me first! He had it coming! [Said annoyed blonde attempts to wriggle out of the red-head's grasp.] C'mon, Axelll...!

[His grip is firm.] Do you want to get kicked out of the Imperial Forces before we can even join? We're doing it for the chi—er, Ping. Besides, if we're on our best behavior, we'll get to blow up some Heartless.

[Roxas takes a moment to digest all that, giving another squirm, if only for the heck of it.] That's... a good point. But then they'll think it's okay! The soldiers, I mean. ... to pick on us—or, worse, Ping!

[He's not letting go just yet.] Ping can handle himself. He's got that annoying lizard, remember? Besides, the captain will keep 'em in line.

Yeah, but... We still promised to help.

And we will, promise. That doesn't mean you have to get your arm broken for it.

... speaking of which? [He wriggles one more time, pointedly.]

[Axel sighs dramatically and lets go.]

[Axel looks rather puzzled. He's staring at a book in his hands, glasses on, and trying to read from it.

It's not going all that well.]

Kitten loafers making shoes. Kitten loafers making blue shoes. A mango screams for roadside service. I like fuzzy blankets.

[He pauses, then smiles sheepishly at no one in particular.]

Frying pan...

[ooc: Axel got hit with Octopese in Xellos' post. Translation: 'Fire is the oxidation of a combustible material. Fire is the oxidation of a combustible material releasing heat, light, and various reaction products such as carbon dioxide and water. Okay, this isn't working. It's kinda funny though.

What a prank...']

[Two teenage delinquents appear on the Plane. The tallest one stands out quite a bit due to his crazy red hair and an equally crazy coat that could pass for punk. The shorter one looks slightly more tame, though his blond hair is quite spiky.]

I don't know how he got the recipe, but you have to... [Axel stops and looks around.] ... I didn't do it.

[Roxas also pauses in his "listening" and looks around. Then he gives Axel a skeptical look.] You sure about that? Looks like just your kind of place.

Don't get me wrong, I love the night life... but this isn't where we were going, Roxas. And we didn't walk through any portals.

Yeah... Actually, it kind of reminds me of someplace I've been before, too. I thought that was just a dream...?

[That earns Roxas a slightly questioning look, then it's gone and the normal goofball Axel is back in place-- at least for the moment.] Why don't we find out? Hellooo~~~! Is anyone there?