[ Roxas decided to go and have a private talk with Sora.
...It's probably been a long time doing so, considering that this is his Other we're talking about here. So, he gave the other's door a gentle knock... ]
[ Luckily for Roxas, Sora is actually in his room tonight and not attempting sleep somewhere else in the building. Not that he's getting much sleep anyway. He doesn't expect the knock on his door or the voice of his Nobody coming from the other side. ]
Uh, yeah. Hang on! [ A scramble for the door and he swings it open without further hesitation. Even from the door it's obvious that the brunette had been sitting the middle of the very large room with a couple of his Dream Eaters. There are a couple of books and some snacks laying discarded among a pile of pillows and blankets. ]
Alone time is probably the last thing I want. This room is... kinda too big for just me. Even with my Dream Eaters. [ That middle sentence is a quiet admission. He steps aside, opening the door. ] Come on in.
Watch that one. [ A finger gets pointed at the Meow Wow. ] Xi likes to pounce on people. [ As he says it, the bouncy catdog is rushing towards Roxas. ]
[ Roxas came in, and he's looking confused until he follows the finger pointing, eyes then landing right on Meow Wow, at the last minute. He opens his mouth in surprise. ]
...Wait--
[ The blond's probably a bit too late to the bouncy catdog keep from pouncing on him here... ]
Really? Considering weird things have happened outside of the Mafia game, I don't think I could recommend you doing that...so now I'm really glad I came on by...
[ Saying this in between face lickings and grimacing as he's. Definitely on the floor now too with the Dream Eater being way too enthusiatic. ]
[ He shrugs before reaching to ruffle the back of his hair sheepishly. ] I kinda was for a while after my roommate... died. Lucas kept me company.
[ Sora moves to take a seat back in his nest and laughs as he watches Xi lather Roxas with affection. ]
She really likes you! [ Okay okay, he'll rescue Roxas from the fierce Dream Eater. ] Come here, Xi! [ There's a squeak of a toy and Xi abandons the blond to go chase whatever it was Sora just threw across the room. ] You know, you're bigger than her, right?
[ Poor Roxas. Thankfully Sora won't point out how embarrassed he looks. Instead pats his leg once Xi has collected the toy and pushes her over when she's in reach to rub her stomach. ]
Just be glad it wasn't the Kooma Panda or one of the dinosaurs.
[ After the trial, Sora had given Roxas and Vanitas some space to themselves and gone exploring with Ven so they could have the room to themselves. (Whether they were actually in it or not, he doesn't know). And now he's sitting on the floor with his back against the bed playing with his tablet... or trying to.
However that's forgotten when he hears Roxas' voice and he gives his undivided attention to the other. ]
Yeah. [ He knows they need to Talk about what happened during the trial. ] Where do we start? [ Where does Roxas want to start? ]
I don't know. But...I guess if there's somewhere to start, how about a little bit of my time spent in the other Resort? You remember that Vani and I had gone through this Mafia game before, right?
...And that there was a part where a lot of people just sacrificed themselves in front of us because we had no other choice but to vote off a lot of innocent people?
[ It was eight people. Eight executions. ]
I know that you were doing that because you're just...like that, but that's what it reminded me of. And that right after, even if the game stopped, the presence of the dead disappeared too.
You're important to me, Sora, I don't want to lose you. You're like...part of the family I never had, and losing people without being able to do anything about it scares me a lot. I don't want it to happen, not again.
[ He'd lost Xion...not just the first time, but a second. And she wasn't coming back; he didn't want to risk it. Besides, in comparison to Sora, he was...
Well, he's not going to think about that right now. ]
[ Sora is quiet as Roxas talks about his time at the other Resort - only nodding here and there at certain things. Those blue eyes don't look away as he gives the other his full attention. It's only when the blond is done that he gets up from the floor and shuffles over to sit next to Roxas, leaning into his other half lightly. ]
I'm sorry you had to go through that, that I almost put you through that too. And I can't promise that something like that won't happen again. If sacrificing myself will save you, Vanitas and even Ventus then I will do it without hesitation.
But that's how important you are to me, Roxas. You said once that it had to be me back when we were in our worlds but I don't want that - it's not fair. You deserve everything and yet you gave it up for me. I don't think of you as my Nobody, you're my brother and I love you. As your big brother, it's my job to protect you.
[ He give Roxas a soft, warm smile. Even though he says that, Sora gets it. Roxas doesn't want to lose anyone else. So there is one thing he can say. ]
Before I do something stupidly reckless like that, I'm gonna give everything I have into finding a different way to end this game. Deal?
[ Roxas wasn't keen on self sacrifice even before the mess with the Resort happened. Precisely because he was forced to sacrifice himself in order so that Sora came back, and it took him so long to realize after "accepting" that...it was once again something he never wanted. Something he could never be content with, ever.
At the same time, he gets where Sora's coming from. The blond wished selfishly that he didn't get it at all.
The words that he thinks he's more than just a Nobody resonate with him enough that he's struggling to find his own for a moment. ]
I want to protect you too. It's unfair if you're the only one who's trying to do the protecting here. After all...you're important to me too.
[ He looks down at the blankets... ]
...Deal. It's as good as a promise, so you better give it the best you've got. Just don't expect me to still go along with it easily if recklessness still comes into it, though.
Edited (I thought I had that sentence in there.) 2019-04-10 04:58 (UTC)
[ And that's okay. Roxas is his own person so he's allowed to feel differently on the matter than Sora... though the brunette would have to protest if someone else wanted to give their life for his. Which is why he understands where his other half is coming from.
So the fact that Akechi, Vanitas and Roxas all had to go through that yesterday is just... he hates it.
Especially since he confessed to a crime he didn't actually do. That was enough for Sora to decide that he's absolutely done letting Shea and the other toy with them.
Sora leans into Roxas a little more, letting his head rest on the blond's shoulder and sighs. ] You're helping me more than you know. I don't how I'd handle this if I was on my own. Nothing I've been through has been this bad.
[ People have died, friends and enemies alike (or so he believes) and it can be dangerous trying to save the worlds but this is a game where murder is the objective.
A nod of his head. ] It's a promise. [ And Roxas knows how serious he takes his promises. ] I wouldn't expect that at all, after all, someone's gotta keep an eye on me and we are family.
[ He's kind of a little bit happy to hear that. He wished his Other wasn't here in the first place, but the idea that he could be helping him out, even just a little bit? It was nice to know.
But he'll shift and put a hand on the other's shoulder. ]
Yeah, someone's got to. Otherwise you'll get into too much trouble.
[ But at the fact that the brunet granted him it in a promise and all of those words gets him to settle and release a soft breath, finally relaxing somewhat. ]
[ That is the absolute truth. Sora can't fight this with a Keyblade or magic, and he doesn't think a friendship speech will give Shea a change of heart about this whole thing.
Can Roxas hear the pout in Sora's voice? ]
Heeeey, that's not nice. I don't get into trouble that much!
[ Sora can feel the tension releasing from his body and he's glad for that. So much has happened in the last few days for all of them. ]
You know you can tell me anything right? When you're ready. [ About the last resort or other stuff. ]
And those are the big reasons why you're a huge magnet for trouble.
[ But...c'est la vie, right?
Or that's just Sora's life, but the playfulness dissipates as he thinks it over for the other matter, trying to find where to start. He almost doesn't want to, but he pushes aside the fear that it might chance anything. Sora's not going to look at him any different now if he says. ]
...I'm artificially created by the Foundation, by some kind of machine, apparently.
The memories I have were from the original Roxas.
[ He's tensing up again, but trying not to make it obvious...even if he probably was, given how close they were. ]
The reason why they created me was to be an Agent and help them fight in their struggle against the monsters or people out they considered their enemies. I'm not the only one they've made, though...but they kind of expect the people they've made through the machines or pulled from other worlds to be their fodder against these creatures. They don't really care about how we feel or what happens to us, just as long as they stop whatever monsters, people, places, or things they've decided goes against the laws of nature.
Because of them, so many people have suffered. Even if there's a better way to do something, it's so hard to change their minds to do it, because if sacrificing the lives of fodder will help keep things "under control", they don't care.
That's why I really hate them; it's their fault the issue with the other Resort happened. Though...without them, Vani and I would've never met.
[ He doesn't say anything the entire time, but also doesn't pull away or even lift his head from Roxas' shoulder. The other is right that Sora doesn't look or feel any different now that he knows.
What the Foundation did is wrong, the things they put people through. The way they sacrifice people just because they think they can replace them.
It's only at the end that Sora lifts his head and that's so he can look Roxas straight in the eyes. ]
What they did to you and everyone else is wrong. But you're you - your own person. How you were created doesn't change who you are. Your heart belongs to you and only you. [ If that heart is telling him that he's Roxas, then Sora will accept it easily. ] And you're my brother no matter what.
We'll find a way to get out of this place and go somewhere better. Somewhere they can't reach. You and Vanitas, and I'll come visit you all the time.
[ ...A small laugh escapes him at that. But it's not self-deprecating or anything harsh - it just is, and he's staring at Sora in the eyes with a smile of sorts that he can't help make it's way across his face. ]
I'm really glad I met you, Sora.
[ It's then that he shifts so he could bring him into a light hug. ]
Whenever you say stuff like that...it really means more than anything I could put into words. And I had a feeling that telling you wouldn't change anything, but knowing it for sure? It's entirely different.
[ He releases a small breath. There's one place he'd been hoping to return to, but... ]
We've...managed to stay out of the Foundation's reach so far, when we were back in Twilight Town. So, I'm hoping both of us could just go back there. But, if the Foundation has a hand in all of this or knows about this place, we'll probably really have to go elsewhere.
[ He gently elbows Roxas before reaching around the other to return the hug, squeezing gently. ]
Me too.
[ Sora would like to think that any version of himself would accept Roxas regardless of creation, that it wouldn't stop him from considering the blond a brother. ]
Nothing is ever gonna change how I think or feel on that so don't be afraid of that, okay? How we're created isn't what's important, it's our hearts.
[ A nod of his head as he hears that. ]
You'll get back there. We may have to find a way to stop the Foundation first but you'll be able to go home. I'll do what I can to help you both.
[ Roxas couldn't help but allow his smile to linger as he held the other in an embrace, not willing to let go just yet. It felt like if he'd just reunited with Axel and Xion right now. ]
Really? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always liked to lend a hand, even if things got dangerous.
[ But, he doesn't mind. He knows of Sora's capabilities, after all. ]
I'll say it as much as you need and probably more than you want.
[ Time to be embarrassing big brother? Possibly. Good thing he doesn't have any "baby" pictures to show off to people. Sora is so excited and happy to be here with Roxas, despite the situation. ]
No dangerous situation is gonna stop me from helping my friends or family. And if you and Vanitas need help, I'll be there without a doubt.
[ It's more than wanting to lend a hand or stop bad people from doing terrible things to the people he cares about. Sora doesn't want this to end - getting the chance to stand side-by-side with Roxas. He wants this to be possible always, the two of them hanging out and doing both ridiculous things and facing danger together. ]
Week 2 After the Afterparty
...It's probably been a long time doing so, considering that this is his Other we're talking about here. So, he gave the other's door a gentle knock... ]
Sora, you still up?
no subject
Uh, yeah. Hang on! [ A scramble for the door and he swings it open without further hesitation. Even from the door it's obvious that the brunette had been sitting the middle of the very large room with a couple of his Dream Eaters. There are a couple of books and some snacks laying discarded among a pile of pillows and blankets. ]
What's up? Is something wrong?
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No, I just wanted to talk. Unless, you wanted some alone time or something.
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Alone time is probably the last thing I want. This room is... kinda too big for just me. Even with my Dream Eaters. [ That middle sentence is a quiet admission. He steps aside, opening the door. ] Come on in.
Watch that one. [ A finger gets pointed at the Meow Wow. ] Xi likes to pounce on people. [ As he says it, the bouncy catdog is rushing towards Roxas. ]
no subject
[ Roxas came in, and he's looking confused until he follows the finger pointing, eyes then landing right on Meow Wow, at the last minute. He opens his mouth in surprise. ]
...Wait--
[ The blond's probably a bit too late to the bouncy catdog keep from pouncing on him here... ]
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[ Even if no one else was around now that Lucas had been taken for punishment. Maybe when he woke up, the guy would be back.
Definitely too late because Xi is jumping and OOF impacting with Roxas' chest in order to get her tongue close to his face so it can be licked. ]
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[ Saying this in between face lickings and grimacing as he's. Definitely on the floor now too with the Dream Eater being way too enthusiatic. ]
...Okay! How do I get Xi to stop?!
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[ Sora moves to take a seat back in his nest and laughs as he watches Xi lather Roxas with affection. ]
She really likes you! [ Okay okay, he'll rescue Roxas from the fierce Dream Eater. ] Come here, Xi! [ There's a squeak of a toy and Xi abandons the blond to go chase whatever it was Sora just threw across the room. ] You know, you're bigger than her, right?
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[ That sure is a thing that's happening... ]
I-I know that, jeez! I was just surprised, that's all.
[ Roxas wants to hide his face, he's kind of embarrassed right now. ]
no subject
Just be glad it wasn't the Kooma Panda or one of the dinosaurs.
week 5, nebulously monday evening
How could there not be? He'd been distracted with other...matters, that he didn't get a chance to confront the situation.
But here they were, in their room, just the two of them, and so... he spoke up. ]
Hey, Sora?
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However that's forgotten when he hears Roxas' voice and he gives his undivided attention to the other. ]
Yeah. [ He knows they need to Talk about what happened during the trial. ] Where do we start? [ Where does Roxas want to start? ]
no subject
...And that there was a part where a lot of people just sacrificed themselves in front of us because we had no other choice but to vote off a lot of innocent people?
[ It was eight people. Eight executions. ]
I know that you were doing that because you're just...like that, but that's what it reminded me of. And that right after, even if the game stopped, the presence of the dead disappeared too.
You're important to me, Sora, I don't want to lose you. You're like...part of the family I never had, and losing people without being able to do anything about it scares me a lot. I don't want it to happen, not again.
[ He'd lost Xion...not just the first time, but a second. And she wasn't coming back; he didn't want to risk it. Besides, in comparison to Sora, he was...
Well, he's not going to think about that right now. ]
no subject
I'm sorry you had to go through that, that I almost put you through that too. And I can't promise that something like that won't happen again. If sacrificing myself will save you, Vanitas and even Ventus then I will do it without hesitation.
But that's how important you are to me, Roxas. You said once that it had to be me back when we were in our worlds but I don't want that - it's not fair. You deserve everything and yet you gave it up for me. I don't think of you as my Nobody, you're my brother and I love you. As your big brother, it's my job to protect you.
[ He give Roxas a soft, warm smile. Even though he says that, Sora gets it. Roxas doesn't want to lose anyone else. So there is one thing he can say. ]
Before I do something stupidly reckless like that, I'm gonna give everything I have into finding a different way to end this game. Deal?
no subject
At the same time, he gets where Sora's coming from. The blond wished selfishly that he didn't get it at all.
The words that he thinks he's more than just a Nobody resonate with him enough that he's struggling to find his own for a moment. ]
I want to protect you too. It's unfair if you're the only one who's trying to do the protecting here. After all...you're important to me too.
[ He looks down at the blankets... ]
...Deal. It's as good as a promise, so you better give it the best you've got. Just don't expect me to still go along with it easily if recklessness still comes into it, though.
no subject
So the fact that Akechi, Vanitas and Roxas all had to go through that yesterday is just... he hates it.
Especially since he confessed to a crime he didn't actually do. That was enough for Sora to decide that he's absolutely done letting Shea and the other toy with them.
Sora leans into Roxas a little more, letting his head rest on the blond's shoulder and sighs. ] You're helping me more than you know. I don't how I'd handle this if I was on my own. Nothing I've been through has been this bad.
[ People have died, friends and enemies alike (or so he believes) and it can be dangerous trying to save the worlds but this is a game where murder is the objective.
A nod of his head. ] It's a promise. [ And Roxas knows how serious he takes his promises. ] I wouldn't expect that at all, after all, someone's gotta keep an eye on me and we are family.
no subject
[ He's kind of a little bit happy to hear that. He wished his Other wasn't here in the first place, but the idea that he could be helping him out, even just a little bit? It was nice to know.
But he'll shift and put a hand on the other's shoulder. ]
Yeah, someone's got to. Otherwise you'll get into too much trouble.
[ But at the fact that the brunet granted him it in a promise and all of those words gets him to settle and release a soft breath, finally relaxing somewhat. ]
no subject
[ That is the absolute truth. Sora can't fight this with a Keyblade or magic, and he doesn't think a friendship speech will give Shea a change of heart about this whole thing.
Can Roxas hear the pout in Sora's voice? ]
Heeeey, that's not nice. I don't get into trouble that much!
[ Sora can feel the tension releasing from his body and he's glad for that. So much has happened in the last few days for all of them. ]
You know you can tell me anything right? When you're ready. [ About the last resort or other stuff. ]
no subject
And he sure can. ]
You sure do, without fail...I'm sure Vani and Ven would back me up almost immediately.
[ ...That is a small bit of teasing there and a faint smile on his face. The mood's been changed into a vaguely positive charge one for sure. ]
Anything, huh? I... haven't told you about the Foundation yet, have I?
no subject
Still pouting. ]
I can't help it if trouble finds me. And as a Junior Hero, I can't just ignore it when I do see it.
[ He's glad he can help Roxas feel better even just a small bit. That he can do this one thing for his brother. ]
Not really.
no subject
[ But...c'est la vie, right?
Or that's just Sora's life, but the playfulness dissipates as he thinks it over for the other matter, trying to find where to start. He almost doesn't want to, but he pushes aside the fear that it might chance anything. Sora's not going to look at him any different now if he says. ]
...I'm artificially created by the Foundation, by some kind of machine, apparently.
The memories I have were from the original Roxas.
[ He's tensing up again, but trying not to make it obvious...even if he probably was, given how close they were. ]
The reason why they created me was to be an Agent and help them fight in their struggle against the monsters or people out they considered their enemies. I'm not the only one they've made, though...but they kind of expect the people they've made through the machines or pulled from other worlds to be their fodder against these creatures. They don't really care about how we feel or what happens to us, just as long as they stop whatever monsters, people, places, or things they've decided goes against the laws of nature.
Because of them, so many people have suffered. Even if there's a better way to do something, it's so hard to change their minds to do it, because if sacrificing the lives of fodder will help keep things "under control", they don't care.
That's why I really hate them; it's their fault the issue with the other Resort happened. Though...without them, Vani and I would've never met.
no subject
What the Foundation did is wrong, the things they put people through. The way they sacrifice people just because they think they can replace them.
It's only at the end that Sora lifts his head and that's so he can look Roxas straight in the eyes. ]
What they did to you and everyone else is wrong. But you're you - your own person. How you were created doesn't change who you are. Your heart belongs to you and only you. [ If that heart is telling him that he's Roxas, then Sora will accept it easily. ] And you're my brother no matter what.
We'll find a way to get out of this place and go somewhere better. Somewhere they can't reach. You and Vanitas, and I'll come visit you all the time.
no subject
I'm really glad I met you, Sora.
[ It's then that he shifts so he could bring him into a light hug. ]
Whenever you say stuff like that...it really means more than anything I could put into words. And I had a feeling that telling you wouldn't change anything, but knowing it for sure? It's entirely different.
[ He releases a small breath. There's one place he'd been hoping to return to, but... ]
We've...managed to stay out of the Foundation's reach so far, when we were back in Twilight Town. So, I'm hoping both of us could just go back there. But, if the Foundation has a hand in all of this or knows about this place, we'll probably really have to go elsewhere.
no subject
Me too.
[ Sora would like to think that any version of himself would accept Roxas regardless of creation, that it wouldn't stop him from considering the blond a brother. ]
Nothing is ever gonna change how I think or feel on that so don't be afraid of that, okay? How we're created isn't what's important, it's our hearts.
[ A nod of his head as he hears that. ]
You'll get back there. We may have to find a way to stop the Foundation first but you'll be able to go home. I'll do what I can to help you both.
no subject
[ Roxas couldn't help but allow his smile to linger as he held the other in an embrace, not willing to let go just yet. It felt like if he'd just reunited with Axel and Xion right now. ]
Really? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always liked to lend a hand, even if things got dangerous.
[ But, he doesn't mind. He knows of Sora's capabilities, after all. ]
no subject
[ Time to be embarrassing big brother? Possibly. Good thing he doesn't have any "baby" pictures to show off to people. Sora is so excited and happy to be here with Roxas, despite the situation. ]
No dangerous situation is gonna stop me from helping my friends or family. And if you and Vanitas need help, I'll be there without a doubt.
[ It's more than wanting to lend a hand or stop bad people from doing terrible things to the people he cares about. Sora doesn't want this to end - getting the chance to stand side-by-side with Roxas. He wants this to be possible always, the two of them hanging out and doing both ridiculous things and facing danger together. ]