audiences : xion

[cyclists]

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Week 1, Thursday, pre-curfew

[cyclists]

[...well. Here they are. Whenever Xion makes her way to the beach she'll find Sol crouched down near the water. They don't turn to face her, but they seem to be waiting for her anyway. The shell she sent down the river is in their hand, but they seem to be using the other to dig through the sand and hunt for others.

...truthfully they would just stay there as long as possible even if Xion didn't show up. So really, it's all a matter of her taking the first step.]

[blackcoats]

[ despite setting out the lantern herself, xion hadn't actually expected an answer, much less an invitation. between the trial, the dreams, and everything else that's been thrown at all of them since last week, she's been in a sort of haze since monday, so this is... in a weird way, a welcome change.

she's quiet, almost silent as she walks toward them, but she makes herself known soon enough. ]

...you came.

GODDAMNIT I FORGOT TO SET UP FORWARDING /shrieks and yeets self here

[cyclists]

[She speaks and they still don't turn away, but they seem to sit up a little taller as they listen to her. It's been a long week for several of them, but Sol glances over their shoulder at Xion and nods.]

Well...yeah. [Cautiously, but light all the same.] You called for me, didn't you? I wouldn't ignore that.

[blackcoats]

[ she would question why they keep their face hidden from her, even when there's no one else around to see. but that would make her the biggest hypocrite ever, wouldn't it? ]

Even after I yelled at you? Even after I hit Mary? Even after I voted for myself?

week 1, post-trial

[cyclists]

[lune is in the dining hall! it would appear as though they’re busying themselves with a bunch of.... flowers? there’s an assortment of flowers at their side, along with a small rectangular box as they seem to be preparing to arrange them. however there’s also xion’s seashell hanging out!

when she approaches, lune regards her warmly, and with a distinct smile in their voice]

This is the first seashell I have received....

Thank you. It’s very kind of you to share with me.

[blackcoats]

[ just like with sol, xion can't help but wonder why their hosts keep their faces hidden... but again, she's in no position to talk. truthfully, she's a little surprised her own can be seen here, the way it's meant to be seen.

but that's neither here nor there at the moment. she bows her head as she comes into the dining room, a soft smile on her lips. ]

You're welcome. I collect them... so I thought it would be a nice present, too. [ she steps closer. ] Did you know, if you hold one up to your ear, you can hear the ocean?

[cyclists]

Oh?

[LUNE DID NOT KNOW THIS AND IS IMMEDIATELY PICKING UP THE SHELL and bringing it inside! their hood! to try to hear the ocean!!!]

Week 2, Saturday

[cyclists]

[After throwing Swift Wind in gay horse jail, as Britt calls it, Sol will go off to try and find Xion. It takes some time, but eventually he just...waits? In front of the house he knew she was in last?

He's sitting on the ground and waiting. Please come back.]

[blackcoats]

[ GAY HORSE JAIL... anyway, it probably doesn't take xion too much longer to arrive after he does. it doesn't exactly surprise her to see him waiting for her... but still? ]

How long have you been out here?

[cyclists]

Does it matter? [He doesn't seem that concerned with the wait til, tilting his head up to look at her from under the hood. It's still hard to see his face, but his voice sounds more like his own.]

I was gonna wait as long as I had to.

Week 3 Post-execution

[cyclists]

[He wants to sleep. He wants to sleep for a thousand years and send his friends back and never go through this ever again, and the sword comes down the river to him and he pauses. He debates, soon leaving the sword behind as he goes to meet her.

A corridor appears behind her and he steps out of the dark, hood pulled up around his face. He pauses again before he holds out a hand to her.

A test, mostly. Is this Xion, or something else? ]

[blackcoats]

[ still reeling from the copy's last screams in her voice, xion is startled by the corridor opening behind her, her eye growing wide in fear because she thinks the darkness is here to take her once again—

...

but it isn't. and she reaches out to grasp his hand, unable to speak in fear of letting everything she's feeling spill out all at once. ]

[cyclists]

[Truthfully, having to watch and being unable to help was harder than he ever thought. There's barely a second of hesitation before he takes her hand and pulls her closer, immediately turning it into a hug. This is probably more than he's ever hugged her in their lives but whatever. Whatever.

He doesn't say anything yet, but eventually he speaks.]

...it's gone now. You're going to be okay. [He did promise, but it's a relief that the promise came through thanks to the help of others.]

week 4, monday

[cyclists]

[hello xion!

lune will be in the kitchen today, and it seems that he is currently looking through the freezer. when she approaches, there is a smile in his voice]

Are you just as fond of ice cream as your companions, dear girl?

[blackcoats]

[ xion's still not in the greatest of moods or mindsets when she wanders into the kitchen, but seeing lune presumably looking for her favorite treat gets her to smile a little, at least. ]

Mm-hm. Axel introduced me and Sol to it, when we were all becoming friends. [ she pauses for a second ] Well, Axel and Sol were friends, first. Then Sol introduced me to Axel, and we all started spending time and getting ice cream together from there.

[cyclists]

Is that so? How sweet. No wonder you have fond memories of it.

[and lune sounds so very approving at that]

Will you help me find the flavor that you like? Sea salt, isn't it...? I'm afraid my eyes aren't what they ought to be.

WEEK 6, MONDAY

[cyclists]

[He waits for her at the beach today, but he's keeping his hood up and seems to be staring out at the ocean. He doesn't turn around, but he can hear her approaching from behind.

He also doesn't say anything. He's just…going to wait and see what she says, shoulders tense and a little guarded.]

[blackcoats]

[ she doesn't say anything, either.

she just wraps her arms around him from behind. ]

[cyclists]

[Oh.

…yeah, he'll just bring his hands up to hold onto both of her arms. Thanks, Xion, now don't move for like sixty hours.]

…another week. [There's a Lot to unpack, but let's start with this first.]

Week 6, Saturday

[cyclists]

[He appears inside Xion's house, hood up as he lets himself in. ]

...hey.

[blackcoats]

[ wow how wonderfully convenient that kaoru, her partner, is not here at the very moment he decides to show up, isn't it, ]

... I don't think either of us was expecting that.

[cyclists]

...I should have. I forgot that was happening. [...] You okay?

Week 7, Friday

[cyclists]

[He approaches her by the river, even before she sends her lantern because sometimes he just senses these things about his best friend. Wednesday isn't with him, but his hood's up and he's wordlessly holding out a hand. Come on. Let's go somewhere else, Xion.

Whenever she takes his hand though he'll start to lead her to the garden. Hewwo.]

[blackcoats]

[ twinsies...

she says nothing as he approaches, as he takes her hand, and he starts to guide her away from the river. she just lets him, the grip she has around his hand causing her knuckles to turn white. ]

[cyclists]

[So they go to the garden, and he feels that tight grip and doesn't even mind. He waits until they're burrowed far away from everyone else and surrounded by plants before he stops them.]

...are you scared?