audiences : xion

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

It's like...it's like it's growing out of control and has been since before we even got here. Lune and I were called because the instability had already started. Then there were a few weeks between then and when you all arrived.

[Down in the sand they go, digging with their hand.] If we could at least find another angle to come from, we might be able to stop it before it rows in another direction.

[blackcoats]

And... that's why we're here? To find that new direction?

[ ... excuse her for a second or two, though, as she marvels at how sand actually feels between her fingers; she's only ever searched for shells previously with her gloves on. ]

[cyclists]

Uh huh. [They seem to be watching her from under that hood still.] But I don't think that should be your only job here. Since you're here, and there's lot of other people, everyone should be trying to get along and work together...learn new things...stuff like that. If we have the chance, why not?

[blackcoats]

[ good thing she's a sora which means she doesn't notice them creepily staring at her. their words are what catch her attention instead, as she lets grains of sand fall from her hand back to the earth. ]

I want to. But at the same time... I'm scared to get close to anyone. What if they end up being someone the darkness corrupts? What happens if I'm one of those? I... I can't let that happen.

[cyclists]

It's pretty scary, but...I kind of think of it like being able to make memories with people in the time we have with them, even if there's that chance. Like...maybe if they have those same memories of us, too, that will protect them or save them from the darkness.

And not getting close to people sounds pretty lonely anyway.

[blackcoats]

...!

[ she stops sifting through the sand to turn her head and look at them in surprise... which quickly turns soft and warm. ]

That's a... really nice way of looking at it. Just hearing that makes me feel better about all of this.

[cyclists]

Yeah? [They seem to perk up, happy with those results as they dig through the sand. No shells here, but they're just moving sand around in little piles.]

This isn't a fun situation, but at the same time I don't think we should only be focused on the bad. [They unearth a very small, white shell.] Some people here are really nice. I think they're worth getting to know.

[blackcoats]

[ and she, in turn, perks up in excitement when they find the shell. it's tiny, but cute!! ]

Really? Like who? If you like them... then I think I'd like to get to know them, too.

[cyclists]

[They offer the shell to Xion? They can share, it's fine.]

Uh...there's this girl. Her name is Naminé and she's always really fun to talk to. She's really nice. And there's Nana! She bakes a lot of really good stuff. [Me crying that this is pre-smashed Banana.] And Axel's pretty okay, too.

[blackcoats]

[ tiny and smol... kin... but it also reminds her of naminé... ]

What a coincidence—Axel and Naminé are already my friends, so we must have pretty similar tastes. That must mean I'd get along with Nana, too.

[ f ]

[cyclists]

Oh. [They sound pleasantly surprised by that.] They're all great...you'd really like Nana, too. She and Naminé are kind of similar, but Nana's a little more...enthusiastic. [No comment on Axel unless asked, but:] Minato's pretty okay, too. And Emma.

[And then Emma snapped at them in trial today, rip.]

...have you been making other friends already? [She said she didn't want to get close to people, but that doesn't mean it won't happen anyway.]

[blackcoats]

...yeah. [ she's a hypocrite, she knows ] Akane and Futaba showed me how to make flower crowns and origami, Kaoru's really good with clothes, Lili tries to be stubborn but is actually pretty nice underneath...

[ of course keykids are gonna make friends. it's only natural? ]

[cyclists]

[...] I haven't met any of them. [Well. They met Futaba last weekend because they gave her glitter and stuff but whatever.] They sound nice though.

[But!] Someone taught me how to make origami, too. I can make birds and rabbits now. [They also sound very proud of that fact.] ...that's the kind of thing I mean though. Getting to learn stuff like this is what makes this place a little less bad. Even if there are some bad ones, my memories are mine. So I'll cherish all of them.

[...they suddenly get up and begin to walk again, slowly but toeing at the sand to look for more shells.]

[blackcoats]

Oh, I can make flowers! Maybe we can show each other what we know...

[ ... she trails off, especially as sol rises to their feet. she lets the silence drag on for a while as she thinks about what to say next, her eyes focused downward on the small shell in her palm. ]

Hey, Sol... can I ask you something? [ beat ] If it's one of those things you can't answer... I understand. I won't get mad at you for it.

[cyclists]

I'd like that. [They have made uno paper flower and it was Bad, so that's fine by them. But there's a pause before they nod.]

Yeah. Just...don't get mad if I can't. Okay? [She just said she wouldn't, you moron.] I'll try though.

[blackcoats]

[ as she pushes some sand away to unearth another shell—a small cockle shell this time—she tilts her head and says, ]

. . .

Why does it feel... like I know you?

[cyclists]

[Somehow...they had expected that question. They watch as she unearths that shell, taking the time to formulate an answer.]

...it's probably not fair to you, but you remind me of this girl I know. She's really important to me, and I miss her a lot. Maybe...I treat you like I would treat her.

[blackcoats]

[ ... there's a lot to unpack from that, isn't there. there's something like a tugging feeling inside her chest as she takes the time to consider her reply, reaching up to tuck some loose hair behind her ear. ]

What is she like?

[cyclists]

She's great. [Zero hesitation. ] She's really fun to hang out with, and she works really hard all the time because she doesn't like standing by while other people do things. She can be really stubborn, but she's funny and she's really nice...we used to do everything together. She's one of the bravest people I know because she faces things even when she's scared or when they don't make sense. And...she knows when to do the right thing. No matter what. I've learned a lot from her.

[A look at the sand, crouching down as they brush aside some sand and come up with a purple shell. ]

...she's my best friend.

[blackcoats]

[ her eyes had been growing wider the longer sol talked—she'd had a nagging suspicion before but back then it had seemed so far-fetched it wasn't worth a second thought—but it's the serendipitous appearance of the shell they dig up that finally causes everything to fall and click into place.

she turns to them and says, in a tiny, tiny voice, ]

Roxas?

[cyclists]

[There's no reply, but they hold their hand out palm-up for her to take the shell. That should maybe be enough of a tell itself.

Maybe if there's no verbal confirmation, they won't have to admit that she's a little more right than she knows.]

Trust me?

[blackcoats]

[ she stares at their outstretched hand silently for a few moments, even as they ask for her trust.

she only replies by placing her hand over theirs—not to take the shell, but to just hold their hand, taking comfort in the simple gesture of familiarity. ]

[cyclists]

[It's better than expected. They don't force her away or anything, but their fingers overlap with hers, holding her hand and not letting go this time. They can hang out like that for a second. The comfort is actually appreciated.]

[blackcoats]

[ this much is already a risk, she knows—

—but she can't help herself from falling toward them, hugging them so tightly. as she wraps them around their shoulders, her arms feel lighter without the organization coat weighing them down. ]

[cyclists]

[It's definitely a risk and they wonder if the universe is going to backfire. They wonder if the universe is going to get mad, separate them again, anything that they don't want...but maybe that's a later problem. It's a later problem because Xion's here, and they're together, and they can pretend that things might be fine for five minutes. After a few seconds of hesitation, they return the gesture.]

...don't tell anyone, 'kay? [It's a low tone, but that's...about as much confirmation as she's going to get right now.]