cyclists | audience

[It might seem strange, but Axel's going to have to head to the amphitheater to find Sol. It looks as though the area's pretty empty at first, but as Axel walks through the seats and looks around he'll find Sol on stage, tucked away into a corner with the bowl of ice cream sitting next to them. They're not going to make this any easier but moving, but they're definitely waiting.

The ice cream also has two spoons now.]

[ luckily for sol axel is used to having to find stuff hidden in dark corners, though usually not for him to plop down next to wordlessly. he looks at the two spoons with mild amusement ]

You know, if you'd left a note, I coulda brought my own.

[ so we're just not going to talk about the death toll right now that's cool ]

[Axel sits down and Sol seems to relax just a little. There's a quiet huff then. ]

Figured I'd save you the trouble. [The words are quiet like they're not sure what to say. ] What flavor is this?

[ he raises his eyes to the ceiling ]

It said "chunky monkey", so, beats me. There's chocolate in it? [ this is all he knows. he rummages through his pocket. ] Oh, right, you told me to show you when I got my box open--

[ he takes out the "Winner" stick. ]

Ta-da.

What a weird name... [They look at the bowl of ice cream for a moment, poking it with a spoon. They're listening to Axel, nodding along, but when he pulls out the winner stick they..stop. Entirely.

They stop and sort of stare at Axel's hand. Why the hell was that in Axel's box? It's still just a really long, long stretch of silence.

Followed by a sniffle because today has been a really, really bad day and the last few weeks have also been bad, and Axel is literally right there? Lune's always been a little bit stronger than he is, because Sol has always done everything for the sake of the people he cares about most. Lune's able to dodge questions and answer with grace but Sol's not even sure how to be subtle.

So. Instead of, like, doing anything useful he kind of just turns and faceplants into Axel's chest.

Hi.]

[ ah. he hadn't meant to make him cry, and he kind of falters for a second before bringing an arm around Sol and loosely holding him there, rubbing his back. He doesn't say anything for a long time. Can he pretend, still? Should he, when he's like this?

He doesn't really want to, is the thing. Seeing that stick again... He'd carried it for so long. ]

... We'll figure it out, Roxas.

[The nice thing is that Sol isn't Xion which means he's not actually crying beyond a few tears but he's also...not....moving? He should maybe be better at his job but the universe can shut up for five minutes.]

...I've been trying for weeks. [And that's what makes this worse somehow.] Lune and I have been trying and nothing's helping even when it's supposed to. So how...?

[ LIKE A FEW TEARS ISN'T TERRIBLE? HE'S NOT WEARING HIS COAT HE CAN FEEL THAT, ROXAS. it's fine he'll just. keep holding him. ]

C'mon. You say that like we haven't been in seemingly hopeless situations before. [ all of them died, for one thing. ] You really gonna give up now?

[LISTEN.

He really liked Nana this is actually very upsetting.]

Obviously not. [Sort of muffled into Axel's shirt, but he slowly sits up after that.] But it's not that simple, and you know that.

[Especially because, haha.] ...the universe didn't want us to be recognizable. Who we used to be doesn't matter for who we are now. [Axel can probably imagine his unhappy look.] All of my magic's gone. Everything.

[He can't be his own one-man lightshow anymore mom :(]

Yeah, I kinda figured when you didn't pull out your Keyblades [ two. ] the first time you were threatened.

[ roxas hasn't ever been one to hold in his temper, he knows that firsthand. he lets him go if he wants to, just looking studiously up at the ceiling ]

Is it permanent? Or is it only as long as we're doing this thing?

[Yeah he doesn't go that far, surprise surprise.]

Probably just while we're here. We were given other stuff and new names and that was it. But I can still open portals.

[Which doesn't make a ton of sense to him but okay. ] I can't tell if it's because of the core or because the universe said so.

[ that's fine, they can cuddle. hugs are good for the soul. ]

I dunno. The corridors are pretty weird. Could be both. [ he looks at his hand as if in thought. he'd been told off against using them enough now that he had a heart. ] If it's just while we're here, it's not that big of a deal. This isn't the kinda darkness you can just beat back with a Keyblade, right? You'll get it back.

[ he understand missing it, though. he hasn't had a keyblade for long, and it still feels... bad, not being able to just-- have it. ]

[Later he will deny this probably but for now cuddling is fine. It's been about four weeks for him. Also corridors is the word I wanted but I ty was mobile and not reading. ]

If it's not then I don't know how I'm actually supposed to help. [And that's part of his frustration.] But until then I've been improvising. [Ask him how. ]

If it was, it would've just sent for all the Keyblade wielders hanging around these days. I dunno if you noticed, but the number's pretty high up these days.

[ but. uh. ]

Improvising how, exactly?

I hadn't noticed. [Deadpanned. But he sits up a little and holds out both of his hands, summoning two short swords instead of his Keyblades.]

They're not the same, but they're holding up okay.

[ axel fucking jumps a little, and just pushes Roxas's shoulder lightly ]

Hey, a little warning next time? Those are actually sharp. [ but he looks at them ] They're tiny, but deadly. Hey, you finally match your weapon.

[ they are normal sword sized, but. keyblade big. ]

Shut up. [But he sounds a little more lighthearted as he elbows Axel instead. He's at least keeping the blade away from Axel for the moment so he doesn't accidentally hurt him.] They're a little harder to control and I can't pull off most of my combos, so fighting with them has been a pain.

[Is he mad he can't throw his weapons and beat the shit out of people? Yeah.]

Doesn't change the fact that everybody else has an element to work with and I don't.

What, are you jealous? Most of 'em don't have any idea what they're doing with it, you know.

[ he has had to explain magic way too much to think otherwise. he also knows it's not a jealousy thing, but the banter is easier. ]

So I've heard. [Slightly amused, but.] It kind of makes things a lot harder when fighting with people. I just wish they'd left me with something I could use to make it more even.

[But let's brush past that.] You've been helping Naminé practice?

[ he looks away at that, pensive. he decides to not question roxas picking fights with people because it's fine roxas can kick his ass he shouldn't worry*.

*he is worried anyway. ]

Yeah. I think she just needed a little push, that's all.

[ he's not going to say why, though. the events of castle oblivion can remain a secret forever. ]

[He should be given there's definitely a disadvantage but he's a big kid now? He can take care of himself? But there's a nod.]

You're usually pretty good at that. And I'm helping her where I can, too, but it's not the same. [...] But we've been hanging out. We're going to go to the beach and I'm going to introduce her to Ushi later.

[ that's all very cute, especially since he's ignoring the part about being good at anything because don't fucking compliment him on anything related to namine he may die, but. ]

Ushi?

Tsuru's cow. [Very matter of fact.]

[ ....... ]

Tsuru's what?

Cow. [He didn't stutter.] When Tsuru was here, we met at the farm and he made a cow friend and he named the cow Ushi. I've been looking after him for the last week.

[Ushi is also Roxas's therapy cow.]

Week 1, Friday

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