☼ 001 - [video]
[The feed clicks on and we can see an image of a man's face. His bright eyes are wide with something like curiosity, and he's kind of grinning as he turns the device in his hands with a low whistle.]
Man, this is way fancier than any equipment I ever got at work. It's the swankiest walkie-talkie I've ever seen! [He gives an amused laugh, then ( Read more... )
Man, this is way fancier than any equipment I ever got at work. It's the swankiest walkie-talkie I've ever seen! [He gives an amused laugh, then ( Read more... )
[He knew sooner or later this guy was going to show up. Sora's never been sure of anything- Axel's always been unpredictable. But to be honest, if this is the Axel he knows, he's glad to see the redhead.]
[But more importantly:]
Forget ice cream-- You've got two really important things to take care of first!
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S-Sora? [He just seems so... happy. Not that that's unusual, it seems to kind of be how the kid operates, but not so much when Organization members are involved. Oh, sure, he sacrificed himself to save his life, but shouldn't that evoke confusion rather than excitement to see him? Well, Axel never claimed to really get Sora.
[Well, he'll play along. Tapping his chin, he quirks his mouth and looks thoughtful.]
Think so? More important than ice cream?
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[Maybe Axel will do those two some good.]
I don't know, only your two best buds. They're here too, you know.
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[And then he gives him a slightly befuddled look and counts on one hand.] Roxas... [And... two? When did he get two best friends? Scratching his head, he presses his lips together. Maybe he means Naminé? Sure, he likes her just fine, but he didn't think they were close enough to count as best friends...]
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[When it gets to the best friend talk, Sora's expression perks right back up. Only... the pause between Roxas and Xion's name stretches on longer and longer. And it borders right on awkward by the time Sora speaks up.]
C'mon Axel... quit joking around.
You know who I'm talking about.
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N... Naminé? [Seriously, bro, what you talkin' 'bout, Willis?]
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Your best friend.
[A pause that's longer than it should be.]
Xion.
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So it's true, then, huh? [It's not really a question.] She said that, too, but.... [Axel isn't really one to talk about situations like this with other people, but he's pretty sure that nothing he says now could ever make him look goofier (or more vulnerable) than what he said as he lay dying with Sora peering down at him. Not exactly the classiest way to form any sort of bond with someone, but whatever works, he guesses.
[He just shakes his head.] I... I don't remember her. [And then he folds his arms and looks indignant.] And don't give me that Disappointed Hero look--I seriously honestly don't remember and it's actually kind of pissing me off.
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Oh... Right. Sorry. Guess I was just hoping things'd work out after you finally got here.
[He makes a note to give Xion a call later to make sure she's all right.]
So nothing came back? Even after you talked to her too?
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[Axel quirks his mouth then.] We were talking, yeah, and... it was weird. It's like she's there, but... not. Like... [He swirls one hand, like he could conjure the right words from the air.] Like going back to your home town after you haven't been there in a really long time. It's still familiar, even if you don't remember all the roads anymore. And you still kinda know where you're going even though all the buildings are different.
[A beat of silence and he suddenly looks awkward. Wait, why is he telling Sora this?]
Ah. Anyway. Got a migraine and some agita for my efforts, but I just can't quite remember. [And his face falls a bit, involuntarily.] I know I'm a jerk, but... this is jerky even for me.
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[Sora nods a part of him knows exactly what he was talking about. More than most, in fact.] Yeah... I know what you mean.
But... it's weird. This place likes to take away memories all the time. But it's always taken away memories of Siren's Port. Not of the stuff we remember back on our worlds.
Maybe something happened to you before you got here? [Well. Not the dying part. Ever wake up in a funny white pod, Axel?]
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[He gives Sora a half-incredulous look. Since you seemed happy to see him he has to assume you're here from some time after he died. That doesn't count as something happening?] You mean besides going out in a blaze of glory? Don't think so. [He puts a hand on his chin, then shakes his head.] Seems I lost a lot of time, though... I'm told I was here for a while, and then just up and disappeared a few months ago. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.
[He tilts his head a bit then.]
So... I gotta ask: what happened after I, you know... [Dismissive hand wave.] Did you do your hero thing and save the day? [He'd at least like to know he didn't die for nothing. Even if he apparently didn't die all the way.]
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[And you better believe he's awkwardly scratching his cheek at that whole 'dying' bit.]
You know... that's kinda like what happened to me, Donald and Goofy. We never even knew we'd been sleeping for an entire year, or even that we were missing any memories until people told us we did. And ever since I got to Siren's Port, I've run into a whole bunch of people I should know, but can't remember...
[And that last question. Well, that one he's definitely got an answer to.]
And Axel- Riku and me. We did the hero thing.
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[A grin spreads across his face then.]
Glad to hear it. 'Bout time someone took the chief down a notch, am I right? [And then he folds his arms and purses his lips.] Pity he's apparently here now.
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[And he crosses his arms at the mention of Xemnas.] Yeah. beating him once was plenty enough for me. But I'm not the only one who'd step in if he tried any funny business, so it's been pretty quiet so far.
[A pause. Axel wasn't exactly on good terms with the Organization back home- he can't imagine they'd magically patch up here and now.]
They haven't gone after you yet, have they?
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[He gives Sora a crooked grin then.] Mm, something tells me Xemnas hasn't gotten any better at making friends, despite the new PR angle he's apparently trying out. [And the smile shifts a little, colored with a twinge of surprise.] Who, me? Nahh~ they couldn't catch me if they tried. [And boy did they, back home...] I'm touched that you asked~ I'm wondering, though, if it might not be worth it to go after them. I have a bit of experience as a mole, you know.
[Weird as it is speaking freely to Sora of all people, Axel knows where his allegiances lie these days. While he's not about to wear a Good Guy Hat any time soon, he's definitely more inclined to be honest with the people standing on this side of the line in the sand. He doesn't want Xemnas and the others to wind up with their talons in anyone else he cares about, and he's willing to go to the frontlines if necessary to prevent it.]So how long have you been here, Spike? Got any useful ( ... )
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