exsilium | ☼ 003 [video]

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☼ 003 [video]

[Axel looks a bit haunted and haggard, like he hasn't slept in a few days and maybe was recently in a fight. Which wouldn't be incorrect assumptions, for that matter. He stares at the feed a moment like he's not sure what to say, then frowns.]

According to the date on my tablet, I've only been gone a little over a day. [A bitter laugh.] My, how much can change in a day.

[A brief pause and then he puts on a private filter.]
[Private to Riku]

We should talk. [His tone is severe, but not belligerent. You got some 'splainin' to do, Riku.]

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An alliance is a two-way street, Axel. Didn't exactly seem like you wanted to be allies, so I didn't try to be.

[ riku frowns, countering that stern look with honest confusion and disappointment. he was disappointed. he still is. but there was little to glean about axel actually wanting to be allies. sure, he hadn't outright attacked him, but if he thought everyone who didn't outright attack him was an ally, almost everyone in exsilium was an ally.

at axel's last few words, however, his eyes lower. because he does know that--does understand that, even if axel hasn't exactly told him that outright. it's a bitter pill to swallow. ]

I know what you want me to say. [ because there's only one thing he'd want to hear if he was talking about sora or kairi this way. ] But if I said that to you now, all I'd be doing is giving you false hope. I don't know or remember Xion, outside of this place, and I don't remember you talking about Xion in the way you talked about Roxas.

I can tell you, though, that me not remembering her doesn't mean anything. Sora doesn't remember Naminé, but he fought for her with his life. Maybe there's something going on in my memory that's made me forget Xion.

[ stern; ] Whatever you 'screwed up', you more than make up for it in the future.

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend', so they say, right? [His eyes flash with determination.] Look, if I learned anything from this little trip down Memory Lane, it's that I definitely don't want to be on the receiving end of your Keyblade, okay? I dunno why you don't remember Xion or what you did for her... [For her, not to her. He was angry at the time, didn't understand at the time, but after seeing her determination in front of the mansion, he knows it was never his choice to begin with. Taking her back to the castle had been a mistake, and he knows that now. Maybe he knew it all along. And maybe it was foolish to believe there was anything he could have done to save her, but it had seemed the better option.

[And now he regrets it. Maybe it would have been better for her to just return to Sora of her own volition. Instead, now she's in Xemnas' hands, and it's all his fault.

[What Riku says next strikes like a blast of cold air, though.]

I didn't...? [And slowly the pieces begin to come together. Xion was created from Sora's memories. If she was returned to Sora--or worse, destroyed by Xemnas' hand--those memories would have dispersed and logically been returned to Sora, if they weren't lost to the wind. His chats with Naminé in Castle Oblivion were few and far between, but he gleaned enough about her power and the fickleness of memory as a whole to know that if those memories were lost, could it not be that memories of her were lost as well?

[Had he forgotten her too? When the future plays out and he becomes whatever it is Riku seems to think he is, are his memories of Xion lost? Is she truly gone?

[A look of utter defeat crosses his face, but he quickly schools it away, shaking his head.]

While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I think there are some things you can never really atone for. [Like selling out your best friend and erasing all memories of her in the process? Yeah, way to go, asshole. No wonder Roxas walked away. No wonder all your friends leave you behind.]

[ riku stays quiet as axel talks, watching his expression change as he speaks, as he considers riku's words. it's axel's last sentence that really hits him in the chest; he even winces, looking down, hand on his chest. his mouth moves on its own. ]

I know the feeling.

[ good god, does he. ]

Look-- [ his voice takes on an almost softer approach. ] Whatever happened to our memories of her, unless she shows up here again, we'll be stuck running in circles, trying to guess.

[ a moment, and then, with a nod; ] I'll stick by you. I'd rather be allies than anything else.

Edited (damn html) 2013-04-21 01:55 (UTC)

[He looks up, frowning a bit as Riku sympathizes, but at the closing remark he sort of makes a squawking noise in the back of his throat.]

I--! Look, I was just saying-- [Harrumph.] I mean, you were the one who was so sure we were pals in the first place, it's not like I'm looking to pick out china patterns or anything. ~~Baaaaka.~~

[Tsun harder, bro.]

Edited 2013-04-21 03:15 (UTC)

Wow.

[ ~~it's like looking in a mirror.~~ ]

I was sure because you and Lea don't look that much different. I'm talking allies, not friends. [ smirking now. ] What, you want to be friends? That's a pretty big leap from, you know, having your arm broken.

I never said that; I just said that since we both think Xemnas is a hack we might as well be on the same side. Besides, I was talking about Xion, anyway. Not everything's about you.

[A brief stare and then he arches one eyebrow fiercely.]

All I'm asking is that if you decide you have to break my arm again in the future in a location you can't remember and for reasons you can't discern, at least break the other one so I heal symmetrically.

I promise.

If I want to break your arm again, I'll break the other one too. [ still a little bit of chuckling, though it's a little quieter.

... he really doesn't know what to tell axel and what not to tell him. his smile fades and he looks away from the feed with a frown. ]

... anyway. I meant what I said. I don't leave my allies hanging.

Don't get into trouble. [ tsun. ]

H-hey, wait, no, if you break them both that's still asymmetrical. You only get to break one.

--What the hell am I even talking ab-- You know what, this is just dumb now. Forget it, your arm-breaking privileges have been revoked indefinitely. [More harrumph.

[And then he makes a face not unlike the one in his icon.]

Trouble? Psh, I've had enough of that lately. Seems to follow me around, but I'll work on my evasive maneuvers.

[And that's as close to gratitude as this is gonna get. Tsuntsun.]

[ he rolls his eyes. ]

Let's hope you get better at them, because last time I checked, you couldn't even keep up with me.

Is that a challenge, short stuff? 'Cuz I'm willing to bet I can run circles around you--

[Hey, wait, he sees what you did there. All... distracting him and stuff. How's he supposed to be sad and mopey with you pestering him like this? Gosh.

[He stops short and scrubs at one eye with the heel of his hand.]

Well, maybe not right now. [And he sets the tablet down on the bedside table before flopping backward onto the bed, his hands folded behind his neck.] But I'll pencil you in sometime.

[ just as keikaku. ]

Like you have a busy schedule. --wait, you've got all those naps, I guess you might have to get me in between them.

[ snark snark snark

he raises a hand dismissively. ]

You need rest.

[He snorts a laugh.]

Sorry, naps still take priority, kid. You've gotta work for that sort of rank.

[And then he scoffs, sitting up to glower defiantly ~~and tiredly~~ at the feed.]

Don't tell me what I need. [He scowls, though it isn't directed at Riku.] Sleep is about the last thing on my mind right now, sheesh.

[ a snort. ]

Oh, sorry. I just thought they might help the bags under your eyes.

And I said between naps, genius. What else are you gonna do, anyway?

You let me worry about the bags under my eyes, hot shot. [/Tsuns harder.

[He shakes his head then, frowning a bit sullenly.]

I dunno what else I'm gonna do. [He's being surprisingly sincere, and kneads his forehead briefly.] Sleeping just isn't on the agenda for a while, I think. Not... not really, anyway.

[If he's honest with himself, a good night's sleep hasn't really been on the agenda for years, but even if he's honest with himself, he's not about to be that honest with Riku.]

[ he frowns a little at axel's sincereness; he's used to seeing that on a non-tattoo'd face. ugh. he needs to stop comparing them. ]

Maybe you should get a job.

[A job??]

[Riku. Riku pls.]

A job? Please. I'm enjoying the vacay~ I don't have to take anybody's icky orders anymore and you want me to give that up? You're dreamin'.

What vacation? We're in a war. You still follow orders here, they're just not every day.

And that's the vacation. I can handle putting my skills to good use for someone else's benefit once in a while, but why would I give up being able to loaf around like a lump the rest of the time when I get free housing anyway?

You 'good guys' and your work ethic.

You're one of those good guys, you know. [ grump. ] In time.

Enjoy your vacation while it lasts.

[This face. Srsly.]

Hey, now, change of 'heart' down the line or otherwise, I'm pretty sure my affinity for schlepping around and doing as little as possible for as long as I can get away with it is fundamentally ingrained in my character.

[ smiiiiirk ]

Until the fire gets lit from underneath you. From what I remember, you were working real hard.

[He folds his arms and gives him a very stern look.]

Hey, if I'm working hard, then I'm sure it's for a really good reason. But I'm just as sure that punching a cash register around this funhouse? Ain't a really good reason. [And he leans back again, assuming his usual lounging posture.] So until such time as a really good reason presents itself? I for one plan on continuing to schlep.

[ eyeroll. ]

I can't stand staying still. You've got some talent, there.

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