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February 2019

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So, you got my number memorized?

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[It's pretty clear that he's going through a storm of emotions currently, and some of that can be transferred through the link, but hearing Axel say that he's on his way causes some relief.

There's no real response, just a mental map showing where Roxas can be found. It's a wyvern farm on the edge of town, and Roxas has agreed to work in one of the barns. Mostly to have a place to stay that's away from people. He's hiding in a loft.]

[ Something is, without a doubt, off; but for a Nobody, the details are a little fuzzy. Regardless, that general uneasiness is enough to get Axel up and moving.

Only for for his best friend. Only for Roxas.

So it seems he's come here, practically to the ends of the world, to be surrounded by giant winged beasts. Makes Axel's trek look like a walk around the block by comparison. In such a big and unfamiliar place, he doesn't even know where the blond is hiding, at the moment. ]

Hey, Roxas!

[ He's come all this way; he's in no hurry to start searching the area. ]

[It's faint but Roxas does hear Axel call out. He moves almost automatically, getting up and making his way out of the barn where he'd been hiding. He eventually finds his way to Axel, attracting the attention of some of the wyverns, particularly one who starts to wander over. Roxas, however, doesn't seem to notice, his focus being on getting to Axel. He stops in front of his friend, looking tired and less than happy, but somewhat relieved to see him. The grass, typically is tying itself into knots.]

Hey. You found me.

Of course I did. Not like you made it hard. [ He taps his temple in symbolic gesture, but he's actually referring to something else rather than his catchphrase.

He'd expected resistance; for Roxas to insist that he needs to be alone, to handle things himself, and so on. No way could he have anticipated the response he'd received. Now that he's here, however, it makes sense. Roxas looks exhausted; much the same way Axel had after his own sleepless trip.

He's come all this way -- had plenty of time to think it over on the journey -- and still the redhead has no idea what to say about any of this. But rather than fumble for words, he goes about things in a way much more typical of him, tossing his head in gesture toward a wyvern. ]

Friend of yours?

Guess so, probably better than making you run around town.

[He shrugs and glances over at the wyvern, who leans over curiously with a small rumbly sound, as if he wants to be part of this.]

Yeah, sort of. Sora and I came here once before. He took a liking to me, let me ride him.

[ Any sort of attempt made to divert the Wyvern's attention is ignored by the beast, who instead treats it like a game and eventually Roxas gives up.]

[ He would have, though. He'd chased Roxas before, and Axel would have again, if he had to. No way was he just going to let his best friend go like that. (He's just a little attached.)

Especially when Roxas said he didn't know if he was okay.

But that's been avoided. Now there's only the matter of the curious beast rumbling and cozying up to the blond. Huh. Looks like someone else is a little attached, too. ]

You can ride these things?

Yeah. There's like, special gear and everything.

Of course the first time I did it, I didn't have those.

[It was really scary, not that he'll admit it. Sora's the only one who will know.]

[ Axel blinks for a moment. How did Roxas manage to stay on, then? He's about to ask, but there's a greater question in his mind.

He'd come here for sanctuary, hadn't he? Of course, the redhead can't directly pry into the details behind needing that reprieve; Roxas hadn't when the roles were reversed, and fair is fair. Nevertheless, Axel's inherent curiosity is a beast all its own to be tangled with -- and right now it's about as large and prominent as the one behind the blond.

His weight shifts on his hips again, arms outstretched. ]

So, why here?

[By holding on very, very tightly.

Roxas shrugs, kicking at the ground.]

Just, seemed like a good place. Out of the way, away from people. The owner of the ranch said I could work here for a bit, so I'll have something to distract me.

[ Distraction.

It's that word that spurs Axel's thoughts -- and thusly his curiosity -- all the more. Why does he need a distraction? It's obvious, and yet not. Obvious because they split up; but he did the splitting, right? And now, if he needs a distraction, well...

In all honesty, Axel's not terribly familiar with how relationships work; not the romantic ones, at least. But he can clearly recall that smile -- he's got it memorized by now -- and knows without a doubt that was true happiness on Roxas's face. So, why then would he be so quick to let her go and then just run off? It doesn't make sense to him.

But, the bottom line remains the same, and that is that something isn't quite right still in his best friend's world. And, to some extent or another, through some medium or another, when something is wrong with Roxas, something's wrong with Axel. That's enough reason to find him here. ]

Well, last I checked, I still don't qualify as a person. [ Said with a grin. ]

So, mind if I tag along?

[He isn't proud of what he did, but he knows it will probably be better in the long run. It doesn't change the fact that it hurts. It's just hard to put that feeling into words right now, or ever. That's never been one of Roxas's strengths.

He pauses for a moment, as if thinking, but it's not a thought he has to spend a long time on. The difference between now and last time is that his best friend is here. And if nothing else, he can rely on Axel.]

Yeah, it's fine. I'll just let the owner know and you might have to do some work.

[But Roxas does manage something of a smile.]

[ Meanwhile, Axel can't think of why Roxas would do what he's done. Did she no longer make him happy? Because he was before. Ah well. For the time being, Axel can only speculate. The important part is that he knows he should be here now, and he is. That much, in the end, is rewarded with a small smile.

Even if it's not as bright and as broad as it was in that picture, there's something about that expression nevertheless that makes it a sight for sore eyes. Enough, even, that the redhead somehow manages to skip over the 'do some work' part; at least at first. It hits him a moment later. ]

Wait a sec -- when did work enter the picture?

[ All said in jest, of course, if the way he gestures and grins broader say anything. ]

I'm not staying here for free.

[It's said, almost with a laugh.]

I gotta help out with them.

[ Welp. Axel did himself in on this one then, didn't he? Can't just turn back and leave Roxas where he stands now, all on account of having inadvertently signed himself up for some extra work.

Besides, this is where he should be, as that best friend. This is where he -- at least temporarily -- belongs.

Nevertheless, he sighs heavily and rubs at the back of his head in absentminded gesture. ]

And this'll help you in kind, huh?

Yeah, I think it will.

[if nothing else, it will allow him to balance his thoughts. Otherwise, he'd overload and he knows that's not a good thing. Even if he doesn't understand his emotions, he's learned to manage them.

Plus this place should allow him to hide from Alvin.]

[ Axel, meanwhile, is steeped in denial all the way around the aspect of his emotions. Sora and Squall claim he has them -- that he's feeling in earnest -- but the redhead's not yet so willing to believe that. It can't really be so simple as a piece of jewelry acting as an artificial heart. (Can it...?) So, if he's not yet ready to acknowledge what he's feeling, then surely management is out of the question entirely.

Roxas, meanwhile, is much more in touch with his emotions... but that's always been the case, hasn't it? Right from day seven on. He's always been the most human of them all.

Axel shrugs. He'd come here to help, and he'd meant that -- even if it means manual labor. ]

Alright then. [ He takes a couple steps closer, minding the look he gets from that overprotective Wyvern. ] What's today's mission?

Feeding, mostly. They eat a lot.

[The Wyvern croaks happily at the idea, snuffling through Roxas's hair before turning his attention to Axel. Mostly to sniff at him.]

It's still something I'm new at the though. The owner just showed me.

[ Oh yeah, they know that word -- just like Other Axel, back home. Funny how they seem to pick up on those things, but still somehow manage to conveniently misunderstand commands like “no”.

Still, an inquiry into sniffing gets an outstretched hand, palm-up in offering. ]

Well then. Looks like you’ll be the one showin’ me the ropes this time. [ There’s a prideful look on Axel’s face, despite that. ] Guess the tables have turned, huh?

Guess so. I'm not gonna let you slack off.

[He watches the wyvern closely, but all Tarn is doing is sniffing, trying to make sure this newcomer is safe. And also if he might have anything to eat.]

He's a friend, and he doesn't have anything for you.

[ Not gonna let him slack off? Well, there go Axel's big plans, ruined. Dashed to bits.

Roxas's words appear to warn to wyvern away some. He seems almost... disappointed? with the lack of goodies the taller Nobody has on his person, but it's to be expected. He's never even seen one, after all; unless Soya counted. (He really didn't, in contrast to this.) ]

What do these things eat, anyway?

[He's worked enough missions with Demyx that he's wary of those who would slack off.]

Mostly meat. Like, leftover cuts from the butcher and stuff like that. At least, that's what they're fed, but I think they'll eat almost anything.

You just have to make sure that the smaller ones get something, because the bigger ones will push forward.

[ A logical fear, given that if Axel and Demyx share one thing in common, it’s their penchant for laziness. (Though, of the two, Demyx is a bit worse about it; especially when one factors in the redhead’s willingness to go the extra mile for Roxas.)

It’s that willingness, in fact, that finds him here, where he’s apparently about to spend an undefined length of time pitching scraps of meat to winged beasts. The things he does for his best friend... ]

If they’re gonna fight over it, why not separate ‘em?

[ Maybe it’s a survival of the fittest thing, who knows? But they can always parse out where they feed, if need be, now that there’s two of them doing the job. ]

I dunno. I was just told that this was the feeding area.

And since there's usually one person doing the feeding, it's kind of easier to do it all at once. They'll listen, but only for a short time.

[Roxas shrugs. Thinking about it, separating them did seem like a good idea. Although he suspected the bigger ones like Tarn might push through anyway.]

[ Axel scoffs. He knows all-too-much about people who only listen for a short time, doesn’t he? ]

Surprised you even get that long.

[ There’s a snort at that -- and not from one of the Nobodies, either. ]

Now that there’ll be two of us, we can split up and feed ‘em in two spots, and let them sort out the rest.

[ And that’s that, in his mind. Axel folds his arms over his chest and shifts his weight. ]

So, when do we start?

Well, now, I guess, if you want. But I think they can also wait a bit.

[Tarn, however, is attempting his best puppy dog eyes to try and suggest that now is where his vote lies.]

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