eventuallea | [ empatheias ] IC Inbox

February 2019

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So, you got my number memorized?

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[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.]

[ This wyvern in particular clearly has a preference, yes -- both for food, and for Roxas, apparently.

But Axel's preference is still procrastination above much else. ]

Well then, wanna show me around?

Sure, if you want.

[He looks around, trying to find a place to start.]

That's the barn...I've been staying in there.

[ Whether or not the Grand Tour is important is essentially up to Roxas. All Axel knows is that he's not leaving until his best friend seems ready for that. And given Roxas's behaviors thus far -- first, asking him to stay, to live with him, and then their conversation after the redhead's run from home -- the taller Nobody can't begin to estimate how long from now that'll be.

May as well get to know the lay of the land. ]

Sleepin' in a barn, huh? [ His head shakes some. ] Can't say I saw that coming.

[ But, if that's where they end up, then that's where they end up -- right now, the important part is that they're together, no matter where. ]

It's not that bad actually. It's more of a storage area so I don't have to worry about sharing it with the Wyverns.

[He shrugs, heading over towards it.]

It's actually kinda fun.

[ Roxas’s definitions of ‘fun’ keep getting weirder, don’t they...

But, to the blond’s back, Axel will find himself unwittingly donning a smirk that melts into a fond smile after a moment, despite himself. Huffing out a small sound of amusement, he pursues, easily catching up with his longer strides. ]

Yeah, as fun as sleeping on a bale of hay can be. Right...

[ Clearly, he’s got some preconceived notions about the concept of sleeping in a barn loft. The things he does for this friendship. (Sora would be so proud.) ]

[New experiences man. He'd never slept in a barn before.]

There's a mattress in there to.

[ Someone needs to remind Roxas that not all new experiences need to be, well, experienced: Sleeping in a barn; taking a sword to the gut -- things like that! ]

Wait -- a mattress?

[ Guess who's gonna be rollin' in the hay. ]

[Roxas might argue otherwise, except for the sword to the gut.]

The owner's not making me sleep on the floor or anything.

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