1 --> Arrival

[croceamors]

Who: Saix and anyone
Where: The Plaza
When: The middle of the night
Status: Open
Style: I'll match

He'd been in the process of dying. Saix knows that much.

His mind doesn't usually fool him, not in that sort of way at the very least. Everything had been too vivid to be some sort of- dream. He had been fighting the Keyblade Wielder. He had failed. He'd been on his knees, wondering how everything had gone so wrong... And now he's here. His brain just can't understand it.

Then again, that might be because of the blood loss.

Anyone passing through at this bizarre time of night who catches sight of him should be able see the signs. Even seated on the edge of the fountain like he is, shoulders hunched, it's clear he's trembling just slightly. His skin is far too pale, and his breathing is just a bit too quick. Even if he wasn't covered in salt water, his skin would be clammy. There's also the fact that strange shadowy wisps seem to be slipping from his body. They're very faint, however, nowhere as severe as they had been before he had been brought here. A slight relief. He doesn't even seem aware of the black little SFC or the shirt it's settled on besides him.

He'd seem a lot more vulnerable if not for the enormous claymore balanced between his legs, handle leaning against his thigh and the blade against the pavement. It takes a lot of strength to wield something like that...

Approach and hope for the best, or steer clear?

Comments

[coolerthansora]

Roxas usually isn't out this late, but every now and then he has trouble sleeping. Not too long ago, he might have considered sneaking into Axel's room, but that's definitely not an option now.

When he spots the figure by the fountain, he almost doesn't believe it's real. He forgot it was getting this late in the month, and at first he thinks it has something to do with Vatheon's curses, except everyone already knows what the curse is this week, and it has nothing to do with seeing things that aren't there.

Of all the people to show up... At least it isn't Xemnas.

He just stands there for a long moment, debating whether to approach or to ignore him. He never liked Saix, and to the other, he's a traitor. But they were allies once, and finally the trembling and the other signs get him to walk closer, though he stays well out of range of the claymore.

"...you're fading."

[croceamors]

Staying out of Claymore range is quite a good idea, because something in Saix seems to be on autopilot for now. At the sound of that traitor's voice, the grip on Lunatic tightens and he suddenly swings it out around him just in case. Weak, but still enough energy in him to try to kill the first person who approaches him.

In his defense, from his point of view, that very same person in a way was just fighting against him.

Once his vision clears and he realizes that Roxas is not nearly close enough to be skewered, Saix forces his body up onto his feet. The claymore is dug into the ground to keep him steady. He doesn't want to seem weak, after all, even if it's a bit impossible not to right now.

"Yes." His eyes narrow at the other Nobody. "You should know."

[coolerthansora]

Roxas takes another few steps back at the swing, but aside from narrowing his eyes right back, he doesn't make any threatening motions.

Fading wasn't like this for him, of course, but he does know. He watched it happen to Axel.

What would Axel think of Saix being here? Back in the Organization, he didn't seem to like Saix any more than the rest of them did, and yet, didn't their Others used to be friends?

"You don't- have to, you know. Not here."

[croceamors]

What a strange statement to make. Saix isn't sure what to make of it, jaw set as he watches Roxas carefully. It's far too vague. He isn't in the mood to be guessing.

"I don't have to what."

[coolerthansora]

Saix must not be following this conversation very well since he's dying and all.

"Fade away." He shifts uncomfortably and glances towards the coral. "You can get healed."

[croceamors]

Yes, that does tend to put a damper on one's ability to think through conversations.

"I doubt you are offering." Still, he manages to follow that gaze a moment later. A little belated, but it happens. The connection sparks in his head a little after that. "What does it do?" There's also the question of 'why do you care', but he doesn't ask that just yet.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas hesitates again before answering, because does he really want to do this? But then, it's not like anyone can really die here. If he doesn't, the coral will probably just bring Saix back anyway, and they'll still have to deal with him. Maybe he'll take this for a peace offering.

"It'll heal you if you touch it. I- hear it takes a lot out of you, but you'll be all right."

[croceamors]

There's a healthy dose of suspicion at how helpful Roxas is being. However, he's too numb and tired to really 'care'. How can the situation get any worse? Kingdom Hearts may as well be done for. He's in no state to fight either way, careless swings with Lunatic not withstanding.

There's nothing left to lose.

That last thought might be the one that finally gets him to drag himself over to the coral, taking a deep breath to steady his hand before he presses his palm firmly down. The feeling is bizarre, and it turns out that Roxas really is telling the truth. There's that faint feeling of being drained, but, at the same time, losing the feelings of pain that had been spread all throughout his body. As the seconds pass, the tendrils of darkness begin to fade away completely.

He's not on the verge of fading away, at least, but Saix can tell he's still not stable enough to go toe to toe with Roxas yet. Especially not after his last battle with a keyblade wielder, his 'Other'. Still, he keeps Lunatic out just in case and flexes the fingers in his other hand. His gaze is still focused on Roxas, however.

Since the boy is feeling so generous, he may as well take advantage of that. "Where am I?"

[coolerthansora]

Watching Saix recover from the brink of death, he doesn't exactly feel any relief. He's still wondering if he should have just left him, and he keeps a wary distance, in case Saix decides he's feeling up to a fight now.

"It's called Vatheon," he answers, but he's not feeling so generous as to offer up the whole spiel newcomers usually need about the place. "The Welcoming Committee can tell you all about it. But- you should know there's no Organization here. No Heartless, no Kingdom Hearts. Whatever you guys were after, you're not gonna find it here."

He wonders if Saix even knows how to do anything else that's not following that plan. It's hard to imagine him trying to lead any other kind of life.

[croceamors]

"I imagine they wouldn't be regardless, considering the vast majority of the members are dead." Get with the program, Roxas, jeez. The fact that there's no Heartless is something that's a little more interesting. Considering how widespread that sort of problem is, it's fascinating to think of a world that isn't Disney Castle without its share of Heartless attacks.

Trying to figure out what to do really is something he's not quite sure about. It's not something he particularly wants to think about. Right now, it's all about taking one step at a time. He's just recovered from dying; he'd rather not go at it again so he'll stay... as polite as he can be.

Which really just means no insults or attempts at murder, which is the best Roxas is going to get right now.

"Why did you help me?"

[coolerthansora]

While Roxas is aware the Organization was defeated, he doesn't have Sora's memories of how it happened. And what Saix really doesn't know is, of course, that being dead doesn't mean people can't exist here. Apparently he hasn't stopped to wonder yet about Roxas's own presence here despite having faded away himself.

"You and Axel... used to be friends, right?" He frowns, because that's not exactly right. "Your Others were, I mean, but you remember it. And people can change."

The reason sounds too trusting, like something Sora would say. He doesn't honestly expect anything good to come of Saix being here, and least of all for Axel. He doesn't think Saix has any interest in changing. But on the off chance that he's wrong...

"I'm giving you a chance, that's all."

[croceamors]

Roxas was always a... special case, if he could be called that. Saix knows that he was absorbed back into Sora, of course. Yet strange things have always been connected to the keyblade wielder, including the very presence of his Nobody. More odd events, including Roxas appearing again, aren't so surprising in hindsight.

Give him a little longer to explore, and run into Axel, maybe read the brochure for once. Then he'll think on it.

Speaking of... At the mention of Axel, the hand he'd been flexing tightens up again before Saix lets it fall back to his side. His expression doesn't waver. "That was a very long time ago." Lunatic is finally dismissed, and he reaches to pull his hood up. "Things do change. You should realize that they aren't always for the better." He opens up a Corridor of Darkness, relieved to know that he still has the strength to do that but not showing it. He's not expecting to escape easily... but he just needs somewhere private to lick his wounds.

[coolerthansora]

"I know that." Don't take him for an optimist, Saix. Roxas expects most things to go badly for himself.

"This one's up to you, though." As far as Roxas is concerned, it's Saix's choice whether or not he changes. If he decides to keep being a total jerk, which is most likely, then Roxas won't be so accommodating in the future. But he's got to let him make that decision first.

He makes no move to follow. It's not like he exactly wants the other's company. But he'll probably be headed home after this, just to make sure he doesn't try paying Axel a visit there.