[Day 541]

[coolerthansora]

Who: Roxas and you~
Where: Near the ice cream shop
When: Afternoon
Style: I'll match
Status: Open!

Another summer ended, another birthday spent in the wrong body. At least he was around friends this time, although he's not sure if any of them remembered. He might have forgotten himself if certain people didn't keep reminding him of his age.

Rationally, it doesn't seem like the time to celebrate anyway. The curse proved that the order to terminate the experiment hasn't gotten through yet, but how long is that going to last? He should be trying to think of a way to fight back or escape.

But it's only the second birthday he's ever had. Shouldn't he get to celebrate a little bit?

Roxas can be found hanging around the vicinity of the ice cream shop in indecision. Maybe he can just call some friends up for an ice cream party. Do people do ice cream parties? If not, it should totally be a thing.

Comments

[runbysmiles]

Sora hadn't forgotten, but when you were stuck as a young cat for a whole week it made getting presents rather difficult.

He was running around trying to find Roxas, when he spotted him near the ice cream shop.

"Roxas!" Sora shouted and ran up to the blond, sliding to a stop before he bowled him over.

"Finally! You're not easy to find sometimes!" Sora smiled. "Happy Birthday,Roxas!" He held out a small black and white checkered back with black and white tissue paper crammed haphazardly into the top.

"Hope you like it!"

It was a hasty gift, and maybe not as good as his other presents had been, but Sora knew Roxas's penchant for checkered things and he hoped the new wallet and the white knight ring would suit Roxas's fancy.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas turned in surprise at the shout, and a smile quickly spread across his face. He was about to suggest that the ice cream shop wasn't exactly an unusual place to find him when suddenly he was having a bag pushed at him.

"Ah- You remembered..." He took the bag, knowing he'd be happy with whatever was in it. He hadn't really expected anyone to be thinking about birthdays right now. "Thanks, Sora."

[runbysmiles]

It was as if Roxas was always at the ice cream shop. He could have been other places too!

"Of course I remembered! I just had a hard time getting away."

Being a cat had not been as easy as Sora had thought it would be.

"So, how's it feel? You're seventeen now!" And poor Sora would not get to see that age for himself, at least not with the way things were going in Vatheon.

[coolerthansora]

And apparently Sora checked all of those other places first.

"Getting away?" he wondered, but put the thought aside at Sora's next question.

"Seventeen... It feels like I should be sort of grown-up now." He looked down at himself and then straightened up, trying to look his most presentable. "What do you think?"

[runbysmiles]

A slow smile appeared on Sora's face. He put his hands on his hips for a moment and leaned in to peer at Roxas before walking around him as best he could.

"Hmm, I don't know." He paused back in front of Roxas and put a hand to his chin to think it over.

There was something a bit different about Roxas now, he actually looked a little taller lucky duck. His face was maybe a bit thinner too, some of the baby fat gone to the year.

But Sora wasn't going to mention that.

"Nope! You look like the same Roxas to me."

[coolerthansora]

"What?" His shoulders slumped a bit, but then he reached out to give Sora a little push. "You're just saying that 'cause you see me all the time. I bet I look more grown-up to someone who hasn't seen me in a while."

...he wondered if that meant his being seventeen now wouldn't mean anything to Axel either. Would he say it was just a number and he was still the same kid? It wasn't supposed to matter anyhow.

[runbysmiles]

Sora laughed at the shove. "Okay okay!"

He wrapped an arm easily around Roxas's shoulder. Was he actually a little taller than him now? It felt like it.

"I guess there's something different about you." Sora smiled. "How's it feel?"

[coolerthansora]

"It feels good. I've been me that much longer."

He smiled, leaning into Sora a little. "If we get through this, I think I'll get to be me for a lot more birthdays."

[runbysmiles]

"Yeah, we'll get through this." He squeezed Roxas's shoulder. "You just wait! Next year, you'll turn 18, and I'll be right behind you."

Sora wanted to mean it. Roxas deserved all the time he could be given.

[coolerthansora]

"Hey, you've gotta make it to 17 first," Roxas said, wanting to keep things light. "You can't just skip it."

[runbysmiles]

Sora laughed. "You sure? Maybe that way I can be the older brother!"

That was a nice thought, but he really didn't mind being the younger, it was nice.

[coolerthansora]

"You don't like being my little brother?"

He didn't think either of them would mind no matter who was 'older' or 'younger.' They were basically the same age in the end anyway.

[runbysmiles]

"I was just joking." Sora laughed again and shook Roxas's shoulder a bit. The urge to reach up and mess with Roxas's hair was strong, but he resisted.

"I like being your little brother."

[coolerthansora]

"Well, I like being your big brother for now. Maybe after a few years we can swap."

He flung his free arm around Sora and nodded towards the nearby shop. "You wanna get some ice cream?"

[runbysmiles]

"Sure thing!" Sora moved forward, easily stepping with Roxas towards the ice cream shop. He was already thinking about what flavor he'd get.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas wasn't thinking about flavors, because in his mind there was really only one. But as they approached the counter he realized this might not actually be the case for Sora, and he stopped himself before just ordering two of the same for them.

"What flavor are you getting?"

[runbysmiles]

"Mmm..." There were so many to choose from, but... "I guess sea-salt!"

Sora grinned. There was just something about sharing that particular kind of ice cream with Roxas that made it more special.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas grinned back at him. Not that there was really a wrong answer when it came to ice cream, but that was definitely the right one.

He turned back to the lady behind the counter. "Two sea-salt ice creams please!"

[runbysmiles]

Sora watched as the two scoops were rolled up and placed on their cones. He reached over for both, handing one to Roxas.

"Best kind of ice cream right?" Sora grinned as he took the first lick. "Mm! Sweet!"

[coolerthansora]

"It might as well be the only kind," Roxas said, taking his cone and turning to lead the way back outside. He hadn't tried very many other flavors, but he was sure it was the best.

[runbysmiles]

Sora laughed as they headed out. Sora had had his fair share, but overall he had to agree that sea-salt was a pretty good choice.

"I'm still surprised they had it here!"

[coolerthansora]

"Really? I'd be surprised if a place in the middle of the ocean didn't have sea-salt."

They were literally surrounded by the flavor's key ingredient, after all.

[runbysmiles]

"Yeah, but I lived on an island and we never had this stuff." He'd never tried it until Radiant Garden actually.

[coolerthansora]

Huh. Roxas had never thought of that.

"You don't think maybe they had it and you just never tried it?"

[runbysmiles]

"I don't think so. I don't remember ever seeing it."

Sora was pretty sure anyway.