2 --> Switch

[croceamors]

Who: A very confused Not-Axel and Roxas
When: The early morning
Where: Axel and Roxas' apartments
Style: Whatever
Status: Closed

On normal days, Saix woke up early anyway. It was habit no matter how dark it was in the bubble. When you had spent ten years in a world that didn't change from eternal night, you learned to wake up on time instead of hoping the sun's rays would wake you.

But it's not habit that wakes him up this morning. It's the feeling of something missing, for one thing, a familiar warmth wiggling against his side and wagging its tail. There's something else, a twist in his chest, something that makes his lungs feel tight. It's all enough to make him rouse himself from sleep, pushing himself up in bed and pressing a hand to his chest. Still sleepy, it takes him a moment to realize that this is not his room.

Saix jerks back in alarm- more alarm than he thought himself capable of- and a burst of flame suddenly manifests on the end of his bed, eating up the sheets. Cursing under his breath, Saix stumbles out from the sheets. Why he's not in his house, why this room is so painfully familiar, why his chest feels weird, and why he feels so gangly- those are all questions for later. Right now, he has to concentrate on putting out this fire.

Roxas might notice a commotion in the next room, and he'll likely find "Axel" trying to smother the flames with wet towels.

Comments

[coolerthansora]

Roxas would try to talk sense into Saix because seriously, if he wants to get inside that badly, that's what portals are for. But luckily Axel opens the door to let them in.

"...hey, Axel," he says, feeling about as weird addressing Saix's body that way. He steps inside, but looks back at Saix with a frown.

"You could've just said. This whole bodyswap thing happened before." He didn't have to try pretending to be Axel. And in retrospect, it seems like a really weird thing for Saix to do. What was he thinking?

[goddammitaxel]

If he were normal, Saix would definitely have just used a portal. But.. There's somehow more satisfaction in just violently hitting something. It could be argued that he's always been like that. It's never been to this degree, however. Wincing only slightly at the sound of his door slamming into the wall, Saix adjusts his coat. He snorts at Roxas' question. "I sincerely apologize for not being an all-knowing individual with information on what curses have happened before, Roxas."

That sure is some laid on thick sarcasm right there. Pretty unusual too, although maybe not too unusual. Just pretty.

Following Axel inside, he eyes that braid pretty heavily. He's already messing around with his appearance, he can't even... "You haven't touched anything in my house, have you?" It comes out as a snapped out question instead of a simply factual accusation. What's wrong with him today?

[linefais]

Upon hearing that Axel pauses in his step then looks halfway over his shoulder with the world's sassiest face, eyebrow raised in challenge. He won't respond to that... and instead will look over to his right where the nearest wall is. Yup. Looks like he sure did just poke that wall then keep on walking.

Dude, shut your face. He'll touch whatever he wants to touch in here.

[coolerthansora]

This day is going to involve a lot of glaring and snapping, isn't it. Hopefully they have sense enough not to try to fight each other when they don't have a handle on their powers.

"He's probably touched less than you," Roxas points out, rolling his eyes. Then, as an explanation to Axel, he goes on, "He kind of freaked out when he woke up and burned your sheets. I think the mattress is okay though."

[goddammitaxel]

"Be quiet." For some reason, his face feels like it's heating up- wait, dammit, he remembers this from horribly awkward teenage years. Fighting back a huff, Saix jerks his hood over his head to hide the blushing. Everything is horrible right now. "It's not my fault he has an aggravating and unpredictable element. Did you feed my dog?"

He doubts it, knowing how Axel is, but still. Maybe miracles have happened today.

[linefais]

Axel goes over to try and take a seat on the couch, but when he hears that from Roxas Axel's calm suddenly breaks and he glares over his shoulder, his eyes turning an unnatural shade of bright amber. For a while his pupils even disappear and the scar between his eyes stretches, the edges deepening and sharpening, but with some deep breathing and a moment to compose himself, which proves so much harder than he thought, Axel brings a hand to his head and blinks a few times to settle down.

"... Of course I did," he grumbles, shaking his head. "Make a note, Roxas: he owes me new sheets."

[coolerthansora]

...even for it being Saix, he's still acting pretty weird in Axel's body. What's with the hood?

He's more concerned about Axel himself, though. That was starting to look like Saix's berserker form. "Yeah, I'll- remember that. Are you okay?"

[goddammitaxel]

Without even thinking about it, Saix tries to summon Lunatic to his hands out of impulse. What comes instead is a whirl of fire and the feel of a chakram. He grits his teeth. Right, that was foolish. Still, it's better than nothing at all.

"Try to calm yourself down, it should be easy enough. The moon is going to fully set anyway and you'll find it more of a strain to reach for it."

[linefais]

He waves a hand at them, dismissive. "I'm fine." It's just... new, feeling this way. Or not feeling. He's not even sure anymore. Back to semi-normal, Axel goes ahead and flops down on the couch, definitely more slouchy and casual than Saïx usually would sit, with one legs spread out on the cushions and elbow propped up on the arm rest so he can support his head.

"Put that away. You don't even know how to use it," he mutters towards Saïx, referring to his chakram.

[coolerthansora]

"It's not gonna help anybody calm down either," Roxas points out, eyeing the chakram in Saix!Axel's hand.

He goes over to join Axel on the couch though, wordlessly moving that leg out of the way so there's room for him to sit down. He keeps having to repeat in his head who's who, but at least Axel's movements while he's in Saix's body are still familiar.

[goddammitaxel]

"I can manage it well enough," he scoffs, "and I'm not putting it away until I'm certain you can handle my powers." If this were anyone else, Saix might give an offhanded warning about going up onto the island at night as well. The moon is a powerful thing, at least for him. However, this is Axel, and he's less inclined to warn him about anything, other than that which might wreck his things or cause inconvenience for himself.

Glaring at the two of them, Saix goes to crouch down by his dog to look over him just to give him something to do. Fortunately, New Moon seems to warm up now that there's less glaring and kicking and such, so he deals with it quite happily. Pets, please, yessss there we go, right behind the ears, good master-not-master person. "How long have you been up?"

[linefais]

"If you set something on fire or cut my body anywhere, I'm not gonna let you live it down." Axel makes room for Roxas on the couch, tugging his leg toward his chest. He wants to laugh because maybe it'll lighten up his mood, he even tries to... but it just sounds and feels weird to him. Frowning, Axel looks away from both of them, realizing that he's not entirely comfortable being in either's company. Sure, Roxas is his friend, his best friend– But right now he can't help but feel so disconnected.

"... An hour. Maybe a little longer than that," he mutters, still not facing either of them.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas tries to catch Axel's gaze, to see if he's really okay, but Axel won't look at him. Maybe when Saix isn't around and it's just the two of them. Speaking of which, why are they all hanging around in Saix's living room? He's pretty sure Saix wants nothing to do with either of them, unless he's just trying to keep an eye on his body. Roxas isn't keen on the idea of staying any longer than necessary either.

"Do you guys just- need to give each other some pointers and then we'll go?"

[goddammitaxel]

It's weird to hear his own voice- well, weird in general. But when Axel tries to laugh, there's just something so wrong about it that Saix feels a shudder go up his spine. Is that what he sounds like? That's decided, he's never laughing again. Should be easy considering he hardly does in the first place.

Maybe he really should start giving Roxas more credit than he previously did. The boy has grown up to be surprisingly more competent than when he was with the Organization. He raises up a good point. Saix really would want some time to himself. But what is there to tell besides "Don't give into the Moon's influence so easily"? With the chakram set to the side and one hand still nestled in his dog's fur, Saix raises up a hand to rub at his chest.

"I think there's something wrong with your body." That would explain it, right? Axel doesn't exactly take care of himself beyond hair care products. Maybe eating all that ice cream has taken it's toll for all he knows.

[linefais]

Axel can sense the tension in the air and he can tell even before Roxas speaks that he wants to get out of here as soon as humanly possible, which, as awkward as it is, is still a relief to some degree because even in this body he can still understand his best friend. He may not look it right now, at least not entirely, but Axel really doesn't appreciate not being himself, especially when he feels like this.

No disrespect, but... there's something wrong with Saix's body too. He just can't put a finger on what the hell it is. Whatever it is, it's wearing him down.

Distracted by both of their voices, Axel finally looks over. "There's something wrong with yours, too," he huffs. "... You still seem to be the same though, Roxas."

[coolerthansora]

Roxas would have been worried by Saix's remark, but together with that gesture, it hits him differently. Motioning to his heart like that, like there's something there that he's not used to? Maybe Roxas is jumping to conclusions. Axel seems to have missed it.

"It- skipped me this time," he confirms distractedly, looking back and forth between the two of them. "Does it- seem like you're feeling things more than usual? Or- not as easy..."

As the case may be. He remembers what it was like to have Vanitas's incomplete heart, and what it was like when a curse had given him a heart of his own. He touches his own chest, reflexively.

[goddammitaxel]

Axel's comment doesn't seem to strike home as much as it seems to connect in Roxas' mind. Saix just gives a dismissive wave of his hand. "You're not used to a connection with the moon like I am. I'm already sure it's a much different connection than what you have with fire. If we had someone such as Zexion or Luxord here, I'm sure they too would connect differently with their respective attributes." Actually, that's something to consider on his end too. He never thought, beyond himself, how their elements affected them. Saix rubs at his chin thoughtfully. It's a reassuring theory he'll have to look into more.

With that taken care of, he starts to stand up, ready to get the two out of his house so that he can take care of things. Axel's question is something he'd normally ignore, but Roxas'... seems a bit stranger. Saix frowns again, not sure what to make of it.

"I feel sick, and that's all." It's true. There's a strange kind of... clench in his stomach to mirror the one in his chest. Ugh, Axel's stupid poor eating habits are going to be the death of him if he avoids being murdered for that long...

[linefais]

Axel scoffs then at an attempt to be playful with the kid he tries to nudge him in the side with his boot. ... Yeah, this is still really weird. "Lucky you. But I bet even if you were affected, anyone else's body would be better than this." And at that he glances back over to Saix in time to hear him speak. No, that's not it at all. Sure, he can feel a pull from inside of him, probably from the affects of the moon which has probably just set for the morning, but there's something else too. Something... which shouldn't be here. Maybe he's over thinking it and maybe he just hasn't gotten used to this body yet, but it still nags at him.

What's wrong?

"... What d'you mean by that, Roxas?" Feeling things more than usual. --Surely not. Right?

[coolerthansora]

He can't help giving Axel a skeptical look for that first remark. "You forget who I got stuck with before?" Whatever it feels like in Saix's body, at least he doesn't have to worry about creating Unversed.

Once Roxas takes a moment to collect his thoughts, it doesn't surprise him that neither of them seem to grasp what he's getting at. They've both bought into the idea that Nobodies can't feel, so why would they come to that conclusion? And maybe it is the wrong one, only he's certain that Axel can feel just as much as he can, while Saix... Well, Saix has never even pretended, has he?

"I mean..." He hesitates. Probably neither of them is going to believe him, but if he doesn't suggest it, then they're never going to confirm whether he's right. "I mean, maybe it's like- switching from a body that's got a heart, to one that doesn't."

[goddammitaxel]

What.

Saix just stares at Roxas, his mind drawing a blank on how to respond for a brief second. Finally, he finds his mind putting together a reply. "That doesn't make sense." Even as he says it, a slight burst of fire happens near him and he curses, quick swatting it out as the dog scrambles away a bit.

[linefais]

Oh. Right, Roxas had been a part of Vanitas' body that one time, leaving Axel to deal with Vanitas in their apartment. It's almost funny that this time around Axel's the one being affected. Maybe it's karma for something.

He's silent, staring at the space on the couch between himself and Roxas, before he hears that suggestion and glances up abruptly, a bit of surprise on his face. For once he might be agreeing with Saix, because there's just no way that either of them have a heart to speak of... but then he remembers that Roxas just happens to have a knack for this sort of thing. He's Sora's Other, he's been connected with him before; he would know how it properly feels somehow.

... Could that explain- A bit startled by the sound of fire crackling, Axel straightens then sighs roughly. Great, now he's lost his train of thought completely. "It can't be that hard to get a hold of my fire," he mutters under his breath.

[coolerthansora]

Roxas gives a start, too, at the burst of fire, but this one goes out quicker, and it seems like added proof. "You keep freaking out- 'cause you can't help it, right?" Right? Saix has been a lot more expressive than he would have expected.

"I can't explain why. I just know that- how I am now doesn't feel as different from having a heart as it used to. I think- Axel's the same." He shifts uncomfortably, because it's never easy trying to express his suspicions to anyone, and explaining it to Saix of all people... He's never put it into so many words with Axel either, and now he gives his friend a hesitant glance. He didn't say Roxas was wrong.

[goddammitaxel]

"Shut up," is his immediate response, growled out and frustrated. The fire is just so- reactive, responding to every little bit of him it seems like. Calling upon the moon is nothing like this. "We'll see how well you fair yourself when tonight comes calling." It won't be a particularly pleasant experience, he knows that for a fact. The moon is waning, and a new moon will be up by the middle of the week. Then when it starts to wax again... He knows he's always felt more on edge on the phases presiding the full moon. It'll bring him some small bit of pleasure to see Axel have to deal with that, having no experience. Before he can even think of snapping any of this out, however, Roxas is speaking again and...

And he's uncomfortably right. It's like constantly being on edge, waiting for a moon to rise to smooth everything out again, only worse in some way because it all feels too explosive. Saix doesn't respond, only adjusting his hood and looking away. It doesn't make any sense... When would Axel have gotten his heart back? How would either of them missed that?

[linefais]

Axel scowls when Saix snaps back at him but then his expression turns to one of of deep curiosity at the mentioning of tonight. If he thinks that he's having a hard time keeping his cool right now, when Axel can only imagine what's going to happen to him when the moon is high in the sky. And what about the phases? Those play a big factor too, don't they? Just thinking about it makes his head hurt, but at least Axel knows that he shouldn't be around anyone for as long as this curse lasts, at least not until he's certain he can control himself... which he doubts.

Furthermore, what Roxas is saying... bothers him. It makes him feel uneasy, uncomfortable, so much so that he starts to tighten his fingers into loose fists. It can't be possible. He couldn't have had his heart this whole time... could he? But there's no denying that while he was still in his body, Axel had felt bits and pieces of something here and there. Happiness, despair, anger--

Are those more than memories?

After a while he looks over to meet Roxas' glance. "... But I'm a Nobody," he mutters. "And you're a special case, right? We can't be the same." Now he's just going through denial, plain and simple. Now Axel has to look at his own chest and place a hand right over where Saix's heart would be. But there's nothing. Not even the slightest bit of something.

Suddenly, Axel seems to fly into a panic, because it's finally hitting him that he's not feeling anymore. He's that empty shell again, the one that can't laugh or cry or anything. And something keeps tugging at him but he can't figure out what but he wants to get away if only he could--! Axel abruptly stands from his seat so he can summon open a Corridor of Darkness. He should get out of here, shelter himself in the Darkness, before he ends up hurting someone.

[coolerthansora]

Saix's lack of reply and Axel's uncomfortable pause... They can't dismiss what he's saying so easily, can they? Roxas doesn't mean to suggest that he and Axel have gotten their hearts back. He knows his heart is with Sora, so he doesn't see how that could have happened. He just believes there's something else, some other way they've found to feel again. Maybe not quite as well--he can't be sure without being able to compare the sensation again--but well enough.

"Not that special," he says. They're all Nobodies, and really, it was Demyx who figured this out first. He's just starting to relax a bit when suddenly Axel is standing to go. Roxas hurriedly stands, too, not sure what's going on. He's used to Axel trying to avoid uncomfortable conversations, but not quite so... abruptly.

"Axel?"