[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.

[chainedpromises]

Namine hadn't been busy, though mostly her company had been her new bunny. But during that time, she had made something for one of her best friends. Memory was the blonde's specialty, so of course she remembered her friend's birthday had come to pass.

So here she was attempting to find him, though thankfully her first guess was right. As she neared the ice cream shop, the familiar mess of blond came into view. She hid the seemingly square gift behind her back before calling him out, "Roxas!"

[coolerthansora]

"Namine!" Roxas said in surprise, smiling at what he assumed was a coincidence. "Are you here for ice cream?"

It worked out pretty well if she was, they could have some together.

[chainedpromises]

Namine matched his smile, "Something like that." She said, "I was actually looking for you."

[coolerthansora]

"You were?" Roxas thought for a second and arrived at the only logical conclusion. "I guess you wanna get ice cream together, huh?"

[chainedpromises]

Namine nodded, "I was." She concluded. Upon hearing his question she took a minute to think before nodding once more, "Maybe in a second, I have something to give you first."

[coolerthansora]

"You do?" He hadn't expected anyone to really remember, but at that remark he finally ventured, "You mean like a present?"

[chainedpromises]

"Of course it's a present." She said, her smile widening. From behind her back she pulled out what she had been hiding. It was wrapped nicely with a little bow on top, and in it contained a painting of their little group (Roxas, Axel, Sora, Kairi and herself) that she had done. "Happy Birthday Roxas. Sorry it's a little late though." She said, handing him the present.

[coolerthansora]

"That's okay," he said, shaking his head as he accepted the gift. "I would've had a hard time opening it on my birthday." Considering he hadn't had any hands at the time.

He opens the box to reveal the painting, and a smile spreads across his face. "It's all of us..."

[flared]

Well, Axel's week has certainly been eventful. From that last curse, events with Saix, to a whole slew of information about this entire bubble's fate he's not quite sure what to do with, his body and mind are completely frazzled and spent. Of course, Axel being Axel, he wants to do nothing more than stay in bed and sleep the thoughts away, leave them to mess around with tomorrow morning...

But he'll have to face the music at some point no matter what. He can't keep running away and ignoring what's blatantly there.

It's later in the afternoon when he decides to head out, however, in hopes that a nice walk will help ease his mind. He's dressed down today--having grown more accustomed to leaving his Organization uniform neatly tucked away into his closet--with a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt and pair of red sneakers. It's nothing fancy by any stretch of the word, but it's comfortable... and it feels like it suits him better than that old coat anyway.

Turning a corner, Axel looks up in time to spot a familiar face up ahead and after managing a little grin he walks up, hand raised in greeting. "Yo, Roxas. Hanging out all by yourself?"

[coolerthansora]

Roxas smiles as he catches sight of his best friend, back to himself again and in plain clothes instead of the coat. It's been happening more often lately, and though he's not sure why, he likes the change.

"Hi, Axel. I was- just thinking of calling you up."

[flared]

To be honest, Axel's not entirely sure why he's deviating away from his usual outfit more and more frequently now. Maybe it's because he believes he doesn't need it if he's not portaling around as often. Maybe it's because he as some affirmation now of who he really is. Whatever the reason, it feels good to leave the coat behind most days.

"Were you?" he asks as he stops in front of Roxas. "Don't you get enough of me at home?"

[coolerthansora]

"Not when you sleep all day." He says it teasingly, but then his grin softens and he goes on to explain, since Axel doesn't seem to remember.

"It was my birthday during the curse. I just wanted to celebrate a little. You know, before things get really crazy."

[flared]

"I do not sleep all day." Axel huffs at that with a roll of his eyes. But suddenly towards that next comment his eyes widen and he tenses up. Oh. Roxas' birthday. Hadn't he mentioned something about that not too long ago?

Shit! ... At least Axel has the right mind to hold himself back from saying that out loud.

"Ah-- Right!" Dammit and he didn't get him a present or anything. Geez, isn't he just the bestest of best friends? Rubbing his neck, Axel lets out a sheepish laugh. "S-so. Uh. Were you just planning a party for yourself or something?"

[coolerthansora]

Yeah. He definitely forgot. But, Roxas doesn't really mind. There's so much stuff going on, and Axel doesn't think of birthdays as that important anyway.

"A party seems like too much right now," he answers with a shrug. "I kind of like that idea you had of- doing the same thing we always do."

[flared]

Well, he doesn't think his own birthday is that spectacular, ok? Roxas' birthday is totally different and deserves special attention which he didn't give and now he feel like a jerk. Well. An even bigger jerk.

Lowering his hand, Axel tilts his head. "The same thing? You sure you don't wanna do something more special than that?"

[coolerthansora]

"I think it's special enough." It'll be with Axel after all, and that's always special to him no matter how much time they spend together. Besides, what else could they do together that would seem more special than their little tradition?

He reaches for Axel's arm to tug him towards the shop. "C'mon. We'll get some ice cream and then we can pick out a high place."