[Day 1]

[coolerthansora]

Who: Roxas and whoever!
Where: Plaza
When: Late evening
Style: However
Status: Open!

The setting didn't seem unfamiliar at first: he was in some kind of alley and the sky was dark. He was sure he'd just been in a place like that. Maybe that was why, at first, he didn't realize the crucial change.

But he had trouble remembering what he'd been doing, moments ago. Why was he wet? His coat was sopping and heavy and--

And Sora didn't wear a black coat.

Roxas froze, forgetting to wonder about the circumstances for the moment, and stared down at his black-gloved hands. Sora wasn't with him; many of the memories were there, but Sora's presence, that person he'd felt himself slipping back into, was gone. He was Roxas again. Just Roxas.

If he didn't know any better, he'd say he felt a sudden surge of joy at that realization. Of course it wasn't real. Still, a tiny smile spread across his face as he stepped out into the plaza, baffled, slightly suspicious, but still glad.

"What the heck is this place...?"

Comments

[tsundyne]

Vatheon.

[Whoops, she heard you.

Yukari didn't think there'd be anyone out this late, but seeing the confused boy, she decides to approach, grabbing a towel on the way.

They're practically everywhere.]

Here...you might need this, for starters.

[coolerthansora]

Ah-

[Roxas gives a small start, not having expected a reply, and turns to look at her. Seeing the towel, his expression turns sheepish and he takes it hesitantly. Even if his hair is hardly drooping at all, he is pretty soaked, and starting to feel cold.]

...th-thanks.

[tsundyne]

[She notices the shiver. That's pretty normal, so she isn't too worried...it's a shame his nice big jacket is all soaked, though it might've helped otherwise.

But in any case, she's just kind of watching him.]

...Did you wanna go inside? You look cold.

[coolerthansora]

[He towels off his hair first, succeeding in making it stick up even more. At her question, he looks uncertain. Sure, he'd like to be warmer, but random girl walks up to him in a strange place?]

Um, where exactly is this? Besides the name, I mean.

[tsundyne]

[Yeah, yeah, it's kind of weird and sketch. But it's not like she's been hostile, right?

She can understand his concern though, and that's a pretty normal question.]

Well...we're under the ocean, for one. I don't really know where you came from, but unfortunately, you're stuck here like the rest of us now.

...My name's Yukari.

[Maybe her name would help.]

[coolerthansora]

The ocean?

[Roxas blinks, looks upwards towards what he had thought was the sky, and then down at his wet coat. Is he wet with... sea water? He nearly forgets to offer his name in return.]

Roxas.

How.. how did I get here?

[Because apparently it's a normal occurrence.]

[tsundyne]

[It sure is. There's an entire committee dedicated to welcoming new people like you, Roxas.]

It seems the big Coral at the center of the city brings us. [It's magic, you see. But she doesn't like to use that word unless she has to.

...It tends to set people off.]

...Pretty hard to believe, isn't it? But, well--here we are.

[sonlight]

[There's an equally soaking wet puppy sniffing at your coat, stranger. You may want to stop him, he looks like he's seriously considering chewing on the one zipper...]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas looks down, noticing the attention... and then the fact that this dog is soaking wet. This little guy isn't a native either? But-]

H-hey...! You can't eat that.

[sonlight]

Rrr? [No? But the material looks so chewy... Well, if you're sure, bro.

He lifts a paw and bats at the zipper instead, ears perking up at the clinking sound that follows.]

[coolerthansora]

It's- not really a toy either, you know.

[He bends down and stretches out a gloved hand towards the pup. That's what you do with animals, right?]

[sonlight]

[What's the point of having such a chewy, clinky coat if you can't do anything fun with it? :(

He hesitates at that hand, sensing Roxas' unsureness, then grins places his own paw in it. Handshake!]

[coolerthansora]

[That is... not exactly what he expected. He gives the paw a tentative shake.]

...you here on your own, too?

[messianic]

[The smile gets him a questioning glance from this protag, though Minato just ducks into the Welcoming Committee to grab a towel before approaching properly.]

Here...would you like a towel?

[...]

You look happy.

[coolerthansora]

[Oh. Yes. A towel would be helpful, random stranger.]

Er, thanks.

[He takes it gratefully and starts towelling off his already somewhat unruly hair. He looks surprised though at that last remark. This is not something people usually say to him.]

I do?

[messianic]

[He always aims to be helpful to random strangers. So he just nods, unruffled, tucking his hands into his pockets.]

Most people look a lot more upset to be here.

[coolerthansora]

Oh. Well.

[He frowns thoughtfully for a moment and then goes with:]

The last place I was in wasn't so great.

[He likes Sora okay, but if you have to compare between existing and not existing...]

[messianic]

[...ah, well. Minato won't pry yet, so he just nods.]

Then I'm glad you're here.

Do you have any questions about Vatheon?

[coolerthansora]

Yeah.

[The smile comes back for a moment before fading again.]

What- kind of place is it? If you're used to people just showing up...

[ex_heartening282]

With murder being passed off as a joke by the people who ran this place, Kairi didn't want to chance being out too long on her own. She still was pretty defenseless compared to her friends. But the surge of a familiar presence had her out of the house and on her way toward the direction in which she felt it. She had a hyperawareness as to the light and dark in others, and this was... a presence she'd not felt in a long while.

The redhead stopped short some distance away, a bit hesitant at first upon seeing the Sora-sized figure in that black coat. But the flash of blond hair and blue eyes was enough to garner a grin from the girl, and have her moving forward quickly with the blanket she'd grabbed from the couch. Riku's dog would likely miss it more than he would.

"Roxas? Is that you?" Just to be sure, she'd had to ask. Her grin stayed fixed upon her face. "It's so good to see you!"

Then, her grin faded some and she was back to business. Neither of them needed to be out too long with a murderer on the loose. Not that she thought he couldn't take care of himself, but... she didn't want him to get hurt.

"This is Vatheon. I can tell you more about it if you'll walk back with me."

[coolerthansora]

Roxas knew that voice; he'd never met her in person, but he knew it. Even better from Sora's memories.

He turned towards her in surprise. "Kairi?"

He certainly hadn't expected to see her here. Wasn't she supposed to be locked up in the Castle that Never Was? Then again, he was supposed to be with Sora. So, which one of them had more right to be here?

"What... Back with you where?"

[ex_heartening282]

He remembered! Kairi's smile warmed, and she moved forward to give him a brief hug in greeting. Then she took a step back, and nodded at him once. It'd been awhile since she'd last seen him, and she found herself happy that she was able to again.

"Yeah." She ran a hand through her hair, and then frowned.

"Where we're all staying. It's safer there." She did add quickly: "You don't need to stay there a long time, but there's been at least one murder here in the last few days."

It went without saying. In her own way, as defenseless as she currently was, Kairi was trying to protect someone she knew was important to her. Roxas could take care of himself, but it wouldn't stop her from worrying or trying to ensure his safety as best she could.

"We can catch up on the way, if you want to come with me."

[coolerthansora]

And then she was hugging him. Wow. Okay.

Feeling a little awkward about that, he almost missed what she said next.

"A- a murder?" he repeated, staring at her. In reality it wasn't like he'd never known anyone who'd been killed, but when it was other members of the Organization, no one ever called it that. You didn't kill someone who didn't fully exist, you just erased them. You certainly didn't murder them.

[ex_heartening282]

Kairi was like that; she didn't mean any harm by it.

Although it was new and a bit awkward for herself as well, for other reasons. She'd totally dismissed him during their first conversation, and she still felt terrible about it. Even if the need to regain her memory of Sora had been urgent at the time.

Here, maybe she could try making it up to him, once the murderers were caught. By being his friend. In any case... they hadn't yet been caught and so she was nodding gravely.

"On April Fool's Day, someone was murdered by the people who run this place. They thought it was a joke."

And her horror at hearing of that was in her eyes. "I know you don't know me, but you should be somewhere safe. I'm pretty sure nobody's going to mind you staying with us at least until this all blows over."

[coolerthansora]

If she'd asked she'd have learned that Roxas didn't bear her the slightest ill will for that. The connection had been so brief, why would she have used up the time on Roxas, someone she didn't know, instead of one of her best friends? The thought that it was anything to make up for had never crossed his mind.

He shook his head. "I know you." Sora knew her. "But who's 'us'?"

If Kairi was here, then Sora couldn't be far behind.