purrtagonist | [scp r2: 13thpromise]

[WHEW. WHAT A DAY, RIGHT. . .]

[it's not like Akira to forget to follow up with someone when he says he will, but hey. things have been hectic, to say the least. and the events of this morning totally didn't help with that. but despite feeling anxious and on edge, Akira eventually finds himself knocking on Roxas's room door sometime in the afternoon]

Roxas, right? Are you there?

[ REALLY WAS...Roxas wasn't expecting what'd happen to actually happen, but that's where we are right about now. The blond hears the sound of knocking at his door, blinking a bit as he sat up in his bed, wondering who it was. But then he hurries over to open the door only when he recognizes the voice. ]

Yeah, I am.

Did you need something?

[ He opens the door some more. ]

[he's greeted by a two-fingered wave, with Akira's other hand resting idly in his pocket]

I never checked on you after last night.

[sheeeepish]

Sorry about that. . . how are you doing?

I didn't expect you to, so you don't need to apologize.

[ Said kind of bluntly, but he doesn't seem to mind...if anything he's more surprised at the idea. Before he answers the question, there is a noticeable hesitation. ]

I'm...fine, I think.

[ The way he says it sounds so awkward and kind of frustrated enough that he makes a face knowing that he covered that up badly. ]

You think?

[totally not fazed by Roxas's bluntness, honing in on the hesitancy that he displays when he answers instead]

I think it'd be understandable if you weren't.

[ Then at that moment his face kind of scrunches up as a million upsetting thoughts run through his head, all borne from being in this situation.

Then he takes a few steps back. ]

Can you...close the door behind you?

[ If they have to talk about this, Roxas isn't sure he wants anyone overhearing him when he's like this. When he feels like he did back in Twilight Town and then could only watch as he lost everything. ]

[Akira obliges with a nod of his head, and he steps into the room fully as the door swings shut behind him. he gives Roxas a curious look, head canted to the side, but doesn't say anything else just yet. he'll let Roxas guide the conversation; something is clearly on his mind]

[ He sits on the bed, hands in his lap, fingers close together. He doesn't even know what to say, and when he figures it out he doesn't even want to say anything at all. So Roxas almost just asks him to leave, but he decides against it as he begins talking. ]

I'm not fine, and I hate it. I hate this place, you do too, right? I'd never seen anything like that before and now...some of us are going to be targeting each other? For someone's sick entertainment?

How do we make it stop before Thursday night comes?

[ His voice breaks. If the price of freedom is being forced to play in something like this, he'd wish he'd stayed where he was before. ]

[quietly, evenly]

Of course I hate it.

[but despite the soft tones of his voice, his words are firm]

. . . we stop it by not playing along with their stupid game. And for those who might have reason to play along, there are some of us who'd be willing to step in and stop a potentially fatal situation.

[ Roxas looks at Akira for a moment as he speaks, as if searching for something in his expression, but also listening closely to his words.

He wants to put a stop to it, but he feels as if it's impossible. Like being in the Organization, but worse even if Xemnas basically had people kill one another too.

That being said, he'll still do his best to try to help, because it's better than just giving up. ]

...If they try to hurt anyone for not playing along, I'll make them regret it.

So will I.

[that's what Akira likes to hear, and a smile appears on his features. sharp and confident]

And that's the way we fight back against everything.

[ How does he stay so confident like that in a situation like this? Roxas can't understand it, but... he does look like he has conviction in his belief that they can escape. It's not just bravado, he can tell. ]

You sound like you're used to fighting back against near impossible odds.

[a sharp exhale and a pause, as Akira tries to decide exactly how he wants to answer that question. he doesn't want to give away too much-- you must be a level four friend to achieve his tragic backstory-- but. . .]

You could say that I am.

[that'll suffice for now]

[ It's clear Roxas wasn't expecting that sort of reaction, but then he figures it's reasonable. If someone were in a situation with high stakes before, it wasn't going to be one they'd gladly talk about.

He feels dumb for thinking otherwise and forgetting for a moment, though. A million questions pass through his mind even so, and his gaze turns downwards, eyes fixed first on his hands before the black floor in his room. ]

...Thanks for stopping by. You don't have to really stay around if you want to leave.

No. I'm okay with sticking around.

[Roxas really looks like he could use the company, and Akira came here for that specific reason. he's not going to leave immediately after receiving an answer to the question, "are you okay."]

If you have something on your mind, I'll listen. Don't feel compelled, but. . .

[shrugs]

[ He didn't know if Akira came out of a sense of obligation and honestly, he did like talking to Akira, but part of himself didn't know if the other wanted to still with how he was, on top of their situation.

In the end, he really doesn't mind if Akira stayed. ]

...I don't really.

[ Then he makes a face, knowing that it probably sounded like a bad lie. He doesn't really want to pry into Akira's personal life and he doesn't have anything he thinks he can put into words, but there's something else he's been wondering a little. ]

Why do you care so much about someone you don't even know?

[Akira huffs a laugh, shoulders rolling back into a shrug]

I'm not the kind of person who can ignore someone who's hurting. Whether I know them or not.

[ Roxas brings one of his legs closer to him, listening as Akira says that. It's warm and nice of him to say that and it's such a simple thought, but maybe not everything needed to be complicated.

He hopes he gets a chance to know him more. ]

You're really not a bad person at all.

[ ...Then he blinks. ]

Not that I thought you were, but it's been awhile since I could even talk like this to someone. Anyone.

[Akira doesn't really think of himself as a good person, but. . .]

Then I'm glad I could offer you the opportunity. It's the least I could do, considering--

[well. everything else about their shitty situation]

. . . you know.

...Yeah.

[ He smiles a little. ]

If things weren't like this, it might even be a nice way to spend a winter vacation.

[a huffed laugh, breathless and airy]

That's the spirit. Don't let this ruin ski resorts for you forever.

[ Hah...

His first time at a ski resort and already the experience is a -5 on Yelp (even if the rating doesn't exist.) ]

I don't know, if I get through all of this alive, I might just avoid any ski resorts on any world I'm traveling to, ever. And tell my friends to avoid them too.

If?

[Akira shakes his head, some of his determination reappearing on his features]

Don't think of it as an if. You will make it out alive.

Just so you can give every ski resort back home a bad name.

[ He blinks at that. ]

...You too.

[ Now that he's his own person again, he might have a chance to really do that. ]

And I'm sure Twilight Town doesn't have any ski resorts around, but there are plenty of other places I've been to that might.

[. . . this seems like a good conversational topic. something to distract them both from their current situation]

Oh yeah? To what kind of places have you been?

[ Apparently so, because he kind of...brightens up a little when Akira asks that? ]

A lot - there was the Castle [ Beast's Castle ], Agrabah, Olympus to name some... but you know what was the best place I went to? It was Neverland. It was when I was on a mission for the Organization, but...it wasn't all work. There were pirates, ships, and most importantly, there was this fairy there called Tinkle Bell. She could sprinkle magic dust on you and you'd be able to fly high up into the sky.

It was so cool!

[ ...part of him has already forgotten about a certain misunderstanding, but that's fine. ]

[it's fine!! Akira enjoys seeing Roxas's expression so lit up like this. it's a bright spot in an otherwise difficult situation]

It sounds pretty cool. But who wouldn't want to fly if given the opportunity?

[ He hardly gets the chance to talk about having fun doing anything, especially in a situation like this...so the distraction is really nice. ]

Someone who is a big, walking neon "no-fun" zone, that's who.

[ But while he's smiling a little in thought... ]

Hey Akira, is there something you want to do you haven't tried yet? [ ... ] Besides maybe flying.

[oh. now that's a question. it's one Akira hasn't really thought of before either, so he responds initially when a raised brow before his expression lapses into something more thoughtful]

Huh.

[hhhhhhuh]

I think. . . I'd like to travel the world some day.

By yourself? Or with friends?

[ He remembers making a promise awhile ago to see the beach with Axel (was there someone else? nah, couldn't be.) ]

With friends.

[obviously with friends]

It's better that way.

Doing everything with friends really is better.

[ ... ]

There's...someone I knew back home who was a good friend of mine. We made a promise to one day go and see this beach together. It kind of had a nice sunset like how Twilight Town did, and the weather was good too.

But, it didn't work out. A lot of things didn't work out, but I really do want to meet my friends again, at Twilight Town. Do those things I'd said I'd do about spreading bad rumors about ski resorts, and now, to try to see if I could fulfill that promise with Axel.

[ That got a little away from him, but he's still smiling, even if his eyes get a little misty. ]

...And it's nice to be able to think again that these things could actually happen.

[scp r2: 13thpromise]

week1, monday

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