coexistent | ic contact;

[pool noodles would be the safest bet, probably.]

Yeah... There's a lot of people who know how to fight here, so there has to be stuff for practicing around somewhere.

Can we go now?

[ LOOK, SHE'S TAKING TO THE IDEA NOW. ]

[that's good! because it makes roxas feel like he had a good idea. that counts for something.]

Oh... yeah, sure. We don't have anything else to do right now anyway, right?

I don't think so... and this is more important! We can do anything else later!

[ It's easier to go out with company. ]

I still don't think there was anything to do.. but let's go, then.

[no use in wasting time when they can just go.]

Mm! [ She very nearly grabs his hand, but-- no, Mary, let's not give ourselves extra dokis. So she'll take a quick breath, and head for the door instead. ]

[crisis averted, though it's not as if he knows that there was a crisis to even avert. he's following a few steps behind.

and then he realizes that they should probably figure out where to go.]

So... the shopping district will probably have something, right?

I think so? I've never really looked for a weapon place, but one's gotta be somewhere.

[ With all the violent people they've got... ]

Yeah. I never looked either, but... a lot of people have them. I guess we'll just have to walk around until we find one.

[or they could probably CERESearch it, but roxas doesn't even think of that. oops.]

[ No one said they were the smartest kids ever... ]

That's fine! If we're both looking, I bet we'll find one in no time.

[nope, but they sure do try hard.]

Right! You can look on one side of the street, and I'll look on the other.

Okay!

[ She's taking this role very seriously, giving a start every time she sees something remotely weapon-like hanging out in a window.

Mary, those are kitchen knives.

And those are pool noodles. ]

[it's okay, roxas isn't much different. he's examining all the storefronts pretty carefully as they pass each one.

but!

eventually, they do find their way to the front of a sporting goods store that has all different sorts of equipment in the window. and then roxas spots something with potential.]

Whoa! Hey, Mary... Look at this. [he'll call her attention over to foam baseball bat in the window. it looks pretty harmless, but still sturdy.

and no dangerous blades, either. it's almost like having a keyblade? kind of?] Do you think that would work?

... I don't know if it'll be able to hurt anything.

[ But she's considering it. She doesn't really want to kill, here, but... ]

Well... it would be better to practice with something that you won't get hurt with, right?

[is that how it works? he doesn't have any experience with this kind of thing.]

I guess that's true... I think it'd be pretty silly if I got hurt trying to learn how to fight.

[ ... Or at least defend herself. ]

So I should get one?

Yeah, I think so. I can get one too... that might help a little.

[he has his keyblades, but he doesn't want to hurt her with them by accident.]

I'd like that! Maybe we could get one for Hiro, too. [ He can join in on the bonking. Look, she's going to need all the help she can get here. ]

For Hiro?

[he didn't event consider that. it's not a bad thing, even if he's hoping that it doesn't mean he has to try and teach two people. one is going to be difficult enough.

but it's hiro, and he's their friend. so leaving him out is not an option, especially if it's something mary wants to do.]

We could do that. I don't know if he'll want to... but it sounds like a good idea.

[ To be fair, Hiro would probably pick things up faster... Mary is likely going to be the problem student, sorry Roxas. ]

If not, then we'll have an extra bat, so it'll be okay.

[ SOMEHOW... but she's definitely taken to the idea, as she heads inside. ]

[she may end up being the problem student, but roxas is still going to be the problem teacher. he's not meant to be a sensei, okay.]

It could always be a backup... in case we lose it or something. [can they even do that? who knows.]

... I hope we don't, if they cost a lot, but I'll try to be careful.

I guess we won't know how much it costs unless we... try to buy them, huh.

[instead of standing outside the store like two clueless puppies.]

Then let's go!

[ ... By which I mean Mary will go in, someone will say hello, and she'll instantly duck behind Roxas. ]

[at least roxas is prepared for that. not that roxas really knows what to do with a three-headed alien with a different sports helmet on each head...

but whatever, it's fine. he'll just ask where the bats in the window are and get a kind point in the right direction. this isn't so hard at all...

look at roxas, getting slightly better at interacting with people.]

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