ic contact;

[coexistent]

"I'm not around, so... leave a message, I guess."

Comments

[coexistent]

[nope, but they sure do try hard.]

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

[immobileyes]

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. ]

[coexistent]

[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?

[immobileyes]

... 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... ]

[coexistent]

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.]

[immobileyes]

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?

[coexistent]

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.]

[immobileyes]

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. ]

[coexistent]

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.

[immobileyes]

[ 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. ]

[coexistent]

[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.]

[immobileyes]

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

[coexistent]

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.]

[immobileyes]

Then let's go!

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

[coexistent]

[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.]

[immobileyes]

[ He's doing so well, and Mary ought to learn more from him, but for now... awkward shuffling behind him. One day... one day she'll be better. ]

[coexistent]

[this is fine, he'll just lead mary to where the employee pointed. past the wooden bats, the aluminum bats, the wiffle bats, the nail bats (wait, why are those here?) and on to the foam bats.

which, fortunately, are pretty cheap.

he'll pick one up and hand it to mary with a smile.]

They're pretty light!

[immobileyes]

...! [ That's way lighter than she was expecting, honestly. ]

I don't think this would hurt my arms at all! [ Unlike the... nail bat. ]

[coexistent]

It's perfect for practicing then, right?

[this seems like they've come up with a good plan... somehow.]

[immobileyes]

Mm, definitely! This was a good idea, Roxas.

[ GOOD JOB. Mary's definitely excited to give this baby a whirl.

... Not against giant monsters yet, thankfully. ]

[coexistent]

[hopefully not ever against giant monsters, honestly.]

I guess we'll see when we actually start but... I think it'll be okay.

[immobileyes]

[ Mary could totally take them on.

Except no, not really, but it would probably be a fairly hilarious sight. ]

Yeah... um, I should have enough to buy them.

[ Since she was the one who brought it up. ]

[coexistent]

We can always split it. I'm gonna be using it too...

[besides, they split things enough anyway, living in the same apartment. it's not all that much of a big deal to roxas.]

[immobileyes]

... If that's okay with you? [ Look, she's not chivalrous enough to argue the point. ]

[coexistent]

I don't mind... it makes more sense, doesn't it?