ic contact;

[coexistent]

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

Comments

action;

[immobileyes]

[ Mary had been serious about wanting to learn how to defend herself-- better. At all. Being able to halt something's movements was all well and good, but it was only temporary, and if that thing didn't have eyes, there was nothing she'd be able to do about it. And with a few foam bats purchased, she's been working with Roxas at trying to grant herself a little more of a fighting chance.

Today, though, she's lowering her bat with a soft groan and looking down at her arms. She's also a little winded, but that's nothing new. ]

Why don't your arms ever get sore?

[coexistent]

I dunno... because I'm used to it, I guess? Keyblades are heavier than these, and I used those a lot every single day.

[all he ever did was work when he was with the organization. in nearly a year, he'd only ever had one single day off. even when he left the organization, he had heartless to contend with, he had battled riku, and even now in cerealia, he goes into ViViD to practice.

he doesn't really like fighting, but he has things to protect, so he keeps doing that.

but for now, roxas will toss the foam bat on the ground and close the gap a little, offering her a small smile.]

Why don't we take a break?

[immobileyes]

Can we? [ Mary was looking more than a little concerned at the thought of Roxas using his Keyblades every single day, but her eyes are lighting up at the prospect of a break. Her bat will Jin his on the ground, then. ]

I feel like we've been doing this all morning...

[coexistent]

[she seems pretty elated by this, so it's probably a good idea.]

You don't have to push yourself too hard. We can take it slow. [breaks are a good thing. it's not like she needs this for super intense combat experience.]

[immobileyes]

I think you're the first person I've heard that from... when Terra was trying to help me run, he just told me to keep going.

[ And then Mary literally keeled over, it was incredible. ]

[coexistent]

Terra did?

[roxas scrunches his nose... why would he do that? though it's probably not important now—terra is gone, and there's been no trace of him since then.]

I don't think you should push yourself too hard. If you're not used to it... it's not going to help, right? I don't want you to get hurt.

[immobileyes]

I know... but I don't want you to have to keep protecting me. You've already been hurt doing that...

... So just a short break, okay?

[coexistent]

I'm okay... I know how to fight.

[and to make sure she's safe? it's a good reason to keep fighting.]

I don't think most people learn and get used to this stuff that quick, anyway.

[immobileyes]

Really...? You and Ruby seem like you've never had any trouble with it...

[coexistent]

I dunno about Ruby but... I don't think it's really the same for me anyway. I've always been able to do this and I had to do it every single day, but...

[they're things he inherited from sora, aren't they? things his body remembered.]

[immobileyes]

That... doesn't sound like you had a lot of time to do anything else.

[coexistent]

I didn't, really. In all my time with the Organization, I only ever had one day off.

[immobileyes]

O-one?? [ did her voice just squeak, it did. ]

That's terrible!! Seto worked all the time and even he had two days off every week!

[ Roxas?? Your Organization? Sucks???? ]

[coexistent]

I didn't even know it was weird until Axel told me what summer vacation was. Even then... I couldn't imagine having a whole month with nothing to do.

[so to him, it was just normal. he knows now that it isn't, but back then? it seemed crazy to him.]

[immobileyes]

It's even harder when you have years with nothing to do... but I think a month might be okay.

[coexistent]

Years... it's kind of hard to imagine. Back then, I didn't even know what to do with just day.

[immobileyes]

That's different now though, right? I mean, that you'd have things you'd want to do.

[coexistent]

Yeah... there's a lot I want to try to do now, if I can.

[immobileyes]

I think you could! What do you really want to do first?

[coexistent]

I... really want to go to the beach.

[immobileyes]

Have you talked to Hiro about it? I know he wanted to go, too.

[ WILL THIS BEACH TRIP EVER HAPPEN, THEY'RE TRYING. ]

[coexistent]

Yeah... I think it's just that things keep happening, so we can never get to figuring everything out.

[immobileyes]

Mm, I know... maybe after the next weird thing happens, we can try to go then?

[ Because it's gonna happen. ]

[coexistent]

Yeah... that sounds like a good idea, as long as it's not too weird.

[since everyone trying to recoup from trauma doesn't exactly make for a good trip, probably.]

[immobileyes]

It better not be. We haven't had a chance to have fun with everyone in a long time.