[She's upset him, and that's so many times worse than not being remembered. Her expression calms and she smiles at him as best as she knows how to. Though she'd had lots of practice watching the courtiers at the capital, she just can't really manage it perfectly, but she doesn't want to make him unhappy. Veronica will deal with her own thoughts, somehow.]
We were. [She still thought of him as a friend, but they could hardly be friends in the present tense if he didn't even know her.]
And you need not apologize. I knew that there was always the chance that you would not remember. It is all right.
[it doesn't really make him feel that much better. if they were friends and he forgot that... well, she would be hurting from him not remembering, right? even if it's hard to believe, even if it sounds kind of ridiculous, and even if he doesn't have much reason to trust her...
something seems sincere about what she's saying. he wants to believe it, because it seems like a strange thing to make up. it's difficult to reconcile, but he shakes his head with a bit of determination.]
I don't think it's okay. Something like that... it's important. [it's not something he wants to forget, even if there's not even the faintest recollection of it.]
That....is true. [She wouldn't have wanted him to forget it either. But she was slowly learning that things don't always go the way that she wants them to.]
But...you looked troubled. [At least, that's what she thought.] I did not wish to make you unhappy.
[She's watching him as she says this, looking for any sign that she was troubling him once again. That wasn't an expression she was used to seeing.]
[he says the words somewhat quietly, but shifts his gaze away from her for a moment. this is somehow only making things worse, isn't it?]
I just don't like not being able to remember something that important. Friends... if we were friends, that's not something I should forget. [he shakes his head a little; roxas means well by it all. even if it's baffling and overwhelming, it doesn't feel made up.] But it's not your fault, so... don't feel bad.
[they should both blame whoever's responsible for it, right? which is probably ceres, he figures.]
Do not apologize. [It's strange to her that she'd said this to Roxas a long time before, as well.
What was it that Kaoru had said to her when she first arrived?]
You need not try to remember if you cannot. Many who are returned also lose their memories. Kaoru also did not remember, but she is still Kaoru, as you are still Roxas. Is that not so?
We are not friends now, but perhaps you would be willing to be my friend again?
[he gaze shifts back to her, looking a bit puzzled. honestly, he's not sure what it's supposed to mean. "many who are returned also lose their memories?" and... kaoru?
it doesn't really make much sense to him. but there is something she says that sticks with him a little more. "you are still roxas." —being told that he's himself is always sort of jarring, though not in a bad way.]
I... guess you're right. [even if he can't remember—if it was him, then it still had to be him, right? he hopes so. after a moment, he'll offer her the barest hint of a smile before nodding his head.]
I'd like that. I don't know if it'll be the same, or if I'll ever remember those things. But... I think we can be friends again.
[If he has asked her, she would have been happy to explain to him that "returned" was when they were brought back to their real worlds and not the facsimile of a world that the Landlord had created for them.
The smile he gives her is comforting, at least. And it's familiar enough to her that she smiles quietly back.]
I would like that, too. And it need not be the same. The fact that you are willing to try is enough.
And I have not yet introduced myself: I am Veronica. Thank you for helping me earlier.
[he repeats it back for two reasons. the first is some fleeting hope that hearing the name will trigger some memory that's locked away (it doesn't, of course). the second is just for his own sake to memorize the name and make sure it stays that way.]
You don't have to thank me for that. I think you kind of did most of the work getting us out of there anyway. [which obviously had not been his initial plan by jumping in, but it worked. so he guesses he can't complain about that.]
[Since he'd already told her that he didn't remember, she has no expectations that her name would be enough, especially as she knew he had many other friends as well. Still, she's always liked hearing people use her name (and not princess or miss) because to her, it was an acknowledgement of her as a person, as more than just the princess.]
If you had not been there, I do not think I would have been able to find the opportunity to cast the magic. [Because she knew how to cast it, but had only ever cast it in self-defense once.]
I couldn't just leave you like that, I had to try and help at least. Just... in case you couldn't do anything about it.
[it didn't feel right to just leave someone in need, even if that had never really been his agenda in the past. it didn't feel right, and that's why he can't help but be modest about it.] But if it helped then... I'm glad.
[in the end, it somehow all works out, so he's happy for that much.]
[She can understand that feeling because it's similar to what she thought when she'd helped to draw the robot away from the civilian earlier. Even though she wasn't always strong enough and she couldn't bring herself to hurt another living creature, she couldn't leave without trying to help when someone was in need.]
Well, I am glad that you did. And if you are happy, then all the better.
You didn't end up getting hurt at all, right? So... then I guess it worked out in the end.
[he's not sure he'd call it "happy," just glad. relieved, mostly. but it feels like despite the conflict and the strange acquaintance and identity troubles, it's all worked out. so that's good, as far as roxas sees it.]
[maybe he shouldn't be too surprised she knows that. if they'd been friends, it's obvious she'd know something like that, right? ice cream... it's one of the only things he really, really likes.
so it just further confirms that she knew him; even if there wasn't much doubt to begin with, that seems to just seal the deal. the surprise fades quickly though, at least, and is followed with a nod.]
Yeah. I work at the ice cream shop here, too. [even ceres has him figured out.]
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coexistent) wrote2015-07-03 05:05 pm
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We were. [She still thought of him as a friend, but they could hardly be friends in the present tense if he didn't even know her.]
And you need not apologize. I knew that there was always the chance that you would not remember. It is all right.
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something seems sincere about what she's saying. he wants to believe it, because it seems like a strange thing to make up. it's difficult to reconcile, but he shakes his head with a bit of determination.]
I don't think it's okay. Something like that... it's important. [it's not something he wants to forget, even if there's not even the faintest recollection of it.]
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But...you looked troubled. [At least, that's what she thought.] I did not wish to make you unhappy.
[She's watching him as she says this, looking for any sign that she was troubling him once again. That wasn't an expression she was used to seeing.]
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[he says the words somewhat quietly, but shifts his gaze away from her for a moment. this is somehow only making things worse, isn't it?]
I just don't like not being able to remember something that important. Friends... if we were friends, that's not something I should forget. [he shakes his head a little; roxas means well by it all. even if it's baffling and overwhelming, it doesn't feel made up.] But it's not your fault, so... don't feel bad.
[they should both blame whoever's responsible for it, right? which is probably ceres, he figures.]
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What was it that Kaoru had said to her when she first arrived?]
You need not try to remember if you cannot. Many who are returned also lose their memories. Kaoru also did not remember, but she is still Kaoru, as you are still Roxas. Is that not so?
We are not friends now, but perhaps you would be willing to be my friend again?
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it doesn't really make much sense to him. but there is something she says that sticks with him a little more. "you are still roxas." —being told that he's himself is always sort of jarring, though not in a bad way.]
I... guess you're right. [even if he can't remember—if it was him, then it still had to be him, right? he hopes so. after a moment, he'll offer her the barest hint of a smile before nodding his head.]
I'd like that. I don't know if it'll be the same, or if I'll ever remember those things. But... I think we can be friends again.
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The smile he gives her is comforting, at least. And it's familiar enough to her that she smiles quietly back.]
I would like that, too. And it need not be the same. The fact that you are willing to try is enough.
And I have not yet introduced myself: I am Veronica. Thank you for helping me earlier.
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[he repeats it back for two reasons. the first is some fleeting hope that hearing the name will trigger some memory that's locked away (it doesn't, of course). the second is just for his own sake to memorize the name and make sure it stays that way.]
You don't have to thank me for that. I think you kind of did most of the work getting us out of there anyway. [which obviously had not been his initial plan by jumping in, but it worked. so he guesses he can't complain about that.]
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If you had not been there, I do not think I would have been able to find the opportunity to cast the magic. [Because she knew how to cast it, but had only ever cast it in self-defense once.]
So allow me to thank you for that, at least.
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[it didn't feel right to just leave someone in need, even if that had never really been his agenda in the past. it didn't feel right, and that's why he can't help but be modest about it.] But if it helped then... I'm glad.
[in the end, it somehow all works out, so he's happy for that much.]
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Well, I am glad that you did. And if you are happy, then all the better.
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[he's not sure he'd call it "happy," just glad. relieved, mostly. but it feels like despite the conflict and the strange acquaintance and identity troubles, it's all worked out. so that's good, as far as roxas sees it.]
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[So yes, everything worked out just fine. She stands quietly for a moment before she smiles at him.]
Do you still like ice cream? [Because the last Roxas she'd been friends with had liked it.]
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so it just further confirms that she knew him; even if there wasn't much doubt to begin with, that seems to just seal the deal. the surprise fades quickly though, at least, and is followed with a nod.]
Yeah. I work at the ice cream shop here, too. [even ceres has him figured out.]
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[She's glad for him, though she does wonder if he's found that same sea salt ice cream that he seemed to like so much.]
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I guess so. I didn't really think about it that but... you're right.
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