[Terra promised Roxas they'd work together to get answers, but one weird thing after another has been happening in this place to stop him making any kind of progress. First their arrival, then the weird coldness that's been bothering him the past few days, and he's even started to... fade away. A few other people have had the same issue.
To top it all off, now he just feels tired. Maybe it's the stress of everything that's happened, but... something just doesn't feel right. He doesn't normally get worn out this easily.
He has no idea what to do about it, except to hope that it doesn't get worse, but it occurs to him that maybe Roxas has been affected, too. Time for a voice call!]
Hey... Roxas? It's Terra. Is everything okay with you?
[it's been somewhat the opposite for roxas—he's aware enough that something hasn't been right these last few days, but nothing seems to be affecting him directly. it's more through word of mouth and paying attention to other people who pass by.
so obviously, he's not really expecting a call from terra. even if something was wrong with him, the last thing he's really expecting is for anyone to actually check up on him. it's not a bad thing, just... strange. without axel or xion around, the only ones who would ever ask without seeming to have an agenda of some sort, the notion sort of flies over his head. (and maybe he'll just also not used to being able to communicate with people this way).]
Me? I'm fine. I heard some people talkin' about not feeling well, but it hasn't gotten to me or anything. [maybe those people just need to drink an elixir. it'll make them feel better...
but after a short pause, he'll return the question.]
[There's a reason he's just using voice instead of video, and it's partly because he didn't want to bother Roxas or cause any worry. He can handle things on his own.]
Just figured I'd check on you, that's all. If anything changes and you need help, you know how to find me.
[that doesn't really instill a lot of confidence in roxas, but he's not really in a position to call terra out; they haven't known each other that long, after all.
still, it kind of reminds him of the way axel would change the subject, in a way.]
Yeah... I'll remember that. [even though he definitely still feels weird about this situation.]
You can do the same, too. I still have an elixir with my stuff, if you end up needing it. [he may as well throw that out there, though he doesn't expect terra to just take him up on that, honestly.]
[but after a pause, there's a realization that hits:]
Hey, wait a sec. You said your healing magic's not working? Doesn't that mean you tried to heal a problem? [terra! don't say disconcerting things right after denying a problem... don't lie to him!]
[that's something hard to argue, or even know what to say. he knows how terrible it feels to lose friends, and if it's like what they saw the other day... what can he even do?]
It's okay... if you want to be alone. [a short pause, but then he adds:] I'll still go anyway. Then, if you don't want to be alone, you'll have a friend there.
[it's not like he can force her to go. how many times had axel or xion just plain not showed up without warning? but roxas always went to the clock tower, so he'll do the same for mary too.]
[ And wasn't that sort of things always better with friends? She hadn't wanted to bring the mood down just with her gloomy presence and general lack of appetite, but-- ]
[ She doesn't understand that much. Being alone for so long had been horrible, try as she might to make the days go by faster, fill them with all sorts of things. Stories, lists of all the things she wanted to try, methodically mending even the slightest loose string in her skirt...
She would mind, she thinks. Even if she's opting to be alone so that she doesn't make Roxas sad, too. ]
[he's not really a fan of it for long periods of time, but in a case like this, if she needs to be alone, what can he do? he has to respect that much from her. they're friends, and he wants to help, even if that means giving her space when he thinks that she may need it...
but still trying to be around if she doesn't. he may not know much about the world, and he may not always know innately what's right or wrong, but this much roxas believes in.]
You don't have to be sorry. If you want to be alone, I'm not going to get mad... What kind of friend would I be if I did that? But still... if you decide you don't want to be alone, I'll be in the usual spot. Because sometimes friends can make you feel better even if you don't think it'll help.
[ A long silence answers him, before Mary croaks out something like a good-bye and disconnects.
But if he's still in the usual spot in two hours or so, she'll show up, pink eyes rimmed with red and looking paler and more fatigued than usual. But he'd said... sometimes friends could make you feel better. She's hoping this is one such case. ]
[sure enough, when those two hours have passed—roxas will still be sitting there, eyes fixed on the scenery (which isn't looking so hot these days, not by a long shot). on the floor beside him are two empty popsicle sticks; he'd eaten the second one when it was starting to melt.
by this point, roxas isn't expecting mary, because it's been so long. but he doesn't really have anywhere else to go, or anything to do, either, which is why he stuck around. so naturally, he's surprised at the sound of footsteps, turning to see who it is.
he isn't sure whether to be relieved or worried to see it's mary. he's glad, in a sense, that she decided not to be alone, but she also looks worse for the wear, and possibly in a way he won't be able to do much for her.]
Mary... you came after all. [he offers her a small, sheepish smile, moving over slightly to give her room to sit. yeah, he's bad at this.]
... Yeah. [ Her smile is just as tiny, sheepish when she meets his eyes, but she settles down beside him. So he really had been sitting up here all this time... if nothing else, she's glad she came for that reason. Even if, right now, it's hard to muster up her usual cheer and enthusiasm, the spirit that pushed past her shyness when it came to being around her friends. ]
Sitting there by myself wasn't making me feel any better, in the end.
I'm not sure I can make you feel better either... but I'll try.
[even if it's just by being there, it has to be better than being alone. roxas always hated being along when things went wrong; when he wanted the company of his friends the most, that's when being alone was the hardest.
and sometimes, even just sitting in silence is better than being alone when it's with someone else.]
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