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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #6 ❫
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YOUR STORY BEGINS  The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that. You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma. Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station. Your body is still cold; it all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't —
CLEAN-UP CREW  While everything has wound down significantly from the strife and destruction of battle, the frozen image of Ysverai, the massive, rotten dragon, and the hole he tore in El Nysa's sky, on several screens of the station is a constant reminder of what took place. New and old refugees alike will notice that prolonged exposure to these images will leave them with a disquiet that gradually builds to actual pain. The discomfort starts from a crawling sensation, insects over skin, and gradually becomes unbearable. They will begin to hear the cries of Ysverai’s pain and suffering, first whispers, then echoes, then wails. Even after Refugees tear their eyes away from this footage, a strange itching sensation remains beneath their skin for several minutes. The dragon isn’t a matter for them to deal with, however. Darma made it clear that the Natha will find a solution. For now, everyone is encouraged to assist in the clean-up of the cities currently frozen in time. However, in interest of the current events and the fact that the refugees still have much to prepare for, they will be offering this help remotely. Several stations are set up where refugees can remote control drones to map out areas and pick up some of the lighter weight debris. Those more well versed technology are encouraged to assist those who may be having trouble getting started with the unfamiliar Natha tech. It seems like it’ll definitely take some getting used to, though. On the bright side, they’re pretty durable drones so if at first you don’t succeed, press the next button? To keep morale high during the clean-up efforts, one of the Natha have set up large hoops around dumpsites and a scoreboard program in the control room, though there's no sign of any directions or rules to be found. That's right, you can play a mechanized version of… some sort of game while you're helping clean up El Nysa. Just make sure you don't get too carried away with competitive spirit! For those looking to pilot something more heavy-duty, there are also cockpits set up for remote control piloting of basic mecha. These are very similar to the VR simulations offered on the station. However, they will not work without a partner. To be able to successfully move one of these, two refugees will be required to connect their minds and pilot in tandem. This may be a daunting task, but with the extensive structural damage to the cities, it's a necessary one. Piloting will require trust and cooperation to make it through. The more connected the pilots are, the more agile and powerful their mecha will be. For those who can’t seem to get on the same page, coordination will be a pipe dream. PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIP  By now it’s likely clear to all refugees, new and old, that for all that they may appear to be infinitely powerful, the Natha Orbiters have been shaken by the recent events on El Nysa. The details of Ysverai’s revival were somehow obscured from their view, and while they’re focusing their efforts on the planet, certain… abnormalities again begin to arise on Thesa Station. The most prevalent of the problems plaguing the Station are the malfunctioning doors. Walking through a door that should lead to a bedroom or kitchen (or, for the truly unfortunate, a toilet) will suddenly take refugees somewhere entirely different and possibly even new. And while this may lead to some accusations of breaking and entering, at least these mishaps can be quickly rectified by an apology and a hasty exit. That is, unless the door refuses to open again — the locks also seem to be malfunctioning. Still, those that find themselves transported somewhere familiar, though off-limits, should consider themselves lucky. Thesa Station is far more vast than most refugees are aware, and some of them might find themselves wandering into a uniquely sticky laboratory. This area appears to serve no purpose other than to house dozens of slimes. These slimes appear not only in a variety of fun colours, but with a variety of not-so-fun abilities ranging from harmless (spitting bubbles) to deadly (spitting fire). Regardless of what abilities a slime possesses however, they are all relentlessly friendly, and characters will need to be careful not to accidentally bringing one out with them once they manage to escape. Unfortunately, that’s not the only situation to escape from. Whether it’s in the mess hall or the bathroom, many will find themselves suddenly rising off the ground. … with everything else in the room, too! It seems like gravity control is also on the fritz. Fortunately, most open spaces aboard the station have a small control panel that can correct these effects. The only problem is getting there. Hopefully at least one of you refugees took that anti-gravity safety course. SUMMER TURNS TO WINTER  The news that the refugees should begin preparations for a return to El Nysa may come as a surprise given that the planet still remains frozen, but it appears there is one community that has somehow withstood Darma’s intervention: an area known as Nadril where time continues to flow freely. Not much information is available regarding this destination, other than the fact that it is isolated, and, more importantly, that it is cold. (Maybe characters should consider the malfunctioning thermostat plunging the temperature to below zero in certain areas on the station as preparation for their upcoming journey!) There are other resources available for those itching to take action, of course. There will be a new supply pack delivered to each room containing gear meant to withstand freezing temperatures — both clothing and storage gear to keep water rations from freezing. Characters will also be alerted to new training programs available in the VR room that are designed to assist with survival in the snowy regions of Nadril. The training programs will consist of a variety of tutorials that will assist in winter survival. Naturally, there will be courses on how to start fires, find food, and build igloos to withstand the frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. Due to the Natha testing their systems, there will occasionally be strange occurrences. For example, refugees may experience a snowball or two pelting them from out of nowhere, or they may suddenly find themselves being cloaked by a snow yeti costume, amongst many other inconveniences. Hopefully that doesn’t detract from the lessons to be learned here, as some of the training programs can include extreme weather survival, including the perils of snow storms or avalanches. SOCIAL-LINKED(in) By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile: STASIS UNITS  During this time of crisis, the Natha have done their utmost to ensure the safety of those in cryosleep. However, due to the nature of recent events, they will be asking some refugees to do a quick check on some of the pods in the stasis unit. While they are definitely looking for any damage that may have occurred over these past few weeks, they also seem interested in getting a deeper insight into some of the occupants. On each control panel for the pods, there's a new application, asking observers to add notes and commentary — the Natha are looking for a more personal understanding of their sleeping occupants. Refugees are tasked with providing evaluations of the sleepers, based on both their knowledge of those from their homes and on what they can observe just by examining them in their repose. The application asks for how useful you think the pod's occupant would be in a crisis, what their skills are, what their best feature is, if you'd take them with you for a long walk on the beach, and so on… And, of course, all answers must be recorded out loud. Anyone passing by could overhear these evaluations, flattering or less than. FINAL OOC NOTES
As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!
These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose. Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below. New players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. In addition, old players who have not submitted rep for the Hour of Ruin log may also submit a TDM thread for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is July 15 11:59 PM EST. For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on July 9 12:01 AM EST and end on July 13 11:59 PM EST. Thank you! |
I make my own adventures!
Today he’s grabbed a mottled yellow flower that’s dusted with pink freckles across its petals from the Greenery and has put it pride of place in a prominent position with the others. It’s kind of shaped like a paopu, that’s the reason he’d been drawn to it. It smells a bit like coconut too. He wonders if maybe they should write a message for her to let her know that she’s not alone if she wakes up without anyone to greet her.
After that’s all done, he sits back against the pod and starts to talk to her about his day, but whether it’s because of the sheer emotional drain of recent events or Sora’s latent lazy nature raising its head, or maybe the fact that it’s hard to tell how late it is when you’re in space and don’t wear a watch, he soon finds his eyelids growing heavy and soon he’s drifting off to sleep in front of the pod.]
You make your own heart children too
But if he's here, where's Sora?
The questions pierces through him as panic begins to rise. He wanted to live, to be his own person, but there's only one way he can think of that happening, and Roxas never wanted that. The worlds need Sora, and after spending so long trying to gain a heart, how could he ever be happy that Sora lost his again?
He walks down the aisles of pods, slowly at first and then moving faster. He can't feel Sora anymore, and that just makes his sense of dread grow. If the Storm that took the worlds took Sora too—if he's the one who's left—
He doesn't know what he'll do. But he doesn't need to decide, because that's when he comes around the edge of another row of pods and there he is, sleeping on the floor.
It's probably relief that he feels. Roxas isn't sure he has a name for it. It's so much different than the last time he set eyes on Sora asleep. He isn't losing everything this time; he's just not sure what he's gained.
He stands there for a moment, looking his other half—his original self—before walking forward slowly. When he reaches Sora, he pauses for a moment before sinking into a crouch. After a few seconds, he reaches out and pokes Sora's cheek.]
Remember kids: always practice safe keyblading
It's when the back of his hand connects with another hand that something starts to feel... weird. Like, hairs on the back of his neck weird. Very slowly, he opens his eyes and blinks owlishly, reaching up to brush the sleep away from his eyes before he starts to take in what - or who- has just woken him up.]
Okay, I'm up, I'm-
[And then he's awake enough to actually recognise who it is who woke him up.]
Roxas?!
[He's so startled that he physically retreats backwards, accidentally bonking his head against the glass of Kairi's pod with a soft 'doink' sound before he springs to his feet.]
No way! You're Roxas! You're here! I can't believe- wait, you are really here, I'm not dreaming am I?
[And without waiting or asking for permission, he reaches forward and returns the favor by poking Roxas in the cheek too.]
Do as you say not as you do
I don't know!
[This is no way to figure it out. Roxas pushes himself up, meeting Sora exactly eye to eye, both sets wide.]
I thought I was dreaming, about the Storm, and then I woke up and...
[He shakes his head.]
I'm not supposed to be here. I thought maybe...if darkness swallowed everything, maybe it swallowed you, too.
[Leaving one Heartless and one Nobody. Again.]
Heartchild parenting 101
[Sora's heart is going ten to the dozen as he reaches for the other boy, his Nobody. It's really, really strange. He's actually here, they're both awake and face to face and there's no danger at hand. No Organization, no Xehanort, no lingering threat of Darkness... well, beyond the world swallowing that's brought them both here.
But when has he come from? Has he come from the past, from when Sora was asleep? Or has he come from the future? Does that mean that sometime soon he's going to have kept his promise and brought Roxas back? Oh he hopes so, he really hopes so.]
It's okay, I kinda nearly got swallowed by Darkness a little while ago, before I got here, but I'm okay. Riku saved me- oh and he's here too by the way- and I saw you in my dream and you shared everything with me and Roxas I'm so sorry, I didn't know what you went through. You should never have had to go through all that.
[Is he babbling? Maybe. But he needs to get this off his chest, he needs Roxas to know that he sees him as his own person. Oh, and he needs to tell him that he has a heart! That he always did, that he was never incomplete, that he hadn't lived experiencing a facsimile of true emotions, that everything had been real.
...oh man, just wait 'til Axel could see him!]
I'm so glad you're here!
You owe me back allowance pops
He can't even think of backing away from Sora, though. He doesn't want to. The torrent of words from his Other washes over Roxas, leaving him to pick out relevant bits here and there, coming too fast to digest everything at once.
Roxas never thought this would happen. Not when he'd gone charging into the World That Never Was with an idea of Sora in his head, a concept, nothing more than the knowledge that he needed to find this boy to understand himself, and tearing down Kingdom Hearts was the first step. It hadn't really been about 'Sora' at all.
And he hadn't thought it would happen when he finally knew who Sora was and saw him in person for, he thought, the first and last time. Because he'd been judged and found wanting--not half of Sora, just a shadow of him who walked and talked and lived and lost and Sora would never know more about any of it than what an ache in his heart told him.
But now he does.]
You remember the dream?
[Surprise and something like hope rise up in him. For once, he's not afraid to believe.]
I wasn't sure you would.
Son I am a single heartparent how I am supposed to afford that?
[Wait. Wait a second here. Roxas remembers the dream? Then that must mean...]
...wait, you remember it too? So you're not from before, you're from the same time as me or after me?
[And then his eyes lighten up in excitement as he reaches forward and grabs his Nobody's hands, bouncing excitedly on his feet as he draws Roxas up with him.]
That means we're going to get you back, doesn't it? I was just about to go looking for a way to find a way to bring you back and this just means that it's going to work! I'm going to help you! I can't believe it!
[And with that, he can't control the urge to hug the other boy any longer and just throws his arms around him without any hesitation.]
Figuring out how to make it work is part of heart fatherhood
For a moment he goes still. No one has ever hugged him before. He's not a complete stranger to physical affection, but that's been slaps on the back, a firm shoulder grasp, a bump of the forearms. He's never had a hug.
After a moment, his arms come up around Sora and he hugs back.]
I think...I think I need to sit down for a minute.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD BE THIS HARD OKAY
[Sora's momentarily taken aback, as if he suddenly realises what he's doing and how it might be kind of awkward for poor Roxas to suddenly be scooped up and hugged quite as enthusiastically as he has been when the whole situation is probably massively overwhelming for him.
But he doesn't miss the hesitant hug he gets back and Sora feels his chest grow warmer with the feeling before he steps lets Roxas go and draws back.]
Oh, okay. Are you alright? Come and sit here...
[He pats the floor next to where he was sitting by Kairi's pod and sinks to ground as well in solidarity.]
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He manages a small, crooked smile before sitting down facing Sora, legs crossed, back straight. For a long moment, he looks at Sora, and it doesn't escape him how much their eyes look the same.]
I don't know where I'm from. [Or when? He's not completely sure what Sora meant by that.] The last thing I remember before I dreamed about the storm, I was...
[He taps the center of Sora's chest lightly before returning his hands to his lap.]
But I remember meeting you when you were dreaming.
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[He rubs his chest where Roxas taps his heart, and looks across at his Nobody curiously. It seems strange that something that had been a dream had been real, but he supposes that there's no reason why it shouldn't have been. Riku had grown stronger in the dream, and he, Sora, had nearly been lost to it. Why shouldn't Roxas's presence there have been real? A heart is a powerful thing after all.]
I remember everything you shared with me when I woke up, you know. I keep it all here-
[He flattens his hand on his chest, over his heart.]
I'm looking after all of your memories until I can see you again. Heh, guess that's happened sooner than I thought it would.
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Thank you.
[There's no one left to remember him but Sora. No one else he knew who mattered, and even Sora had been oblivious to Roxas' life until it was over. His own recollection of that short meeting is somewhat hazy, as if they'd both been dreaming it, but he'd known what he was doing.]
Those things that rescued people, the Natha, do you think they just...split us in two again? [He tilts his head, considering.] They had to have, right? I didn't think that could happen unless you turned into a Heartless.
[Which would be bad.]
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[Sora frowns, looking at Roxas and noticing for the first time just how alike they really do look. Considering he hadn't ever really twigged that a part of him was missing the first time around, would he have been able to tell if Roxas had been taken from him again? He likes to think he would have.]
I would have thought that maybe you'd have been taken from a time behind me, but that doesn't make sense if you remember the dream. I guess we can't really know for sure just what kinda powers these Natha guys have.
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[He'd definitely know if he'd become a Heartless again. That's one piece of Sora's memory that Roxas had never experienced—could never experience—but he's sure that's not something anyone could ever forget. Plus, Sora's still sitting right here.
Roxas is pretty sure he's right about them being split, though. Or maybe he was popped out like a cork. Because even if he never really disappeared, he wasn't only himself, either. The part of him that was inside Sora's heart was all there was to take. He's quiet for a moment before speaking again.]
I didn't think I'd ever get to talk to you—really talk to you. There wasn't enough time when you were dreaming, and before that, back when I saw you before you woke up in Twilight Town, you didn't even know I was there. [There's a slight lump in his throat that he has to swallow.]
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[He hadn't even thought about the idea that Roxas had been to see him while he was sleeping; the discovery that he had created a Nobody had been startling enough that the idea that this other part of him had been through so much pain and suffering had been an afterthought. An afterthought Sora feels guilty about even now.]
I still do, you know. Now you're you and I'm me and you can do whatever you want, and this time I'm not gonna let anyone ruin it for you.
[His eyes light up at the idea of the world of possibilities that stretch ahead for Roxas, and then he remembers something that he'd learned from the Organization... something good.]
Say... I know something you might be pretty interested in.
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For just a little while, I thought I hated you. But that wasn't true. And it wasn't just you I was angry at, it was...everything.
[It was DiZ, for choosing the Keybearer he thought would make a better tool and giving no care to the one he cast aside. The Keyblade itself, for choosing Sora and then Roxas in the first place. If he had known about Ansem then, maybe he would have been angry at him for creating the dark Keyblade whose very existence led to an inevitable outcome. And in part, it was Sora, because Sora mattered and had friends who would shake the world for him and for all that he had a duty, he had a freedom that Roxas never did.
And it was Sora, because when Roxas had been left in tears, fading and more in need of a friend than ever before, Sora had slept on a little longer instead of opening his eyes and reaching a hand out to him.
But it wasn't Sora's fault. It just was. And Roxas understands so much more now. It really did have to be him.]
What's that?
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But he doesn't blame him. Sora's pretty sure if the boot had been on the other foot, he would probably have hated him too.
His face does fall a little though to hear it, just for a moment, but then he fights it off and shakes his head. Even as Roxas clarifies what he means and assures him his anger was pointed at other targets too, he can't blame him for feeling that way.
Roxas felt so many things, and Sora had felt them too, through his memories. How he could even think that he'd never had a heart when he had felt all of that so acutely...
Well. Sora's about to put that misconception to bed once and for all.]
You know, that's the funny thing about getting angry. It's something you can't control sometimes because the heart feels what it feels. We can't change that.
And you have one too, you know. It's as real as mine is.
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His own response is far harder to read, but that's because he doesn't know what he feels. The urge to argue with the impossible thing Sora just said should rise up in him, and a year ago, maybe it would have. The Organization told him otherwise, and they knew better. He had no reason not to trust them. But between then and now, Roxas has learned a thing or two about who to trust, and he's seen a lot of impossible things.
He could ask if Sora is just saying something he wants to believe because that's the kind of guy he is, someone who sees the world the way it should be and fights to make it happen. But instinctively he knows that's not it. The two of them sitting here talking, somebody to Nobody, should be impossible. So why not a heart, too?
His eyes flicker from Sora's eyes to his chest, and then down to his own as he rests his fingertips against his chest.]
I thought...I wondered, sometimes. Toward the end. But I couldn't just look inside. [He lifts his head, looking back at Sora.] How do you know?
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[He can't look at Roxas as he says that. It's too personal, even though those memories have been freely shared with him, admitting that he's felt Roxas' pain and grieved for the loss of a life that was never his feels like a gross invasion of the other boy's privacy.
Anyway, that's not all, and Roxas won't like hearing this part.]
But Xemnas said that you can banish a heart from a body and it will try to replace it, for as many times as it takes to get it back. He lied to you, he lied to all of you. I know we can't trust anything Xemnas says... but he's right. He just proved that everything I knew about hearts was true. You had your own heart, it grew it with every bond you formed, every friend you made. Our hearts are our friends and how we feel about them.
[And won't Roxas be surprised when Sora gets round to sharing the best best part about this.]
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The second part...Roxas' hands squeeze into fists and his expression grows harder. After all this time, one more betrayal shouldn't hurt. But if Sora's right, he can't pretend there's not a pang in his chest.]
Maybe it's not that surprising. All he ever did was lie to me. And I just accepted it for way too long.
[He scowls then, a quiet fury rising up in his chest, and a distant part of him wonders why it's so easy to hate Xemnas. This is a betrayal for sure, but it fits with everything he'd known of Number I. It's almost like there's another reason he can't quite recall, but that can't be true.
After a long moment, he takes a breath, forcing himself to relax as much as he can. It helps, a little.]
But...you're right, about feeling what I felt. I don't remember everything—after you woke up, it was like I fell asleep for a while. But I remember feeling things, like I was the one dreaming. And you could feel it too, because we were connected. My heart in yours.
[He has to give a small chuckle at that.]
My heart. Guess I'm pretty bad at being a Nobody, huh?
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[No, really, Sora can't imagine what it must be like, not being able to feel things. To hug a friend and feel nothing, to listen to a joke and not laugh because you don't know what funny feels like, to say goodbye without missing someone. It just seems so... empty.
He wants to say that maybe it's because Roxas came from him that it might have to do with it, that they're alike and so it makes sense that they can't do without feelings because there's just something so fundamentally wrong about it. But he won't, because Sora's still so adamant that Roxas is his own person that he doesn't want to claim ownership or origin over anything that Roxas has experienced, because it's Roxas' experience. People spent all of Roxas' life comparing him to Sora, Sora's not about to perpetuate that, even if it's for entirely different reasons.]
And listen, you shouldn't feel bad for believing what Xemnas said. You couldn't have known what he was up to, none of us knew what he was really planning.
[And then his face falls and he slaps his palm to his forehead. How does he even begin to explain Xehanort's grand plan to him?]
Oh man, Roxas, there's so much I need to catch you up on. It's crazy.
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[It is a little intimidating to think of himself as not-a-Nobody, because he's had so little of his own identity that he could put claim to, but he's always had this. A word that led him somewhere he made mistakes but also a place he belonged, for a little while, in the space between the setting sun and the fall of night. And if he's a whole person and almost always was, the sacrifices he was forced to make for Sora weigh that much heavier on his shoulders.
Thinking that it means all his emotions really belong to him, though, instead of being the memory of feelings or things he only got because of his connection to Sora...that's better. Maybe he's bad at being a Nobody, or maybe he's the best at it, because he's the Nobody who got what they all wanted.
He lifts his head and smiles. Just like that, Sora's treating them as a team, like old friends who need to catch up. It makes him feel...welcome, like even if none of them should be here, he belongs all the same.]
We've got time for that now, right?
But first, there's something I always wanted to do.
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Huh. Maybe this is what it feels like to suddenly have a younger brother or something.
When Roxas mentions that there's something he's always wanted to do, Sora looks a little surprised. Is it eating ice cream? It's probably eating ice cream. Is there even sea salt ice cream up here? He should probably ask Axel-
Axel!
Oh man, does he even know that Roxas is here yet? They should go find him, he'd be so surprised! Should he tell Roxas that he's here?
Oh wait. Roxas mentioned the something he always wanted to do. Can't keep him waiting for that.]
What's that?
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But the questions and the empty hole inside of him had grown and grown. By the time he found Sora, he hadn't been able to ask him anything or say anything he'd wanted to. By the time Axel died, he'd had very little left to say. And afterward, when Roxas could look at what had happened to him with more understanding, circumstances had placed seemingly insurmountable barriers between them, for all that they were inextricably connected. Talking to Sora in his dream had helped, but it wasn't enough. This chance they have now just might be.]
I wanted to meet you for real.
[He gives Sora a crooked smile and holds his hand out.]
Hi. I'm Roxas.
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Riku had been right all along.
Blinking in surprise, Sora's smile spreads across his face until it's beaming, and he reaches his hand out to take Roxas' in return.
It's gonna be okay. They're going to be friends for real now, he just knows it. He can get to know Roxas for real, not just the idea of him or what he's learned about him from others and through seeing his memories. They'll make new memories of their own now. Together.]
It's nice to meet you. I'm Sora.
[His other hand joins the first, so that Roxas' is clasped firmly between them.]
I can't wait to know you.
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