paixaorpg | Entering through Muspelheim. [Closed]

Entry tags:

Entering through Muspelheim. [Closed]

Character(s): Axel, all those entering the same gate.
Content: Entering the Gates of Muspelheim.
Setting: Muspelheim.
Time: Morning.
Warnings: None. ...Yet.

Muspelheim.

Axel opened his eyes, the flames licking up all around him, yet still and silent, brandished gold in the wake of a stroking black hand. Aquamarine eyes sliding over the gates to the city, quiet thoughts roaming his mind, he looked ahead of him—greeted with the vision of the rising "sun"—a warm smile welcoming him to the city, amongst a thousand other blank white ones.

"Hurry up, boy," some younger woman behind him urged as if she were an old one, shoving his skinny body forward with a cold and uncaring hand: forcing black boots onto glass rocks—and Axel into the city of Paixao's high class district. The morning's light glittered on the vaguely bumpy surface, the streets clouded with fake fog, stinking of the fake bittersweet smell of the city. His black-lined eyes wandered in a vague wonderment, expression void as his mind took in the sights.

City. Stretches and stretches of city—buildings progressively tinier, shabbier, but right here? Right here, it was obvious that the upper class was simply not yet awake. Towering buildings stretched to the dome's height, magnificent structures of lust and greed. This was the sinner's half of the city—quietly sleeping, drifting slowly with the fog, awaiting for the sun to tuck itself away many hours from now so it might illuminate itself with its own lights, and welcome the dark and beautiful creatures of the underworld out into her streets.

Haphazardly, a silver journal was shoved into the negligent hand that lingered in the air where once it touched fire, and he looked curiously at it before finally making an effort to step out of the rest of the way himself.

"The city is—"

"Alegria."

Axel blinked, looking to the side. The same woman stood before him, her face pale, her hair blonde (tied up into a messy bun, yet some of it strayed to her cherubic face) and her eyes blue as the sky at noon. About her form was wrapped a cloak—virginal white, decorated with elaborate golden embroideries and fringes of the same colour. She was youth; she was beauty, and truth and love and everything in one.

"What?"

"Alegria... that's what you feel when you come here, isn't it?" she asked, laughing softly as she moved closer to him, her eyes roaming over the silver object that he held almost dumbfoundedly in his hands.

"Well, maybe I'd feel that if I knew what 'alegria' was," he replied, raising a short brow at her, before looking out at the horizon again—trying to find this alegria.

"Alegria, of course, is a state of mind." Axel looked back at her, canting his head, as if intrigued. "It's a feeling that overcomes everyone who enters this city, a feeling that entrusts you with the power to make time stand still. In ages before, power was bestowed upon the future generations and then the former owners became nothing but crumbling dust in the new life's wake. Here..." From the depths of her robes came an immaculate hand, just as pale as her face, and she waved it out, spanning the city, "there is no passage of time, no passage of power—if you come to this city, no matter what age you are in, you will hold a place, and this power will be yours..."

The redhead gave her a somewhat blank look. It was hard to tell if he was entirely enthralled with the concept or just very confused.

She didn't seem to mind. Rather, she continued—"Alegria is love. It's passion, it's beautiful rage and the wonderful feeling of feeling. Everyone in this city has it." A finger nail rose, and caught on the hook which popped the top of Axel's journal open.

The moment she did this, it turned on, and he was greeted with the welcome screen, as well as the option to begin updating his new journal. He gave it an idle glance and looked back to her, hearing the soft clicks of the keys as her hand ran itself over the letters, yet pressing nothing.

"You'll like this city. Everyone does, we all do. We're all power; we're all good and just." She tilted her head, leaning further into him—pressing her chin to his shoulder. "I can show you more than just power, though. Come to the cathedral, I'll show you alegria's blossom..." She moved up to press a kiss to the corner of his jaw.

Axel didn't move, simply watched her.

The girl's face contorted. Something terrible had apparently struck her, and suddenly her hand retracted, hiding itself in her clothing and she clutched her arms to her chest, bright blue eyes wide in horror. She looked up to him, gasping, as if the very taste of his skin had been so bitter she might try to hack it off of her tongue.

"There is no... no..." She gave him an urgent glance, and haphazardly, took off running.

"Alegria...?" he said, smiling.

"You've really outdone yourself," he mused, looking back at the screen of his journal. He rose a brow at the blank screen, and lifted a black gloved hand—typing.

"In the CITY OF PAIXAO

There is a FEELING

Which I am DEVOID OF..."

And then he walked on.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(Well, someone's got to reply first. :D)

Light.

That was really the only noticeable thing for several seconds, blinding and brilliant and fading almost as fast as it had showed up.

After that, pain was pretty much the only thing Hojo noticed. He'd popped into existence decently far from the massive, metallic gates, probably to compensate for the fact that he had, in being transported, been thrown out of a moving train. He hit the ground and skidded, badly scraping up one of his arms and probably bruising several other things. Really, he was lucky that was the extent of the damage.

Once the poor man stopped moving he sat up, slowly, pushing on his glasses mostly to see if they'd gone unbroken, which they had, luckily for him. Determining that nothing was broken, either on himself or in his messenger bag, he shifted, not even bothering to stand up yet as he took in the scene he'd been so rudely dumped into. A large crowd of people waiting to go enter something he couldn't see through all the people, towering fiery gates...

"Christ," he muttered, picking himself up off the ground with a wince and rubbing his bloodied arm. This was certainly not something he'd ever seen before.

There had been light, shining faintly green around him, and a fleeting feeling of peace, that for the first time in much too long he had been able to rest properly. There was something he should be worried about, he thought vaguely, but it really didn't feel worth it to care. Then there had been a sudden jolt, and a shudder of power somewhere in the distance, and he was falling or flying and--

And landing in a heap on the ground. Which was typical of the way his luck had been going for, oh, the past half-decade, and not really worth complaining about. Zack stood up and brushed himself off, automatically checking that his sword was still safely scabbarded across his back. Right. That had been weird, and he was going to be as messed-up as Cloud soon if his mind started flipping out like that on a regular basis. It was okay, though; they had made it to Midgar, and--

At which point Zack looked up and realized that no, he wasn't anywhere in the vicinity of Midgar, unless President Shinra had been doing some serious redecorating. A moment later he realized that the last thing he could remember was looking down the barrel of a gun shoved into his face, which put a bit of an unpleasant spin on his situation. Zack looked at the line of people straggling away from the ornately decorated gate into the dome-city -- this was a damn weird afterlife, if he really was dead -- and noted with relief that Cloud wasn't among them. At least the kid was all right. Hopefully.

On the other hand, he did see an unpleasantly familiar (and beat-up looking) labcoated figure wandering around. An expression somewhere between a grin and a snarl appeared on his face, and he reached over his shoulder to draw his sword before stalking in the scientist's direction.

Really, he should have known this was all Hojo's fault.

It actually took a few momentd for Hojo to notice anything involving the spiky-haired SOLDIER, probably because of his smarting ribs. When he did notice, though, his response was about as surprising at their sudden appearance at the huge gates.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" he asked, not a hint of recognition in his voice, though he hadn't missed how irate the man looked. He just didn't respond to it right away.

"I know that your goons shot me," said Zack, attempting to loom over the professor threateningly but realizing too late that they were more or less the same height. "Or, uh, I think they did."

On second thought, he let the Buster Sword slide back into its sheath. It was going to be a hell of a lot more satisfying to use his fists, and it wasn't as if the likes of Hojo could pose any threat to him now that he wasn't locked in a mako chamber. "Explanation," he snapped, grabbing Hojo by his tie and jerking him forwards. "Now."

"Gurk!" Well. That was unexpected. Hojo reached up and loosened his tie a bit so he had a bit more slack. "Do, uh, do I know you?" he asked, sounding completely baffled and, yes, kind of scared. Hopefully this guy was just confused, otherwise this wouldn't be ending pleasantly for him.

"Do you know me? You spent five goddamn years sticking needles in me and Cloud, you sorry--" Zack blinked. Not that the ever-unflappable Hojo looking frightened for once wasn't a welcome sight, but something was... off about it. Maybe his brain really was fried, he thought, dropping Hojo and taking a step back. "Why the hell do you look thirty years younger all of a sudden?"

"I-- ...What?" Okay, that was completely random. "...You're crazy," he said, shaking his head and rubbing his temple with his undamaged hand. Landing in this bizarre line was bad enough, now he had some delusional SOLDIER interrogating him. Were hallucinations normal, with Mako treatment? He couldn't remember, but then he was still learning about what Mako did to people outside of normal Materia. It wasn't exactly something people were taught; ShinRa had developed it before he'd gotten there.

The flash of light had sent Roxas's heart racing. It had lasted only seconds but dozens of scenarios regarding the cause had raced through his mind all really involving the train he had been riding in running off the tracks or crashing into something. When the light subsided be expected to be relieved - he would either be dead or he would be alive. But when he got a look at his new surroundings, he panicked again.

He wasn't in Twilight Town any more. He wasn't exactly sure where he was at all. There was a large line and he was actually right in the middle of it. Roxas looked around him at all the odd sorts also standing in line. They all seemed to be from different places and few seemed to know each other or what was going on. And no one seemed like they would be willing to talk. He sighed and finally realized that he was here all alone.

And... what exactly was this...?

Roxas dropped the giant key he had been unaware he had been carrying and jumped backwards in shock, ramming into the older man behind him. "Hey, kid!" the man shouted and shoved him forward roughly. "Watch what you're doing!"

"I.... I'm sorry..." he muttered under his breath both resentfully and fearfully.

Cautiously, he reached down and picked up the key again. Where had it come from-

Wait. He recognized this key... That dream!

The line had moved a bit and Roxas found himself being shoved forward yet again, this time with a man with a long, thin sword. The man from before had been pushed further back in the line. Atleast this man wasn't harassing him. But... he did have a sword. Maybe this giant key would come in handy after all....

Actually, looking around more carefully, most people here had a weapon of some sort. There were sticks and swords of all sizes and a few other things that he couldn't place. One man even had a crossbow and another bore a long bow.

Roxas really didn't want to be here now...

"You've arrived at Paixao," a woman at the gate said as he was ushered through. "What is your name."

"Uhm... Roxas," he answered. "I... uh, where... how did I get here...?"

The woman ignored him and thrust out a small, black journal to him. He took it in his right hand and looked down at it. "Look, I'm trying to get ho-"

He was again pushed forward past the gates and into the city. His feet made light sounds as he walked a few steps forward on the synthetic walk way. Roxas tightened his grip on the strange weapon in his hand and pocketed the journal. He wanted to know where he was and no one here seemed at all willing to help. He was frustrated and even felt like crying but that definately wouldn't be the best response to this situation. So for now, all Roxas could really do was stand there aimlessly and try and think of what to do next...

With the mechanical journal tucked under her arm, Yuffie wandered aimlessly around the strange and shiney city she'd been spat into. While she was lost, confused and sore on her rump, the youth couldn't help but boil with excitement on the inside. She also couldn't help but stare at the endless flow of equally confused looking people.

Yuffie grumbled a few choice words to herself (such as poopiehead and jerkface) as she tried to find any one of the friends she'd been with not too long ago. Although her poor empty stomach was growling at her, she also wanted to find someone she knew in this new place.

The ninja worried that maybe she was here without anyone she knew, but made a determined face, held the journal to her chest and pressed on.

That. And she was still hungry.

Axel's steps didn't take him quite that far past the gates. He was still close enough to hear the chatter of the congregation around them—the one he once held still—and a particular patron seemed to catch his interest so suddenly that he froze in mid-walk and his usually quite narrow eyes opened slightly.

A name was uttered under his breath, and he looked over his shoulder. It wasn't long before a knowing smile spread across his face—and it even softened slightly, an almost sympathetic gaze.

"Roxas..."

Before he could stray too far from the area himself, Axel turned around and rather hastily approached the boy—whence coming too close, his pace softened into a leisurely walk, and he tilted his head slightly as he came to a stop in front of him.

"It's so nice to see you here."

Hojo calling him crazy. You had to appreciate the irony in that.

Athough the man did seem genuinely confused. For that matter, Zack didn't even know this was really Hojo. There was a strong (all right, exact) resemblance, but there was the obvious age difference as well. It would be just his luck if he was busy threatening a random stranger who just happened to look exactly like the scientist.

"Look," he said finally, not sure what answer he was hoping to hear, "you are Dr. Toshiro Hojo, right? Head of the Shinra Science Department?"

Being ripped from one reality to another was never a pleasant experience.

But had this happened before?

When the blinding colors and nausea faded away, Cloud found himself on his back, staring up at the sky. Did I have another episode? he thought uncertainly. I probably overexerted myself again. He slowly climbed to his feet, aching mercilessly, for he had landed hard on the flat of the sword on his back. At least it seemed to be undamaged.

All right, this definitely isn't the Coliseum. Instead of looking on the place he'd spent so much time at lately, he saw domes. Domes and domes and domes. There was a river nearby and it made gurgling sounds as it flowed along. There were no rivers in the Coliseum, far as Cloud knew, and he had explored every inch of that place.

Or did I? His head hurt too much now. I was dreaming then. This is where I've been all along, isn't it? He turned to the side and saw the longest line of people he'd ever seen. They were going into the domes through a gate. A pretty foreboding one at that. It had golden flames curling around it. It was pretty reminiscent of what Cloud thought the gates of Hell should look like. But Hell isn't real, is it?

Cloud watched the people flow into the domes from a distance. Why were they going in? What was so special inside domes that couldn't be found outdoors? Where were these domes in the grand scheme of things? Ah, most of the people seemed unarmed. Still, there could be danger anywhere.

What if He is inside? He could sort everything out, I'm sure. After all, He is the best. He would know. Still, the prospect of finding someone in that long a line, much less within an entire city of domes, was daunting and not enough for him to decide to join the throng. His head ached too much for conversation anyway.

Hojo actually hesitated for a moment, wondering if it would be wise to confirm his identity to someone who'd looked about ready to murder him just a few minutes prior. He realized a bit too late, though, that the long silence had just answered the question for him so he nodded slowly.

"But I'm just an assistant," he said, wanting to correct that last mistake mostly out of habit but also so no one could get him in trouble later for pretending he was someone important.

Hojo didn't seem to be lying. And now that he thought about it, Zack was pretty sure he'd been dead a few minutes ago, so time travel wasn't that much more of an addition to the weirdness.

The universe was mocking him. He finally got a chance to beat the crap out of the creep, and now he almost felt guilty about it. Even if he wasn't about to trust this version of Hojo any more than the real one, Zack couldn't bring himself to punish him for something he hadn't done, either.

"Well," he said, not quite able to bring himself to turn his back on the scientist. "Uh, sorry about the confusion-- No, wait, what the hell am I doing apologizing to you? Not sorry. If you so much as look at me funny I swear I'll--" Several of the people towards the rear of the line were staring at them, and he belatedly decided that murdering Hojo wouldn't be the brightest idea. "I'll, uh, hit you. With my fists."

Feeling more than a little disappointed, Zack turned to join the line into the city. He might as well try to find out where on the Planet (or not on the Planet) he was.

"How oddly specific," he said, though not really to anyone in particular. Mostly he felt like he should have had a clever retort ready but he didn't, so he made do with a casual observation.

With that he turned to look at the line, frowning sort of thoughtfully. What in the world could be so amazing that this many people would just stand around, waiting to see? The matter of how in the world he got there was a matter for another time, for when he knew where it was he'd landed. For now he observed, wary of following the line to see where it went. For now, anyway.

Well, there was only so much waiting and observing Cloud could stand. Nothing happened. The only movement was in the line as people filed in.

Besides... this outer world didn't hold much interest or anything useful. Apparently what was useful was inside the domes. And people were in there. He isn't going to come to me. I have to go to Him.

Ignoring the pain, Cloud shook his head and readied himself. He stretched some, and made sure his sword was secured and, well, hidden as best as it could be beneath his cloak. He also lowered his wing, hiding it as well because it would also attract much undue attention.

Now to inspect the line. From getting a better look at the people waiting, he could better grasp what their intentions were inside the domes. Cloud walked towards the line, eyeing everyone carefully. His attention was drawn to a slight scuffle out of the line. It was broken up before he got close, but one man, a bookish sort, remained looking at the line.

Cloud looked him over in passing. He doesn't look like most of the people in the line. Wonder why. He didn't watch him too long, and he walked past the man to see just how long the line stretched.

Hojo stepped back to let the spiky-haired kid pass without really thinking about it, though as he walked by it was noted that he looked just as baffled as Hojo did. After a half second of contemplation -- last time he asked a question he nearly got punched, though not necessarily BECAUSE of the question -- he turned to follow, tapping the blond on his un-armored shoulder.

"Hey, excuse me, uh..." He frowned, rephrasing what he'd been intending to say. "Do you think anyone knows why we're here?"

Cloud stopped and turned towards the man curiously. So he's just as lost as I am. "Someone might," he replied. "You'd have to ask one of them." He gestured to indicate the long line. "They all look like they are here for a reason."

He paused. "You aren't like them."

Reached in front of the line took far longer than Zack had expected. "Uh, 'scuse me," he asked the man at the gate once he had given his name, "could you tell me where exactly I am?"

He only got a blank stare in return -- so much for finding out anything. Zack took a last glance over his shoulder towards where Hojo was still standing around, and blinked, sure he had caught a glimpse of gravitationally improbable blond hair that could only belong to one person. "Cloud?" he said, trying to turn around and get a better look at the half-seen figure.

"Make up your mind," snapped someone behind him, and shoved him forwards.

"Hey, wait a sec!" yelped Zack, but more people were entering behind him and he found himself stumbling through the gate.

Getting back outside was obviously a lost hope, and anyways, if it was Cloud, he didn't have much of anywhere to go but into the city. He could look for him later, Zack reassured himself, hoping Hojo really was as harmless as he had seemed. The kid wasn't in any condition to take care of himself, that was for sure.

He stepped out of the press of people to look at the city around him, and a low whistle of appreciation escaped his lips. This place was swank, totally upper plate. Which was just great, considering his complete lack of cash. Definitely needed to find some kind of job, he thought, and remembered the book-thing that had been shoved into his hands. It opened with a metallic click, and turned out to be some sort of... electric journal? It seemed thoroughly... useless. Could things get any weirder?

"Neither are you," he pointed out with a slight grin, indicating Cloud's current appearance. "Did you just kind of appear here?" If it was happening to other people the same way it was happening to him, then they probably all had something in common. Or maybe he was dreaming. Dreams were usually stranger than this, though.

Cloud nodded. "I woke up by that river over there. How did you get here? Same way?"

This man might be from another world, like Cloud himself. He might even be many worlds removed from where he started. Who knew what caused this and for what purpose?

"...Sort of," he said with a laugh. "I was on a train and popped over here. Still moving." He gestured to his scratches. "Really, I'm lucky I didn't break any bones. But in any case, you don't seem too surprised. Is this normal?" If some people just disappeared, and reappeared in other places... fascinating. Especially if you could learn to do it at will. "What's your name?"

I don't seem too surprised? The trip felt somewhat familiar, but he couldn't be sure.

"I'm Cloud." Yes, that felt right. "And I don't know if this is normal." It was simply a new situation one had to adapt to. "Who are you?"

He didn't know? Travel like this didn't seem to affect one's memory, as Hojo could still remember everything he's remembered before popping over. Maybe it had something to do with constant travel? "Toshiro," he said. "But people typically call me Hojo. Last name." He grinned a little and shrugged, looking back at the gates. The line was dwindling. "We'll never figure out anything if we stay out here, though." He didn't have much of a desire to follow after that black-haired guy, but it seemed everything that wasn't ruined was inside. He jerked his head towards the gates, gesturing for Cloud to follow him, and moved to stand in the now very fast-moving line.

It was as good of an excuse as any to head inside. Cloud decided to follow Hojo, getting in line behind him.

I could easily skip this line and head inside, he thought. But, as Hojo pointed out, if my appearance alone makes me stand out, I had best make sure my actions don't.

"How long have you been here?" Probably not very long, either, judging by the confusion and questions.

There were people everywhere. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to stand right outside of the gate but he didn't really have anywhere else to go. Besides, he hadn't really looked around inside. Maybe by some miracle Hayner or the others were here too. But... they hadn't been on the train...

"It's so nice to see you here."

Roxas looked up into the face of the man now standing before him. He'd never met this person before but there was something about him that was... eerily familiar. He suddenly felt slightly panicked and gripped the giant key a little tighter in his hand. He tried to take a cautious step back but rammed into an older man who cursed and shoved him roughly forward and into the man in front of him. He backed up a couple steps again quickly.

Roxas tried to apologize but stumbled over his words. "I... who are you?" he asked instead.

"Not long... just a few minutes." And in that time he'd earned himself an acquaintance and an enemy.

Polarizing as always, Hojo, he thought as he absently told the lady at the gate his name and stepped into the city, looking around curiously until a small square was shoved into his hands. "What...?" He inspected it, figuring out rather quickly what it was intended for but still completely baffled as to why he'd been given one.

"This place is so strange," he said with a slight frown, dropping the journal into one of the large pockets in his lab coat.

Axel simply blinked. Feeling Roxas accidently shoved against him apparently hadn't phased him in the slightest; the most he did was raise a brow and grin in vague amusement. He did make note of the boy's alarm, however—but was honestly nothing more than amused with that, either... from what could be seen, anyway.

"Who am I...?" he echoed. Laughing softly—not at all allowing the slightest hint of vague offense bare itself on his visage—one of his black-sleeved arms graciously lifted itself, his palm pressing to his chest as he took a deep, almost mockingly arisocratic bow in Roxas' direction.

"My name is Axel."

Standing up straight again (well, more like arching his spine awkwardly back so he could somewhat assume a normal stance), he glanced over him several times, apparently sizing the boy up. "What I meant was it's nice to see a face somewhat human. Heh, you look a little lost—where'd you come from?"

The line moved quickly. Soon Cloud was at the front of the line, facing a uniformed woman at the very font of the gates.

"Name, please," she said, ready to enter it into a database.

What harm will giving my name pose? I WANT people to find me. I have nothing to hide. "Cloud," he said succinctly.

"Here you are." The woman thrust a small dark blue square at him and ushered him through the gates into the city. And what an odd city it was. Nothing was real or organic, aside from the people. It had an unwelcome feel to it. And what was it that he was given? He looked at it, intrigued . Everyone seemed to have one, now that he looked around and watched the people after him entering the city as well.

Ah, well, there was plenty of time to play with the new gift later. For now, there was a city to explore.

He felt it was weird that this man would make the comment that he looked "somewhat human" as opposed to the other people around them. Roxas couldn't help but think that Axel didn't exactly seem like a poster child for the average human. And why was he wearing those weird robes? But he did relax a little. Atleast someone was talking to him. He hadn't expected anyone to stop and care - not with the way he had been treated at the gate or how he had been ignored and shoved since he entered. And Roxas really couldn't say much, now could he? He was the one carrying around a giant key.

"I'm Roxas..." he said, introducing himself now in turn. "I... I was on a train in Twilight Town... back home... and, well, I guess I passed out or there was a train crash or something and I was here... Do... do you know where we are?"

Axel, somehow, managed to look sympathetic—if only for a moment. Seconds later, he was grinning again, giving a shrug. "Not sure, but I was told the city's name is Paixao. I've never heard of it myself... and I've been around a lot. Weird, huh?"

He took in a breath of air, and looked this way and that, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so. "I wonder if this is some kind of weird dream..." the redhead mused quietly, then looked back down at the boy, raising his brows. "Figures it would be. 'Sorta hoping it is; that way, if anything bad happens here, when you wake up, it'll all be okay."

Roxas had had dreams before. He'd had the kind of dreams that you only woke from after you had already been awake for hours. As much as he would have liked to think the stranger was right, it just didn't seem possible to him.

Still, he couldn't deny that he had had the same thought. Was any of this actually real?

"I don't think that's possible, though," he replied. "There's too many of us. Maybe one or two people sharing a dream is believable. But hundreds and more? It doesn't seem possible..."

He smiled a bit and added, "Or maybe you're not real either. Maybe you're a figment of my imagination. Or I'm one of yours." He shuddered at that thought and his smile disappeared. "I... I wonder if I'm even real. If I wasn't, and you woke up, I'd just disappear, huh? I guess it's a thought..."

Axel looked at Roxas a bit blankly for a moment... and then started laughing, shaking his head. "I don't think it's that serious, Roxas. If you're a dream to me, you'd disappear when I opened my eyes. And if I'm a dream to you—" He paused a moment, tilting his head. "...Heh, I'd also disappear when you opened your eyes. So no harm done."

"The way I see it," he said, lifting his arms suddenly and linking his fingers together as he stretched them above his head, "Might as well enjoy the dream while I'm having it. It seems so real. I could enjoy a lot of stuff I wouldn't have had the opportunity to in reality."

...

Nobunaga controlled himself as he felt the flash of light force away the darkness his closed eyelids provided, although he never opened them. Moving his hands so that his sword rested on his lap, he clutched the hilt tightly as he kept his breathing even to prevent the nausea that the light brought from getting to him. As soon as both the light and the uneasy feeling left, he opened his eyes, only to find himself kneeling on the side of a line, with people seemingly anxious to enter a gate to a... village?

As he moved to his feet, he remained emotionally blank as to let on he knew where he was while in truth, the new land was far from familiar. Switching his sword to his left hand to carry by the handle, he strode to the front of the line, ignoring protests from those who composed it... knowing that his blood stained clothes and armor - and sword for that matter - should show that he wasn't one in a good mood.

Reaching someone who seemed to know what the hell was going on, he turned them around, only to see startled eyes looking back at him. "Where am I?"

"Paixao, of course. Can I have your name please?"

"... Nobunaga Oda," - only to have his words turn sharp as his question seemed to be easily dismissed - "why?"

A strange black thing was his only reply, and he knitted his eyebrows together in a frown as he snatched it from the offering hand and tucked it inside of his belt. Finally passing the gate, which didn't hold his attention like it seemed it should have - it was much different than the gates of which he passed through - and on the 'tip' of the village, he looked at the painfully unfamiliar surroundings and wondered what happened to Ranmaru... was he sucked into this new place as well?

Looking down at the state of his dress, he let a small sigh pass his lips as being in a new place with less than perfect armor and a blood-dulled sword was not in his best interest... but the people around him - mostly peasants, he noted - had some sort of clothing he wasn't accustomed to. What happened to the kimono and dress like it? Out of all the unfamiliar places, why did he have to be in one like this?

"I just want to wake up," Roxas told him. "I don't like dreams."

He looked down at the giant key in his hands again. He raised it slightly and swung it down with little effort. It was lighter than he expected but it obviously wasn't a toy. Where did it come from and why did he have it? And... where was it's door?

"You know," he said, lifting the key again, "this was once a dream, too. I used to dream about falling a lot... and then at the end I would find this." Roxas's face brightened again slightly. "I still don't think this is a dream... but maybe this is where I was falling. But... well, now that I'm here, I don't really know what to do."

Axel glanced back down to Roxas, looking a little disheartened at his negativity—narrowing his eyes slightly as he watched him swing the Keyblade about half-heartedly. He laughed softly moments later, however, putting his arms down and letting them hang awkwardly at his sides.

"Maybe that means I'll become more than just a dream, too?" he asked, his voice light. "Anyway, I think you should start by looking for a place to stay. I imagine it gets rough around this area at night, from the looks of things,"—his eyes wandered—"Wouldn't wanna be a just a kid lost in a big city. Obtaining some money might help you out too."

"We learned in school not too long ago that places with a high immigration rate don't exactly have a lot of job opportunities," Roxas told him and then felt kind of stupid and childish. But who did he think he was kidding in the first place? He was just a kid and come tonite he would just be a kid lost in the big city shacked up in a cardboard box somewhere. He didn't even have his skate board and any references from his old job would be impossible to get...

He looked back at Axel. This man was strange and even though Roxas had relaxed around him he didn't know if he could trust him. But... he had stopped to talk to him...

"What... what are you going to do?"

"Details, details!" Axel waved a hand, dismissing Roxas' schooling, rolling his eyes slightly though there was a grin on his face. "There's plenty ways of obtaining money without actually getting a job anyway, so you don't have to worry about that 'job opportunities' bull they fed you."

"As for me?" He paused a moment, raising his brows and lifting his eyes to the domes as he thought about it. "Heh, I've sort of recieved a special invitation to that 'cathedral' over there," he replied, pointing over to a rather huge establishment in the distance. "Don't think it'd be the right place for a kid like you, though, ha."

Roxas looked in the direction that Axel was pointing. Cathedral had always meant a church to him but he wondered what it must mean to the people here. Whatever that place really was, it definately wasn't a church. And he had a feeling that Axel was right. It probably wasn't the right place for a kid.

"Maybe you're right," he said trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. He really didn't like the idea of being alone again. But it wasn't like he could do anything about it. He couldn't act like a little lost puppy ~~even if he was~~ and tail along everywhere this guy went. He didn't even trust this guy that much. "I guess if I'm going to find a place stay, I better get moving. Maybe... maybe I'll see you around or something. Have fun at your, erm... cathedral?"

Axel's face went slightly blank for a moment, if not thoughtful. He bit on his bottom lip—and then it came to him. "Ah, hold on a moment," he said, and slipped his journal from his pocket (which he'd stashed away earlier), and flipping it open again.

Apparently futzing around with the small device for a moment, suddenly, a grin spread across his face. "Why don't you go back to the gate and catch the train? It'll arrive in an hour or so, then you can take it to a better side of town and find a cheap place to stay," he offered him. "There's a good place right near the centra station called Actua Are. It's a bit of a walk, but hey."

"Oh!" Roxas said, tucking the key under his arm and pulling the journal they had given him earlier out of his pocket. "Is there a map in this-"

He looked awkwardly at the keyboard and furrowed his brow slightly. Twilight Town wasn't exactly behind in technology - atleast, not in its mind anyways - but electronics like this... they just weren't the most common thing in the world. He found the map icon and looked at it. There were train tracks running in a cross like shape across the city. There was a train right by the gate...

"I... I don't have any money though," he said. "I mean... does the train cost money? I spent all my money on that last train ride I took... I didn't think I'd need any more that day... today... whatever. I wish I had my skate board but I could walk it. It's a plan anyways." Roxas actually felt better about atleast having an idea about what to do now.

Axel pursed his lips in thought a moment, and then sighed. Reaching into the deep pockets of his coat, he pulled out a few gold coins and tossed them Roxas' way. "You'll be able to make due with that for today. It'll get you a train trip and a place to stay for the night. After that, you're on your own."

He flashed him a small smile and flipped his journal closed, sliding it back into it's place. "It was nice meeting you, Roxas. Maybe I'll catch you again around the city. Seeya."

And before Roxas could even answer him—Axel had teleported away.

Roxas caught the coins shakily, reacting a bit slowly since he had not really been expecting them. He shoved the journal into his pants pocket again and placed the coins in the other pocket. He tried to thank him but was cut off by Axel's goodbyes. As Roxas began to speak, the man suddenly disappeared.

His eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly. "Axel!" he yelled in shock. But then he quieted quickly as people began to look his way. He shoved the coins securely into his pocket. He wasn't new to city life. All he could remember - the full two years or so - had been spent in Twilight Town which, while it was a peaceful city, was still a city. People just didn't walk around with their money out.

Roxas took the key in his hand again and looked down at it. "Okay..." he said to himself. "I don't know what this is but... I guess it'll hurt if I hit someone with it..."

He sighed and started off towards the trainstation.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Entering through Muspelheim. [Closed]

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To Roxas...

To Hojo

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To Zack

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To Hojo

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To Hojo

To Axel...

To Cloud! ZOMG.

To Roxas

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To Axel.... <3 Roxas.

To Roxas... from Axel, with LOVE.

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-----Roxas-----> Axel =O!!!

Roxas OMG rabu

Dear Asshole, Love Rox Ass

OMG ROXASS IS MEAN.

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