http://alone-by-choice.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] alone-by-choice.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] paixaorpg2006-02-26 10:31 pm

A Strange Sort of Reunion [Completed]

Character(s): Riku, Namine, Cid, Roxas, Aerith, Ashe, Cam, Reno, Elena, Henrietta, Gene
Content: Namine and Riku arrive at Cid's shop, Roxas speaks with Riku about the Ansem issue, Riku leaves while everyone else eats breakfast, Ashe shows up to buy a pen for her journal, and Cam shows up to fix the hole in the roof.
Setting: Cid's Shop at the center of town
Time: Friday morning - v. early
Warnings: Swearing

With a little searching (and asking for directions once), Riku was able to find an all night coffee house where they commandeered a booth for the night. He ordered them a couple of warm ciders (Namine needed her vitamin C if she was going to avoid that cold) and then dipped into their food again for a late night snack.

Encouraging Namine to sleep if she was tired again (he’d slept all day, but she must be worn out by now), Riku settled in to check his journal again, wasting away the night scribbling more replies. It turned out half the people he’d been corresponding with knew Sora. Unfortunately, no one seemed to know where he was. It also seemed he’d been talking to the shop owner of the store they were headed for without knowing it. He seemed okay for a crusty old guy, but his mention of living at Hollow Bastion freaked Riku out. He didn’t like to even think about that place, after…

Riku was just getting ready to shut his journal to give his eyes a break, when a little window popped up. It was that Roxas kid who reminded him of Sora! Riku felt…kind of weird inside, talking with him. Once he’d started, he found he couldn’t stop. That old guy had said Roxas worked for him in the shop and that he had eyes like Sora’s. Riku couldn’t imagine anyone else having eyes like Sora’s. That perfect blue that was unlike anything else he’d ever seen on any world. But this kid…made him feel… Well, he wanted to meet him and see for himself if he really was like Sora or not.

Betwen that and what he learned over the journals that night, Riku was more determined to go to Cid’s shop than ever.

As soon as he saw the grey, overcast dawn breaking over the horizon, he woke Namine and told her it was time to go. They probably could have waited a bit longer, but he was eager to get moving. Once outside, Riku loaded up their belongings and, with much coercion, finally convinced Namine to climb onto his shoulders for the three mile hike. He needed the exercise, and this way she would neither slow them down nor tire out first thing in the morning.

Even loaded down as he was, Riku set a fast pace. They were there in less than two hours, at which point the streets were starting to get crowded with normal morning activity. When they reached the shop, Riku almost walked right past it. The only thing identifying it was a small handwritten sign in the window. Luckily Namine spotted it and stopped him.

There was a bench in front of the store window, and Riku stopped to let Namine down before they went in. From the outside, the store didn’t look so bad. Then again, they were in a better district now, and nothing could have compared with the witch’s scrapheap of Auntie Unde’s. Riku shuddered, just remembering it.

He didn’t take Namine’s hand when they walked in, in case the flower girl was there. Just in the doorway, Riku peered around. This store was full of crap, too, but it wasn’t useless junk. It was odds and ends of really useful stuff, including what looked like parts of a spaceship.

Whoa.

Riku hoped they had less complicated things, too. Up ahead, there was a display case that looked to be full of small weapons. Maybe they had some throwing knives he could teach Namine how to use. As Riku made his way over, he noticed a man behind the counter. From the stoically cranky look (and stubble) on his face to the coffee stain on his t-shirt, even his stance—and what was with that chewed-up toothpick in his mouth?—everything about this guy screamed old and crusty.

“You must be the old guy I talked to on the journals,” he said, strutting up to the counter. “I’m Riku.”

[identity profile] mother-crapper.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Cid didn't look his best due to the fact that he'd been up almost two days straight trying to re-wire the basement lights and see if he could possibly get use out of that old bar in the basement. He'd managed to get it done, finally, but he'd unfortunately forgotten to do anything hygenic in the meantime. However, 'old and crusty' seemed like such an offensive way to refer to his rather disheveled look. Especially the old part.

Cid turned around to face the young voice that came behind him. In front of
the counter was a boy in his late teens at best, looking at him expectantly.

"Riku, y'say?" Cid echoed, looking the boy over and trying to recall the name. "Ah! You must be the kid with the pink problem." He let out a raspy chuckle and put his offensively pink abomination journal next to his free hand on the counter. "I've got the same problem, kiddo."

Although, Cid had to assume he wasn't just here to talk about journals.

"Hey, wait. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING OLD?"

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Mr. Cid was yelling about something. Roxas groaned and rolled over off the mattress on to the floor with a slight grunt. His room didn't have a bed yet but Mr. Cid assured him that it would later. Atleast it seemed like no one else had been woken up. He rubbbed his eyes and looked around with a bleary gaze. The sun was up already. He sighed. He might as well get up now and see what was wrong with Mr. Cid.

He ran his hand through his hair and pulled on his jacket and then walked down the stairs, stepping softly so he didn't wake anyone else who hadn't woken.

"Mr. Cid," he called out with a stiffled yawn. "Are you okay? Did you need something?"

[identity profile] flowersatheart.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
Aerith wasn't really expecting him to be there so early - she vaguely wondered how long he had been traveling, to get there that early in the morning. And, really, she didn't usually expect to be up this early, herself. She figured it was lucky they would be running into each other at all, at this time of the morning.

"Morning," she called, to all the occupants of the shop, smiling as brightly as she could for such an unfriendly hour in the morning. She had changed into her pink dress when nearly half-asleep, and she was twisting her long hair into a braid as she spoke. Pulling the ribbon from her pocket, she began fiddling with it, lacing it to the top of her braid.

Her eyes fell on Riku rather quickly - after all, it was hard to miss people with rare hair colors - and she said, cheerfully, "You must be Riku."

To Riku, et al

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
"You've gotta be Roxas. I'm Riku."

Roxas hadn't noticed the other people in the shop. Aerith was already down with Cid and there were two customers it seemed. He rubbed his eyes again and ywaned before directing his attention in the direction the voice had come from. It was still registering in his mind that the person who had called him had known his name and that his name was Riku.

It was a lot earlier than he had been expecting Riku. If he had known they would arrive this early he would have gotten up sooner-

He froze. Standing in front of him was the same figure that had stood in front of him just nights ago. Roxas's eyes widened and the blood drained from his face. "I... I... w-what are you doing here?" he managed to get out. Roxas was in a panic and wasn't sure what to do. The giant key was still in his room and he doubted he'd have the opportunity to run up and get it...

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Look. It's okay. I can explain..."

Roxas was trying to calm down now. The girl with him, Mr. Cid, and Aerith all seemed unalarmed by his pressence and as far as he could tell he wasn't doing any of the weird stuff he had done the first night he had seen him. He said his name was Riku - the one he had talked to through the journals - even though Roxas only knew him as Ansem.

But... he seemed different here. He didn't seem like the murderer he had seen before but he didn't want to take chances. But, save from running up and grabbing the keyblade he couldn't really even use, there wasn't much else he could do...

"O-okay, then," he said, not really believing him but not having anything else better to say. "I-I... I'll listen. But I-I don't see how you can explain- I mean, it's you. The other night and all those people. I mean..." Roxas didn't know what he meant any more.

To Riku

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Let's go get it, and I'll explain on the way."

He didn't like the idea of being alone with this Riku-Ansem character but... Roxas didn't find him to be as threatening as he had that night. There was something different about him and as his fight-or-flight reaction began to wear off, he was beginning to realize that more. Still, he couldn't say he trusted him at all.

He nodded and cleared his head. "O-okay," Roxas agreed. "That, ah, that sounds like a, a good idea, then..."

To Riku

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
"That's why...I need to have the Keyblade along. It's not for Axel. It's...for me."

Axel... what did he have to do with this?

He didn't pretend to fully understand what Riku was talking about. But he didn't think he was lying. Riku wasn't Ansem. Ansem was Riku. In an odd way Roxas supposed it made sense. When they reached his room he entered quickly and grabbed the keyblade. He looked down at it for a moment. Riku wanted him to come along because of this thing...

Roxas still didn't know if he could really do anything with it. He sighed.

"I'm sorry, Riku," he said. "I... I just... It's all a lot more complicated here than at home. If you had said that to me in Twilight Town I never would have believed you. But after seeing what is possible here... I guess I can believe you..." He finally looked Riku in the eye for the first time since they had been downstairs. "You really aren't lying, are you?"

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
A lot of things were going through Roxas's mind right now. He had had a hard time the first few months in Twilight Town learning to accept his surroundings and the world around him. He was starting to feel the same where he had back then - completely lost, utterly confused, and totally defeated. Paixao was just too overwhelming for someone who had technically only "lived" for two years.

Roxas brought the keyblade up and hugged it to his chest. He frowned slightly at Riku's awkward actions and din't even try and understand them at this point. He had a strange forboding feeling about the entire situation but wasn't sure how to react.

"So, do you have any plan or anything?" Roxas asked, moving slightly closer to the door. He was wondering what Mr. Cid and Aerith and the girl must have thought about his little outburst. Man he could be such an idiot. "I mean... can you even find them or, or anyting?"

To my girls on the ground floo'

[identity profile] mother-crapper.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Cid had kept quiet while the newcomer had introduced himself to the others that the loud mechanic had woken up. He frowned and became wary of the newcomers when Roxas had nearly fainted from fear just looking at him. Cid had resisted the urge to say something when the older boy offered they go upstairs--he didn't want anything happening to Roxas. That kid was too young to get molested or something as equally terrible.

He sighed irritably when the two of them went upstairs and went over to the stove he'd put by the window, behind the counter. Might as well treat his other guest decently. Wasn't any good for him or his reputation to be abusin' a little girl by ignoring her.

"You want anythin', missies? I was just about to put some tea on. I've got some shit we can cook if you're hungry."

To Cid

[identity profile] namine.livejournal.com 2006-02-28 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Naminé looked on with concern at the blonde kid's fright. Admittedly, she had had a similar reaction upon first seeing Riku again. She had calmed down quick enough when she had seen that Ansem no longer controlled Riku. But she hadn't seen what Ansem could do and had less reason to be afraid. She watched as the kid led Riku upstairs. Hopefully Riku would be able to sort things out.

She turned back to the man, finally noticing that he had asked her a question. "Oh, just tea is fine, thank you," she responded quietly. She wanted to say something in response to what had just happened between Riku and that kid, but she didn't know how to explain it. So she fell silent, and went back to watching the way Riku and the kid had gone, hoping that nothing bad had happened.

[identity profile] flowersatheart.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Aerith," she had told Riku, smiling and then falling quiet to watch him talk to Roxas - well, interesting. He didn't know the kid well, she figured, but he must have, somehow - Roxas did look a whole lot like Sora. She didn't understand much what was going on between them, but she had a few inklings.

Kids.

Turning towards Cid and leaning against the counter, she nodded, "Tea would be great, Cid. Thanks."

Glancing at Naminé, she offered a smile - the girl seemed fairly timid, judging by how she was being so quiet and just looking around at anything. Maybe not, but it seemed likely. With a friendly tone, she said, "Hi. I'm Aerith. Nice to meet you," and offered her hand.

[identity profile] namine.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
Naminé smiled back and took the woman's hand, though her grip was very soft. "Naminé. Nice to meet you too," she said, "I think I spoke to you once over the journals. About Sora?" Judging by her journal, Aerith seemed to be the same person. Unless there was another Aerith in Paixao. But that seemed unlikely.

Naminé hadn't noticed it before, having been too preoccupied with watching Riku and that kid, but Aerith looked as if she had just woken up. "Oh no, did we wake you? I'm sorry..."

[identity profile] flowersatheart.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Naminé was just as gentle as she expected - Aerith shook her hand easily, and then let it go.

"Yes, I believe you did - still haven't seen or heard from him, but it's only a matter of time," she said, optimistically, and she ran her fingers through her bangs carelessly, smiling. They weren't styled as usual, so they fell straight to jaw-length, and she had to keep brushing them out of her eyes. "And no, no, not at all. It's okay, there's plenty of time to catch up on sleep later, isn't there?"

Hopping up to sit on the counter, careful to avoid Cid's poor, abused diary - she was pretty sure Cid wouldn't mind at all if she did, though - and folding one leg over the other, she added, "Ironic, everyone ending up in one city, though."

To Riku, et al

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Going back downstairs seemed like a good idea to him. He believed Riku when he said he wasn't Ansem any more but the idea that he could be again at any moment made him feel very anxious. The only thing that had stopped Ansem before had been the keyblade. But Roxas wasn't confident at all in his ability to weild it and atleast downstairs there were more people. He was just being paranoid, he knew it, but so many things had happened to him in just the past few days since he got to Paixao that he didn't want to take any chances.

Roxas just wanted to go home.

They walked downstairs without saying anything. Roxas wasn't sure what he should say to this other boy. They had talked easily on the journals last night but now that Roxas was being faced with this person and realizing who he was... it was awkward. He felt he was probably being unfair but he couldn't help it. He tried to hide his relief when they got downstairs with the others. Roxas smiled bashfully and went red, hoping the others wouldn't think he was too stupid for freaking out earlier.

"I, ah, so, you said we could talk about plans, right?" he said to Riku, not sure how to proceed.

[identity profile] namine.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Naminé laughed shyly. "Well, I've been sleeping in spurts lately, so 'plenty of time' for sleeping sounds almost like a foreign language." She leaned her back against the counter. She was already getting tired of standing and Aerith was sitting on the counter, so leaning on it couldn't really be that bad. "Ironic? Well, I guess that's certainly a word for it..."

She might have said more, but at that moment Riku and the blonde kid had come down the stairs and reentered the room. The boy looked flustered, but all right. She let out a sigh of relief. It looked like Riku had managed to calm him down, a bit. What could have happened between those two...?

As she pondered this she finally took a good look at him. He looked familiar, somehow. Yes, she remembered now. Axel had introduced them, and she had maybe seen him once or twice since then, but not enough to get properly acquainted. Besides, he seemed... different. It didn't take long for the memory witch to pinpoint exactly what was different about him. Well then... best to just treat him as if they had never met before.

When Riku left Naminé watched him, startled. She moved away from the counter as if to follow, but then decided against it. Riku looked like he needed time alone. She looked back at the blonde kid. What happened...?

[ooc: Major copying and pasting from my old post.]

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Roxas watched confused as Riku left the building. He had said little more than a few words and gone abruptly without having his friend accompany him. Roxas frowned slightly but couldn't help but be relieved. He had nothing against Riku - only Ansem - but there was something about him that made him feel almost the same way he felt when he was around Sora. Both of the other boys made him feel uncomfortable - like less of himself. He didn't know why but he didn't like it. Roxas was glad to have Riku leave even if he felt guilty after realizing it must have been his fault for his departure. He felt just as guilty for having snuck off from the others after talking with Sora. After that conversation he just... had to go. He couldn't explain it. He just didn't want to stay there any more with Sora.

He sighed and walked over to sit in front of the stove. He was still very tired and the tea that Cid had put on was looking really good right now.

[identity profile] mother-crapper.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 07:41 am (UTC)(link)
Cid continued to ignore everything that wasn't his business--kids these days had way too many problems for Cid to wrap his head around, and he'd really rather not involve himself with something he didn't understnad entirely.

There was a terribly uncomfortable silence after Riku had left the shop in a rather hurried way--Cid almost couldn't stand it. He grumbled something about Grilled Cheese sandwiches and pulled out a pan just as the tea kettle began to whistle.

"So, Little Namine, was it?" he asked awkwardly, clearing his throat. "What brings you and Ritsu to our part of the neighborhood?"

[identity profile] ah-shay.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 08:28 am (UTC)(link)
It was very early in the morning and Ashe almost considered going back, thinking that she would disturb Roxas and the other people at Mr. Cid's store if she comes too early. But she found herself more than halfway through the journey and so turning back would be rather stupid to do. She was getting tired, but then she finds herself looking at the sign of the shop.

Walking hurriedly toward the door, she knocks three times before creaking the door open, surprised that it is unlocked. She wonders if perhaps the people there are awake already. Entering the shop, she finds herself looking at quite a number of people seemingly in a conversation right before she entered. "Uhm, good morning, I am here to meet a boy named Roxas," she says awkwardly. She hopes that those people are friendly.

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
At the mention of his name, Roxas looked up from where he had been sitting by the stove. Mr. Cid had come over and mumbled something about grilled cheese sandwiches which made him realize how hungry he really was. He groaned to himself. This wasn't a good morning. He didn't even want to turn around to see who it was that wanted to talk to him now.

But he did.

"I'm Roxas," he answered the woman. "How can I-I be of assistance?"

[identity profile] ah-shay.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm Roxas, How can I-I be of assistance? a boy with blonde-hair stuttered to her. The boy seemed to be around fourteen years old, but perhaps younger considering his naive gaze. Bowing down to his level so that the boy do not feel too intimidated, Ashe smiles.

"Why, what a very handsome boy you are," a compliment always goes a long way, she has learned. "Even more than I imagined you to be." and standing straight again, Ashe looks around the store at the people in the room. It did strike her that the people were dressed rather... strangely, but they seem to be good people, or at least she hopes they are.

"I am Ashe, I met Roxas, in a way, through the network of journals and he suggested that I go here to buy a pen for my journal." Ashe explains to the people in the room. "I lost mine, you see, and I am rather fond of writing compared to typing."

[identity profile] mother-crapper.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"Why, what a very handsome boy you are."

Cid pressed his lips into a thin line and kept himself from saying anything. The last thing Roxas needed right now was another person coming to scare the crap outta that poor kid. Especially a woman! Somehow, that just made everything worse.

Though when he turned to sneak a glance at the young lady, she didn't look like someone who was out to do life-scarring damage to children... she actually looked pretty cute.

"Well, missy," Cid said, moving away from the stove for a moment. "We got some styluses in a little box on those shelves over yonder--" he gestured towards the opposite end of the store. "Have a look-see and if there's anythin' you like, just lemmie know."

Cid leaned over to Roxas and whispered softly (well, as softly as a man like Cid was capable of) into his ear, "How the hell do you meet all these people?!"

[identity profile] samuraiamulet.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
(ooc: oh man, I need a kick in the face. Thanks Riku-mun, you're a lifesaver. D: pretty much the post I deleted because too lazy/don't have enough time to write a repost)

Cam pulled out the journal again, after his duplicate did an irritating 'ring ring' noise. Everything was typed out in front of him, about the man who owned a place that needed help, and after replying back and forth and getting the proper information, he set off.

The place wasn't far from where he had planned to stay, which was a kind of relief. He decided to go ahead and walk through the miles - since now wasn't the time to exert energy in an unfamiliar place. He took his time, though, and took breaks here and there (although it seemed like it would take forever). Finally stopping at what seemed to be the Actua Are hotel, he looked around only to find the entrance to the shop which was his destination.

His head throbbed - more than it did when he appeared in this place - and he reminded himself to ask for aspirin when he saw the man. Cyber Cam shook the journal, and the Samurai opened it again, only to have his duplicate use one of the jacks on it to 'escape' and form himself.

"So we're here, bro?"

Cam nodded, ignoring the fact that he was called 'bro'. Being around Hunter and Blake must've rubbed off somehow. He walked in - still cautious, as ninja training would allow - knowing that Cyber Cam was walking behind him. Although his duplicate was snickering... 'he must still be on the server', Cam thought.

[identity profile] namine.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Ritsu? Oh, Riku, right. Naminé was about to answer Cid's question when a woman walked in the door. Was this a busy morning, or was this normal? She shrugged it off and waited for Cid to finish with his customer before answering. "We're looking for someone. Though, according to Aerith, you should know of him. His name is Sora. Riku says we need him to help rescue Kairi... She's our other friend," she offered quickly as explanation.

She looked back at the blonde boy. He didn't look too good. And judging by Riku's quick disappearance, things hadn't gone too well between the two of them. She started to play with a lock of her hair idly. Riku would be coming back, right? He had to, because they had to go find Kairi. Well, first they had to go find that Sora kid, but then they had to go find Kairi. They had to.

Her thoughts kept on repeating through her head and she bit her lip to keep from crying. She couldn't worry about that sort of thing now. She just had to believe that everything would work out. Because, otherwise, what did she have?

She was shaken from her thoughts as the door opened again. This really must be a busy morning.

[identity profile] mysteriousboy.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"How the hell do you meet all these people?!"

Roxas rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked down at his feet for a moment. "Through the journals," he answered quietly. "Like she said... we've been talking for a while there... since we got here..." He was still bright red from Ashe's compliment. Roxas hadn't known how pretty she was through the journals just as he hadn't realized Henrietta was so young until he had met her. Thinking that made him go a little redder.

This morning was really starting to remind him of opening night. But in a good way. He had been looking forward to meeting Riku (which hadn't gone well) and Ashe all of yesterday. He walked over to give her hand, feeling a little better now.

"I-I'll help you find them Ashe-" he began but broke off as another man entered the store.

"Welcome, Mister," he greeted. "Any way we could help you? Anything we could help you find?"

[identity profile] samuraiamulet.livejournal.com 2006-03-02 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Cam's eyes widened as he looked around at the residents in the shop, who were younger than he thought they would be. But then again, they could be customers... or something. "I'm here to talk about repairing a roof?"

The Samurai hoped to everything holy that his duplicate would remain quiet. Extra sarcasm wasn't needed in this situation. "And asprin, if there's any around."

(ooc: sorry for the late reply; I kind of get offline at nighttime. D:)

(no subject)

[identity profile] ah-shay.livejournal.com - 2006-03-02 10:15 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] mother-crapper.livejournal.com 2006-03-02 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
Cid glanced up at the newcomer when he walked in, and started shuffling around underneath the counter for pills when he asked.

"Sure, kidd-o," he mumbled as he looked. "I got some right here.... Ah!"

Victorious! He pulled out his hand and handed a small bottle to the boy.

"Good to see y'made it all right, Sonny! But I didn't quite catch your name when we were speakin' over the network...."

[identity profile] samuraiamulet.livejournal.com 2006-03-02 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Smiling, Cam took it from the older man - "Thanks." - and looked at the bottle before deciding to take them. Opening the bottle, he shoot two out, and swallowed them dry. Asking for water would've been nice, but that was too much wait for this headache.

"I'm Cam." - he started as he handed the bottle back - "And... this is my duplicate who you talked to over the network; Cyber Cam."

His duplicate waved rather... calmly and said a "Yo.", in which Cam was happy for the 'sedated' manner.

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