thenearshore | ( open ) well, there weren't any treasure chests

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( open ) well, there weren't any treasure chests

Who: Urashima and you
What: Urashima being the best he can be at everything he can try
When: 24, 25, 27 May so we can be a little flexible with dates!
Where: Various places in the Near Shore, Hachiman's Temple, and generally around the Far Shore.
Summary: Most options are open! There's one closed one and one semi-open one.

1. I'll Pay You In Experience (Various, The Near Shore)

( Summer jobs are all the rage but it's hard to get a job when you don't have a ~resume~ or work experience. Urashima, unfortunately, has neither of these and he's learned the hard way that it's harder to get work experience than you might think… Uwah, how is he supposed to get experience if no one will give him a chance!?

But with persistence and pure genki, he's managed to get a job!!!

... Which means he hasn't really found a job at all. He's just helping out the average person in the Far Shore, running errands and doing small favors for those who can use the extra help. You can find Urashima doing a few things,

A. In a neighborhood garden, tying string to some wooden stakes to help support the plants.
B. Running around the city carrying a small shopping bag of items and a piece of paper with an address written in shaky letters
C. At a local temple, standing in front of all sorts of charms that are for sale. He isn't really helping here but something's definitely caught his attention. )

2. Take this! (Hachiman's Temple, The Far Shore) (Semi-Open to people who would be around Hachiman's temple)

( He's a cinnamon roll. An absolutely squishy cinnamon roll so it's a wonder why this kid is suddenly up and center in the middle of the practice hall, a wooden sword in hand, and holding his hands in front of him in a pleading gesture, )

Please, go easy on me!

( P L E A S E )

3. That hurt, you know (Various, The Far Shore)

( It's been a long day and he's on his way home back! He's probably carrying a few odd things from his day in the Near Shore. Look at his "pay" for the day! Random snacks, some seasonal drinks, half a daikon, wrapped in newspaper, a bag of cherries, and an old coin purse, a little worn and clearly used.... but it's really cute and shaped like a fish!

He's also got a few fresh new bruises on his arms but that's not important. At least, he doesn't appear to mind. )

4. Akihabara (Closed to Roxas)

( They've been talking about it for awhile but finally, Roxas and Urashima have a chance to go to Akihabara together. Urashima follows closely behind him, not wanting to get separated in the crowds. Honestly, the entire district is a little overwhelming but not in a bad way! His eyes are as bright as the signs and lights as he stops to look a sign advertising a new cafe that will be opening up soon. )

Uwah... do you come here a lot?!

5. Wildcard

( COME AT ME )

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Okay! They'll bring honey and sugar if you want to add that to it.

[A tea only kept around his temple for Urashima... Roxas himself can't stand the stuff after learning about all these other kinds. He picks a vanilla chai for himself, chatting with the maid that takes their order for a bit.

He blinks when he hears that.]

I am?

( It's bitter but it goes well with all of the sweet things Urashima likes to eat... it makes them sweeter, really! )

Yeah. ( It's a quiet acknowledgement but one that makes him glow just thinking about it. ) You let me stay with you for so long... and shared so much with me like your friends and the things you like.

( And there's something like a hum as he folds his hands in his lap and bows his head down some, )

Thank you.

[He hears Urashima out, wanting to reply when suddenly he's being thanked. He sits up and puts his hands up.]

You don't need to thank me! [He looks down, feeling a bit sad.] At first I let you stay because Pippa was important to me... and then I got to know you more, and now I'm glad I did. [Roxas looks up at Urashima with a smile.] You're one of my favorite people here. You're my friend.

( He's a little sad too when he thinks about how they met. It's something that seems long ago but also fresh in his memory. )

You didn't have to, though. ( And Urashima will always be grateful. Like in the old stories, when a hero helps a spirit in need, the spirit always remembers and rewards the hero. ) You kept me safe and took care of me when I couldn't do anything for you.

( Like when he suddenly left the temple. He'd really wanted to help but all he could do was wait for Roxas to come back. )

I can do more now. ( As a shinki, at least. ) So if you ever need help, let me know, okay? You're my friend too. And I want to keep you safe like you did for me, okay?

Huh? You don't have to do anything for me. I'm just glad you're safe and happy. That's all I want for my friends.

[Why he would ever do something and expect something in return is still a weird human concept to Roxas sometimes. It's made him fear owing anyone anything since that is the kind of system that existed back in Koriko. Having someone have that power over you is terrifying. The Witch had that power over him, so now Roxas does whatever he can to never make a shinki feel like they owe him.

He does feel warm when Urashima says these things, a sense of pride bringing a smile to Roxas' face. His friend had done a lot of growing up and it was nice to see, and know that deep down Urashima was still that bright light of a person.]

Right. I know you will, but I'll still protect you too.

( He's grown in a lot of ways and it's manifested subtly. He's still as energetic ever but his energy is more controlled. He's less likely to run around for the sake of running and channels it into other things instead-- practicing the sword and caring for his friends, )

Heh heh... I'll show you. ( He's not a helpless turtle anymore. ) I've been practicing everyday. I can use a sword now, you know?

( Or rather, he always knew how, he just had to find his way again. )

Ah, have I ever told you? When Miss Pippa and Terra call my name, I turn into a sword too.

A sword? [Urashima did always strike him as a sword person, so it's not that much of a surprise.] Maybe we should spar one day.

[Now there was a look of surprise on his face. Pippa... her having a weapon just makes the pain of Axel dying sting again. Quick to hide it, Roxas tilts his head.]

Terra named you?

Ah. ( Look, he was going to tell Roxas but like... later, after the day was over. ) Mhm, I... let him name me.

( And he bows his head down some, suddenly finding great interest in his napkin, )

I was going to tell you later today. ( That he would finally be leaving. ) It's why I wanted to thank you for everything...

[There's a moment of silence before Roxas breaks out into a smile.]

That's great! You picked a good god to be named by. [Now there was no more worries about Urashima being forced a name on. He has a god!] You're still gonna come visit, right?

( It actually makes him a little uneasy at first, how quiet Roxas gets, but the smile immediately sets him back at ease and brings one to his own face. It actually means a lot to him that Roxas approves, especially when he's still getting used to the idea of being a shinki again after being unattached for so long, )

He is, he is! ( Terra is very kind. ) I'll visit all the time! ( He says it so quickly, like it's an absolute and natural thing to do, ) I want to still see you a lot too.

( Ah, )

-- If that's okay!

( He doesn't want to be a bother, okay. )

He's kind of a pushover sometimes, but I think it's because he likes kids.

[You're like the perfect person to be considered a kid, Urashima.]

I'd like that! It'll be weird not having you there all the time, but I know where to find you. Plus, we can always text and call each other.

( What do you mean Terra is a pushover... He hasn't been doing any being pushed over as far as Urashima can tell but Urashima's also the type that doesn't realize he's being spoiled while things are going on. But he'll save that little bit of information for future reference-- not so he can bully Terra or anything but to make sure he doesn't take things for granted. )

Mhmm! It's why... I've been staying over still. ( He's been going to Terra's temple frequently and getting used to things, working up the nerve to stay later each time but Roxas' place has become a familiar home to him over the month. The idea of not staying there anymore is harder to imagine than not staying at Pippa's, which he'd only been at for a few days. ) Even though I wasn't your shinki, you gave me a home so it's hard leaving.

[Clearly. Roxas spoils all of his shinki and non-shinki equally, so it probably didn't even feel like being spoiled. They deserve t for having such awful lots in life.

So he's having a hard time leaving? Roxas tries to think of a solution before nodding. It might work...]

Why don't you wean yourself slowly? Try maybe sleeping over there every other or every couple of nights? And then just add more days as you get used to it?

( It'll be easier now that he's told Roxas officially and, )

I think it'll be easier now that I know you're okay too. ( Since Roxas hs lost friends too. Not that Urashima was going anywhere but as a dear friend, he really valued his opinion. ) If you think Terra is good, then I feel better.

( Like he chose well. )

I'm a little afraid, though. Can I ask you a question?

Why wouldn't I be okay? It's not like you're gonna stop talking to me.

[Roxas frowns. Afraid?]

Sure. What's up?

[Now he's worried. Did something bad happen or is going to happen to Urashima?]

If you went away... and your shinki found a new god but then you came back, what would you do?

( He's watching Roxas carefully now, trying to find hints about what his answer might be. It's the one thing that had kept Urashima from finding a god for so long and now, it's the only thing that really hangs over him. )

Would you take them back or tell them to stay?

[It might seems rash, but Roxas has an answer for that.]

I'd ask them what they want to do. If they want to come back to me, I'd be happy. But I'd be happy to if they stayed with their new god. That means they trust them. I think... as long as they didn't hate me for leaving things will be okay. It's not like I'd leave on purpose. I don't think this world would let me do that.

[Not that'd he'd want to. He has a better life here than the situation back home or Koriko.]

( Decisions.

Urashima's greatest weakness. )

Terra said the same thing. ( Or at least, something very similar. ) You know... I waited for a really long time but it wouldn't be smart to wait forever, right? ( For Pippa to come back. ) I would be really happy if Miss Pippa came back and I would want to go back... but I think I would be sad to leave Terra too. But I don't want to be a nora... so Terra promised he would release me if that ever happened.

( His voice is quiet, a little uncertain now as he tries his best to explain his fears, )

When I think about everything.... ( And tenderly, like it might hurt, he touches his chest, where his heart is, ) I feel a lot of things here.

Happy and sad and a little afraid but all at the same time.

... Waiting forever is a nice idea, but it can really hurt you. [This is said really quietly, as if he was talking to himself.

Roxas listens to Urashima before laughing softly, nodding to the waitress bringing their orders.]

Hearts are weird. They do that a lot. I've been living with humans for over a year and a half and still feeling new things all the time.

( Nothing like cake and tea to lighten the mood. He almost doesn't hear Roxas because he's so struck by how delicious his cake looks. Uwah, it's almost too pretty eat-- )

Living with humans?

( There's a curious tilt of the head. What an odd way to phrase things? Why not "living with people" instead? )

[Roxas nods.]

I'm not technically human. [He puts a hand over where his heart should be.] I don't have my own heart, either... But I feel like maybe being around all these people I call friends and family is helping me grow my own? If that makes sense... Back home I'm just a part of Sora. I'm a Nobody. A being without a heart.

( He's nodding yes because it definitely makes sense and feels almost relatable in a way. Yeah, yeah, being around a lot of people can change you and make a heart grow in many ways. But then he stops, leaning back in his chair like he's been hit and making a face. A "nobody?" There's definitely a misunderstanding here, even if Roxas explains because no sooner does Roxas finish speaking does Urashima reply, without a second of hesitation and with absolute certainty, )

You're somebody to me. ( Someone importantant. His very dear friend. ) You're not a nobody.

( Please work on your self-esteem, Roxas. )

Ah... Urashima, that's not what I meant.

[Well, this keeps happening. Seeing as there's more Nobodies around, someone should make a guide. Not Sora. They don't need a picture book. ~~Sorry Sora~~]

A Nobody, like Axel and me, are beings that don't have hearts. Which means we don't feel like humans do. Or I'm not supposed to. I'm pretty unique for a Nobody, but I'm still one. I'm not the one who came up with the name. Sora... I'm the other half of his heart. [That doesn't invalidate any feelings Roxas has for him, though.] I have all of his memories. I've got my own, too. But we are different people. Does... That make sense?

( Hes listening to Roxas explain, face still twisted in disapproval as he picks at the strawberry on his cake with his fork thoughtfully. Axel and Roxas are the same? There's a lot that he didn't know about them-- and Sora too. )

... You're still a Somebody.

( It's an stubborn mutter. Even if "Nobody" is the name, he doesn't like it one bit. BUt he won't argue the point anymore and he shows as much by helping himself to his strawberry. )

[It's both frustrating and a relief with how Urashima was reacting. Frustrating in the fact that Urashima was fighting Roxas on what his own existence is, but a relief, too. To have someone try and push the label away in such an open and honest way was not something that happened often. He looks down at his parfait, pushing the whipped cream on top around with his spoon.]

Thanks. [Roxas thinks a bit as he finally eats.] If you need help figuring out the whole feelings thing, I think I can help?

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( open ) well, there weren't any treasure chests

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