[OPEN] Say it ain't so!

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora & Roxas, Sora & OPEN
What: Sora wakes up a few days later after Axel is killed and finds out the bad news. Open prompt for visitors or door crashers.
When: April 30 late afternoon and May 1
Where: Lakshmi’s Temple
Warnings: Probably talk of body injuries


[ Closed to Roxas ]

[Sora hasn’t woken up in two days.

After escaping Axel with Riku Replica and leaving the fight to Leo and Saix, Sora barely managed to stay alive and make it to Forrest’s temple. Thankfully, Sora did manage to get there with his last ounce of strength with a final teleport.

He lays in a bed in Forrest’s temple. Sleeping and healing slowly thanks to the healing pools. But it’s not only blight Sora suffered so he lays banaged from the bloody wounds he received from the battle as well.]

[ May 1; OPEN ]

[The day after waking up, Sora still can’t walk very much without feeling fatigued. He’s tired and weak and still healing very slowly.

But the bright side is, Sora is awake now and he’ll welcome anyone who wants to come visit him. People probably want answers and Sora might just have them. He currently lays in bed, propped up with pillows and looks really bored.

He’s decided to stay at Forrest’s temple just for a few extra days until he can walk on his own again. There’s bandages up his left arm and on his torso as well. Sora got pretty banged up and it wasn’t just blight.]

Comments

[brynwieldr]

[Once Leo gets word that Sora's awake, he heads over to Forrest's temple. He brings with him several books...as well instructions on how to access a video streaming service he found after poking around his phone for things to do in bed, since he isn't sure if Sora's one for reading.

He sets the bag with the books down on Sora's table when he's shown in]

Glad to see you're doing better, Sora.

[missingache]

[Since finding out shortly after he got there that Sora was brought as well, Roxas hasn't really left the others side. It's part guilt and worry that have kept him there. Mostly worry. The only times he let himself leave was to talk to Katniss and send Pippa a message. Otherwise it was fretting, restless sleep in a chair, and trying to keep himself occupied. There's not much he can do for major wounds. Roxas isn't sure if they were blight caused or just injuries in general, so he abstains. Magic might make it worse, right?

As he waits he plays some of his phone games, looking up from the screen once in a while to see how Sora was doing. At least he's getting through a lot of levels.]

[oathkeeper]

Leo!

[When Leo comes in Sora feels an instant wash of relief go through him. Leo made it out okay and that is great. He'd been incredibly worried after leaving him and Saix behind.

He glances at the bag Leo brings but then smiles at Leo.]

Yeah... I'm getting there. How are you and Saix?

[brynwieldr]

[He gestures to his arm. It's the least of his injuries, and any others aren't Sora's business. He doesn't need to worry like that.]

I moved it awkwardly trying to accommodate for the blight. Saix is still healing, but he'll be fine. I brought you books.

[readerofthestars]

[Nageki is the kind of person whose presence could easily be ignored. He gave his greeting and found himself a seat and blended in with the background. He's quiet. He's unobtrusive.

He's staring at Sora. To be fair, not all the time. Just every so often, he looks up from the book he's brought to watch Sora, like he'll do something stupid and disappear if he doesn't keep some kind of eye on him.

He almost lost two of the three people he considers most valuable in his afterlife. Two of the three people who make his existence as a soul worthwhile. He's not okay with that. He's worried.

But he doesn't know how to deal with worry. So he's... staring for now.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora's dreams are full of strange colors and memories all meshing together into weird pictures.

He slowly wakes up from them. His eyes fluttering open and body slowly shifting. He blinks blearily up at the ceiling and nothing makes sense.

Everything aches.

He glances over to see Roxas, a small weak smile on his face.] Roxas...?

[oathkeeper]

[Honestly, the company is welcome. Even if Nageki sits quietly, Sora would rather have the company than be by himself. So he smiles at him and makes conversation, because everything is okay now.]

What are you reading?

[Sora might look a little worse than he usually does but he's confident he'll be fine.]

[missingache]

[Roxas almost drops his phone when he hears Sora speak. He looks up from the screen and there's clear relief on his face. The phone is quickly pocketed, but Roxas stays where he's sitting. Out of Sora's reach. Just in case.]

Hey, sleepyhead. You're finally awake.

[readerofthestars]

[Nageki knows this. He remembers the conversation they had about being alone very vividly. And everything is not okay. It's not okay at all. Both Sora and Roxas have confided enough in him to know how not okay this is.

He hesitates as he considers it. What is he reading? He hasn't absorbed any of it. He looks curiously at the title of the book.]

Ah. I think I picked it up from a sale with Miss Tosaka...

[Nageki you're being incredibly transparent at the moment.]

[oathkeeper]

[Phew. He's happy. It could have been a lot worse for them.]

Epic fantasy books I hope. [Sora says, brightening a little more. He's been a little bored out of his mind already so anything is welcome, even books.]

Thank you for helping me. I'm really glad you guys made it out okay.

[brynwieldr]

And one from the "science fiction" section of the bookstore. The cover was an explosion of color--it looked like your kind of book.

[He sighs, sitting down]

The ayakashi ran away after a bit, otherwise I'm not sure we would have.

[oathkeeper]

[Finally? Sora looks puzzled and goes to sit up only to wince. Ow.]

How long was I...?

[But he suddenly switches gears when everything starts catching up with him. Everything with Axel...]

Are you okay? [There's a sudden panic in his tone.] You, and Pippa and Yumi?!

[oathkeeper]

Thanks, Leo. That sounds awesome.

[He's quiet for a second after Leo's next comment.]

It wasn't an ayakashi it was my shinki.

[Not something he'd keep from Leo, especially now.]

[missingache]

A couple days.

[Roxas forces a smile, trying to look a lot stronger than he felt right now.]

I'm fine. Just a little sore. Pippa's resting at her temple. And Yumi? I don't know a Yumi. Was she a friend of Axel's? [Another person he has to apologize to?]

[brynwieldr]

[Leo stares at Sora for a moment.]

I beg your pardon?

[oathkeeper]

[Sora does feel some guilt. He'd told Nageki to not worry about him disappearing and then this all happens. He'd have to make it up to Nageki for worrying him so much.

Especially worrying him so much that he can't remember what book he has in his lap...]

I'm sorry, Nageki. I'm okay, I promise.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora's heart hurts just thinking about it all. His expression falls and he nods.]

...It was my shinki, Axel. He...

[brynwieldr]

What the hells happened to turn him into an ayakashi?

[readerofthestars]

[He rises and puts the book down. He's learned a lot of things since he got here, and he goes to stand next to the bed.]

It's fine to not be okay. We're partners, now. I didn't come here to get an apology.

[oathkeeper]

[After listening to Roxas explain it, it's still a really painful mental image.]

He remembered his past. I guess that's what happens when a shinki remembers or gets told. They just...

[Tears start pricking his eyes again and he goes to rub them away.]

[oathkeeper]

[In his haste to hear about the others he forgot that Roxas never heard about Ayumu. He'll have to check on her as soon as he can. But right now he watches Roxas with concern.]

...Roxas. Is... Axel okay?

[Since he hasn't heard yet about any outcomes...]

[brynwieldr]

My gods. How did he--?

[missingache]

[It's an internal debate that keeps Roxas from answering right away.]

No. He's dead. It's why we aren't. [He hesitates. It's now or never.] You said I could tell you anything... so please. Just listen right now, okay?

[He takes a deep breath, keeping his eyes on Sora.] I'm the reason Axel turned into an ayakashi. He wanted to know about his past. I didn't want to tell him, I even hit him, but he kept pressing. I hadn't seen him like that since he was trying to take me back to the Organization. I thought he'd drop it, but... I kept telling him I couldn't, that it felt wrong. Axel... I got mad. I snapped and said things about his past I shouldn't have. No one told us doing that would make shinki turn into ayakashi.

[He folds his hands carefully in front of him, looking down now.] I'm sorry. I already told Pippa I'd stay away from her. I'll... probably be staying with Katniss for a while. Just wanted to tell you all of this first.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora lets Roxas talk and does his best to listen but as Roxas continues he starts fidgeting and tears start pricking his eyes.

Axel is dead. Roxas is the reason why.

Despite the explanation Sora can only think about how Roxas must feel through all of this. Before saying anything Sora does his best to climb out of bed, pushing the blankets back and swinging his legs off the edge. He's wobbly but he pushes himself and pulls Roxas into a tight hug.]

It's not your fault this happened. You didn't know that was going to happen.

[missingache]

[The guilt is eating at him, and Roxas just hopes he can't sting his shinki like they can him. He doesn't want to be responsible for more deaths. Now he has two to his name. Two too many. Roxas is ready to just get up and leave, stay away from everyone he's hurt for a while, or forever. It was extreme, but when hasn't he done something extreme? He isn't good with this guilt thing.

His mind blanks out when he feels that sudden hug. When had Sora gotten out of bed?] Sora...

[Right. Of course Sora would never blame him. Roxas sighs before standing, hugging Sora back and lifting the other off of the ground enough to put him back on the bed. This isn't doing his arms any good. Sora's more important right now.]

I know. Katniss said the same thing. She's the reason I'm even here right now. She doesn't even know Axel, but she didn't blame me... I don't get why you're not blaming me. Axel is dead because of me. [Does he have to voice the word "again"?]