Hey! Your Ice cream is melting!

[xepte]

Roxas sat atop the clock tower, staring off into the distance. Another boring day. No missions, no fun. "I can only wander the worlds listlessly so many times... before it gets to be routine. I wish that I could find a traveling partner... or a mission. Saix the grouch isn't even giving me any missions... I'm so bored, I'd welcome a lecture from him right now..." Roxas made a yuck face, and shook his head. "Well, maybe not... those can get scary."

He sighed heavily, and reached into a small darkness portal, pulling out a Sea Salt Ice Cream. Smiling, he unwrapped it, and began to eat it. These light blue, frozen treats were the only thing keeping him from just sleeping all day; he would kill a bunch a heartless, some nobodies, and then at the end of the day, he would return to the tower, just like old times. He remembered that he and Axel would always meet up after their missions. Sometimes, in his haziest memories, there was even a third person; a girl... or was there?

Roxas sighed, taking a bite out of the Popsicle, thinking. I wonder if Axel knows anything about why my memories are so scattered... in between bites, Roxas sighed, staring at the sunset. Suddenly, he felt a familiar presence... it felt like another nobody, but he couldn't tell for sure. And then the feeling disappeared, so Roxas relaxed, continuing to eat his ice cream.

As he sat, looking into the sunset, he pondered some more. There were several things that he wanted to ask Axel... especially after that last meeting. if you could even call it a meeting... more like a roll- call...

Looking out into the sunset once again, Roxas sighed. He missed the fiery Red-head that he could call a friend. The few times that they had seen each other, Axel had seemed distanced, and almost bitter. This of course just made Roxas more curious as to why. Why would someone, especially best friends grow apart?

Roxas closed one eye, squinting into the direction of the sunset. Today's sunset was especially vibrant, and predominantly red- like blood. Roxas noticed that the red colors seemed to be the strongest, and he suddenly wondered why.

"Why is it that Red is always the last color to disappear from the sunset?"

As he pondered, he held his Ice cream off to the side. It started to melt without the young nobody noticing; dripping down to the street below.

Drip... Drip... Drip....

[Bluey.:*]

(Mind if I pop in here?)

A young teenage girl strode slowly up the sloped cobble-stone path that lead to the train station. The sun light was quickly fading to her right and she felt the intense rays lick at her cheek. They were warm and comforting...almost like they were alive and trying to melt away her cold emotions. She brushed her thin brown hair behind her ears as she walked to welcome in the warmth. Feeling the silky strands fall between her fingers and tickle her palms, she couldn't help but admire her hair. It was always soft to the touch and it glowed red in the rays of summer.

She reached the front of the train station where the majestic clock tower stood. She didn't bother looking up at the massive structure as she usually did when she visited this spot. Instead, she was focused on the sun and the rainbow of colors it painted in the sky. Her hazel eyes watched the colors change and mix together as the Earth turned slowly away from the light. She crossed her arms and rested them on the railing of the cobble stone path and looked down. This was one of the highest points in Twilight Town and she loved observing the bustling town from above.

She often daydreamed about sitting at the very top of the clock tower. She could get such a breath-taking view from up there... She had seen other kids sitting there before, but she could never figure out how to get up there herself. Oh well... she thought quickly. The sunset and the town can still be admired from here...

[Era]

"You took long enough," the Nobody nagged. He had appeared in a flurry of black wisps, which promptly dissipated into the atmosphere. The lithe humanoid stood, arms crossed, weight on one hip, and stared coolly down at the smaller blonde. He watched that familiar dusty-golden hair blow in the gentle breeze. Despite his known element, there was a guarded icy look that accompanied his glare.

Staring at him, one might equate the Flurry with a Cat that had been left alone by its owner. Despite its appreciation for its owner, upon the cohort's return the Cat remained irritated that its chosen comrade would leave it in the first place. Feline frustration hung in the atmosphere like a deadweight.

Chest puffed slightly outward to accentuate his form, Number Eight watched his long-lost "best friend" and a storm of different feelings welled up on his insides; it was a sensation he couldn't say he was fond of, but neither could he deny its existence, especially not when evaluating his cohort so.

"You've kept me waiting far too long." The words were chilled, representative of the point he was trying to get across. He stood sentinel, and perhaps somewhat intimidating as he stared down his nose at the colleague he once knew and trusted. He planned to give the silent treatment to the Blonde. Playing the hard-to-get type seemed to be in his fiery blood. However, there was a softer side to this stone-cold Nobody. One that was clawing at his insides; one that desperately wanted his best friend back. And it was that side that was winning out, despite his well-composed attempt to stay frustrated at Roxas' absence. But he couldn't let it win. Not yet.

Black-lined jade eyes locked sharply on the Blonde. "Now then, what do you have to say for yourself?" ...And he waited for Roxas to give his defense.

[xepte]

Roxas had began to zone out, pulling his knees into his chest and resting his head upon them. He was about to get up ad leave when he heard a portal open behind him. He heard Axel's voice, and jumped up to see his old friend, smiling.

However, seeing his old friend's expression changed the happy smile to a very confused, and almost hurt. "Wait... I... "

Crestfallen, he seemed to shrink back at Axel's expression, looking more and more hurt. "What? I never..." Roxas stammered- he had never expected Axel to be so upset about his return! His cheeks flushed reddish, and his voice became much quieter.

"I've been coming here.... every day, waiting to find you... And I never meant to leave! I just..." Roxas looked back at Axel, visibly hurt and confused. "My memories... they are all jumbled and mixed up. I have a ton of memories floating about in my head... and less than half actually feel like they are mine..."

Roxas rotated the cleaned Popsicle stick in his hand, looking down at it. "It feels like somebody's been messing with my memories. I don't remember half of the stuff I've done in the past- And Xemnas said something about how he wasn't able to retrieve all of my memories, or how he had to edit something, or..." Roxas looked off into the sunset, and sighed heavily. All he really wanted to do was meet up with his best friend again, and ask him all kinds of questions.

Shaking his head, Roxas looked down at his feet, fighting the strange burning sensation that was surrounding his eyes. "Everyone has been... saying that I did something horrible... and I don't remember a thing. Zexion even called me a traitor!"

Looking back at Axel, slowly, Roxas was hurt it showed in his expression and his posture. "I... I t-thought that maybe... maybe you... would be h-happy to see m-me..."

((and Bluey, you're free to join up, but they probably won't notice unless you either get to the top of the tower, or we get to the bottom. ^_^))

[Era]

His stoney composure cracked a little as Roxas grew more and more distraught, confusion growing inside as the Flurry tried to figure out how to respond to this. He wasn't really expecting such an easy defeat from his friend. Dang it! You're going to make him cry! Which was a concept he kicked himself for mentally... but his brow furrowed when he recalled what Roxas had said himself: that he didn't remember a thing. And how could the Nobody hold his friend accountable when the Blonde in front of him looked like a Train wreck?

There were so many things he wanted to ask Roxas. It was like he opened up a can of questions, just in that simple explanation -- which was more than the defense Number Eight was after. The questions would have to boil down to an order of importance. And the first thing on that list was to calm his distressed friend. His arms remained crossed, posture shifting a bit. "If it means anything, I really missed you." When his voice came forth, it was calm. Perhaps even pained itself. And it was best he looked away from Roxas when he had, because he wasn't sure he could've said such words looking directly at soul stricken by unrelenting confusion.

The puffed-up look he was exhibiting before slowly faded as Number Eight glanced down toward the scenery below. He took note of a young pedestrian, seemingly enjoying the Sunset... Almost as much as he did... when he wasn't so torn about how to welcome his best friend home.

That green gaze softened, and the redhead took a seat next to his long-lost best friend. By the explanation Number Thirteen had given him, the Flurry knew he couldn't stay angry forever; despite the feelings of abandonment he'd been harboring for so long. In all reality, he had chased the Blonde to the ends of the universe, only to find he'd been here, right under his nose, the whole time. But how long had his best friend been suffering in secret? It would've been best to find out. His voice resembled an old colleague who had been reflecting on the past for far too long. "Roxas, how long has it been like this?"

[xepte]

Roxas smiled, like a ray of sunshine peaking out of an unrelenting maelstrom, as he heard his old friend admit to missing him. He sniffled, still pained, and nodded. He looked sheepishly at Axel, noticing the fiery Nobody relax, which allowed Roxas to relax slightly as well.

A large knot in his lower intestines seemed to loosen as Axel sat down next to Roxas, who returned to his sitting position as well, looking out over the sunset. He looked over at Axel, about to ask a question, when the other nobody fired off his own question.

"Roxas, how long has it been like this?"

Roxas drew his knees up into his chest again, folding his arms and putting his chin on his knees. He sniffled again, and stared into the distance as he spoke.

"It's been like this for almost a year- since the last time, when I re-met you and everyone else in the organization."

Roxas dragged one of the sleeves of his coat across his eyes. The burning sensation was still there, but it was slowly residing, reluctant to let him go. "I would wake up from very strange dreams, and wander around the castle for a bit, then I would portal away to any of the various worlds and just explore. But it was really strange; because with each world I went to... It felt like I knew them all already. Like how I knew your name, and I knew we were friends... but at first, I couldn't remember how, or why."

The blond head turned to his friend, his face till sad; "I was hoping that I could find you and then you could help me with my memory... So Every day, after my wandering around, I would return here, hoping to find you. I had even forgotten what Sea-Salt Ice cream had tasted like, until the lady in the store had me try one. It brought back a lot of memories, which was kinda scary"

Roxas returned his chin to his knees, still looking at Axel. I really hope he doesn't stay so mad at me... yet it feels like I've done this to him... A single tear leaked out of Roxas's left eye, but he quickly wiped it up with his sleeve.

[Bluey.:*]

Lyrah slowly shook herself from the slight doze she had fallen into and paused. She could have sworn that heard distant voices above her, but they were quite muffled and echoing around the plaza.

She backed away from the railing and looked around her. There was no one there. There were a few people talking inside the train station, but Lyrah quickly dismissed them. There was no way those voices sounded like they were above her when the people were behind her.

Puzzled, she backed up to the railing and gave in to the urge to look up at the clock tower. Surprised at what she saw, Lyrah blinked furiously then looked back up at the golden bricks. She confirmed that she wasn't crazy and she had indeed seen people. There were two bodies sitting on the ledge of the tower mumbling in quiet voices.

She had never seen these people before. Usually a couple boys and a girl would be caught enjoying the sunset on the tower, but not today. Today there were two boys in long black coats. Other than that she couldn't see them well enough to make out any other details.

She crossed her arms and screwed up her face in confusion. How did they get up there? Lyrah really wasn't someone to poke her nose in other people's business. She didn't feel comfortable shouting up to the guys and she really had no idea how to get to the ledge. She decided to watch them for awhile. Maybe they would eventually notice her.

[Era]

"I see..." the Redhead's eyes looked down toward the street below. A wave of guilt and shame washed over him like an emotional tsunami. It was hard to deny such heavy feelings. They were definitely real... despite common beliefs.

So Roxas had been needing him... To protect him... To save him... all this time. And here the Ginger could hardly see beyond his own pitiful pain and the rejection that had probably only stemmed from his own selfish mind. And the more the Blonde idolized him, the more shameful he felt.

Jade green eyes seemed strangely focussed on the dark road below. "...You never did replace me." Those words were spoken as an affirmation to himself. They were probably never intended to be out in the open. Likely never meant to be heard.

[xepte]

Roxas looked over at Axel and sighed. He was still sad, and still confused- but at least Axel wasn't angry at him any more! The red-head's barely audible statement made Roxas blink in slight confusion. Replace him...? what, is he broken or something?

"Replace you? No way! I don't think that there's anyone out there who could even come close to being similar to you!"

Roxas realized that he needed to 'fix' his friend. Then, they'd be able to get out of this sad, angry, confused and pained state, and go back to the simple pleasures of things... like fighting heartless together, eating ice cream together, and making fun of Vexen, or Demyx.

"Hey- Axel... do you want an ice cream?" Roxas smiled, holding out a small wooden stick with the word "WINNER" printed on one side. It was a winning Popsicle stick, which entitled it's bearer to a free Ice cream of their choice!

Standing up, Roxas crouched near Axel, slowly leaned in closer to his best friend, and poked him in the side.

Just to see if he was 'broken' or not.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that there was a young girl in the area around the doors of the tower, staring up at them. He wondered who she was, but his curious mind was too distracted, awaiting Axel's response.

[xraivex]

(I don't know if this is open or not... but introducing fresh blood here might be a good thing, as all other threads seem to be dead at this time... I started one thread of my own, over in the Sandlot, and if you don't want me in here, I'll leave, but I'm posting anyway, if that's okay.)

Setsuna Hirodomo had just cleared the mess of books up from the library that those guys in white had created.

Stupid. He had been blamed, of course, for it had been his shift and he had been training. They would pay for this. This was the first time he had actually gotten to fight them, and he had done well. But he had the feeling that they had been somehow... restrained from unleashing their full potential.

Shaking off the thought, he finished putting the intact books back in their corresponding slots on the shelves. Dusting himself off, he exited the library and strode out onto the street leading to Station Heights. Perhaps the view of the sunset would calm him. As he walked, he hummed quietly to himself, ignoring those around him, and they ignoring him; as they were wont to do, considering his reputed unfriendliness.

But there was another side to him. A friendlier side, something latent in his heart waiting to be unlocked. A rare few had gotten close; they were the closest "friends" he had. But the truth was, he was lonely. His reputation had gotten him next to nowhere in the friendship department. As it had been for over ten years. Sighing, he reached the station plaza, to behold a girl staring up at the tower. Looking up as well, he noticed two figures in long black cloaks. They appeared to be conversing, as they were facing each other. That wasn't an everyday sight in this town.

Looking back down, he sighed again, gearing himself up for meeting this girl. Would she rebuke him? He didn't know, but he thought he would give it a shot. Approaching her from the front so as not to startle her, he said, "Hello... do you know who those two guys are up there?"
He tried to sound detached, as he usually was. But in truth, he was curious. He awaited the girl's answer.

[Bluey.:*]

Lyrah blinked and looked at the new stranger standing before her. A simple welcoming smile crossed her face without her realizing it (it had become sort of a habit to greet people in this manner) and she wrapped her mind around the words her spoke.

Hello... do you know who those two guys are up there?

Lyrah looked back up at the two boys on the clock tower then down again at the newcomer. "No, I don't. I just noticed them a few minutes ago." She flicked her eyes in slight embarrassment. She didn't want him to think she had been spying on them for awhile, even though technically she had been. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes and looked back at the boy who had just came. Maybe she would finally have another friend in Twilight Town...

(Sorry about how bad it is. It's been a long few days.)

[xraivex]

Sestuna nodded. "I've never seen them here before, and I've lived here twenty years. I do wonder whatever it is they're discussing..."

Turning his attention back to the cloaked figures on the clock tower, he frowned. They looked to be deep in discussion. It was a simple matter for Setsuna to climb on the sitting platform of the tower; after all, he was more agile than most.

Looking back at the girl, he switched back to his detached manner. He hadn't noticed her around town before, but he thought it would be wise to get her on his side, should those two cloaked figures notice him and want to fight. Also, his reputation was such that nobody really wanted to be friends with him, but few knew that it was an act he just put up in order to guard himself from those with hostile intentions.

It had worked a little too well. He had virtually no friends. Perhaps that was time to change. Hesitating for a split second, he held out his hand. "I'm... I'm Setsuna Hirodomo. It's..." here, he cleared his throat. "...a pleasure to meet you. And what is your name?" After this greeting, sweat broke out on his forehead. He wasn't used to being so "gregarious". He sincerely hoped she wouldn't notice the sweat on his forehead...

((It's not bad at all. I'm simply trying to resurrect the thread. It seems kind of dead, if you ask me... not your fault, by the way. Most of threads in Twilight Town seem dead.))

[Era]

His gaze had been fixed on the street for a few seconds as he listened to Roxas explain. It was a refresher to say the least, that Roxas still did care about his friendship, and he took a deep, free breath. The Blonde had unknowingly removed the bindings of stress and frustration that had locked his insides, and now, for the first time in awhile, he could breathe freer than he had in a long time.

His eyes focussed on the people below, wondering what they were talking about, when Roxas asked about the Ice Cream. A simple smirk lined Axel's pale features, and he had opened his mouth to speak, only for his expression to tighten, flinching at the unexpected jab to his side. ". . .!" And out of habit, the redhead jumped away, leaning to the opposite side, and recoiling his hands in a defensive gesture. In that split second of surprise, the Flurry had likely batted Roxas' hand away; but not out of disrespect, rather it was out of surprise.

After realizing what had happened, a smile donned across his face and he gave a slight chuckle, straightening his posture as not to look like a fool. Hopefully he could redeem himself and save face. "Where'd that come from?" Roxas probably thought he looked pretty ridiculous.

[Bluey.:*]

Lyrah smiled again and took the boy's hand without hesitation. She shook it politely, but also with a sense of excitement. She felt nervous butterflies begin to flutter in her stomach. Finally someone new to talk to. All of her friends had moved on after graduation. They had either went to college, traveled to new worlds or got a demanding job. But Lyrah hadn't wanted to take any of those routes. To her, that's what normal people did which led to a normal life. She was still hanging around Twilight Town looking for adventure and hoping it would suddenly find her.

"I'm... I'm Setsuna Hirodomo. It's...a pleasure to meet you. And what is your name?"

Lyrah could hear the uncertainty in Setuna's voice. She couldn't tell whether he was just nervous or if he wasn't use to introducing himself. Trying to make her voice sound as level as possible, Lyrah responded, "my name is Lyrah. It's good to meet you too. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you around before." She glanced back up at the cloaked boys for a moment before meeting Setuna's eyes again. The sun was setting further and she felt a flicker of nervousness and fear rise in her stomach. She didn't like being out in the dark. "Did you go to school here?" She didn't mean to poke and prod for information from him, but Lyrah's curious nature always got the best of her.

[xraivex]

"my name is Lyrah. It's good to meet you too. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you around before."

Setsuna faltered for a second. "I don't... I don't get out much." But at the last part of the question, he looked down. "I'm known for being a little cold-shouldered. People make it a point to generally avoid me."

"Did you go to school here?"

He replied a little more strongly; it was getting easier for him to respond. He felt slightly more at ease. Perhaps it was because Lyrah seemed shy, as well. "Yes. I've lived here my whole life. I don't... I don't go to college. I..." he faltered here. "I work at the library. I live there, too, in an attic room. The owners were kind enough to rent me space, they take the money owed out of my paycheck, so I don't make much... I also do odd jobs in my spare time, you know, putting up posters for the Struggle games..." here, he stopped entirely. Why am I telling her all this?

He cleared his throat, gesturing to the two guys in black up on the bell tower. "So what do you think about them? Do you think they mean well?"

Setsuna's eyes narrowed as the taller figure looked down at them. Cursing, he addressed Lyrah again. "They've noticed us. Think we should get out of here?"