Happy Birthday Xion!

[provenworth]

Happy Birthday Xion!

Characters: Elena, Turk Family, Team Ragnarock and anybody who is friends with the birthday girl
Setting: Floor 62 , November 18, afternoon - evening
Format: Open, anything goes
Summary: It's Xion’s birthday – at least the one selected. So, being proper parents, Reno and Elena are throwing their bitty girl a birthday party on the beach that will bleed into a solstice bonfire later into the evening.
Warnings: None for now

 

[Let the party begin!]

[Solstice Bonfire]

Comments

[acceptedoblivion]

[He looks up at that, a sudden sour look crossing his face that only comes across as a deep frown when he looks up (damn it, even with the first growth spurt he's still shorter). Great. Just to make his day, the Zo brought this guy back. Or was it another one? Who knows; didn't make much of a difference to him.]

That's the second time I've heard that since I got here a year ago. [Well, almost. He sneers.] So they brought you back, huh. Or are you another him?

[poisonousflame]

[Axel's eyes widen slightly, the only indication of surprise. Others would likely have difficulty distinguishing this one from the real Riku — but that look and tone tell Axel all he needs to know.

[Here he thought the Riku Replica was gone for good. This place gets more impossible by the minute.]

Me? I'm the real thing.

[It's a statement of what he considers fact, even as it's an acknowledgment of who he's talking to.]

But I haven't been "brought back".

[Unlike a certain Replica that was definitely destroyed.]

[acceptedoblivion]

[Ira stiffens at the wording choice, but it at least answers his question. If only Axel knew it wasn't a question of replicas or not.

That hatred bubbling up inside him is real enough.]

So you missed the memo that no one's from the same worlds, or even the same time.

[It's not even a question; he can tell well enough. He's a year old, not an idiot.]

Hate to break it to you- [spoilers: he isn't] ...but nothing here is real; only our souls are.

[So drop it or so help him...]

[poisonousflame]

[Fortunately for Axel, Xion gave him the introductory class. Even knowing the basics hasn't changed Axel's opinion: he's still the real Axel, regardless of the different universes. Or the fake body. He's not thrilled with that idea ... but he was already an incomplete being. It's just one more thing he doesn't have.

[If the Replica was hoping for Axel to be affected by the news, he'll find himself disappointed.]

Really? [Axel smiles, a little too friendly.] Guess that's a step up for you, isn't it?

[acceptedoblivion]

[He didn't expect him to; in fact, if he were here and Xion hadn't told him? Then he would have been. Still, a little reminder doesn't hurt. The fact that he'd once been proud of who he was, and that while artificially created even before meeting his end of being the real deal's shadow or even existing was still very fresh in his mind. He was different; his collar color said as much.

Someone from his past trying to tell him it wasn't like that, acknowledging that he was still fake, still bound by those lies of a "real" life--]

Shut up.

[Preferably now, when he doesn't realize he just swung a clenched fist at the other and that he's starting to see red in the corners of his vision.]

[poisonousflame]

[Axel darts back, just barely avoiding the swing. He raises his hands — palms forward, fingers spread. A sign of surrender, if it could be trusted.]

Woah, take it easy! Man, talk about no sense of humor....

[As though he didn't just provoke the other into action. If nothing else, he seems to be rethinking his approach: that too-friendly smile has given way to consideration.]

Here I thought we left things on pretty good terms.

[acceptedoblivion]

[Yeah, about that... the look on the replica's face (or at least what can be seen under the hood) is not the face of trusting a sign of surrender. Though he does seem to realize what the heck he just did and pulled his fist back...for now.]

Nothing much to laugh about.

[Especially with the one who'd used him like a clean-up tool. As if working on the doll floor every day wasn't enough a reminder.]

Starting to think I don't want to know what your definition of "good" is.

[...Hopefully better than Ruana's.]

[poisonousflame]

[Axel lowers his hands some, but keeps them in plain sight. Not that it really makes a difference: it's not as though he has to reach for his weapons.]

Really? [He raises an eyebrow.] Our mutually beneficial arrangement went off without a hitch, right? I'd call that pretty good.

["Mutually beneficial." At least he's admitting there was something in it for him.]

[acceptedoblivion]

[You say that as if any of them have to, but dude: think of where you are.]

Way I see it, it only benefited you in the long run.

[Because, you know, vanished into darkness.]

[poisonousflame]

And you're blaming me for that?

[His tone is somewhat incredulous, but it's nonetheless an honest question.]

[acceptedoblivion]

The once-dead can be bitter for some things.

[He shrugs, and for both their sakes, keeps his voice low.]

Being a tool for someone else is one of them.

[Which means he's mad at most of the Castle Oblivion people, but alas: Zexion's name is only on a tombstone and who wants to discuss how many Axels there are in that graveyard?]

[poisonousflame]

[Axel waves a dismissive hand.]

Bitterness will get you nowhere. Live and learn!

[The Eighth, on the other hand, doesn't seem to much care if their conversation is overheard.]

There's no use blaming me for how things turned out on your end. Besides, as I recall, you were a perfectly willing participant.

[Axel pauses, and the mirth fades from his expression. It's only now that his voice lowers; not out of a desire to avoid being overheard, but because his tone has become very serious.]

But if you're looking for an apology: I'm sorry.

[He doubts it'll make a difference; even though he realized that using the Replica as a tool was wrong, it won't change what happened. Still, it's been said.]