keychained | 016; [video/action for goldenrod-- backdated to early morning]

[around 4 or so this morning, Sora had been lying in his bed in the pokécenter, awake, not very comfortable, and bored out of his mind. not a whole lot was going on over the network, and Sora didn't want to wake Hope or Rise or Puddles or anybody else nearby. there were, however, two people he had no problem bothering: Riku got a smattering of text messages full of bad puns-- hey, he needed to practice them on someone! right? but shortly after he sent Kairi a text asking if she was awake, and where she was, a new message popped up on his pokégear screen:]

error: this number is no longer in use.

[... and that's when he silently swung his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed a few things-- including his pokémon asleep in their balls and his notebook-- and for the first time this entire week, Sora creeped out of his room and successfully snuck out of the Goldenrod Pokécenter.]

[first things first-- Sora lurched his way over to the closest vending machine and picked up two bottles of soda. he... made an honest effort to chug them, but wound up dumping the contents of the second bottle into a nearby sewer. it wasn't the soda he was interested in, anyway. next, he walked over to the radio tower-- he couldn't really see the ocean over the fence nearby, but he could hear it... seems no matter where you go, the ocean always sounds the same. he sat down, leaning against both the radio tower and a newly hatched Dratini for support, and began writing.]

Dear Kairi,

I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to talk to you about this before you left. I hope this gets to you in time, or that you know it already, but there's something really important you need to keep in mind. I am ALWAYS [--and he's underlined this word several times. even drawn a box around it.] there for you. You know that, right? Even if I try to act all tough about it, you're my best friend. You and Riku mean everything to me.

Your heart is the most important thing you have. It's what makes you who you are, and it's how we stay connected, even if we're worlds apart. If you ever feel like you or your heart are in danger, come find me. I swear I'll do everything I can to protect you. If it hasn't happened already when you get this, then... something's going to happen to the islands. And when it does, I want you to come look for me, OK? I'll be looking for you.

I get the feeling you already know this, though. I miss you. And I'll see you soon.

Sora

[when the video feed clicks on later that morning, the sun's out in full force by the radio tower. the sound cuts in right in the middle of Sora saying something.]

--tini, could you throw this in the ocean for me?

[the Dratini nods, and wraps its tail around the neck of a bottle with a note carefully rolled up inside. with a grunt, it chucks the bottle right over the fence, and both Sora and Pokémon watch as it soars, then plunks right in the ocean. please don't berate them for littering.]

Thanks. I-- [and Sora turns, noticing Bell pointing his gear at him and recording. he still hasn't actually been out and about Goldenrod wearing something other than his pajamas, but he at least thought to put on some shoes and a jacket this time. he steps a little closer, looking down at the 'gear and Bell-- he's smiling genuinely, but there's definitely a tinge of sadness somewhere in there.]

Morning, you guys! I kind of have an odd question. Have you ever been on a date before? I think we're going to set Puddles up with Whitney's Girafarig today.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[nod] Yeah, that what was what we did.

[Trying to decide if he should set the record straight now. Axel just kind of blinks at Bell. Why did you do that?]

[it might be for the best; Sora very vaguely remembers some weird guy with a surfer dude accent taunting him, but not much else.]

Doing all right then, Roxas?

[Bell didn't mean to? oh, oh, Axel, wanna see a trick?]

Yeah. I'm fine.

Look, Sora. About the Organization...

[Grow? What kind of trick?]

Yeah? What about it?

[Togepriii! look, I wave my hand, and then something really cool happens! I don't know what'll happen 'till I do it though-- wanna see?]

Well, what I told you before, wasn't exactly accurate. I mean, we did go around beating heartless and stuff like that, but, it wasn't for a good cause. They wanted Kingdom Hearts, so they, we, could get our hearts back. Nothing else really mattered.

[And we'll just dump all that on Sora as well. Meanwhile, Curious Axel barks an okay. This will not end well.]

... Wait, so you guys weren't... helping?

[Roxas just shakes his head.]

I suppose it looks that way, and by getting rid of heartless, we sort of were, but that wasn't the goal. The goal was always Kingdom Hearts.

I should have explained things better.

[for a few minutes, there's only a very awkward silence, as Sora comprehends this information. they were trying to reach Kingdom Hearts? just like Ansem? but...]

[... and suddenly he's walking toward Roxas. he raises his hands; plants them on Roxas' shoulders; stares hard up into his eyes. his expression isn't an angry one; it's determined.]

[Have a look that's just as determined back. Even though he sort of feels bad, he won't back down. He'll see this through]

... You aren't a bad person, Roxas. You know that, right?

I know. It's part of why I left.

I mean, I... can't even begin to imagine what it's like. But I do think I can understand why you'd want your heart back.

It's only fair, right?

Yeah, although, I think I was the exception because of my connection to you.

What do you mean?

I...didn't know it at the time, when I was in the Organization, but you and I were existing at the same time.

So, I guess you could say I sort of had your heart. Or a part of it. More of a heart than the others.

Is that... sort of how it is with us right now, then?

I guess so...I don't really know.

What do you feel right now?

[Pause, Roxas has to think about that. He's not to sure how to evaluate his feelings]

uh...a little tired, hungry. Relieved.

Mm, well... I'm tired and hungry, but not really relieved.

[just the opposite, actually.]

Why not?

Kairi went home.

Oh. [He didn't even get to see her this time. Glance down at the ground.]

[he's not sure what else to do, so he just pats Roxas' shoulder a little awkwardly.]

It'll be okay.

016; [video/action for goldenrod-- backdated to early morning]

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