[Xion hops up when Axel heads to the door, going to join him so they can head out. She's still...fidgety, but she's at least managing a smile. Ice cream was a good way to take her mind off things -- and it would give her some time to think about how she would tell Axel what he quite obviously deserved to know.]
[He holds the door open with one hand, stepping toward the jamb so she can walk beneath his arm, then lets it swing shut behind them.]
I figured the usual spot; the guy next to the juice vendor is the only one who does the seasalt any justice, really. [Opening up a portal, he finds himself wondering why he bothered to usher them out into the hall when they could have just as easily portaled from inside. ... Oh well.] Come on, then; maybe we can grab a sandwich or something--have you eaten yet?
I... [... can't remember when I last ate...] No. Sandwiches it is, I guess. [The portal spills them out into the plaza, and he tilts his head toward one of the little cafes. Sandwiches are ordered, and as he sits there just nibbling at a turkey and cheese on rye, he finds himself marveling at the dichotomy of mundane and insane in his life. Two days ago he was submitting a report to a superior he thought he would never answer to again. Not half an hour ago he was in a shouting match with Lea about a past he would have sooner forgotten. And now here he is, eating lunch with a friend he managed to forget without meaning to, wanting to, and wondering just how he fell back into what felt like familiarity with her.
Reaching out to steal one of her pickle spears (as his sandwich came with fries instead), he points it at her.] So what's on your mind? [He takes a bite of the pickle and eyes her carefully.] You keep looking like you're about to say something and bite your tongue instead.
Ah... Oh. [Well, that explains why she looks so pensive. He takes another bite of the pickle and then wags it at her.] So what'd he have to say? [Honestly, it really couldn't be any worse than anything he'd already told her...]
[His eyes widen at her words, and he sets the pickle down, canting his head.] Is that so~? [He's almost painfully curious, but of course doesn't want to admit to how much the whole thing troubles him.] So do I get to hear it or are you gonna be a tease? [His voice is a little tired, but not accusatory.] I hate guessing games, Xion...
[There goes the other eyebroww.] Xion, what are you talking about? You didn't fade anywhere, you're right the--
[Oh. OH. Dots just connected. Welcome to the Undead Club, Xion. Aw hell.] ... Oh. [He puts a hand over his mouth for a moment, then looks at her and frowns.] Uhm... Wow, for once I dunno what to say. [He can't really tell her being dead isn't that bad when you wake up here, cuz that sounds crass even if it's mostly true. Witty retorts have failed him for the moment, and he is a little abashed about it.]
Huh? Xion, what the hell are you apologizing for? [A shake of his head and he sort of glowers at her.] Look, whatever happened, I'm pretty confident you didn't ask to disappear. [He takes a spiteful bite of that pickle.] So quit apologizing for stuff that ain't your fault.
[She looks up at him, just...blinking for a moment. He wasn't...mad at her? It was her fault he'd forgotten -- if only passively -- but still. She was the reason he didn't have any memories of her.
But after a little longer, a warm smile spreads across her face.]
Okay.
[She reaches over, taking one of his fries, and still looking a combination of relief and delight.
It was so good to know her best friend was still her best friend.]
[Well duh. It would have been pretty douchey of him to get all pissed off over this; Axel may have had a bit of a temper, but he really wasn't the jerk he pretended to be. Not on purpose, anyway. Watching her take another fry, he reached one long arm across the table and ruffled her hair, though he made sure to keep his expression bordering on irritated at the idea that she thought he would be mad so no one would accuse him of being sappy.]
Don't worry about it. I've been on your end. It sucks, but you can't really blame yourself any more than you can blame the people who forgot. So just stop thinkin' about it and eat your pickle before I finish this one and steal the rest.
[A grin then.]
I'd say you can buy me an ice cream and we'll call it even, but it kinda defeats the purpose when the food's all free, so... let's just say we're even and move on, yah?
Where do you want to get it from?
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I figured the usual spot; the guy next to the juice vendor is the only one who does the seasalt any justice, really. [Opening up a portal, he finds himself wondering why he bothered to usher them out into the hall when they could have just as easily portaled from inside. ... Oh well.] Come on, then; maybe we can grab a sandwich or something--have you eaten yet?
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[Because she was more than happy for lunch before ice cream.]
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Reaching out to steal one of her pickle spears (as his sandwich came with fries instead), he points it at her.] So what's on your mind? [He takes a bite of the pickle and eyes her carefully.] You keep looking like you're about to say something and bite your tongue instead.
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Oh.
She gives a little shrug and pokes at her sandwich.]
I talked to Riku.
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I figured out why you forgot me, though.
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...it's because of me.
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Hah?
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A...apparently, everyone forgets me, if I...fade away.
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[Oh. OH. Dots just connected. Welcome to the Undead Club, Xion. Aw hell.] ... Oh. [He puts a hand over his mouth for a moment, then looks at her and frowns.] Uhm... Wow, for once I dunno what to say. [He can't really tell her being dead isn't that bad when you wake up here, cuz that sounds crass even if it's mostly true. Witty retorts have failed him for the moment, and he is a little abashed about it.]
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I'm sorry, Axel...
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Huh? Xion, what the hell are you apologizing for? [A shake of his head and he sort of glowers at her.] Look, whatever happened, I'm pretty confident you didn't ask to disappear. [He takes a spiteful bite of that pickle.] So quit apologizing for stuff that ain't your fault.
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But after a little longer, a warm smile spreads across her face.]
Okay.
[She reaches over, taking one of his fries, and still looking a combination of relief and delight.
It was so good to know her best friend was still her best friend.]
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Don't worry about it. I've been on your end. It sucks, but you can't really blame yourself any more than you can blame the people who forgot. So just stop thinkin' about it and eat your pickle before I finish this one and steal the rest.
[A grin then.]
I'd say you can buy me an ice cream and we'll call it even, but it kinda defeats the purpose when the food's all free, so... let's just say we're even and move on, yah?
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