[Action] Day 34

[notquiteanobody]

[With a sigh Roxas found himself once more staring up into the afternoon sky, just staring as he watched for what seemed the hundredth time as the brighter oranges slowly bled into a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. The past week or so had just felt like a step back from any of the progress he'd been making as far settling in since arriving

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[seasaltblues]

[It made sense- but it wouldn't change her feelings regarding it. She really just wanted them to be close together. Even if he needed time to himself, there was always just... cooping himself up in his room. Or maybe taking a day to wander the city instead. Something. Anything, she felt, was better than him living at his own place that felt like it was so far away to her. It wasn't like she could run down the hallway to see him, you know? And it was also that very lack of leaning into support... because she wanted to be there to support him. Just as she tried with Axel. And especially more so lately, after messing up so much with things- being so useless.

Regardless- the way he took things in stride was... Well, she shouldn't have been all that surprised. It wasn't like he hadn't known there was a history between them. She had freely admitted to it. It was just... so strange and. Difficult to believe, really. There, Axel hadn't any recollection and now here was Roxas dreaming about her. She nodded just a little. Vaguely. Still peering at him through her bangs. She couldn't help but feel a wave of guilt wash over her, but she held it back for the moment.]

What else did you dream about? If you tell me about it... [She would be able to fill in the gaps, probably.]

[notquiteanobody]

[Well he wasn't psychic in the least and if Xion would want him to know any of these things or how she felt, she'd have to tell him. Because from his stand point, things were just shaky all around between the Nobody trio and he hadn't even had the chance to talk to Naminé yet. So there were entire worlds of awkward he had yet to cover. But because ultimately they were all important to him, if she told him, he would reach out. Not only for his or her sake, but for all of them.

He continued watching her, wondering just what must be stirring around in her head as he revealed what so far, she seemed to confirm as truth. His curiosity getting the better of things, he opts to continue in hopes of getting some light or context on some of his scattered memories.]

Another dream I had -erm, thing I remembered. Saix was getting ready to send you and I to different places; Beast's Castle and Agrabah. But you couldn't call your Keyblade. Then Axel came in and covered for us, bought us a day that we needed... a day I loaned you mine and everything just seemed to come back to you. [A pause followed by a weak smile.] You were happy.

If that's a memory too, then that was one of the few times I've ever seen you smile.

[seasaltblues]

[And that was the trick, really. The real buffer in the end, perhaps. Because she wouldn't push. She wouldn't force things. Because the more she tried to help mends the pieces last time, the further they had seemed to fall away. And that? She didn't want to happen again. So, she would just have to hold herself firm and play the waiting game. And hope things would be different this time. For now...

Another dream... Another memory. Of that day. The one last day they had together back then to double up for missions... and just when things had looked bleak. There was a weak hint of the very smile he noted at the thought. Still ever mixed with other thoughts that perhaps contaminated it from being completely happy, but all the same.]

Well, for your information, I smiled more than that. [Just a soft jab. Perhaps to keep things from getting too gloom and doom for his sake. And then, after releasing a slow breath.] But it's true- I couldn't call my keyblade for a while. Axel was the one that suggested us working together. I wasn't sure about you pulling double duty- [Felt unworthy of the effort, really.] -but you insisted.

It didn't seem like it was going to work in the end... but then Axel bought us one more day. And after you let me use your keyblade that day... [And, mind, he used a stick that whole day which might have explained why her lips curved into a flimsy smile unconsciously.] ...mine came back.

[notquiteanobody]

[Well, for what it was worth, so far he seemed to be coming about on his own. And more over, unlike any time she might have tried in the past, he was actively seeking his true memories this time and was going into such a task with the developed notion that the things he remembered now may not all be real.

The jab wasn't lost on him. If she hadn't done something to lift the mood permeating the air, then he would've tried. And odds are, it probably wouldn't have come off as nicely. All the same, as she recalled the details he nodded. He wasn't sure yet how long at that point she hadn't been able to call her Keyblade, but even before Xion filled in the blank, he'd figured it must have been for no small amount of time -at least not by Organization standards, the translation of which meant days at least, but less than two weeks at most. Neither Xemnas, nor Saix were fantastically well-known for their patience with others.

Still, it was enough to strengthen that smile of his a little, if not for the fact that he got her doing the same.]

There was another roughly full day I dreamt about, but then the rest of what I've seen has all just been fragments.

It's been weird because I'll have an entire night's sleep taken up by just a moment or a few minutes worth of memory.

[seasaltblues]

[True enough. But only time would tell just how far that would takes things as they were. Best to take it day to day.

All the same, she studied him carefully. Watching his reaction and trying to gauge from there familiarity, unfamiliarity... It definitely felt the latter though. But for better or worse, it didn't hit her as hard as it might have months and months ago. After all, she had dealt with Axel's lack of memories since at least July. If anything, it was much more different, regardless. Because Axel had since still been wary of her- and for good reason.

But there Roxas was... just being Roxas. And just... accepting things pretty readily. It was a change in pace.... although, quietly, not an unwelcoming one. Finally, she managed a nod, shifting a bit while her hands griped together firmly and relaxed repeatedly.]

It's really... I'm really surprised you're remembering anything. [Although the reasons why she dodged for right then.] You said you had another full day dream?

[notquiteanobody]

[He nods a little as she comments on his memory. It left him with half a mind to ask why she would be surprised at this development, but then he didn't even know why he'd forgotten everything in the first place. Of course that left some suspicion that perhaps she knew why he wouldn't remember, but at least for the time being, he really didn't feel like pushing that. After all, it seemed like she was starting to get comfortable around him and with the amount of work that took, he wasn't feeling terribly inclined to risk undoing it over something she potentially didn't know.

Still, Roxas would have to be forgiven for grinning a little in response.]

Personally? I'm surprised I'm remembering things without the splitting headache I got that one time. It didn't just affect me either. [He gives a pause before speaking up again.]

Yeah. Since everything's in pieces for me, I can't say for sure, but I think it's the first day you ever talked to me. Axel had gone off to Castle Oblivion with a bunch of the others and we went out on a mission together.

Afterward, I told you that I was going to linger around before I went back.

[He smiles a little.]

You said my name and then asked me if you had it right.

[seasaltblues]

[Minding things and giving her some room... She appreciated that far more than he would probably ever know. Time in the city hadn't exactly always been kind to her. Especially in the past few months. It made her not snap quite as readily to surprising circumstances... because she was half expecting them at this point. But that didn't mean she didn't frown slightly, regardless, as he made note of the headaches. Had he been having them in the city as he had implied the memories had done to him at the other city, this conversation might have ended right then.

But his smile was honest as were his words. So, to that, she minded herself and just relaxed. Letting him continue to talk about the memories he had recollected. Brows knitting as he noted the next one. And then her eyes were closing and she was trying to pull that memory back from the surface, herself. Opening again and focusing on his face, trying to picture him with that awkward curious look he always wore. Uncertain and a little strained but trying all the same. Followed by surprise as she-]

-You're. You're right. I did do that... How could I forget?

[notquiteanobody]

[Her surprise was met by an expression of relief as he leans back a little, propping himself up on his hands as that smile of his widens probably a more than it should have. So far, each thing he brought up had been confirmed and while he may be getting over-optimistic about things, it seemed to him like this was a strong sign that these strange dreams of his were indeed memories. And if that was the case, then eventually his memory -his true memories would return.

By that same note, it was kind of scary. There had to have been a reason Xion hadn't been forth-coming with these things in the first place. And while he had a suspicion that the versions of himself that had last visited this city had something to do with it, he wasn't entirely willing to just figure that was the only reason. So for now, he just decided that he'd take these developments as they happened.]

If you remember now, then clearly you didn't forget.

[seasaltblues]

[That smile... was surprising to her. It was just... she hadn't seen him smile that way towards her since the day he had arrived in the city. And back then, he had been completely oblivious to all the misgivings. So, now, knowing the things he did and having to settle into the city whether he wished for it or not, having to gather and accept that she didn't hold any memories from his time at the other city and yet... In short, it was a smile actually for her. And it made her stare probably longer than she should have before she was scrambling to play catch up with the conversation itself.

Her features seemed to return to their contemplative expression from before. Maybe even looking almost a tad on the sheepish side. There she was piecing things back together with him and yet... With a shake of her head.]

To be honest, Roxas? I don't really remember too much of the first few weeks I was in the Organization.

[notquiteanobody]

[He dismissed any concern she might've had over the situation with a casual shrug. Another little fragment he'd recalled -one he found that he sadly couldn't verify with Xion because he wasn't present, reminded him that he'd been the same way. Which admittedly was a mixed blessing. One a positive, it meant that his fuzzy recollection of his own earlier days were not a result of memory tampering. On a downside though, it meant that he just wasn't quite all there to fully commit to memory what could have been fairly important details.

Well, no sense in worrying about that now.]

It's alright. There's enough that I've seen to make me think they weren't the happiest days for us.

[Roxas pauses as his own smile finally fades as that look that says something he's been thinking about hard has just come to mind.]

Thinking about all this though and what you said about people coming from different times. I wanted to ask how many days you'd been with the Organization before you showed up here.

[Admittedly, he was kind of proud. He'd been spending no small amount of time thinking about how he could phrase a question for that crucial bit of information without asking her to delve too deeply into any details she might be afraid to reveal. Plus it would give him a better idea of how many days he'd actually been in the Organization without seeing a full-day dream or even a fragment that included a glimpse at his own journal. So far those numbers were suggesting a pretty good stretch of time.]

[seasaltblues]

[The way he just took things in such stride... with such ease for the time being. Was really strange to her. It was little times like that when he just... went along with things that reminded her of the difference with him. But she dwelt on it for about as long as the topic stood. Something he curbed elsewhere shortly thereafter.

Although the way his smile suddenly fell, that look suddenly taking to his features. ...That was definitely one she was certain she had seen before. Although she had never in her existence been so uneasy to see it as right then.

...How many. Well, it certainly wasn't the question she had been anticipating. Xion had really... expected something more direct. This... This she could. As best as she... Slowly reaching up with a hand to almost cradle her cheek as she considered it.]

...Three hundred twenty days. At least. It was probably more than that. But like I said before. [Her memories kind of tattered off. She couldn't even remember the day she had met him. And running into Axel for the first time was barely a murmur in her mind.]

[notquiteanobody]

[Roxas nods a little as he made mental note of that. While that provided a period, it dawned on him that if her early days were jumbled, then she might've easily miscounted. Honestly, the only reason he'd been able to keep such almost meticulous track of his passage of days was his own journal where he'd picked up the peculiar habit of noting the day on each entry.

At first, he wanted to ask what the last thing she remembered was. But then he realized that he wasn't even sure what the last thing he remembered that was accurate. It certainly wasn't helping that at least so far, there was no pattern, rhyme, rhythm or order to the memories he dreamed of -his only solace there was that since that day, these were the only kinds of dreams he'd had.

So after another pause, he decided to maybe try working from the opposite end of things. Plus, he was a little curious for more sentimental purposes as well.]

Hmm... what's the first thing you remember then? [He caught himself before saying something potentially... not good.] If you don't mind telling. [The Nobody offers his friend a weak, if not somewhat sheepish smile.] I remember I promised that I wouldn't push you. So...

[seasaltblues]

[And her own journal had provided a similar proof, but unfortunately, she hadn't really picked up his habit of minding the days until later on. She remembered looking back and her older entries- some of them not even being dated. Something she had remedied with her journal in the city. But regardless, that didn't change the past.

She shifted as Roxas sat there thinking over what to say next, her legs half-asleep as she yanked them out from under herself and sat now with her butt on the floor, hugging her knees and watching him. The prodding question he finally aimed at her prompting her to rest her forehead atop of them as she thought about it, dodging his eyes. The first thing she remembered...

Xion looked up a bit, catching that... Roxas, sometimes your smiles were just so unfair. Because there she was smiling a bit herself just at seeing his own although most of it was hidden by her arm she had propped over her one knee.]

You, Axel, and me eating ice cream on the clock tower. I don't really remember what we were talking about. I just remember I was really happy. It might have been back when Axel got back from Castle Oblivion when everyone had thought he and the others had been destroyed there.

[notquiteanobody]

[Admittedly, as he thought over the pieces of memory that he had, it didn't take long for him to realize just how little that ultimately helped. He had one of those 'fragment' dreams where he just saw a scene play over and over where the three of them had been sitting a top the clock tower with some ice cream.

Yet the problem with the fragments were that he never saw his own journal in those, so he couldn't tell what day went with which instance. Further compounding how vague that made things was the fact he didn't even know how many times they'd all had ice cream together -he was just going off his feelings. They were feelings that told him that lazy afternoons a top the clock tower with the three of them and ice cream was something that happened with at least modest frequency.

Feeling rather underwhelmed by this development -or lack there of, he just sighs a little and shakes his head as he quietly reminds himself that rushing into things may not be the best of ideas. So he lets the silence just hang between them for a moment as he shuffles his thoughts into some manner of order before filing it all away.]

Well, I guess it's a little early to expect too much in the way of a break through. [Roxas offers a defeated-sounding laugh before deciding to just put things aside for now and try to find something hopefully happier to talk about.]

Oh, so when I was dropping off the sea shells for you, I found out you were living with Axel and Naminé. How've they been?

[seasaltblues]

[Perhaps it wasn't really informative, but it was really the only thing she could think of that far back. Things honestly... She knew enough that everything had been pretty mundane back then either way. Missions during the day followed by ice cream at the clock tower in the evenings. It was only in their later days that things began to get shaken up- but he had asked for early memories. Not those.

Still, that didn't stop her smile from falling quickly at the shake of his head, the brightness in her eyes fading with it as he made his first comment. She guessed... perhaps it was an off putting answer. It really didn't tell him much. But then... Again, she had been honest with him when she said she didn't remember their early days too well. She closed her eyes as she rested her forehead on her knees.

Remaining there as he made to change the subject. At first, she was just silent. Naminé... Her and Naminé were fine....] ...I haven't talked to Naminé lately, but last time I did, she seemed okay. [Just worried about Kairi.]

And as for Axel... [She trailed off, instead making motions with a hand. Motions that weren't going anywhere and she knew- dropping it back to curl around her legs again soon after. Condensing herself.]

...Give it time. That's what he said.

[So much for happier tidings.]

[notquiteanobody]

[No, that just didn't work out at all how he'd hoped. His gaze drifted from Xion as he mulled all of that over -it seemed that Naminé's condition was really the only positive note in any of that and he hadn't even know her that long. Still, as usual it seemed like Axel was being cryptic about things -it was one of those things about the redhead he both wished and didn't wish would change.

When interpreted to the best effect, that statement could just mean that Roxas' appearance in the city was just too jarring after his last version's visit and that he simply needed more time before he'd be alright talking. And if that was the case, he was perfectly fine giving his friend that time. On the opposite end of the spectrum, which was probably closer to his intent, it could have meant that Roxas was expected to just disappear again. And that was just... frustrating.

So he'd have to be excused for not even trying to mask the sigh he let out.]

Anyway, thanks for hearing me out.

[Curiously, there was a part of him that was giving him an odd feeling. It was a feeling that was telling him that there was another time back then where there was something similar he should've told her about, but didn't. Suffice it to say, it was a very peculiar sensation.

And while he figured the polite thing was to get up and offer to show her out, something else came to mind instead.]

I know that you've probably got a lot that you need to catch up on, but did you want to hang around here for a little while longer? I mean, I'll probably just be cleaning up more, but the company would be nice.