We Remember Our Bedrooms

[seasaltkeys]

Who: Roxas and whoever
What: Looking at Rooms
Where: Twilight Town
When:  Sometime, afternoonish
Warnings: None I don't think.


Of all the worlds available, and despite the memories it held, Roxas still found Twilight Town to be his favorite.

It was familiar, and well, the closest thing he had to a home. While he didn't mind the Dalmatian's mansion, it was in Traverse Town, and that held other memories. Memories that Roxas couldn't lay claim to. At least with Twilight Town, the memories were his, real or not.

Which brought him to today's mission, one that he had somewhat been avoiding. He had to know, did his room still exist? Was it still there, as he remembered it? Was it just an empty space? Or had it never really existed in Twilight Town at all. As much as it scared him, he had to know.

Comments

[juniorganymedian]

Having to pay for a room at the inn was becoming tedious, particularly when there happened to be Dream Eaters making noise at nearly all hours and some of them apparently stealing clothing. It made an excellent hub, perhaps, but Jeeves was more interested in finding a proper residence. As proper a residence as one could have in a world of dreams, anyway.

He decided to start with looking around Twilight Town, the ever-present sunset drawing his interest. When he stepped through the portal, he was a little surprised to see Roxas. "I trust I needn't lay hands on a Struggle bat before proceeding farther into town?" he asked dryly. Their last encounter here with the mass of Nightmares had been extremely memorable.

Descartes and Kant perked with interest when they noticed the boy, as well. The Komory Bat flapped over to hover near Roxas, while Kant affected a more cool demeanor, hanging back and watching.

[seasaltkeys]

Roxas looked up, a little surprised since he'd been lost in thought, before sheepishly turning his eyes towards the ground.

"Uh, no. Not this time," he replied, "Sorry about that."

Despite the fact that Roxas stood by his actions that day, it still weighed on him that he had let it get out of hand.

[juniorganymedian]

"I meant it only in jest," Jeeves offered with a quirk of his lips. He added a mental 'sir,' but managed to hold off verbalizing it. Being so familiar with the boy after such a short time knowing him was still difficult. "I think my Spirits are better-equipped to handle threats now." Descartes certainly was. Jeeves was still getting a handle on the more distant reptile now in his possession.

He considered Roxas for a moment before coming to a decision. "You are familiar with Twilight Town, are you not? I was intending to make a survey of the available residences here. My apologies for any delay in your own activities, but would you happen to have any suggestions on rooms? I thought something near the tunnel system in the town might prove interesting."

[seasaltkeys]

"That's good," Roxas replied, looking at the two spirits. Bouncer was already considering them new friends and trying to encourage a game.

"Yeah. I know the town. Actually, I was going to look at some rooms myself," He said, not adding that it was his own room he was looking for. "I can't say I have any suggestions right now, but I know about a few places."

He wasn't so sure about the tunnels though. It was easy to get lost.

[juniorganymedian]

Descartes was happy to play, flapping around just out of Bouncer's reach and dipping down to tap the Meow Wow's head. Kant hung back trying to remain looking cool, but he kept shooting longing looks toward the others. They looked like they were having so much fun! His Person was a serious person, though. He had to be good when Descartes was always annoying him.

"Then it may be most efficient to combine our efforts," Jeeves suggested, ignoring the Spirits and their antics. "There is always safety in numbers where the Nightmares lurk." He also wouldn't mind the opportunity for the lad's company or another view of his magic. Ponyville was a disturbing place for many reasons, but Jeeves had come to appreciate the magic that he had there as a unicorn.

"Where did you have in mind to begin the survey?"

[seasaltkeys]

Bouncer gave a huff, trying to jump to tag the bat, but instead flopping over on his side. He recovered quickly, not phased at all by the incident, and resolved to try again.

"I was thinking of looking over by the sandlot, personally. There's something I want to check out there."

[juniorganymedian]

"Of course," Jeeves inclined his head deferentially. "Decartes, make sure the way ahead to the Sandlot is clear," he ordered. The bat gave a squeak of protest. He was playing Person! But the Sandlot was for playing, too. Maybe they'd all play together there! This thought in mind, the bat tapped Bouncer's head one more time before flapping forward to patrol.

"Might I inquire what holds your interest for that area?" Jeeves asked, gesturing for Roxas to walk forward with him. Kant followed along trying to keep vigilant.

[seasaltkeys]

Bouncer loped after the bat. There'd be so much more space to run around and the Meow Wow knew Roxas trusted him in that area.

Roxas nodded, falling into step beside Jeeves.

"I used to live in the area, sort of. In a different version of the town. I want to see if my room's still there."

He suspected that it wasn't, because he could never get that lucky, but he had to check regardless.

[juniorganymedian]

"You are a native of some version of Twilight Town, then?" Jeeves raised a brow as he looked over at the youth. "Where have you been living, if not in your previous residence here?"

[dork_of_keys]

Sora wasn't looking for Roxas, not yet, though he did want to talk to him. He just... wanted to minimize the awkward if possible. So he was trying to think of something to talk about and wandering as he did.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he realized he didn't hear his Spirits chattering at each other anymore. Turning to look for them, he saw Jelly Bean disappearing around a corner.

Roxas would be treated to a Meow Wow and a Komori Bat approaching him just a few moments before their person got there.

[seasaltkeys]

As he made his way along the familiar streets, Roxas had to admit he was deliberately procrastinating. It was dumb, really, but if his room wasn't there, even as a physical space, Roxas really wasn't sure what that meant. And he was stuck in the constant circle about whether or not he should think about that.

Roxas being distracted and thinking to much makes for bored spirits however, which means it's time for Bouncer and Sparkle to run off and say hi. Roxas has been trained enough to know that the absence of spirits means that he needs to stop thinking and chase them down.

It feels like he does a lot of that these days.

[dork_of_keys]

Neither Bruce nor Jelly Bean would fault them for getting bored. Persons were fun most of the time, but not when they were all quiet and thinking too much. So it was time to make some fun. Bruce and Jelly Bean were quite happy to run into familiar faces.

For his part, Sora knew he should have expected them to take off at the first hint of friends nearby. He didn't object to saying hello to his friends when he was out and about. But chasing errant Spirits wasn't always a good way to bump into people.

"At least give me a heads up when you're gonna take off, you guys," Sora griped as he caught up to them. Of course, it was nigh impossible to stay even mildly annoyed with them for long, especially when they seemed so happy to be playing with friends.

[seasaltkeys]

"Sparkle, don't run off like that," Roxas sighs, finally catching the Me Me Bunny by the ear. He knows that Bouncer will stop to say hi, but he can never really trust the rabbit not to take off the moment she sees something shiny. Sparkle looks a little annoyed, before swinging herself back onto Roxas's shoulder.

Roxas looks at the ground before he looks back at Sora.

"Hi..."

[dork_of_keys]

Some Spirits really were kind of a handful. But they didn't mean any harm. Often, it was a case like now where they just wanted to go say hi and maybe have a chat.

It never seems to register that they sometimes put their persons into awkward situations.

"Hey. What's up?"

[seasaltkeys]

Or that they really cared. While Bouncer could be considerate, it was a very fleeting thought to the Meow Wow, especially if there were friends or food about.

"Not a lot. You?"

[dork_of_keys]

For all their faults, the Spirits were still worthwhile companions. And Sora didn't mind waking up in a cuddle pile, really.

"Nothing really. How have you been?" Awkward conversation was better than no conversation, Sora thought. He hoped that maybe spending a little more time talking to each other could help make things a little less awkward.

[seasaltkeys]

"Alright, I guess," Roxas replied. He still missed Lea terribly, but had been doing his best to soldier on. He scuffed his foot, trying to think of something more.

"Just...looking for clues and stuff."

[laughingsword]

The sunlight in this world glinted redly from glass windows and tiled roofs. It didn't look like home at all, but at least there was light, Souji reflected, tapping at the cobbles with the toe of one shoe. He'd been growing tired of Traverse Town's dark sky.

Behind him, his new Pricklemane burbled. He turned around, crouching to hold a hand out to it.

"Come along, now! Doesn't this look like a nice place? We can explore!"

It hopped forward, eying his hand and the surrounding world with suspicion. Would Hijikata be too annoyed if Souji named another pet after him? All that long hair and paranoia... he'd never have to know.

The Pricklemane nudged his hand, then hopped forward again and nudged his knee with a sharp-edged tuft of mane. Souji picked it up, straightening to his full height, and turned to look around the new world once more. He'd run into a few of those "Nightmares" the others had described to him in Traverse Town, and there was a plain wooden stick tucked into his waistband against the next set he might encounter. Perhaps daylight meant there were not as many here? Or, perhaps, it just meant there would be different ones.

Movement caught his eye -- a boy, maybe Tetsu's age, with a wild shock of yellow hair and two Spirits in tow. Maybe-Toshi the Pricklemane wriggled in the crook of his arm, demanding to be let down.

"Hello!" Souji called to the boy, giving in and setting his own Spirit back on the ground. It bounced excitedly toward them, gathering speed. "I'm sorry, he's very spirited!"

[seasaltkeys]

Bouncer noticed the pricklemane first, and took off with a bark of joy. New spirits always meant new friends. Roxas turned and sighed, walking towards the spirits.

"It's fine. They're all kind of like that," he replied, glad that the rabbit on his shoulder had not run off as well. She liked to go exploring in the moments he was distracted.

"You're new here, right? I don't think I've seen you here before."

[laughingsword]

"I've only been here a few days," Souji agreed, smiling ruefully as the two Spirits muttered and chirped together. "-- Do you think they're gossiping about us? Oh, and you can call me Soujirou! That boy is..."

Oh well, he couldn't think of a reason not to.

"Toshi!"

The Pricklemane didn't twitch. Souji would have to teach him his name later.

"Have you been here long?" he added, curious.

[seasaltkeys]

Thankfully, now that they'd had a chance to say hi, both of his spirits were mostly behaving. Sparkle had bounced down, and was sitting on Bouncer's head in order to join in the conversation.

"Uh...I'm Roxas," the boy replied, trying to catch up to the questions. "I've been here a while, yeah. I dunno what the spirits talk about, but they seem excited about it."

[laughingsword]

"They do, don't they?" Toshi was lumbering from side to side as if acting out some story. Maybe it was gossip after all, Souji thought, and turned his attention back to Roxas with a cheerful grin. "It's too bad we can't understand! -- It's a pleasure to meet you, Roxas."

The smile faded as he glanced up at the sky. It had been twilight here for a long time already, hadn't it? Was the sun even moving...?

Absently, he added, "There certainly are a lot of people here. And from such strange places!"

[seasaltkeys]

"Well, this town's not that strange," Roxas said, offering some defense of the place he called home. "It's pretty normal compare to Ponyville."

Nightmares and eternal sunsets notwithstanding.

[laughingsword]

"I haven't been there yet," Souji admitted, clasping his hands behind his back. "I heard we all change into animals when we go there, and that was just a little too strange an idea."

Pouting, he added, "And besides, if there are Nightmares there as well, how would I fight them if I were a horse?"

[seasaltkeys]

"Yeah, it was weird at the start."

Roxas didn't really want to admit to the face plant he took on his first step out of the gate. Or how long it had taken to move from a wobble to a walk.

"You can kick them, and the spirits can help. Also you can use magic if you're a unicorn."

It wasn't the most elegant way of fighting, but it worked.