[closed] 🗝️ It's been about a year now ain't seen or heard from you

[It's all brand-new information to Sora that he's been to this world before. He can't remember a single day of that. He's met faces that recognized him from day one and he's met people who don't remember him at all. It's all kind of disorienting. Although, Sora guesses he should be used to all of this by now. It seems to happen to him a lot. That's why he's kind of just been taking this one day at a time.

At least Roxas mentioned that he had a ship and a whole island where he and some other boys stayed. Naturally, Sora had invited himself.]

I can't believe you've got a whole island to yourself, Roxas. That's crazy.

[He feels like he has so much to catch up on. He never had much of a chance to spend time with Roxas before (that he can remember) so he figures this has to be step one. Find out. Everything!]

How did you get it? What happened?

Well, it's not just mine. It's the crew's.

[Be kinda weird to have a whole island to himself.]

But, we found it. And there was no one here when we explored so, we figured we'd stay and fix it up and stuff.

There's still a lot of work that needs doing.

Still, that's serious!

[Sora wants to know all about the crew too. There's just so much for them to catch up on. So much for them to talk about.

Sora asks Roxas about what sort of fixes the island might need and it's a pretty long list so he tucks that away for later...]

Can you show me around a little?

Guess it did kinda make us a real thing.

But I guess. There's not a lot to see right now, since it's still mostly just island.

[He leads Sora down the beach and towards the path heading up the mountain.]

Most of the big stuff is this way. Haven't really had a chance to fix the stairs or anything so, yeah. Watch your step.

[The island looks huge and Sora has that natural to desire to want to run around the entire thing to see every single bit of it. Born an islander and he'll die an islander, too.]

That's okay, I just want to see what you've been up to too, Roxas. Having a whole island and a crew of friends too? I want to know everything about that.

[He's really proud of Roxas...

He checks out the beach they're on now and looks up towards the steps that go up the mountain. He'll let Roxas tell him what he wants to tell him about all of this. But Sora wouldn't mind being a part of it too.]

Well, you've kinda seen it.

[He gestures to the island. It's sort of been his focus.]

But, uh, I kinda joined the crew on a whim and no one seemed to mind. It was started by a guy named Izuku and his friends. They've all left now, and Toge as well. But Ranma's still around, same with Gohan and Goten.

Izuku was pretty cool.

[Sora nods.]

Yeah, that's what I want to know about! Your crew and how it all started, too.

[But he has to tilt his head a little. Roxas seems a little bit reluctant to tell him things but he figures that's fair...]

Ranma, Gohan and Goten. But the others are gone? So who's the captain?

You'll probably meet them all soon. They're around. And Axel usually stays on the island as well, but he's not formally part of the crew.

[Yet, anyway.]

It was Izuku, but I guess there really isn't one right now. I've sorta been keeping track of anything and stuff, but I dunno if I want to really the be the Captain.

Oh, Axel. I've gotta ask you about him, too.

[That's a whole other conversation to have at another time. Axel is Lea in Sora's head and he can't undo that. It's hard.

But... Hearing that Roxas has lost a couple of good friends is so sad.]

There's no captain at all, then? Why don't you do it, Roxas? I think you would be good at it if you wanted to do it!

What about him?

[There's a note of suspicion in that question. This is his Best Friend you're asking about.

But at the second questions, Roxas shakes his head.]

Not right now. And I dunno...I guess I just don't really want to. Never really been the kinda guy to do the leading.

And I'd feel weird, taking Izuku's spot and all.

Uh... I can ask you later!

[Sora has some very prominent questions on Sora's mind. Just don't look at him like that, Roxas. He tilts his head in his own confusion...]

But, I think you'd be pretty good being a captain if you really wanted to do it. I guess I get it, though.

[Being a leader takes a lot of work. And Sora doesn't really know what being a captain here means.]

What do you think Izuku would want for your crew? Do you think he'd want it to keep going without him?

[A lingering suspicious look. but he lets it go.

There's other questions he has to think through now.]

I think he would. Want us to keep going. It feels weird without them, but we still have this island, and I don't think it's fair to give that up. And I don't think Izuku would want us to give that up.

They were Heroes, after all, so I should...honor that somehow.

[One conversation at a time, Roxas! He's only got so many brain cells! Those questions about Axel (Lea???) will come later!!]

Heroes, huh...

[He's a bit touched to hear Roxas say that. Honouring something that his old friends left behind makes total sense.

That's why Sora lifts a fist up.]

Hey! Why don't I help you keep it going then, Roxas? If you're worried about being captain, I can do all the stuff you don't want to do!

[It would mean the world to Sora to be able to help Roxas with something. And if it helps Roxas feel better about his old friends, then he doesn't see why not! Sora gets a crew, he gets to stay with Roxas, he gets to meet new friends and... He gets to be a pirate!!!]

[It certainly is a thought.

One Roxas has to ruminate on for a bit. Because, on the one hand, it might be kind of nice to have Sora take over. He's already offered to do the stuff Roxas doesn't, and it would be kind of nice maybe dump a few extra tasks on Sora as well. Taking your lumps, one might say. Plus it would be easier to keep an eye on him.

There is a part of him that hesitates. This is His Crew, technically. Something that is His. And there is a part of him that always wants to be independent from Sora.

But the Crew does need a captain.]

So...like, a co-captain sort of deal?

[While Roxas thinks it over, Sora crouches down to poke at a little red crab that has scuttled around near his foot. It reaches up and pinches his finger and Sora lets out a little wince.]

Ow.

[A perfect candidate for being captain.]

Yeah, like a co-captain! Do you think that would be something we could do? I know there's still a lot I've got to learn about. But I wouldn't mind helping you out if you want the help, Roxas. And I've always loved being a pirate!

[Roxas will have to come to terms with Sora being there in that capacity, though. It's true!]

[The exclamation does draw Roxas out of his thoughts, and he just sighs at Sora.

He'll have to come to terms with Sora one way or another.]

Yeah...I guess we could.

I mean, I'd have to talk with the rest of the crew. See if they're okay with it to.

[Sora brightens up just like that.]

Yeah! Okay, that makes sense! Talk with them first! Tell them I'll do my best!

[Roxas will put in a good word for him, right??]

Yeah, I'll do that. I'll let you know.

[He will put in a good word. He just might not tell Sora what he says.]

If you need a place to stay in the meantime, you can stay here.

[Please don't talk about how uncool he is!]

Okay! [Sora nods.] And thanks, Roxas. I'd like to stay where you're staying. That kind of makes sense to me, you know?

[Unless that doesn't make sense for Roxas- Opps.]

[Dang, there goes his thesis statement.

Unfortunately, it does. But probably from two different points of view. He's got to keep an eye on Sora, after all.]

Yeah, it's no problem.

[Then they both have their own reasons to stick together. And that's more than enough for Sora so he smiles happily.]

Then it's a deal. We'll work on your crew together.

[He wants to make sure that Roxas knows that it is always his crew first. Sora might end up as captain in name later but it is and always will be something that Roxas did first.

So with that, Sora reaches out to take Roxas' hand and he tugs him along.]

Come on, show me the rest of this place and where you're staying! And did I see a bunch of old ruins or something in the background too!?

Yeah, there's a lot of stuff. The house is at the top of this hill, with the arena. I guess I can show you that first.

[He's still working his mind around the idea of it being His crew. He hadn't really thought of it that way. But, maybe Sora has a point.

He'll let Sora pull him along for now.]

[Sora will lead the way up the stone steps to the plateau at the top. That's where the house is at the top of the hill that Roxas points out. It looks like it's lived in already but it looks rustic and like it could use some real work too. Sora has no idea how to help build but he's happy to see all of this.]

I think it's really cool that there's a place for all of us to stay. It's a little like going to a dorm. There's no schools with dorms back home but it's kind of the same thing.

[This isn't like school... but maybe it is.]

Yeah, I think that was kinda the point. I think they lived in dorms, or something.

But there should be enough space for everyone to have a room.

[He shrugs, looking out at the island from where they are.]

It's nice.

Yeah, it is nice. Kind of like a second-home in the making.

[Sora isn't connected enough to this place to call it a home-home. But from what he's seen so far there's a lot for him to learn and explore. And if Roxas has been here for some time then Sora's more than happy to learn about it.

He reaches out to pick up some old rubble on the ground near the house's porch.]

But there's a lot of rock and rubble around here, huh?

Yeah, I guess. It's not quite Twilight Town, but it works.

[And he does miss his home. He didn't really get to spend a lot of time in the real one.]

We were still working on cleaning things up. It's a lot of work.

[Sora looks over his shoulder at Roxas with a smile.]

Don't worry, I'll help you with all this stuff too.

[Maybe this place can feel a little like second-home someday.]

[closed] 🗝️ It's been about a year now ain't seen or heard from you

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