Hoping for Tower of Animus.

[fierybeatdown]

Sooooo... finally found me a home, did you? I guess congratulations are in order, then?

Congratulations on finally getting off your lazy butt and doing something with me. It's only been, what, two months since you revived me? That has to be a record or something: longest time you've ever taken to find a muse a home. Forgive me if I'm not stroking your ego enough, here.

[Axel is appreciative to potentially have a home, finally; really he is. He just has a funny way of showing it.]

Comments

[badass_xemnas]

Good luck with that.

[fierybeatdown]

....I don't remember inviting you to my little celebration here, Xemnas. Don't you have more important things to be doing?

[Axel's certainly not even the tiniest bit intimidated by Xemnas' sudden appearance. Not at all. And if he is, nobody will ever know.]

[badass_xemnas]

Are we not on the same side? [Have a wary glance, Axel.]

I just want to wish you well in your ventures, Axel.

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel pauses, deciding how to answer that as diplomatically as possible. He's not sure exactly how much Xemnas knows about his plans.]

Sure we are. We just have very different methods of attaining our mutual goal. [Because an outright lie is diplomatic, right?]

Thank you for the well wishes, then.

[badass_xemnas]

[He nodded.]

Have you seen Saix around? I want to talk to him about something?

[fierybeatdown]

Can't say that I have recently. If you hang around long enough, he's probably bound to show up though.

[He's somewhat more relaxed now that he realizes Xemnas isn't going to just attack him here and now or something.]

[badass_xemnas]

Perhaps you are right. He is never around when I need him. [Need? Too strong, Xemnas.] When I want him.

[He watched Axel with a smile on his face.]

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel raises an eyebrow at Xemnas' use of the word 'need', but doesn't mention it.]

He's probably off barking orders at junior members, would be my guess.

EEEE

[attheclocktower]

[Someone is trying not to sound too hopeful]

Axel? You're coming back?

[er-] I-I mean here?

[No telling if he'll remember last time or not, after all.]

<3

[fierybeatdown]

[Xion gets a genuine smile from Axel.]

Xion? Are you there too?

Wait, back?

[attheclocktower]

Yeah, I am!

[Well... that response answers one question. Xion can't help but deflate a little bit, though she pauses when she realizes that wait... he still recognizes her.

She... can work with this.]

Um... some people come to the Tower more than once... they'll vanish, and sometimes they'll come back. But when they do... sometimes they'll remember what happened and sometimes they won't.

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel thinks about that for a moment.]

I'm pretty sure I've never been there before, at least. Maybe it was a different me? [If that makes sense. After all, this place is a little weird and seems to have an infinite number of everyone... there's probably more than one of him running around somewhere.

...and then he notices that she doesn't look completely happy.]

What's wrong?

[attheclocktower]

Maybe.

[Given that she's actually learned things about the Tower that... it probably is another him. And not just the multiples.]

It's nothing really. You, er- the other you... helped me out with some things last time. But it's okay. I'm still happy to see you.

[She missed you a looooot ;~;]

[fierybeatdown]

Oh. Well, if I do get to be there, you can count on me.

[He smiles again, trying to cheer her up.]

Friends, right?

[attheclocktower]

Always.

[If he's coming to the Tower though, there's some things he should probably know.]

Um... There's... another me here. And Roxas is here too. But...

[Guess who doesn't remember anything?]

[fierybeatdown]

Roxas is there too? [He can't help the grin from starting at the idea that he might be with his two friends again. But the way she says it makes him worry...]

But...?

[Axel stays silent, waiting for her to continue.]

[bringthefates]

As if you are one who can complain of laziness.

[fierybeatdown]

What are you talking about? I am the epitome of a diligent worker!

[bringthefates]

Your sleeping habits would say otherwise.

[fierybeatdown]

A guy's gotta sleep sometimes, you know. Might make you less cranky if you did it more often.

[worldsapart]

The Tower...? Again? That's --

[There is apprehension and worry mixed with relief and happiness in these blue eyes. And there's something about the way "Sora" is carrying himself...

It seems to dawn on "him" how all of this may come across, and "he" smiles hastily, awkwardly.]

We'd be happy to see you again, Axel. Really. [That hesitation has nothing to do with not wanting him there! Except it does. But it isn't what it sounds like, she -- er, "he" swears!

... Xion would just rather have him somewhere safe, instead of in that place.]

[fierybeatdown]

Sora?

[It's a question, because something about Sora seems really off... something distinctly not Sora-like... Something familiar...]

Wait no. Not Sora.

....Xion?

[Now that he says it out loud, he's pretty sure this is Xion he's talking to.]

Why do you have Sora's face?

[Because that's what's really important here, right?]

You don't seem so thrilled, actually.

[worldsapart]

[She manages not to flinch, to her credit. Instead, her eyes slide away from him.]

... It's a long story.

[She forces her gaze back to him and tries to put more focus on his other comment. She doesn't know if it'll be enough to draw his attention away from her face -- unlikely -- but it's worth a shot.]

It's just... The Tower is really dangerous. We'd -- I'd like to see you again, just... Not there.

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel nods and gives her what he hopes is a reassuring grin.]

A little danger is nothing I haven't handled before - you know that.

[worldsapart]

It's not a little danger, though. This is a lot worse than anything we've faced back home.