itsjustcambot | Mission 25

[Roxas had noted that Xion seemed pretty close to MakubeX. It hadn't occurred to him that they might have been close enough for his vanishing to be this upsetting for her until now, though.]

Are you okay?

[Well, some of it's his disappearance on top of everything else that's happened recently, but yes, they were that close. Cambot's just being mean and not letting her deal with these squishy feelings things in private.]

I will be.

All right. If you want to talk about it, I'm here.

[It's pretty obvious she wants some alone time, but he means it when he says she can come talk to him if she wants or needs to.]

Thanks.

[A while later, once she's had the needed quiet time, she comes to find him. Not that she's feeling especially talkative, but she's past the worst of it.]

Hey.

[Roxas is in the kitchen when she does come looking for him, having realized that all they'd had to eat while in the mirror 'verse had been either vending machine crap or take out and he really wants something better than that. So, when she finds him, he's working on a vegetable and noodle dish from one of the few cookbooks on the media deck. It actually smells pretty good and it's almost done. He's also gotten into a habit of making extra food since he never knows who's going to drop in while he's cooking and it never feels right to not have something to offer. And if no one does drop in or they don't want any, the leftovers make for an easy lunch or snack. ~~Now if he could remember how or when he learned to cook...~~]

Hey. You feel any better?

[There's also a pot of tea and for that at least, he's pretty sure Zexion introduced him to it, though that thought's a little off topic. Both food and tea are up for sharing if she's interested.]

[~~Probably during their time in the Organization, as a way to cope with Xion's poor attempts at it.~~ Being one of the many that had taken up Roxas on offers to share what he'd made, Xion knew the kitchen was a potentially good place to find him. Unlike some others, she at least always offered to help with cleaning up as a thank you for the food. What he's making now does smell good, but she goes for some tea first.]

A little.

[~~Sounds about right.~~ Most everyone generally helped clean up after eating. If anyone didn't, they weren't likely to get another offer, though he wouldn't expect someone to offer to help if they weren't feeling well. That includes emotionally as well as physically, though he won't stop her if she decides to help. The food will be done in just a moment and he fetches two dishes from the cabinet.

He smiles a little to hear that she's doing a little better. A little bit is better than not at all and if he can do anything to help, he will.]

That's good.

[He won't pry if she still isn't ready to talk about it, though.]

[It's only polite to help a little. Xion wouldn't blame Roxas for refusing to offer food to anyone who didn't. At the moment she's more than capable of washing a few dishes, so she'll help. First thing is first, though, and it looks like it's time to have some pasta.

She returns the smile, though hers isn't very bright.]

Thanks.

{After a brief pause.]

There are some bad things about having a heart, aren't there?

[He usually offers to help clean up if someone else offers him food when he comes to the kitchen, so it does irk him a little if someone refuses to help without a good reason. However, food must be eaten before worrying about cleaning up.]

No problem.

[Her question gives him his own reason to pause. He's still getting used to some things himself, regarding having a heart. Especially after what Sora had had to tell them about Nobodies and their hearts. He thinks he has a sensible answer and he knows any answer Axel would have had to such a question would have been sappy or cheesy or both.]

I guess there are. But sometimes bad things along with good things.

[Food must definitely be eaten before cleaning up happens, and Xion will be happy to help with that. Were her cooking skills up to it, she'd offer to make something in return later, but sadly, they weren't.

Having a heart--being aware of having a heart--and what that means can take some getting used to, or so Xion's learning. Not that she's not happy to know she has one, but taking the bad along with the good is difficult. Axel's answer would have been so sappy and cheesy it would have made them laugh. In fact, it would have been calculated to do so. He'd always had the occasional difficulty with serious subjects.]

They do.

I really liked him, you know. Maybe as something even different from a friend--I wasn't sure, but I kind of wanted to find out.

[It should be fairly obvious who she's talking about.]

[Maybe some cooking lessons are in order?

It's true that learning they'd had hearts or were developing hearts all along was taking some adjusting. Roxas might have had a small head start on it from kicking around in Sora's heart for a while. He wasn't sure. And Axel was a dork trying not to act like a dork and failing. Hence all the sap and cheese when it came to discussing serious things. He was probably trying to make it sound like he was dispensing deep wisdom.

As to the present, Roxas realizes that he really has no idea what to say here. He had noticed that Xion got along well with MakubeX. The possibility that it could be more than platonic hadn't crossed his mind, but he realizes it probably should have. Not that he would even have had any clue about the difference without a) having asked Axel once and being told there was difference between friendship and other kinds of love and b) having spent the time he had kicking around in Sora's heart.]

Do you... think it might have made sense to say you were in love?

[And pretty much as soon as it's out of his mouth, he realizes it was probably the wrong thing to say. Not least because he knows she wasn't there when he'd asked Axel about love and he's not sure it the topic has come up since they've been on this satellite.]

[As a shared activity, they might be fun, but cooking in and of itself doesn't hold much interest for her.

Roxas definitely had an advantage over Xion there, but she liked to think she was catching up reasonably quickly. Axel's corny speeches had definitely had an air of someone trying to sound knowledgable and wise, but yes, he had been a dork, and they'd always come off as cheesy and sappy. Xion still kind of missed him, and them, though.

At the moment, Roxas doesn;t need to say anything; just the friendly listening ear is welcome. He can't be blamed for not picking up on what had been going on between Xion and MakubeX. They hadn't been very overt about anything more than friendship. While she hadn't been able to be there when Roxas asked Axel about different kinds of love, Xion could observe and read, and she had Sora's memories of his changing feelings for Kairi and how they differed from his feelings for Riku and his other friends.

It wasn't the wrong thing to say, but she does have to consider her response for a moment.]

Maybe. I don't know what it's supposed to feel like. I mean, I know some things, but then I hear it's supposed to be different for everyone...

[Cooking is a useful skill. But he won't press the issue if she's not interested.

Well, if things work out back in their own worlds, they might just get to hear more of the sap and corn and cheese that their beloved dork can provide.

It had actually been one of the less cheesy conversations Roxas had ever had with Axel, now that he thinks of it. He'd also been rather puzzled that Roxas had asked, but that was beside the point. It was interesting. Roxas had known how Sora felt about Kairi when... whatever had happened to put him in contact with her had happened and he distinctly recalled thinking of the 'like' in a specific way. But his knowledge of the difference at the time might have had something to do with fake memories...]

I... guess that makes sense. If hearts are all different, I guess the way they react to things can be different too.

[He still thinks he kind of stuck his foot in his mouth there, but it didn't upset her, he's not going to call attention to it.]

[Not at the moment, no. Though he could suggest making something together sometime. She might enjoy that.

He is a dork, but he's their dork of a biffle, and she would like to see him again. Anyway, as he would say, corn and cheese are healthy.

There had occasionally been serious conversations--well, maybe not totally serious, but times where Axel showed his less dorky side. Asking about that must have come as enough of a surprise to Axel; emotions weren't a common subject for them to talk about. At least they had some inkling now, and, if Sora's memories were anything to go by, the reassurance that feelings were difficult even for people used to having a heart.]

Yeah. We talked about it a little bit, but...

[He hadn't upset her at all. It was a logical thing to say.]

Aww, kid.

[Liz knows that feel all too well, of someone you love getting zapped away. At least she knew where Linkara was, in theory.]

You want some ice cream? Or would you rather be alone for a while?

[Xion has some idea about MakubeX's home, and while she knows it's a good thing he's back there with his friends, she does miss him. At Liz's suggestion, she tilts her head in thought.]

Ice cream would be nice, but...maybe later?

[Dealing with squishy feelings things is somewhat new, and she'd like to get a handle on that in private.]

[Nod] Whenever you want, kiddo.

Thanks.

[A little later, she's knocking on Liz's door. While she's not exactly feeling talkative, she's gotten a handle on herself, and ice cream always makes her feel better.]

Come in!

[The minifridge Liz has stocked for Warhammer nights is stuffed with mini ice cream cups she smuggled up from the kitchen a little before and is rummaging through them as Xion comes in.]

What flavor would you like? I've got uh...chocolate fudge, rocky road, Neapolitan and...what is this, sea salt?

[Xion has never been one for joining the roleplaying group--too shy at first, then jumping into the quest midway seemed like a bad idea. Too bad, because she's heard it's fun.

She's just poked her head in when Liz mentions the ice cream flavors, and perks up slightly at the last one before slipping into the room.]

Sea salt ice cream? That's my favorite.

[Well she's not gonna judge. She holds out the little container of sea salt ice cream to Xion, taking the chocolate for herself.]

Make yourself at home.

[They don't have to talk or anything if she doesn't want to. Ice cream is no obligation to discuss feels.]

[The acceptance is appreciated. Chocolate is good, but at times like this, an old favorite is best.]

Thanks.

[Xion sits on the bed. At the moment, no, she doesn't feel like talking much, so she focuses on the ice cream.]

[Well she's here if Xion needs it. She just digs into her own ice cream quietly, occasionally looking over at the kid, seeing how she's doing.]

[The quiet company is appreciated. Xion's expression is mostly thoughtful while she eats, but when she's almost finished, she offers a small smile.]

Thanks. You were friends with him, too, right?

[She'd seen enough to know they got along well.]

Yeah. He was a good kid.

I hope everything's okay for him back home.

I hope so too.

He...he seemed like someone who really needed a friend.

I think he has some at home, but not a lot.

It was nice being friends for a while.

[At first, Sora is really concerned that Xion is still suffering from what the mirrorverse did to everyone...then he realizes she's more talking about MakubeX. His face drops again.]

Do you wanna go check the Satellite for him?

[Well, events in the mirrorverse have had their own effect, this is just adding to that. Xion shakes her head at Sora's offer.]

I already looked everywhere. That's how I found this.

[She holds up the note.]

[Sora peers a little closer at the note, and its meaning sinks in. So...he probably is really gone, then...]

Oh...

I'm really sorry...do you want to do something or other?

[If she was looking so hard to find him that she found it, he is.]

Not right now, but...didn't you say you'd show some of us who don't know how to swim how to?

[Physical activity is always good for clearing her mind.]

[He's had that happen before, and it a pretty awful feeling...let alone for such a close friend.]

Oh...oh, I did! [Back before they went universe-hopping, they'd mentioned it. And physical activity does sound like a good distraction right now.] Yeah, we can do that! You and Namine, and anyone else who wants to.

[Maybe even something a little different than a friend, but the chance to find out was gone for now.]

That sounds great. So we round everyone up and meet at the pool? Roxas and Riku might want to come.

[Now she's smiling slightly. Thank you for helping her get her mind of this, Sora.]

Yeah, let's do that! Riku can come if he wants to, although he doesn't need the swimming lesson! [Mostly, he's wondering if Riku won't try to backseat drive on him. But since it's helping both of them get their minds off of sadness, it seems like a good idea.]

[Xion figures Riku will be too busy focusing on one particular person to totally backseat drive. Even if he weren't, well, they could deal with that.]

He can help teach a little--three people is a lot for one person to teach, isn't it.

[Why, no, Sora's memories of school haven't flown out of her mind for the moment at all...]

I guess he could. But three people shouldn’t be that bad...

[Yeah, he had trouble paying attention in school, but that was different from actually teaching people things!]

[It was, but what Xion would have also remembered is class sizes, and how teachers generally taught many more students at a time than three.

Which now occurs to her and she laughs.]

I guess it isn't, though there might be more.

Who else do you think would want to?

I'm not sure, but it might not be just us.

Okay. I'm sure we can handle a few more!

[That gets a small smile out of her. Leave it to Sora to say something like that.]

The more the merrier?

Definitely!

[There's not much Riku can offer. He's not good, either, but at least the person he cares for is still around, even if this last experience may have possibly blown it. In that respect, he's lucky.]

[Riku swallows and offers the only thing he can.] If Sora, Kairi and I can find each other again in all the worlds...

[The attempt to offer some help even when he's dealing with a lot is appreciated. Xion knows he's upset about what happened. In response, she offers a wan smile.]

That's true. Maybe I can find him again.

[Though if they didn't remember anything when they left...]

Mission 25

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Probably no further reply

'Sallgood, she's not feeling like talking a lot.