Twenty-first Key

[optimistickey]

[Sora is back in his own room again. It takes him a little bit to recognize what all of this is, including the pictures he's pinned to the walls and the dirty clothes on the floor. There's another moment of thinking, and then his face instantly falls. He looks completely miserable, as if he's ready to break down any moment.]

That...that was absolutely horrible...

[He squeezes his eyes shut and swallows.] Gypsy...please let's not use the dimension jumping engine again! I don't ever wanna be...wanna do something like that, ever again!

Comments

[guardiano_perduto]

...kid, look, everything I said before, I'm--

That was not me, and I never want it to be me. Okay?

[optimistickey]

[It seems like Sora is still too busy trying to absorb his own actions to be worried that someone else's bad ones.] Yeah...yeah, I know.

[guardiano_perduto]

Neither of us were ourselves. Don't take it so hard?

[vainvoid]

Yeah, you did say some awful stuff. [Not that he cares.]

[optimistickey]

[Oh. Great. He's still here, too. And he's probably going to stay his normal self, too.]

Yeah, thanks, I don't need reminding.

[vainvoid]

So you said a few hurtful things. Grow up. Though I have to say you know how to rock the bodysuit.

[wefallinsilence]

I'd assume not all dimensions would be as horrible as that one.

[optimistickey]

I don't want to find out if there's anything that bad!

[wefallinsilence]

You aren't alone in that.

-->[Action]

[thirteenth_brat]

[Roxas is, initially, not even paying attention to Cambot, being busy looking around and wanting to be sure they are actually back in the normal universe rather than some other one. Then Cambot pokes him, startling him.]

Tch! Cambot!

[He's about to send the robot away when he realizes why he's being poked. Right. The next thing he'd been planning to do after making certain of where they were was find Sora. Maybe a bit sooner than originally intended. He doesn't say anything else, simply making a note of the fact that Sora seems to be in his room before heading over. It isn't long before he's knocking on the door.]

[optimistickey]

[Sora's jumps a bit at the door knock, but then gets up and opens it. When he sees Roxas there, he immediately looks away, feeling ashamed and even worried about what his reaction will be. After remembering beating him up like that, he'd deserve the admonishment...]

Roxas...

[thirteenth_brat]

[Roxas just... rubs at the back of head. 'Awkward' barely covers this. He'd just kind of rushed over as soon as he'd realized that Sora does remember what had happened. It's a small mercy that the universe jump had healed his injuries, but that really isn't saying much.

Not that Roxas feels all that much better. Avoiding raising suspicions had pretty much required that he stick around and fight. That meant he'd caused some harm too and while he could accept that he hadn't had many options at the time, he knew Sora couldn't let it go as easily... not that it was actually easy. Even if he likely hadn't done more than cause some bruises, it still bothered him that he couldn't find another way out of the situation.]

I...

[Okay, he's got nothing. He hasn't even got any guesses as to what Sora might be expecting him to say...]

Can we just that whole mess sucked and leave it at that?

[punsofiron]

I know I've had my fill of gold vests for a lifetime.

[But that's not the point. She looks more serious and frowns slightly at Sora.]

You doing okay kiddo?

[optimistickey]

Gold...? [And then he remembers what Evil!Mike was wearing.] Oh, right.

I'm not sure...

[punsofiron]

Need to talk about it? I think this is hitting everybody pretty hard.

[halfdarkened]

[It looks like Riku's in his room. He's not making eye contact, though. His shoulders shift rhythmically. It seems he's working on something, but Cambot isn't showing it. Riku isn't the quiet type. But his voice is hushed right now.]

You won't. You're not that person.

[optimistickey]

[Sora instantly hitches up at seeing Riku again. The thought that evil-him could treat his best friend so miserably, and even enjoy it, is the absolute worst part of it.]

Riku! I'm...I'm really sorry...

[action]

[sailorlaughter]

[Her job complete, Pinkie's taken to wandering the halls with a large platter of cupcakes. Upon seeing Sora's room, she nudges the door open and walks in.]

Hey, Sora! It's TOTALLY great to see you back to normal - here! Take a Welcome Back Cupcake!

[optimistickey]

Oh! Hi, Pinkie...

[He's never been so glad to see her usual cheerful self. He hesitates for a moment, but then takes a cupcake.]

[colorbymemory]

[Heartbro, this heartsis is glad to see the real you back.]

It was horrible, but it looks like everyone's back to themselves now, at least.

[optimistickey]

[Sora doesn’t even want to think about what Namine might have gone through there...] I’m really glad that everyone is...

[skysmirror]

[Have a very relieved Xion. Welcome back, heartbro-Original, she missed you.]

We knew it wasn't you, but it's good to have you back. The real you.

[optimistickey]

And I don’t ever want that to be me!

I’m...really sorry for whatever you had to deal with...

[verygassy]

Yeah, it did kinda suck. But we're not there anymore!

[optimistickey]

That’s one way of putting it, yeah.

And I don’t ever wanna go back there again!