thefarshore | (no subject)

[Sora has now decided that jellyfish are magic water fairies and that tonight he'll probably curl up in bed and google all the jellyfish names on his phone until he falls asleep.]

If they didn't I think I'd want to get a whole tank of them for home. All the bloops in one place.

[He smiles, looking thoughtful.

His excitement takes over and Sora bounces on his heels, tugging gently on Roxas' wrist.]

Let's go see the giant tanks of tropical fish next?

Bloops? [What's a bloop? Roxas is confused...

Which is replaced by soft laughter.]

Okay, okay. There's a really neat display that makes them look like a rainbow. But we gotta go through the tunnel first.

[And it's an amazing one. Like you were underwater. So he leads Sora through it and looks at all the fish swimming around them.]

It's so cool in here...

You know, bloops, the jellyfish! [Yes, he's renamed them all bloops. Because they bloop around.

But his train of thought is quickly derailed with the tunnel and Sora lets out an impressed whoooaaaaa!! when they enter.

For a brief moment he's reminded of home. The fish swimming all around him, the colors, and even the faint smell of ocean water. His heart aches but he grins happily.]

Roxas, this is amazing!!

... Bloops... [Sorry, no, that's cute.

Roxas knows how Sora feels, even if it's not his own homesickness. He's only ever seen the islands from Sora's point of view. Koriko's beach was never that beautiful.]

This is where I saw sharks swim by!

[He points over to a couple swimming by.]

There!

[Given the chance Sora might just rename everything if he's feeling creative enough.

But Sora literally beams in excitement when the sharks swim by and he bounds over to that side and presses his forehead against the glass. Too cool!]

They're so cool! Look how mean they look! I wonder how much they gotta feed these guys that they get that big!

[Yep. Roxas is watching Sora and just wondering why his brain is telling him this is cute and his heart is just feeling warm. Seeing Sora this happy is nice.

He looks up to see the fish floating over them.]

I dunno.

[This is such a peaceful place...]

[Sora doesn't notice Roxas watching, too distracted with all the fish. Just then a brightly colored school of fish swim by quickly and Sora watches them swim around. It feels like they've stepped right out of the world and into this underwater one.

One particularly fat fish comes up to the glass and bonks its nose against it as if saying hello. Sora laughs.]

This is really awesome, Roxas. We should do stuff like this more often!

[Roxas takes his time before answering. Coming to a place like this again and still without Shiro is strange. He'd love to show her all this, but she is from Japan. There's a place like this for her back home. He closes his eyes before chiding himself over those thoughts. She's not here. He doesn't want her here even if it's preferable to Koriko. She deserves to go back home more than anyone he knows.

He sighs softly and looks at Sora with a sad smile. It's not that he's not happy here. Things are just getting confusing when it comes to those kinds of feelings, and he misses her right now because of it. At least with Shiro it was easy to tell how she actually felt about him. At least with her he always knew what she wanted.]

Sure. You pick the next place?

[There's a hesitation in Roxas that he picks up and he watches him smile sadly. Puzzled, Sora turns to him. Roxas was in such a good mood a minute ago. He's not sure what changed.]

Something wrong?

[Of course it could be anything, so many things have happened in the last few days. If Roxas wants to talk, Sora is all ears.]

[Looking up again, Roxas shrugs.]

I was just thinking about the friends I'd wanna bring here. From Koriko. I know a lot of them would love it here. [It takes a lot to not start crying right now. So he takes a deep breath before forcing a smile for Sora as Roxas turns his attention back to him.] I'll be okay. I don't want any of them here.

[He motions for Sora to follow him.] The tropical fish are this way.

[The idea that Sora gets to pick the next place they go see is momentarily forgotten. The tropical fish too.

Instead Sora reaches out to take Roxas' hand to stop him from wandering off too far.]

It's okay to miss your friends, Roxas! I miss mine too. Missing someone means they're important to you and in your heart. That's a good thing, and they'll feel it from Koriko too.

[That's how he feels when he thinks about Kairi and Riku, Donald and Goofy. He misses them terribly and would give anything to see them. But knowing that he does miss them that much, makes him happy in a sense. They'll know it, wherever they are.]

[Roxas stops but doesn't turn to look at Sora.]

Sora... I don't know if it works like that with people that aren't from our world.

[He squeezes Sora's hand and finally turns towards him.] I miss them, and I'm fine with them not being able to feel it. I've lost a lot more people than you. I'm pretty used to it. Sometimes I still get really sad, but at the same time I'm happy they're not here. You ready to go see the fish now?

In a minute. [No, he's not ready to go see the fish yet, not until Roxas is in a happier mood again and not sad smiling at him. He doesn't like those smiles.

He moves close and leans up to hug Roxas tightly. He doesn't get how it wouldn't work the same for people in Koriko.] I might not have lost as many people as you but it still feels the same. I still miss people from the worlds I've been too, and I know they're thinking about me too. How's it any different? I'm just saying thinking about them is good and it should make you happy. Everything is in your heart.

Sora... [Roxas hugs him back with a soft sigh.] Sometimes I don't think you know how sappy you can sound.

[It's not an insult. It's sweet even if some of it was groan worthy to some people. If they weren't in a public place he'd be more affectionate right now.] Don't change, okay?

Me? Sappy? [Yeah he's heard that before! Like a billion times! Must be true.] Well, is it working?

[He leans back and reaches up to pat Roxas' cheeks to check.]

I'll do my best! And you keep smiling for real, okay?

[Swatting the hand away, Roxas laughs softly.]

Yeah, it's working... and I'll try. [He's suddenly very aware of the people around them, pulling away from Sora rather quickly. How does he keep getting himself roped into such moments with Sora?]

C-Come on. Let's keep going.

[Meanwhile in Sora's world he's completely oblivious to anyone who might be staring. He just takes that as his queue to move on to the next exhibit and that Roxas would be okay for now and that he wanted to move on. He grins and rubs the back of his neck.]

What's next on the program? [He shuffles with the brochure Roxas gave him, looking it over. There's so many things to see he doesn't know where to start. He wants to see absolutely everything.]

The fish you wanted to see are next.

[Roxas takes the lead and they head into a darker area. It makes the colorful fish stand out so much more with the lights in their tanks.]

See? A rainbow of colors.

[He nearly forgot about that.] Oh yea--- Ahhh!! Whooa!!

[This display is just as breath taking as the tunnel. The bright colors of the fish looking like something right out of a story book with how they glow and shine in the dark. Sora is immediately mesmerized by the rainbow array of colors and how the fish dart around happily.

Don't mind as he starts bounding around the display in excitement.]

[Being more subdued about it, Roxas is watching Sora more than the fish. Since it was darker in here, there's a fear, and maybe a certainty that Sora might trip or knock someone over. If he did, at least Roxas would be able to heal any damage that happens. Unless it's to the displays themselves.

The fish were rather nice to look at. Even though he was here just a few weeks ago it was different. The fish didn't look the same even though they were. Nature was really neat that way.]

[Luckily Sora slows and takes a little more time to enjoy it rather than bounding around after a few minutes. It might be because he's starting to feel the day catch up with him. From leaping out of bed to find Roxas then to all of following activities, he's starting to feel a little fatigued.

He joins Roxas a moment later, tucking his arms behind his head casually.]

What time is it? Is the dolphin show soon? [It'll be nice to sit for a bit to watch them, and he's trying his darnedest not to complain about getting tired because he doesn't want to leave early.]

[Checking his phone, Roxas nods.] In about twenty minutes. Do you want to head there already?

[There should be a passage out to that place coming up. Just need to watch for the signs. He hesitates, before taking one of Sora's arms and hooking it through his own.]

Lean on me if you have to.

[Because it's time to walk.]

[Roxas is just too keen when it comes to his condition, Sora can't hide a thing. He gives Roxas a grateful smile and nods.] Yeah let's try and get good seats!

[When Roxas takes the initiative to loop their arms together he feels his ears get warm with a blush just slightly.]

Thanks, just for a bit! Once I sit down for a little while I'll be better than ever.

[First clue was stopping the whole bouncing around to see everything thing. Besides, looping arms makes it easier for Roxas to catch Sora if the other passes out or falls.]

I know.

[Since there wasn't that many people, there was quite a few good seats left. He's going to wait for Sora to pick out where to sit.]

[Sora picks the front row where they can get splashed with the most water. These are obviously the best seats for maximum dolphin experience kekeke.

Once they sit down Sora stretches a bit. He'll be so glad once he's back at 100% all this half hobbling around is a pain.]

Best seats in the house.