thefarshore | Heaven's BBS

[And there he is, right behind them. How long he's been there is something of a mystery - Roxas hasn't ever been the sort to announce his presence to others. He'd said as much via text anyway. There he is, waiting for whatever this thing is Add actually wants a hand with.

It's probably for science. That'd make sense for Add.

But since clearly he's given indication that he's there, he pockets his phone and folds his arms across his chest]

So what'd you want?

Oh, hey there, Roxas. Just go open the temple door for me, could you?

Thanks.

[Axel's mouth tilts in a smirk.]

[Even with the advance warning, he still jumps noticeably when Roxas suddenly speaks up behind him... at least he resists the urge to yelp or spin around like a coward, though his eyes do shift colour reflexively.

He clears his throat loudly, settling back into a scowl.]

What he said. [Add's input was very necessary...]

[It's a simple enough request, and Roxas' keyblades shimmer into his grip. Surely there must be something preventing their passage, or they wouldn't have called him here...right?

So he approaches the doors, stopping a short distance away to level a keyblade in their direction. A moment of silence before he tips his head curiously to one side]

...They aren't locked.

Nah. I didn't say it was going to be hard.

You can put the Keyblades away, too! [And is it normal for somebody to have two of them, anyway? Aren't Keyblades one to a customer? He wishes he could actually remember, beyond that vague feeling that it's weird.

Everything's been weird, and Axel blames most of it on his memory.]

The only person you'll find in there is Pippa, and you don't need to fight her.

... Is he seriously this dense? [he said that out loud, but whatever.

Judging you so hard Roxas. So much judging.

Just touch the stupid door already.]

[He'll dismiss his weapons, huffing out a vexed breath. Not that data ever needed to breathe, but it's something he maintains out of a strange force of borrowed habit]

Then what'd you need me for?

[It's clearly entirely possible for them to open the doors on their own, if they're not locked in any way, shape, or form]

Trying something out. The point isn't to open the doors, it's to see what it's like for different people opening them.

So, give it a shot, okay?

Fair enough.

[He did suggest that Axel gather information...he just didn't expect that he'd be a part of the process.

But since he's here, he marches up to the doors and pulls one open]

[Add sighs. Finally, some kind of progress. Maybe they can get some usually data now...]

Do you notice anything unusual? Anything at all, and describe it in detail.

[Axel, meanwhile, is watching dubiously, arms crossed, from a safe distance. He'd started feeling uncomfortable right outside the doors of the temple himself. It gets worse inside.

So is Roxas feeling it, or not? Or is he just putting on a tough front?

Man, Axel's going to be mad if it's just shinki that get the effect.]

[Roxas peers into the temple, head ducking through the space between the doors before he steps back and closes them with a soft click]

It feels like darkness does.

[And he supposes since Add doesn't remember discussion of such things, such an answer would probably only make any intuitive sense to Axel. Since it's a situation that Axel needs resolved, it's surely fine if he understands what's being said, right?]

I don't think it is, but...

[Yeah, that answer makes no goddamn sense to Add. He pauses, waiting for Roxas to elaborate.]

... A metaphor isn't what I'd call "describing it in detail". [he hates his god so much]

You think? It doesn't smell like darkness.

[If anything, there's a faint odor of perfume. Roxas is right, though, the discomfort's familiar. Axel steps closer, running his hand over the doorframe.

Huh. Yeah.]

So how's Pippa hanging out in there with no trouble, then?

[He's too interested by the information to notice Add's annoyance. So the kid doesn't know what darkness feels like? That's probably a good sign, right? Axel might not know what his experience is, but he knows an intimate acquaintance with darkness isn't great for anyone.]

It's not a metaphor. Darkness and light as forces have a feeling to them - darkness is often foreboding, if not menacing. Worlds plunged into darkness, for example, may have an unwelcoming air.

[Something resembling elaboration, as he folds his arms across his chest. He'd had to explain darkness to Add before, but it was easier when he could describe it in terms of Add's experiences and the darkness he carried within him at that time.

It was very prominent to his senses, especially once he'd started that venture that nearly destroyed Monad]

It might be some kind of magic, if it doesn't affect her. Who all have you had try getting near this building?

Edited 2016-06-10 04:02 (UTC)

[Oh. Well, okay, fine, maybe he'll let that one pass... although it still kind of annoys him that apparently Axel understood that even though Add didn't.]

So far, we can only conclude that it doesn't discriminate between god or shinki. It's possible she's the only one unaffected, but we'd need more data to be sure. [Unless Axel tested anyone else before Add arrived, it would just be them. Three people (four including Pippa) is far from being a proper collection of sample data.]

Just me, plus you two so far. And I'm not feeling it at other temples, either.

[Axel crosses his arms, considering the door.

Well... so it's not because of their being gods or shinki. And it's not about whose shinki they are, because he's Pippa's, and if anyone outside her should be welcome in the place, isn't it him?]

Just the three of us...

[Two shinki and a god. That eliminated the possibility that only shinki were affected. So what else set Pippa apart from them that could easily be discerned?

He weighs that thought for a few moments before commenting further]

She's a god like me, but she's a girl and I'm not. You should see if another girl's affected, since that's the most obvious difference between her and us, without learning more about her.

[... Well, that would be the next obvious choice. They need more data to work with either way.]

A female shinki and a different female god would be most effective, then. Still, there could be other factors we're not considering, so we should perform further testing on individuals of both genders and castes. At least three or four of each should paint a clearer picture of the criteria.

You seriously think that could be it? I didn't think about...

[He glances at Add. Three or four people? Of each possible group? Ugh.] Look, let's just see if there's anything different about anybody showing up before you start parading tour groups through here, got it?

I'll see if I can find anybody to ask. Thanks.

If all else fails, you can offer free food.

[He shrugs, having seen this tactic work before.

Offer people food and they'll probably show up, Monad had taught him that among other things]

Kukuku, yes, that should work quite easily. It's a common strategy to use bribery like that to gather willing research subjects... The data would be more accurate if they're unaware of the purpose of the research, so why not simply disguise it as an open invitation for a party? That should attract at least a few more idiots.

[Sorry, Axel, but it's too late now. You already made the mistake of inviting Add over, now he's not going to leave until he has enough sample data to write a twenty-page thesis about it.

Also he's just assuming Pippa is okay with all of this. It's not like they have to tell her or anything, right?? Maybe it'll be more interesting if it catches her by surprise...]

I'm not throwing a party. Too much work. Though, hey, if you want to throw one, just clear it with Pippa first.

[He's already sicced a couple of bizarre interior decorators on her. He's pretty sure that if he brings in an experimental party, too, he's just going to wind up cast out on the streets for good.

And she's not that bad.]

[Roxas folds his arms across his chest, weighing that thought]

There might be other ways to get people here, but food's the simplest one.

Just pretend you're throwing a party and survey those who show up. They only need to walk through the door, correct? So they wouldn't know if it's really a party or not until after they've entered, and by then we'd already have what we need from them.

Unless you have any better ideas, I think that would work just fine.

Heaven's BBS | Text

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