moonstrualcycle | no running in the halls!

[ She just shakes her head, staring at Isa, mouth twitching like she might smile or burst into laughter. This is the weirdest thing to happen to her since then, honestly. ]

Months. This place doesn't let you go until it wants to.

[it's been years and you and i both know it, unless you changed something. Isa looks honestly flummoxed, and surprised, neither of which are familiar things to her, but it slides pretty quickly into that smug little quirk of the mouth she's so good at.]

I guess that means you also don't remember - or didn't experience - me finding you at your beloved clock tower and stealing one of the three ice creams you had. You looked like you were ready to fling yourself off as soon as you saw me.

[ Yeah, but she's not about to tell Isa that. Yet. She's been waiting to go back, to finish training and be considered good enough to go.

Hearing her say that is like getting shocked by Larxene, and Lea stares at her, mouth agape. It takes her a beat to get back under control. ]

You've got a bad habit of creeping up on people. Too quiet and all that. But three? Yeah, right. The way I go through friends it doesn't make any sense to buy more than one, don't you think?

[ It's a dig at her own situation, and if she was still Axel from the old days, there would be a malignant spark behind her smile. This one is just bitter, and sad. ]

It didn't make much sense to me then, either, and you said you didn't know why you'd gotten three. Now, though-- hm.

[given how this Lea's already reacted to things, maybe she doesn't need to know about getting her kids back just yet. does she even know about Xion? probably not, not much of anyone did until he was suddenly around again, which this Lea hasn't experienced.

Isa doesn't even take the bait for that dig of Lea's, which may or may not indicate some of what went on there towards the end. Saix would have agreed with the dig and been a shithead about it, probably, or have made the dig before Lea even could.]

[ She was probably lying, Lea thinks, to throw her off. Two would make sense, if she wanted to be dramatic, but three... probably Kai, and someone else. Sora? Whatever about the ice cream — Lea's picked up on how she's acting. It's been actual years since Saïx was like her old friend, and even then...

It makes her tilt her head and sit up straight. And by sit up straight I mean move from leaning back to leaning forward, shoulders hunched. Lea never sits up straight. ]

You really came back, huh?

[ Not Roxas, but Isa. It's not bad, it's just... unexpected. ]

Thought you were too far gone, by the end of things.

[ A pause, then, before she can respond: ]

Did we fight?

Lots of people came back, and lots of people fought, but yes, we did. I had you on your knees and Xemnas nearly killed you. If you'd been slightly less competent with that keyblade I'm sure I would have killed you.

[she's still just incredibly bemused at Lea having a keyblade, it's so weird. presumably she does still have it after that thing Xemnas did; i'm assuming that just fucked it up at the time but who even knows.]

[ Who even knows. This Lea still has her Keyblade 100% intact, pre-Xemnas interference. She huffs, more amused than offended, but still pretty offended. ]

It's like you have no faith in me at all. Was I at least a little badass?

[ Nevermind the fact that she (Saïx) had kicked her (Axel's) ass multiple times in the past. Like when he took Kai! Lea's fighting style is a lot of style and a lot of fucking with your opponent, and it's really hard to do that when your opponent is a berserker.

Either way, she's crossed over the threshold of anxiety and can no longer do anything but crack jokes. Wait... ]

Wait. What stopped her?

[ Was it you? ]

Not really, you spent most of the fight trying to run out of my range so you could throw your keyblade at me. But...

[that stuff the world-hopping hero squad had to adhere to for the sake of order probably applies here. she seems almost hesitant, which is something else that doesn't look good on her. the good guys won anyway, so knowing in advance probably wouldn't change much, at least.]

It wasn't me, unfortunately, and I'm not sure if I should tell you who it was.

[ Lea's mouth flattens into a line, but she nods, accepting it. She didn't really think it would be her, but it's still disappointing. Could be worse. ]

How about we don't get my hopes up, and just say it was Sora. Anything else and I might change the future, you know.

[ It can stay a secret, for safety. Let her keep that little hope anyway. ]

I doubt it, I think you would have all won anyway. Things came out surprisingly better than expected, given what you were up against. I certainly wasn't expecting to actually come back.

[too bad what Lea's hoping is only half of what she actually got. how long until the curiosity kills her? Isa huffs out a little displeased noise and leans back into the couch cushions.]

...for what it's worth, I'm ashamed it wasn't me, especially after I found you at the clock tower. But I was too far down to even be aware of the threat to you.

[read: completely berserk and only held at bay by Xemnas's presence ~~which just raises more questions for me in terms of how and why that happened, but w/e~~.]

[ She doesn't have her poker face at maximum power anymore, not since Roxas left, so the face of neutrality she's going for is dismantled by the way her brows knit together. Is she going to be a dumbass and cry? Ugh.

She scoots around so they're both sitting with their backs to the couch, side by side. ]

Almost seems too easy, since I missed it all. I'm glad you're back.

[god, what do. she's had the discussion about Lea being a big softie already, just not with this one. and she did say she wouldn't say the thing a second time. at least she's probably already been around weepy Lea a few times just since returning to the land of the living.]

I am too. Hopefully that's the end of it and there isn't a fifth death in my future.

[she sounds so casual about it, but presumably Lea was there when they both died the first time as teenagers. heart or no, there's bound to have been a little freaking out after that.]

[ With both kids and Isa back? She's probably been a disgusting mess twice. That startles her. ]

Fifth? How did-- oh... Yeah. I guess it is.

[ A pause. ]

Not to kill the mood, or spoil my own story, but did I at least get to find out what the hell you were thinking? Going back?

I went back because I still had hope that I'd be able to find him. It was stupid at that point, I know, but I didn't want everything else to have been for nothing. I couldn't just give up.

[like Lea apparently did, but Isa knows better than to say that now.]

[ That is like being dunked in ice water. ]

The second time? But we--

[ No, she gets it. It's a shock, but she gets it. ]

Always thought I was the impulsive one. Do you... Feel good about it, feel like its over? Anything?

[she shakes her head, looking almost sad.]

It is over, at least. All I accomplished in those years was to die multiple times, assist a madwoman with her plans, and drive my best friend away. Since I came back this time I'm just tired, usually, and sort of wrung out. Ienzo said that should pass in another week or two.

[honestly being around Lea and the kids helps immensely, everyone's just so happy about being together again. but she can't say that, and it's irrelevant here anyway, without them also here.]

[ Hey, wait, no, we were enemies until a few minutes ago for me, and I'm the emo one. Man. She can't even scrunch up her face in distaste for Ienzo like she might normally. ]

It wasn't for nothing. You're here now. And hey, you ended up on the beach with that best friend in the end, right?

[ Another pause before she jerks her thumb to point at herself. ]

I uh, I am that best friend, right?

[the deadest of deadpans:]

No, I meant Demyx.

[she leans down, gets an arm around Lea's neck, and gives her a solid but brief noogie.]

Of course you're that best friend, you dork.

[ Hurk—!! She doesn't tense up this time at the touch, but it catches her off guard in a different way, and she pushes feebly at Isa's arm. ]

Stop it, you're gonna—

[ Make her cry, but saying that feels ridiculous and is going to make Isa laugh at her. Ugh. ]

[nah, she wouldn't laugh. much. and only out of affection, honest! she gets it; it's rough having a heart again, especially with this shock on top of things. but she will take pity on Lea and kindly move on from that topic.]

Pop your head off like an action figure, I know. We could go bowling with it, unless there's something more interesting to do around here.

[ Lea huffs, because, speaking of the DR, this is not the cool badass image she has been projecting. She has a reputation to uphold, thank you very much. ]

Oh, there's plenty to do around here. This place is basically infinite? I don't think anyone knows the details, but I'm pretty sure it exists outside of time and space. You think of it, it's here.

[then why hasn't Lea imagined up some friends? no, that's mean. also no one on my end perceives Lea as a cool badass, so it sounds like she's only deluding herself about that.]

Hmm. I suppose that's why it looks like you spend ninety percent of your time in this apartment.

[teasing~. honestly that could be interpreted a couple of ways, and Isa poking Lea in the hip with the toe of her shoe probably doesn't help.]

[ Wh... No one? ]

Look. It's a little weird, walking around out there. You'll see what I mean, since now you're stuck here until further notice. The doubles get pretty trippy.

[ She's going to laugh at her confusion, there's no getting around that. ]

Besides, I have the most comfortable place here. Did you register the couch? Luxury.

...do you mean doubles like the kind I was hanging out with or something else?

[is this five versions of Xehanort doubles or is this replica doubles, essentially. but the couch is pretty comfy, she has to admit. the first time Lea falls asleep Isa's absolutely cleaning the kitchen though, because how on earth do you live like this.]

[ These are the consequences of your actions. ]

Funny you ask! It's both.

[ She crawls backwards onto the couch, and holds her arms up to form a rectangle with her fingers, like a camera. ]

Picture this? Five Rikus, all in one location. Four of them are guys. One of those guys is like, six. Oh, and none of them are replicas.

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