Day 133

[coolerthansora]

Who: Roxas and anyone!
Open: Open
When: Day 133
Where: Outside the apartments
What: Sparring time with Nobodies
Format: I'll match
Warnings: None

It's been a long time since Roxas has put much thought into improving his skills. Back in the Organization, he was fighting and training constantly, but during his year and a half in Vatheon, he thinks he spent more time trying to talk people out of fights than actually getting into them. It was a relief, not to need any of that most of the time.

He doesn't think he's lost much of his edge, and so far the monsters he's encountered on the Skyway haven't been that tough, but fighting is now a far cry from 'unnecessary.' He'd rather be at his best.

Which is why he can be found today sparring with his Samurai Nobody in the field near the apartments. He used to train with them a long time ago. It seems like a good place to start.

Comments

[unwrittenformula]

N was not a fighter by any means at all. He didn't much care for letting his friends fight, either, but when it came to Zoroark and many of the ones he grew up around, they were always more than eager to defend him whenever the need arose.

But N also knows that thing are going to be very different here. He's struggling to adjust to what's happened and their new situation, but he could struggle with that forever and it still wouldn't change anything.

This day found him wandering about with Zoroark as aimless as ever, but the the fox Pokemon tugs on N's sleeve to get his attention on what's happening near the apartments. They both stop to watch, curious and a little wary.

[coolerthansora]

It's the Samurai who notices N and his pokemon first, although that much may not be obvious. After all, it doesn't appear to have eyes, and it communicates the others' presence to Roxas silently. He backs off and holds up a hand to the lesser Nobody to wait a moment. He doesn't know the guy more than having seen him around. Was he one of the Vatheon group?

"Ah... Hey. We're not in your way or anything, are we?" There's enough open space around the Bastion that he doesn't see how they could be, but he knows the lesser Nobodies can be a little off-putting.

[unwrittenformula]

He was, though his presence in both places hasn't exactly been the most noticeable. If anything Zoroark makes more of an impression than N does.

N shakes his head to the question.

"No. We're just... curious. About what you were doing."

[coolerthansora]

"Oh. We were just training." Roxas makes a slight gesture with his keyblade as though N wouldn't have noticed it already. He glances curiously at Zoroark but doesn't ask about it just yet.

"It seemed like a good idea with- well, you know." Everything?

[unwrittenformula]

Zoroark seems to be mimicking his companion, standing still and watching and not much more.

"I see. Yes, I can understand how that would be valuable here."

[coolerthansora]

Meanwhile the Samurai watches, too, with its eyeless head turned in their direction. It seems to be waiting patiently.

"I guess you and your- friend don't fight, huh?" Roxas doesn't think they'd have to ask about a sparring match if they did.

[unwrittenformula]

"I do not," N said, but gestured to Zoroark afterwards. "Zoroark, however, is a Pokemon and capable in battle. I have another Pokemon here but he's far too young to battle just yet."

[coolerthansora]

"Oh." Not knowing anything about pokemon, Roxas doesn't think to ask what sort the other one is. He assumes pokemon must be fox-looking things.

"Still, I don't think he'd wanna be out on the skyway by himself."

[unwrittenformula]

N glanced at Zoroark.

"No, of course not. He's... quite attached to me. I worry about being in the way out there, though."

[coolerthansora]

Roxas looks between them uncertainly.

"I guess- you're not interested in learning?"

[unwrittenformula]

"I really have no skill in it. I suppose if anything I would be closer to a strategist when it comes to battle situations."

[coolerthansora]

"Well- maybe you guys can come out with us sometimes. Three should be enough to handle things, so you won't be in the way."

[unwrittenformula]

"If you wouldn't mind. I'm sure Zoroark could use the exercise if nothing else."

[coolerthansora]

"Sure. Ah.." He should probably introduce himself. He lets his keyblade disappear and steps forward to offer his hand. "I'm Roxas."

[unwrittenformula]

"Oh. Yes. I'm N." There was a nod as N took the offered hand. "It's nice to meet you, Roxas."

[coolerthansora]

"Nice to meet you," Roxas replies. He gives a nod to the pokemon as well. "You, too, Zoroark." Just because he doesn't seem to talk doesn't mean he can't listen.

[unwrittenformula]

Zoroark perked up at that, and while he didn't have a tail to wag he did look much like a cheerful dog.

"Zoroark says it's nice to meet you, too."

[coolerthansora]

He smiles, but then glances back at the Samurai, still waiting nearby.

"I'd- introduce you, but I don't know its name," he says to N and Zoroark. "I'm not sure it remembers."

[unwrittenformula]

Both of them could tell from the start that it wasn't a Pokemon, but for once that didn't temper N's natural curiosity any.

"What is it exactly?"

[coolerthansora]

"It's a Nobody. It used to be human, until it lost its heart."

He hesitates. "We're- both Nobodies, actually."

[unwrittenformula]

"You look human, though."

N tilts his head to the side. He's not judging at all, merely trying to understand. A world where things didn't work as they did in his, were Pokemon weren't present but people could 'lose their hearts' and become something else entirely. Or not.

He wasn't a stranger to the concept of other worlds since he had been a part of Vatheon as well, but it didn't mean he understood them any more than he had a year ago.

"How would one go about losing their heart?"

[coolerthansora]

"They say if our will is strong enough, then we still do." He scratches his head. "I don't know if that's really how it is though." It seems kind of mean to label his ally over there as 'weak-willed,' especially after it made it all the way to the Bastion with him.

"And, well- there's more than one way to lose your heart. A lot of people lost them to monsters called Heartless, or when their worlds were swallowed by darkness..."

[unwrittenformula]

N nodded in understanding. Of course there were no real technical aspects to latch on here, but the basic gist of the situation was there.

"Is there any way to return a heart to some one who's lost it?"

[coolerthansora]

"Not- your original heart." Roxas doesn't count Axel's return to being Lea or his own absorbtion into Sora as either of them getting their hearts back. They wouldn't be themselves anymore.

He places a hand over his chest. "I think I'm working on a new one though."

[unwrittenformula]

N stared at him, expression unreadable for a few seconds. But a rare smile appeared after a second.

"I never lost my heart," though according to a certain some one, N never had one to begin with, "but I feel like I can still relate, even if our situations are quite different."