seasaltkeys | Inbox: Balance

[Candlenights has been one hell of a month long yuletide fest, hasn't it? Santamoto's at it, though, trying to make sure people get a little oomph of cheer in the last leg, and he's managed to bundle up a small treat of KFC and strawberry cake for Roxas. Wherever he is, on the morning of Candlenights, there will be some breakfast and breakfast dessert waiting for him, alongside a small, handcrafted wooden ornament that kind of looks like an attempted take on a key... even though it doesn't look all that great, to be honest.

Alongside, a little note.]

Yo, dude!

Happy Candlenights. Hope this brightens up your morning a little bit.

Signed,
Ryuji

AKA that guy who saved your ass from shadow vulture

Or was it the other way around? Heh.

[The most he's really received as gifts are ice cream and sea shells, so he's a little behind on the tradition of the season. But it's still welcome and after he's done his meal, Ryuji will receive a note over the bracer.]

Thanks

No prob! How'd it taste? I was worryin' that there was too much salt on the fried chicken

[Fried vulture meat, forreal.]

It was a little salty, yeah, but I didn't mind. The cake was really good to.

Gotcha. I'll chill a little bit on the spice. I kinda got pushed around a little bit throwin' it into the batter, but... it's all good. Salt's a great spice. Oh man, when you mix that perfect kinda balance between sweet and salty, it's just 👌

[you have no idea, Ryuji]

Yeah, it's the best!

Especially in ice cream

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NO

Why'd you have to go and mention something actually amazing to eat?

Bender totally whiffed on ramen for me, so I ain't pressing my luck with anything else. Don't wanna destroy ice cream for everyone else.

Hey, you ever have green tea flavor before? It's so good

I haven't tried yet, so I figured I would try mine. Hopefully it works, because it is really good.

Haven't tried green tea though. I don't know if the store had any other flavours

Dude... maybe we can try that robobitch back at base. Bender's gotta show some love... sometime... right?

[Jury's most likely out on any of this, really.]

Yeah! Maybe we'll get lucky. I haven't tried it yet so...hopefully that helps.

[Narrator: It didn't.]

Roxas-kun!

[Surprise! Next time Roxas is in town that day, Kaede ambushes him, stepping right out in the middle of his path and holding out a small cloth bag in both hands.]

Here! I got you some friendship chocolates... do they have that, where you're from?

[If he never really got to listen to music, he probably never got chocolates, huh...? The thought made her too sad not to give him something.]

[If they do, no one told Roxas about it. Valentine's Day probably exists in some capacity, but it certainly wasn't celebrated by the Organization. Kind of hard to when you lacked hearts, when you think about it.]

I don't know, honestly. But I haven't gotten chocolates before, so thank you!

[He's not going to say no to sweets.]

Hey, Roxas? You busy right now? I was out exploring the grounds and I think I found something...

[Hayner's glad that he had that talk with Roxas, because Roxas is kind of the only person who he currently knows that would know anything about weird magic weapons.]

Yeah, I'm not doing anything.

What's up?

[It says a lot that Roxas can start to be more casual around Hayner.]

Well, I was just going for a walk... y'know, to explore around the campgrounds a bit? And I found this weird... altar-thing, I think. And, there was a sword there! It looked really cool, but...

Well, it kind of won't stop... talking?

You have a talking sword?

[That's a new one on him. He's not sure he knows of anything like that and keyblades are usually pretty quiet.

Probably for the best.]

I guess so? And it won't stop talking. It's kind of... well...

Look, could you come out and take a look at this? You're the one who knows more about magic swords than I do!

Alright? But I don't know that much. And it's not like keyblades talk.

[If they do, he hasn't heard them. And it's not like he knows much in the first place. But he's on his way.]

Well still! I'm out of my league here, and you're the only one I know who I can trust to talk about this stuff.

Alright, I'm coming.

[It's too bad they're not on the Moon Base. Otherwise Leon might be more qualified.]

Edited 2019-06-03 02:28 (UTC)

Thanks, man.

[Hayner will let him know as best he can where this weird pedestal is, and once Roxas gets close, he'll hear Hayner's disgruntled groan.]

Geez, do you ever stop complaining?? I already said I'd take you, what more do you want from me??

[And, surprisingly, a second voice pops up.]

Oh you see, I am just so el---lated to finally accompany another hero on their quest of valour and glory. Are you not excited, Hayner?

I'd be more excited if you weren't such a pain...

[The sword actually talked, is Roxas's first thought as he walks into the clearing. He's a little surprised to find the pedestal here, but clearly there's a lot more to these woods than he originally thought.]

Hey. That the sword?

[Obviously. It's got a mouth.]

[Hayner looks up as Roxas appears, and he waves at him. In his hand is a rather elegant-looking sword, were it not for the way it had been speaking earlier.]

Hey! Yeah, this is it. Please tell me you have some experience with talking swords...

I told you, I don't. Keyblades don't talk and I haven't really met a magic sword here.

Until now anyway.

[Huh.]

If we were on the base I would say take it to Leon, but maybe we can see if he's here.

Leon? You think he'd know what to do with this?

[Hayner looks over the sword for a moment again. He'd say more, but the sword begins talking again.]

Who's your friend, Hayner?

Oh, yeah, well, this is Roxas. And Roxas, this is--

[Before Hayner can get a word in, the sword goes off.]

My name is Beacon. I am the light that stands at the edge of the darkness. I am the tower above the fog. I am the most beautiful, terrible weapon ever crafted. And I have spent s---so long waiting in this clearing for another who would claim me as their noble companion on their quest. How are you, Rox-----xas?

[There is a moment as Roxas attempts to process this. Mostly because A) Yeah no that is a talking sword alright, B) It's addressing him, and C) Hayner has found this sword. Hayner.

This is a lot at the moment.

To Beacon he says:]

I'm, uh, I'm good.

[To Hayner:]

He's the guy who deals with magic items, so he probably knows something, at least. I can't think of anyone else.

Huh. Well, if you say so, then that's probably my best bet.

[Beacon, meanwhile, scoffs at Roxas.]

Just good? That is all you have to say? Hayner, perhaps you should invest in more conversational friends?

Hey, what did you say?? Roxas is my best friend!

[There's a part of Roxas that is pleased to hear that Hayner thinks of him as his best friend. Certainly it's reciprocated (though after Axel, if Roxas ever gets a chance to talk to him again).

Granted he's not the most verbose individual in general.]

Sorry, first time I've really encountered a talking Sword. You've just been here, waiting?

Why of course. It's not as if I could simply walk away, now is it?

[Hayner groans, then lowers Beacon and turns to Roxas.]

I guess I'll just wait and take this to that... what was it, that Leon guy?

Yeah, Leon the Artificer. If he's not here, he's on the moonbase. I can show you.

[Mostly because he also has Questions? and wants them answered.

Though he could just ask Beacon.]

So, have you always been here, Beacon?

Thanks.

[Before he can say more, Beacon begins talking again.]

Well, not al---lways. There was another who used to wield me, but how I got to this grove is quite a story...

[A story which, if neither of them intervene, will be told right then and there by the sword.]

[Roxas looks at Hayner, as if it's Hayner's call if he wants this to continue. Although the two of them talking while Beacon is telling his story is also an amusing image.]

Guess you managed a pretty cool find.

[Hayner is going to ignore Beacon for now. Let the sword go off on his monologue, because Hayner is going to keep talking regardless.]

I guess so. I mean, didn't expect to find a talking sword, but I guess it is pretty cool, huh?

[Even if the sword is kind of a dick, Hayner's grinning to himself.]

Yeah, it is. Kinda makes you wonder what else is these woods.

Seriously! We should explore some more. Maybe we'll find a lost castle or something!

That might be kinda cool. We should probably do it when it's a bit more light out though.

Yeah, you're probably right. So, should we head back? Oh, and would it be a problem if I brought him back with me?

[Meaning the sword, who is still monologuing.]

Maybe? I mean, there's no real point in keeping it a secret, so hopefully everyone else doesn't mind.

[Or maybe Beacon sleeps as well? Roxas can't say.]

Well, here's hoping.

[Cause if Beacon won't shut up... well, he can't exactly hide him.]

Yeah. We'll work it out.

[Or they'll leave Beacon outside.]

[ roxas will find a handmade ornament of his keyblade, as well as keyblade shaped cookies, and a little card from Maya wishing him happy candlenights. it's filled with doodles of himself in various heroic poses, in dragon armor, and details how happy maya is to have him as a teammate and strong he is! it wishes him happiness and calls him a hero. ]

[Roxas will be holding on to this one for a while, and probably pull it out to read several times. It means more than he can say.

The ornament, when attached to the keyblade, will provide it with a new look.]

[ Outside his room, Roxas will find a dozen cookies in your choice of flavor (chocolate chip, oatmeal with cherry and dark chocolate, peanut butter, plain ol' sugar, cinnamon spice, or lemon), a blue scarf, and a notebook. The cover is a soft blue, with stars patterned on the front.

There's also a note.

Sometimes it helps me to put my thoughts down, no matter what situation. Or maybe you could doodle in it. I hope it's something that will help you, even just a little. Merry Christmas!
--Mira ]

[This is very sweet and Roxas will very much appreciate it. He definitely has a lot of thoughts sometimes. She'll probably see him wearing the scarf.

Mira will receive a hand-carved key ornament in return.]

[A messily-wrapped box, with [NAME]'s name written directly on the colorful paper. There's a handmade card on top, decorated with stickers and doodles of wintry images like snow, gingerbread men, etc. It's not properly signed, but the signature isn't necessary. On one side of the interior:]

Tall green trees in lights twinkling bright,
Sparkling strands of tinsel and snow pure white,
The smell of hot cocoa and apple cider too,
A very merry Candlenights, from Sayori to you!
[And then on the other side:]

I noticed that your weapon has cute keychains so I thought it'd be fun to make one for it! You're really brave and Bahamut judged you correctly, okay? Thank you for protecting Natsuki.

[Inside the box is a carved and painted keychain in the X-shape of his zipper pull, except there's a pink heart added in the middle. There's also an armor polishing kit and a physical copy of the Bahamut selfie with him and Dave that has been decorated with cute stickers.]

[Roxas is more touched than Sayori knows and he's going to hold on to that keychain very tightly. It will create a new keyblade design if attached to the keyblade.

Like everyone else, Sayori receives a hand-carved ornament shaped like a key. But it's accompanied by a note that has attempts to write a longer message crossed out, and finally just Thank You, at the end.

He's not crying, you're crying.]

Inbox: Balance

12/25

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2/14; mid-afternoon

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Sometime during the Retreat, after their talk

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present!

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25th

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