Roxas did what he’d been doing for a while, lately. Recon of some kind. What was this place? This place was weird, that was for sure. It just felt off that it would get so warm down here, what with the snow above… it was sort of otherworldly. That made some sense actually, this place was so huge… had it been under the town the whole time? Or was it waiting, somewhere else, and just connected somehow?
Otherworldly was a good word. The trees were completely different from up above. Different from anything Roxas could remember, in fact. But aside from the alien trees, there was something familiar about the rocks, and the darkness, and the water…. just what w– 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬?
That was… the first he’d heard of Oathkeeper in a while. They were right, this cavern was similar to the Realm of Da–
Roxas’ train of thought was cut off again. There was someone talking at him. Was that Lucas? If so, uh, Lucas seemed to fall back. He looked on edge, almost in a fighting stance? Roxas crouched down a little, too. “Did I hear what?”
Roxas had kind of ditched Lucas last time they’d met… how would he respond to that? What was he feeling? “What do you want?”
Claus didn’t quite have the attention to detail to pick out what seemed strange here. He was always fixated on one thing or another, never both at the same time, and his own world had proven strange enough. So he trudges on, like a very stubborn horse with blinders. He stares at Roxas like he’s crazy, unable to (and afraid) of acknowledging that he might just be hearing things. Claus ignores an anxious urge to cover his ears again, refusing to blink for much longer than one probably should. “That sound. It was like a voice.” he straightens himself, as if trying to be taller than what height the other was offering him in shrinking. If this guy didn’t hear it, it wasn’t Claus’ fault. He probably just had bad ears or something. The child concedes to the possibility by crossing his arms with a small noise of reluctant acceptance. Unfortunately, the return-fire question throws him off balance. What…he wanted? From this guy? What a weirdo, wondering that sorta thing from just one question. Claus didn’t need anything from him! And so he pauses, regarding the stranger with an intensity that was unfortunately poorly expressed. His eyes would appear more tired, than anything. Unfeeling.
“It’s better to travel with groups for this kinda thing. I’ll help you out.” it doesn’t sound like he’s giving them a choice. It never crosses his mind to wonder if Roxas might question his competence based on size or age. He just sort of…assumes respect, as if that comes natural to him. And it does, one way or another.
There was definitely something up with Lucas. He was giving Roxas a pretty decent staring down, like he was trying to figure something out, maybe? Roxas stands up fully again. Lucas seemed to be safe, just staring, no attack or anything. He also stood up taller then, said he’d heard a voice. His persona, probably? Unlike last time, Roxas hadn’t heard it. They probably tended to speak to their owners, made sense...
Now, he’d asked what Lucas wanted. A pause. More staring. Finally, ‘I’ll help you out’... had Lucas been this direct last time? He seemed a little more ready to lead now, too... Still, enough thinking for now. There’d been enough silence as it was. “Fine, I guess you know the drill, right?” They’d traveled before, after all “There’s that big... triangle rock thing, so we should check that out I think?”
Roxas made to walk generally towards the Triangle, but, the trees, again, were totally new. Even following a path they’d feel odd. And Lucas had lead last time... “Do you think you could lead? I’m kinda lost here...” Maybe Lucas was too, that could really be a problem... Well, here’s hoping...
