1. [Video]

[brodakota]

[The video turns on to reveal North, still in his armour at one of the restaurants. There's a red and blue hologram floating by his head.]

I think it's on, North.

Huh? Oh yeah, it is.

[He clears his throat]

Hi, I'm Agent North Dakota, most people just call me North, and this is my partner, Theta.

Hello.

We've been here for a while, and I was just wondering if anyone else had come across a way home or a clue or anything? I'm starting to get the feeling that I should be getting back home, fun as this place is.

[He pauses for a moment, thinking]

If not, anyone got a good name for a pricklemane?

Thanks.

[Theta ends the feed with a few fireworks, deciding to show off.]

Comments

[brodakota]

Yeah, I do. We're twins, actually.

[South might be a handful, but North cares for her very much.]

[skysmirror]

That sounds nice.

[Had she known of their origins from the start, she might have thought of Roxas as a brother, but "best friends" was what had stuck in her mind.]

[brodakota]

It is. I mean, South's a bit of handful at times, but we make a good team.

[And this is probably the nicest opinion of South you'll hear. Washington provides a very different version.]

[skysmirror]

[Before Xion can answer, Barkley finally wriggles his way into view. Apparently he wants to say 'hello' too. What portion of her expression that's visible beneath her hood makes it clear that she's wavering between amusement and exasperation. She sighs, smiles, and pets him.]

Partners can be like that.

[brodakota]

Hey Barkley.

[North laughs]

Yeah, they can. I hope I'm not worrying her by being here though.

[skysmirror]

[Barkley whuffs a greeting. Hello, nice people who played fetch with him! Xion joins in the laughter for a moment, then responds to his comment.]

Sometimes you worry, even when you know they can take care of themselves.

[If it was true that best friends worried, then the same should be true for family.]

[brodakota]

Oh South can take care of herself alright. To be honest, I'd be worried about everyone else.

[And he can't act as a buffer right now.]

[skysmirror]

She doesn't get along with them?

[It was always Axel who had acted as a buffer for her and Roxas. Not in the same way, but he had.]

[brodakota]

Not usually. She's the wild child out of the two of us. I'm probably just worried because I'm her brother though.

[skysmirror]

Maybe she'll find you here.

[brodakota]

I wouldn't mind that. It'll be good to know she's alright.

[skysmirror]

You two... miss each other when you're apart?

[It was a concept she was learning.]

[brodakota]

Well, yeah. I mean, she's my twin so we've always been around each other. She probably wouldn't admit to missing me though.

[skysmirror]

[So you missed someone if you'd been around them a lot and then they left, or you left. Did that mean Roxas and Axel had missed her? Was that why they'd looked for her?

Lost in thought, all Xion managed was an absent nod in acknowledgement of what he'd said.]

[brodakota]

Hey, are you alright?

[skysmirror]

[That pulls Xion out of her thoughts, and she smiles sheepishly.]

Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking.

[brodakota]

Penny for your thoughts, then?

[skysmirror]

[It takes her a moment to realize that he's asking what she was thinking about.]

Oh! Just...my friends.

[brodakota]

They're not here either?

[skysmirror]

No...No, they aren't

[brodakota]

Oh, sorry to hear that. Maybe they'll show up. Some of mine did.

[skysmirror]

Maybe.

[She manages a tiny smile.]

Thank you.

[brodakota]

No problem.

And you know, you can always hang out with me and Theta. Theta won't mind, I think he's working on something for Barkley.

[skysmirror]

That would be good.

[But do they like ice cream? This is the important question.]

Really? That's nice of him, but he didn't have to...

[brodakota]

[Of course they like ice cream. Well, North like's ice cream]

Theta's just that kind of guy. He's been working really hard on it.