First Flare

[eternalfrolicbond]

[A lanky redheaded man in a long black coat waves at the screen, apparently already comfortable with how it works. A komory bat is fluttering around above his head.]

Didn’t think I’d see this place again. Hey, everyone, my name is Lea. [He grins.] Don’t forget it, now.

I don’t know how I ended up here again, but does anyone know what’s going on? The moogle said you guys had been trying to work out what was up but that it didn’t seem like anyone had figured out how to get home. Since this isn’t the exam, I don’t think anyone’s going to try to wake me up any time soon.

Comments

[eternalfrolicbond]

Pretty good, so far. Check this out.

[With a flourish, Lea calls his keyblade.]

Tada!

[colorbymemory]

[Namine's eyes widen in surprise. Riku had mentioned Lea had a Keyblade, but seeing it was something different altogether. After a moment to recover, she smiles.]

Congratulations.

[eternalfrolicbond]

If I'm gonna rescue my friends, I've gotta be a hero, right?

[Namine didn't need his help for rescuing; she was good at doing that herself, by this point.]

[colorbymemory]

[Those who were here for the Hockomonkey battle might say otherwise, but Namine appreciates the vote of confidence. Lea should see how she's doing with magic these days.]

I guess so. So you're going to help Sora and the others?

[If he's talking about what she's thinking he's talking about, she's glad he's there to help.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

Well, I was looking for Roxas and...someone else. I don't remember who it is, so I went off to ask about it, and I got caught up in Sora's stuff again. The guy likes his power naps, doesn't he?

[You have to joke about things like this or you sit alone at night shaking inside about what happened to your friends and what could have happened.]

This threadjack needed to happen

[dork_of_keys]

Hey!

Yes, yes it did. XD

[colorbymemory]

[Namine smiles, but manages to hold back any laughter. Yes, it's the best medicine, but laughing at people isn't nice, and Sora doesn't look too happy.]

Everybody needs sleep.

It's good you were there to help. Did you find who you were looking for?

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea shakes his head and his shoulders slump a bit.]

No. I thought maybe if I saved Roxas we could remember them together.

[colorbymemory]

[Namine's smile turns sympathetic.]

I'm sorry. Roxas is here, but I don't know how much looking you can do.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Well, it's good enough to play catchup and figure out a way home. Nothing's ever easy, with this crowd.

[colorbymemory]

Not, but at least there's enough of us here for everyone to help each other.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Where are you staying?

[He knows she can handle herself, but she's not really used to being alone. And she's like Roxas, he guesses; she hasn't done a lot of the normal kid stuff.]

[colorbymemory]

In the apartment above the tea shop, with Ienzo and Aeleus.

[Being alone was never an option, and Ienzo had offered.

No, Namine hasn't done a lot of "normal kid stuff." She's trying to make time for it now, in between helping out at the shop and magic lessons.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

Really? With those guys?

[He's not sure he's okay with that. They weren't as bad as Marluxia and Larxene, but they were still part of the crew in Castle Oblivion and they might not be safe for her.]

[colorbymemory]

[She's perfectly safe, thank him very much. Why does nobody trust her choices of housemates?]

Yes. Ienzo offered not long after we got here, and then Aeleus arrived so we offered to let him stay with us.

[eternalfrolicbond]

[It might be the various murder attempts and successes there. Probably that.]

Well...you're a big girl; I guess you can handle yourself. I don't think they'll want me hanging around too much.

It did

[eternalfrolicbond]

Got something to say, Sleeping Beauty?

[dork_of_keys]

It's not like I'm doing it on purpose.

[eternalfrolicbond]

I guess I shouldn't talk, since I'm doing it too this time.

[dork_of_keys]

Be glad you weren't here for the monkey...

[eternalfrolicbond]

Do I even wanna know?

[dork_of_keys]

Giant, floating, magic-using Nightmare monkey. With disembodied hands that it could someone one hand for each person that showed up to fight it. And we kind of blew up the greenhouse in the Fifth District with a magical explosion while trying to kill it.

[Come to think of it, Sora's pretty sure Lea would have contributed to that explosion if he'd been present at the time.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

That sounds pretty cool. I'm sorry I missed it.

[Not the explosion part; explosions are something he's had enough of for now. The rest of it, though.]

[dork_of_keys]

... Why do I feel like I should have expected that answer?

[There's a brief pause as Sora wonders if Lea is the type to answer a rhetorical question.]

Don't answer that.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Wasn't gonna say anything.