onepassingnight | 001 // icing on the cake

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001 // icing on the cake

[They say that home is where the heart is, right? Appropriate then that one searching for a heart would end up dreaming of the place he had felt most at home.

You'll find yourself on the steps of a clocktower, mere metres away from the perfect place to sit and enjoy the view. The sunset's as beautiful as it always is in this place, the weather perfect and the atmosphere one of comfortable familiarity.

However, your seat is already occupied- a young man in a black coat sits at the edge of the tower, feet dangling. There's an ice cream bar in one of his hands and the other is splayed out against the bricks, holding him up as he leans back slightly, taking it all in.

You gonna join him? He is waiting for someone- after all, this is where they always meet after missions. Why should today be any different?]

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[But they should both share! It's only polite.

In any event, Ami licks at her ice cream, just in time to keep a drop from turning into a mess, and beams at Axel. Natural caution is somewhat lessened in dreams, and she doesn't question the fact he's a stranger right now.]

It's very delicious. Is yours good, too?

[Just as Axel doesn't question the reason why he's sharing ice cream with a little girl he's pretty sure he doesn't know.

He can't help but grin a little and brings one hand up to hide it, under the pretence of wiping his mouth.]

Mm. Tastes just like it always does.

[Which reminds him of a question he should probably ask.]

How did you get here? [He means the clocktower, but doesn't elaborate.]

[Ami licks at her ice cream once more, and lets her feet dangle over the step.]

I climbed up. Like you.

[This seems to make perfect sense to her; in fact, it doesn't even disrupt the flow of her movements.]

I'm Mizuno Ami. What's your name?

Edited 2011-06-15 10:33 (UTC)

[Well, it's good enough for Axel to accept. He doesn't seem concerned with the fact that a child her age is out by herself, either.

Mizuno Ami. He repeats it a few times in his head, getting used to the sound of it.]

I'm Axel. You got it memorized?

[He taps his forehead once and raises an eyebrow in question.]

[She's quite responsible for her age. It comes from busy parents leaving her to mostly look out for herself. Ami nods very seriously.]

Axel. Like on a wheel?

I think it's a nice name.

[He notes the serious little nod with amusement, but doesn't tease her at all. ~~He likes kids, remember?~~]

Hah. Thanks- Ami. Your name sounds much prettier.

[Grinning once more, he takes a few more bites of his ice cream, watching the sunset quietly for a moment. Then-]

Hey kid, does anything about this feel weird to you? [Insert a vague, sweeping gesture here.]

Eh? Weird?

[She takes a look at the view; it's pretty. But her sharp glance takes in the ways it just doesn't look like Japan, now.]

I don't remember climbing up here. Or being in this part of town before. I just remember being up here with you.

[Something about the place just felt off to Axel. He hadn't been able to put his finger on anything specific though- until Ami said that.

He couldn't remember coming here either.]

Mmm. Same here. I've been here before, but- huh. This is just too weird.

[Axel tips his head to the side, shaking one finger to emphasise his words. He doesn't look too put off about it though... instead, he's oddly accepting of the fact.

Though if Ami still has her eye on the view, she may notice something strange. Vein-like lines are weaving their way through the ground below them, spreading outwards from the clocktower and throughout the town.

Even more jarring is the fact that there's no one around to react to the phenomenon. The place is a ghost town, and the cracks move uninterrupted.]

[Ami's here to notice it. She's just about to answer Axel when she stares out over the town instead. She points a finger, with all the serious maturity of her seven years.]

What's that?

[He leans over to look in precisely the direction she's pointing, amused smile in place. Axel expects to see something he can explain. Something totally normal to him, even if it may be confusing to a child.]

[So it's beyond disconcerting to see- that instead. Face frozen in an almost dumbstruck expression, Axel doesn't move. He doesn't speak, he doesn't even seem to acknowledge the fact that Ami's next to him anymore.

His eyes are following those cracks, watching as they move further and further through the town.

Something is beginning to rumble in the distance.]

Edited 2011-08-21 12:26 (UTC)

It looks sort of scary.

[He jumps in surprise, looking down at Ami with surprised eyes- and then almost instantly seems to regain his wits.]

Uh- yeah. We should probably get down from here and find somewhere safe. C'mon.

[He stands and reaches out a hand towards the girl.

They're getting closer.]

[Trustingly, she puts her hand in his.]

Thank you for helping me. Where are we going?

[He opens his mouth to answer and closes it again almost immediately. Where are they going? He could just open a dark portal, but who knows where they'd end up without a location in mind.

Axel's also suddenly hit with the realisation that he's made himself completely responsible for this childs safety and he's okay with that- but dream logic prevents him from worrying about her family at all.

He and Ami are a team now. The only two people here to worry about.]

Don't sweat it. Do you like the beach? [He's opening a portal even as he speaks.]

[She doesn't forget Mama. But she trusts this man right now, too. She gapes at the portal and almost forgets to answer the question. She doesn't take her eyes away from it.]

I like the beach a lot. I like to go swimming.

[Axel half-smiles at that, a little too concerned by what's going on around them to give the gesture his all, and kneels down beside Ami, keeping a fairly firm grip on her hand.]

Good, because we're taking a little seaside trip with the help of this thing. And hey, trust me, it looks a lot scarier than it actually is. You think you ca-

[The tower below their feet groans loudly, interrupting Axel's words- it feels as if the building is shifting ever so lightly beneath their feet. He reacts quickly, pulling Ami in and picking her up- there isn't time to talk anymore, really, isn't enough time to make sure Ami's okay with this- so he runs towards the dark corridor, holding her close to him and hoping she's not scared out of her wits.]

[Wait- wait! But there's no time to wait or even protest before the man scoops her up and they head through the portal. She clings on tightly, refusing to cry but clearly nervous by the tenacious grip.]

[Axel hugs her tightly even as they step out the other end of the dark corridor. He doesn't want Ami to feel unsafe right now, although that might be kind of difficult to prevent at this point. At least they were away from the clocktower?

It's strange, now that they're out of there, Axel could swear he feels a hell of a lot more... peaceful. Kind of sleepy, even.

Although that could just be thanks to the fact that he's no longer running the risk of falling to his death.]

We're okay now.

[The beach is a lot brighter and warmer than he remembers. The water even looks somewhat inviting.]

[No, no, Ami isn't really ready to be rational about this. She's only seven years old, after all. She clings tightly to Axel because he's all she has here, but her eyes are round and wide with fright.]

What just happened?!

[He supposes he should have suspected this would happen, but Axel still feels oddly numb to how distraught Ami obviously is, even as he pats her back comfortingly.

Can't they just go laze on the beach? Or make a sandcastle...]

I took us somewhere safe, that's all.

[He'd be happy to stay here forever.]

Look for yourself.

[Very, very slowly, she turns her head, clinging to Axel even tighter as if the movement might make her fall.

Then she sees the beach spread out, the enticing water. Her eyes widen in avid interest this time.]

The beach! How did we get here that quick?

[He grins widely at her surprise.]

I have my ways!

[She tilts her head as she considers this.]

Is it magic? It has to be, doesn't it? Because people can't really do that.

I guess you could call it that. [He concedes with a little nod, then gently sets her down on the sand.

Sitting down beside her, Axel yawns widely. He's just gotten increasingly tired the moment they left the clocktower really. A voice plays out quietly in the back of his mind, soothing and tempting- close your eyes.

If not for Ami, he probably would.]

Hey, whaddya say to a little nap?

[sleep.]

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waterfell.livejournal.com - 2011-12-20 04:34 (UTC) - Expand

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001 // icing on the cake

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awwwwwwww geez, too cute lol (and dangit LJ)

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squee~!

XD <3 Oh Ami, stay this adorable forever.

unfortunately, she really, really doesn't T_T

T^T

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1/2

edited because I'm silly

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wow i didn't use surprised twice there what are you saying

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/and many hugs to you

/so many cuddles<3

/DOUBLE BACK AT YA

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