high_seas | fiery violent pirate babies

And how was he? My teacher told me that a phoenix is a being full of rage and hate, that it hates everything and everyone. But Marco says that being a phoenix means protecting others and take all the pain for oneself, and that it hurts a lot because it's impossible to protect them from everything and the things that manage to get them will be very strong.

[He takes the train and puts it in place before reaching for another one.]

Which type was your phoenix?

He was... he was angry sometimes... but I think because he was so dedicated to protecting people. And if.. if maybe sometimes those stonger things got to the people he..cared about, that would make him angry. Maybe he thought it was easier to be angry than sad. But he was a very strong and very brave phoenix who I could... I could trust him with my life.

*She pushes the train up and down the track with a finger, thinking of just how opposite that had become*

He didn't hate everything, though. That part isn't true.

Hmm, I think that being brave is easier than being angry or sad. Just punch whatever is making you sad or angry, or do whatever it takes to fix it. I don't want to hate everything or be angry all the time, that would scare Shun.

[And Shun is his life and he doesn't want him to be even a bit upset due Ikki.]

That's a good idea, looking after your family like that.

*She's pretty good at smiling brightly, like there's nothing going on inside her mind, not how much she wished they really had been at a place where he was willing to do whatever it took to fix it*

Trying to fix things is better, I think. Otherwise, you might just keep punching forever and maybe the thing that is bothering you won't ever stop...

*But she's not sure he'll really get what she's talking about*

Yeah. But not everything can be fixed, so punching it is better and faster.

[So the violent tendencies weren't just a phoenix thing.]

But not everything can be punched until it's better either. Like, for example, if... Marco made you sad. Would you just keep punching him, or would you want to fix things so that you could stay friends?

*She tilts her head, curious for his answer, concerned about what he'd said before. Yeah, rhere was the violence thing that all young boys had. But, given this was little Ikki, she couldn't help but be concerned*

Marco can't make me sad.

[The answer comes in bird language unconsciously due to all the trust and admiration that the kid has for the older phoenix which is hard to express in human language. He doesn't realize it and keeps placing the pieces as if he hadn't just basically chirped a little song like a literal bird at her.]

*Selphie doesn't really have the heart to tell Ikki that she didn't understand that, because that would require him to explain how he felt, and maybe that wasn't fair to little Ikki. So instead she just sits for a moment or two, watching him continue to build up the train tracks. Picking up a piece that looks like one half of a tunnel, she does finally allow herself to become a little excited by all of this, and leans over the train set*

So where do you think this one goes?

Hmm...

[Ikki looks at the piece Selphie has and looks at the tracks, then at the instructions and finally at the box where the picture of the finished train set is. There are several pictures though and the tunnel doesn't seem to be always in the same place. Maybe it can go wherever they want?

Finally, he points to a part of the tracks they have already completed.]

How about here? Would you like a tunnel here?

*Selphie looks at the box too, then smiles as she watches Ikki try to figure things out. She nods at his suggestion, unclipping the tracks so that she could fit the tunnel where he points*

Like this? Yeah, I think that looks good! What do you think?

I like it, especially if you like it.

[Since all of this was for her after all.]

It would be stupid if I liked it and you didn't. What kind of gift would that be?

Oh! Then in that case we both really like it!

*She breaks into a huge smile, just happy to be with the train set, and to see how pleased Ikki seems*

I think it would still be a very kind gift, even if I didn't like it. But I do - I really, really love it! Trains are one of my most favourite things ever!

I know, you were upset when I gave Roxas that train set. So I decided to get you an even better and bigger one. It was supposed to help make up to you for me always being bad with you?

[Though he only is bad because he rebels against caretaker rules and such.]

Though I wouldn't be bad and disobey you if you let me be. I can take care of myself, I'm eight years old already!

[POUT AND FROWN ATTACK.]

*She looks a little sheepish about that - probably that was where he thought she'd been silly and childish*

That's really very kind if you. It makes me so happy, getting such a special present!

*She smiles brightly and nods her head as though she's taking his comments very seriously*

You are! A brave eight years old. But you know...it's okay to let people help you sometimes, if you need it.

I know. Marco told me that even the strongest people need help.

[Pause.]

I'll let you know if I need it.

[Which he doesn't need now... Wait.]

You can keep helping me to set this up, though, since it's yours and all.

[There, don't think he's pushing you away because he isn't... Not that he cares if you stay either! Don't get the wrong idea.]

He's very right. And... good.

*She's heard that before, and already feels that maybe she should be shifting to leave him alone*

Oh! Well, maybe... maybe we could put on the trains and watch them go round?

*Alright, so maybe the excitement is kicking in now as she picks up the rest of the little coloured trains*

Okay!

[His expression relaxes into a mix of a frown that is starting to be eternal and a smile that will practically vanish in a matter of years.

He quickly sets the rest of the pieces as Selphie sets the trains.]

It's done!! Looks great, right?

*Selphie looks at him, still smiling, just glad to know that at some point in his childhood Ikki was capable of having fun and seeming happy*

It looks amazing!

*She sets the trains in motion, watching as they begin to make their way around the elaborate set. Selphie couldn't look more pleased and excited with the train set, and she claps her hands together and begins quietly singing her own train song*

Train, train, take us away, far away...

[He moves a bit closer to her, saying nothing as she sets the trains in motion. A small smile in his face as she quietly sings her little tune.

This is all he wanted from this after all. For her to have something she liked and that maybe made her feel a bit special, and which made her smile no matter what. He himself has no interest in the train set, so he contents himself with just watching her play.]

*She doesn't notice when he sits closer at first, because she's so enthralled in what she's doing. Selphie continues to play along with the trains, stopping them and making them wait before going over the hills. Then it paused to let some little plastic ducks cross the tracks. Finally, she turns to Ikki, all smiles, and offers a train*

You wanna play?

[He is a bit surprised by the offer, he's used to share things with Shun and to have Shun trying to share things with him, but outside of them both... No one shares. The world just doesn't work that way and when it seems that it does it's a trap.

Ikki shifts uncomfortably, looking at the train set with a small frown before he looks at her with a small smile. He shakes his head firmly.]

It's okay, I'm having fun watching you play. Play a bit more, please.

Oh.

*Selphie seems a little taken aback by that - what fun could there possibly be in watching her play? But, since he's watching... Selphie makes more of a storyline to go with her trains, and they start having different voices, talking about how important it is that they take their passengers safely to where they need to go. She's not sure if it's interesting or not, but she tries to make it amusing, occasionally giggling to herself*

[Ikki makes no sound, but he doesn't misses a thing of the playing. Nor of the story, nor of how happy Selphie is while playing. For him, used to give everything he can to his little brother and enjoy it through seeing him happy, this is the most fun he know how to have.]

*The trains are eventually tired, apparently, and they have all go home to bed, so they're sent to rest together at the station. Then Selphie finally lets go of them and sits back, turning to look at Ikki with a soft smile*

I've missed you, Ikki.

*She's not sure if she really meant to say that aloud, or if Ikki will remember this later. But it's said, and it's true*

[The kid just looks at her, with the expression of one who doesn't fully understand, but who knows that something is wrong. Because he knows, he liked Selphie before, she was fun and all. And then... Bad things happened, things he can't remember, but he knows he tried to fix them, like how he got the train set for her.

But then he never did. And never talked with her again. Why? He doesn't know, nor does he understand. But it's how things happened. He frowns as he thinks before finally nodding, still frowning and looking down.]

I wish it could be like when we were at the beach. It was fun then, we were friends.

fiery violent pirate babies

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