The Sky's Eternal Sunset

Feel The Current Within

Where can I go

When the shadows are calling

Shadows are calling me?

What can I do

When it's pulling me under

Pulling me underneath?

It's getting close

Deep end -Ruelle

(⁠✯⁠ᴗ⁠✯⁠)(⁠✯⁠ᴗ⁠✯⁠)(⁠✯⁠ᴗ⁠✯⁠)(⁠✯⁠ᴗ⁠✯⁠)(⁠✯⁠ᴗ⁠✯⁠)

Sora doesn't change his routine by a single iota. He doesn't want Roxas to think anything is different when it comes to their interactions. He tells himself that it's because he doesn't want it to affect his data, but the truth is he doesn't want Roxas to suspect anything and then stop interacting with him.

So he continues to bring books for Roxas to pursue and makes more horrible attempts at Aquan that have Roxas teasing him. At one point, he just asks that Roxas teach him a few signs to associate with different words and questions. It seems easier than the mer language by a ton, and it keeps Roxas interested in conversing with him.

Roxas finds that he admires the lengths Sora will go to understand him. No one else has ever tried to learn his gestures like this. Other than Axel, no one has ever wanted to meet him halfway. With a little help from Axel to help translate, Sora learns to do the most basic of signed conversations in just a week. The simplest words but still, it's better than nothing, and it makes Roxas feel appreciated.

In return, Sora brings them fruit from the market as well as fish jerky. As a thank you for being so patient with him. When he has some spare time, he sits on the beach with the two of them just talking about everything. Riku sometimes joins them, but Kairi is busy studying the Aicaya merfolk since one is finally willing to get close to them.

Today though, it's just the two mer and Sora. The topic of conversation is Sora's phone and all the pictures on it. Both Axel and Roxas have some interest in human technology. Where Axel's interest lies in how it works, Roxas's interest is just in the contents.

⛎This is my sister Xion,⛎ Sora says and shows the picture to them. Roxas gestures out a sign, and both Axel and Sora laugh a little. ⛎Yeah, we all share blue eyes. And this is Namine. My other sister. Also, there's my brothers Ventus and Vanitas. If you're wondering why his eyes are gold it's because he wears contacts.⛎

♉You have quite the large pod--er, family,♉Axel corrects. ♉Are you the youngest?♉

⛎Only by about two minutes, but yeah. I'm the baby,⛎Sora chuckles.

Roxas signs out two similar signs, but they aren't ones Sora has learned yet, so he looks to Axel for help.

♉Your parents. Do you have pictures of your mother and father?♉ Axel translates and does the signs for 'mother' and 'father' as he says them.

⛎Oh yeah, definitely,⛎ Sora says and scans through. Once he finds a picture, he hands the phone over to Roxas. He's long stopped worrying that he'll damage it or toss it into the water. ⛎My mom and dad.⛎

Sora continues to talk about them with a fond look in his eyes. Axel translates all he can, but Roxas's hardly listening now that he has the phone in his hands.

Human technology is fascinating. He slides through the pictures at lightning speed to absorb all the images inside. Sora with his mom. With his brothers. Selfies of Sora in different places with strange surroundings. Lots of smiles and a couple of sunsets.