From my Balcony - Chapter Five
Notes: This is an exchange of letters between Axel and Roxas. It doesn't count as a conversation chapter because... well, because I said so.
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December
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To Roxas,
How's your winter break going? Mine's been okay. The drive was, of course, long and boring as I expected. I'm so glad I didn't go home for Thanksgiving. Thanks for that, again. It was fun. But you still shouldn't have done it! No, I will never stop bugging you about it.
Have you eaten any sea salt ice cream yet this winter? I wouldn't put it past you, you seriously have a one track mind when it comes to that stuff. I'm not a big fan of ice cream, so I don't know what's so good about it. You might be able to get me to try some during the summer. But not right now, it's cold enough as it is. Damn, I hate the cold.
Anyway, I just thought I'd write because I know your address and I have nothing better to do right now.
Hope you're enjoying yourself,
Axel
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To Axel,
I wasn't expecting you to write, wow. Shouldn't you be out with your family or friends? They can't all be going to college with you. My friends keep bugging me about how I never hang out with them anymore. It's not my fault, though, they should be yelling at you. And you can yell at me about Thanksgiving all you want, what's done is done and you had fun. You should watch out, or I'll drag you to all my family gatherings. They like you, for some reason. I don't know why.
What's wrong with eating ice cream during the winter? It's not like it's cold inside, I have a heater, you know. You're really missing out by not eating sea salt ice cream, it's really good. This summer I'll make you try it, just because I know you're a baby when it comes to anything cold. You looked really funny in your huge jackets, by the way. Like you were in a cocoon. Are you going to turn into a butterfly when spring comes?
It's a good thing you wrote to me first, because I have nothing better to do but I didn't know your address. It's weird, I always want to go out on my balcony, but I know you won't be there. This is all your fault.
You should enjoy yourself, too.
Roxas
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To Roxas,
I go out with people, but there's only so much to do where I live. It's kind of a dinky little place. What are your friends complaining about? They see you every day at school, don't they? Why would they yell at me? I didn't do anything! And I'm not going to any more of your family things. It's not that I don't like them, it's just… You have to admit, I look like an outsider when I'm there. They can't really like me as much as they say they do.
I'm not a baby, I'm just used to warm weather. Laugh all you want, it was comfortable!
I think I know how you feel. I don't have a balcony, and it's way too cold to be going outside, but most of the time I don't feel like doing anything. I get this really lethargic feeling around the same time I always went outside before. Does that happen to you?
I am enjoying myself plenty!
Axel
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To Axel,
How can you say you didn't do anything? You're the person I'm spending all my time with instead of them. And some of my relatives were saying things about your weird hair, but other than that they were telling me to bring you along to something else.
How much would your family miss you at Easter?
A four hour drive is not enough to change the climate, so I know you weren't raised in some place where it's warm during the winter. A four hour plane flight, maybe, but not a car ride.
Whenever I'm with my friends when I'm normally out on the balcony is when they start complaining about my never hanging out with them. That's about the time I get really boring to them.
Say… what do you want for Christmas?
Roxas
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To Roxas,
Your friends should just learn to deal with the fact that you've gotten in with a cooler crowd. And I hate you so very much. I actually mentioned spending Easter with you to my parents for no good reason and they actually encourage it as long as they get to steal you for holidays next year. Let me warn you, it's not going to be fun. I swear!
It's not that I grew up in a warm place, I just like warm places better, so I can't stand being cold at all.
I try not to hang out with anyone when I would normally be talking to you. I know the same thing would happen to me.
…You are not buying me anything for Christmas.
Axel
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To Axel,
If I told my friends that I had gotten in with a cooler crowd it would be a lie. Unless you mean spending time with your roommates. They don't seem to mind me too much, so I kind of consider them my friends. I hope that's okay. And my mom said spending holidays with your family sounded like a fair trade, so she's all for it. You can't get out of it, now.
Maybe you're cold blooded. It's possible, you're weird enough.
You should just come back so I don't have to be so bored all the time.
Why can't I get you anything? We're friends, aren't we?
Roxas
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To Roxas,
I think my roommates would be insulted if you didn't consider them your friends. And damnit! Stop making me do rude things like crashing your family gatherings!
Maybe you're ice cream blooded. I know, that was lame. I can't think of a good come back to being called cold blooded. You try thinking of one, I bet you can't.
Good thing I'm coming back soon.
We may be friends, but I'm not letting you drag me to family things AND buy me presents. Besides, I already looked for something to get you, and I couldn't find anything. So you don't get to buy me anything if I couldn't.
Axel
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To Axel,
Fine, just hurry up and come back, I'm really bored.
Roxas