AUDIENCE FOR: Butt Strife

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[meow wow squeaks again, and gemini shrugs.]

I suppose so. [back to gemini mode for a bit...] It's...been kind of nonstop for the last couple of years. There hasn't really been a lot of time to not roll with everything.

[skyagain]

[ hm. he reaches over to grab sora's shoulder and squeeze it for a second before letting go, looking up at the ceiling ]

Yeah. I get that feeling. [ sort of. it's become more obvious that there are a lot of blanks over what happened in the past five years before he got to midgar, but he doesn't exactly have time to consider it now. or when he gets back, even; there's too much to do to stop and reflect on anything that might not matter. ] ... This is the last week for this place, but that probably won't give us any real break going back, huh?

[ he's saying that idly, but he does wonder what the fuck going back means for sora for real still. ]

[guestservices]

[thanks dad. they also...look at the ceiling a little, petting meow wow's fur a little more firmly.]

Yup. Probably not. Your term's going to come to an end, and everybody who's in the lobby will check out and be free to go just like the contract says.

[it's a more clinical answer than how they were speaking before, but it's there.]

[skyagain]

Or something like that.

[ he's not entirely convinced the hotel won't corrupt the lobby with shadows as a cheat still, but also, he's not there to debate it. ]

... You holding up alright? Didn't jump on the candy as fast this time.

[guestservices]

[they nod because. like. they've both seen how the last days usually go in things. it's always worse before it's better.]

Haven't left my room today, so I haven't needed to...you know. [float. use their energy or magic.] But it'll be good to have for later. Thanks.

[they do not address the first part though because they're...not sure how to answer it, yet.]

[skyagain]

Mm. Glad I didn't ring the bell, then. [ which was partially that and partially everyone always meeting in the fucking lobby. wtf. he doesn't push them to answer just yet ] There's an extra room. D'you know?

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Yeah, I appreciate it. I don't...[hm. cloud's asking about the other room, and they pause.] The one at the end of the hall...? Or something else?

[skyagain]

Yeah. [ he shakes his head ] Just making sure this isn't one of those weird surprises for you guys, too.

[ but if sora knows then it's fine he figures they will learn its secrets sometimes*

*souji :unamused: ]

[guestservices]

I'm starting to think there isn't much that'll surprise me in this hotel anymore, Cloud. I haven't actually looked at the room yet. Have you?

[skyagain]

[ that gets a huff, because like. fair enough. but still. ]

Briefly. Looks like someone's hotel suite same as everyone else's.

[ it had some weird shit in it but he didn't go SNOOP. he only does that to sora ]

[guestservices]

Huh. [cloud what kind of a protag are you if you didn't snoop!!!] Weird. Maybe it doesn't matter that much. Another weird hotel glitch?

[skyagain]

[ he went in late he assumed all the good stuff was taken :/ ]

... Maybe. [ he doubts it's a glitch, but i put this before the souji junk so he will never tell sora ] Either way, there's enough stuff showing up for the last week already, I'm willing to bet it's not the end of surprises.

[guestservices]

It won't be. It's Monday. [they don't know what might possibly be coming, but again, there is zero doubt.] You just...have to be ready for those surprises and take them as they come. Deal with them and make sure other people are staying on track, too.

And we'll keep operations running for the week.

[skyagain]

Don't think I've got a lot of influence on people staying on track or not. [ he does not think that highly of his capacity to tell people to shut up. he let it slide earlier but... he looks at gemini ]

You gonna be good doing that one more week?

[guestservices]

[...]

I don't really have another choice, do I. [factually.] We're close to everything being over. It's one more week.

[...but.]

Anyway if you mean will I be good trying to influence people to stay on track, then no, because we aren't really meant to guide you. We have to keep doing our jobs.

[skyagain]

Wasn't talking about you doing that. [ he frowns ] ... And everyone seems selective in how they listen to you guys anyway.

[ which is unsurprising, since the same happened in the realm. but still. ]

... Guess you're right that there's not much of another option, though.

[guestservices]

[. . .]

I'm...[hm. there's another pause, and they kind of settle for petting meow wow's dumb fuzzy ears.] I don't know.

[about. what. anything. that's probably what it is.]

[skyagain]

[ he leans his elbows on his knees as he bends to look at sora more directly ]

... About what?

[ he sounds surprisingly patient when he asks ]

[guestservices]

[stop looking at them no. but they're petting meow wow and still. thinking.]

There's only a week left.

[surprisingly, repeating it probably doesn't offer much more clarity.]

One more week, and whoever's in the lobby will check out and that's it. Everything's over.

[skyagain]

... Right. [ he does know where gemini is heading after this, so after a pause where he just stares in concern; ] You're still going back to that place?

[guestservices]

[ah yes, the dreaded question.]

Yup. The Final World. [they don't remember if they told cloud what it was called.] I have to go back just like I did after our time in the Realm.

[skyagain]

... You still sure about that?

[guestservices]

...you know how I ended up there in the first place, right?

[skyagain]

[ for the most part, but; ]

It's not like leaving it would undo what you did.

[guestservices]

How do you know that?