adventures in new york.

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When you're two teenagers who know each other from Traumatic Circumstances just trying to get by in the big city.

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[ Gives her a sort of narrow and thoughtful look.

And then she sighs and just kind of leans against Natalie again. ]

Mine are always the same too, you know. I just... [ ........... ] It's always heads, [ she says, with the faintest note of distress. ] Just ... heads. These days it's you and Percy and Jason... sometimes it's Shinnosuke.

[ The way in which she found Riku's head in his room was never a secret, so Natalie can probably figure out what she means. All this is said rather quietly. ]

[robitussin]

...I'm sorry.

[Not for anything she did, necessarily, but that this happened to her. That it happened to any of them, really.]

Do they do anything, or are they just - there?

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[ Tucks her head against Natalie's shoulder. She seems (mostly) calm right now, just .... thoughtful. ]

Sometimes there's a lot of them, sometimes it's just one. Sometimes they say things...

[ ... ]

That probably sounds crazy, [ she whispers. ] I know they're just dreams. Some nights I'd rather just not sleep than risk it, though.

[robitussin]

It doesn't sound crazy. I get it.

[That seems like the most important part to address first. Her hand comes up to rest on Xion's head, smoothing her hair down in what she hopes is a comforting motion.]

What do they say?

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.... I--

[ Xion swallows hard, keeping her chin tucked down. ]

Can we not talk about it?

[robitussin]

[She nods, resting a hand on her shoulder and giving it a small squeeze.]

Yeah. We don't have to, if it's hard.

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[ Breathes out, slow. ]

Sorry. I-- sorry. Do ... you want to talk about yours?

[robitussin]

I told you I would.

[Because, really, it seemed like the most likely way to get Xion to talk about what was troubling her. Still, though...]

You sure you're going to be okay?

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... I'll be okay because I'm here. With you, and Percy, and Jason. They're just dreams. Nothing like that will ever be real ever again.

[ With a certain steadiness, a practiced sound like she's told herself these things many times. ]

[robitussin]

[Something warm settles in her chest, and she can't help the small, slight smile that creeps onto her face.]

...Okay. If you're sure, then I'm glad.

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Of course I'm sure. [ It's soft, but there is conviction in her voice. Xion shuts her eyes as she leans on Natalie, giving the other girl's hand a squeeze. ] Things are still a little hard right now, but ... we've got years to figure things out, don't we?

[ Softly wondering. Years. It's a nearly impossible amount of time for her to comprehend. ]

[robitussin]

Yeah. And Percy, Jason and I will all be around for you until we're all... Well, as okay as we can be, I guess.

[A soft sigh, a smile in return as she gives Xion's hand a squeeze as well.]