Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

C'mon darlin', we're almost there.

[is that an Axel? it sounds a little like one, but with a twang in his voice that sounds as warm and smooth as it does completely out of place. there's also the tell-tale clop-clop-clop of hooves.

a door in one of the many hallways is shoved open and a tall, lanky man in blue denim, heavy leather chaps, a beaten leather jacket over a plaid flannel button-down, and a dark brown ten-gallon hat shoved down on his messy red hair. the brim is so low that he can't see too much when he enters the hallway and he's a little busy knocking the piles of snow and ice off his shoulders, hat, and horse.

yes. his horse. he turns back around, tipping his hat back while he wipes the snow off its back, and the saddle and pack that's strapped to it.]

See there, Caroline? All your fussin' was for nothin'. We made it just fine and now we can tuck in for some good...

[he trails off right there, because he just got a look at his surroundings]

What in the hell...?

This one of those practical jokes? Don't look practical to me...

[ooc: ....uh, yeah. I don't really have a good excuse for this! But have a COWBOY AXEL. He hails from the American Southwest, circa December 31st, 1870, and will act accordingly.]

Comments

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[Roxas just backs up and leans against the nearest wall, folding his arms and pressing a hand over his mouth as he watches, and thinks.]

We'll have to find a place she'll feel more comfortable. There's an -- ah -- area here that's like a forest, I guess you could say. Would that do?

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

She's more used to flatlands, but that ought to do, even if it sounds right impossible. [but what about this situation isn't impossible?] Lead on.

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

... [finds and picks up his coffee. sips at it.]

... ... [sip.]

There's a small problem with that. We're not anywhere near it, and there are lots of people in these halls. Your horse will spook long before we can walk there. You're going to have to trust me and not freak out when I show you a ... "shortcut." Agreed?

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[his jaw works for a couple seconds, because that's putting a lot of faith in someone he just ran into who made fun of his accent.

but he cares a lot more about his 'partner' than he'd ever let on, so he just nods] Agreed, but if you cross me you'll be regrettin' it.

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[stares at him for a moment with those inscrutable baby blues of his, then shrugs and slaps a palm to the wall next to him. beneath his fingers darkness forms, and spirals outwards until a portal materializes. Roxas keeps his eyes on Axel the whole time, his expression a warning against any ... histrionics.]

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[histrionics, you say?

how about a shocked holler and a very, very spooked man skittering back and plastering himself against the wall, taking his poor horse with him]

W-Wha-! Y...Y-You...you...!

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

I thought you agreed to my terms, yet here you are, panicking.

[extremely unimpressed. just tucks his free arm across his chest again and takes another sip of his coffee, watching him with narrowed, almost contemptuous eyes]

It's called a darkness corridor, though they're more commonly referred to as portals. It's a short cut. Like I said, you have to trust me. Or I can just leave you and your horse here for people who aren't as nice as me to come along and tear you both into shreds. Your choice.

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[points with a shaking finger] You're some...some kinda devil.

I swear, I swear, I never did no innocent no wrong. ...a-a'right, so I wasn't entirely honest at the poker table that one time, but that was just once!

...or twice.

[wincing] Okay, always, but I never cheated no one who didn't already deserve it! That ain't no reason to send me into your shadow...stuff!

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[if his eyes darken just a bit and he goes oddly still, holding himself a bit too rigidly, well, you'll have to forgive him. no one likes being called a devil. his voice comes out with an edge of coldness that it lacked before.]

I'm not human, no. But I'm not a devil, and I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just trying to help you and your horse. Do you want my help or not?

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[Axel knows that kind of look. it means trouble, where he's from.

he sets his jaw, gaze hard] If you ain't a man, then why help one?

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

Why? Should I only help other creatures like myself? Should I only care about people that are like me? Is that it? Should I just not care about everyone else in the universe?

Just because I'm not human doesn't mean I'm-- [heartless.] --careless. Cruel. But if you don't want my help, please, don't bother taking it.

[the portal vanishes. he's ten kinds of bristling, his voice and eyes challenging and angry. it masks the fear, the hurt, always has.]

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

......

[Axel chews on that a while.

a pretty long while, in fact. his expression goes from country bumpkin terror to a very flat blankness, then slow caution, and finally...

yeah, that's a smile. an Axel smile] Don't think I ever seen a devil get hurt feelins as quick as you just did.

Never seen one enjoy a cup of coffee, either. Guess that makes ya somethin' less than devilish, right?

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

........... [SIP.

And with a flare of annoyance, Roxas remembers it's a stupid idea to ever underestimate an Axel. he tries to sound irritated, but just sounds kinda grouchy and pouty instead.]

My feelings are not hurt. I'm just not fond of baseless accusations. [sip.

... sip. looks up at him over the rim of his cup, raising his eyebrows in question. portal, then, sirrah?]

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[also: cutest devil he ever did see. but best to keep that to himself for the time bein'] Whatever ya say.

[he takes a couple steps toward him, speaking softly to his girl as he does so] That thing you were doin', it won't hurt her, will it? I don't care much 'bout m'self, but she's my sweetheart. I won't see her harmed.

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[watches him, slowly lowering his coffee cup. with a great big sigh, the tension goes out of his shoulders and he smiles a faint, crooked smile, speaking once again in that low murmur of his.]

No, it won't hurt her. You might want to keep your hat over her nose, so the smell of it doesn't scare her, but otherwise she should be fine.

[opens the portal again, with a little less flash and to do this time.] You ready?

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

I'll be holdin' you t'your word. Don't forget that. [he snags his hat off his saddle, putting it over her nose and stepping up to the portal] Yeah, I'm ready.

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[just gives one single, very quiet laugh, then heads through the portal. once Axel follows, he'll see Roxas was true to his word -- they end up in a grassy, meadow-like area in the large garden room. And Roxas'll just be standing there, knocking back the last of his coffee.]

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[the trip through that portal...well, let's just say it's not fun.

at all.

Axel has his hands full trying to keep the horse from going wild, so he doesn't have time to acknowledge his own fear. but they make it, even if he comes out the other side a lot paler than when he went in.

he has to just breathe for a while, letting his hat drop and the poor mare take in the scents of what looks like a very real meadow]

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[Is just chillin' out and waiting. He notices that Axel looks a lot paler, but bites his tongue and just lets the other have a bit of silence for a time.]

If you want, you can tie her up here or let her graze for a bit while you and I go get some coffee. It's up to you.

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[he nods and gets busy doing just that, putting his hat back on his head and unwrapping her eyes. she's calm, for the most part, breathing in the new air and turning her head this way and that. eventually she drops down, nibbling experimentally at the grass.

Axel lets out a long sigh and digs a checkered handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe at his forehead with.]

That was some trip.

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

[shrug.] It must be weird for someone who's never been in the darkness before. I've spent my whole life with it, so it never seemed weird.

Think you can handle doing it again?

[curlyredwolf.livejournal.com]

[shoves his hands into his pockets, jaw working] Can't imagine that kinda life. Be like livin' in a tomb.

Is it really necessary?

[twilightfell.livejournal.com]

... you can get used to pretty much anything if you live with it for a while.

[smiles a little] Too much for you? Fine, we can walk, but it'll take about ten minutes.