star_kingdom | Action/Audio || წ Lesson One || Traverse Town

Current Location: Traverse Town

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Action/Audio || წ Lesson One || Traverse Town

[ Maybe it's their mind playing tricks on them, maybe it's just a figment of their imagination. Or did they just see someone scamper past in a black trench coat? They just might have. Yet for some reason, someone- while it's hard to distinguish who with their hood up like that, comes briskly darting along not-so-subtly through the streets.

They look like they're just trying too hard, but it's habit and they just... need to feel that comfort zone as they do their best to get away from that moogle who seemed a little too curious about them. And its persistence only made them further push away, further remember what they have to do. A matter that assembles into words as they look down at the device it gave them at the corner of an alley, taking a breather. What did that moogle say about it? They turn it over curiously before that attention becomes mechanical, attention diverting elsewhere. [Accidental Audio] ]

How did I get here? [ The voice is that of a young girl, pausing uncertainly afterwards. Some people might even recognize that voice. It happens to be that of a familiar red head... ] ...I have to get back to the-

Hi there! Are you new here, kupo?

[ There's a surprised yelp followed by crackling as the communicator hits the ground. ]

( ooc: Meet Xion. She's a little bit on the skittish side at the moment due to just having woken up after, uh, fighting with one of her best friends. And now she's on the look-see about finishing what she was out to do, but then moogles happened. Feel free to catch her either while she's running around or respond to her whoops!audio or whatever floats your boat. )

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[She is clearly freaked, and Ven doesn't like having people be scared of him. He looks a little hurt, actually. He just wants to find out what's going on, and obviously something's scared her bad, but he doesn't let go out of fear that she'll just bolt again.]

Hey... I promise, all right? I'm not going to hurt you, and I won't let anything hurt you. You're safe, it's okay.

[ Wasn't going to hurt her..

A promise... huh.

It's funny. Because it sounds exactly like something Roxas would say. That him and Axel, how they would be sure to protect her from Saix's wrath. That things could be reconciled and matters could go back to the way they were. But this wasn't Roxas and what all did this boy seem to know about things? Who was he, really? Or even... what?

She looks down, her shoulders tense. But just when it seems like she might put away again, she slackens slightly. ] Who are you... truly? And how do you know about them? [ Because she doubts Roxas wouldn't have said anything about a doppelganger of him had he known. Though what did that mean for his knowing of Sora? Sure, Sora apparently had a lot of friends all over the worlds, but... ]

[Okay, she wasn't running off. Ven slowly let her arm go as she relaxed, but he remained ready to get in her way any direction she went. She was a cornered animal - he had to be careful with this.]

I told you, my name's Ven. Sora and Roxas are friends of mine - or at least, Sora is. I only met Roxas once, and not for very long.

[But they'd gotten along all right as far as he could tell.]

Are you- Were you- with the Organization?

[ She can't help but feel a sense of relief when he finally lets go. She doubts he'll let her leave so easily, but it relieves the tension a bit all the same. Sora being a friend of his... While it's not completely hard to believe, she doesn't ever recall any dreams she's had with this boy in them, so... it doesn't make sense. Unless he's someone Sora forgot, but... but wait-

And that's when the other shoe falls and she winces but only slightly. Give or take, the coat is an emblem for them. But most people she's met don't seem to recognize the tie-ins. It makes her take a self-conscious step back before she nods slowly. ] Not anymore- but. When did you meet Roxas? And where? [ And why hadn't he said a word? ]

Umm... here, actually. He showed up in Traverse Town, like everyone does. And I think I know what's going on here.

[This is going to be confusing, but confusion is better than panic.]

It sounds like you're from before the Organization was stopped. It's gone now - Sora and Riku defeated Xemnas and Xigbar and everyone else a couple of years ago. Everything was put back like it should have been, but the Darkness started surging again just over a year ago, and now it's pulling people in from worlds we've never heard of and even from the past. That's what happened to my brother - he's from way far back.

[ ...A bit confusing, you said? New understatement of the year.

At first, all she can do is just stare. It's a lot to take in, especially at once. The Organization... destroyed? Did that mean Axel, too? And what about Roxas? Had he gone back to Sora then? Had she? And Sora and Riku had been the ones to put an end to Xemnas, and by extension of that, Kingdom Hearts, she presumed.

And that wasn't even days ago. He was talking years.

But... if that were true, what did that mean for her? Had she somehow been swiped from Axel and taken to Sora? Or did it have something to do with something like the brother Ven mentioned? Xion didn't know. And the more she realized she didn't know about things, the more she found herself wanting to know, to figure things out with her own eyes rather than word of mouth. Or pushing it all away. Because hearing all this was one thing, but- but he could be lying, making this all up. He could be, but he'd- he'd promised and given her that look and- and-

She took a step back. And then another. Shaking her head. This can't be true. It can't be. Or... can it? She has something she has to do. And in order to do that, she has to go away. If she's still here, that means Sora's still asleep and so she- ] I have to go.

Wait, no you don't! Xemnas isn't around to tell you what to do anymore, everyone's okay! I promise.

[...Well, he's kind of lying there, because Riku and Sora are missing again and they don't know what happened to them. But he knows they were in one piece when they went missing, at least.]

Why do you keep trying to run away? You're safe, I promise. What's your name?

[ There's a part of her in the back of her head... that really does what to believe him on face value alone. But there's enough she's been through to tell her that things just aren't that simple. That she wants to see things for herself, first and foremost. And with that thought, there's another step back in turn to this. Followed by a few more. She's hitting a wall soon enough.

But it doesn't matter. She's got her hand touching it, another corridor warping open behind her which she leans back into, nearly falls into. Her lips move to say something, but the words fail to escape. And then she's sinking into the darkness. ]

Wait-!

[Ven's eyes widen and he runs forward, reaching for her again. But he's unable to grab her arm before she sinks into the darkness again - and he's unable to stop himself from following her before it closes, disappearing through it just before it can cut off his foot. At least his strange composition means he'll be okay in a dark corridor. Which will probably startle her.]

[ Well, on the upside, she manages to actually make it inside the corridor this time. On the downside? Apparently, she has a tag along. And one that has no qualms with darkness at that. But that's the last thing on her mind as she's turning around and bolting through, searching out that familiar feeling in what otherwise might seem like an abyss leading to nothing.

Eventually, she seems to find what she's looking for. Mild daylight breaks through as she makes her exit. She keeps going for all but a few more steps before she comes to a halt in front of those familiar gates, that of which she had just stood in front of as she had made her plea to Axel not long ago, those gates which led to Naminé and then to Sora. She knows the first time was hard enough, but she can't hesitate. He's coming to stop her- no, not to stop her from this. He has no idea what's even going on, or does he? She doesn't know. She doesn't know.

Move. Move. Move. ]

[He would know what was going on if she'd just tell him but she's still in flight mode apparently. He's not letting her get away at this point.]

[But Ven stumbles out after her in his most graceless exit from a portal in awhile. Not as bad as his first few, since at least he kept his feet this time, but there was general stumbling and not looking so smooth. And as he straightens up, he catches a glimpse of the gates in front of them.]

What is- ...Wait a minute, I think I've been here before.

[The expression on his face is pretty odd, as if he's trying to remember something and not quite getting it. Which is a pretty accurate way to describe every time he tries to get at a Sora-memory; they're just too far out of his reach.]

[ But, see, Ven. That would make too much sense.

All the same, she's at least stopped by then. Even if she's panicking on the inside, unsure of what to do. Only at his footsteps does she look back. Then she's pressing herself to move- only to pause at his comment. That finally gets her to shoot a glance straight at his face or assumingly so anyway. Hard to see with her hood still up. ]

...You have? [ If he was looking for a way to stall her, he got one right there and then. ]

[He wasn't, but he'll take it. He doesn't see the look straight at him because he's still focused on the gates, and he absently dusts himself off as he approaches them and the giant lock and chains on the front.]

Yeah... I... think so. It's out of reach mostly, but Sora came through here looking for the way to the home of the Organization. He found it in the basement, with all of DiZ's stuff.

[There's something else, though - something that's not quite lining up properly...]

Sora... Sora did? [ But how is that possible? She wants to ask. And... why would there even be a way to The World That Never Was through the mansion of all places? It all sounds so farfetched and it shows in the frown she finds herself wearing again. ]

But... that's not possible. Sora shouldn't even be awake. [ Naminé and Riku had even told her. So long as she exists, he can't wake up. ]

[And that bit gets Ven's attention, because he at least knows what that's supposed to mean.]

Ohhhh, I get it now. You really are from the past - from when Sora was still asleep in here. [It's a time for him when the memories are more jumbled than any other, but he knows what that means.] He's not anymore - Roxas merged back with him. He needed that part of himself to wake up. It's over.

[Still, he gets the feeling she's not going to believe him without seeing for herself, so he holds out his hand to the side and summons his own Keyblade, flipping it around so he's not holding it in his usual backhand style.]

Come on, I'll show you. But keep your eyes open, I think Heartless and Nobodies are more common on this world than some of them.

[ Color her dumbstruck all over again. Because that? Was something she least expected to hear coming from his mouth. Perhaps she shouldn't be so shocked. After all, he had mentioned earlier how the Organization had been defeated, by Sora and Riku no less, among other things. But it's still something sinking in, something she's feverishly even in denial of.

But this is something much more close to home, a matter that not long ago, she had found her resolve to face. Known that soon enough, Roxas would have to find his resolve, too. In hopefully less troubling circumstances. And yet here this boy who looked so much like him was saying that he'd already gone and done that, that Sora was awake. But she... was still...

From the past, he said...? But how-

But all those questions come to a halt in her mind when she sees him suddenly flourish a keyblade. It's unexpected even if part of her feels like she should expect it. Especially when he shares the same face as her friend. All the same, the warning isn't lost to her of Heartless and Nobodies. ] -Right. [ Her tone comes off distant, but soon enough, her own keyblade is materializing in her hands. She looks to him and gives a short nod. Something tells her swimming in her confusion isn't going to get her anywhere. For now, she'll have to trust him on this one. And deal with him accordingly if things go wrong. ]

Edited 2012-07-11 05:06 (UTC)

[And it's Ven's turn to be shocked again as Xion pulls out her own Keyblade. Roxas he gets, Roxas got his through Sora because Ven passed on his ability, but... another Organization member? With a Keyblade?]

Who... Who are you?

[ The surprise from Ven isn't something she quite expects. But then again, the keyblade was something special. Something that not many people could wield. And in her case, something that was a gift as well as a curse. All the same, her thoughts begin to swim when he asks that question. It even... hurts. Just a little. And she has to remind herself again that this is Ven and not Roxas.

She bites her lip. He's given her answers. Whether or not they're true is questionable. But still, it's something she's not lost to. It doesn't change the way she hesitates, but in the end, what difference does it make if he knows her name or not? It won't matter after this anyway, will it? If what she believes is true and Sora's there. ]

Xion. [ And that's all he'll get out of her for now as she raises her keyblade to point it at the lock on the gate. There's a short stream of light the emits from it soon after and with it? They can both her a distinct click as the lock gives. ]

[Yeah, he was pretty sure he knew all the Keyblade wielders that existed. And now that he has her name, he starts playing word-jumble with the letters to try and fit her into the Organization's pattern. He doesn't react with shock to the idea that she can use the Keyblade - if she can hold it, she can use it.]

So... what was your first name, then? Ion? Oni? Nio?

[That's when the first Dusk shows up. Ven jumps off the ground, twisting in midair to land behind it and give it a vicious backhand slash. Dusks are just annoying, okay? And they think he's munchable.]

[ Well, Ven. GUESSED WRONG. ~~Although in some ways you're kinda right.~~ All the same, his name game is... confusing. Why is he suddenly coming up with this weird idea that she has a different name?

She's about to say something when she catches that dusk out of the corner of her eye. He reacts before she has a chance to, herself. But whacking one down seems to have just drawn unwanted attention more than anything. Because shortly after, three more are wiggling their way through the air towards them. She picks her mark and goes, unhesitating, to take out the first one that comes at her, her delayed response finally surfacing. ] Just Xion-!

[Because he knows the pattern. Sora-Roxas, Braig-Xigbar (damn him), Myde-Demyx. But he knows Roxas had memory problems with remembering Sora and any connection to him, so maybe this is the same. Well, puzzling later, kicking ass now.]

Got it! [And he pivots on one foot to throw his Keyblade in a Strike Raid; it whacks through another Dusk once on the way out and once on the way back, and he's running at the next the moment it returns to his hand to fire off a Thundaga spell followed by a kick to its... face? Pseudo-face. Thing.]

[ Well, she's still a little clueless on that aspect of things. You'll have to forgive her. She's been kinda busy with other matters. But yeah, ass-kicking sounds good.

Especially quick teamwork ass-kicking. Which more or less ends up a one man show. By the time she's taken out the dusk with a fira spell, she's turning around in time to see him kick the last dusk in the not!face. It seems to take the hint quickly that it's far outmatched and slithers off from whence it came, leaving just the two of them again. Well, that was slightly anti-climatic. But then with his apparent experience, it shouldn't really be surprising. Still, she keeps her keyblade out and at the ready as her attention once again fits itself to the gate.

Without another word, she goes over to it, pushing it open. The hinges grown but give under the force she exerts. Then she's looking back to Ven, gesturing for him to follow. ]

[He's just had more time to get used to it all - and a proper teacher. She'll catch up quick enough.]

[And somehow it doesn't feel right to speak right now, so Ven just nods and follows after her. The front door is treated to another Keyblade unlocking, this time from his, and while his blade looks different at least it's the same technique, which should reassure her. Hopefully. Then he's pushing it open and stepping inside... and frowning just a little. Those memories are dancing at the edge of his awareness again.]

This is the place.

[ Yeah, about that. Not quite something she's about to believe she'll have the time for, you know. Since she should be kinda not there and all. Unless what he's said is really true.

She lets him unlock the door, watching cautiously. It's strange but then it isn't to see him with a keyblade. Strange because he's a boy named Ven and it's a keyblade she's never seen before yet not because, again, he looks so much like him. Perhaps in the end, that's the only thing that's keeping her as calm as she remains. Because it's not just in appearance or voice either. It's the way he carries himself, the reassurance...

Xion walks off the rest of those thoughts though because at the moment, there's other matters she has to figure out. And inside the mansion, she hopes to settle them. One way or another. The foyer is as open, dark, and quiet as she remembers it when she first stepped in. Although as she steps further in, she can't dismiss the way dust kicks up under her heels. It's not an incredible amount, but it's noticeable. She frowns at it, but it doesn't stop her from crossing the room. She ignores the first floor entirely, instead making for the stairs. She takes to them warily, glancing over her shoulder here and there. But eventually, there are no more steps and she's on the landing only a couple feet off from her destination. And it's there that she pauses. ]

[He knows why that is and he'll explain it all - after he's proved to her that no, Sora's not asleep in the basement, that he got out and the Organization ended, that everything was okay. Before it went to hell again, but that's beside the point.]

[But unlike her going straight for the stairs, Ven pauses in the foyer, looking around as if searching for something, looking slightly more troubled the longer he waits.]

Something happened here... something bad.

[He doesn't say that loudly, though, and with the way she's moving straight ahead Xion might not catch that. He wrenches his attention away from the dusty floor to follow her - whatever that feeling is, he can deal with it later, on his own time. Right now he's got a skittish Nobody to take care of, and he follows her up the stairs, stopping next to her at the door to the library.]

Ready?

/DUN DUN DUUUUN

/THIS DURP WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN TEN SECONDS

/OH SHI-

/KABOOM

/singed

8D;; /extra crispy?

/just a bit AND USES APPROPRIATE ICON LOOK AT KEYWORDS

NO MUST RESIST

GIVE IN TO THE PUPPY EYES

NO NEVER

GIVE IIIIIIIIIIIN

NOPE GO FISH

AWW BOO

OKAY FINE

YAAAAAAY

BUT NO FLUFFY UNICORNS

THAT'S OKAY I don't think they exist even here

WHAT SERIOUSLY SO SAD

SORRY BUT IT'S TRUE

WHAT ABOUT RAINBOW BUTTERFLIES

MAYBE A SONG ABOUT RAINBOWS (AND WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE)

WHILE READING?

SURE WHY NOT

THAT WOULD BE THE BEST STORY-SONG EVER

I JUST WANT THE MUPPETS TO SING IT