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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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[ It's probably a good thing he decides to play pretend. There's already so much on her mind as it is. Further compilation would just be counterproductive at this point. At least if it can be helped to be avoided. Then, there are things that can't be. Like every answer to her ceaseless questions. But she'd rather understand than be left in the dark. For too long did the Organization attempt to shroud her in that.

The name, Mickey. Something about it feels important not only in the way Ven makes mention of whoever that is but this familiar vibe she gets at the same time. It's there and gone just as quick though. She can't match a face to that name and so she backburners it. But she's sure to make mental note of his importance. She might have had a comment to go with matters, but it falls away when Ven's expression shifts as they enter the library. A library that seems to be more like it was a decoy at some point than anything if the stairwell to the off-colored lower floor is any indication. But her tabs are on Ven now and she's frowning, too. ]

What is it?

I don't know... Something just... doesn't feel right. [Indeed, he's looking around the room as if searching for something, but aside from books on the walls there's just not a lot to see. Most of the floor and whatever furniture was there is now gone, leaving the extensively upgraded electronic basement open to full view. Ven kneels to peer at something on one of the shelves, then shakes his head and stands again when he can't figure it out.]

I'll worry about it later - come on, this way.

[Stairs, what's that? Ven's just jumping off the edge of the floor and landing on the next story perfectly fine, looking around once more but this time for the next door.]

[ Even as Ven seems to finally shrug it off, the fact that he takes the time to stop and actively search around the shelves is curious. But there are other matters on hand now, matters that take her attention away full swing not even seconds after he pushes things away. There's answers she's seeking there- or a way back to Sora. Either way, it's time to focus on that.

And so she doesn't give a second thought to hopping down behind him. She rolls at the last moment to break her fall more fluently before she's hopping on her feet again. She keeps sneaking glances Ven's way as they make their way into the next room. Surprisingly, it's vacant of any nobodies. What does catch her attention, however, is the computer on the far end. It's similar to the one used by the Organization when she thinks about it... but it's not what she's there for, so she's soon looking for the next doorway. She finds it soon enough and slips through.

The next room leads to a hall. It's wider... and seems vacant at least. Seems being the keywords. As soon as she happens upon the center of the room, more dusks squirm from out of hiding, surrounding them. She looks around quickly, gauging the situation as she raises her keyblade. A thunder spell crackles, hailing several bolts down towards the dusks she's facing on her end. Why are there so many of them in the mansion? What purpose do they have there? ]

[Their purpose is to be really, really annoying. Ven's pretty sure this is going to be the last set, but you could never tell in most worlds until the enemies just stopped coming.]

[This time, he sighs and raises his Keyblade, pointing it ahead of him and shooting off a Mega Flare straight into the group of minor Nobodies. The explosion is pretty magnificent, even if it can't compare to one of Axel's full-tilt displays, but there's no doubt it's effective at making a scene. It echoes around the room and there's a few minor explosions in the partial seconds after the initial blast, and when the flames clear there's only two Dusks left, clearly on their last legs.]

Definitely talking to Mickey when we're out of here.

[ Well, they are pretty good at that. She hopes it's the last set, too, because this is just getting to be a pain.

Regardless, she's all set to go when suddenly- Okay, what in Kingdom Hearts was that!? That was not a fire spell! And suddenly, Xion's hoping that they never have to fight. No, her method's going to be of escape if things come to that because even her spells of dire straits don't pack the punch that single spell does as it sweeps through, taking out all but a few nobodies and they've both seen better days. Xion steps in to clean up the rest. A few swings later and she's standing off to the side, lowering her weapon again. There's a pause to her first step. But then she's continuing through that hallway and into the next.

It's in the next room where she furrows her brows as the pods come into sight. They're big, easily capable of holding someone even bigger than her. And they're all empty in that hallway. But something tells her to keep walking. Still, something in her keeps tightening the further she walks and she reaches out for a distraction. ]

You keep talking about Mickey. Just... who are they?

[To be fair, that's the highest level of spell he can cast. But yeah, it's kind of ridiculous. If he ever pulls out Salvation she's going to faint.]

[But that time is not this time, and Ven follows after Xion, glancing around but starting to relax. There's always sort of a ... tightness in the air when the Heartless are around, or even the Nobodies, and it's starting to dissipate. While there's undoubtedly still some outside the building, Ven's pretty sure they've taken care of all of the ones in here. And while they walk, he answers her question.]

Mickey's the king of Disney Town and Disney Castle and a Keyblade user. He was the apprentice to Master Yen Sid, and now he's a Master himself - he's kind of directing everyone here and keeping things from falling apart. He's a good guy - I think you'd like him.

[ There's a soft, thoughtful hum that escapes her as she listens to him. So, another keyblade user. She... should be surprised, really. But Ven himself- he's already proof that there are others out there. And, again, it all comes back to the Organization's deception, too. It's funny though... The more Ven talks- given what he says is true -it makes her wonder just what all does she know.

But it- it doesn't matter. She has to keep reminding herself. And so her tone comes out distracted. ] ...Maybe.

[ He's someone important though. Another high ranking figure. She wonders what his motives are, if he hides behind lies like Xemnas does. But Ven seems so found of him. Ah... She's thinking too much about these things again. Xion tries to concentrate on the echo of her footsteps as she keeps going through the hallway.

They eventually turn a corner and she can see a big, white room. It's larger than any of the other rooms in the mansion. It almost feels like it shouldn't exist there. But it does. And in the center is another pod. No windows, no doorways. Just that pod. And Xion realizes then that this... this is it.

She's standing at the threshold of her fate. And she can't get herself to move. ]

[This was definitely the place. This was where the mess of feelings and memories that Ven couldn't make sense of at all ended and Sora's vague impressions once again reasserted themselves. He didn't know who this Nobody was or what she was doing, but he'd bet all his munny that she was from that time that he couldn't access. It was the only thing that made any sort of sense.]

[But the room is there, big and empty and seriously why is there an empty room this big and this white underground? It served no purpose, except maybe to hide things from Yen Sid. He wasn't too far away, after all. But the pod is up ahead, and Ven has vague, very vague impressions of it opening like a flower, although right now the petals are tightly closed. They're far enough away that it's impossible to see through the translucent glass the thing is made of, but Ven knows in his heart there isn't anyone in it. Xion, though, seems to need to see it herself.]

Go ahead - I think it'll open when you get close.

[ Don't ask her. She has no idea what the architect was thinking. But it's something that's really the least of her worries. With a verbal prod from Ven, Xion looks his way. And just for a moment, she raises her hand to her chest, lightly clenched. But then she's lowering it and stepping off. Every footfall echos in the room, making her feel almost alone, but she knows she's not. Ven's behind her and Sora...

Before she knows it, she's standing in front of that strange pod, watching it curiously. It remains as it is, appearing smooth and seamless. Maybe it can't even open. But if it doesn't, then that'll be a-

One step is all it takes. As soon as she pushes forth out of concern, the pod cracks open at the top with a slight hiss. Then, slowly, the walls descend, unfurling like a blossoming flower. Something catches in her throat as she watches, but she doesn't dare to move. Slowly... slowly... It comes undone. And when it's finished... something in her sinks like a stone and she's frozen in dread.

He's not there. ]

[Ven can easily see that the pod isn't occupied when it's open, and he closes his eyes briefly - she's not going to take this well, he can tell. She's so insistent on getting to Sora, it's obvious she doesn't believe him - maybe even now she won't believe him. But he'll stick around until he's convinced her, even though he's not entirely sure how he's going to do that.]

He and Donald and Goofy were all sleeping here for about a year. When Roxas rejoined with him, they woke up, and then they all went after the Organization. If he hadn't woken up...

[He shrugs a little.] I probably wouldn't have, either.

[ There's so many words flying through her head right then. So many that are trying to fight to the surface. Sora's not there. Sora's not there. But that doesn't change anything, she argues with herself. He could be somewhere else. Naminé and that man in those strange robes could have moved him. Probably with Riku's help. There were nobodies in the mansion. Maybe the Organization finally found them.

And quickly, the theory's forming and just as quickly is she turning to look at Ven. She's opening her mouth to speak these reasons.

But then her words fall away as he beats her to the punch. His explanation that comes with the break in silence... Almost a year. Roxas rejoined him. All things anyone could easily tell her, lie to her about.

No, what really makes her stall is the last of his words and that gets her lips moving without a sound at first while she struggles again to collect her voice. ] What- What do you-?

[ She cuts herself off as something seems to click. Him... Roxas... ] Are you a part of him... too? [ But- he had said... woken up, so...]

Edited 2012-07-17 03:11 (UTC)

[And Ven raises a hand to rub at the back of his head, and the gesture is so very Sora that it'll probably startle her again. He doesn't get it really, he's been doing this for years, but a lot of his mannerisms transferred to his host when Sora accepted his heart into his.]

Not a part of him, just... we're joined. Me and him. And I guess me and Roxas, too, it's probably why we look the same. Come on, I'll tell you everything somewhere else. [He glances around the large, empty room, and he's just a bit unsettled.] Something's wrong with this place - it's not a good place to have a long talk.

[ ...Yeah, that's- definitely something that makes her mentally backstep. Though it's more because it makes him look all the more like Roxas than Sora, really. Still, that... explanation just makes more questions bubble up in her head. She's about to address one, but relents as she catches onto his discomfort.

While she still doesn't quite trust him... it's not completely off the mark, the potential that he has connections to Sora. It would certainly explain why he looks so much like Roxas. So, perhaps a little reluctantly, Xion nods. ] ...Okay. [ But if it's all a ruse, she'll be ready.

...Somehow, she's starting to think he wouldn't do that. But association's a pain like that. ]

Edited 2012-07-17 03:47 (UTC)

[No ruse, he promises. Ven raises his Keyblade and points it in front of him, and a beam of light shoots from the tip to a spot about ten feet away. It traces a keyhole in the air, and then the entire thing erupts in white light, opening what is also probably going to startle her as the diametric opposite to the doors to the Corridors of Darkness. An oval of Light is shining there, waving a bit as pieces radiate from the sides briefly and merge back with the main body. The Keyblade lowers as Ven nods to her.]

Go ahead - I need to go last or it might collapse on you.

[ When she sees him lift his keyblade, she finds herself scrutinizing him. Just what's he up to? There's no keyhole around there, so why is he even doing that? The answer comes shortly afterward. As the door of light yawns open, she puts two and two together fast that this is what she must have seen coming to be when she was back in the other town. It's weird... and intimidating.

But in the end, it seems just like a dark corridor. Just shiny and full of light. ~~Let's hope it doesn't eat her~~. She takes an uneasy stride forward, stops. Then, after sucking in a breath and slowly exhaling, she gathers the rest of her courage and heads on through. Don't mind how her keyblade's still out and ready. Just a precaution~ ]

[Considering where he set the thing up to take them, he's not going to take offense. Radiant Garden is a lot better than it was when Sora went there the first time, but that world was Maleficent's - and Heartless-Ansem's - hub for a decade. Heartless and even Nobodies are to be expected there, although it's much less than it used to be. Ven also keeps out his Keyblade as he steps through, the door closing behind him.]

[He'd planted the exit in the bailey section of Radiant Garden because people were less likely to be there than in the borough or the shopping districts. It still disoriented him to see the fountain courtyard devoid of water and covered in pavement, which was another reason not to show there. But the fewer people who could theoretically stumble into the portal, the better. Especially since it does close after Ven walks out of it; those things really don't last that long.]

Welcome to Radiant Garden. It's doing a lot better... uhh, mostly. We've got to get rid of Maleficent again.

[Indeed, not too far away a barrier can be seen. It's encasing the entire castle and sort of shimmering a little. Not passable by any means they've yet tried, Ven isn't even going to try to get close to it.]

[ The world they step into is yet another she's unfamiliar with- and yet there's an inkling that she has been there. Nothing lines up though when she looks around though, so she dismisses it shortly after. She can't help but notice the similarity of the sky to Twilight Town's. If she didn't know better, she might have thought this place was just another part of that world.. but she's certain it isn't. She knows Twilight Town like the back of her hand.

And that world doesn't have a giant castle off in the distance, shrouded in a bubble of energy. She finds herself walking over until she's leaning out over the wall, holding a hand up to shield her eyes somewhat. She squints to see more, but it's too far away to see much else and she gives up soon after. That doesn't stop the questions though, for sure. ] Maleficent? Who's that? [ And there's a lot more to come. ]

I think I'd better start at the beginning. There's, uh... there's a lot that Sora, Riku, and Kairi didn't know when this all started. And there was a lot that Roxas didn't know either 'cause Sora didn't know it, and he didn't have any of Sora's memories.

[Ven's just going to take a seat in one of the niches on the wall, now. You should probably do the same, Xion - this is going to be very, very long.]

[...After his first question.]

Umm... do you mind putting your hood down? It's kind of weird to not be able to see your face properly.

[ The fact that there were things that not even the Destiny trio knew doesn't come as a surprise to her. But it doesn't change the fact that there's something bigger than her own little world and that's... even if it's believable, there's this pending sense of something overwhelming.

But just as she starts to attempt to settle in herself, she is once again frozen. ~~Jeez, Xion, how many times are you gonna do this?~~

Her hood... Well. Arguing against it would raise suspicion. But lowering it... she wonders who he might really see. Will he see her? Or him? She reaches up and clasps the lip of it lightly between her fingers, debating but not going one way or the other quite yet. ]

[And he smiles at her hesitation, trying to make it reassuring.]

It's okay - Myde, uh, Demyx stayed with me for awhile when he was here. I know Nobodies aren't what a lot of people think they are.

[ That smile is so goddamn unfair, okay? Okay. It cuts right through her defenses and.. honestly hurts to see. But at the same time, it is how it is and- wait, what? ]

Demyx was here? [ Demyx stayed with him, for that matter? ~~What's with that weird name, too?~~ ] But I thought you said- [ Oh... ] That's right. [ The... time thing. Which would be the only thing to explain why she's even there if Sora's really awake.

But that still doesn't really cover her, does it? She's... not even a nobody. One step below. ] ...So. What do you think they are? Nobodies. [ And notice how she doesn't say 'we'. ]

Edited 2012-07-17 05:59 (UTC)

[Let's leave the Demyx stuff until later. The second question is more important right now. And he notices that "we" omission, but he chooses not to say anything about it for the moment.]

Nobodies are what happens when a person with a powerful heart loses their heart, except for people with hearts with no Darkness in them. [THAT he knows from personal experience.] Sometimes if the person's will is strong enough, their body will get back up and keep moving on its own. The most powerful and strong-willed people make human-shaped Nobodies and not the ones we fought in the mansion. They will remember everything about their past lives as well if the heart is away from the body long enough, which is why Roxas didn't remember being Sora - Kairi brought Sora back almost right away. Xemnas went around collecting all the human-shaped Nobodies he could to form Organization XIII, a group dedicated to getting back their hearts by gaining the power of Kingdom Hearts. Or maybe making a new one, I'm not too sure on that part. Riku and Sora defeated all of them except Roxas, who merged back with Sora when he woke up.

[ It's funny. Listening to him explain things as he does. Some of it she's well aware of. Like how Xemnas had gathered them to collect hearts, how it was to create Kingdom Hearts. And even the birth of nobodies themselves. Helps when you go snooping around in restricted areas. Still, it feels weird hearing it from Ven. And.. there's some things he touches on that she doesn't even know. She knew that Roxas had a connection with Sora- but directly calling him his nobody feels weird. And now he's not even.. here. He went back. To Sora. She should be happy, but the thought just makes something in her churn.

And then there's that talk- of the Organization. How everyone was defea- ]

Axel. What about Axel? He- wasn't really...

[Ven knows enough about Axel's friendship with Roxas to know why Axel did what he did. He also hopes - maybe just a little - that Axel remembered meeting Ven when he was a regular kid and not a Nobody, and that helped him become friends with Roxas. Because Ven has definitely made the connection that Axel was Lea. But he's not here - has never been here, as far as Ven knows, so it seems like whatever's going on is giving him a break. And Axel's obviously important to this girl, so maybe Roxas was too... Which could be why she's so wary of him. Arg, this is giving him a headache. That's not supposed to be possible.]

...Lea... Axel's... he's gone, too. After Roxas joined with Sora, he tried to help Sora so he could help Roxas, and he left the Organization just like Roxas did. He met up with Sora, Donald, and Goofy when they were trying to get to the World That Never Was to confront Xemnas, but Xemnas and Xigbar and Saix had left a whole bunch of Nobodies guarding all the entrances and they just kept getting attacked every step of the way. There were so many that even Sora wasn't able to cut through them all, and that's when Axel found them and joined in on Sora's side. He performed an attack that he put his all into, and it ended up using whatever life force he had in him. He used the last of his energy to open a portal for them to get to that world, and then he faded away.

[ She's still at first. Without words, without expression- at least for as far as he can see. But then her mouth moves, forming syllables on quiet unsteady breath. ]

...He can't be. There's no way! Axel wouldn't- he-! [ But a little voice in the back of her head cuts her off. Because that little voice knows how much Roxas had mattered to him. Known how conflicted he had been as he'd grown close to her, too. Stuck in the middle. Wanting to be there for her but being so wary of the Organization. There had been a constant divide, one that allotted her escape only to corral her back in later. Maybe it had only been after losing them, maybe that had been the time he had thrown everything to the wind, had done as he wished instead of what he'd been ordered. It wasn't a stretch to believe. And Roxas had his connections to Sora. They both did. But for Axel to do that...

She shakes her head slowly and her eyes are burning. Something's pressing in on her chest, too. She doesn't know what, but it hurts and the strain won't stop. ]

He can't be...

And then there was none- of them brain cells. The end.

Extra poof!

Now I'm thinking of kittens.

zomg ALL THE FUZZIES

SERIOUSLY. I will take them all home. *A*

ME TOO OMG KITTENS

LET'S BE CRAZY CAT PEOPLE WHEN WE GROW UP.

I'M ALREADY A CRAZY CAT LADY

OH REALLY? HOW MANY YA GOT?

ONLY ONE BUT SHE IS MY CHILD

YOUR BABY?

TOTALLY MY BABY I SNUGGLE HER A LOT

KITTIES ARE GOOD FOR THAT.

SO VERY SNUGGLY SHE IS JEALOUS OF MY PLUSHIES

AH-HAHAHAHA I BET SHE IS

SHE WANTS MOMMY TO HOLD HER AND NOT THEM

WELL SHE CAN WAIT HER TURN CAN'T SHE?

She shoves them out of bed and off my desk ;.;

Kitties are good at knocking everything off everywhere, too.

Oh jesus yes, mine is epically good at that.

Same! My one in particular loves to break things like that! Ffffuh!

Nora apparently thinks it's cute. IT'S NOT, CAT.

They're lucky they're cute when they do uncute things like that.

Yes, that is the evil response. She is never not cute.

And so you're forever doomed due to that cute.

SERIOUSLY. I will take them all home. A