OPEN ● there's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light

[hightiderising]

WHO: Xion and YOU!
WHERE: All over Heropa
WHEN: The first few weeks of October
WHAT: Xion tries to adjust to this new world and needs lots of help along the way
WARNINGS: None anticipated; will update if this changes

1.
[It's been a few days since Xion's arrival and she's had some time to adjust. Granted, it hasn't been easy - mostly because of all the free time she has. Now, this obviously teenage girl should be in school, but she's very much not. It's not on purpose, mind you - she just doesn't know how school works. What days does she even go in? Who knows.

So, in this "free" time, Xion has decided to try to go to the beach. The beach is one of her favorite places in the world to be, and nothing would make her feel closer to home than a day spent picking sea shells before the weather gets too cold to allow that.

There's one problem, however. Xion doesn't know how to get to the beach. She has her portals, sure, but they only work when she knows where she's going. Saix would typically open a portal for her when she was going to a new world or location. She's going to have to do this the normal way - the human way. She uses her phone to find the closest bus station and works from there.

It's an easy walk... and then a choice between six buses. The route maps on each bus's sign mean almost nothing to her, filled with unfamiliar names of landmarks and streets. When she tries to check her phone for help, the battery is dead. Was she supposed to charge this or something? No one told her that!

Well, she can figure it out on her own. Who needs GPS? She gets right on the first bus without hesitation.

--And ends up dropped off somewhere in the suburbs at the end of the line. That's not right at all. She hadn't even seen any beaches along that route! Defeated, she opens a portal in plain sight and steps back out at the bus station.

Bus #2 takes her past museums of taxidermy, yarn, and historic planes and leaves her at The Alligator Hut, an alligator-shaped two story building dedicated to teaching the public all about the wonders of alligators. Rare fossils and a gift shop were advertised on the sign outside. Interesting, buuuut not what she had in mind. Xion summons a portal and steps back out once again at the bus station.

The next two buses do her even less good and when she portals back to the station the last time, she's exhausted, slumped over, sweating in her heavy leather coat, and looking somewhere inbetween depressed and frustrated and about to scream. She slumps down in a huff on the ground. She just... needs a moment, that's all. She can still do this.]

2.
[Something Xion has learned recently is that humans love coffee. She likes trying new things (cautiously), and if it's this popular, it has to be really good, right? Besides, a hot drink sounds nice on these chilly fall mornings. So one Saturday morning, Xion walks down to the coffee shop closest to Heropa's government housing and waits in line along with a ton of other totally normal people that totally know what they're doing here.

Finally, her turn comes, and she steps up to the counter, looks up into the vast menu and-- blanks.

What is this stuff? There's a coffee, sure, but with a ton of other options. And what's with all the flavorings being offered? What's pumpkin spice? She doesn't think vegetables belong in coffee, right? That doesn't sound good at all. What's an espresso? What's a latte? A macchiato? Mocha?

Someone behind her yells for her to hurry up.]

S-sorry! Just one coffee, please.

[But that doesn't satisfy the barista. "What size? Do you want creamer or milk? Hot or iced?" It's endless.]

U-um--

[Help.]


OOC: Character specific starters in tags. For your own, more specific starter, hit me up on plurk at MahouShoujo!

Comments

[redigere]

[The house is quiet when they return, but the others seem to be close by, Kagami right at the top of the stairs. Naminé blinks up at him, wondering why he's not coming down-- but she supposes he'll do that in his own time. She turns back to Xion and smiles reassuringly.]

Come on, let's sit down and wait for everyone.

[darkimitation]

[He starts making his way down the stairs, still watching the two girls quietly before finally saying something to them.]

... If both of you are hungry, there's food in the fridge.

[hightiderising]

[Xion hadn't quite had the chance to sit down before spotting Kagami at the top of the stairs. She's stuck frozen there for a moment. It really is uncanny. He looks just like Riku, just a bit younger. She's never met another replica before, though, of course, she'd read about Riku's, and numerous other failures. Vexen and Xemnas hadn't been kind about Kagami. She'd always felt so sorry for him.]

It must be weird.

[Finally, she speaks!]

Meeting your sister in person for the first time.

[darkimitation]

[He has something in his hand when he finally gets to the bottom of the stairs. What is it exactly? Music sheets. Of course Xion can't read them, but perhaps she'll be curious about them. He also speaks to her as he makes his way to the downstairs closet.]

A bit yeah, but I know something that might cheer you up. [From said closet, he pulls out what looks like a guitar case. Opening it, there's a very nice acoustic guitar in it. He gestures for her to follow him to the couch, if she does, she'll see him sitting there with the guitar in a position to play it. He even does so by playing Xion a special song for a few minutes silently. Once he's done however, he'll look at her for her reaction.]

[hightiderising]

[By the time Xion examines the music sheets and begins to ask just what he's doing with those, he's pulling a guitar out the closet. She keeps her mouth shut as she follows him to the couch, and respectfully staying quiet as he plays for her.

It's nice... It's relaxing. In fact, she didn't realize how tired she was before this. Somewhat against her will, her eyes close and she listens to the rest of the song like that, smiling through it.

When it's done, she opens her eyes and applauds softly.]

That was really amazing. Where did you learn to play like that? Vexen wouldn't have given you that talent.

[darkimitation]

[He sets the guitar at his side and stares back at Xion. He gestures for her to on the side of him that's not where the guitar is. That way they can have an easier time talking to one another.]

I learned over the summer here. Though to be honest, I've actually learned a lot here. I'm sure you'll be able to do the same.

[hightiderising]

[After some hesitation, Xion goes to sit next to him, but still gives herself some space between herself and Kagami. It's nothing personal. She's just still nervous.]

I hope so. It's funny. For people like us, this place is a second chance. Here, we can be more than we were meant to be. More than Riku, or more than Sora... more than puppets.

[darkimitation]

[He can sense her nervousness and doesn't say anything. Yet he does manage to respond to what she's talking about.]

Heh. You came to that realization a lot sooner than I did. Then again, I'm still conflicted on a bunch of things. [He then lowers his eyes and stares down at the floor.] Like the feeling I get when people look at me and don't see me, but Riku.

[hightiderising]

It's a lot different for us. We're the same, but we're different too. I mean... I didn't ever want to be Sora. But...

[That's not true of Kagami, is it?]

This is all I ever wanted. Now I just need Roxas and Axel here too.

[darkimitation]

[The moment Xion mentions about Axel, Kagami's nostrils flare along with suddenly looking and sounding very pissed off.]

You want Axel here? Why? He doesn't deserve it. And if he ever shows up, I'm going to beat his face into a wall for what he did to me.

[hightiderising]

[Well, this is Xion scooting further away from him very quickly.]

But he's my friend...

[darkimitation]

[He needs to tell Xion the truth no matter what, especially because she's technically his sister.]

He's not anyone's friend, Xion. He's manipulating you into thinking that so he can use you. He did the same thing to me and I... paid with my life.

[hightiderising]

That's not true!

[Parts of her remember Castle Oblivion, parts buried deep in her memories. She remembers a different Axel than the one she knew. He'd always been so strange, hiding things from her... Xion knew she couldn't always trust him, but... manipulating her? No way. She'd seen how he'd reacted when she ran away. He couldn't have faked that. He cared about her. About Roxas.]

You're wrong. He changed.

[darkimitation]

I doubt it. You weren't in the castle and saw the things I did. He and the rest of them in the castle used me and Naminé as tools for their plans. Or did Axel forget to mention that to you?

[Xion doesn't deserve to have the truth hidden from her, especially this. Axel is a monster in his eyes and she deserves to know. He isn't going to keep anything from her.]

[hightiderising]

I know...

[Xion looks down, clutching her forehead like she's in pain.]

I remember... some things from back then. I stole those memories from Sora. I know Axel wasn't always trustworthy. He lied, and he hid things from us all the time. But something in him changed. He really cared about me and Axel!

[darkimitation]

[He's clenching his own fist and showing irritation. He even stands up from the couch and then punches one of the couch pillows to show his frustration.]

It's all lies! He cares for no one but himself! I'm dead back in our world all because of him! [He then goes over to the living room and slams his fist into it, only hard enough to make a small dent. His expression full of rage and anger.] I'll never forgive him or think he can change!

[redigere]

[This...was not how she was envisioning this meeting would go. But then again, the subject of Xion's friends would come up sooner or later. And it's clearly sooner. Naminé sets a hand on Xion's arm, steeling herself for Kagami's anger.]

Kagami. No one is saying you can't think that of him. He was wrong for what he did, and you're allowed to hate him for it. But you shouldn't-- don't be angry at Xion for seeing someone different in him. She's allowed to think what she wants, too.

[hightiderising]

You don't know him like I do! You only--

[But there's no sense in talking to him - there he goes, thrashing around the room like a bull. Xion curls in on herself, drawing her Keyblade to cover herself and Naminé in case he turns on them next.]

[darkimitation]

[Once Naminé involves herself, Kagami scoffs and snorts in anger as that dent is getting another good whack before he finally calms down. His expression now more somber and neutral than the one he showed previously.]

... I'm not taking it out on her. [He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair.] We're tools and pawns to the Organization, Xion and I especially. None of them deserve to be trusted. But if you want to believe otherwise, whatever. I'm not arguing.

[redigere]

[She lets out a tiny exhale, still not used to Kagami's outbursts of anger. She doesn't know if she ever will be.]

Thank you. It's just...people change, Kagami. You don't have to believe Axel is capable of it, but you know that I did, right? It's the same idea.

[That's all she has to say on the matter. She doesn't want him to fly off the handle whenever Axel is mentioned, for Xion's sake, but she's not going to lecture him either.]