oo39 [ action ]

[fourteen]

[ There is a creature in the plaza.

Though initially it hid behind the clothing shop, it seems to be venturing out now, just slightly ... looking for an opening to sneak away.

Can this creature summon portals on its own? Xion does not understand it, this body. She has seen these things before, of course, but to BE one? It's strange and terrifying. She'd known before, when she had Sora's face, felt it, but ... hadn't that been an exception? She'd tried -- right now, she couldn't even talk. And she could feel it. This wrong face, this wrong body, not hers. The only thing that might mark her, right now, is a curious (possibly cruel) artifact the Malnosso let her keep upon her return. Around the creature's neck, on a chain, is a ring. Xion does not seem to have realized it is there. She has rather more important things on her mind, after all.

Turned into a Dusk. The one threat Xemnas always turned on his members should they become unruly. She'd known. But how... he's not here! She'd only been taken for a night at most. How could the Malnosso....

What is wrong with her?

Should you be about in the evening, you may see this creature trying to rush, twist, and dart its way back to house 14 in that odd, swaying way Dusks seem to move.

But be careful if you run into her while you're out -- she just might turn into someone else entirely. ]

(ooc; all replies will come from aboysface, and probably tomorrow, as I am heading to bed. |Db)

Comments

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ Her expression hardens as she attempts to clamp down on her emotions. Stupid... she's giving too much away.

As soon as he starts to move, she edges a foot back just an inch.

In about three seconds, she's going to try to make a break for it. She's done with his questions and his mind games ... unless, of course, he stops her. ]

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Which means, you're randomly shuffling through your connections.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ It's enough to stop her. Her ... connections? Can that be it? ... but how would she be connected to a Dusk? She's just a Replica... not a Nobody. ]

My... [ She bows her head, cradling it in a hand, staring through her fingers at the ground ] Can that be right...?

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Just my guess... speaking from experience. Hard to know without all the facts.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ ... she clenches a hand over her chest, and edges her foot back a little more, but ...

... as much as she hates to admit it, Vanitas might be one of the few people who can help her figure this out. But she can't give him too much information... ]

Speaking from experience, huh? What would you know about it? I bet you've never had anything like this happen to you. Sure, you look like Sora, but you've never looked like anyone but him.

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Wrong on all counts. Helps to know what you're talking about before you tote assumptions like facts.

I only gained this face after Ventus was revived.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

Wh... what? What are you talking about? [ She's more bewildered than anything. Revived...? ]

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Didn't he tell you? That's funny...

Ventus almost got himself killed. And as a result, his heart had to be split in two.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

... what?!

[ She actually casts a look around, as if Ven might be standing there, or the scenery might offer an answer. She'd known... Ven had told her ... that Vanitas was his darkness.

But that he'd almost died? That's new. That's .... ]

... he never ... [ she shakes her head roughly ] What does that have to do with anything? With your face?

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Do I really need to break it down further for you? Fine.

Ventus tried to use powers he wasn't ready for, and the Darkness almost destroyed his heart, completely. To save him, his Darkness had to be removed. But, the damage had already been done.

He should've died, honestly. Except someone connected to his heart, and healed what remained.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ ... could it be?

It's Vanitas. There's no way she can take his word. But it does fit what Ven told her... but why didn't he tell her the rest? Why not the truth?

No, no. No! This is what Vanitas does. He plants doubt, and tries to ruin friendships and sow darkness and hate everywhere he goes and... and he'd been right, about Roxas.

With a noise of frustration she tears herself out of her internal struggle and shakes her head violently. She needs to focus on his words. Especially since...

... especially since ...

... they're starting to make a certain kind of ... sense. She goes quite still, suddenly. Her eyes, concentrated until now on the ground, flick up to his face. That oh so familiar face.

Someone connected to his heart... no. No, it can't be. She has to ask. Maybe Vanitas is bluffing. Maybe this is all some ... some sick joke ... ]

... someone?

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

If you need proof, you're staring right at it.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

Sora.

[ The air goes out of her and she actually goes down, awkwardly onto one knee and then further as both her legs go out to her sides. The weight of the truth is slamming against her so powerfully she could not stay standing.

Suddenly, everything makes sense. Everything. Why Vanitas, Aqua, and Ven all thought she looked like Ven in the first place...

The reason why she's turning into all of these people ... people who aren't just in her memories, the memories Sora gave her. This isn't about her memories.

It's Sora. It's all about Sora. Everything always comes back to Sora.

Even this. Even Vanitas.

Gasping, she curls a hand over her heart and doubles over. In some distant, too quiet to be heard corner of her mind, a voice cautions that she shouldn't be so vulnerable before him, that this is what he wants ... but she can't hear it now. Stupid... so stupid ... how did she not see this before ... all of it ... ]

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Can't seem to get away from him, huh?

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ No ... not now. Not at all. The realization has left her weak, and feeling very much the fool. She does not look up. ]

No ... he's always there. And I ... I am Sora. [ Doesn't make sense? And yet, she is ... in her own way. Both her hands, now, are curled over her heart. She's grappling with other realizations, other thoughts, other dark guilt ... it is now rushing over her once more how wrong it is to want things of her own. She cannot have things. She is not real.

What a joke...

She releases a breath, makes a sound -- it's sad and strangled -- and doubles over a little further. ]

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

How's that possible?

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

[ He wants to know, sure, but she can take no more. Very softly, and without looking up: ]

Go away, Vanitas.

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

...After I gave you all that? Not a chance.

Fair's fair; you owe me an explanation.

[aboysface.livejournal.com]

I don't owe you anything.

[ Is that...? Steel, a thread of steel in her voice. She pushes abruptly to her feet, swaying as feeling returns to her lower legs and feet, but -- red and puffy though her eyes are -- she fixes him with a glare. ]

You're cruel and you're evil. I don't care what you just helped me figure out, I owe you nothing!

[vanityunbcoming.livejournal.com]

Whatever. But before you call me evil or disgusting again, think about what I said.