fourteen | oo27 [ voice // action ]

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oo27 [ voice // action ]

[ The moment the experiment ended, and Xion found herself once again in the body of a teenager, one single thought had occurred to her with absolute urgency and clarity:

I have to get out of here.

And so she had, taking the time only to grab some warm articles of clothing before bolting out of the house and north, into the woods.

Once safely out of sight of the village, she'd searched idly for a while until she found a tree she could climb up into, then done just that, settling herself back against the tree's trunk for a long, desperately needed Think.

It's about three hours later when she finally pulls out the journal she'd managed to grab on her mad dash out the door and address a few people who ... well, she needs to talk things over with. ]

( Sanji | Locked 100% )
... Sanji ... I have something I need to ask you.

( Naoki and Richard | Locked 100% )
I-- [ a pause. ] ... how are both of you?

( Wolfwood | Locked 85% )
[ this is going to be a bit blunt, since she can't say she knows him that well, but ... but. they're friends, right? ]

Have you spoken to Vash yet? Is he... um, better?

( Crona | Locked 50% )
Hey, where are you? You okay?

( Giles | Locked 100% )
[ Xion makes this filter, and then pauses for a long few minutes. It's hard to begin to know what to say. But it might be best to start with the most straightforward question. ]

Hey. How are you?

[ once her filters are done, Xion will continue to chill in her tree for about another hour, pondering her ring-less hand and severely depleted charm bracelet. then she'll make her way down and into the village, though she won't go home. She'll swing by the Straw Hat house to see if anybody she knows is in, then head into the village proper, wandering aimlessly and obviously avoiding home. feel free to run into her anywhere in town ... however, she'll be particularly evasive of anyone in the KH crew, especially Riku and Roxas. She will bolt if she sees either boy. Sorry, guys. ]

(ooc; of course, backdated to the end of the event!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It kind of is.

[Once they reach the bridge, Luke settles down at the edge, letting go of Xion in the process, and stares down at his feet and the water that travels beneath them. Pretty soon it'll freeze, huh? But that thought is far away from Luke now, and instead, he grips the edge of the bridge.]

There's... another reason why I'm proof. Not just because I didn't die...

[But he isn't sure if he should tell her. He's the proof because he shouldn't exist. He's just a copy of something, he's someone who has no future, he's... nothing. Xion thinks he's a normal person, and maybe it should stay that way. But... at the same time, she should know.

Still, he automatically shakes his head.]

B-But maybe we can save that for later! I mean, we're talking about you, right?

[ Xion takes another bite out of her caramel apple as she considers the water below. but her gaze slides back to him when he cuts himself off.

she recognizes that tactic. it's one she's employed maaaany times in her life. she shakes her head slowly. ]

No, I want to know. What is it?

[There's only a few bites left on his apple, but his appetite's lost now. Luke sets the apple down beside him and turns his head away, so that he can't look at her.]

You sure you want to know?

[ Xion watches him for a long moment in silence. This feels so familiar, and not in a good way. She abandons her own apple, placing it carefully on the railing, then reaches out to give one of his hands a gentle squeeze. ]

No matter what, Luke, I'm still going to be your friend. So ... yeah.

[Luke glances at her hands on his own, then away again. She's always going to be his friend... But he doesn't deserve friends. He's done terrible things, and on top of that, he isn't even a real person. Who'd want to be friends with someone like him?

She's going to hate him before this night is over, isn't she?

Luke turns his hands to squeeze hers, then pulls them away to lock his fingers in front of him. It's never been this hard to tell anyone.]

I'm proof because... I shouldn't exist. The Score- it never... said anything about me. Because I wasn't born. I was supposed to... I was made to die in someone else's place.

My original's.

I'm... a replica. I don't have a- a future or...

[It's about this time that he trails off and shifts in his place. He should probably go now - save her the trouble of processing what he is.]

[ Her reaction probably isn't at all what he wants to see -- at least, at first. She literally jumps like she's been burned, taking a step back from him, her eyes wide as saucers.

But before he can, say, take that the wrong way, she rushes in close again, grasping his shoulder and physically turning him to face her. she'll put a hand on each of his shoulders, though her grip flutters. one of her hands strays up, as if she wants to touch his face and make sure he's real, but settles on his shoulder again, her grip a little tight.

for a moment she's breathless with shock -- but then the words come out in a rush ]

You too?

[When he glances at her, he saw that first reaction of hers, and he winces from it and moves to get up-

But then she grabs his shoulders and he's suddenly face-to-face with her and her grip loosens, tightens, and Luke isn't sure what she's doing or why she's doing so, why she looks so shocked- until she speaks.

Luke takes in a sharp breath and leans his head back with shock, his shoulders tensing, but then he forces himself to relax. No, she couldn't mean... He knows there are other replicas around here, so maybe she just knew one, not... But that look on her face-

He won't dare try to say one way or the other, but he can't seem to breathe because of it, so his answer is quiet, shaky and hesitant.]

Y-Yeah...?

[Luke is still expecting a shove to come.]

[ still breathless, she releases him slowly, reluctantly. she doesn't want to scare him. but this is such a huge revelation it's shaken her to her core.

she learned a long time about Riku's Replica. But even he was never quite like her. Their purposes were different. A lot of things about them were different.

But what Luke says -- about being created just to die, about not having a future.... ]

I ... I'm only two years old. I was ... I was created, made out of a boy's memories of a girl he cared about... I'm basically exactly like her. They made me to be a... a weapon, I guess, but when that didn't work, I had to die...

[ twice. but her expression doesn't change from her pale shock. ]

We're ... we're the same.

Edited 2010-12-12 04:22 (UTC)

[For about five seconds Luke can't breathe at all, and then he takes in a deep breath of shock when she tells him that they're the same.

She's... just like him. The way she was made was different - but of course it was, their worlds were different, so the process was probably that way too, but... otherwise, they...

Luke reaches up shaky hands, about to hold her cheeks as if to confirm that this is all true, but then he redirects his route to her shoulders, just as she held him a few seconds ago. Even Ion was created to fill in the Fon Master's place, not to die, not to be a weapon, not like... him. But Xion-]

I-I... I'm seven. I never- I didn't know I was... a replica until just- just a few months ago, really. [He lets out a breath of a laugh, although it sounds forced, as if he's just trying to break the shock in the air.] I was... made to be just a weapon, too, I...

[No, he can't tell her about how he caused the deaths of thousands of people in just seconds. He can't.]

We... really are the same. [He can't believe it.]

[ it's almost had to breathe through the pulsing, fluttering tangle of emotions all tied up in her chest. their need to confirm the other is real through touch is quite mutual -- almost reflexively she lifts her hands again to press them over his, then grips his left hand with her right and presses it to her cheek, momentarily shutting her eyes, overwhelmed. her next words come out breathy, just above a whisper. ]

You feel real...

[ she lowers his hand, but retains her grip on it. ]

There's ... there's another replica, from my world. He's here, but ... you ... it just sounds so similar. I never thought...

[ I'd meet another person like me. But the words don't quite come out. Rep's a Replica, Naoki's a monster, but Luke ... his similarities to her own hit home in a different way. Suddenly, the knowledge that he got to live hits home in a very different way, and a quavery smile crosses her face. lost for words, she just squeezes his hand. ]

Edited 2010-12-12 05:02 (UTC)

["You feel real"... Luke feels a smile come up at that, shakily.]

You do, too.

[Instead of just gripping her shoulder again, he turns his hand to hold onto hers. With his fingers just about entwined in hers, this would normally make him blush like crazy, but all the other emotions make that one rather far away from his thoughts right now.]

Y-Yeah, I... it's the same, I mean... There's another replica from my world, too, but he's not...

[Like us. The knowledge makes him pull her forward so that he can hug her to his chest, though just with one arm - the other hand's still gripping her hand hard. This makes him happy and sad and joyful and angry and- Luke's never felt this overwhelmed before.]

[ Xion practically melts into his arms, still completely overwhelmed by emotions and this revelation. she shuts her eyes and just breathes him in, feels his warmth, his realness...

both here, both alive, both real. with lives that mean something, to themselves and other people. broken pieces, little monsters, and yet...

she curls her fingers in his, her other hand gently settling above his hip and curling in his shirt. ]

... were you scared? Before you told me, I mean.

[He shakes a little - a laugh over how ironic his fear was over telling her.]

Y-Yeah. Really scared. People... Some people get scared of me once they know who... who I really am.

[And Ion - He really shouldn't have pushed him aside like that. It didn't matter if he wasn't exactly like him - his own circumstances were horrible, too. If he didn't fit the criteria just right, if he didn't become Fon Master... he would've been just like all the replicas before him: tossed into a volcano and considered worthless. Luke sags a little from that realization, but then he just shuts his eyes again and takes in a deep breath, taking in the fact that there's someone who really is like him in this world, even though they're really worlds apart.]

I... guess I didn't have anything to worry about, huh? [His voice still sounds light and fluttery, as if he truly can't believe that he's actually saying these words.]

I know what you mean... it was always hard for me to tell people what I am. I was scared they'd hate me...

[ she pulls back a little to smile at him, still gripping his hand tightly. ]

But in the end, all of my friends accepted me for who I am... so ... I guess neither of us had anything to worry about. [ her smile warms, making her face crinkle a little with fondness. ]

Edited 2010-12-12 05:52 (UTC)

[Now, that smile does make him blush a little, so he can't help but give a breathless little laugh again. Although she pulled back, Luke still curls the fingers of his free hand into the clothes at her back, all while keeping a good grip on her hand.]

That's what I was always afraid of, too, but... all of my friends told me it was okay. I mean, sure, they had to get used to it; they found out the same time I did, but... they still came back to me. And I even told someone here, and you know what he said? He said "So what?"!

[ he's blushing again. though, with other things on her mind, Xion doesn't pay much attention to it. she just stays right where she is, content to be pressed up against him.

that last bit makes her laugh, and she gives his hand a gentle squeeze. ]

... I think that's true. What does it matter? We're ... we're still people. [ right? ] We matter as much as anyone else. So ... I'm glad. I'm glad I'm here. [ she beams at him. ] I'm glad I got to meet people like you. It makes every bad thing in this place worth it a hundred times over.

[He's pretty content where he is, too, not even realizing how very awkward it would seem to whoever may pass by. Her words make Luke glance away, though - are they people? Do they really matter? No, no, he shouldn't think like that - Of course they matter.

... That's the first time he's thought that in a very long time.

It may still take another long while for him to completely accept and believe that thought, but it still makes him smile right back at her. Maybe once they part ways, he'll go back to believing he's not worth anything, but for right now... he's content with the thought that he- that they both- that every replica here matters, because they have people who love them and give them a purpose to live.]

Y-You're right. You're right... [He'll just pull her into another hug, this one just as tight as the last.] I'm glad, too. I'm glad that we have friends like we do. I'm... glad you're alive.

[ sdlkjga. okay, now she's blushing, partly because it's now really hitting her how much physical contact is going on here and how affectionate he's kinda sorta being, but...

but she just shuts her eyes again and lets him do it. there is something indescribably comforting about connecting with another Replica like this and knowing, once again, that she is not alone.

that Luke is one of the sweetest people she's ever met certainly helps. plus, she can't help but be really touched by that last line, and she laughs quietly into his shirt and hugs him tight around the waist. ]

Thank you, Luke. I feel a lot better than I did when you found me.

Th-That's good! I'm glad I could help...!

[Luke's glad to help anyone. It's one of the few reasons he's living now... but speaking of her earlier problems, Luke also seems to realize just how much physical contact is going on, so he lets go of her - the hugging and hand holding and all - and looks down at the bridge with a bright blush. Though he does glance up at her with a little smile.]

You can talk to me any time, too, if... you want to. Or just to hang out, or... I wouldn't mind at all!

Edited 2010-12-12 08:14 (UTC)

[ SUDDEN LOSS OF WARMTH, WHY. Xion just stands there and blinks when he releases her, but now that she can see his face -- and his blush -- much better, well... she ends up just as red as he is. it's a recursive blushing loop! she tries to ignore it and just laughs again ]

I'd love to spend time with you, Luke. We're friends! Why wouldn't we hang out? [ grins. that's what friends do, right? talk, and eat ice cream together. ]

[And tease each other, and explore together. Luke laughs, too, but he's still in such a state of disbelief. That word again... "friends". He's done so much in his world that he wouldn't be surprised if everyone hated him, but here he is, slowly gaining friends; important ones at that. What did he do to deserve something so great?]

R-Right... We are friends, aren't we?

[ simply be his charming self, of course. ] Hehe, I feel like maybe you've said that before. [ she clasps her hands behind her back and beams. ] Yeah, of course we are.

[Well then. That settles it. Luke stares for a moment, then puts his hands on his hips and beams in return, though he responds with only a relieved chuckle. It's... really nice, having friends who like him even though he is what he is... Maybe it's the same way for her.

It's by this time that something else catches his eye, and he lets out another little laugh as he kneels down to grab the caramel apples.]

Heh heh... I guess we forgot about these.

[ her mouth quirks up into an amused little smile, initially because of the apples, but then... then she notices something.

her smile widening just a bit more, she backs up a step, surveying him critically. then she steps forward and, giving him no time to protest, zips up his jacket for him. ]

Guy was right about you, you know.

Wh-

[Stepping in close again what- Oh.

... Oh.

Luke just feels his face heat up with embarrassment as she does that, and he's quite powerless to stop it, since his hands are full with holding the left over treats.]

... Don't tell him that, okay?

Edited 2010-12-16 09:58 (UTC)

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