fourteen | oo30 [ voice // action ]

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oo30 [ voice // action ]

( Sokka | Locked 100% )

... I need your help. And you can't tell anyone, okay?

( Aqua | Locked 100% )

Aqua... I know we haven't spoken that much, but I need to ask you a really, really big favor.

( Sanji | Locked 100% )

[ a long silence goes here. ] ... could I stay at your house tonight?

( Luke | Locked 100% )

I'd -- [ ... ] Can I see you?

[ Xion is out of the house today. Mostly because it's become almost impossible to stay there. She hasn't slept for more than a handful of hours since Vanitas attacked -- three days ago. She's so exhausted she can barely stay on her feet, but better awake and moving than a sitting target.

Who could sleep, knowing that at any minute someone stronger than you and your friends could break into your home and kill you whenever he wanted?

It's this question that drives her to address Luceti at large, once she's got herself settled on the railing of That One Bridge. Hey, it's like right next to her house and she wanted to sit on a bridge, so sue her. ]

( filtered AWAY from Vanitas and Saix | Locked 100% )

What would you do if you didn't feel safe in your own home anymore?

[ and this is to say nothing -- not a damn thing -- of how she feels about Roxas right now. He had no excuse -- what defense could you give? -- and Axel almost died -- for what? Why? Why had any of this happened? Does she blame Roxas, for extending the invitation, or Vanitas, for taking it? Even if she had something to say to him, she couldn't -- he hasn't been home in days.

It's a very numb Poppet that's sitting on that there railing, swinging her legs and staring at the water below. Please interrupt her thoughts -- for they are very grim ones. ]

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No, I understand! You know this person better than I do...and I can't help much else besides with an idea. I would if I could, but I don't know how to hide things or fight, or anything.

[Her tone isn't judging - yet]

How exactly? [Though just in case her blood pressure decides to hit the stratosphere, she pulls out a cigarette]

Well, in that case, you're already on the right track!

[Naoki looks at her, steady and level, and then his eyes widen slightly. Their...house? He reaches out as he sees her hand shaking to gently cover it with his own.

Houses are supposed to be safe. Your one safe place. He can only imagine how that feels.]

Vanitas. [He notes that quietly.] How is he? Axel.

You won't know unless you try, right?

[ her first instinct upon hearing the question is to use the visual and auditory clues of the journal to track down Xion, to talk in person. but she's too afraid of the mysterious assailant to place herself near them when she can rationalize that the journals are more convenient; the same fear had made her hesitate to ask after Xion in the unfiltered post that had been made during the attack. ]

If you feel unsafe there, is it really still a home? ...People -- at least, some people -- can never be truly safe. Not from everything. But when it gets this bad.... [ but she sounds unsure: she doesn't know the answer to her own question, let alone Xion's. ]

[ He's never been one not to offer. Though the hiding aspect of the ninja lifestyle isn't exactly his expertise, either. ] It seems like moving would still be a good idea, in that case. If he's already found you where you are, staying put is pretty dangerous.

Hiding isn't impossible, even in a place like this.

Don't feel obligated to! [Now she feels a little sheepish for seemingly pushing.] I'm sorry for making it seem like I was forcing you to, but...if you really think it'd be better that way, I'll definitely tell you whatever I find out, if I do.

[She smiles, and it's a bit less forced from before this time.] Of course, don't worry about it.

[Once they both back out of the hug, Luke ducks his head to hide a little blush, though he still glances at her face. She looks... happier. More hopeful. And she's smiling again...

That plus the beginnings of her idea makes him start to smile, too.]

Hide the house...?

[Then, he starts to read what Hermione wrote. Granted, the explanations confuse him, and it shows with that lost look on his face, but he still tries to understand.]

So... only the Secret Keeper knows where the house is? How does it disappear in the first place?

...I don't think that would be a problem. But may I ask why you would like to learn?

And you don't have to worry about me getting hurt. Any strength I need to defeat him again is here inside my heart—my friends. Vanitas doesn't have that.

A good one, I hope. I understand that you gotta have a lot on your plate right now, and I don't really know much about the guy you're worried about, but you're making it sound like something that should be dealt with as soon as possible.

[And while staying somewhere else for the night is a step in the right direction, it makes it sound like you're not sure what's happening next.]

[She leans over to peer at the conversation in Xion's journal, reading it intently. Her eyes widen slightly as the meaning of the words start to set in, and soon she's looking back at the other girl.]

You really think that's going to work? That'd be great.

...you could always Obliviate him so he doesn't remember his true purpose. What is it that he wants with you lot so badly anyway?

You don't have to ask. If you can't be that strong someone will protect you- I could, or Riku-kun. [This is still dull with a hard edge. He's not digging, not yet, just yanned out]

... that's what I've been wondering. [ quiet, very quiet. ] ... we're trying to work on a way to make the house safe again.

[ her grip reflexively loosens when Naoki's hand covers her own... and she looks down at their hands, realizing what she'd been doing in the first place. eesh. her eyebrows draw together, and she focuses her gaze on the water instead. ]

... he's better now. He didn't want to go to the clinic, so we've been taking care of him at home... he'll be alright. It was just... [ a pause. ] ... it was scary. [ for a number of reasons. also including the fact that Axel is a dead man back home, and the thought of him dying here, possibly never to return, is terrifying. ]

[ a stunned, horrified silence ensues from her end. ]

Richard...

[ what do you say to that? she recognizes why he told her -- to show he understands the fear of being attacked in one's own home -- but even so... she's more upset for him than herself right now. ]

... I'm glad he failed. Your uncle, I mean.

You're not going to move?

[Naoki gives her hand a slight squeeze before drawing his away and resting it back on the rail of the bridge, eyes on her as opposed to the water now.]

I know... I'd be surprised if something like that didn't scare you. [Was it the kind of feeling the manikins and Futomimi must have had? When they were attacked in their sanctuary? He recalls some of that feeling.] It's probably difficult now, isn't it, being there. [To feel safe again.]

.... "Roxas said I could pick any one of you" ... that's what Vanitas told me and Axel. We confronted Roxas about it, and...

[ a silence. after their discussion was over, Xion had gone looking in the journals, to see if she could find what really sparked all this. and she'd found it -- somewhat to her dismay. slowly, she pulls her journal out, then finds the conversation Roxas and Vanitas had before the attack, and shows it to Sanji. ]

... Roxas said he didn't think Vanitas would actually ... do anything. [ another beat. her extraordinarily unhappy expression makes it clear what she thinks of that line of reasoning. ] Since Axel and I spoke to him, he's just ... been gone. I wanted to look for him, but... I needed to stay behind, to, to take care of Axel...

[ she finally trails off, realizing she'd been rambling a little. ]

Hermione's really smart, and she's amazing at her magic! I know she can help us. [ she actually sounds energized -- hopeful. ] We should do it. I have someone in mind for Secret Keeper, but... I thought I should ask you and Riku if you wanted somebody else too.

... [ shakes her head, slowly. ] ... I don't think he really wants anything. He's just ... cruel, and evil. I think it's fun, for him.

... I want to be stronger. Enough to at least protect myself... and my friends, too.

[ another pause. that makes her smile. Aqua is ... kind of amazing, isn't she? ] ... okay. Just ... promise me you'll be careful.

[She heard the same story from Ventus, and couldn't believe it. Neither of them did. And Roxas had struck her as the one with actual common sense between him and Axel (biased opinion though it is) - someone she could trust with Xion's well being.]

This is...

[Sanji reads the conversation once, then closes the journal and slides it back to the girl, like she can't stomach it being open and polluting the air.]

But he knew what Vanitas meant. [That he'd hurt them]

... I guess the magic just makes it seem like it's vanished. I think that's how it works, anyway... [ nodnod ] But that's the idea. That way no one can ever find the house again unless we want them to.

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[Action] MMHMMM

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[Filtered] Bah. Sorry for the lateness. Had computer issues.

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[Action] CEASE JUDGING ME, FIEND.