fourteen | oo30 [ voice // action ]

Entry tags:

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The bridge isn't far away from him either, one of the advantages of being practically neighbours. So it doesn't take him long to arrive, hands stuffed in his pants pockets (since his jacket doesn't have any and Xion still has his coat 8¦) and his head tilted up just slightly to look for her. He has his sword strapped to his back; he felt it necessary, after what happened...

Once he sees her, and he's still some distance away, he can't help but smile and wave.]

[ Oh, Luke. If only she could be cheerful for you, or even just smile.

But she can't. When she spots him, her expression clears momentarily... then tightens again. She swings her legs over the railing and hops back onto the bridge, only waiting just long enough -- practically vibrating with impatience all the while -- for him to make it onto the thing before she more or less tosses herself at him in a very tight hug.

Since he showed up at her home -- since she hugged him then -- she's wanted to do this. She just really needs a hug, to put it simply, and she wanted it from him. And now he's here, and he's warm, and he's safe. Thank goodness. ]

[Luke wasn't really expecting a smile anyway, and even if he got one, he knows it'd just be from her trying too hard. He knows way too many people like that, and it can get frustrating sometimes, especially since he knows bottling things up just makes it worse...

So when Xion hugs him, it still surprises him a little, but he's also relieved. And sad, because he can't imagine coming close to losing a best friend, especially in such circumstances... No one deserves that. Least of all her...

There's only a second's pause before Luke lifts his arms to return that hug, his own supportive, but just as tight. He was honestly a little scared, when he first heard her screaming like that... And the danger isn't over.]

Xion...

Edited 2011-01-08 23:15 (UTC)

[ She just .... clings, hard, like he's the only thing keeping her standing right now. (which might possibly be true, considering how tired she is.) Xion buries her face in his chest and just ... stays there, for a long moment, saying nothing.

She mumbles what might be a "sorry" into his chest at some point, though. ]

[At some point, he rests his chin on her head; she's just the right height for it, and Luke isn't't so sure what else to do other than to keep holding her and stare up at the sky as if it has an answer for everything.

Once she speaks, though, as muffled and quiet as it is, he takes his attention off of the sky to glance down at her black hair.]

You don't have to apologize for something like this.

[ she pulls back a little to look up at him -- and it's only then she realizes her eyes are wet. with a quiet groan she presses at one eye with the heel of a palm, and doesn't look up again when she speaks. ]

... I know. I just-- .... I know.

[He won't point it out or anything, just raises his hand for an instant, thinking that maybe he could brush her hair back, only to bring it back to her back. That's a bit of a close gesture, isn't it? It's okay like this, anyway...

Regardless, he won't let her go unless she gets out of the hug or asks for him to.]

[ just shuts her eyes again and leans against him, her hands resting on his chest now. she surprises herself, a little bit, when she begins to talk ]

... everything is so messed up right now.

[Luke just looks up at the sky again, loosening his hold enough to let it be comfortable, not quite so tight, but still just as supportive. It's occurred to him over these past few days that despite how close they are now... they don't really know about each other's worlds or lives at all, other than the fact that they're replicas... If Luke wants to help her, he ought to learn more about her.

When she feels up to it.]

Yeah... It sounds like it. But it'll work out, somehow. You've got so many people who want to help you...

[He has to smile a little to himself, even though it only lasts for a second. It's still hard to believe people like them have friends like they do...]

[ she'd be happy to discuss it ... more than happy. just, you know ... not right now.

but his words ... make her look up again. her eyes are still wet, overbright, but ....

he's right. all those people .... there were a lot of them, weren't there? she'd been so concerned about telling all of them to stay safe that ... she hadn't even really thought about how many there were. even total strangers, introducing themselves just to ask if they could help.

and she gets ... what he means. the smile, at least, tips her off. and what Hermione and Draco said... their ideas... maybe it really will--

Suddenly, she smiles too. It's a pale sort of smile, but it's there. ]

... yeah. You're right.

Edited 2011-01-09 04:27 (UTC)

[Anyone else who caught him with that smile, sad and wistful and hopeful, might have asked what he was thinking about, only to call him an idiot for not seeing the people around him who care. But he does, he does, it's just... they don't get it. They really don't.

But looking down at Xion and seeing that smile that looked so much like his, hearing her agree...

She gets it.

He has to stare for a moment, because the only other person who could understand him back in his world was Ion, but they were all so busy saving the world that they never really had a chance to just... sit down and talk about it. He loves his friends so much, but sometimes they just...

Once his thoughts have a chance to work themselves out, he leans in to initiate the hug this time. There really were a lot of people offering to help... He's sure Xion will be okay, with that many people who care.]

I know this Vanitas guy is dangerous... But you don't have to handle it all yourself. Even if you feel like you should.

[ It's not that they don't see. It's that they find it so hard to believe... that anyone would care. Would find value in creatures such as them...

And they do care. They care so much. It's ... so strange.

As soon as Luke's arms go around her again, she makes a quiet noise, and reflexively slides her own arms around his neck. Then she nods against him, speaking even though her voice is once again muffled by his clothing. ]

I know. I won't. I've got you. I've got everyone...

[ she hangs onto him for a moment more, but eventually steps back, a new light behind her expression. he's helped rekindle that little seed of hope in her ... and it shows. she pulls out her journal, smiling again. ]

And I've got an idea. It'll hide the house, like a really well kept secret... and we'll be safe again! Though, um, I'll make sure you can still find it, of course... [ a little pink in the face. she's probably not making a lot of sense.... she opens her journal and finds her conversation with Hermione, showing it to Luke that way so he can see it even though it's locked. ]

[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 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.

That sounds kind of complicated... But it might just work! [Another thought hits him, though, and he frowns a little in thought.] Oh, but... He already knows where your house is... right? Or will he just go right through it if he tries to find it?

He does.... but I think the idea is that if he can't see it, he can't get in it... [ her expression clouds slightly, though. ] I'll check and make sure tomorrow, though. Hermione will know. I'm pretty sure she'd only suggest it if he couldn't just stumble into it. [ tiny smile, though it's a touch worried now. ]

[He sees that look, and it makes him check over the thread again. Big, long explanations always give Luke a headache... But it's probably a good thing in this case.]

... I don't really know Hermione or the magic in her world, but it sounds like she really knows what she's talking about. [He smiles down at Xion, though unlike her, his has confidence and hope.] Even if this doesn't totally work, I think she'll find a way to fix that. She's got a lot of other ideas, too.

[ it's the fact that there's no doubt in his face or voice that sways her. Xion tends to take any sign of uncertainty and run ten miles with it -- but she can't sense that here. for a moment, she just looks at that hopeful smile, blinking, then .... sighs, letting go of her worry, and smiles freely back. ]

Yeah. No matter what happens, we'll figure something out. And then we'll be safe again. [ a beat, then ] Well... he could still catch us in the village. But at least I'll be able to sleep at night. [ tiny, tired laugh ]

[... She hasn't been sleeping? Now that he's looking at her again, he can see how tired she is... This has to work.]

... Yeah. And if he does catch you in the village, there's a lot of people around who'll help you all over the place.

[He grins, though after a moment... huh.]

So, um... Who's going to be the Secret Keeper? I guess I'll have to talk to them to keep visiting you...

[ only five hours sleep in three days. she's exhausted beyond belief. but she smiles at his comment, and nods -- she knows. ]

Um, well... I'm going to ask Sanji. I think we might have two... I have to talk to Kairi, first. [ a beat, a tiny tiny smile, and: ] I'll tell her to talk to you. Sanji, I mean.

... oh! That reminds me! [ now would be a good time, huh... ]

[OH THANK GOD SHE DIDN'T CHOOSE HIM seriously Luke has already been charged with one secret that he's kept so far, but it's been HARD doing so. Not to mention that the consequences would be much greater if he spilled this one.

... Maybe. Jade is TERRIFYING, after all.

So, Luke can't help but let out a small sigh of relief. Sanji and Kairi, then? No surprise there... Kairi's the one who could pass for Xion's original, right? She's the girl she was based off of...

... Luke can't help but wonder if he could trust Asch like that. And... it bothers him a little to think that he's not really sure.

But once Xion speaks again, Luke snaps out if his thoughts.]

... Huh? Reminds you of what?

[ ... well. the plan was to ask Kairi ... if she wanted anyone else to be a Secret Keeper. But Luke is free to think that -- since, well, Xion and Kairi do actually get along like a house on fire a lot of the time.

It's funny, because Xion avoided her "real thing" for months and months on end -- out of fear she'd hate her. Kairi's reaction had, instead, been much the opposite.

Funny how these things work out, huh? ]

Oh, just... about Sanji. Um, she's normally... a guy. [ eh heh. ] The Malnosso turned her into a woman. Just don't mention it to her, okay? I got turned into a boy once, and it was annoying and kinda weird to have everyone keep insisting to me I was a girl... [ thoughtful look. man, that was strange. ]

Oh...

[............................... wait

wait

wait]

What?!

[ ... eh heh. ]

Yeah... that's why I was saying not to use "kun." Since I think that's supposed to be for boys only.

[ this face FOREVER. ]

[SO...

SO...

THE MELONS WERE A LIE?]

So I was calling her... him a...

[THIS FACE FOREVER.]

[Action] ¦¦D

[Action]

[Action] Phone tagging, bah 8¦

[Action] strangely, I still love you, despite that fail. |D

[Action] Well I would be quite depressed if you hated me for failing 8(

[Action] .... /hates for failing

[Action] D8 /DEPRESSED

[Action] ... awwww, I'm just kiddin'. 8D /handflap

[Action] DON'T PULL MY LEG LIKE THAT BRO ;A;

[Action] ... /edits this belatedly. SUP KUKKI?

[Action] ... And here I was about to call you LAZY B(

[Action] WELL I FIXED IT DIDN'T I. DX HUSH.

[Action] MMHMMM

[Action] CEASE JUDGING ME, FIEND.

[Action] BUT YOU MAKE IT SO EASY, FRIEND

[Action] YOU'RE JUST A MEANIE HEAD.

[Action] ONLY TO THE DERPS I LOVE

[Action] YOU DON'T LOVE ME. ;~;

[Action] /ROSES?

[Action] ....................... this is an acceptable offer.

[Action] THEY SYMBOLIZE MY BEAUTIFUL LOVE FOR YOU

[Action] 8| .......................................................... /charmed?

[Action] 8DDDD

[Action] excuse me, let me show you how to do this right. /GALLANTLY SWEEPS YOU OFF YOUR FEET

[Action] OOOOH MYYYY /SWOONS