fourteen | 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

He won't. [And there's sympathy in her voice, despite all the ways the boy's messed up.] But he's gonna have to accept it. [Soft wistfulness]

Sometimes showing you care is through understanding, and letting things go, even if it hurts you.

... I feel bad, though. [ said plainly. the undercurrents are all there -- like it's my fault, maybe I should have tried harder, was I just overreacting -- but those don't get said aloud. ]

Anyone would.

Just don't think it's your fault.

[ silence. is it not? really?

"don't you think, if I knew, I'd tell you?"

..... Xion ducks her head back down. ]

[Excuse her, Xion - she's going to echo your thoughts for a moment]

I'm sure you would've done anything you could've to help him out.

But don't you think the fact there was nothing, and he wasn't making shit better on his own, says something?

Of course I would have... [ she says this reflexively. she finally looks at Sanji directly at that last question, and shakes her head ]

I don't know! I just... could that future really have been real? Maybe he really would have gotten better, over time...

[ she looks away, now consciously putting her hands over her stomach. ]

... I noticed something, the last time the Malnosso dropped me off. In that outfit... the same one my older self wore. It's like they were trying to tell me something.

[ a pause, then she looks back at Sanji ] I didn't have that scar when I was older. [ a little fiercely ] I'm proud of that scar. So ... whatever that was ... maybe none of it was real after all.

[ of course, she'd still like to think that Naoki and Richard get married, or that Sanji adopts her, but ... maybe it was just things that could be, not things that would be. ]

[She nearly insists not to give the Malnosso shitheads too much credit - but it helps. And she watches with some blend of amusement and pride as she talks about the scar.]

Maybe. Maybe not.

[balancing her chin on her folded knuckles] Either way, a "maybe" shouldn't decide how you treat your future.

... I know you're right. I'm still going to feel bad when I tell Riku, though. [ shakes her head.

... and then something else occurs to her, and she turns pink all over again. ] ... how am I supposed to tell Luke?

[ aaaaaand she hadn't meant to say that out loud. awesome. hands over her mouth, blushing harder, slightly wide eyes, etc. ]

[............ Ohohohohohoho]

Xion-chan will confess her feelings first~? I'm so proud~!!

[ asdlkgha;sldjadf';fa ]

Hey, that's not what I meant! I just-- Sanji!

[ dis face. ]

So cute~! An innocent love, spanning across all of Luceti~!! [shush she's excited]

[ just stares at her, red in the face, fingers splayed over her mouth. she's a strange mix of exasperated, amused, and definitely a little flustered. ]

You always tease me...

[ ... but now she's thinking about it. and she's got this little smile on her face... ]

[That's what she likes to see. Aaah, young love... and a love that can actually work.

Heh. You're so lucky, Xion-chan.

Sanji's smile is all happy for her, though]

Maaah, I only tease out of love~!

[ if only she knew, Sanji. she'd tease you right back.

or, more likely, just give you a hug.

but she smiles, warmly, finally seeming cheered up. ] I know. You're still terrible, tho--

[ she doesn't finish that word as a HUGE YAWN overtakes her. oops. with the stress finally fading, her tiredness is beginning to set in. ]

[Eyebrow arch. We all know what that sign means. Sanji gives a chuckle and stands]

You can take my bedroom for a nap, if you'd like.

[ what is she, four. she's about to protest when she yawns again, hugely, and that just makes her laugh. ]

If you let me sleep, I'll probably sleep forever. Are you sure I can take your bed for that?

[ still, she stands too. she'll go willingly! ]

You could use a few forevers. [And good, standing. Sanji APPROVES]

And of course~! My bed is always at the disposal of a lady.

[ ... okay. maybe it's just that she's tired. but something about that sentence just ... sounds funny, and she dissolves into giggles.

you might have to lead her there, Sanji. ]

Oi. What's with that laughing for? [Then let the ushering begin, while Sanji looks mock-insulted]

I'm sorry, it's just--! That sounded kinda funny...

[ yawns again. it's like, now that she's started yawning, she just can't stop. she more or less knows the way -- she's been here so many times, after all -- and once they reach Sanji's room, she'll spring onto the bed with what little energy she has left. at least, into a sitting position, so she can take off her boots without getting her not!mom's bed all gross. ]

What will you do for the next few hours?

Hmmm... [It's good just seeing something that isn't helplessness and clouding depression on Xion's face, that she's nearly forgotten what she'll do when the girl's asleep.... maybe she doesn't know, period]

I'll think of something.

oo30 [ voice // action ]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

Re: [Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]