towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: [OU] Master Xehanort and potential victims
Setting: Anywhere you are
Format: I'll match whatever. Action is fine, the old coot just wanted to WORDS for his first post.
Summary: Old man goes out to explore the tower and runs into everyone who never wanted to run into him ever. And maybe some people who did.
Warnings: It's Xehanort. Everything is fair game. KH cast I apologize in advance...

Pacing, pacing. Back and forth. Something had gone wrong, something that he - how laughable, that - hadn't planned for. A random, stray element, that .00001 chance of something coming up. Whatever it was, it had catastrophic effects. His fingers curled and uncurled as he ran through options, through possibilities.

No matter. He was still there. He would find another way. The X-Blade was simply one path to Kingdom Hearts, after all...

He turned on his heel, coat swishing and hands clasping behind his back in that practiced and comfortable way, heading out down the hall. Footsteps even, measured. Making a mental map. Memorizing every step, so that even if he couldn't see or hear he would still be able to find his way.

If this was where he was going to stay, he would make it service him. It was simply a matter of learning its secrets.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Thank god Ventus can't see that grin, old man.] Uh. Alright.

[a look down. It's... not the path he wanted but it's the path that he's on. A path drowned in darkness and pain..] Uh.

[OK NOW you get the questioning head tilt.]

[Being in such a good mood, he'll indulge.]

Ask.

Edited 2012-03-21 12:08 (UTC)

I--[A hitch of breathe, and a painful swallow given his throat had seized a little at the thought of even asking. ] - I can't. I'm not allowed.

S-Sorry.

[A curious reaction. He's been conditioned? Interesting, Vanitas. Very interesting.]

There is no one here who will harm you for speaking your mind. Simply state your intent. Demand it, if you so will.

[How else do you chain the light to the dark and keep it there? Without the 'mercy' of the dark, Ventus would have run away along time ago and back to the safety of the light.]

What--[Give him a minute or three as he works out how to best do this, because he will swear to death that the hidden second collar under his turtleneck and tower-collar is tightening. It's not of course, the one who controls it (and the blindfold) is not here. Ventus knows that. He's been told that.

But ten years worth of choking (amongst other things) for asking verbal questions? does not go away that easily and though the physical trigger for choking is gone, the psychological and emotional ones remain as strong as ever. His breathing slows as a result of what his mind is telling him and he dry swallows, almost gagging a bit.

It hardly helps fight the rising panic - nor the fact that he takes a step back. Xehanort can probably sense the fear/terror that the young man gives off. Panic because he can't do as asked right now, and the fear that if he doesn't do as asked, this man will react and lash out at him. Because he's been taught through pain to follow orders and that the longer he hestiates on anything that's asked, the more pain he will get. And while he's terrified to death of asking a question...

Right now, he's more terrified of pain than asking a question.

Eventually though Ventus will point blank force something out - barely a croak really.] You-- I do not understand why you offered an open door to one who can not remember you.

[It's the closest he can get to 'but why would you offer an open door to someone who doesn't remember you'?

He's also tense as hell - like he's expecting some sort of retribution because he hesitated.. ]

[Watching Ventus' reaction, the process of him finally forming his barely audible words is fascinating, a study into the elegant - to one who could appreciate such things - torture used to condition the boy. Xehanort knew that Vanitas was capable of such things, but kept him well-leashed in order to make sure that he was acutely aware of his role. That his only escape from the pain of living, his salvation, was in the forging of the X-Blade. Ventus' heart of light needed to be stronger, but not tainted. Clearly this was the result of Vanitas going all-out, unrestrained.

An interesting development, one that was almost convenient. It gave him another option, another path to take on the road to his goals. Having more options than one would expect was something he prided himself on. It almost made the boy much more pliable and easy to manipulate. Half-truths went twice as far as a full truth, after all...]

I remember you. Your welfare is still important to me. Why wouldn't I open my door to my former apprentice?

[Perhaps that is why the X-blade that he and his Vanitas create is so unstable - because Ven's light has been scarred by darkness and the darkness that cloaks him blocks most of it. But, if one was to compare his light to his Vanitas's darkness.... they are exactly equal in strength and power. Of course, if you did that you would have Light and Dark and one unstable, perfect-form X-blade.] I--I don't know. I --

[And Ventus is starting hyperventilate and panic even more. While it might be an innocent question, for him, it's more like a loaded gun - this whole situation's become like one - though most of it's due to Ventus' mental state and the way he ~~doormats~~deals with people. He complied, yes, but he also hesitated and he's pretty sure that what he said implied that he thought the older man should not care.

Damnit. Saying anything at all had been the worst idea ever, he was sure of it and yet if he hadn't said anything that would have been worse still - and as far as Ventus knew by association - it always was the worst option of the two.

Yea don't mind him while he has a mini-breakdown here.

Thanks, Xehanort.]

Edited 2012-03-22 14:19 (UTC)

... Ventus? [He lets concern creep into his voice. The boy was going into hysterics. Whatever was going on in his mind, Vanitas' manipulations ran deep. How far could he push this charade? It was just like when he'd first taken Ventus as an apprentice, forging that tenuous trust with the boy before breaking him down.

Might as well start there and replay. He puts a light hand on Ventus' shoulder.]

Uh -- [Touch works in calming him down, just not the way that one would expect.

Instead of relaxing, Ventus tenses for several long seconds - then goes limp, passive - almost doll like. Sadly, touch has long been associated that with pain in some way, shape or form and the best way to avoid as much as possible, to force himself into this state, to be as compliant as possible, no matter way. Anything to avoid as much pain as possible.

Whatever Xehanort wants now, he'll get it.] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply...

[An unexpected response, but hardly unwelcome. This serves his purposes just fine. Lead him on, whether through words or direct control. In this case, his path is clear.]

I don't recall you implying anything. [He squeezes just lightly, something that most people might find reassuring were it another person doing it.] Let's walk a bit. Why don't you tell me what you know about this place?

[He doesn't flinch. The squeeze barely even makes it into his radar - affection is affection be it real or not.] Alright. We are kidnapped prisoners in a tower of nightmares and.... He's not here. [Three guesses as to who He is.] There are uh... people that sound like those I know but aren't. Uh...

[He nods a little, subtly steering Ventus with pressure from the tips of his fingers. A different sort of conditioning as well, one meant to say "stay close, let me help you". A hint of a former, close connection to someone who would look after him, not not too strong. Not yet. Perhaps if this works well enough, that might come later.

He nods a bit at Ventus' words, considering.] People that sound like those you know, but aren't? Such as whom?

[Ventus will go where he's steered, relying on Xehanort to keep him from walking into anything.]

..Aqua. [There is nothing in his voice, no hatred no anger. No love or friendship. Just blankness.] The one I know is always with Eraqus.

Aqua is here..? [He's not sure if he should be pleased or not. She's a very useful tool, but if she knows too much she will make things difficult.]

Yea, she is.

[Sob. there is zero remorse about betraying her - even if she's not the one he knows, she's still Aqua.]

[That lack of attachment will make things easier, at least.]

Did you speak with her? What did she have to say?

[Very, very easy, yes.] Briefly. She was asking about those from worlds with keyblades.

[A census? Is she trying to keep everyone on the "straight and narrow"? A pity... but he's no stranger to working subtly.]

Did you reply to her? [Another one of those reassuring pats. It's okay Ventus, he won't judge you if you did!]

Yea. I gave her what information she wanted.

Very well. If any of them talk to you, you'll let me know. Won't you?

Uh, of course Master Xehanort.

Good, good.

[And well look at that, they've come back to the r floor. Right outside of their rooms.]

This is where you can find me. Feel free to come by to visit any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(no subject)

yes, yes it is.

no subject

--sob. I'm going to TLDR again soon right?

I don't know, are you?

/TLDRs at you

mmm your tl;dr is so sweet

<3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject