Fear and hatred by association [Backdated to the 19th]

[attheclocktower]

Characters: Xion and anyone she stumbles upon
Setting: Floor 2 briefly, then floor 3, Floor 25, & Floor 1
Format: Action to start but I'll follow you
Summary: Given what happened the last time she got a collar checkup, Xion is not thrilled about her next one. This leaves her in an irritable and jumpy mood for the rest of the day. Also she may be keeping an eye out for certain people, given what happened. Castmates I'm looking at you
Warnings: Angst/self-blame, potential mentions of kidnapping and trauma, etc.

[ Floor 2 & 3 ]

[Xion doesn't hang out for long after her collar checkup is over, merely bidding farewell to Axel and heading upstairs to the library, where she finds a random book on some topic she's vaguely interested in, walks over to a chair and jams herself down in it, visibly tense and unhappy and frustrated.

It should be pretty clear that reading isn't helping whatever is bothering her, judging by the fact that here eyes aren't really moving around the page a lot. She also has a tendency to - every once in a while - shut the book, put it down, stand up, and walk back over to the shelves, where she pulls down another book seemingly at random.

It's pretty clear that - as much as she's trying - her mind is elsewhere, and not in a very happy location.]

[ Floor 25 ]

[She's horribly out of practice and she knows it. Between her arm being hurt, being asleep for so long, and all the other things the Tower's thrown her way, her movements feel so rusty... A part of her wonders if it wouldn't be better to do this on actual monsters, the way she used to fight Dusks back in the Hall of Empty Melodies in The World that Never Was. At the same time, it seems foolish to invite trouble in the Tower, and Floor 25 is one of the clearer, more open spaces that she knew about. Maybe there was somewhere on one of the new floors she could train better later.

But for now, she's on floor 25, Keyblade in hand, practicing a series of blocks and basic strikes. The movement helps burn off some of her frustration and unhappiness, and just overall there's a certain... feeling like she's missed this, strange as it may seem to her later. Plus if she ever runs into Vanitas again, she wants to be ready. She doesn't want to be taken by surprise, left for her friends to save and get in trouble for her sake. Maybe she should talk to Aqua about starting those lessons soon...]

[ Floor 1/Dining Area ]

[Grilled fish for dinner. She isn't quite as tired of it as she was getting of soup last month, but she still wishes there was more varieiy to the foods the kitchen provided sometimes. She picks at her plate halfheartedly, sitting in a corner of the dining area, occasionally glancing up and around to see if anybody else is nearby.]

Comments

[capax_infiniti]

[His eyes shift a little bit, looking to the left and right as though questing to see just who she's speaking of - while he recognizes that she means him, he gives little outward reaction to her claim.]

I didn't realize assisting a learning wielder was dangerous. [He shrugs, his arms held out in a passive, open gesture.] As a master, it is one of our duties, after all.

[prayerless]

You're a danger to anyone you take under your wing. [Her response is almost immediate. The "look at Ven and Terra" is implied. Without even mentioning Vanitas.

Inwardly, she can't help but wonder who this girl is. And maybe if she'd prefer Xehanort's training. She hoped that wasn't the case. But she can't really ask now.]

[attheclocktower]

[Aqua's words make her shift uncomfortably - and a little guiltily.

A part of her wants to say something, feels like she should, to try to interrupt the tension that was so thick she could cut it, explain what had happened, maybe. Another part of her really wonders if it's better to stay silent.

Then again...]

I-I'm sorry, I was just trying to practice... I didn't mean...

[Her voice, already quiet, trails off. Her words are fairly clearly meant for Aqua though.

She takes another step back, bowing her head and closing her eyes.]

[capax_infiniti]

[Aqua seems to be acting hastily, out of her own anger... while he would love to spend some time getting those seeds to sprout, he'd rather focus on Xion for the moment. He can see the guilt in Xion's movements, giving him an edge into the conversation.]

My dear girl, there is no reason for you to apologize. One must train in order to keep up strength and skill. I merely meant to facilitate your learning, as a proper master would. Had I known that Aqua would be so... angered by such a simple gesture...

[prayerless]

[Aqua's attention is again redirected to Xion. Guilt gnaws at her stomach, and her expression softens. She dutifully does her best to ignore Xehanort's words.]

You don't have to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong-- I didn't mean to frighten you.

[She gives all of her focus to Xion, because listening to Xehanort just makes her angry. How dare he act like his motives were anything but selfish? How dare he make her into the bad guy here?

She bites her tongue. She can't gratify him with a response or she'll just look even more unapproachable and probably scare the hooded Keybearer even more.]

[attheclocktower]

[She knows at least part of what Xehanort is saying is true, but she doesn't want to hear any more. She really doesn't. She wants this to stop please just stop stop acting like you're not a bad person or that you care just go away-

She turns her head to the side a little, her face constricting, even as her hands tighten. Then Aqua's words make her open her eyes slightly and shake her head.]

I'm... I'm not scared, I just...

[She doesn't want to say this in front of Xehanort. Except she doesn't want to be misunderstood, not by the person she'd asked to teach her. Her voice is still quiet though.]

I didn't want to meet like this.

[In other words, yes Aqua, this is one of your to-be students.]

[capax_infiniti]

[She's already given herself to the light. It's depressing in a way - she was such a curiosity, someone that had she come out of her shell he was sure he could have had an interesting association with. Now, under Aqua's care, there would be no such chance.

They're both ignoring him now with a vengeance, and while he would have preferred to stay and speak further there is little point. His words would fall on deaf ears. If anything, it makes him a little sick. Something must be done, but it won't be done here.

He inclines his head in a slight bow to them both.]

Ladies, if you'll excuse me...

[Then he turns, walking a few steps before focusing a portal around himself, whisking himself to another floor to leave them to finish their business.]

[prayerless]

Meet? [But, Xehanort says something right after that. It takes all of Aqua's willpower not to glance to him.

As soon as she feels the darkness gone from the area, Aqua's shoulders slump marginally in relief, as the tension of being prepared to attack leaves her.

Xion's words register only after that. She goes down through her mental list of names. Both Soras, both Vens, both Rikus, and Kairi, she had been aware of. The only name that hadn't been familiar to her was...]

Are you Xion?

[attheclocktower]

[She shoots half a nervous glance in Xehanort's direction as he disappears, her own tension easing slightly - though not entirely - upon his departure.

At Aqua's question, she nods wordlessly, looking down.]