towerofanimus | 002 ✘ and i rationed my breaths ✘ backdated to 4/22

Entry tags:

002 ✘ and i rationed my breaths ✘ backdated to 4/22

Characters: AU4 Xion and YOU
Setting: [01] Dorm halls ; [02] cafeteria ; [03] floor eleven
Format: I'll match you!
Summary: Xion/Soraface/Fey kept herself locked away in her room for a week (except for the collar check-up) after her death. Finally, she's dragging herself out
Warnings: ANGST ANGST ANGST

[ 00 ; room 2-01 ]
[Falling... falling... into darkness...]

[ 01 + 02; dorm halls and cafeteria ]
[If you happen to be in the dormitory hallways, there's someone you're likely to see. There's a black-coated small figure with a full head of brown spiky hair making his(?) way towards the stairs. If you get a good look at their face, it's pretty clear they're out of it. And, somehow, the hair is more messy than it should be. ~~Whoo, bedhead.~~

In the cafeteria, Xion can be found sitting by herself, picking at the food on her plate. Despite the almost overwhelming force of her hunger, she doesn't... really want to eat. She knows she needs to, because it would maybe give her the energy to combat how absolutely tired she feels, but... bleh.]

[ 03 ; floor eleven ]
[She died.

That's what happened, right? They had found her otherself, Axel had grabbed her, and then they turned to fight all the way back down... It wasn't that she was tired, or hurt too bad, or anything. She was doing fine. With Oathkeeper and Oblivion drawn and Riku and Sora at her side, she had felt like maybe... she could take on the world, you know? She thought that they were gonna be okay. And then, and then -- She doesn't know how it happened, where it came from, but that not-Heartless bird came in and knocked her feet out from under her, carried her off the ramp, and then she was falling. She tried to Aerial Recover, but she was too far away, she couldn't grab the ledge, and Oblivion couldn't break through the stone enough to hook on, and she...

And then she died. Because that's what happens when you fall from a who-knows-how-tall tower, right?

But she's here. She's still here, somehow. She's even managed to find ice cream. It's not sea-salt -- it doesn't really taste like much of anything, really -- but it's ice cream in bar-on-a-stick form, and the familiarity is all she can ask for right now. That's why she decided to seek out this floor after she found the ice cream. It isn't, and won't ever be, the Twilight Town clock tower. But, then... She doesn't want it to be. That would bring back too many bad memories right now.

Your... friend? Roxas, do you think I could be a friend?

When Axel gets back, let's ask him. Then all three of us can have ice cream together!

It hurts. She manages to fight back a sob by distracting herself with ice cream.]

It's not salty... and it's barely even sweet. [She tries to smile a little, for herself. For him. She whispers,] Eating ice cream by yourself... really isn't the same, is it, Roxas?

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[With the deer stunned, Xion manages to finally push it back. It stumbles and falls, still under the effects of Xehanort's darkness. But for how much longer?]

Yeah, no problem. [Xion takes several steps back away from the deer and drops into her (Sora's, Roxas') battle stance. The branch is no Keyblade, but it'll do.] You go ahead -- I'll hold it off.

[A quick glance - Xion's body is young and strong, there shouldn't be any problem with her making an escape when necessary. He's the one who will need more time.

Not that it'll be too much of a problem. He's still strong and sturdy enough to manage on his own. The muscles are real, it was just the support to keep away the aches and general reaction problems. It's been years since he's climbed any trees, as well.

There's one with some good lower branches not too far away, and he begins to move towards it - while it may not look any slower, it feels slower, the reactions he's used to simply not coming as quickly as they should.]

Don't wait too long. We'll need to think of something else in order to proceed.

[Already his mind is working...]

Right!

[The deer is recovering quickly, so Xion tightens her grip on the branch and readies herself for when it attacks again. It occurs to her that this would be the time to go on the offensive, but she... doesn't want to do that right now, and she isn't sure why.

Well. Now's not the time to think about it -- ] Here it comes!

[This time, Xion is ready, and she times her swing so that the deer runs straight into it.]

[He makes his way to the tree slowly, testing the branches carefully before starting to haul himself up. It's hard, harder than it should have been, his hands clenching tightly as he struggles to pull himself up in what should have been a fluid movement. He doesn't let himself rest, though, and pushes on to get up into the next layer of branches, groaning as aches that should not exist flare up.

Whatever this is, he hopes it passes quickly. There simply isn't time to muddle around like this.]

[The deer is sent stumbling to the side again, parried and rattled by the strike to the head, but it recovers faster this time and charges. This time, Xion doesn't turn fast enough, and it catches her in the side.]

Ahh --

[It's strong enough to knock her into the air, surprisingly, but she can use this to her advantage. She Aerial Recoveries (it's more acrobatic than magical) into position, swinging the branch down on the deer's back as it runs under her.

When she lands, she notices that her branch is already not faring too well. She needs to stop hitting the deer so hard, but if she doesn't --

It's circling around again. Xion braces to Dodge Roll to the side so she can strike its side after it passes her.]

[Being away from the deer has the feeling of magic starting to return, although it will take some time for his full power to be restored. Still, watching the girl attempting to fight the deer with a stick is almost... sad. She's clearly skilled, as he recognizes her movements, but the stick itself is already on its way out and the deer doesn't seem too much worse for wear.

Something fast will have to do. His blade appears in his hand and he brings it up, concentrating what force he has available to him quickly, the darkness wreathing him for a moment before peeling off into fast-moving projectiles as he unleashes a Dark Volley shootlock on the deer.]

[The deer is running back at her when, out of nowhere, bolts of darkness swarm it. Xion jolts back in surprise, almost stumbling, but once she can get a good view of it again, it's clear that the attack did its job. The deer is still standing, but just barely. Now's her chance -- !]

Take this!

[She charges. The deer is not too dazed to fight back, so the last struggle isn't without pain on her part, but she pushes past it and does not relent until the thing finally collapses.

She's bleeding as she stands over the corpse still in her body stance, gasping for air. It takes her a moment to realize that not all of the blood is the deer's; it managed to sink its teeth into her right shoulder and arm in the final scuffle. But, now that it's dead... Her magic should work now, right? She reaches for the cool light of Cure, even as she drops the branch to the ground and turns to Xehanort in the tree.]

Th... Thank you. It -- It's safe now...

[Already feeling better, he's less grasping the tree for support and more simply perching among the branches with ease, hand holding his blade outstretched to keep balanced. He dismisses the blade, now that the fight is over, beginning to make his way down.]

It seems the easier way to deal with these is to keep out of their range and attack from afar. Otherwise, they sap our power in order to leave us at their mercy.

[He gives her an appraising look]

Not that you were much affected it seems. You're quite skillful, even with a less-potent weapon. I thank you.

Right. [Xion nods. After being in close contact with that thing, there's no way she's going to disagree that staying away would be the best idea.

At the compliment, she goes pink.] I... Well, I -- Thanks...

[After a moment to let her compose herself, he offers her an arm. Mostly as a formality, as he doubts she would take it. It's merely a test to see how comfortable she is, where her level of trust would be. How long it takes to reject the offer and the manner in which she does so are most telling, after all.]

[And a smile at her reaction to his words.]

There is no need for thanks. I simply state what is true. I assume you have honed your own skills, and they are quite impressive for being self-taught.

[... fjajkfdkljfdfjkj;asdf;;fjfdlkkfjkf???? is she -- is she really supposed to take... hubfwah??

In the end, she makes up her mind whether to take his arm or not based on one thing: It'd be rude, she decides, to refuse it. So, shyly, she reaches out to lightly, carefully, rest her hand on his arm. (Is this how it goes?)

She lets herself focus on the conversation to distract herself from her confusion.]

I... Most of it came naturally, really. I worked hard to make sure I was really good at it, because I didn't want to be turned into a D -- [erm.] I didn't want to let anyone down.

[It's more surprising than anything that she accepts, but he takes it in stride. He's sure there's reason for it, after all. He straightens up, for once not walking in his characteristic fashion, holding himself at his proper height, his other arm at his side. He tempers his footsteps to keep in time and pace with hers so that their rhythm is even.

Soon enough he'll learn what it was you're trying to hide, but for now he won't push that point.]

Ah, pressure is a marvelous motivator, it's true. However, even in the face of apparent threats, you still have come quite a long way. I would not wish to say anything poor of your skills, however, but should you ever desire to hone them further, I would not be amiss to asissting.

[She's quiet for a moment. She noticed his weapon, felt the familiar power from it... but she'd been too busy to give it a second thought. So that's why what she says next isn't a question, even though it's spoken slowly. More like she's finally taking the time to process.]

You wield the Keyblade.

[And he's... he's offering...]

You... want to teach me?

[A pause, rolling a few thoughts around in his head, considering.]

I would be willing, if you wished such a thing.

[Someone to teach her -- to really teach her, to sit down with her and talk about how everything works, to explain things, to show her how to wield the Keyblade better.

To be stronger, so that what happened before would never happen again.

Her fists clench at her sides and her eyes steel.]

I... I do. I want to learn.

[It's surprising, especially that Aqua hasn't picked this one up as well. She has the monopoly on the young wielders, after all.

It's an opportunity that's too good to pass up. Learning more about the general entity of Xion, and learning more about why this one is different from the other one.

There is one small matter that must be considered, though...]

I will give you instruction, however there is one condition.

[Xion lifts her head, her (Sora's?) eyes widening in surprise.]

What is it?

There are a great many here who harbour me ill will, and I would not want you to bear their scorn due to association with me. Thus, I simply request that our acquaintanceship and my teaching you remain a secret, for now. Not even to be disclosed to your closest friends.

Is this something you feel you would be amenable to?

[... not even Axel?

That's the main thing that trips her up. To be honest, does she really... have many close friends in the Tower? She's run into Axel a couple of times, and she's talked to her otherself, and then there's Riku, but, really, she... She's been keeping her distance from them. She's been keeping her distance from everyone. Out of guilt, out of shame, out of fear.

Briefly, loneliness flickers behind her eyes (always such an easy book to read), and her chin lowers. But, she says without uncertainty,]

Yeah. I can do that.

[Another smile, pleasant and light, to try to dispell the sadness he perceives.] Then, I will teach you. Perhaps some day you may wish to call me your Master and then I can induct you into the mysteries of our craft, but for now the basics will suffice.

We still have a flower to locate, and some ice cream waiting.

[Slowly but surely, Xion's face lights up. When she speaks again, it's with very Sora-like enthusiasm and energy.]

Right! Ice cream! [She's even carried away enough to make a Sora gesture -- fists closing in excitement, arms close to her body, elbows bent, and she bounces ~~a la "WE GET TO SEE SANTA"~~.] Watch out, flower! You'd better be ready for us!

A bit of strategy may be advisable... we may run into more of those creatures. Perhaps one to move forward as distraction while the other hangs back to fight from afar?

That sounds good to me! [She nods, maybe a little too enthusiastically.] If you want, I can be the one to go first. I have magic, but I doubt it's nearly as strong as what you did earlier.

Very well, if you would be so inclined, I will take up the rear and arcane support.

[Yeah he's cool with being a back row mage but damn if he isn't an effective one]

Let us begin, and quickly.

[AND OFF THEY GOOOOO HOORAY]

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002 ✘ and i rationed my breaths ✘ backdated to 4/22

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suddenly bullfighting?? olé?

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pfft keywords

Re: pfft keywords

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