Yeah you know it gets better (Forward-dated to tomorrow)

[attheclocktower]

Characters: Xion and a bunch of people INCLUDING YOU
Setting: Various people's rooms, then a variety of floors particularly Floor 15
Format: Either works! Starting in action but I'll match
Summary: Xion's had some of the first really good news that she's had in a while. And now that all the language issues have finally been sorted out, she's more than ready to share it. Additionally, she's finally getting some work done on something she's been working on all year.
Warnings: Nothing likely?

Private to Namine, Axel, and OU Sora

[Certain people will find a Xion knocking on the door of their room, sometimes with a more tentative expression than other times, depending on who it was. She had something important to talk to all of them about - in some cases more than one important thing.

But she could do it. She knew she could.]

Open!

[Today will see Xion around her usual haunts in the Tower - on Floor 1, eating meals, on Floor 39, running laps or going through several series of attacks and blocks - both with her Keyblade and hand-to-hand, or on Floor 38 reading a book.

However one particular place they'll find her is Floor 15, where they'll find her pulling a slightly oversized red sweater over her head. It's the culmination of several months' worth of work and at least four other shirts of varying types preceding it (and several other small sewing projects). It's just in time, too, given that the weather is starting to turn colder.

If she looks... slightly proud of herself, pinning her Turk pin to the front of the sweater to make sure it's still visible, well... that's because she is.]

Comments

[lethechained]

[Naminé wastes little time in answering, her work tucked quickly and safely away. She opens the door just a crack at first, a sliver of her visible as she peeks out. Upon seeing Xion on the other side, she opens the door further, a small smile already on her face, both because she's glad to see the other girl (in one piece, no less) and because she always does think it best to offer Xion whatever comfort she can, with a smile or otherwise.]

Xion...! Hello. Do you need something?

[attheclocktower]

[Xion glanced up a little sheepishly]

Is it okay if I come in?

[Which... means this topic is a bit more personal, but Xion isn't... overly distressed. She's actually smiling, though it's a very small one.]

[lethechained]

[The blonde's smile starts to weaken; she can tell the implications already. But then her eyes find that other smile, and her own recovers.]

Of course.

[She steps aside, holding the door open for Xion.]

You're always welcome.

[attheclocktower]

[The feeling is a familiar one, walking into Namine's room to discuss memories and who and what Xion is. But... hopefully this'll be the last time they have to talk about it like this. From now on they'll be able to focus on other things, better things.

She turns around once she's inside.]

I... I died last month, with the costumes and everything, and I think the memories inside me went back. I don't... feel them anymore.

[It was complicated, trying to describe the feeling of memories inside her, like a shivering energy under her skin, and unfamiliar flits of sight and sound in the back of her mind. But all those had vanished when she'd died, leaving her with only what she'd brought to the Tower.

She pauses there, in case Namine wanted to say or check or... do anything she needed to do.]

[lethechained]

[Naminé shuts the door behind the other girl, then turns to face her. That smile really does meet its end once Xion starts speaking, and it is replaced quickly with a frown, her brow starting to tense. Soon enough, however, it's relaxing again, then raising slightly. So something good came out of it, at least - that's something. The witch pauses a moment, still sorting out this new information and working out what it might be that Xion needs of her, beyond passing along information.]

Would you like me to find out for certain?

[She sees fit to ask, these days.]

[attheclocktower]

[Xion nods]

But... before you do, there's something else.

[She takes a deep breath. This was the more difficult part - she knew some of her friends might not have approved if they'd known. Dealing with the admins was like playing with fire and she knew it. Though this had been Dax.]

When one of the admins, Dax, was on the network a few days ago... I asked him if there was anything they could do to keep it from happening again. ["They" being the Tower admins]

... He said yes.

[lethechained]

[The concern that's already forming as Xion begins to speak of the administrators blossoms into visibility on Naminé's face as the other girl finishes speaking.]

Xion--.... [But oh, she knows, doesn't she? She knows how big a risk that is already. Naminé needn't remind her. She forces her lips together a moment, then,] ... What did you say? [After that, obviously.] Did you agree to it?

[attheclocktower]

[The visible concern makes Xion shrink a little, starting to get nervous herself.]

I told him how I was absorbing memories. I didn't say whose. I... I know I've been doing it to more than one, even if only a little bit.

[She bites her lip]

I did. And it's done. Whatever they did... I guess it was done when they checked my collar.

[Xion you really need to learn to consult your friends and get second opinions before going off and doing things on your own like that]

[lethechained]

[To Naminé's credit, she manages to stay quiet. She does suck in a breath, thought it's nearly silent. It looks for a moment like she might respond immediately, but she stops herself, forcing her hands to unclench. Even once she's calmed, there's still a frown on her face. It's not the angry sort, just the sad sort]

....

You already know how dangerous that was, don't you? [She shakes her head.] ... But-- I understand. You wanted to make sure you wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. [Except she still looks sad, even if she does understand. It seems Xion has earned herself an extended stay in sadface land.]

... What's done is done. All we can do now is hope for the best. ... I'd like to have a look, if that's all right with you. [It's not hard to guess what she's referring to.]

[attheclocktower]

[The guilt is weighing pretty heavily on her mind, even though she knows given the same choice again, she would do the exact same thing. The other people, Sora especially... they were too important. Especially compared to her.]

I'm sorry.

[Sorry for making her friends worry, for upsetting them... she's not sorry for what she did, though. At Namine's request though, she nods.]

[lethechained]

[Even though she's received permission, Naminé does not act on it just yet. She's quiet a moment, regarding the other girl, then,]

No. You don't have to be sorry. You were doing what you thought was best for everyone. Just... don't forget that we want you to do what's best for you, too. [If it's at all possible. She doesn't manage a smile, but she at least manages to force her mouth into a line. That done, she reaches out with her powers to search out any changes in Xion.]

[attheclocktower]

[She'll find nothing... unexpected, at least. The only memories Xion contains are her own, and those of Sora's that she brought to the Tower with her nearly ten months ago. But she's also not absorbing any more. There'd been a period when she'd first arrived, after all, where she hadn't absorbed any, as if whatever allowed her to do so was in shock from the sudden transition from their universe to the Tower. The same principle applied when Xion had died, and the change had caught her before she could start again. There doesn't seem to be any side effects. It's just like the process has stopped, perhaps even blocked or suppressed.

Xion for her part keeps quiet, not wanting to distract Namine as she works.]

[lethechained]

[Naminé's expression is serious as she works, though something about it shifts along the way. This whole situation has turned out as well as could possibly expected so far, but even so, it's... troubling. If the administrators can do this, can change something fundamental in someone, what else can they do? Once she's seen enough, she withdraws her power. Even then, she stays quiet a little longer, expression thoughtful.]

[Her smile when at last it appears is weak, but not insincere.]

... Congratulations. It seems like for now, everything is fixed. There are no other problems that I can find.

[Even if she can't put her trust in it, in the people who placed them in the Tower.]

[attheclocktower]

For now?

[The smile that Xion gives is a bittersweet one, though it bespeaks her worry more than anything - this feels too good to be true somehow. Even now. Even with that confirmation.

She shakes her head]

Thank you. For this and before too.

[For trying to fix it before she died, when things had gotten so out of control.]

[lethechained]

[A pause, though only a brief one.]

You never know what the administrators will do.

[Too good to be true, indeed, though a part of Naminé is happy the other girl can have at least this respite. She just hopes it won't cost more than it's worth.]

... You're welcome. You can always come to me, Xion. I'll do what I can to help you, any way you need me to.