Clear my head

[reversedestiny]

Characters: Sora (reversedestiny) and you!
Setting: Floor 25
Format: Starting in brackets, I will change to suit!
Summary: Sora's done a lot of thinking since his talk with Riku. He's still trying to sort a lot of things out, but right now? He's just distracting himself.
Warnings: None so far! Will change if things change!

[Sora had been unsure of what to think since the revelation that his so-called adoptive father had stolen his name. Given Riku's appearance that one time, and how he doubts Ansem is even a popular name, he has no choice but to believe him. The logic adds up. Ugh... Too much thinking, his head is hurting. He can dwell on the whys later. Right now he just... Needs to relax.

Which is why Sora is currently sprawled out among the flowers, eyes closed. He's trying not to think, trying to push it all from his mind for now. Ugh... This sucks...]

Comments

[seasaltsunsets]

[Olette's still trying to get used to this tower. She doesn't understand how things can be the way they are here - she really doesn't, and it's a little frustrating trying to puzzle out the logic behind what she's been finding on these floors, simply because she can't really see how there's any logic behind them at all. The twenty-fifth floor is a pleasant surprise, if not incredibly baffling. She doesn't really get how it's possible for something like this to be inside, but it sure is pretty. She steps away from the stairs and out into the flowers, only realizing a few moments later that there's a person sprawled out a little ways away. She's not sure if he's napping, or hurt, or what, so she calls out to him - softly though, because if it is a nap she doesn't want to wake him up.]

Hello, over there!

[lethechained]

[The 25th floor is a beautiful one. The flowers do remind her of someone she'd really rather not think of, but she can't deny that they're lovely. It's one of the first times she's been back to this floor after discovering it, so Naminé's too distracted to notice Sora right away as she wanders through the flowers.]

[reversedestiny]

Huh?

[He'll sit up and blink, staring over at her. Then look around. ...Oh. She's talking to him...]

...Oh. Hello...?

[reversedestiny]

[However... Sora recognizes her scent the moment it's on the floor, and he sits up quite quickly. Oh, Naminé! He's grinning big now, waving.]

Naminé, over here!

[She can be his distraction! That's kind of what friends do, right?]

[requital]

[Zexion's taken to looking around when it's convenient. Naturally, that brings him to the 25th floor at one point, where he's greeted by an overabundance of flowers.

The scent of darkness here is quite overwhelming. It leads him to Sora, whom he watches from a distance.

Memories of a drawing surfaces in his mind. Of course. This is Ansem's "child."]

[reversedestiny]

[Likewise, there is a strange scent on this floor above the flowers. However... He really doesn't care at the moment. They aren't exactly familiar, and don't seem like a threat, and the flowers are nice.

So, uh, ignoring your presence for now. Many people like this floor, after all, and it's nice and peaceful. No reason to be up in arms.]

[lethechained]

[The sound of her name makes her stop, but since she recognizes the voice right away, she's not on edge when she turns to look for the source.]

Sora...! [She spots him soon enough, and what does surprise her is the size of his smile. It's a good surprise, though, so she smiles a smaller smile back and waves, although her wave is probably less exuberant. With little hesitation, she turns and heads his direction.]

[requital]

[Interesting how he's so at peace despite Zexion's blatant presence. Then again, what would a child of darkness have to fear in a Nobody? Is this Sora even aware of Nobodies? Knowing Naminé doesn't necessarily mean he does.

This is something Vexen would be more fascinating in exploring, and he can always just keep tabs. Seeing no point in staying, Zexion finally turns and begins to walk away. Sure did spend the last minute or two staring. At least he's gotten Sora's scent down. That's about all he needs for the time being.]

[seasaltsunsets]

...!

[Sora? Yes, it looked like Sora. But something was a little... off, here. Nonetheless, she smiled.]

This is a pretty place. Do you come here much?

[prayerless]

[Aqua's come back to the spring floor, finding it to be the least stressful place in the Tower at current. She still waits for something to eventually show up and try to kill her, but during the daytime, she's glad to enjoy the peace.

So, considering his situation, she's not really surprised to see Sora there as well. She stops in her tracks. If he's basking in the serenity too, she doesn't want to risk bothering him. She can go to the 20th floor to relax if need be.]

[reversedestiny]

[Nope, Aqua. Not getting away with that. Because he can smell you. So he'll sit up, and... Well, it may be peaceful, but now's a good time to get this much out of the way.]

...Hey, Aqua. Can... Can we talk...?

[reversedestiny]

[You mean besides the different clothes and completely wrong build?]

Yeah. It's one of the more peaceful floors.

[reversedestiny]

[He pats the ground next to him, smiling.]

What brings you up here, Naminé?

SO IT'S NOT THE SHORTEST THREAD EVER.

[reversedestiny]

[Unfortunately, just about then, Sora's companions arrive. Two Heartless, a Shadow and a Green Requiem. And hey, guess what? There's suddenly menacing... Squeaking? Yes. Squeaking. From the Shadow. And it has Sora sitting up.]

...Hey. You.

BUT WHAT IF I LIKED THE NUMBER THREE.

[requital]

[Small fry, but nuisances nonetheless. Not that he's bothered at being forced into conversation, if he had to be honest. It's a chance to interact without having to go to Sora first, which has its advantages.

Zexion stops walking and looks partway over his shoulder. You called? He's listening. And ignoring the Heartless.]

TOO BAD.

[reversedestiny]

...Who are you?

[And yes, he's on guard. He's not sure what to think of you, at all, but he doesn't like it.]

Heartless don't usually react hostilely like this.

[requital]

[He turns so that one of his shoulders is pointed in Sora's direction, raising a hand inquiringly.

Who, he asks. Heartless don't respond to a "who." They respond to a particular snag; thusly, his identity is meaningless in this accusation. It's the what that matters, which he doesn't feel at liberty to disclose. Yet.

Dryly,] Let me ask you, then, do Heartless react to a certain individual as opposed to something more generalized? As they're creatures of instinct, your question hardly seems relevant.

[reversedestiny]

[Except that Sora doesn't know that, exactly, because he's had very limited exposure to people and of course Heartless react to him and Ansem. So logic goes they'd react to anyone else, right?]

...Well, they reacted to me and Da--Ansem. Why wouldn't they react to other people they didn't like?

[requital]

[So by that logic, they react to Sora and Ansem because they "like" them? What an emotionally-driven thought process. Instead of the why not, he approaches from the opposite side of the argument.]

Why would they? [And,] Why do you think they listen to Ansem?

[reversedestiny]

Well, they react to Ansem because he's their boss. I... Don't know why they really react to me, though. I guess because he told them to.

[He's thinking over this. Though, really, Zexion, he's not going to likely draw the conclusion that you have no heart from this.]

[requital]

[Your loss then, Sora. Your loss.]

Precisely. They're conditioned to answer to those they deem the higher authority. Like and dislike have no place in their range of actions, which mean reasons for hostility stem not from who someone is, but another factor entirely.

[Such is the nature of the Heartless, and one would have to dehumanize another to understand. But dwell not on that for long.]

Did Ansem neglect to tell you something so basic?

[reversedestiny]

...Apparently he did.

[So he'll stand now. Hum... He's finding out a lot of things he was lied about, or that were omitted.]

...But I guess I'm coming to expect that he didn't tell me things.

[lethechained]

[Getting the picture, she settles down next to him, smiling back.]

I thought it might be nice to take another look at the flowers. They're very pretty.

[reversedestiny]

It's peaceful here, yeah.

[He'll close his eyes, taking in the scents of the flowers.]

...It's nice. I... Didn't get to go many places before.

[lethechained]

Mm. It is.

[She blinks as he closes his eyes, then turns her eyes away, toward the flowers. Truthfully, since her sense of smell is not exactly as good as his, she's more interested in the way they look, but that doesn't mean she's not curious about the smells, too, so she shuts her eyes-- at least until he says something, at which point she glances his way again, smile quickly losing vigor. Her eyes drift away once more, then,]

... I didn't, either.