Piecing It Together [OPEN]

TAGGED: OPEN | WORDS: 258 | NOTES: ...

The young brunet frowned at the stairs leading down from the castle. He had just run through what felt like every hallway, searched every room, and still couldn't find anyone. He certainly could find anything that would help him with his time displacement problem. Then again, he could probably find his answer laying out on a table and not know it. He had no concept on how time worked and how he could piece the timeline back together. He really wanted to fix things for everyone and get them back to their rightful places.

He was truly hoping to help Riku, the Riku who wasn't a Keyblade Master yet, but neither of them belong here. Well, they didn't belong now? That didn't sound right. He frowned harder, letting his feet shuffle forward. He made his slow way down the stairs toward Radiant Garden proper and toward the people of this world. How many of them were out of time?

Did some of them think that it was odd to have a castle like this when just yesterday it was barely a pile of scraps? Did some of them think that something awful had happened and they were from a time when the entire world was put together and looked wonderful? Oh, that would be terrible for those people if it were true. He really needed to find answers. He needed to find all of his friends. He needed a lot of things.

Perhaps most of all, Sora needed a distraction before his brain melted from all this thinking.

credit goes to Lunar of GS & THQ

At long last, the castle's library had yielded some worthwhile reading material. Nox had stumbled upon a few dusty volumes that went into considerable detail about the history of the city, the larger "world" upon which it sat - and about many other such worlds that lay beyond, in the depths of what the books called "Gummi space." His patience had been rewarded, for he now had a clearer long-term objective; explore these other worlds, and gather more information about the Heartless and a possible way back home.

For now, he was content to read through this series of books in their entirety, in preparation for the coming journeys. So it was that a certain confused brunette boy finally came upon a sign of life in the unusually sleepy city. Slowly pacing away from him, wandering down an alley with his nose in an old leather-bound book, went a masked figure whose body was concealed beneath a black cloak.

TAGGED: Darth Nox | WORDS: 330 | NOTES: ...

Sora shuffled through the nearly empty streets of Radiant Garden. It was strange to see that everyone was tucked away inside seeing as it was a pretty nice day out. Where was everyone? Where were Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith? Surely they would be bustling about trying to find more ways to put the world together. Or rather, finish doing so. He gave a small sigh and was just about to give up hope of anything going right today.

Out of the corner of his vibrant blue eyes he caught movement down an alleyway. He frowned a little, not so much that there was someone walking into the shadows, thought that was worrisome considering all the threats that lurked in darkness, but because they themselves were dressed entirely in black. Thus far, that hadn't yielded very many good outcomes. Lea was just about the only person that could pull off an entirely black outfit and still call himself good.

With a slight frown, the Keybearer started after the stranger, wondering if he should risk making himself known. It wasn't always wise to bring attention to himself if this was an enemy. Yet, he didn't know if that was actually true. What if it was another reformed Organization member? What if it was a good guy that just happened to like black? He really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Well, if they could possibly be an ally, he shouldn't waste time introducing himself! Plus, this person might have seen where his friends had wandered off to. Hi there! He called, his usual broad grin gracing his features. He hurried his step to fall just a few feet behind the stranger before coming to a halt. Are you new here? That was an excellent question to lead with. It was surprising how many refugees he could still find even after locking so many worlds away from the darkness. There was always more work to be done and more people to help.

credit goes to Lunar of GS & THQ

"Hi there! Are you new here?"

The cheerful voice brought the cloaked figure to a halt.

"Hmm?" The voice that answered the boy was distorted, a lazy, metallic drawl. The figure turned, and an imposing, vaguely skeletal mask peered back at him. Held aloft in his gloved left hand was an aged-looking book. The masked head canted aside. "I wouldn't say I'm new, precisely. I've been here for some time, yet I still know so little of what's happening, I may as well have just arrived..."

A native. Possibly a useful source of new information. At the same languid pace, Nox turned fully to face the boy. "I assume you live here?"

TAGS: Sora NOTES: ---

♥THANKS TIA!

TAGGED: Darth Nox | WORDS: 307 | NOTES: ...

Sora's expression changed as his question was answered and the man turned slowly to face him. His smile remained, seeming frozen in place. His eyes, those brilliant blue and expressive eyes went wide at the sight of a skull like mask. Bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a terrible, horrible, awful idea. Why did he have to be so friendly?

His entire body seemed to lock up for a moment as he tried to restart his brain and answer the man. Right, so only Lea could pull off the black-clad good guy look. Note very much made and he would keep that in mind every time he met someone that dressed similarly. The young Keybearer cleared his throat and took a deep breath. I .. uhh ... It's more like ... umm ... frequent visitor, He answered eventually. That was so smooth.

In classic Sora fashion, the brunet chuckled nervously and brought a hand up to rub the back of his head. This was so uncomfortable now. This guy was pretty scary looking and didn't sound like he would be the friendliest of people. He hadn't said or done anything yet to suggest that he was a bad person but that mask ... That distorted voice. It creeped him out. One more deep breath. So .. err .. How long have you been here? Oh, now, that was just a terrible question. Then again, that was pretty good for a flustered Keyblade wielder such as himself given how awkward he usually was. It hurt his eloquence that he was now so nervous and vaguely concerned for his well being.

Hopefully this guy would say or do something that would ease his nerves or prove that he was a bad guy. He would gladly take either since he could function a good deal better with a clearer understanding of where someone stood.

credit goes to Lunar of GS & THQ

...Well, that was an interesting reaction. In fact, "interesting" was an understatement - it was downright hilarious. Nox had to refrain from chuckling audibly in amusement at the boy's obvious discomfort. It was a step down from outright fear, but then, he'd always found that fear was most useful when he was actively trying to inspire it in those who might otherwise deign to get in his way.

"It's been... oh, it must be a few days by now," he answered the boy. "Most of that time has been spent exploring that enormous castle overlooking the city. Its libraries have... only just begun to prove particularly useful, at least on the subject of these Heartless." He faintly canted his head. "I don't suppose you might know anything pertinent about these odd little creatures?"

TAGS: Sora NOTES: ---

♥THANKS TIA!

TAGGED: Darth Nox | WORDS: 336 | NOTES: ...

Sora's stomach dropped when the cloaked man said that he had been exploring the castle. He tried his best to hide the horror of the thoughts running through his head. There were a few scenarios that he was envisioning and he could only hope for the best. This did not look like a nice person so the worst of it would be his friends were gone because this man didn't want them in the castle anymore as he rifled through things that he probably shouldn't.

Best case would be they hadn't crossed his path yet and were safely somewhere else. He took a deep breath and hoped that they hadn't been to the castle in days. He cleared his throat and swallowed down his fear. I umm ... I don't know what the books have told you, The teen started, brow furrowing as he tried to figure out what his best option was. He wasn't being threatened yet, but he had this feeling deep down that if he wasn't careful that would change very quickly.

He really wasn't sure what the masked man wanted to know, so he couldn't be sure what information he had would do him the more good and the most harm. What ... do you want to know? asked Sora, sounding as uncertain as he felt. He didn't think it was a good idea to give this man more information, especially since he already had more than he should. Well, to Sora, he shouldn't have been in the castle and around those books. He shouldn't have been allowed near any of it since he didn't trust him.

There was still that issue of not truly knowing whether he was good or bad, but enough fear had been instilled in him just from the look and the distorted voice that he didn't believe that he could be a good person. A Keyblade wasn't the only way to gain power. Slowly he was learning this. He didn't want to give this guy more than he had.

credit goes to Lunar of GS & THQ