Kingdom Hearts : Heartfelt Adventure {Day 8 ; Invite Only}

[UrabaiN]

[ Daniel ~ Atlantis ~ Outside Throne Room]

Hojo, huh? He asks all the right question's, that's for sure.

The Scientist was probably the most... interesting person attached to ShinRa. Daniel himself still wasn't sure that was a good thing, and it was probably the one question he didn't want to answer. Luckily, Tseng answered for him.

The Dragoon was then distracted by Riku, who once again commented on a conversation happening out of ear shot. Daniel was certain telepathy was at work at this point, but could not ascertain how it was accomplished. In time, He figured.

Suddenly smoke; A figure. Daniel tensed, instinctively reaching for his blades. When Merlin appeared he did not immediately recognize who he was, but the Survivor's were relaxed. They seemed to expect he was coming.

"Look, while you handle this--could you bring us back to the Red Rose?"

"Sure, everybody?"

"Everybody except Riku. Send him to Atlantica."

A friendly-- Daniel slacked and waited for what seemed like a teleport. Despite their verbal skirmish, Kyle was graciously including them in the spell.

Though it was probably just an attempt to get the Turks out of there. Regardless, the Spellblade was grateful.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Daniel ~ Shipwreck Cove ~ Top Floor, Red Rose Entry Ramp ]

...Impressive.

And just like that the group was in the pirate fortress known as Shipwreck Cove. This alone would have got a reaction out of Daniel, but that was not the center of attention. Oh no-

It was the massive airship parked only a few feet away. Daniel's guard dropped along with his jaw. He had seen airships before on his travels with the Turks, but they never ceased to amaze him.

While taking in the details he almost missed the fact that a legendary soldier was standing right in front of him. Daniel caught Cloud eyeing both him and Tseng and listened as the Soldier addressed his leader by name. The beginning of the exchange held his attention as the other Earthlings began shuffling onto the ship, but a scuffle behind him snapped him back to reality. Daniel turn, at first lazily to see what the commotion was, then with frenzied haste as he realized he was about to be clobbered by the (apparently clumzy) Archer.

"Holy--!"

He caught her, just in time, ducking low to catch Bobbi by her torso. The Turk set her upright.

Oh great, they better not blame this one on me...

"Are you ok?" Daniel looked her over before locking eyes, wondering if there was some sort of injury.  

[phoenixianCrystallist]

{Bobbi .:. Shipwreck Cove .:. Outside Red Rose}

"God f***ing dammit," Bobbi snarled, annoyed with herself. "I'm fine, just tired enough to start tripping over my own stupid feet. Thanks for the save, man." Once she was stable again, she grinned at the Turk.

"Nice catch. So, I guess introductions are in order. I'm Bobbi." She stuck her hand out for the Turk to shake, still with that ingenuous smile. Relations seemed to be strained between the Turks and other members of the group, but they'd also fought alongside the Earthlings, which put them on the side of the good guys, in Bobbi's books. Besides, it was only common courtesy; tripping into someone and not introducing yourself would be rude!

~:Is this how you made the rest of your friends, too? Tripping into them?:~

Oh God, Shiva, that was years ago, I don't remember anymore. I probably had some sort of an epic duel to the death with at least three of them, then we found we were evenly matched and formed a mutual respect and went on to save the world, or something cheesy like that.

~:You watch far too much anime.:~

Yes I do~ Oh, hey, that's how I made my friends...  

[UrabaiN]

[ Daniel ~ Atlantis ~ Outside Throne Room]

Well, she was genuinely a klutz, but how tired Bobbi and the other Earthlings were suddenly dawned on him. With all of Ajora's schemes they might have been awake for several hours in heated battles before he even woke up that morning.

"Nice catch. So, I guess introductions are in order. I'm Bobbi."

As she stuck out her hand in a friendly gesture, Daniel tipped his fedora back and met her halfway, smiling. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Bobbi. My name is Daniel, and this--", turning and gesturing to Tseng (who may or may not be distracted by Cloud right now), "is my leader and mentor, Tseng."

Daniel glanced over Bobbi's head shoulder towards the Dancer who seemed to be lagging behind. "And you-- may I ask your name?"  

[AldrickZearse]

[Joe: Shipwreck Cove: Red Rose Deck]

Joe let out a heavy sigh. God, he was tired. But no rest for the wicked. Or leaders. Or whatever. Kyle went off to sleep, Kyla was off doing who knows what....

Stretching, his arms over his head, back arched as much as possible and still be vertical, he let out a grunt. Might as well check on everyone else, after all. Which, of course, meant he got to watch the antics of Dawn and Bobbi(and a nearby Dani)...and, of course, he weaved his wind to listen in to their convo with the Turk. Daniel, eh?

He was too tired to hide it. He was glaring from his position on the deck, too far off to be noticed immediately, but still in plain sight. Far away enough to not look like he was catching all of the conversation, though.

The Turks...ShinRa...Hojo...that spelled a lot of bad news in their future. He was pretty sure Kyle knew his feelings about it, too. But...now he faced a conundrum with Bobbi acting friendly with Daniel: Should he step in and separate them, shooing Daniel away? Or should he let it play out and not hover over Bobbi's own decisions?

What would...a good leader do?  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle : Red Rose : Interior ]

"It's alright," he replied to her apology, shrugging lightly before walking in. He chuckled a bit at her mention of rest--hadn't she been up all night, too? "And trust me, as soon as I'm in my own room, I'll pass out."

Despite his normal demeanor insisting otherwise, he rather gracelessly plopped down onto her bed in a sitting position, shoulders sagging; whether that was caused by the scale pauldrons or exhaustion, it was hard to tell. He watched the various butterflies fluttering around and, despite his weariness, gave a small smile. Ah, magic.

"I wanted to clear some things up," he started, and his smile fell somewhat, though it wasn't a frown, either. "About Ajora, about Mateus... a lot's happened in the past hour or so. How are you holding up?"  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Red Rose: Kyla's Room]

Cue: Closed minded Girl

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Liar.
That’s what she wanted to say, but someone beat her to the punch.
‘TELL HIM!’


Kyla wasn’t sure just how Tyue broke through but her voice was loud and clear like she was in the room.

“- but I… I’m afraid.”

~Of what he’ll say?~


“…yeah.”

He’ll just mock me.
Tell me I’m stupid.
All those words came from somewhere
. And it’s not like anyone said anything- ever against it. So it must be what he thinks about when he doesn't have any censors.

The first thing, the first impulse that comes to mind is..THAT…WORD.

Betrayed.

That was the feeling that gnawed at her guts, shame, and betrayl. And she HATED herself to even thinking or feeling it because it’s not like she’s entitled to any kind of support or friendship after all the screw ups.
Kyla fought with the clamp that seemed to be over her mouth. Fidigting, readjusting her blanket over and over again.

She tried, but pulled back, opened her mouth slowly, then shut it again. This was stupid.

She was stupid. And cowardly.
WHY was it so ******** hard?!!!

Cue: In a Limestone Cave

“…I’m cold.”
There. She got something out. Not much, but something.


~ It’s because you don’t like being seen as vulnerable. Kyle came in and rescued you, you’ve been rescued a few times and it bothers you to no end that you just can’t do one thing for the team , even solo, and NOT come back or out of it on your own, or without hurting someone else.~

That’s right.

~ And admitting you’re feeling as aweful as you do, would validate everything that JAOra said. You would admit being powerless. You’ve been powerless a long time. You don’t want to feel useless anymore.~

“ I…don’t.. want to be-… -anymore…”

Kyla hadn’t realized that slipped out, a broken sentence with double meanings.

“I-“ she held out a hand as a butterfly came closer and it rested on her outstretched finger. The dim red pulsing light illuminating her face.
“…I’m…contemplating…

“… just what am I really contributing to things around here?”

“I don’t know where I went wrong… was anything.. ever right?”

The phantasmal insect shifted and batted its wings slowly like time slowed down for it. Kyla still couldn’t look directly into Kyle face even with an expression that seemed relaxed. She could seem him partially slumped on her bed like he could just nap right there.

“ Everything I tried to do, was all for nothing. I thought I be...someone else. Someone...competent. But ti all makes sense now. That’s why no one will ever…”

Trust me.

“ I trust you, Kyla.”
‘

Bobbi?’ she had said that didn’t she?

“I don’t’ deserve it-"She answered out loud to the words he wasn’t hearing," I failed so I don’t’ deserve it- not anything..” , and she turned her back feeling something itch in her eye. T
he butterfly took off into the air again dancing around the room with the other.
“…wait.” She turned half way, suddenly remembering again. “Ava Mat? ... you met him?”
Of course! UGH she's such an idiot! He meant how was she feeling physically. He wanted to cover basic things, nothing about how she--uuuugh ******** double meaning words!


Yes, deflect, talk about something else. She already said too much.
 

[Je suis a toi]

[ Noelle ~ Atlantis --> Shipwreck Cove ~ Red Rose]

Noelle felt and heard Dawn join the hug, trying to resist breaking down further. She shook slightly, trying to recompose herself but was struggling. Merlin's appearance didn't go unacknowledged by her. She looked over and held Joe tightly as they were transported back to Shipwreck Cove. Dawn left and Noelle released Joe heavy-heartedly. Everyone was disbanding in the after-battle wind down. The blonde bitterly thought about how quickly the transition had occurred--it felt like whiplash.

"Thanks, Joe." She said weakly as she shuffled away, head and shoulders hanging.

The girl paid no mind to the others as she forced herself up the ramp to the Red Rose. Her head was still swimming with all that had just happened and she was struggling to catalog it all. Perhaps resting would help. Rooms, rooms, where were the rooms? She tried to remember but was so frazzled she could hardly tell left from right. Noelle found herself in the galley area of the ship and sighed. It would probably do her well to have something to eat, though she didn't have much of an appetite. The blonde shuffled around, tiredly getting a kettle of water and nearly dropping it on the stove. She rubbed her eyes as the water heated, knowing they were puffy and red from crying. It would go away with a little time--if she didn't start crying again that is. With a sigh, Noelle finished getting everything she needed for tea and filled a teapot with the kettle water as soon as it was whistling. She sat at one of the booths and leaned back, staring off as she let the tea leaves steep in the pot.  

[Jeimuzu Kuro]

{James : Shipwreck Cove : Walkways -> Red Rose}

James had spent the good majority of the twenty or so minutes since they had returned to the cove where he believed he should be, with his wife. Seeing her again brought the corsair to the brink of tears as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Despite what had happened with him, he had been forgiven, not that in her eyes there was anything to forgive. To the gunner though there was so much, that he wasn't sure if he would forgive himself. He hadn't showed her the "permanent reminder" on his chest, nor did he really feel a need to any time soon. For the time being his golden irises was all the reminder he needed.

The two of them had been walking along the plank walkways heading up toward the Red Rose actually when he heard Sora's voice over the charms, it seemed the situation down below had finally come to an end. It didn't take too long before the corsair had reached the final walkway leading up to the beautiful airship the Red Rose. He had seen the ship in the game, but he hadn't seen it since coming here. It was just as gorgeous a ship in real life as it was in the game, if not even more so. The corsair picked up his pace as he saw the other earthlings that had been below making their way up the ramp and into the ship at their own pace, some noticeably quicker than others.

As he got closer he could tell just how tired they all seemed, no doubt from a hard battle, but he had a strange feeling that wasn't all there was to it. He needed to find out what had happened down below, but he was pretty sure that now wasn't the best time. As he got closer he noticed a number of new people boarding or at least standing outside the ship. As James approached the ramp his focus locked onto the two people dressed in dark suits, one of them had just grabbed onto Mizu, stopping her from falling during one of her klutz moments. The corsair couldn't help but smile at that, it was good to see Bobbi again, heck it was good to see everyone again. As he walked up the ramp into the large airship he caught a glimpse of the conversation she was having with one of the suited guys and caught the names that the young man gave, Daniel and Tseng. The name Tseng was enough to put the corsair on edge.

'Since when were the Turks involved in all of this...? What else did I miss?'

He would catch up with Mizu and Dawn later, who both seemed to be busy at the time, he wondered if they would even notice him and Michelle walking up the ramp past them. The Lunar Gunner had never been aboard the Red Rose and had no idea where anything was. Michelle had taken off, heading to her quarters, leaving the corsair feeling lost in the corridors of the ship.

'I know the train like the back of my hand by now... but this is completely different,' he thought as he looked around for some kind of signification as to where to go.

'Anyone care to show me around this place?' James called out over the Trinity Charms, announcing his now obvious return to the group after what had happened aboard the Dutchman. 'I have no idea where anything is.'

{Tseng : Shipwreck Cove : Outside the Red Rose}

Tseng remained silent as Merlin arrived to transport all of them out in a thick puff of smoke. When the Turk could see again he was looking at the amazing Red Rose Airship. Working for ShinRa, of course the Turk had seen airships before, but none of them had been designed elaborately as this one was. His focus turned away from the ship though as Cloud called out to him.

"Same could be said of you, Mr. Strife," replied the Turk as he began to make his way up the ramp towards the entrance only to be stopped by an unseen force.

This was the differences plain as day between magic and technology. While technology could allow certain doors to be only be accessed by keycards or passcodes, magic could control just based on will.

"Is there something we have to do to board?" The Turk asked of no one in particular.  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle : Red Rose : Interior ]

Kyle raised a single brow at her initial hesitation, but patiently waited. His patience paid off as she continued to talk, giving him everything he needed to know about her current state. It was anything but positive, to be sure.

Turning to face forward, looking at nothing in particular, he gave a small laugh--more like a simple exhale, a "heh"--and a small, understanding smile. Quickly stretching his legs out, his boots disappeared, leaving him barefoot, before he turned sideways on the bed and sat cross-legged. Turning his tired smile to her, he patted the spot on the bed in front of him, motioning for her to take a seat.

Any attempt at talking after that without her sitting down would be met with an interrupting "Ah-ah," and though it might have seemed annoying, there was an obvious sincerity about what he was doing--literally trying to have a sit down discussion with her. Besides that, he didn't actual say anything, just waiting for her to take her seat before beginning.  

[fractalJester]

[ Cloud : Shipwreck Cove : Rose Ramp -> Inside the Rose ]

Cloud released a single laugh under his breath before turning to walk up the ramp--unimpeded.

"Get their permission," he said to the Turk as he passed him, entering the ship and making his own way off.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Red Rose: Kyla’s room]

Indeed he was met with protests; looks of shyness and anxiety washed over the girls face, back and forth like a tug-o-war. Kyla truly felt she couldn’t possibly get closer to him. Him of all people. Maybe they could have talked normally before but now- she almost killed him. She wanted to help and all she did was make it worse for him, for everyone.

…don’t deserve it…

She muttered inside her head. What followed next was symmetrical to a situation where one was trying to coax a timid cat or something to come closer.
She shuffled uncomfortably, then without any course of action left without just being outright insulting to the man- cause heaven help her she couldn’t’ stand being impolite to someone like him- she crept closer and closer.

Closer still she shifted, savoring inches it seemed, the light form the crimson butterflies glinted in her hair at times or in the reflection of her thin square glasses. Closer until she finally touched the bed side like it was something hot and crawled onto it across from him.

The contact triggered a slight more relaxed change in her clothing but it wasn't too noticeable with her blanket wrapped tightly around her like some kind of protective shell she could tuck her head back inside.

In fact sometime during the time as she adjusted her seating, tucking her knees up to her chest against her book, the blanket was pulled up over her head a bit casting a shadow over the top half of her face.

A mistake.

Something else glinted in the dimmer shading, a hint of gold rimming her eye on the left. Kyla didn't notice the more her anxiety peeked the more it became relevant she was...marked somehow...
Truthfully in more ways then one, which was all the more reason she kept her blanket wrapped.
Something hurt in her back, something..heavy. she deserved no sympathy and she'd die before Noelle or Amy healed her because of her stupid decisions.

~ It’s going to be ok.~

‘...I killed him.’

Kyla's hand clamped tighter around her book's edges like a last life of defense against whatever Kyle had to say.  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle : Red Rose : Interior ]

Kyle once more was patient, watching her, his weary smile remaining as a form of encouragement. When she finally sat down and covered herself, he saw the glimmer in her eye and, though he made note of it, he did not make a mention of it.

We've all been scarred a bit today.

He brought his right hand to his left arm, rubbing it slightly as if to massage its soreness. They'd just been through a hell of a battle, after all.

"You're not incompetent, Kyla," he started, looking down a bit as he tried to find his words. It was going to be tricky, balancing Ajora's words and his own. "You're no more incompetent than the rest of us. You overestimated yourself--something we've all done at one point or another. I think my personal record so far is... two? Three times? Charging in to fight Chaos alone on Tortuga, and again here..."

He laughed, in his typical self-deprecating way.

"Ajora... well, as his origin, I think I'm best suited to translate," he began with a shrug, unable to make eye contact. "We... I come from a history of hard learning. It was done to me, I did it to myself, and sadly, I used to have a nasty habit of doing it to someone else, too. You make a mistake, and you beat yourself up for it until you never, ever, ever make it again. Perfection is obtained through crushing imperfection. Unhealthy business, that..."

He made eye contact and gave another weary smile. "He... really did want us to improve. To work better together. I'm sure most of the others, maybe even you, think he was just trying to stab at us, but..." he began, and he couldn't help but pause. He bit his tongue, as if hating the taste of his own words. "Of course, being the whole, I can say that he went about explaining his point horribly wrong. You don't get people to agree by being offensive..."

He stopped, tilting his head. "You running off alone... can you explain that to me?" he began. He looked genuinely curious--no judgment, no distaste. Just curiosity. "I only know two things for a fact. The only person you told is Jenny, who was busy trying to manage an entire battlefield. And that you went down there, knowing there was a Replica who was naturally more powerful than any of us individually, holding the Trident, who had started entire wars and ended countless lives. He ordered someone to rip Rae's heart out. So, I want to understand... I guess what you were thinking when you made that choice. I want to hear your side."  

[Kaegoe]

[Dawn : Shipwreck Cove : Rose Ramp]

Dawn let out a small eep sound when Bobbi fell forward. Then was caught by the Turk, who introduced himself as Daniel. She stared at him indifferently as he asked for her name.

"Dawn," she said in a mumble with an underlined indifference. For several moments she looked around the area as a way to escape then she heard James in the charms. "If you'll excuse me..." she said in the same cold voice.

With that Dawn retreated into the ship, without inviting him or Tseng in.

~'Well you sure are friendly,~'

'Which is justified,' Dawn answered Garuda, 'For crying out loud he is a Turk. They work for Shinra. I for one do not believe for one moment of Shinra's mission. Even if this is Kingdom Hearts Universe. I don't trust them as far as I throw them. Everyone trusted Kuja and Seymour, and we see where that has lead us.'

Garuda didn't respond as the Dancer walked through the hallways of the Red Rose and soon caught up with James. Without warning she came up behind him and gave him a hug. No words needed. She just hugged. A lot of stuff happened since the last time she saw him, without being Ajora controlled.

[Quina : Red Rose : Kitchen]

While Noelle, sat staring at her tea. The white and round Red Rose chief appeared out of nowhere in the girl's face.

"You tea bland. Need something much more filling." Quina said looking at the tea in disapproval, then looked directly at Noelle, "I cook. You eat. You be happy."

With that the chief started working on cooking something. What? No one could be sure yet.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Red Rose: Kyla’s room]


Kyla… was surprised, but wasn't too much to not listen to him.

It was interesting listening to the original trying to explain the antics of their darker copy. But was clear just how much Kyle truly did understand how Ajora was thinking… which brought something to the forefront Kyla had already understood but perhaps was taking it the wrong way.

The moment hat feeling crossed her mind she could almost SEE Tyue giving a mental nod like her partner was finally getting it.

She didn’t speak and her eyes dropped up and down from looking at Kyle’s face, Ajora words haunting her- echoing softly, till they Blared loudly in her head when he finally asked her million dollar question.

What.

Had.

She.

Been.


Thinking?

For a moment she felt like her brain was too much of a mess to articulate it properly, fearing she’d say things wrong, or worse..have no really good reason int he end.
But with gentle coaxing from the inside front, on behalf of her summon, Kyla eventually began speaking as her fingers strummed the edges of her book.
She looked up at Kyle, slowly meeting his eyes for the first time since the mess started. His expression was curious, and showed no trace of malice or anger but an honest question.

No one had ever asked her so kindly before.

She normally had to be fought to be heard.
It was strange being asked, in fact… when had he asked her what she was thinking before?

If he had, she couldn’t remember.

“You… something was wrong with you... I wanted to help. But…” she wasn't blaming him, she had no right to, and he was going through something.

The memory flashed back in bits and pieces: Kyle’s pent up rage, his unleashing of power, how his spell he implanted in himself backfired and how Joe and Noelle and Bobbi tried to help him.

“- it wasn't me you needed then. You needed your friends, so I abcked off and tried to think of what else I could do. “

She breathed a deep sigh. She could do this right? Right?

What if he said it was stupid- ~No, that’s not what you’re worried about.~
And this time Tyue came out. Summoned either by purpose or subconscious, but Kyla felt the brush of fur as it slipped into being and just rested leaning into her side like a cat.

She glanced at the creature, and the carbuncle glanced back. So she continued.

“… from the moment this journey started, especially after our replica’s were created I’ve been taking notes of their arrangement's of appearances and extrapolating on their intensity of battle verses the chances of true domination verses results."

" I came to a suspicion that Ajora was not entirely forthcoming with his true motives surrounding us, even those he seemed portray were just a front obviously but what it could be confused me. He had too many chances to unleash something more sinister to kill us more then once- but even for a schemer it had to be something else other then just messing with us before finishing us off."

" Based on a previous encounters where he had the opportunity to kill me, I realized he wasn't going to, not ever...or at least not unless he had no choice. At least I theorized as much. He reminded of Hannibal Lectar. "

"At the same time while we fought in the battle field and the spire appeared we realized it was all a distraction, Ajora had a head start to get to the heart of Atlantis. I remembered the intensity of it’s power…it’s one of my favorite stories, along with the little mermaid-“ she silenced her tangent and kept to the facts.

“My theory however on his behavior was too risky to endanger everyone else if I was wrong. But we couldn't’ afford to let him get any further to his goal while we were distracted in Atlantis. With the odds in our favor minus what was happening with you, to which I could not offer any aid, I decided to go after him…to buy you all time."

" But also, I had an opportunity, one which I could not certain would come again- to test my secondary theory."


She hesitated again a look of pure embarrassment coming into her features and turned her odd eye solid gold as the memory came back.  

[fractalJester]

[ Kyle : Red Rose : Interior ]

Kyle listened, holding his left arm all the same as she spoke. There were points where he wanted to disagree, to explain things from his side--but he waited. He'd helped more than enough people with their own arguments before to know that interrupting is the last thing you wanted to do to accomplish the optimal outcome.

When a creature appeared--her summon, Carbuncle no less--he eyed it with a small, curious smile, but once more remained quiet. Her hypothesis about Ajora was spot-on, really; it was certainly one he'd mused about before, but he also had been too hesitant to test it out. Ajora had wanted them alive, yes--but he knew Ajora's rage. How easily he could snap and want nothing more than a hand around one's throat...

He briefly thought back to his own outrage in Atlantica, and how much his anger had driven him on.

Kyla was, in one light, a lucky woman. Her primary hypothesis had, for the most part, proven right--but due to an unknown factor they hadn't expected. No one had expected it: the Darkness. That which even Ajora had feared, which motivated him beyond his own anger. She was lucky that he valued existence over his own outrage--but were they lucky that such a thing existed in the first place?

He silently nodded, signalling her to continue. Again, he noticed her eye, but made no comment. What he needed to address, he would--after she finished.