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

[Je suis a toi]

[ Noelle .:. Prote ~ Disney Castle ~ Fairgrounds]

Noelle snickered at how tipsy Yuffie was, but was beginning to feel so herself. This was her second game, and despite being the one teaching people how to play she was terrible at it. She'd always been on the losing end when playing with her friends, but because of the fact that they were playing with drinking horns and a small wooden ball instead of proper equipment made it that much harder. Her opponent, a friendly fellow from the Dunbroch clan, was currently destroying her. He made it in a corner cup on a bounce (that she had comically tried to swat away and missed), and Noelle swore at herself as she downed the cup and put it aside.

"Hey, I wanna find out if I can do that let's find out." The agromancer giggled to Joe's last remark before waving at Anthony and Chika, "Bah, if you can find me some red cups then please do so, what we have now isn't suiting me at aaaaaaaaalll, I'm sucking more than ussssual, as you can see."

Noelle wasn't lying. The Dunbroch had already re-racked and she hadn't made a single cup.

"Someone sober needs to play after I'm done. That is unless someone wants to carry me outta here."  

[VoLt189]

[Anthony ~.~ Disney Castle ~.~ Fairgrounds]

"That's the usual reaction I get from women," Anthony began, "when I fall into their fishing pool..." the young man tried to keep a straight face, but ended up laughing at his own joke before getting shoved into the crowd building around the beer pong table.

"Noelle, you're so chibi, it'd be a pinch to carry you out of here," replied the knight. "But first, I'd totes like to get in on this game." Much like Noelle, Anthony was usually on the losing side when he versed his friends back home, but he was known for making a few miracles happen here and there. He was particularly fond of bouncing the ball and going for the death cup. "Mind if I take a celebrity shot, or maybe we could start a game of two's instead?"  

[Kaegoe]

[Dawn : Disney Castle : Fairgrounds - Tetra Master Gaming area -> on route to Castle - Courtyard]

Dawn followed after Bobbi and the others for awhile. When ended with her being separated from the group when she found a group playing Tetra Master. Which instantly peaked her interest. Was just like she remembered playing in Final Fantasy 9. It wasn't long before she was brought in to play as well.... After all it wouldn't be much different than when she Dualed with the Family back on Earth....

.....

After hours of playing, and frustration, Dawn slammed her head on the playing table. This was right, it was like Dualing her friends. She kept losing! What is worse, she kept getting her butt handed to her by a magical broom! When it came to poker or spades, she can win no problem. But these cards were hating her and the feeling was becoming mutual.

"That is it, I am done! Good game," Dawn said in defeat as she got up and left the table and the gaming area and started back to the castle.

...It wasn't long before her lost self made it to the Courtyard. Which lucky for Dawn Sora and Kairi were already there.

"Sora, Kairi!" Dawn greeted with a high wave, then ran to catch up and grinned, "Glad to see some familiar faces that know their way around here."  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: Disney Castle: Entrance > Garden Courtyard]

She had just arrived at last to the front of the castle, craning her neck up at the towering doors when she heard a familiar voice.

“Kylaaaaa!”The tone was sing song and happy, and the artist had just turned about in time and move her arms out at the sides to save the ice-cream as she was wrapped in a joyful hug by the alchemist Maggie.
“there you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” Pulling back she feisty raven haired woman framed the artists face in between her palms and grins. “You’re looking a little better than before- a bit on the tired side?” Kyla scoffed, shaking her head- “It’s that obvious now is it?”

“Well if the dark circle under the eyes was no indicator- you were wobbling to one side when I saw you down the street. So- did you have fu-“Maggie was cut off when her eyes finally caught the ice cream held protectively in Kyla’s hands. Sheepishly the artist produced one of them to her in a silent offer.

“Is that’s what I think it is?” she asked, and Kyla could only smile some what proud of herself that she found it. “Yeup. I made this once at home, but I always wanted to know what the professional flavor tasted like.”
 

[fractalJester]

[ Maggie : Disney Castle: Castle Entrance ]

"Ah, yeah, these are great!" she replied, happily accepting the ice cream. "I think I've had one every day I've been here, and I still don't get tired of'em! Thanks!"

Savoring the ice cream and walking alongside the artist, Maggie seemed absolutely content, grinning. She finally spoke up after a few seconds of strolling down the comically oversized white marble entrance corridor. "So, like I was saying, did ya have fun?"  

[fractalJester]

[ Sora ; Kairi : Disney Castle : Central Gardens ]

The two had been enjoying an extended silence as they sat on the central hill, which was covered in grass and various flowers of beautiful bright colors. It's not that they didn't have anything to talk about. They could have talked for hours; they already had, too. They just didn't need to talk, not right then.

When Dawn shouted out and gave them a wave, they replied in kind, smiling and waving back to her.

"It's not too bad. Just really, really big," Sora responded as she came over. "Oh, Kairi, this is Dawn."

"Nice to meet you," she said, politely nodding to the girl. "I gotta say, it's still strange, you guys all knowing us without us knowing you."

"The life of a celebrity," Sora joked, grinning as he held his hands behind his head, only to have Kairi playfully shove him so that he fell backward, where he remained lying.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla: disney Castle> Gates> enroute Courtyard Gardens]

"you have?!" Kyla gawked looking at Maggie for a moment and readjusting her glasses. Must be nice it seemed, then again the girl deserved some fringe benifits after all they've been through.

"I guess I did. I still can't believe I did." the meganekko replied, begining to take a small bite or nibble off of her icecream. After ensuring she licked away the melting bits Kyla did that weird half smile grimmace she was used to since she could feel the question in Maggie before she said it- the girl always had a nack for probing her.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to. theres just so much.. in here-" she said tapping her own head with her free hand. "- so much I thought ti would ruin the mood no matter what I did. But I guess the cornerstone helped... or maybe.. just being with them made it possible, " she blew a sigh, shaking herhead, " I honestly don't know."
Kyla took another bite of her icecream as they went inside and began to take the route of halls towards the center courtyard.
"- so how is life here? I dind't get to see the rooms yet- are they good? I wonder what the other princesses are like."
 

[fractalJester]

[ Maggie : Disney Castle: Castle Entrance ]

Maggie nodded along, happily listening to the girl. She was always happen to lend an ear, and Kyla was always happy to take it. They worked together like that.

"Eh, they're all kind of exactly how they've been portrayed," Maggie said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Belle's usually reading, Snow White and Aurora tend the gardens, Alice just explores endlessly, Jasmine tends to venture out into the town, and Cinderella likes to help out with chores. Kairi only just arrived, but I imagine she's more fun like Jasmine, since she likes adventure."

"It's not like being pure heart makes them one-note people. It's just... that's what they like doing. And being princesses, that's what they do," she added, laughing.

"The rooms are pretty posh! We all got our own," she went on, hitting the question-before-last. "They're all the same, but we're allowed to add or take out what we want. But believe me, ya won't be changing the bed."

With another laugh, her lively vibe softened, if only slightly. "Life's pretty busy, but it's good. We all get to contribute in the best way we can. Like, that Alan guy? He works with Donald and the other mages, training and being trained. Kichi works with the soldiers from China, and loves it to all hell. I work with the Moogles--they're teaching me all about my powers, and I'm helping them, which helps the whole shebang!"

"The front lines were fun, but I just didn't feel cut out to be a fighter, no matter what these guns say," she said, proudly flexing her biceps with a grin; she was an alchemist from her summon, but a monk from her heart. "I still keep up the training--I can break stone like glass! But I figure I can best help here."

"But you, you got to see all of Hawaii, and then Atlantica and Atlantis!" she said, turning to walk backwards so she could face the artist. "Bet you got it all down, huh?"  

[Kaegoe]

[Dawn : Disney Castle : Central Gardens]

Dawn busted out laughing at Kairi and Sora's antics. After she was done, she was still smiling, though it didn't fully reach her eyes.

"Nice to meet you Kairi. And trust me it is just as strange for you guys as it is for most of us. Heck, I know for a fact that Bobbi is just wanting to pounce on Riku. Seeing that she has had a fan girl crush on him for as long as I remember." Dawn rolled her eyes with a slight laugh before she continued with a serious note, "Though seriously, never in a million years did I think I would meet the people I have met and seen so many places that I only saw in my dreams. I just wish that..."

She paused what she was saying as she looked down and away from the two.  

[fractalJester]

[ Sora ; Kairi : Disney Castle : Central Gardens ]

Sora and Kairi both snorted when she mentioned Bobbi's crush. The age difference alone was more than enough to make the sheer idea of it a joke in their minds.

When Dawn's voice slowly trailed off, their expressions softened, and Kairi gave her a reassuring smile. "It's gonna be okay. You'll see. They always come back in the end."

"Just can't lose hope," Sora added nonchalantly from his position flat in the flora.  

[Kaegoe]

[Dawn : Disney Castle : Central Gardens]

"Oh trust me, I will." Dawn said looking up at Kairi and Sora, "When I started this journey, when I met up with everyone, I made a promise to myself that I would get them back. It was my failure after all. I was unable to protect those I was supposed to. Therefore, I am responsible to make sure they are safely returned home. Where they belong."  

[fractalJester]

[ Sora ; Kairi : Disney Castle : Central Gardens ]

Kairi frowned at Dawn's response, and opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get a word out, Sora had already flung a small jolt of Thunder magic at the other woman by pointing his finger at her lazily.

"No," he said. Simple as that, his tone sounding as if he were reprimanding a puppy. He was silent for a few moments. "When a world starts its fall, no one can stop it. It wasn't your failure anymore than losing our islands and being separated was mine."

"He's right," Kairi said, shaking her head and looking back up at the standing dancer. "You did what you could. From the way it was described, it didn't sound like you could have done anything more anyway--after your dives, there was nothing but the Darksides, right?"

"That's how it was explained to me," Sora said, remaining flat. "So don't blame yourself like that. Let's the shadows in."  

[Kaegoe]

[Dawn : Disney Castle : Central Gardens]

Dawn looked directly at the two as she sucked in her breath at the sudden jolt that Sora gave her. As her mind and heart took in their words.

~'That is the same thing I've been telling you. What happened was not your fault.'~

"But they were just children. Shalynn. Eli. Krystal. The three of them. I am their Aunt. They look up to me. I am one of them that is to always look out for them. Like a mother would." Dawn mumbled back, closing her eyes tightly looking away with her hands in fists.  

[Enji_Chou]

[Kyla biggrin isney Castle> enroute Courtyard Gardens]


"Wow- thats pretty nice. I mean.. I sort of expected as much. They're real people now with thier own fleshed out personalities. I bet Bell would be an awesome study partner. I was thinking of reading up as much as I can later in the Library. I can empathize with Alice's wonderlust. As for Kairi, she really does like adventure- I like her. she was lots of fun to be with, and is a great sport about things."
The evening light cast different colors on the walls through the various windows and their shadows stretched before them like towering giants. Kyla licked her icecream and continued to listen.

The room sounded great! she looked forward to sinking into one of them once she knew where to go. Training with the mages sounded like a great idea too- asuming anyone would bother teaching her now.

"Hehe, I like the moogles, they're so cute. I imagine alchemy is really interesting.. and explosive. I'm glad Kichi and Alan have found their places here as well."

As for the front lines though, Kyla had to shrug indifferently. "I'm not so sure I'm cut out either. You saw what happened today. All this time I thought I was being a great team player- but in the end I just screwed up. Now people are down right suspicious of me. Ugh.. it's like having one of those pesky rumers filtering around about you... I can only imagine what everyone thinks of me. sure they 'say' everything is fine, but if todays...oh- "

She realized Maggie may not even know about that. "- I'm not sure you know about that. It may not be my place to say. Lets just say events prove otherwise."
She stopped just shy of exiting to the courtyard, the shadows last on her from the wall. "hmmm..." she bite into her icecream again and looked up at Maggie.

"Maybe.. if things don't improve. Maybe I should stay here with you? I mean. I can't have people slipping up because I freak them out. It could get someone killed. Or at the very least come up with another way to go out there and help. It's impossible ot do it alone. Maybe a seperate team? I dunno..." she started scratching the side of her head thinking about it.
"- It's too much to ask for them to create a seperate group just for me, though if we're working fomr this spot as HQ, maybe the arrangments for missions will be different? I'm not sure where we'll proceed from here on out."

Realziing she'd gone off on a tangent she blushed with embarassment, and bite into her icecream. It was nearly down now. "...I did like Hawaii... and Atlantis. Being a mermaid was amazing, everything I hoped for an more- I wish I could have shared that with you Maggie."
 

[ArcanaFate]

[???? :: Disney Castle(?) :: Fairgrounds(?)]

A young man hovered over Noelle's shoulder, adjusting his newsie hat with a small sigh. "My oh my, miss Noelle. You clearly are a lightweight. I suppose that's to be expected when you lack the proper tools. But seriously, I'm slightly disappointed in your lack of skill especially since you're the one teaching them." He stated flatly, although a faint trace of a smile could be seen.

He sighed, waving his hand through one of the nearby people. He was a little saddened at the fact no one could really see or hear him other than Noelle. He did a small twirl in the air before looking back at the blonde agromancer. Her last comment made him laugh, and he shook his head. "Lightweight is not an accurate description anymore. Featherweight? No... Grain of sand weight? Yes, I like grain of sand weight."