Organization XIII: The Gloves Are Off

[Fallendire]

Bexdian found herself in an ornate hall, faced by a woman who seemed to be a bit younger than herself. And, of course, she was hostile. Bexdian made a soft, dismissive noise in the back of her throat and drew Bise du Morte, expecting this fight to be a quick and easy one. This woman was flashy and overdramatic. Child's play.

Before the fourteenth member had a chance to poison the hell out of her challenger, however, another man appeared and ordered her to back down. Bexdian straightened up out of her offensive stance, dismissing her scimitar witha vague flick of her wrist, and followed the man without comment.

Alune again. Bexdian stopped at the entrance to the hall, leaning back against the wall. "Your Grace," she drawled, her voice the subtlest mockery of respect. "Merci. I find your hospitality . . . refreshing." She listened to him explain his intent, her expression unreadable. Finally, as the echoes of his last words faded, she stood up and walked towards him.

"You seem to be mistaken in your assumptions of me." The Frenchwoman licked her thumb idly, drew a stream of poison in midair, and began to play absently with the weightless liquid, drawing idle patterns. "Back in my home world, you promised to return to me what I had lost." She flicked a droplet with her finger, sending the deadly venom hurtling towards her host's face, then her pale hand flicked out and caught it before it could touch his skin. "I have lost nothing."

Bexdian regarded him coldly for a moment, then continued. "Deniba Montresor lost something. My Somebody lost something. Bexdian XIV has lost nothing." She gathered the poison in her palm and absorbed it, seeming more interested in the venom than in Alune. "What I seek was never mine to begin with. Therefore, if your only use to me is to provide me with a heart, I have no need of you."

She snorted, finally gracing him with eye contact again, her voice dripping scorn. "You are like the ones of the Organization - like Marluxia and Zexion. Oh, yes, you know them, do you not? They all thought they had control over everything. Where are they now? Zexion is dead. Marluxia is not only dead - his name is now a cruel joke. How do I know that in a year, you will not be the next Marluxia? How do I know that someday people will not say your name and laugh?" Bexdian began to pace, her heavy braid swaying with each step. "Do not say you recruit me. I will not be recruited. I will humor your whims so long as I am receiving equal benefit." She stopped and turned on her heel, rapping out orders in her thick, arabesque accent. "I expect you to have satisfactory accommodations prepared for me - satisfactory by my standards, not yours. I expect to be granted a room of scientific nature with which to execute my studies, and which is utterly off-limits to any of your servants or attendants. I expect not to be spoken to, looked at, or God forbid touched by any of your servants or attendants - or yourself, for that matter - without my explicit permission. I expect the permission to summarily kill and experiment on the bodies of any servants or attendants that offend me. I expect full use of your resources and manpower. I expect you to make as much effort to reach my goals as I will make to reach yours. I expect you to keep my old comrades - that's a horrendous word, 'comrades,' it suggests I could stand them - as far away from me as possible unless it is necessary we work together. And I expect," she finally concluded, "a steady supply of fine alcohol. If I do not have access to wine that is of my standards, I tend to become violent."

She reached into her pocket and pulled her gloves back on, speaking more softly than before. "If this seems unreasonable, Your Grace, simply understand that every other member of the Organization is a complete and utter ignoramus who will most likely destroy the foundation of your institution. They are liabilities. You will find that I will be the most valuable of any of them. Alienate me, and risk working only with the sentimental, inefficient fools I was trapped with."

[Bryden]

Though she had never been to this place... Namine knew it. She knew it from memories. The memories of other people. She'd had to corrupt too much to avoid knowing this place. But it had been so minor to her- not to the keyblade bearer, of course, to him it had been vital. He had found his love here. And the girl, too.

She followed the boy out of the darkness and survayed the area with him. Yes. Definetly. IT had to be. she'd know it anyplace- she'd drawn it herself, hadn't she?

She reached into the bag she'd managed to hold onto, producing the sketchbook. Flipped to a page- she knew it had to be there- and yes. there it was. holding up the book, it matched exactly.

"Hollow Bastion," she said quietly, more to confirm it to herself then to answer his unasked question.

[Alune the Wroth]

Alune could only crack a smile, his back still turned from her.
"Fuse will show you to your room. Change it in any way suited, although I have a feeling it will be to your liking for the time being, assuming one could express that." Alune spoke, "I assure you, your intentions to me are moot, and if you believe your intimidation tactics would work on me---you are mistaken. The intentions of the nobody are meaningless to me. I only need your body, to prove that I can once again make you whole again. If you do not wish this, it matters not to me, one of your fellow Organization members will act in a similar manner. My only stipulation to your 'demands' are that Fuse and Asellus are not to serve you. I also would recommend staying away from the Lady Mystic. She's substantially older and stronger than you in your current state. So if you'd feel inclined for a fight, I'd suggest there." Alune spoke, still keeping his back turned as Fuse appeared to the right of him.

"My Lord?" Fuse spoke to Rouge.
"Show her to the Vineyards, I'd expect her to find the rooms fitting for her claims." Alune spoke, not fully addressing the Nobody after her demands.
"Very well sir." Fuse spoke, appearing next to the Nobody as he left the room.


Alune turned once they had gone, as another being----a seemingly masked man stepped from outside the shadows.
"Lord Ourlouge?" Alune asked, rhetorically.
"Rouge, it has been to long." The man spoke, taking the mask off.
"I might have thought as much, Alkaiser. What do I owe the honor?"
"You're collecting Nobodies, and IRPO wants to know why." Alkaiser spoke, stern but seemingly compassionate.
"Fuse is keeping things underwraps with the Police. I'd expect Trinity to fully appreciate my actions, and support me in kind." Rouge spoke.
"The Trinity is still in the dark ever since the Magic Kingdom just happened to reappear out of thin air. They accepted Blue's speech on it, but as it stands you two are the only remaining people in search of the Gifts of Magic." Alkaiser spoke, moving around the hall, his boots clicking against the marble floors. "You only need one more gift to complete the set I'm assuming, so why are you dealing with these petty nobodies?"
"Something has caught my attention. Something which will elevate the Magic Kingdom for centuries to come. I have found the Secret of the Heart, and with it....it's Gift." Alune smiled, as Alkaiser crossed his arms.
"So It will be done?"
"In due time Alkaiser. Now if you don't mind...I have work to do."

[Shorik]

"Hollow Bastion, eh?" Shadow said, still observing the place. It seemed like an intersting place. More interesting than Twilight Town, anyways. Why was the castle ruined? Why was the Heartless symbol placed upon it? What kind of people were in the town? Then Shadow remembered the questions he had about the girl next to him. He turned his gaze to her, and opened his mouth to start asking, but then closed it.

Maybe we should get to that town first... Seems like a safer place than out here.

"I suggest we head into town.." Shadow said to the girl, "I imagine going through the dark realm was a bit tiring.. especially for a child... The name's Shadow, by the way... And you are?"

[Bryden]

The girl hesitated for a moment before replying. In that moment she closed her sketchpad and slid it back into place inside of her stained bag. She re-shouldered the pack, checking that it was firmly secured before raising her blue-eyed gaze to the boy.

"My name is Namine," she introduced herself softly, "And I'm not a child." She squared her jaw. "I can't possibly be much younger then you." Of course, she WAS a Nobody, and she did age differently. But he didn't need to know that. Even if he did know how to fight heartless and even if he had charged through a dark portal as if he'd done it all his life.

[Shorik]

Shadow shrugged. He couldn't help it if Namine looked like a child to him.
"My apologies, Namine." he said, "Appearances certainly are decieving. Anyways, we oughta get to town.."

For the next 15 minutes or so, Shadow and Namine made their way through the blue cliffs until they arrived in town. Their current location appeared to be a sort of shopping district. Shadow could spot out a couple of weapon shops, supply shops, a synthesis shop, and more.
"Seems like a nice enough place.." he said.

[Alune the Wroth]

Alune had left Fuse and Asellus in charge of The Magic Kingdom for the time being, much to their dismay. For Hearted-beings, they sure had an affinity for Alune, however who knows how far their loyalty would stretch for the Wroth King.

Alune was walking Alkaiser out when something twinkled in the night sky.
"I thought this part of the Magic Kingdom was constantly bathed in twilight, it seems the stars just got a bit brighter Rouge." Alkaiser spoke.
"Enough babble." Alune spoke, as his right hand was glowing with a white light. "I'm certain that you were sent here by IRPO to bring me in for questioning, am I right?"
"That's correct. The Trinity has recovered every Hero and enlisted their aid in the hunt of the Magic Kingdom Destroyers, Blue and Rouge." Alkaiser spoke, crossing his arms. "You can come along peacefully."
"I'd like to see you try to take me in at all." Rouge spoke, his eyes alight with the Magical Energies of his many Gifts of Magic.

"If resistance was met, I was ordered to retreat instantly, as a single Hero cannot compete with a Magus such of yourself." Alkaiser spoke, cracking his neck. "However I'd like to see just how powerful you are, Wroth Magus."
Alune smirked.
"This Match was over 3 minutes ago." Rouge spoke, as three groups of 3 Elementals apparated around Alkaiser, each slowing him down to mere fractions of his standard speed.
"Alkaiser, the 9 Elementals you see around you can appear anywhere within the confines of The Magic Kingdom, and almost a near countless amount can be produced. They have two functions mostly. To slow down enemies and to implode. This many, the power of their implosion would grow exponentially, effectively destroying much of this part of my Castle, which is something I'd prefer not to happen here. You may leave now Alkaiser." Rouge spoke, as the Elementals vanished just as quickly as they had appeared.
"Very well Lord Rouge. Do you have any other words to report to IRPO?"
Smirking, Rouge nodded.

"Tell them to pull off the hunt of Blue and myself, surely soon enough one of us will be dead, and then the other will follow. Fear not, the Trinity has nothing to worry about from This Magic Kingdom. I might suggest however, you going to Hallow Bastion. Rumors stirred through the Nether of such a power rivaling my own hiding inside of Hallow Bastion, surely that will help your search." Rouge smiled.

"Very well. The Trinity thanks you for your efforts....Alune." Alkaiser spoke, as he walked toward his IRPO issued Ship and left the Magic Kingdom.

Asellus appearing at his side.
"My lord? Why did you let him go?"
"I owed him a favor, from a long time ago." Rouge spoke, crossing his arms a bit. "I'm assuming Bexdian isn't cooperating? No matter. Once the others join, if they do she won't be needed." Rouge spoke, as he opened another silvery portal and stepped in, appearing elsewhere.


You have come, Wroth King. It is quite the honor A voice spoke out.
"Of Course, did you think I'd let the Heartless take you from me? Of course not."
So you find my current state amusing? Being used to fuel your mockery of a World?
"Not at all. In fact, I've come here to set you free, Your services are requested and I do not wish to turn you free unto the world." Alune smiled, as his eyes glowed a strange white.
So you would use me for your own designs? Expected of you Rouge....expected.
"Then don't be so surprised." Alune smiled, as the voice's tidings vanished from the portal, as Alune stepped back out.

"My Lord?" Asellus asked.
"Yes, Lady Asellus. Orlouge has been devoured." He spoke, turning to reveal his face---his eyes had taken a new hue, they appeared to have co centric irises, a sense of polychromatic hues perhaps.
"Very good sir, with the Charm Lords powers, you will be able to pursue the Heart in Facinataru?" Asellus spoke, seemingly interested.
"No. That is merely a theoretical heart. I am going to Hallow Bastion, it was once a world which was changed and then it receded once more, it is there in which I shall perform my experiment." Alune spoke, smiling a bit as the Lady Mystic nodded in approval.

[Bryden]

She followed after the stranger- Shadow- and was just fine with the silence. More then fine, in fact. she didn't want to slip up and reveal more then she absolutely had to. Namine had very good reasons for keeping to herself for the past years. One wrong word to one wrong person and she could find herself back as she was... and she couldn't go back to that. she didn't think she'd be able to survive it and keep her sanity this time around.

As they finally came into the town center, more or less, Namine looked around calmly. She merely nodded to Shadow's comment. Castle Oblivion seemed like a nice enough place, too. Appearances could be deceiving.

Still, she couldn't imagine that there would be that much here to harm them.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

[Shorik]

Shadow took some thought towards what they should do. They weren't in any imediate danger. Perhaps now would be a good time to ask Namine some of the questions he had of her.

"Well..." he said, turning to face the girl, "I suppose I could ask you a few things... Who exactly are you? Most people would run from a swarm of Heartless. Most people also don't jump into dark portals. You, however did just that and I must admit, I have this feeling that you know more than you're letting on."

Maybe Shadow was a little more up front than he needed to be, but Namine was a mystery that he wanted some answers to.

[Bryden]

The look that Namine gave him was very nearly cold. She did NOT want to answer any of these questions. At all.

Yet there went her stupid mouth, moving in spite of herself. "I was running from them," she reasoned, "I was running away when you crashed into me." He pushed a stray lock of blonde hair behind an ear. "and you told me to follow you. So I did. I-I wasn't thinking about i too much."

She cleared her throat pointedly. "So what about you? you weren't just running into them... you were fighting them. And you jumped right into a portal. Why did you do it?"

[Shorik]

Shadow gave a small laugh. He should've figured that the girl wouldn't be so open to him. He should've also figured that she'd redirect his questions back at him... What's done, is done though.

"May I remind you that I gave you the option to run?" he told Namine, "What you did was your own choice, whether or not you were thinking at the time.."

The Nobody paused for a moment, partially to let his words sink in, and partially to avoid answering the questions asked of him. However, it became apparent that Shadow would have to give some sort of answer to Namine.

"As for me.." he said, "I've had experience with Heartless before. I've been anxious to see other worlds than Twilight Town, and that dark portal seemed like a way to find them... Satisfied?"

[Bryden]

Though she nodded stiffly, Namine didn't say anything else. She had already gotten herself into enough trouble. she didn't need her big mouth digger her into an ever-deeper hole. Thankfully, she wasn't stupid.

the best course of action was probably to change the subject quickly and completely.

"Right... well, now that we have all of that cleared up, maybe we can think about what we're going to do now that... now that we're here?"

[Allison]

[Don't. Kill me. I blame freshman year of highschool for making me write essays and drop names like Langston Hughes and shit.]

The small blonde whined, arching his back. He looked rather like a strange bug, as the blankets where draped on top of him- he was trying to remember what the gummi ship was for.. He didn't recall a tri- ... Oh. Wait. The trip. The proverbial 'Romantical Getaway'.
Roxas didn't want to get up. He really didn't. But he knew nothing would stop Axel from going to France- He had only been talking about this trip since the first time he even heard a rumor of Earth, and only whispers of the place called 'France'.
"Can'tyoujustcarryme? Please?" He finally opened his eyes, tilting his head on the pillow. Closing his eyes and sleeping for another three hours sounded very, very friendly.
With a sigh, Roxas felt confident enough to swing his legs over the bed, grabbing a pair of jeans and pulled them on, quickly realizing they were Axel's jeans, as they began to slide off of his legs.
"Axel.." he whined, using the bed for support to stand up.
"Do we have to?"
'What a stupid question...' the thought, realizing the words coming out of his mouth. He tried to save the stupid question with something cute, and that hopefully would make Axel have a nosebleed.
"Can't they just put the bed on the ship? And we can sleep? Or do I have to curl up next to you and sleep on your shoulder the entire way?"
He realized it wasn't going to come off as cute, and just as Roxas being lazy.
Pulling a nearby bag over his shoulder, he sat back down on the bed and slipped on socks.
"Should I wear a belt? I don't want to have to take it off in security.... But my pants will fall off of me..."

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"Axel? Roxas? Are you guys ready yet? Your ship leaves in less than an hour," A soft voice called through the front door of the small flat. Pushing the door open, a raven-haired girl poked her head through and let herself into the flat, closing the door behind her and standing in the middle of the room, her arms crossed across her chest.

"You guys don't have to worry about the flat; I'll make sure it stays safe and sound, and will be clean and ready for you when you come home," she promised, calling to the boys from the living room before wandering into the kitchen to make them coffee before they left.

Tapping her fingers on the kitchen counter, Xion sighed. Three whole weeks without Roxas and Axel...it would be lonely, but at the same time, relaxing. She'd watch over their home, as well as her own, and hopefully they'd be back soon. Hopefully with 'Earth' chocolate for her.

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"Great idea, Xanya!" Ayroxe squealed happily, jumping up beside her two companions. "It's been too long since we last saw everyone!"
"On the contrary, my dear," Luxord said in a strained voice, putting his hand on the teen's shoulder and stopping her from jumping. "It hasn't been long enough."
"Awwh, don't be such a killjoy, Luxord! You know you've missed the old days, you're just too stubborn to admit it." Putting her hand to her chin, she stepped in front of the tracking bugs, looking at each one in turn.

"Hmmm...how's about we go and find Nexissa and Demyx? I'm pretty sure we can convince him to follow us, and Nexissa will go wherever he does."
"And why, pray tell, do we want more Nobodies added to our select party?" Luxord drawled, leaning against his kitchen counter with his arms crossed.
"Because if that weird guy you were talkin' about has more friends, we need all the extra hands we can get to keep them away. You may be confident you can fight them single-handedly-" she cut across Luxord as he opened him mouth with a cocky look, "-but I'm not. Let's just...see what everyone's got to say, okay?"

"Very well, Ayroxe. Xanya, do you find this possible move worth the gamble?" he asked, smirking at the blond.