destinystrings | Curious how it stings... (Backdated to the 23rd)

Entry tags:

Curious how it stings... (Backdated to the 23rd)

Who: Xion, Sora, Aqua, and open
Where: Xion's apartment (6-07), then the 6th floor living room area
Summary: Lea's gone. Cue emotional fallout.
Warnings: Aaaaangst

[Xion is in her room, not Lea's, which is unusual enough, given that it's still early in the morning. Though really, it's not Lea's room anymore. It's not anybody's.

Because Lea was gone.

Maybe Xion had work today. She should call in sick, or something, she knows, but she can't seem to muster up the energy. She's lying limply on her bed, clutching her starfish pillow to her chest. Lea had been acting strange, sure. But she hadn't... hadn't thought he'd just... disappear. Why? Why would he leave her here alone? Especially after Roxas had gone such a short time ago? Would she keep losing people she cared about until she had no choice but to abandon this place to see them again?

It'll take a lot of knocking for her to even acknowledge that someone's there, let alone answer the door. Thank goodness she has certain people who are persistent enough to do just that.]

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[Later, Xion can be found curled up on a couch in the living room of the Pisces floor six apartments, still clutching her starfish pillow, a light blanket wrapped around her shoulders (this area of the apartments been warm lately, which had been good for Lea's sake), and holding a picture the Namine from home had drawn of herself, Roxas and Axel.

She's doing better thanks to Sora's and Aqua's efforts, but still looks pretty down. Cheer up?]

[[ooc; In the open section, it should be noted that Aqua and Sora are both nearby and may threadjack]]

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[She had noticed the moment his presence left the city. She had waited until the day after in case he came back. Though the later it became, she realized the truth. Something had called him back into his own timeline again. He wasn't going to come back just yet.

Worriedly, she knocks on Xion's door... and keeps on knocking. As someone who knew the pain far too well, she at least wanted to be there for someone younger than her who was going through this now.]

Xion, it's us. Please open the door.

Edited 2012-12-27 04:47 (UTC)

[Meanwhile, Sora hadn't realized that Lea had vanished - they didn't know each other very well, and he didn't know enough about him yet to realize that it would be strange to not have run into him again by now. Instead, he's came here just because he was worried about Xion. He knew she wouldn't have normally stayed out of touch this long without warning, but he didn't know what could be wrong. He figured she was probably fine, but he wanted to see her anyway, just to be sure. Besides, maybe she could help him with this whole finding a job mess.

But when he sees Aqua there at the door too, he finds his concern growing a bit. Was something up, or was she just visiting?]

Hey, Aqua, do you know if Xion's in there right now?

[Worried big bro is officially worried.]

[Aqua nods faintly as she keeps knocking. She didn't want to just barge in like she knows she can and has done before. Yet, that worried feeling is mutual enough to almost make her change her mind about keeping her from doing so. Since she worked with Lea and he hadn't been to work... she knew there was something wrong.]

Mm. Eudora and I both can sense her.

['Xion, please... answer us.']

[The knocking wasn't stopping why wasn't it stopping why weren't they just going away? She didn't feel up to seeing anybody right now. She didn't feel up to putting up a front and... and... Even if it was people she knew, because she recognized the voices.

Please just let her be...]

[At last she heaves herself out of bed, and shuffles across the floor, starfish pillow held in one arm. Sora and Aqua can likely hear the sounds of movement behind Xion's door before there's the sound of the doorknob turning and the door opening a little bit.

Some people look beautiful when they cry or have been crying. Xion isn't one of them. Her eyes are red-rimmed and slightly swollen and her face is blotchy and her hair is all askew. Overall, she probably looks about as miserable as she feels. The loss of three friends in such a short space of time has just... been too much.

She's... trying not to make it too obvious though, never mind that it's far too late for that.]

Hey.

[After Kairi learns about Xion's state, she waits a little before she comes to visit. If she was anything like the Xion she knew, she'd want a little bit of time to herself and her thoughts before she wanted people to come cheer her up. When she felt like it was enough time, she stops by the store, picking up a certain something from the frozen section before she makes her way to the district Xion lived in. She knocks on the door with a stereotypical shave and a haircut pattern, lips pursed in worry. Kairi really hoped Xion would be okay, and more than that, she really hoped disappearing was nothing like how it was where she was from. Hopefully she still had it in her to offer a supporting shoulder and kind word-- Kairi had become much more hardened and accustomed to losing someone after being stuck in a torture facility, and while it still hurt, it was something most had learned to move on from. Xion deserved sympathy and kindness, not apathy and chiding...

Kairi was careful to have a scarf wrapped up around her neck, trying to cover up her collar both for her own sake and everyone elses. It was weird enough having people stare at her on the streets, and she didn't really want to worry her friends or insight any questioning as to why exactly she had one in the first place... she didn't want them to know about the experiments, not just yet.]

Edited 2012-12-27 07:19 (UTC)

Let me try, okay?

[He doesn't push Aqua out of the way or anything, but he does step closer to the door so that he can knock himself. However, he hears movement before he can start, and only a few short moments later the door finally opens.]

Hey, Xion! I just wanted to stop by and...

[Sora may be a bit oblivious sometimes, but he's not that oblivious. His worries are all but confirmed when he sees Xion, opening the door with puffy red eyes. And that pillow...he had seen her hug it when she was upset before, and he had a feeling that was why she had it now. His expression, mostly hopeful before, falls into worry when he realizes that his concerns on his way here may have been justified.]

What happened?

[He didn't have to, because she stepped aside the moment he asked. Though she isn't familiar with the cling-to-pillow-because-cannot-handle-the-sad, she did recognize the look in Xion's eyes. It was the same look she'd wished she could share with anyone so much so many times over the years but couldn't.

She likely never would, either. Though right now, she didn't care. They had both lost friends, after all.]

...Xion...

[She wanted to hug her, but knew it was best to let her make the first move.]

[Xion lets go of the door handle a moment to reach up and scrub at an eye, trying to hide obvious evidence of the watery feeling she felt at the corners of her eyes. Just... by herself she'd been able to sort of fall into this sort of numb stasis. She wasn't happy, but she wasn't completely broken down either. This was shattering that miserable sort of calm.

It's a few moments before she trusts herself to speak.]

Lea's gone. He went home.

[He left her. Why would he leave her behind? Had he thought she'd go too? That she had gone...? But why? Except no, she knew... she knew he wouldn't have. He wouldn't leave her behind, he would do what he could to find her and make sure she was safe before leaving himself, as much as she hated to think he'd put her well-being over his own. So why was he gone?]

Edited 2012-12-27 07:26 (UTC)

[Xion hears the knock on the door... it sounds like the general direction of her room. It's reasonable that someone might look for her there, though right now she's in the communal living room area where there's more room to sit down comfortably, since they - her and Sora and Aqua - had moved there earlier/

She lifts her head up from the couch, turning around so she can see her doorway and the person knocking there.]

Kairi? I'm over here.

He left?

[That was the last thing Sora expected to hear. Between his surprise at the news and his worry about what to do right now, he didn't know how to react, either. Mostly, he just wanted to find a way to help Xion feel better.

But...where to even start?]

Can we come inside, Xion?

[That'll make it easier to talk, at least.]

[...and it was the first thing Aqua had expected. After all, with her more unique gift, it was obvious. She nods in agreement to this idea, already having a few ideas coming to mind as to what to do.

Talking came first.]

Mm. May we? [Because the first step is to figure out why he left, but also to show her that she will not be alone.]

[He didn't know Xion that well, but she had been nice enough to him at the beginning, so seeing her looking so unhappy makes him pause for a moment, debating whether he should stop over and talk to her. He's not sure if he should, but eventually he relents to himself and wanders next to the couch, crouching down.]

Hi... are you all right?

[There was a hopeless sort of look in her eyes as she glanced briefly from one to the other before looking back down. She isn't really sure she wants company yet, but... sh is sure that she probably doesn't have an option in this case.

At last she sighs, opening the door a little wider and stepping back, all while scrubbing at her eyes again.]

Sure. There's not a lot of room, but...

[If they want to they can come.]

[A lack of space is the last thing that's going to deter Sora now. He steps inside when Xion gives them permission to come in, leaving plenty of room for Aqua to follow.

Though he doesn't say anything, he can't help but try to wrap his head around all the possible reasons Lea would have done this. He may not have known Lea as well as Roxas and Xion did, but he knew that they were friends - best friends - and that there's no way he would have done this to hurt Xion.

But it did hurt her. That was obvious. So...what could have been that important?]

Did he say anything before he left?

[Xion shuffles a little, her fingers tightening a little around the paper in her hand. Her lip quirks a little, like she's trying to smile but it's not working very well]

I'm... okay. [Xion stop lying] A... friend of mine just left, that's all.

[Except we know that friend leaving to a keyderp is Really Awful]

[Xion's wrapped her other arm around the pillow again, clutching it tightly. There wasn't anywhere to really sit in her apartment's tiny kitchen, so she shifted back towards their bedroom, knowing Sora and Aqua would follow. At Sora's question though, she stops, bowing her head]

He... he didn't say anything. Not that would make me think... [She shook her head] He was acting strange. Talking about a Green Christmas or something, like it was really important.

[She's going to start crying again again she knows it]

But... nothing about wanting to go home, or anything.

[Aqua came in behind, closing the door behind her before following them into the bedroom.]

Him too, huh...

[...Yes. Yes she did run into a couple other friends who were spouting off similar things, and likely were still going at it unless someone tied them up. Still, why would he leave?]

That's weird, though... The other two I've come across who were talking the same way are definitely still here in Hinoto-Ri.

[She brings a hand to her chin, thinking, 'I doubt a spell like that would make him leave; if anything, it would cause him to want to stay even more. Ergh, this doesn't make sense! Lea doesn't seem the type to just leave his friends behi-'

...Willingly. They knew they could voluntarily leave, but... was this place also like Promenade and Abax? Because she knew she wouldn't have left Ven or the others behind if she had the choice (and even though she didn't, she still felt guilty for doing so).]

Absolutely nothing?

Left? You mean, this city? Why?

[It's a natural rush of questions. He wants to understand more... but if she's this upset, she probably doesn't know.

It's tricky, what to do... he settles a hand onto her shoulder in a comforting gesture, not entirely sure what to do otherwise.]

They're not coming back... are they?

[Riku arrives sometimes in the late afternoon, he hasn't been feeling all too cheerful the whole day either... Lea might not be from he same timeline as him, but... he's an ally... a friend regardless of that.

Still he knows (ḱ̴̀̕ņ͢͞o̶͘͢w̢̡͠ş̛͟) that Xion is the one who's been hit the hardest by his disappearance (eś͝p̕ȩ̶̵c̴i̧á̶ļ͝ļy̸̧̡ ̧g̵͘i̵͟vȩ͘͏ń͝ ̨͠t̕͡h҉͟á́͡t ̸̢R̴o͢͡͞x͡as,̨͞ t̵̢o̧ó,̴̧h͠a̸̛̕d̨͢ ̢̛d͢͟͞is̕a̴p̶̢p͟͜ę̷a̷͝r̀e͞d ̴n͘͞o҉͢t ̛t̨͡ó̵̶ó̕ ̨͢lo̧ǹ̴̀g̕͘ ag̢͝o͘͝ ̛as̢͢ ̧w͏e̛̛l҉̷l), and even though things are still maybe just a little strange between the two of them...

Well, she's a friend. There's only so long before he decides that he definitely needs to check on her.

So here he is, leaning against the back of the couch she is sitting on, arms crossing as he asks quietly:]

Care for some company?

Oh! Hey, Shi.

[She smiles, and quietly hopes that Xion didn't mind too much if she called her by a nickname. Kairi had gotten rather used to it with Xion back at Facility, and she wasn't sure she could easily ditch it if the other girl wasn't comfortable with the familiarity. Plus, she kind of hoped she could get to know this particular version of Xion just as well...]

I brought you something.

[Xion shakes her head. The idea that others in the city were acting the same strange way as Lea had been didn't mean much to her. Not when her friend was gone]

Nothing.

[If anything, the words he had said after Roxas left had assured her that he likely wasn't going anywhere. He hadn't... actually said anything aloud to that effect, but the sentiment had been there, if she knew him at all. And she did. Probably better than most anyone besides Roxas.]

[Xion stiffens slightly in surprise at the hand on her shoulder - she hadn't been expecting it - then relaxes. She looks back down at the ground biting her lip]

I-I don't know. I don't... think so though. Aqua thinks he may not have wanted to leave, though. That sometimes in places like this, people leave, even if they don't want to.

[She isn't sure if she's comforted by the idea that Lea hadn't wanted to leave, or scared at the idea that the others could leave at any time too. That she could lose more of them.]

[While Xion is slightly startled at the nickname, she doesn't seem to mind too much. Instead she just... pushes some of her hair back behind her ear awkwardly, a little unsure how to react, both to the nickname and the idea that someone brought her anything right now.]

You did?

What could cause something like that..?

[It's a useless question, but one that he feels a sort of determination to find an answer for. Even if he knows she doesn't have it. There has to be an explanation somewhere...]

I'm sorry. He must have been a good friend if you're this upset. [There's a bonus shoulder squeeze.] Though... even if he's gone, you still have the memories, right?

[She leans over and plops a grocery bag in Xions lap with a small smile. If Xion were to peer inside of it, she'd find a box of seasalt ice cream sitting all snug in the plastic.]

If my past observations are correct, this is a staple part of most former Organization diets.

[Xion glances up, from where she was looking down at Namine's picture. She isn't... sure how to handle company right now, but she does know that - as much as she wouldn'tve admitted it earlier, being around Aqua and Sora and everyone else who's come to visit has helped... at least a little bit.

She nods]

Sure.

Yeah, he was.

[There's something in Xehanort's words though, that reminds her of something. Something Axel had said a long time ago. Memories...

"As long as we remember each other, we'll never be apart. Got it
memorized?"

She smiles. It's bittersweet and melancholy, but it is a smile.]

Yeah... Yeah, I do. [She pauses.] Thanks.

[He brightens up a little at the smile.] Just remember... as long as you hold someone in your memories, they'll never disappear. Even if they're not there with you, they'll still be waiting for you.

[A bit of a frown... he's not sure how many people he's lost because of his lack of memory, but the fact that he's still there means that someone must be thinking about him somewhere... thus the previous expression is quickly pushed aside for a returned smile.]

That's weird...

[This would probably be just like Riku suddenly deciding to pack up and leave him behind without warning - it didn't make any sense at all. Lea wouldn't leave Xion behind like this, unless something really important was happening. But time was frozen in their world, so whatever it was couldn't be that bad...

Without realizing it, the same idea popped into his head that popped into Aqua's, though not from past experience. It was just the only thing that seemed to make sense.]

Could it have been an accident? Is that possible?

[He directs the question to both Aqua and Xion, figuring that, since they've both been here longer, either one of them could know the answer.]

[Aqua is hesitant to respond at first, thinking back to the other places like this that she had been. True, none of them had Personas there, but... Hm...]

...It was possible the last city I was brought to. [She frowns, feeling a little guilty.] A few left someone close to them behind, but not by choice.

['Ven...']

[He keeps standing where he is, eyes drifting to the ground and he tries to find something comforting to say. But... truth to be told... he doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know Xion, no matter how familiar his heart says she is to him, no matter what small pieces of memory had returned to him in his dreams so far... disconnected... disjointed... not enough to help him out in any case.

...He remembers the way she had reacted when he had told her about his lack of memory of her though, the thought that there was a place where there wasn't any memory left of her. Not within him. Not within Lea either.

It couldn't be easy to think about.

And so he says nothing for now... there really isn't anything to be said, is there?]

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Curious how it stings... (Backdated to the 23rd)

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