pullsheavendown: (※ all the space between)
Roxas ([personal profile] pullsheavendown) wrote in [community profile] nysalogs2018-08-16 05:20 pm

You got someone you think you know well

Who: Terra ([personal profile] earthy), Roxas ([personal profile] pullsheavendown) and surprise guest star Sora ([personal profile] happylocksmith)
What: HE'S 👏 NOT 👏 VENTUS 👏 YOU 👏 NUMPTY
When: Some time after everyone returns from Nadril
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): Kingdom Hearts lore is still stupid

[Axel is probably going to be annoyed when he hears later that he was left out of this, and Roxas will proooobably apologize for it...probably. Maybe. Maybe not. It's not that he doesn't appreciate his friend's concern, or that he thinks he wouldn't be just as worried if their positions were the other way around; he does, on both counts. But after what happened when Axel tried explaining things to Terra (or so he'd heard), Roxas is pretty sure it's better if his best friend isn't here for this.

Besides, he wants to handle it himself. In Nadril, he spotted Terra several times and either slipped away or opened a portal and then ran. He's tired of running, and he's tired of hiding behind other people. If this is going to continue to be a problem, he'll solve it.

On the plus side, he's got a couple of things going for him that he didn't during that first surprise meeting.

Around midday, he makes a circuit of Olympia's market district before wandering a little outside it, where there's some space. And then he calls down a pillar of light; briefly, just for a few seconds, high enough that anyone who happens to be paying attention will see it above the buildings. And they might come looking for what made it. If not, well, he supposes he'll be the one who goes looking.]
earthy: ([ ↑ friendly ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-08-24 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra takes a train to Olympia first thing that morning. Ven said to find him around midday, but he figures getting a head start on his search can't hurt. He walks around for a couple of hours, noting the damage the city suffered and all the work being done to put things back into some kind of order. Every once in a while, he's tempted to try and lend a hand. He's not sure any of the locals would accept his help, though, dressed as he is in Wyver black and red. No one's threatened to chase him out of Olympia yet, but it's possible they're only just tolerating his presence. In that case, it's probably better he keep a low profile.

He sees no sign of Ven during his several hours of wandering, though. Terra decides at that point that his best bet is likely his Glider. He'll fly over the city, one district at a time. It shouldn't be too hard to pick Ven out from above; Terra'd know that spiky head of hair anywhere, after all.



... Except it turns out Ven's gotten very good at hiding. It's just about midday when Terra slows his Glider to a stop to wipe the sweat off his brow and scan the streets below again. Maybe Ven's in a building somewhere? Or wearing his hood up? Or maybe Terra's just missed him, checked the right area at the wrong time?

Terra's considering his options when a pillar of light bursts up into the sky off to his left. He stares off in that direction for a moment, surprised and bewildered and suddenly uncomfortable. For a second, he's back in the Graveyard, turning around at Xehanort's behest to see that awful beam of energy streaming up from where Aqua and Ven must have been fighting... Terra blinks out of the memory and, with a little shake of his head, turns his Glider to investigate the source of the light.


And it's Ven! Well, somebody's been practicing his light spells.]


Hey... [Terra lowers his Glider to the ground, steps off, and dismisses the weapon/vehicle behind him.] There you are.

[Just playing it cool. He totally wasn't looking around for hours, nope, no way. He's also totally not excited to see his friend, nope, no sir.]
earthy: ([ ↑ light ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-08-28 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
[(Terra could possibly follow his heart to a friend's heart, but he couldn't follow his heart to an empty shell and that's what Ven is right now, right? Right??)

Terra keeps up his small smile, but his eyebrows furrow a bit.]


Yeah, that's my Keyblade's Glider form.

[With some effort, he manages to stifle a comment about Ven having a Glider, too.]

Anyone with a Keyblade can learn the Glider spell.
earthy: ([ → gesture ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-08-29 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
It does seem like it's become something of a lost art...

[Even Riku had never heard of Gliders before -- and he's a Master now. It's really strange, considering how important Terra remembers his and his friends' Glider lessons being.

Terra eyes Ven's Keyblade thoughtfully. Ven switched the keychain back again. Maybe he just likes this one better.]


Do you know any transformations?
earthy: ([ ? notice ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-08-30 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[This extra cautious approach is working nicely so far, Terra thinks.]

Hm.

[Seems like the system of Masters and apprentices was even more important than he ever realized. How much would he have been able to figure out on his own, if he'd had no teacher? Probably not a lot...]

What kind of spells do you know, besides light? And what did you want to talk to me about?
earthy: ([ ? curious ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-08-31 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[So, the basics, at least. Plus light. Either that's all that stuck with him after he lost his heart and memories, or maybe that's all he relearned, or the magic's just been coming back to him slowly... Terra wishes he could steer the conversation down that path, but no, he's gotta stick to the plan here.

That, and he is curious what the situation is with Ven's Keyblade.]


Right.

[He looks to Oathkeeper again. It seems fine to him?]
earthy: ([ ! stare ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-08 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra listens quietly and intently, gaze fixed on Ven's face. A little more confusion ebbs into his expression. There was nothing wrong with Oathkeeper? But...

Except then Ven goes on and their amiable talk takes a sudden, sharp turn in the wrong direction. Alarm flaring in his eyes, Terra starts to shake his head and hold a hand up. No, he didn't want them to get into who Ven is or isn't right now. At least, not like this.

Not with Ven stretching his other arm out, hand splaying as he calls out something dark...

The Keyblade from the video.

Terra's hand falls back to his side.

And then he just stands there, frozen in place, his mouth hanging open.

Two... Keyblades...?

Uhhh...?]
earthy: ([ ! unexpected ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-08 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
How?

[Terra speaks up so abruptly he almost cuts Ven off. He gestures to the two Keyblades the boy holds.

He doesn't seem to have heard Ven's last couple of comments there.]


How do you wield two...?
earthy: ([ ? thoughtful ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-09 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra mulls that over for a moment and then shakes his head again, slower this time.]

Doesn't make any sense.

[How could Ven get a second Keyblade? Or get another keychain to materialize as a separate Keyblade? Could it have something to do with that light back in the Graveyard? That weapon Xehanort wanted? Or Vanitas? With the one Keyblade looking like light and the other like dark...

Ven's assertion that he's been able to use the Keyblade for as long as he can remember is about the only thing Terra can explain: clearly that's because of the memory loss. He kept his connection to the Keyblade after he lost his heart and memories, so the weapon's been with him the whole time he's been a Nobody. Weapon or weapons.]


So, you were just... able to summon two all along?
earthy: ([ ? curious ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-11 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra's sure things were very difficult for Ven that first week after he lost his heart. If just having his heart damaged left him so messed up before, losing it entirely must have really broken him down.

Terra frowns and briefly looks away. If only he and Aqua had been there to help Ven again. Or, better yet, to stop that from happening to him in the first place.

The two Keyblades subject is an excellent distraction from such thoughts, though.]


Came along later? The second one just appeared one day, then? You called for your Keyblade and got two instead?

[The Master never said anything about that being possible.

(Could he get a second Keyblade? Maybe if he meditated for a while, with a focus on that specific idea... Chaos Ripper would probably balance out okay with Ends of the Earth. But it must take a lot of time to adjust your fighting technique to using two, huh?)]
earthy: ([ ! startle ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-14 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Pardon him what. Ven didn't really just say...]

When you tried to attack the Organization?

[... did he?]
earthy: ([ ? notice ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-18 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Deep down, under all the layers of dismay and concern and confusion, Terra feels a warm flicker of pride. Ven, facing off against this Organization all on his own.]

What was it you built for them?

[Where's his journal with all his notes in it when he needs it? Or just a pen or something, he could be jotting things down on the back of his hand.]
earthy: ([ ? listen ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-21 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Kingdom Hearts.

Like Demyx said. Hearts released from those 'Heartless' monsters go to form Kingdom Hearts. Or a Kingdom Hearts? Terra's pretty sure the Kingdom Hearts he learned about in his lessons all those years ago wasn't some... sanctuary for lost and then freed hearts?

But that was all Ven's work, was it? All or mostly?

Terra catches himself staring again.]


... Why was that never going to happen?

[Demyx certainly seemed to think they were all going to get their hearts back that way. That jerk Axel, too, with what he said back when they first met, about the ends justifying the means or something like that.]
earthy: ([ ? mistake ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-24 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra's expression doesn't change at all.

Terra's been wearing the same seriously befuddled look for so long now, his face might just get stuck like that.

Xemnas, the Superior -- who is possibly that one man up in Thesa Station, but Terra hasn't worked up the nerve to take anyone to that pod and ask -- lied to them all along. To the other Organization members, his followers. He tricked them into doing his bidding? Into gathering hearts to use for power.

(And doesn't that sound familiar...)

Ven also figured out at some point that his heart was... somewhere he couldn't reach. Where?

Why did none of that matter?

What does Ven mean he grew his heart back? How is that possible? Does he really still consider himself a Nobody, even with a heart? Aren't Nobodies strictly bodies without hearts?

Is this heart he supposedly grew back a new one or the old one? It can't be the old one if he doesn't remember who he really is, can it?]


I don't understand.

[Anything. At all. He has tried very hard to wrap his head around all this, but it's too much.]

Ven...

[Can't he just be Ven for a minute? Just... his friend, minus all of this... future stuff?]
earthy: ([ ↓ failure ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-26 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Terra absolutely withers at that obvious shift in Ven's mood. His shoulders slump, his head sinks forward, his eyes dart guiltily away. His hands start to curl into fists at his sides but he forces them flat again.

Didn't take long for him to mess this up, did it?

... He just can't lie, though. He can't pretend he believes him when he says he's not Ven, he's someone else. Someone else who just happens to be identical to Ven. Right down to every last little spike of hair on his head.]


No, I am. [He argues weakly, still not looking at Ven.] I am listening, it's just...

[He searches desperately for the words to fix all of this, to give him his friend back or at least smoothe things over again (since he's guessing a hair ruffle isn't going to cut it right now). But, finding nothing he thinks might be convincing or reassuring or magically memory-restoring, he eventually settles for a defeated shrug and an equally defeated mumble:]

People don't have the exact same face for no reason.

[They really don't.]
happylocksmith: (pic#12447602)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-26 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sora really ought to start coming to Olympia more often, it would probably help him learn the layout of the city a bit better. Even though he had left Wyver in plenty of time to get there after Roxas told him what time he had planned to meet Terra, Sora had still found himself having to rush to get to where they were supposed to meet and that was before he'd gotten just a teeny, tiny bit lost.

But then he hears a familiar voice and picks up the pace, rounding a corner at speed to see Terra and Roxas standing across from each other. Not having time to read the tension in the atmosphere, he waves and calls out brightly:]


Hey you guys!

[He runs on a bit further, reaching out automatically with a smile to bump his forearm against Roxas' in a friendly gesture before he's forced to double over and catch his breath, palms pressed flat against his knees.]

Phew! I didn't think I was gonna ever get here, all these streets look the same!
Edited 2018-09-26 19:57 (UTC)
earthy: ([ ← slump ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-27 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Terra winces slightly as Ven contradicts him, frustration starting to well up cold and dark inside his heart, but then the boy's calling out a name and... yep, there's Sora jogging over.

Jogging over and knocking forearms with Ven like they're good friends or something.

Ven even looks like he's perked up some, seeing Sora.

And what was that about Sora not thinking he was ever going to get here? Was he supposed to be here all along? Like... Ven asked him to be here?

... Terra's so lost.]


Sora.

[He sighs out the greeting.]
happylocksmith: (pic#12054852)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-27 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay. So.

[Sora takes a quick moment to stabilise himself, letting out a deep breath as he straightens and looks at the frankly baffled look on Terra's face and the hopeful one on Roxas'. This... is going to take some doing.]

You [He points at Terra with one hand] think that he [and he points at Roxas with the other] is your friend Ventus because he looks like him.

[Not waiting for Terra to confirm or deny, he stops pointing and folds his arms.]

Now I don't know Ventus, but do you remember when we first met that I said that you said that I was him when I had my dream and saw you, Terra?

[Not... the most succinct or eloquent way of putting it perhaps, but Sora's trying to work through this in his head to put it into a way that makes sense.]

Now I didn't understand why dream you would say that, and you didn't understand that either, but when Roxas told me that you had mistaken him for Ventus it started to make a bit more sense, especially if you thought that they look alike enough for him to be his Nobody, because that must mean that I look like your friend too and that's why you called me by his name in the dream.

[He takes a step forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Roxas.]

But I promise you Terra, Roxas can't be Ventus' Nobody because he's my Nobody.
earthy: ([ ← pause ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-27 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Terra just stares at Sora.

At him and through him, a little.]


Your Nobody.

[That was probably supposed to be a question.]
happylocksmith: (pic#12449023)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-27 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Me?

[Sora points at himself in surprise before sheepishly lowering his hand. ]

I mean, I'll try I guess. I don't really know how it happened either.

[He doesn't know what it is about him that would make his Nobody so special, why he and Roxas are both so different when they should be the same. He doesn't even really know how he could have got his own self back unscathed after he set his heart free, but here he is, and here's Roxas beside him and there's Terra looking at him like he's grown an extra head so he guesses he owes it to both of them to at least try and cobble together an explanation.]
earthy: ([ ! complicate ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-29 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Terra glances briefly at Ven after his comment, but then his attention's fully back on Sora. Try, then, the intent look on his face seems to say... for all of a second or two. Then something shifts in his expression, like he's realizing something.

Like his poor, struggling mind is finally catching up on processing some of the things Sora said a few short moments ago.]


You don't look like him. [He blurts out in a rush, not caring if he's cutting Sora off.]

He -- [His turn to point a finger, this one at Ven.] -- looks like him. Just like him. You don't.

[Or does he??]
happylocksmith: (pic#12082210)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-29 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
No really, we do look the same! You just need to get past all this-

[The this in question is the mass of angles and tufts of mousy brown hair that make up his signature 'do. It would take a lot to get past it, goodness knows combs rarely do.

But it seems that Roxas is on the same wavelength and they'll have to go with a more visual approach.]


Okay. Desperate times, right?

[He reaches into one of the large pockets on his pants and pulls out two black, woollen beanie hats. He tosses one to Roxas, then sets about stuffing his hair into the other one at the same time Roxas does.

His... takes a little longer to fit properly.

Once that's done, he shifts his features to carefully mimic Roxas' as best as he can.]


See?
Edited 2018-09-29 15:22 (UTC)
earthy: ([ ? stumped ])

[personal profile] earthy 2018-09-29 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Uh... All right...?

Terra slowly crosses his arms over his chest as the boys wrestle their respective hair styles into black beanies Sora happened to have with him. Or brought along with him for this exact purpose? Whatever... this purpose is...?

When they finally finish tucking every last spike under the beanies and straighten up in front of him, Terra looks back and forth between them.


And lifts his shoulders in a shrug. What's he supposed to be seeing here?

(Maybe give him a minute... Let the mental image of the hair fade a bit...)]
happylocksmith: (pic#12437685)

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-09-29 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sora's trying hard not to look too hopeful because that would ruin the effect, but as the moment draws on longer and Terra doesn't say anything or react, he gets a bit fidgety.

Maybe this was a dumb idea, he was hoping for a quick and easy 'oh wow, you're right, you are exactly alike and you're both just like Ventus! how silly I am' and now there's this awkward silence. (And never mind the fact that if he and Roxas do look just like Ventus there's still the big, impossible to answer question of why that would be.)

He shifts uncomfortably on his feet and looks at Roxas, then Terra then at Roxas again, his expression getting more and more puzzled, before he coughs awkwardly.]


And, you know, there's the x-name thing too...