closed log.

[ceded]

Who: Xion and Vanitas.
What: Run-in number two.
When: Sometime this evening, aka Monday the 1st.
Where: Somewhere in town again. Nowhere specific.
Why: It's not like Xion's looking for him or anything. ... except, well, she sort of is. Roxas isn't the only one around here who can make impulsive, ill-informed decisions!


[ Truth be told, she's still getting over the shock of Sora's arrival. But everyone - really, everyone - has been doing so much to try and make her feel better. Make her feel like she belongs... and like it's going to be okay. Whatever reservations she still might have, she keeps them to herself. It feels disrespectful to the efforts of all her friends if she just keeps on worrying.

So she's trying to carry on like normal. "Normal" still being relative in a place like this, with no missions - and no school. At least she has her job at Paradox Pizza.

It's on her way home that she sees a glimpse of black. Is that...?

Without thinking, Xion speeds up to a trot, weaving between people as she tries to catch up. Wasn't that .. that boy? ]

Comments

[showmeanguish]

[It is, indeed. Still decked out in his Darkness Suit from head to toe, with his helmet covering his head. At the moment, he's just strolling along with some purpose, a bag from a nearby bakery in his hand.

'Cause hey, even bad guys need to eat, now and then.

He seems to be oblivious to the fact that he's being followed. After his initial appearance which seemed to ping every goody-two-shoes in the city, and subsequent fights, he'd been keeping a lower profile. Assessing his options. Learning his environment.]

[ceded]

[ Time to put all of Vexen's shitty, terrible recon lessons to work!

Xion keeps after him, trying to trail by 15 feet or so, keeping out of sight as much as possible. She gets a lot of weird looks from other passerby, but she ignores them. What do they know! This is important. She's on the trail.

It's not like she even stops to think what she can possibly get out of this. What she could possibly gain from following him, seeing where he goes, or even speaking to him again. She just follows him, waiting for the reason she's doing so to catch up with her later. ]

[showmeanguish]

[He walks for another ten minutes, apparently headed towards the East housing building. He's only a couple streets away, though, when he turns unexpectedly down an alley ahead.

And seemingly disappears.]

[ceded]

[ It's when Xion gets to the mouth of the alley and realizes Vanitas has vanished that all her alarms go off.

Oh no. Why didn't I realize sooner that he...?

Despite the clanging of her nerves, Xion carefully paces into the alley herself, summoning her Keyblade to her hand. Where did he go...? ]

[showmeanguish]

[Xion's shadow seems to move a foot to the side, before Vanitas appears again, seemingly out of nowhere.

His own Keyblade isn't drawn, but it's still alarming enough on it's own. Though he'd probably be a little more imposing if he wasn't still holding onto the bag of food with a cartoonish baker stamped on the side of it.]

Over here.

[ceded]

[ Somewhat despite herself Xion jumps, whirling to face him. ... despite the ... baked goods on hand ... she keeps her Keyblade at the ready. ]

How did you do that?

[showmeanguish]

Wise men don't reveal secrets.

[A beat.] There something you wanted, or did you just decide to spy on me?

[ceded]

[ She flushes with some shame and embarrassment. ]

I don't need to answer that question! Vanitas.

[ She says his name like it holds some sort of power. ]

I know who you are, now.

[showmeanguish]

[And honestly, he's a little annoyed that she found it out. But it can't really be helped, with the way this place works.

In response, though, he just follows her statement with a laugh. Short, but biting, and cocks his head.]

Really? So lay it on me then. What d'you know?

[ceded]

... I know that you're dangerous. I -- I want to know what you're planning, Vanitas.

[ Holds her Keyblade a little higher. Oooh, so threatening. ]

[showmeanguish]

Or else, what?

[He doesn't sound intimidated, or defensive. The way he says it is more challenging.]

You'll beat it out of me?

[ceded]

[ Xion says nothing.

But she does shift her stance into something battle-ready. ]

[showmeanguish]

[For a second, he just stares at her through his helmet, unmoving. All he still sees is Ventus, but the expression on his face is... foreign to him. It doesn't look quite right, and before even he knows it, Vanitas gives a slight 'tch' and half-turns.]

Gimme a break. Maybe a few years, if you train hard enough.

[ceded]

Wh-- hey! Don't just walk away! I still want to know ... what you are. Why you're here!

[ Xion stands straighter, frowning severely. ]

There has to be something you want.

[showmeanguish]

Yeah, well, get in line.

[And with that, he actually does start to walk away.] Even if there is, why should I tell you, out of anyone else?

[ceded]

[ Somewhat desperately: ]

Maybe I can help you.

[showmeanguish]

I don't need any help. Looking for someone isn't rocket science.

[Which he lets slip, definitely on purpose.]

[ceded]

... looking for someone? Who would.... [ ... ] You mean that boy, don't you.