(no subject)

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

Who: Organization XIII; Naminé
What: The Organization is finally reunited... along with their new pet.
Where: Castle Oblivion
When: Now.
Warnings: TBA

Zexion was getting worried. Xion hadn't reported in for a day now, and Larxene had yet to return with Naminé. Marluxia had requested that everyone RTC to Castle Oblivion as soon as possible, and Zexion was the first to oblige. Xigbar and Lexaeus shouldn't have been too far behind, and Larxene was supposed to be returning with Naminé.

Zexion wasn't sure if he had betrayed her or not... in one sense, he revealed her location to Larxene and Marluxia, and on the other, she would be much safer in Castle Oblivion than where Xehanort could easily find her. Xion had rejoined the Organization, which was beneficial for keeping Naminé in good spirits, while being kept in a place with two of the people she feared more than anyone else.

Zexion was leaning up against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest. They were supposed to be holding the meeting in the opulent Great Hall, with silver Organization symbols superimposed over black stained glass windows. There was a large, marble table in the center of the room, with fourteen chairs surrounding it. It appeared more comfortable and laid back than Where Nothing Gathers, but the room itself was just as imposing and intimidating as any room in the Castle that Never Was.

Zexion was the first to arrive, which he found rather pathetic. This was Marluxia's meeting, wasn't it? Where were the others?

... and where was Xion?

Comments

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Xion, the fourteenth of the Organization entered the room not long after Zexion did. She had her hood up over her face, but her stride suggested she was far from timid. The hood of her coat was pushed back enough for her face to be seen, and she carried herself much like Zexion or any of the other more self-assured members did. Instead of looking nervous or unsure in her facial expressions, Xion instead had a slight smile on her lips. Even as she sat down, she still looked vibrant and seemed to sit a little taller.

"The others aren't here yet?" she asked. Even her voice sounded a bit more bold and confident than usual. She held her hands on the table, the left on top of the right. The fingers of her left hand slowly rubbed against her gloved right wrist where her new bracelet rested underneath the cloth.

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

Zexion had the scent in his nostrils before Xion ever entered the room, but at the same time... he had no idea who it was. It certainly smelled like Xion, but it smelled darker, somehow. Xion used to smell of pure light, lighter even than Sora; this smelled darker than Roxas. However, when Xion entered, he dropped his suspicions. This was Xion alright; if it had been a doppelganger, he'd be able to tell. He carefully studied Xion as she entered the room, noting her confident gait, and her pseudo-indulgent persona, in stark contrast to Xion's prior timidness and nervousness.

"No... they aren't." Zexion said, still studying her closely. Something was different about her, and Zexion was certainly the type to notice even the slightest change in a person. It was almost as if... she now had a heart.

Zexion cast the thought out of his head. There was no way she was going to be like Xehanort. No way at all.

Zexion arose from his leaning position, and made his way towards Xion. "Marluxia called this meeting, and he isn't here. Neither is Larxene, Xigbar, or Lexaeus."

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

"Aww, that's not very leader-ish of him, is it?" she asked, a slight laugh coming up from her throat. Her eyes flicked toward the Cloaked Schemer as he walked around the table to where she sat, her eyes locked intently on him. A slight blush was trying to force its way to her cheeks, but she managed to stay composed despite the fluttering feeling in her chest. "Well, I'm sure they'll be here soon. They probably have some things to finish."

Her new "heart" was pounding furiously in her chest with each foot closer he came. So this is what it felt like to have one? And this was what it did whenever someone you liked came near? Xion definitely couldn't deny enjoying it. 'Thank you...Mother, for this wonderful gift.' she thought.

"You don't have to get up and walk all the way over here just to talk to me, you know." she said, smiling a bit shyly.

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

Zexion tilted his head to the side as he took a seat two seats down from her at the long, rectangular marble table, the fluorescent lighting bringing out the Nobody emblem emblazoned into the table. Something was different about her. He could tell that she was blushing slightly, and even appeared conscious about it. She only did that once before, when he said that she was more enjoyable to be around than Larxene, that first night that he brought her back to the lodge. This, however, was different.

"Xion, are you feeling well?" he asked, a look of faux-concern on his face (as concerned as a Nobody could be, anyway). "No matter. The others should be arriving soon... I hope."

He also noted that Xion appeared nonchalant about the lack of Naminé's presence. Normally, she would have asked about Naminé right off the bat... instead, she asked about Zexion. Was she more concerned about him...? No... she couldn't be.

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

Naminé being absent was noted in her mind, but for the time being he was the most important. She knew her sister was safe, as Zexion had sworn he wouldn't let them harm her. She trusted he would keep his word...he was the only one in the Organization who actually did what he told her he would.

"I'm fine." she replied, laughing a little. "I managed to come back from that mission without getting hurt, so maybe I'm just proud of myself...?"

She gave a little shrug, and inwardly pouted as he sat a little ways away from her. Something inside told her to just move over to sit by him...or just plop right into his lap, whichever was better.

"Well...even if they don't, we can still have the meeting, right? You can tell me what's going on?"

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

"I could, yes," he said, tilting his head at her still ever-apparent nervousness. It was almost as if Zexion himself was making her fidgety. For someone without a heart, she certainly was a nervous wreck.

"But I think for the sake of posterity, I should wait for Marluxia to give his speech. We should also wait for Larxene, Xigbar, and Lexaeus... and Naminé." Zexion crossed one of his legs over the other, and moved his hair slightly out of his eye. "I must say, Xion, that I am disappointed that you ignored my order and blindly pursued the Unversed. It was irresponsible, and you could have gotten hurt... but regardless, I'm very pleased to see that you are unharmed. I would be worried if you... ugh." He appeared to not know what to say. "Next time, at least wait for one of us to come with you. Okay?"

Zexion then raised one of his hands, and a Corridor of Darkness opened behind him. From it would emerge a Dusk, and Zexion would call it over. "Bring us something to drink, will you? When Marluxia and the others arrive, I would like it if it appeared... inviting." The Dusk hissed a response, and snaked off.

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

"Mm, seeing Nami again would be nice." she grinned. She was trying to seem happy at the prospect of seeing the blonde soon, just to throw off any suspicion sent her way. However, the smile disappeared as he began to lightly scold her for her actions. Xion's head tilted downward until she was looking at her lap. She didn't regret them at all, not when she considered the wonderful end result, but hearing him sound so disapproving sent a chill through her heart.

She blinked a few times upon hearing he was happy to see her unharmed. Her heart thudded in her chest again as he even suggested he had been worried for her! Again the blush rose to her cheeks, though it was faint. She hadn't meant to worry him...she just wanted to do a good job on the mission and earn his praise! At least...that was what she now believed. Prior to the infection, she just wanted to prove her strength, or so she thought.

Once the Dusk left them be, she stood up and walked over to where he sat. Her heart thumped faster and faster until she could swear it was audible. Xion steeled herself as the Lavoid urged her to do what she had been wanting to so far deep inside the recesses of her mind. Instead, she settled for leaning in close to him and resting her hands on his shoulders.

"I...I'm sorry..." she said, giving his shoulders a little squeeze. Her blue eyes reflected her feelings, "For making you worry, I mean."

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

Zexion was quite taken aback by Xion's forwardness. She was leaning her face in close to his, and holding her hands on his shoulders. Zexion wasn't quite sure what to do... she had never done this before. In fact, no one had ever done anything like this to him at all, not even when he was whole. Zexion's visible eye blinked in surprise, his mouth quivering at bit at the edge of his lip. He would likely be blushing if he had emotions. "Xion...?" he asked quietly, rather shy. He knew that this was some form of affection, but he had never been in any such position before.

Finally, she apologized, giving him a reason to do more than stare at her blankly. "There... there's no need to apologize, Xion. At least you're unharmed." He felt, however, that he should return her affection. It was the polite thing to do, wasn't it? He raised his hand, and placed one of his gloved hands over hers while she held on to his shoulder. He tried to smile at her, but it ended up looking awkward and sheepish. "Thank you," he said, relenting a bit.

[lightning-vixen.livejournal.com]

She couldn't take it anymore. She had wanted to be late on purpose ever since she got Zexion's message, just because she simply wanted to. Perhaps get some people bothered or crawl with impatience. It was her method of fun, after all. Yet, she could not last any longer in that white room for another half-hour without sinking deeply into an already building bad mood caused by boredom. Complete boredom. She was always bored, but this was beyond what she would call acceptable. Despite that she had to be her nanny, a job she undoubtedly hated, as she wasn't meant to be taking care of rugrats, Larxene believed that Naminé would take some of it away. But you couldn't have any amusement when there was no reaction from your toy as you loomed over and taunted her. There were times that she didn't respond to it in the past, but the girl had been as staled and silent as the damned walls, sitting in her chair in her usual despair pose. Hopefully, this was an offset that would be fixed quickly. Last time, she was the one mostly stuck looking after her, and it wasn't this flimsy. She couldn't break her now, so her choices were limited. Exhaling sharply from her frustration, she pushed forward the blonde that she was holding by her shoulder - who was lagging behind for some reason - into the opening once they reached the end of the corridor's path.

They both stepped into another vicinity that looked exactly like the one they left, except bigger. Everything appeared the same in this castle, more so than the one in The World That Never Was. Stopping and looking around as the portal swooshed closed, all she noted was that Zexion, who she hadn't seen for awhile, was here, and so was that useless replica. And they were both... "Ew." That word resonated loudly. Her lips twisted disgustingly at the sight. There was a pause as she tried to process the scene, and she raised an annoyed eyebrow, crossing her arms as the action enabled her bunny to go free. It seems she just escaped another tedious situation to run into another, and it didn't sit well with her. "Am I interrupting something? I didn't think the meeting was suppose to be code for firing it up."

[vengefulembrace.livejournal.com]

Xemnas smirked, watching the scene with what might have been interest, were he capable of feeling. Sometimes, he tried to fool himself into believing he might have emotions, but inevitably he was subsumed by the emptiness within, the nothingness of being a Nobody, that very quintessential spark that drove him and his kind. Certainly, others might be more adept at fooling themselves, but Xemnas only ever fooled others. He could easily tell that Xion was changed, different and perhaps.. more? It would take some wheedling to figure that out entirely, but judging by her reactions to Zexion, she was about as normal as a teenager got. It was a good thing Larxene showed up when she did, or he would have had to be the one to interrupt the single-person tide of lust that seemed to be building.

"Perhaps it does, Larxene." he let himself appear, not slowly, but a quick joining of his physical form with the physical world, popping into being as certainly as if he'd always been there. There were definite perks to being a master of Nothingness.. certainly more than being a master of nothing. His coat was the same bleakly black affair that all Organization XIII members wore, and idly, he considered amending the name. After all, if they were going to be breeding, they'd need a higher number.

"Or perhaps not. Who can say? This is hardly my meeting, though I am curious to imagine who Marluxia thinks he is, to be calling a meeting as if I no longer exist." he might have sounded angry, or snippy, but he kept his tone level. Lifting his arms in a grandoise manner, he then let them drop, the rest left unsaid, instead walking across the room, past Zexion and Xion, looking up at one of the windows with a thoughtful expression, "We shall see."

Welp, Xee's mighty embarrassed. xD

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

Xion recoiled and jerked away from Zexion as if she'd been burned simply by touching him. She nearly knocked over one of the chairs in the process of moving away from him. Her eyes were wide as she regarded Larxene. Just how long had she been standing there!? "F-Firing..."

Her embarrassment doubled when she noticed Xemnas himself was making an appearance. To her, that just didn't make sense. Wasn't he supposed to be Xehanort? Wasn't he supposed to be gone? Her head tried in vain to sort out what that could possibly entail, but came up short. Instead, she just pulled her hood back up to hide her face.

With Xemnas back, a fight was going to go down...she could just tell.

T_T Poor Xee.

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

The way Xion recoiled at Larxene's words caused a frown to twist at the corners of Zexion's mouth, as he slightly leaned to the left to look Larxene in the eyes... as if she hadn't shown a public display of affection in front of them, either. "A pleasure to see you too, Twelve," Zexion said coyly, smiling. "Perhaps you should ask Marluxia? He was the one who called this-"

And then, the unmistakable voice of the Superior met his ears. How did he not sense him nearby? The color drained from Zexion's face despite the lack of emotions, causing him to sit bolt-straight up in his chair. However, the difference between him and Xion was that Zexion could actually think clearly, due to the lack of ability to feel fear. He took a moment to analyze Xemnas' scent, to make sure that this wasn't Xehanort in disguise... no, he could easily tell that this Xemnas had no heart, and there was no way it was a Replica. This was the true, genuine, bona-fide Superior.

"... Superior?" Zexion asked inquisitively, standing to show respect. "But Xehanort... how?" He was completely lost, as to how this was possible. Given that it was possible for Naminé and Kairi to exist independently of each other (as were Roxas and Sora), was it possible for Xemnas and Xehanort to exist independently of each other, as well? If so... how?

[lightning-vixen.livejournal.com]

Larxene rolled her eyes to the side when Xion jumped, almost stupidly tripping with a chair when she got caught red handed along with Zexion. How pathetic. Why did it appear as if they kept getting more of these children? They should all be thrown into a dungeon and kept there, that way she wouldn't have to put up with the eyesore day after day. Still, the whole reaction got a fiendish smile on her face: it was so lousy it was funny. And she did cause it, so that was a plus. Before she could come up with any more ideas of torment about what just happened, she glanced over at Zexion blankly when he began speaking to her, his usual polite countenance intact, as if that was going to change. He would have finished, and she would have responded accordingly, if it was not for the new, deep voice that was as familiar and as recognizable as the very white walls of this castle. She froze, her muscles tensing as her eyes widened in bewilderment for a few seconds, more so when it was to her that he answered to. Wasn't he gone? How...?

It wasn't until she noticed that she had lost her cool that she snapped out of it, smoothing over her face, and pretending that his presence wasn't as shocking to her as it really was. Nonetheless, her pupils narrowed, and she was inwardly agitated. And vexed. As a Nobody would know by memory, at least. This wasn't good. The path for her and Marluxia was very clear, without too many obstacles. Now, however, that he was suddenly back...damn it. This was unexpected. That completely threw a wrench at their plans! Now what? They had to rework everything with more difficulty. It seems she wasn't the only one befuddled in the room, but that didn't matter. Staring over at their...Superior, she sneered mentally, neutrally, she wondered how Marluxia was going to take this news.

Good thing she was present to watch.

[thememorywitch.livejournal.com]

She didn't expect this. She hadn't expected this at all, and the fear had her trying to force herself not to go any farther into that portal than need be. However, she eventually did get pushed past its exit and into the room, where the sight of Zexion, Xion and...

Her eyes widened a bit and she froze before taking a few steps forwards to try and at least put a little distance between Larxene and herself at the sight of Xemnas. The Superior of the Organization...She shook her head slightly and forced herself to look up towards her hooded friend.

Something...about Xion felt different than before, but she brushed that aside quietly and didn't quite know what to say or even think aside from just staying quiet and listening to everything like she was used to.

[vengefulembrace.livejournal.com]

"Ah, you are all confused, it seems. Driven to wonder just how I might exist, if Xenahort is also in possession of that gift of life we all squander? I assure you, this is no trick of the eye, nor a trick of the mind, I am Xemnas, whole as we may be." he smiled, it didn't reach his eyes, it never did, then he noticed the blonde. Interesting indeed, "So good to see you Namine, you have come for the meeting as well, I presume?" he seemed almost friendly, but that was impossible as well, all a ruse, a ploy to make them ill-at-ease, to make them wonder what he was up to.

The man stepped carefully here and there around the room, perusing his surroundings like a man at an art gallery, absently dismissing them all as nothing in his wandering, then he stopped to glance between Zexion and Larxene, "Ah! I know precisely why this meeting was called. Marluxia seeks to fill the void left behind by my supposed disappearance, perhaps? Or, is it in reality Larxene's ploy, to seize power over the rest of the Organization for some meaningful end?" he leaned down, looking at Zexion in his chair, his voice dropping conspiratorially, though the whisper carried plainly, "It's okay, you don't have to worry, I have better things planned for all of you than either of them could conjure up." he snickered, an unkind sound, and straightened, clapping his hands sharply, "So! We shall await Marluxia, perhaps he will have answers, answers you are not privy to."

The trick was to goad, to push, and let them tell him everything they didn't want him to know.

[xiv-obsession.livejournal.com]

Hearing her sister speak up, however soft her voice might be, sent a sharp wake-up call through Xion's brain. She smiled and immediately put aside her embarrassment. At least her sister was there. She was in the talons of a harpy, but she was still alright...just as Zexion said. "A-Ahh...Naminé."

She moved over to Naminé, though she watched Larxene warily from under her hood. The temptation to rip the Savage Nymph's "antennae" right off her head came into her mind, courtesy of the Lavoid.

"I'm happy you're alright." she said, giving her sister a smile. The smile vanished, however, as their Superior continued talking. Seeing him lean near Zexion sent the hair on the back of her neck standing straight up. She didn't even have to hear what the light-haired man was saying to know whatever it is could definitely be a threat.

[thememorywitch.livejournal.com]

Even though that soft voice had been but a gasp of surprise from the greeting that Xemnas had given her...and the question. The kind of wording that seemed almost sugar-coated like one of Marluxia's smiles or the cooing of Larxene...

No. This was Xemnas. He was the Superior, and he didn't torture or belittle her like the others had. She nodded shyly, but didn't say anything because she didn't quite know what to say, really...

...And then Xion said her name and moved towards her, soon in a position between her and Larxene. Namine felt a bit safer with the raven-haired girl around, and it showed by the slight straightening and relaxing of her posture; her head lifted and her eyes met the other girl's while a small smile graced her own face. "Xion...I-I'm glad you're okay as well."

She then paused as the calming, reassuring smile disappeared...and the girl's eyes--There was something lurking beneath the surface that Namine couldn't quite identify as something real, but she assumed it was from the Superiors...almost intimidating tactics and the tenseness in the room.

Instinctively, the blonde took a small step closer towards her sibling, not really knowing what emotion she was feeling because she felt like a ship on a stormy sea; so many emotions mixed together, like fear and worry and relief and...she didn't understand, and she wanted to try to, but she knew that the current time was not right.

[you-see-lies.livejournal.com]

Zexion did not know fear, and as another founding member, he did, to a degree, trust Xemnas. He knew that this man in front of him was not an apparition, or Xehanort in disguise; this was Xemnas, the Xemnas, the man who founded Organization XIII with him, who helped raise him from a child along with Ansem the Wise and Even, and in a way, Zexion's second adoptive father. The Cloaked Schemer simply nodded at Xemnas' conspiratorial whisper, and watched as both the Superior and Xion turned away from him.

Naminé's appearance worried Zexion, to whatever degree Nobodies were capable of worrying. She didn't seem to be aware that it had to have been Zexion that sold her location out to Larxene, but it appeared that she understood that she was relatively safe now. It was impossible to reach Castle Oblivion without a Corridor of Darkness (or a Gummi Ship), meaning that Naminé was safe from most of the threats on Gaia. However... Xemnas had pointed out that Marluxia was not present. Marluxia had called this meeting, but now that Xemnas was here, it was almost as if the pink-haired Nobody was backing out. How bizarre.

"Naminé will be safe with us," Zexion said in his usual polite, optimistic manner. "It is impossible to reach Castle Oblivion or the World that Never Was without the use of a Gummi Ship or a Corridor of Darkness, and it will be impossible to trace her location due to her lack of a heart. Even if Xehanort or one of his newfound allies found her, it would be suicide to try to break into this castle with all of us here." Zexion folded his hands on the table, leaning his chin on his thumbs. "She could be quite useful as leverage in gaining Sora and Riku's aid against the new Heartless and Unversed threat." Zexion still did not know anything about the Unversed. If Vexen were still around, he would be useful in dissecting one.

[lightning-vixen.livejournal.com]

"And for the record, someone had to step up to leadership since you were too busy taking a vacation, Superior, so I wouldn't point fingers now that you suddenly decided to make an appearance," Larxene simmered, pupils pointedly staring at him. She had been inwardly and silently seething ever since the remarks about her were spoken, and while she tried to gain self-control, it was not working. How dare he! Yes, he was so much a better leader when he actually felt like turning up and preach to Kingdom Hearts as if it was his wife. And of course, Zexion and his never ending loyalty spilled out what they were conjuring up for Naminé without much thought. She huffed indignantly. How Xemnas had managed to come back was something she didn't care for anymore. Fact of the matter was that he was here. She was acutely aware that she should not have said anything, but she didn't fear him.

Noticing a slight movement around her, she was distracted momentarily from giving both Xemnas and Zexion a steeled gaze as she looked down, obviously not in one of her better moods. She became quickly uninterested when it was just the replica again, though something caught her attention. It takes one to spot one, and little Xion definitely had some glint behind her glance that propelled her to peer at her more than the usual five seconds. While she never wasted time on the puppet, she knew that she was such a sweet and kind diabetes inducing angel. It was all the same. Unless she chose to change on a whim, something was up. But truthfully, she didn't care. As long as it didn't affect her, it was none of her concern. She was irritated enough as it is with the current situation.