Rambling and Ranting
Okay, first a couple of moments that I thought were kinda cool (admittedly more so in retrospect than at the time).
Moment the first, c.08:23
The 46A stopped at the bus-stop just before Foxrock Church for no apparent reason. No explanation, no apparent problem with passengers or the bus; just us sitting and watching traffic whizz past. We were there for ten minutes or so and I was just weighting up the pros and cons of getting out and walking to the college when a 145 pulled up behind us and six people (two kiddies included) charged off and hurtled towards us.
Apparently they'd gotten the wrong bus, so the drivers were sorting it out for them.
Moment the second, c.10:00
We were handed out model sheets for Mr Bean and a construction guide to Mickey Mouse. D (animation tutor) said that Mickey was a good character to start with.
Classmate: Oh? Why'zat?
D: Oh, he doesn't fight or do Matrix-y style slow-mos or anything so you're limited to what you can do while staying in-character.
1/3 of the class: DUDE! Kingdom HEARTS!!
*Mutual geekery ensues.*
Also, am I the only one seeing the hordes of tourist-shoppers in Dublin's streets? I was looking for oil for mum's present and the streets are teeming with people who don't seem to know where O'Connell street is (while standing beside the Spike).
Untitled
Kairi's the only one there when the message comes from the Colesseium. Sora and Riku are off at Disney Castle again, talking to the King about the rumours of Nobody sightings in half a dozen worlds. She reads it twice before deciding that she doesn't need to tell them about this; it's not as if it's bad news and even if it were - Hades is one of the things that being a Princess of Heart works against so she'll be fine on her own.
...Not alone....
Of course, she isn't alone, even when there's no-one else there - Namine is always just beyond her thoughts and she can feel her Other stirring as the message sinks in and a sudden sharpening of interest. Namine is the one who remembers how to flag one of Cid's Gummi Ships and they leave as soon as possible.
"-an't understand it." Megara is saying as they make their way down the long staircase into the Underworld. "He's just not showing up and the Underdrome's closed again and even the monsters he's been sending up to fight Hercules aren't really up for the job. Wonderboy thinks he's beaten for good."
"But you don't, right?" Kairi guesses as they pass through a tall doorway into the murk.
"I think he's planning something." Meg nods. "He's being too quiet and I don't like it."
Kairi nods and fingers the Keyblade slung at her side. "We shouldn't have too much trouble getting to him."
In fact, they don't have any - she sees pale gold eyes in the darkness more than once but the Heartless aren't threatening them. Meg threads her way through the ladyrinth of tunnels with an ease that speaks of long practice and Kairi tries to remember the path, just in case. They see a few of the damned wandering through the mists but again, none of them come near them and Meg frowns. "This is too easy."
Kairi's inclined to agree but still, as long as they have this advantage they might as well use it and they push open the last door together, revealing the long winding pathway to Hades' throne room. At first glance it looks deserted; then there's a gleam of white and her eyes refocus on the Assassins and Dancers spinning lazy circles around each other on the nearest platform. Nobodies.
...They won't hurt you....
Namine sounds mater of fact and completely confident which is why Kairi doesn't realise that her Other has taken control until one of the Assassins sweeps past, inches over her head. She freezes, Keyblade up and the Assassin swoops past again, slightly higher. It takes two more passes before she's willing to let Namine convince her that it is safe to continue. Meg hurries along, just behind her, watching the Nobodies dance around them.
They pass Beserkers and Sorcerers posturing at each other, Ninjas and Geomancers ganging up on Dragoons and Creepers scuttling after their higher-ranked kin. None of them pay the slightest bit of attention to the two humans scurrying past them and Kairi almost imagines that she can hear them singing, like a lullabye.
There are voices coming from Hades' throne room and Meg goes sort of tense and shivery behind her and Kairi creeps to the door.
There are a lot of voices; all of them nigglingly familiar.
She is just about to step into the room when there's a whoop of warning and a blast of fire nearly scorches them both. They dive out of the way and there's laughter and slurred insults but none of it seems to be directed at them. Kairi eases forward, just enough to se-Oh.
Hades is in his throne room, but not his throne. He's hunkered down, cross-legged and scowling at the thin cards in his hands, facing it. There are spectators scattered around the walls; all of them familar.
Marluxia and Larxene are watching the god of the Underworld with the vague genial smiles that Kairi knows from Namine's nightmares. He's holding a rose, she's flicking knives in and out of existence. Xemnas is staring blankly into nothing, chains linking each limb to that of his Heartless who gasps and hisses mindlessly beside him. Beside them, Xaldin divides his attention between Hades and the entwined pair. Saix is sitting beside Zevion and Lexaeus who are sipping primly at tea, eyes avid in carefully netural faces. Xigbar and Demyx are sprawled beside Cereberus, IX strumming absently on a lute while the sniper fights to keep a smirk from his lips. Vexen is scribbling away at a notepad and ducking the occaisional blast of hellfire.
All of them are carefully not looking at the figure sitting with his back against Hades throne, cards held negligently in one hand. And it isn't - CAN'T be - Riku but it almost is. Riku if the shadows turned from grey to sharp-edged black around him and thickened to the point that his hair and skin gleam like moonlight against the dark. And Riku's never looked like that, Kairi thinks, feral and dangerous and totally aware of his own prowess. He's never been comfortable enough in his own skin to sprawl in languid temptation like that and his eyes are more open, more caring..
Luxord, sitting beside him, tosses his cards carelessly into the centre, lips curled in a savage smirk and Riku wouldn't be able to smile like that - sharp and sure with witchfire glittering in pale eyes. "Call."
Hades spreads his cards in a cloud of smug smoke. "Four of a kind! Read 'em and weep, pretty-bo~y!"
The Organization members lean forward, there's an air of nervous anticipation and not-Riku's smile turns hard and vicious and his teeth gleam white as he spreads his hand across the bare rock. "Royal flush. Point and match, I believe, "Lord" Hades?"
Hades spits and seethes and screams but it isn't working and Kairi can see it not working even as not-Riku glances casually away and starts to talk to Luxord. She can't hear words over Hades' shrill tantrum but the body language betrays them both - they're watching Hades hiss and squeal himself into exhaustion. The other Nobodies are bunching together now, hands flexing for weapons that aren't visible yet. Hades roars and shouts in Greek and another language that makes Kairi cling to Meg as her eyes cross.
"ENOUGH!" Not-Riku unfolds, coming upright fast and smooth. "We had a bargain, Hades. Keep to it!"
Hades subsides and Kairi doesn't need to feel Meg's nails against her arms to know that that shouldn't be possible but she's pretty sure she's hysterical by now and isn't that just fine and dandy?
"Kairi?" She really thought that she was beyond surprise but Axel's voice makes her jump all the same. "What're you doing here?"
"We came to see what Hades was up to." Meg - bless her - steps in. "But I don't understand - that can't be Riku, can it?"
Axel flashes her that annoying smirk. "Depends what you mean by 'Riku'. Namine might remember him; of course he's a bit older now - Hades let him grow up a bit, after Zeus started to talk about a kid cleaning out through the Underdrome's competitions."
Namine's memories ripple through Kairi's mind and she turns back to stare at the slim figure now almost nose-to-nose with Hades. "A...replica?"
"We call him Kiluprex, or Rex if you're feeling lucky...or sucidal. Of course, you could pull a Zexion and call him 'XIV' but that might be a little too formal."
"What were they playing for?" Meg asks, glancing back in time to see Hades deflate and start to nod reluctantly.
"Thirteen one-way trips back on the Styx ferry." Axel is smiling again. "And a few minor other minor matters that you wouldn't care about anyway."
"Is he a Nobody?" Kairi asks, Namine's worry throbbing away behind her eyes. "I mean-"
"You could stick around to find out." Axel offers with a smirk. "Or, and this is just a suggestion, you could go tell the Golden Boy that Hades is pissed and looking for a target to vent all that pent-up frustration on. Ciao for now, darlings."
Meg watches him sashay off to join his fellows and looks questioningly at Kairi. Namine wants to stay, wants something to happen with the notRi- with Kiluprex so bad that Kairi can taste it but Kairi looks at the Organization as it regroups and knows that they have to get out of here. Maybe the Nobodies aren't out to for revenge and maybe they're out for something altogether more sinister. Either way, she has to warn Sora and Riku and the King.
She starts to run for the exit, Meg on her heels and hopes she isn't too late.
Moment the first, c.08:23
The 46A stopped at the bus-stop just before Foxrock Church for no apparent reason. No explanation, no apparent problem with passengers or the bus; just us sitting and watching traffic whizz past. We were there for ten minutes or so and I was just weighting up the pros and cons of getting out and walking to the college when a 145 pulled up behind us and six people (two kiddies included) charged off and hurtled towards us.
Apparently they'd gotten the wrong bus, so the drivers were sorting it out for them.
Moment the second, c.10:00
We were handed out model sheets for Mr Bean and a construction guide to Mickey Mouse. D (animation tutor) said that Mickey was a good character to start with.
Classmate: Oh? Why'zat?
D: Oh, he doesn't fight or do Matrix-y style slow-mos or anything so you're limited to what you can do while staying in-character.
1/3 of the class: DUDE! Kingdom HEARTS!!
*Mutual geekery ensues.*
Also, am I the only one seeing the hordes of tourist-shoppers in Dublin's streets? I was looking for oil for mum's present and the streets are teeming with people who don't seem to know where O'Connell street is (while standing beside the Spike).
Untitled
Kairi's the only one there when the message comes from the Colesseium. Sora and Riku are off at Disney Castle again, talking to the King about the rumours of Nobody sightings in half a dozen worlds. She reads it twice before deciding that she doesn't need to tell them about this; it's not as if it's bad news and even if it were - Hades is one of the things that being a Princess of Heart works against so she'll be fine on her own.
...Not alone....
Of course, she isn't alone, even when there's no-one else there - Namine is always just beyond her thoughts and she can feel her Other stirring as the message sinks in and a sudden sharpening of interest. Namine is the one who remembers how to flag one of Cid's Gummi Ships and they leave as soon as possible.
"-an't understand it." Megara is saying as they make their way down the long staircase into the Underworld. "He's just not showing up and the Underdrome's closed again and even the monsters he's been sending up to fight Hercules aren't really up for the job. Wonderboy thinks he's beaten for good."
"But you don't, right?" Kairi guesses as they pass through a tall doorway into the murk.
"I think he's planning something." Meg nods. "He's being too quiet and I don't like it."
Kairi nods and fingers the Keyblade slung at her side. "We shouldn't have too much trouble getting to him."
In fact, they don't have any - she sees pale gold eyes in the darkness more than once but the Heartless aren't threatening them. Meg threads her way through the ladyrinth of tunnels with an ease that speaks of long practice and Kairi tries to remember the path, just in case. They see a few of the damned wandering through the mists but again, none of them come near them and Meg frowns. "This is too easy."
Kairi's inclined to agree but still, as long as they have this advantage they might as well use it and they push open the last door together, revealing the long winding pathway to Hades' throne room. At first glance it looks deserted; then there's a gleam of white and her eyes refocus on the Assassins and Dancers spinning lazy circles around each other on the nearest platform. Nobodies.
...They won't hurt you....
Namine sounds mater of fact and completely confident which is why Kairi doesn't realise that her Other has taken control until one of the Assassins sweeps past, inches over her head. She freezes, Keyblade up and the Assassin swoops past again, slightly higher. It takes two more passes before she's willing to let Namine convince her that it is safe to continue. Meg hurries along, just behind her, watching the Nobodies dance around them.
They pass Beserkers and Sorcerers posturing at each other, Ninjas and Geomancers ganging up on Dragoons and Creepers scuttling after their higher-ranked kin. None of them pay the slightest bit of attention to the two humans scurrying past them and Kairi almost imagines that she can hear them singing, like a lullabye.
There are voices coming from Hades' throne room and Meg goes sort of tense and shivery behind her and Kairi creeps to the door.
There are a lot of voices; all of them nigglingly familiar.
She is just about to step into the room when there's a whoop of warning and a blast of fire nearly scorches them both. They dive out of the way and there's laughter and slurred insults but none of it seems to be directed at them. Kairi eases forward, just enough to se-Oh.
Hades is in his throne room, but not his throne. He's hunkered down, cross-legged and scowling at the thin cards in his hands, facing it. There are spectators scattered around the walls; all of them familar.
Marluxia and Larxene are watching the god of the Underworld with the vague genial smiles that Kairi knows from Namine's nightmares. He's holding a rose, she's flicking knives in and out of existence. Xemnas is staring blankly into nothing, chains linking each limb to that of his Heartless who gasps and hisses mindlessly beside him. Beside them, Xaldin divides his attention between Hades and the entwined pair. Saix is sitting beside Zevion and Lexaeus who are sipping primly at tea, eyes avid in carefully netural faces. Xigbar and Demyx are sprawled beside Cereberus, IX strumming absently on a lute while the sniper fights to keep a smirk from his lips. Vexen is scribbling away at a notepad and ducking the occaisional blast of hellfire.
All of them are carefully not looking at the figure sitting with his back against Hades throne, cards held negligently in one hand. And it isn't - CAN'T be - Riku but it almost is. Riku if the shadows turned from grey to sharp-edged black around him and thickened to the point that his hair and skin gleam like moonlight against the dark. And Riku's never looked like that, Kairi thinks, feral and dangerous and totally aware of his own prowess. He's never been comfortable enough in his own skin to sprawl in languid temptation like that and his eyes are more open, more caring..
Luxord, sitting beside him, tosses his cards carelessly into the centre, lips curled in a savage smirk and Riku wouldn't be able to smile like that - sharp and sure with witchfire glittering in pale eyes. "Call."
Hades spreads his cards in a cloud of smug smoke. "Four of a kind! Read 'em and weep, pretty-bo~y!"
The Organization members lean forward, there's an air of nervous anticipation and not-Riku's smile turns hard and vicious and his teeth gleam white as he spreads his hand across the bare rock. "Royal flush. Point and match, I believe, "Lord" Hades?"
Hades spits and seethes and screams but it isn't working and Kairi can see it not working even as not-Riku glances casually away and starts to talk to Luxord. She can't hear words over Hades' shrill tantrum but the body language betrays them both - they're watching Hades hiss and squeal himself into exhaustion. The other Nobodies are bunching together now, hands flexing for weapons that aren't visible yet. Hades roars and shouts in Greek and another language that makes Kairi cling to Meg as her eyes cross.
"ENOUGH!" Not-Riku unfolds, coming upright fast and smooth. "We had a bargain, Hades. Keep to it!"
Hades subsides and Kairi doesn't need to feel Meg's nails against her arms to know that that shouldn't be possible but she's pretty sure she's hysterical by now and isn't that just fine and dandy?
"Kairi?" She really thought that she was beyond surprise but Axel's voice makes her jump all the same. "What're you doing here?"
"We came to see what Hades was up to." Meg - bless her - steps in. "But I don't understand - that can't be Riku, can it?"
Axel flashes her that annoying smirk. "Depends what you mean by 'Riku'. Namine might remember him; of course he's a bit older now - Hades let him grow up a bit, after Zeus started to talk about a kid cleaning out through the Underdrome's competitions."
Namine's memories ripple through Kairi's mind and she turns back to stare at the slim figure now almost nose-to-nose with Hades. "A...replica?"
"We call him Kiluprex, or Rex if you're feeling lucky...or sucidal. Of course, you could pull a Zexion and call him 'XIV' but that might be a little too formal."
"What were they playing for?" Meg asks, glancing back in time to see Hades deflate and start to nod reluctantly.
"Thirteen one-way trips back on the Styx ferry." Axel is smiling again. "And a few minor other minor matters that you wouldn't care about anyway."
"Is he a Nobody?" Kairi asks, Namine's worry throbbing away behind her eyes. "I mean-"
"You could stick around to find out." Axel offers with a smirk. "Or, and this is just a suggestion, you could go tell the Golden Boy that Hades is pissed and looking for a target to vent all that pent-up frustration on. Ciao for now, darlings."
Meg watches him sashay off to join his fellows and looks questioningly at Kairi. Namine wants to stay, wants something to happen with the notRi- with Kiluprex so bad that Kairi can taste it but Kairi looks at the Organization as it regroups and knows that they have to get out of here. Maybe the Nobodies aren't out to for revenge and maybe they're out for something altogether more sinister. Either way, she has to warn Sora and Riku and the King.
She starts to run for the exit, Meg on her heels and hopes she isn't too late.