Day 30: Men's Showers (Third Shift)

[notachick]

The lockdown had been interesting. The fact that the staff had enough power to put down a rebellion that quickly and then lock people into their rooms just as fast was something of a feat to be admired. Their efficiency would have been much more impressive if Okita had been on the other side of it, however. As it stood, he had to keep his

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[numberii]

Of all the members of the Organization, very few were left. Luxord, Xigbar, Axel, and possibly Saix, so far as the Freeshooter knew. And of them, Saix had never been too much of a 'friend' towards Number Two, so there was no real need to check up on him for now. However... Xigbar hadn't checked in on Axel since the night of that strange operation.

He knew why, of course. Axel was a friend (or at least someone who probably wouldn't stab Xigbar in the back, so long as it wasn't a tempting target,) but he had his own plans and circles. Something that might get upset if Xigbar happened to step in. So Xigbar had stayed away for awhile. Now, however, he wanted to check in on the Neophyte. All his accusers were dead, save for Luxord, and so Xigbar didn't feel like there was a threat, either.

So the Senior Member easily strolled up to the shower stall next to Axel's own, idly turning on the water and grinning as he glanced at the other Nobody with his single eye. "Hey, Number Eight. Lookin' good." Or at least, a lot better than he had with crutches and a bandage on his chest.

[bond_off_lame]

Axel hadn't actually expected anyone to stroll up to him during this shift. After all, every time he'd been there it had always been the other way around, but it wasn't to say he minded the whole ordeal. In fact, the redhead found himself grinning over at the senior member, offering him a small smirk at his somewhat questionable comment, but he didn't think too much of it.

"Hey sugar pie. It's been a while hasn't it?" If he didn't know any better, the Nobody could've sworn that the last time he'd even associated himself with the man was when he was still on crutches. Demyx had tagged along too, of course, but the water monger was nowhere to be seen. It was only right to assume that the blond disappeared along with the rest of the Organization, a feat he was already long used to.

Still, he had to ask just in case.

"You haven't seen any of the others, have you? I mean, besides sir bottle blond."

[numberii]

"I was starting to think you didn't like me anymore. But hey, at least you're on your own two feet; seems like most of the others get knocked down an' never get back up." Xigbar chuckled, easily and lightly, before starting to work on his hair. Clearly that was a primary selling point, so it would be a good idea to continue taking care of it. 'sides, it was required by law for every member of the Organization to have some sort of ridiculous hair style, so he'd just have to roll with it as always.

As for that other question? Whew. Xigbar was starting to wonder if he'd ever get to have any of his fellow Old Fogies to stay for more than a few days. Just his luck, huh? Karma or something. Ah well. At least there were some people with hearts who could keep him busy. And Luxord, too. "Naw, couldn't say that I have. Seven's still sulking around, maybe, but that's it. Must be a weight off your shoulders, not having to worry about the Organization randomly deciding to try to do you in."

[bond_off_lame]

[... And OF COURSE my screen decides to completely crap out on me right when I was almost finished with my first attempt alskfj]

"That's what the Organization does to you, you know. They get too cozy vegetating in that empty castle of theirs and by the time they make it out they don't know what hit them," Axel 'tch'ed from underneath the rushing water of his shower head, idly leaning forward to pump a good amount of shampoo over his palm. In all honesty, he was genuinely surprised that a few of them managed to last this long before they got up and just disappeared all together.

"He's probably upset that Mom isn't there to scratch him behind the ear. But anyway..." By then the redhead had been lathering up his hair, making sure each strand was coated while he chatted casually with the Senior Member.

"It's a lot quieter that's for sure. I would've at least wanted Larxene to stay. You know, for some much needed pizzazz. Other than that, this place has been a real bore lately."

Axel followed up his words with a lethargic sigh.

"Anyway, what’ve you been up to? Been chasing some skirts? Or maybe you finally found someone who loves you for the way you are."

[numberii]

"True, that," Xigbar agreed with a nod, working the shampoo into his long hair. Axel had really hit it on the nose; made sense, considering that he was one of the better agents that the Organization had. He seemed to recognize things in people, especially Nobodies... maybe that was why he had made such a dangerous traitor, if he had ended up that way. Always the ones with the inside track who made the worst turncoats. Huh. "One reason I kept out of it as much as I could. Good to keep your mind clear an' all that."

As for the members staying? "Yeah, Queenie definitely added something to the mix. Dunno what it was, but it was somethin'. Maybe Four or Five might've stuck around, too... ah well. Can't cry over spilled milk."

Which brought him nicely to the next topic of conversation, and one that he didn't mind following up on at all. Lethargy was the great killer, so far as Xigbar was concerned; seeing (and aggravating) new faces was a much better time. "Ha, you know it! Got a promising lead, another space captain who's got a cute smile an' minds his p's and q's. Heck, might even start snooping around some of those clubs, see if there's some potential there. Gotta keep searching, dude. Otherwise we'd never have a reason to get outta bed."

[bond_off_lame]

"True, other than the fact that they're no palace suite," He piped in after listening to Xigbar's amusing antics with his new soul mate. It wasn't like the beds in the castle had been any better, but at least he hadn't been in any risk of falling off, and frigid cold marble wasn't exactly the ideal thing to be waking up to.

"Sounds like a good catch you've got there, I'm almost jealous," Axel chortled afterwards. "Just take it easy, old timer. Your arthritis might flare up if you try to play too many cat and mouse games." Still, the man had the right idea in mind, and it was a relief to know that he wasn't the only member that had some common sense. But even if his words rang some truth, the Nobody knew he had some obligations he needed to wrap up first before he could go out and scout again.

With his hair completely lathered, Axel dipped his head underneath the showerhead to rinse off all the shampoo, squeezing at the soaked strands in an attempt to speed the process.

[numberii]

"Ain't the Ritz, is it? Think I'd prefer stringing up a hammock and snoozing that way." He would, too. Brought him back to the happier days when he could lay at the beach and just enjoy the sunsets, go to bed, wake up to see the sun rise... yeah, it was good times. But Xigbar just couldn't get himself into sleeping for that long. Better to just have his fun where he could get it.

When Axel quipped, Xigbar chuckled and nodded, himself washing out the shampoo as well. It was an aggravatingly long process, but eh, sacrifices. "Take it easy? Hah, you know I can't do that. Mostly 'cause it won't be long before I'm off in a home, huh? But nah, I'm still limber enough to play around, so that's not a worry. How about you? What're you gonna do, with most of the Organization outta the picture?"

[bond_off_lame]

Admittedly, something like that sounded pretty good right about now. What Axel wouldn't give for a few days on the beach, lounging about in the sun all day all the while sipping lazily at a tequila. He gave an inaudible sigh at those thoughts, rinsing off the rest of the shampoo before beginning to lather up his body.

Axel grinned at Xigbar's second comment. If there was someone that needed to be shipped off to a home it was Vexen.

"Well, there isn't much to do in this place besides the obvious, but the first thing I'm going to do once we're out of here? I'm taking a vacation," He explained rather simply,

"Maybe to Agrabah, or even Wonderland. I've heard they've got some pretty good croquet going on over there."

[numberii]

"Sounds cool, dude," Xigbar agreed with a nod, grinning as he thought about that. Vacations were always worth the effort. When he got back? He was going to Castle Oblivion, and he was dragging all the Old Fogies off somewhere. Like Tortuga, or somewhere. He had a lot of fun and games to catch up on!

A quiet laugh escaped the Senior Member as he glanced at Axel, taking on the tone of the Knowledgeable Traveler. "Yeah, it's good 'n' all, but watch out for the Queen o' Hearts. An' you'd probably wanna brush up on your singing, too. Can't go five steps without a song bursting out somewhere."