Nightshift 31: Recreactional Field

[contentincloset]

[from here]Last night he'd only been intent on getting to Fai's room. Tonight was no different, but since he wasn't moving quickly to make up for time, he was able to take a moment when he stepped out into the open air and see just what the place was. An outdoor area, grassy, and completely dark save for what little light the nighttime sky provided

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[clockmongler]

[Being retarded from here]

"To you~," he finished, pushing the door open for the other to go through. It was relatively empty in the field, which X took to his liking. He let out a sigh, enjoying the feel of being out in the open.

Much better than staying in his room all night, however unsafe.

[numberii]

Wasn't it a wonderful feeling? Fresh air, a nice crisp night... yeah, Xigbar enjoyed this far more than any number of Institutes or rooms or stuff. While the walls blocked some of the freedom he wanted, Xigbar was still too giddy to care. He started making his way across the field, heading to the equipment shed. "Let's all congratulate us with another cup of tea..."

He stopped in the middle of the field, and glanced at Luxord with another wide grin. "Just to let you know, looks like my turn's up for getting a weapon. Just need to gather some stuff and I'll get it... ain't that sweet? We'll finally both have what we need."

[clockmongler]

Um, no, was the first thing to pop into the Gambler's mind, his smile fading into a frown once more. Luxord needed out of this asylum. He needed perhaps a nice, small island by himself with naught but a book, a communications device, and personal computer in case there was ever a need. Nothing but the view, no responsibilities and no need for those pesky shadows of stress following him to the grave as they were here. That was what he needed, he thought to himself, more than anything else.

Except he'd most likely hate it.

He pondered this for a moment before shrugging it off and the smirk returned. "And whatever have you pulled me in for, then? Goodness knows I'm not as much help as that little Captain of yours could be."

[numberii]

Xigbar stopped in mid-stride when Luxord said that last part, blinking as he stared at the Gambler. God, someone was putting on a good show of being a jealous girlfriend. Didn't he get at least a few days before that crazy gene kicked in?

He sighed then, shaking his head in disbelief. "Because you, my dear Gambler, are fun to be around sometimes, an' this is only the best night for me since the time we got to swig some booze together. The Cap'n's fun and all, but come on! You an' me, Ten, we're buds. Or," he said with a bit of a teasing grin, "are you seeing red 'cause I put on the charm on him an' not on you?"

[clockmongler]

For some reason, the notion that he could be jealous of anyone receiving attention from Xigbar caused such a wave of disbelief in the Gambler's mind that everything the gunner could have said went through one ear and out the other, drifting languidly into the cosmos as Luxord only wondered why the way II pronounced the word 'captain' made him wish for some fish and chips.

Once reality set back in and it was assured that II was not going to retract that statement, the blond scoffed. "You have charm?"

[damned_monsters]

Over Luxord's right shoulder, there was a soft, happy chuckle, coming from thin air.

After a night of fruitless searching, she'd found him again.

[numberii]

"Um, yeah, I've got charm. Don't act like you didn't fall for it." The Freeshooter laughed as he started walking on to the shed, still giddy as a schoolgirl about the possibility of getting his things.

But then there was something that sounded suspiciously like a giggle, and was just barely too girly for Luxord to make. Weird... Xigbar glanced back, over Luxord's shoulder, and blinked. "...friend o' yours?"

[clockmongler]

"As much as IV, I'd wager," was the response, but Luxord stopped in mid-step after the other.

Oh god, not again.

It was simply a stupid mistake back then, one which he constantly regretted. He expected it as a one night thing, yet now he could hardly step outside his room without the nasty thing stalking him. Why? "Yes," he answered bluntly, turning to look where he suspected the little cloud to be.

"'ello again, love." Then, as an afterthought, "I've a proposition for you."

[damned_monsters]

A proposition? She liked the sound of that, the attention for once, instead of him just continuing the game of tag. Not that she minded tag. She quite enjoyed it. But infatuation demanded slightly more than just games.

She twirled happily around him, a soft, invisible breeze, tugging at his clothes and playing with his hair for a moment. She giggled happily to let him know she was listening.

[numberii]

...what the heck. That didn't make any sense at all to Xigbar; Luxord was propositioning some kind of... cloudy... invisible... thing. It kind of aggravated the Freeshooter, to be honest; he didn't like something that he probably couldn't put a projectile into. Nor did he like things molesting aggravating the Gambler of Fate.

So he proceeded to cross his arms and roll his eye. "You two gonna be done soon, or should I just leave you?" Not that he'd leave Luxord hanging, but still, an aggravation was an aggravation.

[clockmongler]

Odd that II would think that, considering he made a regular past-time of annoying the blond.

Oh god, he'd forgotten how cold the wisp was. Luxord did not like the cold (he didn't like much of anything, but that was besides the point), but he shrugged it off as much as he could and shook his hand towards II, signaling for the other to wait a moment.

"Peanut," he began in a soothing, charming voice, "I enjoy seeing you as much as you do me, however, and I am unsure if anyone has brought this to your attention, but your kisses literally steal the breath from my lungs. Unfortunately, as I need to breathe, this can be a bit of a dilemma. If I happen to die, then however will I see you again? I'd not leave a spirit- I'd merely fade away. Is that what you want, love?"

Bargaining with an invisible girl... Where did his non-life go wrong?

[damned_monsters]

He used big words. That was part of what she liked so much about him. He had a nice voice and talked a lot. She swirled around him again, chuckling as she attempted to make sense of all those words.

Die...but then die was good, right? It was rather confusing.

She paused in her flight for a moment, hovering over his head and stirring up his hair with insubstantial fingers, making a soft, confused little laugh.

[numberii]

Wait. Luxord wanted the Freeshooter to wait. Surely he realized just how impossible that was, didn't he? He had stuff to do, and now he was being told to wait?

He crossed his arms and started pacing around the center of the field, keeping his eye trained on the Gambler. If he took too long, then Xigbar was just going to slip off and get his prizes while he had them.

[clockmongler]

Yes, Xigbar was going to wait if he wanted his friend to keep living. This was a dire situation sort of and X had a plan.

"I'm not human, love," he explained to the sylph, slower and with more feeling (if he tried hard enough, maybe he would not be killed). "If I die, I would fade away and we would never be able to see each other again- I've nothing to return to on my own world... Perhaps if you assist us, we could regain that which made us human and I could stay with you forever." ...god, the things he did to stay alive. Still, if it did come to that, at least he'd be stuck with someone who actually appreciated him, unlike someone else.

Speaking of Xigbar. "My friend over there happens to be looking for metal to construct a weapon. Without our powers, we need them to protect ourself from those lurking here. If you could help us, we'd be ever so grateful."

[damned_monsters]

The sylph retreated in confusion. She wanted to help her boyfriend, of course, even if help was bad, bad, bad, but his friend? No. Not at all. That would be very bad.

The wind swirled around Luxord again, plucking at his clothing in a worried, distressed fashion.

Why would he ask her to get in trouble? It was bad. He wouldn't do anything bad. Not like that. So... it must be... him.

The sylph paused by Luxord's ear, for a moment giving the impression of a protective, tiny woman clinging to Luxord's neck. She hissed at Xigbar.

[numberii]

And Xigbar hissed right back. That was his freaking Gambler, and weird wind things or not, he didn't like people casually molesting curling up with him! Moreover, there was nothing at all happening, which only got him more aggravated.

"Why don't you an' Fairy Grandhag over there get a room and I'll get my stuff myself? Sheesh, X; I could've been there and back already!"