Day 23: Intercom, Dinner

Apr 17, 2007 03:26

As the intercom clicked on, one could almost hear a very new, very faint sound emanating from it, and that was the high-pitched whine and scratchy voices on a television. The extra noise was cut short, however, when the Head Doctor seemed to realize he had left his television program on and turned it off so that he could make his announcement ( Read more... )

raine, carnage, qui-gon jinn, axel, intercom, xigbar, lust, rock lee, sephiroth, soujirou, azel, larxene, rufus, miku, tsuzuki, tamaki, hakkai, luxord, alphonse, hikaru, xemnas, lord recluse, elena (ffvii), ritsuka, yuffie, fox, otacon, takaya, darman, gabranth, kadaj, haku, vergil, rubedo, renji, kurama, obi-wan kenobi, adelheid, dias, larsa, naoe, heiderich, reinforce, ashton, reno, albel, kyouya, rukia, itachi, faust, javert, dean winchester, ordo, rabastan, alucard, envy, roy, mal, wesker, valyn, sasuke, schuldig, aidou, eddie brock, hisoka, gin, omi, brad, captain jack

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M12 bond_off_lame April 17 2007, 12:00:08 UTC
It had been nice to spend a little time with Roxas despite the hustle and bustle of this Institute, reminding the redhead that his friend still was here despite Sora being at close proximity most of the time. He was about to offer a game of Scrabble when the Intercom went off, followed by the hands of his Nurse pulling him off the floor and escorting him back to his room. There were slightly more important matters to attend to, quickly making a bee-line for his bed and situated himself on top of the seats before he was given his food and left alone.

While beef brisket really wasn't his thing food was food, and Axel wasn't the type of person to be complaining too much on the matter. Cutting off a piece of the meat, he smeared it over his mashed potatoes before popping it all in his mouth.

The redhead wondered if Snake would keep his promise about their plans later on tonight. He didn't look like the type to break trusts like that, but plans were never sound until they've actually been accomplished. Picking up his cornbread, Axel began to nibble on the edge, green eyes fixated on the door all the while.

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 17 2007, 19:11:42 UTC
Ashton was beat. He hadn't been able to eat any lunch, and he'd only had sticky buns and juice for breakfast, which didn't really make a very good base for eating throughout the day. He wasn't sure he'd be able to save any food for tonight.. he was just that hungry.

So he was a little woozy as the nurse escorted him into his room, and released him with a little pat on the shoulder. "I hope you get a good rest, Mr. Pritchett," she cooed as Ashton swayed into the room. He didn't even acknowledge her, but waved a tired hello to Axel as he sat down on his bed and took a enormous and rather unladylike bite of cornbread.

It tasted like heaven.

He chewed it for an unnaturally long time, swallowed, and raised his eyebrows at his roommate. "It's been quite a day. What's with your friends?"

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 17 2007, 21:01:34 UTC
At first, when Ashton entered, the redhead merely tended to his food. By then he was already half done, idly forking his peas one at a time, quietly waiting for the latter to settle down in his bed and start up whatever conversation came to mind.

"They're not my friends." Axel sighed when Ashton finally spoke, licking the tips of his fork before waving it enthusiastically in the air. "Or at least Luxord isn't, I'm only partial with Xigbar at the moment."

Despite their friendly conversation back at lunch, the redhead knew better than to trust the man that easily. Until he made damn sure that his back wasn't going to be knifed Axel would continue to keep his guard up.

"What I want to know is why you're suddenly so popular with them."

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 17 2007, 22:55:56 UTC
Ashton noshed down on the food he was given, eating faster than normal. Cornbread in one hand, forkful of brisket in the other, alternating bites of each and looking rather silly in the process. "Yeah, I'd like to know the same thing. I mean, I didn't think I was so enticing. Especially with the dragons off."

He giggled, stuffed another bite of cornbread in his mouth. "Buh fen agen.." - swallowing, taking a drink of water - "Er, sorry. Um. But then again, guys er't like that before the dragons, so.. it's probably because of you. Xigbar only drew close to me when he'd heard you were my roommate." He shrugged, dropped the cornbread to wipe his mouth and take a big long gulp of water. "Unless it's custom where you're from to kiss the messenger boy."

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 17 2007, 23:13:53 UTC
A small grin crept up the corners of Axel's lips as he watched Ashton inhale his food, casually picking at his own at a moderate pace. However, he had to quirk an eyebrow at the latter's assumptions, chuckling a little and shook his head.

"Probably, but Xigbar likes going around, if you know what I mean. Luxord, however..." His brows furrowed at the thought, suddenly making a gagging notion before he composed himself with a shudder. The blond wasn't the type to kiss and flaunt unless it was for his benefit, which made Axel wonder how useful Ashton was to the other members anyway. "And if you're wondering, no, I'm not going to jump you and passionately ravish you in your bed."

The thought was certainly entertaining though, the redhead chuckling again before going back to cutting up his brisket.

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 17 2007, 23:49:15 UTC
Ashton raised his eyebrows, turning his head a little bit at that last statement and forcing a small, nervous chuckle. "Ah hah.." The funny thing was, if Ashton was somehow ever forced to pick between the Organization members? He'd choose Axel in a second. Not that he'd really want to, of course. But at least Ashton was able to get through a whole dinner (working on two!) with Axel without being drawn into a kiss.. which was nice, and growing steadily more rare, the more members of this 'Organization' he met.

"Um. That's interesting, though. I wonder what Luxord wants from me. He asked me to deliver a message to Xigbar, though, so.." Here he shrugged, shoving the rest of the cornbread in his mouth. "So I'm going to go see Number II tonight, I think. Before he's attacked, anyway." He tapped his toes on the floor and smiled cheerfully at Axel.

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 18 2007, 00:04:46 UTC
If Axel's memory served him right he could remember catching Luxord attacking Xigbar from the corner of his eye when he himself was enjoying a nice conversation with Naminé. Ashton's message probably had some Organization code that basically translated to 'I will cut you deep white girl'. He was curious to know the actual contents, but if that risked him getting involved then he'd rather stay in the dark.

"What's Xigbar's room number anyway?" The redhead asked after a bite of cornbread. This was not only to keep in mind for the next night, but Axel admittedly wanted to witness what shenanigans Xigbar was prone to doing.

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 18 2007, 00:51:57 UTC
"Um.. M53," Ashton replied after another bite. And.. damn, peas for the second night in a row. He wasn't going to touch them. "Do you have any plans tonight? You could stop by... besides, Dias won't be around to save me from him tonight. If I end up needing saving.."

The memory of Dias saving him last night was all too strong, and the emotions that flooded up inside him with it made him stop a second and flush as he brought another bit of brisket up to his mouth. Dias had come up and yanked Xigbar away from Ashton's face in one fluid motion last night. And while he knew Dias would probably do that for anyone who was flailing like he was, for some reason it seemed special to him.

"..If I end up needing saving, I guess I can save myself." He had the strength to do so, there was no doubt, but he was still trying to teach himself to say 'no' in these sorts of situations. He knew people would get angry if he just let people like that do those sorts of things to him.

But a change of subject would probably be better. "I'm curious about this organization that they say you're.. you were..? in, though." He wasn't exactly sure of Axel's status in it, especially since Luxord had said Axel killed another member.

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 18 2007, 02:37:10 UTC
"I have plans," Axel began after finishing up his food, setting his plate aside and flopped back onto his bed. "But the guy I'm planning to go out with has a room a few doors down from Xigbar."

Of course he had told Snake last night to come to his room tonight, but if worst came to worst they'd most likely meet up in the middle of the hallway. Axel softly sighed, pressing the side of his face into his pillow while gazing passively at his roommate with a single green eye. When it was just himself in the close quarters of his room, the redhead was prone to at least getting a few minutes rest. But now that there was a heart at such close proximity he was feeling more restless even if the latter was calm.

Axel readjusted himself on his bed for another minute before speaking up.

"It's called Organization XIII, consisting of thirteen heartless beings like myself and the other two that devote their time to study the Heart in an attempt to regain our own."

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 18 2007, 17:53:44 UTC
"Guy you're planning to go out with?" Ashton was curious tonight. There was a lot he wanted to learn from Axel tonight before he left the room to go hang out with someone he probably shouldn't.

For some reason his roommate seemed restless. Ashton idly wondered why, then realized he was still hungry, so he started in on the potatoes, flicking a few peas out of them. Peas were so not cool.

"So.. Organization XIII. You guys are all scholars or something? Um.. so.. do you all work at a university?" Where Ashton was from, people who studied things were scholars, and scholars lived in Linga, a university town. Linga wasn't good for much else besides good perfume (it was the compounding center of the continent, and good compounds meant great perfume,) a cheap co-op, and tons of books that Ashton never really cared to read. He'd thought briefly about formally studying at the university after rudimentary schooling, but he'd opted for the mercenary life instead.

He had so many more questions, but they could wait...

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 18 2007, 18:05:22 UTC
Having given up laying down Axel now situated himself against the wall of his bed, idly glancing at the ceiling in between their exchanges. "Yeah, some guy mistook my voice for one of their boyfriends so he invited me over last night to talk. We made plans tonight but lord knows it's going to end up in flames before we can even meet up."

Axel spoke through experience of course, but he wasn't so much of a pessimist that he couldn't hope for something good to turn up later that night. When Ashton laid down his guesswork he had to laugh, shaking his head and waving the latter off in the process.

"I guess you can say our Organization started out like that, but we aren't what you call 'traditional' scholars. Scholars don't invoke mass genocide."

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 18 2007, 22:45:03 UTC
"Mass genocide?" Ashton repeated back to Axel.

Suddenly the actions of the Organization, enticing as they had been to ask about and take notes on - he'd prepared a little page in his journal with his own guesswork about it - seemed foreign and dangerous. Thirteen people in Organization XIII. More than one of which might be girls, if Ashton's theories about Naminé were even close to being right. Not to mention whoever the people in that one conversation on the Bulletin Board were calling M'Lady.. if that wasn't Naminé herself. The thought was kind of sad.

"I've tried to do my research on your Organization, but I'd never have... I know some of you are scientists.. but mass genocide? I'd not have thought you to be the type. Naminé either.. she's such a sweet girl."

He really did look dejected about the prospect. He hadn't gotten to speak to the blonde girl very much, but she had given him a map, and for some reason he tended to worry about her. And Axel seemed so nice, too. Not at all like someone who would commit mass genocide.

His appetite was tapering off, so he absently nibbled on the cookie. He'd at least save half of this.

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 18 2007, 23:30:33 UTC
Axel watched Ashton's features carefully, that same anxious feeling returning to the middle of his chest when he managed to coax out those wary emotions. He idly bit at the corner of his lip to numb these sensations, sliding sideways against the wall and landed on his pillow with a small flop. The redhead hadn't wanted to lecture about the Organization, especially since he'd just be repeating himself to Snake whenever they met up. But in a way Ashton had priority over the latter, if only because he was his roommate.

"Naminé technically isn't a part of Organization XIII, so whatever you thought of her before should rightfully stay that way. As for the rest of us..."

Axel shifted in his bed, gazing passively at the other man across the room.

"It's a complicated subject, but when it comes down to it we're really just committing these heinous crimes for our own benefit. In somewhat of a nutshell, we take people and extract their hearts from their bodies for experimentation, and then use their empty shells for subordinates to our ever-growing army. It’s kind of ironic really, having to find our own answers by giving others the same fate. We really are heartless."

Even he had to chuckle at the pun he made, bringing a hand to his head and slowly rubbed into his temples.

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 19 2007, 00:37:56 UTC
"...Oh." Though he was glad about Naminé, the description of Axel's job made Ashton somewhat uneasy - although he wasn't a stranger to killing people by any means. Being a mercenary meant killing who was necessary, but after he'd been possessed by his latest mark he'd joined Rena's little crew on the mission to investigate the Sorcery Globe, so he hadn't done any more mercenary work. On the other hand, he'd done a heck of a lot more killing since then, but it seemed like a righteous sort of reason.

Though Ashton's own physical guilt at killing so many people didn't excuse the Organization in his mind. In the end, what they had done was quite a bit heartless. Axel didn't seem to be one of the 'good guys'... but at the same time, he still wasn't a half-bad guy. The swordsman had to give the redhead at least a little benefit of the doubt.

Although Ashton had heard so many conflicting things about Axel's role within the Organization. He decided to voice another one of his questions then. "Luxord told me you'd killed one of Xigbar's friends. If that's so, why are you and he friends still?"

He'd finished with his meal by now, so he rested the tray down on the bedside table and flopped over so he could see Axel eye to eye. He didn't want to believe his roommate was a bad guy just yet, so he started weaving a rug of denial for himself as he stared the redhead down.

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Re: M12 bond_off_lame April 19 2007, 01:12:09 UTC
"We aren't friends either. Me and Xigbar only have mutual respect for each other. You see, for a bunch of emotionless people, a lot of the members like to carry their baggage with them, and so casual conversation's kind of difficult if you have to keep watching your back like that. I surely can't speak for the man, but I myself am pretty relieved I could talk to someone without the weight on my shoulders." Axel explained, his own green eyes not faltering from Ashton's when the man gave him a good stare down.

"I'm not going to deny what I've done and I'm not going to deny my reasons either. But since I got here I don't have any reason why to pursue it." Or at least, not until he managed to escape this Institute. Axel wasn't just about to let seven years of research go to waste like that, especially when he was informed of his fate by at least five other people.

"Do you hate me?" The question came more out of curiosity than anything else, head tilted with Axel's gaze still pinned at Ashton.

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Re: M12 part1of3 April 19 2007, 01:55:58 UTC
Ashton's eyes widened at the sudden question, but he smiled from across the few feet between the beds. "No. I don't hate you."

It was true. He didn't. Axel was a pretty likable guy, and even though his pre-Landel's life had been a bit.. harsh, Ashton just couldn't find it in him to hate him for it. What seemed to be pure honesty about the matter didn't hurt. "Besides, you're my roommate! We gotta stick together, right? Watch each other's backs or somethin'."

Ashton blinked, smiling a little bit nostalgically. He was an expert at forgiving people, making friends in his heart with people (and dragons) who had done so much wrong. "Regardless of what you did back then.. we're all in the same boat now. ...Reminds me, you want a knife? I got a bundle of metal."

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