spoke
in
kh_drabble
Non-Challenge Entries
A project and goal I set for myself today(except the first two, written yesterday) , that I felt like sharing somewhere besides my journal. Hopefully it will be enjoyed! Comments & crit welcome. :)
Title: Heading for a Fall
Word Count: 100 each, 900 total.
Notes: Spoiler warnings for Birth by Sleep, I am so sorry I forgot that and I apologize if anyone was accidentally spoiled.
After the series, leading up to the Fall. Some headcanon here (isn't there always) , which I'm pleased with because it's the first time it's gotten expressed properly.
i. Xehanort
The fire’s soft crackling would have lulled him to sleep, had he not been drowning in tea since he woke. There was so much to read, so much lost understanding to be recovered....
So much anger to understand, felt every time he approached the subject of his lost memories.
In present experience, what defies his understanding is more obvious. Why should Braig’s presence soothe that ache? The knowing light in his eyes, the sharpness of his smile, make Xehanort want to attack.
Yet the man enters, begins rambling about his day to Xehanort, and he cannot bring himself to leave.
ii. Braig
When the shock wore off, he found himself compensating like the doctors said.
Sort of. It wasn’t with the other senses so much as with magic. He’d always been more aware than most of the defining pull that his later teachers would call gravity magic. Now he’s hyper-aware, feels the shape and the weight of things that he’d never gotten before.
When that disagrees with what his vision’s telling him? He ignores his sight.
His aim has never been better. He takes to leaving the castle on breaks, playing with the new possibilities.
Sometimes Dilan joins him. That’s fun.
iii. Dilan
What first draws his eye is not the man’s martial prowess, although he is fairly good for a sniper. But when he begins to notice that the watchful quality of Braig’s gaze never falters...
As he observes events and people being directed in Braig’s favor without the man having done for which he could be held accountable...
The next time he touches his hair, Dilan merely tilts his head sufficiently that he can observe Braig’s expression. “You needed something, Captain?”
Such a violent edge to his smile. “Nah. How ‘bout you?”
Who could resist the promise of violence in it?
iv. Even
“It’s not as if it’s anything you’re unfamiliar with, Even.” Dilan says in low tones, and if he didn’t know the man better he’d think he was laughing at him.
“My familiarity with the subject has nothing to do with it.” he almost snarls, turning to find Dilan regarding him with a disgustingly familiar expression. Presumptuous bastard.
“Perhaps it has less to do with the subject matter, and more to do with lack of familiarity with the other participants?”
He’s almost purring now!
“With... Braig, perhaps?”
He doesn’t manage to turn away before he sees the triumph in Dilan’s expression.
v. Aeleus
He remembers the monsters that plagued the Garden before their newest arrival.
This thing feels different, for all that it melts into the stone as the smallest of those did. It’s more solid in some way he cannot quite define, almost natural in its way.
Clearly a predator, by the way it approaches Even.
Who is holding a shield and a small knife, and looks ridiculous. Not that he has any intention of saying so. He works his way to Even carefully, eliminating the creatures as he goes.
The calculation in his eyes demands the question. “What have you done?”
vi. Ienzo
There is something alike in the sound of thier voices. Though he does not put it into words.
In the way that they laugh, in the shape of a smile, they reflect each other almost as mirrors. He does not speak of it.
He watches quietly as his adopted father drifts closer to the newest addition to the castle, to the group forming around Braig, and he remembers that before this there were other things.
There were his own home, his own parents.
There were nights spent concealed in the draperies, listening to Ansem talk to another man named Xehanort.
vi. Isa
The pain is killing him, but listening to Lea scream himself hoarse is worse. Threats, pleading, whatever, it doesn’t matter. He’s only giving the monsters what they want.
They’re too far apart for Lea to hear him. Isa doesn’t have the energy to scream.
He doesn’t have the energy to argue. Not the first time the silver haired apprentice shows up. Isa watches him, he watches Isa. That’s all.
The next time he speaks, low and compelling, about the darkness in people’s hearts. About how all this has a purpose and Isa can know, if he just does one thing...
viii. Lea
The roof of this cell is pretty boring.
There’s definitely something wrong with thinking about that now, but it happens. When he’s not wondering if Isa’s still alive, and if his parents miss him, and why nobody seems to notice what’s going on around here.
Okay, he’s part of what’s going on around here and doesn’t know. But hey, who talks to lab rats, right?
Right.
So it’s pretty confusing when Isa opens his door - Isa! And stands there stiff as anything while Lea holds him and just shakes for a minute before he grabs his hand - and sees him.
Kairi.
It’s quiet out. Nothing really looks wrong, the sun is shining the same as it always does. The air is warm, and they’re far enough into summer that most of the flowers have stopped blooming.
The fountain is flowing clean and bright.
There are people around, fewer now than before, but that’s been happening for awhile. She’s almost used to it, except for the nightmares. She’s just as glad she doesn’t remember them.
She only notices after she’s given up and found Yuffie instead. They’re getting icecream when she turns around to look at the castle.
It looks bruised.
“Kairi?”
Titles: Echoes
Word Count: 100 each, 400 total.
Notes: Still spoilery for Birth by Sleep.
Before game start. Ventus's kind of creeped me out, I did not intend to have him echoing Xehanort but it fits. Also, I did not realize before this that I really like Eraqus and Terra. Even if I kind of want to slap them both at various points.
Eraqus
The children’s laughter drifts in through the open door of the Grand Hall, and it’s enough to draw Eraqus away from his own practice. The joy of watching them, he feels, will do his heart good.
By the time he reaches them, Aqua is sitting on one of the higher ledges, and he is forced to concede that it is also an exercise in self-discipline. He knows very well that Aqua excels at magic, and will shield herself even if she falls.
It becomes worse when Terra manages to join her. There are better choices for a practice ground.
Terra
He wonders what it would be like to explore the mountains. Full of interesting caves, and probably monsters to fight. He could defeat them. He’s doing well in practice.
Aqua would probably want to come too. She doesn’t like it when he goes off on his own.
So when he decides to pack for journey into the mountains, he makes sure to bring stuff for her too. Food and potions and things. “You’re going to pack your own clothes, though.” he announces when he gives her the backpack.
“Pack for what?” she asks, turning.
Master Eraqus stands with a frown.
Aqua
She learns to watch herself while they’re fighting with an interesting sort of detachment. Like she’s floating outside of the battle, watching it ebb and flow, strike and parry and shift.
There’s something that worries her, and she watches Terra closely, trying to figure it out. Which is how she comes to notice that the Master is watching him, too.
One day she asks why. “Terra... is of the earth. It is in his nature to have something concealed, and he intends no malice. Yet he may harm himself by it. We must watch over him.”
And so she does.
Ventus
The easiest way to fill the blanks where his memories should be is reading. Besides, he enjoys it! Terra doesn’t really get that, but Aqua does. She suggests books for him! She also teaches him how to draw, which he enjoys as much as reading even if it’s harder.
There’s so much to learn, he wonders how anyone could’ve forgotten all of it. Wonders if there’s something really wrong with him.
Even Master Eraqus say there isn’t. So he pushes it away, and practices hard, so one day he can leave with his friends.
Maybe then he’ll figure it out.
Title: Heading for a Fall
Word Count: 100 each, 900 total.
Notes: Spoiler warnings for Birth by Sleep, I am so sorry I forgot that and I apologize if anyone was accidentally spoiled.
After the series, leading up to the Fall. Some headcanon here (isn't there always) , which I'm pleased with because it's the first time it's gotten expressed properly.
i. Xehanort
The fire’s soft crackling would have lulled him to sleep, had he not been drowning in tea since he woke. There was so much to read, so much lost understanding to be recovered....
So much anger to understand, felt every time he approached the subject of his lost memories.
In present experience, what defies his understanding is more obvious. Why should Braig’s presence soothe that ache? The knowing light in his eyes, the sharpness of his smile, make Xehanort want to attack.
Yet the man enters, begins rambling about his day to Xehanort, and he cannot bring himself to leave.
ii. Braig
When the shock wore off, he found himself compensating like the doctors said.
Sort of. It wasn’t with the other senses so much as with magic. He’d always been more aware than most of the defining pull that his later teachers would call gravity magic. Now he’s hyper-aware, feels the shape and the weight of things that he’d never gotten before.
When that disagrees with what his vision’s telling him? He ignores his sight.
His aim has never been better. He takes to leaving the castle on breaks, playing with the new possibilities.
Sometimes Dilan joins him. That’s fun.
iii. Dilan
What first draws his eye is not the man’s martial prowess, although he is fairly good for a sniper. But when he begins to notice that the watchful quality of Braig’s gaze never falters...
As he observes events and people being directed in Braig’s favor without the man having done for which he could be held accountable...
The next time he touches his hair, Dilan merely tilts his head sufficiently that he can observe Braig’s expression. “You needed something, Captain?”
Such a violent edge to his smile. “Nah. How ‘bout you?”
Who could resist the promise of violence in it?
iv. Even
“It’s not as if it’s anything you’re unfamiliar with, Even.” Dilan says in low tones, and if he didn’t know the man better he’d think he was laughing at him.
“My familiarity with the subject has nothing to do with it.” he almost snarls, turning to find Dilan regarding him with a disgustingly familiar expression. Presumptuous bastard.
“Perhaps it has less to do with the subject matter, and more to do with lack of familiarity with the other participants?”
He’s almost purring now!
“With... Braig, perhaps?”
He doesn’t manage to turn away before he sees the triumph in Dilan’s expression.
v. Aeleus
He remembers the monsters that plagued the Garden before their newest arrival.
This thing feels different, for all that it melts into the stone as the smallest of those did. It’s more solid in some way he cannot quite define, almost natural in its way.
Clearly a predator, by the way it approaches Even.
Who is holding a shield and a small knife, and looks ridiculous. Not that he has any intention of saying so. He works his way to Even carefully, eliminating the creatures as he goes.
The calculation in his eyes demands the question. “What have you done?”
vi. Ienzo
There is something alike in the sound of thier voices. Though he does not put it into words.
In the way that they laugh, in the shape of a smile, they reflect each other almost as mirrors. He does not speak of it.
He watches quietly as his adopted father drifts closer to the newest addition to the castle, to the group forming around Braig, and he remembers that before this there were other things.
There were his own home, his own parents.
There were nights spent concealed in the draperies, listening to Ansem talk to another man named Xehanort.
vi. Isa
The pain is killing him, but listening to Lea scream himself hoarse is worse. Threats, pleading, whatever, it doesn’t matter. He’s only giving the monsters what they want.
They’re too far apart for Lea to hear him. Isa doesn’t have the energy to scream.
He doesn’t have the energy to argue. Not the first time the silver haired apprentice shows up. Isa watches him, he watches Isa. That’s all.
The next time he speaks, low and compelling, about the darkness in people’s hearts. About how all this has a purpose and Isa can know, if he just does one thing...
viii. Lea
The roof of this cell is pretty boring.
There’s definitely something wrong with thinking about that now, but it happens. When he’s not wondering if Isa’s still alive, and if his parents miss him, and why nobody seems to notice what’s going on around here.
Okay, he’s part of what’s going on around here and doesn’t know. But hey, who talks to lab rats, right?
Right.
So it’s pretty confusing when Isa opens his door - Isa! And stands there stiff as anything while Lea holds him and just shakes for a minute before he grabs his hand - and sees him.
Kairi.
It’s quiet out. Nothing really looks wrong, the sun is shining the same as it always does. The air is warm, and they’re far enough into summer that most of the flowers have stopped blooming.
The fountain is flowing clean and bright.
There are people around, fewer now than before, but that’s been happening for awhile. She’s almost used to it, except for the nightmares. She’s just as glad she doesn’t remember them.
She only notices after she’s given up and found Yuffie instead. They’re getting icecream when she turns around to look at the castle.
It looks bruised.
“Kairi?”
Titles: Echoes
Word Count: 100 each, 400 total.
Notes: Still spoilery for Birth by Sleep.
Before game start. Ventus's kind of creeped me out, I did not intend to have him echoing Xehanort but it fits. Also, I did not realize before this that I really like Eraqus and Terra. Even if I kind of want to slap them both at various points.
Eraqus
The children’s laughter drifts in through the open door of the Grand Hall, and it’s enough to draw Eraqus away from his own practice. The joy of watching them, he feels, will do his heart good.
By the time he reaches them, Aqua is sitting on one of the higher ledges, and he is forced to concede that it is also an exercise in self-discipline. He knows very well that Aqua excels at magic, and will shield herself even if she falls.
It becomes worse when Terra manages to join her. There are better choices for a practice ground.
Terra
He wonders what it would be like to explore the mountains. Full of interesting caves, and probably monsters to fight. He could defeat them. He’s doing well in practice.
Aqua would probably want to come too. She doesn’t like it when he goes off on his own.
So when he decides to pack for journey into the mountains, he makes sure to bring stuff for her too. Food and potions and things. “You’re going to pack your own clothes, though.” he announces when he gives her the backpack.
“Pack for what?” she asks, turning.
Master Eraqus stands with a frown.
Aqua
She learns to watch herself while they’re fighting with an interesting sort of detachment. Like she’s floating outside of the battle, watching it ebb and flow, strike and parry and shift.
There’s something that worries her, and she watches Terra closely, trying to figure it out. Which is how she comes to notice that the Master is watching him, too.
One day she asks why. “Terra... is of the earth. It is in his nature to have something concealed, and he intends no malice. Yet he may harm himself by it. We must watch over him.”
And so she does.
Ventus
The easiest way to fill the blanks where his memories should be is reading. Besides, he enjoys it! Terra doesn’t really get that, but Aqua does. She suggests books for him! She also teaches him how to draw, which he enjoys as much as reading even if it’s harder.
There’s so much to learn, he wonders how anyone could’ve forgotten all of it. Wonders if there’s something really wrong with him.
Even Master Eraqus say there isn’t. So he pushes it away, and practices hard, so one day he can leave with his friends.
Maybe then he’ll figure it out.