oo41 [ action ]

[poppetry]

[ Today, you are having a perfectly normal day. Perhaps you are on your way to the battle dome. Perhaps you're walking home along the path. Perhaps you're in the middle of town. Or perhaps you're heading further north

Comments

[risingwinds]

[Oof! That was unexpected. Even though Ven nearly face-planted in the ground, when he looks up at Xion, he's not angry or frustrated.

Just a little concerned.]

Xion! Are you okay?

[poppetry]

[ She scrambles back from him, still a bit wild about the eyes for a moment... but then she lowers the hand she'd raised to cover her heart, shaking her head. ]

... Ven? [ she glances off to the side ] Where...

[risingwinds]

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

Sorry. I was just heading to the battle dome to get in some practice.

[poppetry]

The... [ she looks back over her shoulder. And yup, there it is; the Battle Dome, not thirty feet away.

After a quiet moment of staring at the structure, she shakes her head and looks at him again. ] Oh, Ven, I'm sorry. I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going. All I was thinking about was getting home. [ Away from the Malnosso. ]

[risingwinds]

It's okay! I'm not in a rush or anything.

[He shrugs.]

D'you want some company, though? I can't see your house, but I could at least stick with you 'til we get there.

[poppetry]

... sure. [ Her smile is a little uncertain, but it's there. ] I'd like that.

[ Once they're both properly righted after their collision (and she's dusted off her dress -- reflexively, as there's little hope for it at this point), she'll start them back on the road, at a nice leisurely pace this time. ]

... I'll definitely get one of the Secret Keepers to tell you where the house is, though. I'm sorry I haven't done it before...

[risingwinds]

It's okay! I'm sure you had a lot of other stuff on your mind.

[He shrugs again, following her on the way back.]

[poppetry]

Mmm... I'll ask Kairi. She'll remember to do it. [ ... probably. Right? Better half and all that. ] ... so, have I missed anything important?

[risingwinds]

Not much.

[He stiffens a little, though.]

Just Vanitas causing more trouble. One of my friends went after him, and she got really hurt. [He droops.]

[poppetry]

[ She stops walking. And she looks at him with wide eyes. ]

... "she?"

[risingwinds]

Naoto. When she heard about what happened to Sora, she went after Vanitas herself, and...

[He winces.]

She's still alive, but I'm really worried now.

[poppetry]

... Ven, this has to stop.

[risingwinds]

I know... I've gotta do something about this before it's too late!

[It's just... how? He wants to stop Vanitas, but Ven could never bring himself to kill him.

And if he did die, he'd just come back, wouldn't he?]

[poppetry]

... Ven, just promise me you won't go alone. Promise me that, okay? Vanitas... he's too strong. If Sora couldn't... [ She stops, her expression falling -- more than it already had, anyway. She'll never get rid of that image of a bloody, agonized Sora on the ground in front of her, and she couldn't stand it if she had to see Ven that way, too. ]

1/2

[risingwinds]

[He lowers his head. Xion has a point. Ven doesn't want to worry his friends or end up in Sora's position. But at the same time...]

I've beaten him before, and I know how to deal with him. If I'm extra careful, I'll probably stand a chance...

[A beat.]

But I know that's what he wants. Vanitas is the kinda guy who separates friends because that's when we're vulnerable. He probably wants to take us out one by one.

[risingwinds]

[Ven pulls out his Wayfinder and clutches it tightly. Then, he looks Xion straight in the eyes.]

We shouldn't have to face him alone. You, me, or anyone else.

[In other words, yes, he can promise that.]