It takes him a while (and leaving the apartment to practice juggling five balls while on fire), but he eventually looks out for Katherine and heads over to the place she claims as her own. Axel figures there are a few ways to go about this, and after their chats, he realizes that he might as well lay his hand out. The thing is: he doesn't have much proof that this woman is interesting. Some part of Axel is aware of the nagging guilt as just looking for entertainment-but somehow, this harkens back to his early days. Early days of being a Nobody, that is. They were better ones, days where he and Saïx clung to the absent reminders of humanity despite the ever-present vacant feeling inside
( ... )
"You've gotta wonder how they get the stuff ready to go, what with all the dockin' and goin' they do," he says, eyeing her wide collection quite curiously. So this was the type of woman Katherine was. He supposes he isn't that surprised. Axel hasn't seen that much amassed outside of what he always bet Luxord carried around in his coat. (Then again, he doesn't know either way. But if there's anyone in the Organization drinking on the job ...)
He rolls his shoulders back and waves a hand. "After I put on my show. I'm here for a reason, ya know?" And his reason might set all of her pretty surroundings on fire, especially if there's an extra bottle bit of liquid ready for contact. Axel considers telling her to put everything away, but decides against it.
She actually sits up at that, setting the bottle onto the floor next to the couch. There's a look of genuine interest on her face, although whether it's directed at the upcoming performance or something else isn't too clear. She's torn between hoping that he manages to do it, or if it'll be a gigantic flop. Each were entertaining in their own way, but if he is successful, then her socks were going to have to be pretty damn good. If anything, Axel has her full attention, and that's something to brag about.
"Well, don't let me stop you," Katherine takes a long sip, emptying her glass with a quiet smack of her lips. She leans over, placing it next to the bottle, and straightens herself out again. "Show me what you can do."
The first thing he takes note of is the fact that she empties her glass. While it's disappointing on one hand, the more rational part of him (and when he's relaxed like this, Axel is good at rational) realizes he doesn't need one more risk in the room. He takes a couple of steps back, his body languidly moving along the way. There's no need to rush into this.
A second later, he yanks out the balls, one after another. They're small and covered in something that is only flammable, and he starts juggling. For someone who just learned the other day, it's impressive how well he takes to it. Then again, there was a reason he had so much control over the chakram. That control asserts itself here quickly: fire covers the balls out of nowhere, and his speed picks up, and before long, it's a real show, with flames left trailing behind before vanishing completely
( ... )
If Katherine had made a list of things she was expecting when the two came up with this idea, this would have been very low on it. There's a flash of something in her eyes-- interest. And it's not the casual kind that she's been carrying for Axel since their meeting. It's real, and burning, and her mind is racing with countless ways she can use this information to her advantage. That wasn't just some fancy light show; he has actual powers, powers that may be useful to her. A warlock? No, she didn't think so. The differences between worlds didn't really bug her until this moment.
Her face is blank for only a short moment-- too short for it to be truly noticeable. But her lips widen into a grin, and Katherine claps. It was a spectacular performance, after all. He deserves the applause. "Bravo, Axel. Bravo."
If there's anything that Axel has picked up throughout the years of being fond of having someone's attention, it's the fact that he can notice when he has that, just that, for a few brief moments. That interest is there and Axel knows that he can use it. Axel can't read her mind and can only guess what's going on, but she's registered him as someone strong. That should do the trick.
Now, what is she capable of?
Axel's hand rests on his chest as he sweeps forward into a bow, free hand spreading outward quickly. He smirks as he straightens back up, and his arms come to cross over his chest. Each action is exaggerated, as Axel isn't quick to leave the state of being a showman.
"The socks better be worth it. That's like almost everythin' I've got in one go." Which is a bit of a lie, but only sorta kind of one. "I'll take that drink now, if you don't mind. Make it strong."
"You got it." The smile's still there as she drags herself off the couch, picking up the bottle as she does so. Katherine gives him a look, and heads to the kitchen. Grabbing an empty glass, she grabs some ice from the freezer, the inside of which is stuffed with blood bags she pilfered from the hospital; while she has had no problem taking bites out of wandering refugees, it's best to be prepared for anything.
She hurries back before he comes snooping, but her movements don't give away the haste. Katherine holds the (strong) liquor out to him, tilting her head slightly as she waits for him to take it.
"Thanks for the hospitality," he replies as he takes the glass from her. The fact that she speeds back isn't noticed, and Axel moves to sit down on her couch. "Though I've gotta say-it really looks like you don't need any friends in high places. How do ya do it?" His tone is somewhat casual, meant to draw out the answer he wants. There's getting your way a little, and then there's this. From the looks of her, he wouldn't guess this much was possible. Then again, he's not sure what someone would make of him.
To show comfort with the situation, Axel falls into his usual slouch as he takes a sip. His lips pucker as he savors the taste.
"Unless you aren't up for revealin' your secrets," he adds somewhat belatedly. Axel's not willing to put someone like her in the line of fire with Naminé, after all. It might go both ways. What does he know?
Shrugging her shoulders, she sits down next to him-- not close enough to enter personal space range, but still enough to keep a flirtatious air about it. Katherine doesn't answer right away, but instead takes a look around the room as if she's never seen all the stuff before. Her expression reads, "What? When did all of this get here?" but it's very apparently that it's a joke.
"Axel, look. I'm an attractive, young woman. I can get anything I want as long as I play my cards right."
If Damon were around, he would have howled in laughter at that. She tries not to think about that.
The striking Larxene parallels never cease, do they? Not that Larxene was ever the type to brag in such a way, but the behaviors are there. Then again, Axel realizes he was never fond of chit-chat with her. Even before he was planted in Castle Oblivion, that was just the way things were between them. What familiarity they had was held with an arm's length distance away. Right now, he's doing exactly the opposite.
After all, she knows a little of what he's capable of. Can he say the same of her?
But Axel bites back laughter. "Never thought about trying that myself," he says. "And here I took the easier way." It's obvious that he doesn't believe a word coming out of her mouth. "Potential knitting skills aside, you aren't even gonna give me a little something? I think I've earned it."
She's not lying, exactly. The "attractive, young woman" part really did help with some of her conquests, but it certainly made it much easier for her to get close enough to compel someone without drawing suspicious. Not like that really mattered, honestly, because she'd still gets what she wants in the end. It's just less messy this way.
Katherine appears to consider this, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. It's an action to make it look more dramatic until she finally lets it drop. "If you insist, the bedroom's right over there."
It's a joke, but her expression doesn't suggest otherwise.
"Oh, is that what this is?" Axel says, the question drawn out and exaggerated as he looks in the direction of her bedroom. "C'mon, what do you take me for? That's just waaay too easy. Though I saw a girl the other day, she'd admire how forthright you are." He doesn't specify who it is, because he figures Katherine wouldn't appreciate the comparison to the girl with ten engagements and ... everything else.
"But this wouldn't be interestin' if you just told me, I guess." He swishes his liquid and takes another sip from it.
She raises an eyebrow at that; Katherine's not too fond of being compared to others in general, but she waves this instance off. He's digging, and he's being blatantly obvious about it as well. It's kind of cute, actually, but she knows this type. He wouldn't be so open about his intent if he couldn't properly defend himself. The fire is definitely not just for show.
And, seriously. It's best not to get on the bad side of someone who wields one of the few things that can kill you.
"You're also implying that I have anything to hide at all," she sinks deeper into the couch. "Maybe I really am just an innocent girl?"
"Innocent, Katherine? How could you ever be innocent?" He looks at her sharply. "I bet that's the last thing you want people to think you are. It'd get preeeetty boring if you tried to keep that up." Axel is stabbing in the dark here, but he knows that he wouldn't find that to be particularly titillating. Sure, it might be worth the laughs at first, but after that? It'd get boring.
After all, what's so memorable about that?
"I wouldn't be here if you were." Which is only half a lie, but it's not like Katherine needs to know his weakness to scrappy teenagers.
The Damon vibes definitely weren't disappearing; she has to wonder if she's destined to get roped up with these types for the rest of her (hopefully very long and prosperous) life. Setting the thought away, Katherine pushes herself off the couch and heads back to the kitchen to retrieve that bottle again.
"The most innocent people can turn out to be the interesting ones," she calls out, her voice echoing a bit. "You just need to know where to look."
And she's back, a fresh glass for her in one hand, and the bottle in the other. She holds the latter out to him.
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He rolls his shoulders back and waves a hand. "After I put on my show. I'm here for a reason, ya know?" And his reason might set all of her pretty surroundings on fire, especially if there's an extra bottle bit of liquid ready for contact. Axel considers telling her to put everything away, but decides against it.
It'll be three times more impressive this way.
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"Well, don't let me stop you," Katherine takes a long sip, emptying her glass with a quiet smack of her lips. She leans over, placing it next to the bottle, and straightens herself out again. "Show me what you can do."
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A second later, he yanks out the balls, one after another. They're small and covered in something that is only flammable, and he starts juggling. For someone who just learned the other day, it's impressive how well he takes to it. Then again, there was a reason he had so much control over the chakram. That control asserts itself here quickly: fire covers the balls out of nowhere, and his speed picks up, and before long, it's a real show, with flames left trailing behind before vanishing completely ( ... )
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Her face is blank for only a short moment-- too short for it to be truly noticeable. But her lips widen into a grin, and Katherine claps. It was a spectacular performance, after all. He deserves the applause. "Bravo, Axel. Bravo."
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Now, what is she capable of?
Axel's hand rests on his chest as he sweeps forward into a bow, free hand spreading outward quickly. He smirks as he straightens back up, and his arms come to cross over his chest. Each action is exaggerated, as Axel isn't quick to leave the state of being a showman.
"The socks better be worth it. That's like almost everythin' I've got in one go." Which is a bit of a lie, but only sorta kind of one. "I'll take that drink now, if you don't mind. Make it strong."
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She hurries back before he comes snooping, but her movements don't give away the haste. Katherine holds the (strong) liquor out to him, tilting her head slightly as she waits for him to take it.
"Bon appetit."
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To show comfort with the situation, Axel falls into his usual slouch as he takes a sip. His lips pucker as he savors the taste.
"Unless you aren't up for revealin' your secrets," he adds somewhat belatedly. Axel's not willing to put someone like her in the line of fire with Naminé, after all. It might go both ways. What does he know?
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"Axel, look. I'm an attractive, young woman. I can get anything I want as long as I play my cards right."
If Damon were around, he would have howled in laughter at that. She tries not to think about that.
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After all, she knows a little of what he's capable of. Can he say the same of her?
But Axel bites back laughter. "Never thought about trying that myself," he says. "And here I took the easier way." It's obvious that he doesn't believe a word coming out of her mouth. "Potential knitting skills aside, you aren't even gonna give me a little something? I think I've earned it."
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Katherine appears to consider this, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. It's an action to make it look more dramatic until she finally lets it drop. "If you insist, the bedroom's right over there."
It's a joke, but her expression doesn't suggest otherwise.
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"But this wouldn't be interestin' if you just told me, I guess." He swishes his liquid and takes another sip from it.
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And, seriously. It's best not to get on the bad side of someone who wields one of the few things that can kill you.
"You're also implying that I have anything to hide at all," she sinks deeper into the couch. "Maybe I really am just an innocent girl?"
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After all, what's so memorable about that?
"I wouldn't be here if you were." Which is only half a lie, but it's not like Katherine needs to know his weakness to scrappy teenagers.
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"The most innocent people can turn out to be the interesting ones," she calls out, her voice echoing a bit. "You just need to know where to look."
And she's back, a fresh glass for her in one hand, and the bottle in the other. She holds the latter out to him.
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