birth by sleep. ( open )

[restlesswaters]

Characters: Aqua and OPEN
Date: 22nd January, afternoon.
Summary: Aqua's escaped her cage, and has come tumbling into the Gardens.
Warnings: Spoilers for Blank Points.

Comments

[mnementomori]

Another day, and her search was still unsuccessful. Xion tried to push away that heavy feeling she knew was discouragement, attempting to focus on her empty stomach instead. She didn't feel right sleeping anywhere but the clock tower, but it was a bit of a hike to the orchards and back every time she needed a meal

[restlesswaters]

Aqua placed both hands flat against the dirt, Keyblade dissipating beneath her palm. She heard the voice, didn't pick up on any of the specific words, but instinctively knew that there was no threat behind them. If this was a new world, and this was a resident, then Aqua needed to pull herself together quickly, to be composed, so that she didn't cause any panic in this strange place. Eyes still screwed shut, she pushed herself onto one knee, and then held out a hand, blotting out as much of the sun as possible

[mnementomori]

"Vent--?" she started to echo, bewildered, then suddenly the woman's arms were around her. Xion froze. That...was not the reaction she was expecting, to say the least. In fact, she didn't know what to make of it, so she didn't pull away. She just stood there stiffly, trying to find the peace of mind to puzzle it out

[restlesswaters]

“You're not Ven?” Aqua repeated slowly, like there was something she should be finding amusing at the bottom of it all. She paused before saying anything else, ever thoughtful. Well aware that she had become wrapped up in a wave of her own relief, Aqua still had enough presence of mind to notice that something was off; Ven's usual good natured enthusiasm seemed lacking, and she couldn't conjure up any reason for him not to have hugged back. Not after so long, after all they'd been through.

She pulled back, but not away, eyes darting across the person claiming not to be Ven's face, as if something in their expression would clear it all up for her. If anything, it only clouded her mind more, and for a horrible moment, Aqua wondered if she'd been away for so long that she'd actually forgotten what Ventus looked like. Her gaze dropped for a moment, and she wasn't sure that she'd be able to forgive herself for letting go of her memories like that, for mistaking a stranger for her best friend, her companion, the closest thing to a little

[border_phantasm]

At some point Aqua may notice a shadow falling over here that wasn't there before. An oddly dressed woman, holding a fan.

"Goodness, are you alright?"

It was clear she was smiling though. Almost as though the situation was more amusing or interesting than anything else.

[restlesswaters]

Not as oddly dressed as some of the people she'd met in some of the worlds, Aqua thought, turning towards her, but still fairly odd. She nodded before she spoke, not wanting anyone to have to worry for her.

“I'm... fine, thank you. Just a little dizzy,” she said, and then made the effort to stand up, “I haven't been here for long.”

[border_phantasm]

"Oh I can guess that" Yukari said. "Welcome to the Gardens. My name is Yukari Yakumo".

[namedforthesky]

It had been pure chance that she'd run across Aqua. And the moment she had, memories had popped up, of a day on a beach when she was four and a woman from another world had her make a promise. And that promise... Sora clenches a fist, going stiff. But then, she slowly approaches, leaning over Aqua and taking her in. She's not a day older than she remembers... But, how's that possible...?

"...Hello...?"

[restlesswaters]

Aqua's pulled herself together a little, ever since meeting Xion. She's back in her own clothing, but still resting against the grass, desperately trying to make sense of it all, to conjure up a plan. The sunlight still burns her eyes, but she can deal with it now, only having to squint or strain when her gaze flickers away from the ground.

When she hears someone else approaching, when she hears another voice, Aqua immediately glances towards the source, freezing. Sora-she instinctively knows it's him, without having to question her own reasoning. It's been so long, and he's so much older, but there's something in his eyes that haven't changed. Something in her eyes, she corrects herself, looking at Sora properly. Xion said that there were only girls in the Garden, and Aqua herself has changed to fit in with different words before; it doesn't seem like much of an effort to imagine what magic has done this

[namedforthesky]

So she's recognized. Good, this means she didn't make up that day so long ago. So, she just smiles, no matter how much she hurts inside. She couldn't keep her promise to help Riku...

"Yeah. So, I didn't make you up?" she asks teasingly, though it's probably obvious she's not at all comfortable.

[restlesswaters]

“You didn't make me up,” Aqua says, laughing softly. It feels strange to do so, though not unwelcome in the least. She stands her ground, doesn't move forward, even if the urge to reach out and make sure that Sora is really real is almost overwhelming. Thinking back to the man on the shore in the Realm of Darkness, she asks, “Were you the one who brought me here, Sora?”

Derp, I fail, man.

[princessofwind]

Ven was on her way to eat lunch somewhere in the Gardens. The day was a lovely one, and she had decided to face that one memory she had gotten on that strange world she had been on before getting here. Her picnic basket was laden with a few sandwiches, a couple bananas, an apple, and a blanket for her to sit on.

When she saw a person near the ground, looking like she was resting.

Then she got a good look at the person sitting there, and her heart felt like it had stopped beating. Her basket fell to the ground, and she rushed over to her friend and role model, absolutely concerned for Aqua's health. What could've caused the Keyblade Master to look so tired? Was she sick? Injured? Did Vanitas do anything to her?

Ven knelt down to her side, stilling the questions for the time being.

"Aqua! Oh, man, Aqua, are you okay?"

[restlesswaters]

Having been address so directly, Aqua was back on her feet in a flash. As soon as she was, as soon as she looked at the person before her, she instantly froze, feeling as though her feet were rooted deep into the ground. She'd already got her hopes up so high earlier on in the day, having met Xion, and Aqua wasn't certain that she could take such crushing disappointment a second time. This person, whoever they really were, certainly seemed to know her, but there was the small issue of them being a girl; still, that coincided with what Xion had told her about knowing a girl with the name of Ventus, and the fact that Sora, too, was a girl, though still herself.

Aqua swallowed the lump in her throat, one hand coming to cover her chest.

“Please tell me you really are Ventus,” she said softly, almost not wanting an answer.

Sorry for the short tag, but I have to leave for class. DX

[princessofwind]

She got back on her feet along with Aqua, and blinked at her response.

"Of course I'm Ventus! Who else would I be?" Ven grinned at her cheerfully, "I mean, I'm a little too small to be Terra, right?"

That man's height was formidable, after all.

No problem! /o/ All tags are good tags.

[restlesswaters]

That grin, along with Ven's words-that's all it took to convince Aqua. One moment she was dreading the truth, and the next she was revealing in it, grinning from ear-to-ear when she realised that of course Ven was still Ven, no matter his or her form. Opening her mouth to say something, anything, Aqua soon realised that actions would speak far louder than words, and before she could even put thought into the motion, she had her arms wrapped tightly around Ven's waist. She pulled her close, so that Ven's feet hovered about the ground.

“Ven, you silly thing,” she said, face buried into her shoulder, “Why are you a girl?”