What's This? What's This? There's Something In The Mansion

[needsheartsplz]

[Xemnas's mansion is quiet as if abandoned as the eleven bold citizens of Never Was sneak in to find and seal the keyhole. After breaching the ballroom, the foyer, three hallways and a room full of pretentious art, our band discovers a staircase. One side leads up; the other leads down. After some quick negotiation, a little yelling and a game of

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TEAM ATTIC

[needsheartsplz]

[As they go up, the whispers increase in volume until they're almost clear enough to make out, enough voices to tangle the words together. The lights are bright up here, but the steps are dusty and Rosso, Sora, Ven, Roxas, Squall and Zack should watch their step as they ascend...]

[red_tsviet]

[ She's used to noises such as this from living in Deepground, and so Rosso doesn't spare them a second thought. If it is enemies, she has a feeling that she herself, on her own, is more than a match, much less these four teenagers and the other SOLDIER. Her weapon is drawn just in case, however, and her steps are careful, almost silent on the staircase. When she speaks, it's with authority. ]

We go through each room until there is nowhere left to go. Check them carefully; there may be illusions or traps in place. Try not to take the mansion down around us, darlings~.

Oh, and if we run into Xemnas, it may be... beneficial to capture him alive. [ At first, anyway. ]

[soldierboy777]

[Unfortunately, Zack wasn't quite so light on his feet. The dusty stairs were creaking under everyone else's weight - and of all their weapons. It didn't help that most of them had big feet.]

Uh, if he'll even let himself get captured. He's done pretty good at hiding from everyone so far.

[They all headed into the attic, which was even more dusty than the stairs. He flicks some away with his claws. The attic was huge.] Should we split up?

[upperblues]

[An order is an order, and everyone else has been around longer than he has. Squall has no problem listening to Rosso. For now. ...If nothing else, those whispers are unnerving and making the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.

He's taken up the rear of the group, opting to watch their backs on the way up the stairs; his gunblade is in his grasp, resting against his shoulder as he walks.]

(That's assuming he hasn't already heard us with all the noise we're making.)

...We don't know what we're dealing with. If we do split up, it'd be smart to stick close.

TEAM BASEMENT

[needsheartsplz]

[As they descend, the shadows deepen. Kefka, Firion, Kuja, Xion and Kairi are stepping into a darkness that stifles sound and dampens sight, so they should stay alert...]

[sandinmyboots]

[As the lights start to go out, Kefka sighs and sends a flash of Fire into the hand not tracing the wall, illuminating the long white staircase to the silver door below.]

All this place needs is a dramatic soundtrack and we'd have a proper opera scene.

[He is not impressed by what he's found so far. How could Xemnas live alone in this house so big and keep it all clean? Much less know where it all went? And all of it so opulent and it didn't look like he'd used it in weeks--how useless!]

[If they kill him, he calls dibs on the bookcase.]

[fallen_stage]

[Kuja likewise magically lit up as the house lights dimmed; however, it was not Fire but rather a ball of Holy in his palm giving off a steady, white light.

He had seen grand structures before, but it took a fleet of servants or an elaborate magical net to keep such a large space clean from clutter, dust, and vermin. Kuja didn't devote many thoughts to this problem, since his Desert Palace was on a similar scale, and occupied primarily by his lonesome and a few Moogles aside from the roving monsters. Perhaps Xemnas had similar ideas on security and kept sharp-toothed surprises to protect the skeletons in the closet.]

If we find a piano, I'll play out a score to accompany a fight scene: I doubt we'll find ourselves alone for long.

[alwayswithhim]

[As the lights go out, Kairi tenses just a little. Her keyblade was already out, and her hand tightens on the grip. It's not like she was really scared, but maybe cautious would be the better word. At least she wasn't completely alone with the people she had barely met before -- she had Xion too.

Even so, she shivers at Kefka and Kuja's conversation. In the meantime, she figures there's really no need to say anything.

Right now, she just needs to focus on calming her nerves.]