Found: One Lost Boy

[sleeping_heart]

There's a new person in the Complex today, although you might not realize it at first. He's already made himself at home here, or at least he appears to have. He's laid out on the stairs, blocking them as he sleeps there. He's not homeless, he doesn't have that hobo look to him. He appears well fed and he smells sweet, like fresh flowers and newly cut grass. His blond hair is a messy bedhead style and wrapped around one wrist is a strange, green star-like charm. One shoulder bears an armor plating and the rest of his clothes appear normal, if a little big for him. Next to him is a note from the Complex.

Found: One Missing Boy
Please turn in to your local office

Care: Provide with food and shelter
Do not return to sender; do not kick out.

What a strange note. And what a strange boy.


{ooc; the newest resident of the Complex. He can't return "home" as it no longer exists. He also has no clue where he is, so have fun explaining it to him}

Comments

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

Well, he didn't expect to see this person here. He's convinced it's Roxas. And why would he think otherwise?

He gives the boy a nudge with his toe, leaning over.

"Hey, rise and shine sleeping beauty. You're gonna get stepped on sleeping there."

[sleeping_heart]

Ven mumbles something in his sleep and tries to roll over at the nudge--only to roll down the stairs with a yelp. He lands at the bottom and sits up, blinking and rubbing his head. He looks around, confused.

"Huh? What happened to the room?" Everything different.

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

That causes Axel to laugh, standing at the top of the stairs and watching the boy as he tries to figure out his surroundings.

"That should be a lesson about sleeping in weird places. What are you doing here anyway?"

[sleeping_heart]

Oww. That wasn't funny! And why is this guy laughing at him? Does he know him?

"I don't know. I don't know where I am." Ventus replies honestly, standing up. He really hit his head. He looks up at Axel, trying to place him but quickly gives up. "Who're you?"

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

He moves down a few stairs, plopping down to sit, grinning at him.

"You really that mad that your pretending not to know me? Wow. I'm hurt, Roxas."

He doesn't look hurt at all.

[sleeping_heart]

"Who's Roxas?" He's never heard that name before. And he's certainly never been confused with someone else before. Oh well, there's a first time for everything.

"I'm sorry but I really don't know you. I think you have me confused with someone else. My name's Ventus." He's not hurt but he could have been.

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

At first he just keeps grinning. He thinks it's a joke. But when he hears that name, his grin falters and he looks surprised.

"....Wait. What? Ventus? Are you serious?"

Can't be. Ventus should be close to his age, if he's even still around. He never saw him again. Figured he'd been killed by the Heartless.

[sleeping_heart]

"Why would I joke about who I am?" He's eying Axel oddly, wondering what's his problem. He glances around. This isn't Radiant Garden. Or Destiny Island. Or the Land of Departure. This isn't any world he knows.

"Where are we? And who are you again?" You still haven't introduced yourself, Axel. And btw, he can still take you. Just saying. That outfit, that look on his face, it should all be familiar, if a bit faded in his memory.

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

Oh he knows. He definatly knows it's Ventus. But it seems... off. Because why would Ventus still look like that?

"Name's Axel. And if you're really Ven, then tell me why you haven't aged a day in ten years."

He just wants to figure things out. This doesn't make any sense...

[sleeping_heart]

Ven gives him a curious look. How would he know that? Did he somehow know this man?

He shrugs, not wanting to elaborate. "I've been sleeping. How would you know if I aged or not, though?"

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"Sleeping, huh? What kind of sleep?"

Oh right. Ven may look the same. But Axel... he's grown up. He let his hair grow out, started styling it. Got his rad tatoos under his eyes. But he won't outright say who he is. Instead he grins.

"Not everyone has Peter Pan syndrome, kid. The rest of us have grown up in the past ten years. Don't tell me you forgot me?"

[sleeping_heart]

"The kind I never want to experience again." He replies honestly.

Ven tries to get a better look at him but he shakes his head. "I only remember one person with red hair but you're not him. He has short hair and no markings. And he followed his friend around like a puppy."

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"I did not!"

He looks offended. Even though he maybe did kind of do exactly that.

"You're memory is messed up, kid. You need to get it checked. And fixed."

[sleeping_heart]

Ven gave him a look. "Hi Lea." That was too easy.

"So, are you still following Isa's lead? And when did you change your name to something that sounds so fierce? It doesn't suit you at all." His tone is teasing and his grin is mischievous.

"And my memory's just fine, thanks. Maybe yours is the one that needs to be checked."

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"I never followed him in the first place. I was always in charge. And I happen to like my name."

He still looks offended. But also maybe a little amused.

Mostly offended though.

"Anyway, I never forget. My memory is perfect."

[sleeping_heart]

"Oh yes, perfect. Which is why you so easily mistook me for someone else, I take it?" Okay, so maybe he's still a little annoyed with Axel. In his defense, he was spooked into rolling down some stairs.

But then Ven sighs. Even if he's Axel now, at least Lea got to spend more time with his friends. That chance was stolen from him. What's worse is the not knowing what happened. "Hey, Ax." Yes, he did just give you a nickname. He moves fast like that. "Are you good at collecting information and stuff?"

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"You'd be amazed how much you look like him. Anyway, I mistook him for you when I first met him. So it's not like you need to take it personally."

Not that he called Roxas by Ven's name. But that first moment he saw him... yeah. He thought it was Ven.

"Depends. What kind?"

[sleeping_heart]

That makes him feel a little better and he relaxes. As long as it wasn't a one-way street.

"I want to find out what happened to some people. My friends…" He trails off. He's been gone ten years but his friends are still the most important thing to him. "Will you help me see if I can't find them?" He gives him a hopeful look.

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

He shrugs.

"Dunno. I don't really have a lot of free time to go looking for lost friends. I got a job that doesn't really allow much down time as it is."

And there's nothing really in it for him. He's kind of selfish that way. Most Organization members are.

"Anyway, my forte isn't finding people."

[sleeping_heart]

"Come on, please Ax? There's got to be some way you'll help me." He needs the help. He doesn't even know where to begin looking for information.

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"Look, there are probably plenty of people who can help with that kind of thing. Maybe even people who'd enjoy it. Hero types and things like that."

He rubs the back of his neck. Looks appologetic as he shrugs again.

"I'm just not right for the job. Trust me."

[sleeping_heart]

"But I don't know who else to ask for help!"

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"There's lots of people around here. Odds are someone can help you."

[sleeping_heart]

"I don't even know where 'here' is." Wow. As a guide, you suck Axel. And as a greeter. You push him down the stairs and then don't even tell him where he is. "Where is this place?"

[chronicbackstabdisorder]

"I dunno. I ended up here when I was drunk. Some kind of appartment complex. Lots of people around. Any one of them would be more helpful than me. I can guarantee it."

Unless their a pervert. Or a psycho killer. But he's got enough on his plate without going on a quest to find people.