thecomplex | Found: One Lost Boy

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}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

cute_and_schemy

Ventus. He can remember now, though maybe not all that clearly. It wasn't that long after his father died. Shortly after he came to stay in the castle. Ventus was the one who saved him when he'd wandered off and been attacked by the Unversed.

He regards the hand for a moment before accepting the handshake. He doesn't think he ever properly thanked Ven that day. Talking hadn't been easy for him back then.

"I go by Zexion now. I have for nearly ten years. Which I believe is how long it's been since I last saw you."

From:

sleeping_heart

"Yes. That sounds about right." His smile slips a bit and fades. Ten years. It's been ten years since he last woke up.

He changes the subject, shaking Zexion's hand. "So you do remember me? I didn't think anyone would anymore."

From:

cute_and_schemy

"Not terribly clearly, I'm afraid, but yes. I remember you."

Ventus doesn't seem surprised to learn how long it's been. He wonders then just what became of him for him to still look the same as the day they first met.

"I can't say I expected to see you again. At least... I had not thought you would still look as you do in my memory. Where have you been all this time?"

From:

sleeping_heart

"A lot of things happened." He replies vaguely, giving him a look that he clearly doesn't want to talk about this.

"As long as someone remembers me, that's enough. I thought everyone had forgotten about me."

From:

cute_and_schemy

He's not going to push. He doesn't particularly want to talk about what he's been up to all this time either. So it's fine with him to let it drop.

Instead he changes the topic.

"How long have you been here?"

From:

sleeping_heart

"I just got here, as far as I know. I don't think I've ever been to this world before…" He looks around in confusion. It's all so new and a bit strange.

From:

cute_and_schemy

"No. It isn't really like other worlds. I don't think it's one you can find on purpose, in fact. People simply turn up here."

You'll see he's definatly come out of his shell a lot since you last met. He doesn't seem to have any issue talking now. If it's something he wants to talk about anyway.

"It's a fairly peaceful place. Not quite as peaceful as Radiant Gardens was, but I've grown rather fond of it."

Edited Date: 2012-06-26 11:55 am (UTC)

From:

sleeping_heart

Yes, he certainly has. This is most he's ever heard him speak. It's a little amazing, actually. At least, to him it is.

"Radiant Gardens…" It's been so long since he was there. Years, of course. "I wanted to go back there one day. It certainly was peaceful, although I prefer the Land of Departure myself." Neither world exists anymore, not that he knows that.

"Have you been in this place long?"

From:

cute_and_schemy

"To the best of my knowledge, Radiant Gardens still exists. In fact, the last I had heard was that it had crashed into Traverse Town. Some of it's former inhabitants who escaped when it was under attack have been rebuilding it."

He'd like to go back someday, himself. Even if it might be painful on some level. He wouldn't want to see the people who made it out, though. He doesn't know them, but he knows he's part of the reason they lost their home.

"I've been here for over a year now, actualy."

From:

sleeping_heart

"Really? I'll have to check it out some time." How he can get out of here, he's not sure. He doesn't have the Star Shard on him, after all.

"A year? Wow. I haven't stayed in any place that long, except the Land of Departure." He moved around a lot when he was an apprentice to Xehanort--he frowns. That's right. Things might have changed since he went to sleep but some things still need to be addressed. "Zexion, do you know what happened to my mentor? He was an old man and he went by the name of Xehanort."

From:

cute_and_schemy

"If you do happen to visit, would you mind telling me how the progress on it's rebuilding is going? I would greatly appreciate it."

He wasn't expecting to hear that name though. It brings about a sense of unease, which may even register briefly in his expression. Though Ven mentioned an old man. Certainly they don't mean the same person?

"I did know someone by that name, but I doubt he is the same person you speak of. He was fairly young."

From:

sleeping_heart

"That's impossible! Xehanort was really old! He had gold eyes and silver hair and dark skin. It couldn't be the same person." Oh yes, they're talking about the same person. And Ventus can guess what happened, but he can't guess who it happened to. But Terra and Aqua should have defeated him…

"What did he look like? This Xehanort you knew?" He'll press him for information. He can't let this go easily. He's just hoping he was wrong, that Vanitas hadn't learned to possess people from his mentor like he thought he had.

From:

cute_and_schemy

The outburst was unexpected.

"I said it was unlikely it was."

Although... well. Who's to say he hadn't done something to himself? Experimented on himself or something like that? When Xehanort had come to the castle he hadn't remembered anything beyond his name...

And he'd vollunteered to have experiments conducted on himself. It wasn't all that farfetched that perhaps...

"It doesn't really matter, Ventus. He's been dead for over a year. He was..." He hesitates, chooses his words carefully. "He was not a kind man. He hurt many people and I would much rather not discuss him."

From:

sleeping_heart

He can't just drop the subject, Zexion. "No, it's still likely. But if he did that, then that means he would have had to defeat Terra and Aqua first. He would have killed them." There's anguish in his tone and for a moment, the cheerful Ven is reduced to a mere shell of himself.

He shakes his head, holding up a hand. "No, don't. I don't want to hear it. Dead or not, if he was Xehanort, he was almost certainly my mentor." The light goes out of his eyes and his fists clench. He knows what happened. Xehanort possessed a body, wanting to have another chance to make the ultimate keyblade again. Aqua and Terra wouldn't have let him do that without protest. What had he done to them? "Cruel? Zexion, I don't think you have any idea how cruel my mentor could be."

He stands shakily and he turns away. For a moment, it might look like he's crying, shaking silently and head bowed but when he turns around, his eyes are dry and there are no tears on his face. He's oddly resigned but not in a good way. He nods once. "Let's drop it. So, if I'm trapped here, where will I live?"

From:

cute_and_schemy

He does feel bad for upsetting Ven. He didn't want to do that. But he won't lie to him. It wouldn't do either of them any good.

"Regardless of if it was him or not, he's gone now." He's no good at comforting people. It's just simply not a talent he possesses. He doesn't try, because he feels he'd just make things worse. So instead he lets it drop.

"The complex has many rooms available." A pause. Ventus is all alone here and just found out that people he cared about might have died... "If you don't mind children or sleeping on the couch you're welcome to stay with my family until you've settled in here."

He respects Ven. He even feels somewhat indebted to him for that day when he was just a child and Ven saved him. He should pay him back if he can.

From:

sleeping_heart

"So I can just room here? That's okay?" He blinks at the offer though.

"No, I don't mind kids. I used to babysit all the time. And the couch is fine. But… Shouldn't you, uh, check with your family first? I don't want to cause waves."

From:

cute_and_schemy

"I plan to. I'm not one to simply spring things on her unless it's absolutely necesary to do so. I merely thought I would make the offer."

He doesn't think Yuu will mind though. They haven't had a problem thus far with various visitors showing up in their appartment. Yuu had many friends who had been by on occasion to lend a hand with Michiko. Sometimes staying on the couch during their visit.

"I'd only ask that you lend a hand in keeping things tidy. If that isn't too much trouble, then I suppose I can take you to meet my family."

From:

sleeping_heart

"It would be a great help, thanks!" He grins, nodding.

"Oh, I don't mind tidying up at all." Just don't ask him to help clean, Zexion. You'll regret it. Ven is horribly clumsy when it comes to cleaning.

From:

cute_and_schemy

"Then if you'll follow me, I'll show you to my appartment."

He turns and starts up the stairs. He actualy isn't even sure Yuu is awake just yet. He'll check first and if she's still sleeping he'll let her keep doing so while he introduces Ven to the kids and gets him settled in a bit.