Research/Surprise meeting

[Xion]

All was quiet in the lowest basement level of Castle Oblivion. Nothing moved, nothing changed. Suddenly, a Corridor opened up, and a dark-cloaked girl stumbled out of it. Straightening, Xion looked around, dismissing the Corridor and watching it vanish. It never failed to be amazing to watch. But she had come for a reason. She needed to get moving, especially since she had never fully explored the Castle before. She hoped to find something, anything. Maybe she would find more information, as she had before, on projects and things since abandoned, after the 'accident' that happened in Castle Oblivion, as described to her and Roxas by Axel, after he returned.

Xion pushed back her hood, looking around. She hadn't meant to start in the basements, but any place was better than none. She had heard that the Castle was one of mystery..and one could get lost, and while lost, lose themselves? She wasn't sure she had to worry too much. But the one place she wanted to start trying to find was any place Vexen might have kept any research or material from experiments. Whether she would want to dig deeper, she wasn't sure yet. But she had a mission. And she was going to see it through.

"Well...may as well get started..all the time in the world." She spoke into the incredible silence of the room.

[Marluxia]

Castle Oblivion…it had been a while. Three years to be precise, but now he was back. Back to the one place he called his own. Marluxia had come here not so much for information, but just to see how well the castle had stood up in its master’s absence. It was pleasing to see that the castle was still in one piece although there were some cracks here and there that showed him that this place too had been fought over; however, unlike everywhere else he could understand why many would want to take his castle. This place…while Xemnas had pretty much banished him to the place, the Nobody did not feel hate towards it at all. No if the pink haired Nobody could feel anything at all for this place then it could only be described as comforting, but without a Heart this Nobody was empty. Still, it did not stop a smirk of approval from forming on his lips. These white walls and quiet halls held many secrets that even the Nobody couldn’t begin to figure out nor did he want to. He liked the fact that it was a mystery to him and like himself hid secrets well. The place was similar to him in many ways and could connect with him in a way unexplainable, despite the fact that it was just a structure.

It was this connection that had turned Marluxia’s wrath against Xemnas into something more dangerous than revenge. Here, he was able to plot with his allies to bring down the Superior. The castle and the tools he had back then had easily helped him with his plans and then—

The Nobody’s hands balled into fists his face remaining emotionless as he paused in the hall he had been traveling. He didn’t feel anything for the memory that played before him. He only wanted to know why things had gone so wrong. He had everything in place. Everything. Only to have it unravel thanks to a disobedient witch, a traitor, and a boy with a powerful Heart. Why? How? That battle was his…he knew it, but still one little Heart had ruined it all. Frustrating, agitating, infuriating? Maybe, but this Nobody would know nothing of such emotions.

He shook his head mentally clearing it once more. So he had failed once, but that was okay. He was back now and once he could make heads and tails out of this mess around him, he’d find where he could reap the most out of the situation. For now, he was just pleased to be back home. He continued his walk.

The castle had been a bit gloomy when he had arrived, but seemed to brighten up as he moved through the place as if it recognized who he was and greeted him. A trick of the mind maybe, but Marluxia didn’t care. This was his castle. Now that he was back he’d be sure to set the record straight for anyone who thought otherwise, but for now he was content wandering the halls seeing where the most damage was and what could still be used to his advantage here. The castle’s “greeting” meant it still responded to his power. An ally still. Good, but he needed others if he wanted anything truly done. One trusting child was not enough. He needed fighters that he could trust. Like Larxene, but where was she and the others right now? He didn’t know and he wasn’t quite sure he could trust that scarlet eye man he had met in The World That Never Was. Where to find allies, hmmm? He continued to walk, his hand brushing the wall of the castle gently as he passed by. He kept walking lost in thought until he came to one of the many stairways leading downward.

His eyes narrowed at the descent. Yes. Where to find allies and what to do with the traitors if he found them? It wasn’t like the Nobody had the ability to forgive; however, he was not one to take lightly anyone who had burned him before. Heartless he may be, but foolish he was not. Like before, he’d need to keep an eye on the traitors and eliminate them if necessary. He didn’t need people that would turn against him or would become useless later. Like Vexen, he’d crush ever last one of them; however, this time around he’d do it personally. No need to be tricked by false loyalty again…or worry about those that might run and tell Xemnas what he was up to. After all hadn’t the scarlet eye one told him Xemnas was still around? He didn’t think the man was lying and quite frankly had expected his “rival” to still be alive, but enough of that.

He wanted to know how the basement areas had fared. After all, didn't those traitors have a keyblader crush their plans against him? Heh. The irony in that. A slight smirk of pleasure appeared on his face as he imagined how it must’ve been to be crushed in the same fashion as himself. Guess you really couldn’t fight fire with fire, now could you?

The smirk lasted only a minute and then it vanished from his face as a whirlwind of flowers surrounded him and the Nobody vanished leaving traces of flower petals behind. He wanted to explore the lower levels of his castle, see what he could find. Maybe the researcher types had left something that could answer why they all had failed in the end. Give him some explanation on what a keybearer was. Vexen had copied one, so surely his labs had something of value; however, exploring did not mean he had to take the stairs if there was a quicker way down.

Anyway, the silent whirlwind of flowers reappeared in a more shadowed part of the castle. Marluxia looked around taking note this area had shared equally in the damage, but still stood despite the cracks and other damages. He stepped forward taking in the even more quite area. It was like the castle was forbidding him to travel into the section he rarely stepped foot in; however, he did not care whether or not this place was dangerous or not. This place belonged to him and if something got in his way, he’d crush it. End of story.

As he moved about the area, he paused only for a moment as a Corridor appeared in front of him. Sticking close to the shadows, he watched who would come from it as he held one hand out ready to summon his scythe, Dahlia, if necessary. Heartless and Nobodies were the only ones he knew traveled through Corridors easily and either could be very much unwelcomed here. He watched, but found himself not wanting to summon his weapon at all. A small figure dressed in an Organization cloak stepped out or rather stumbled out the Corridor before watching it close. The figure could’ve been Roxas, but no. This shape did not match his. This shape had a more feminine shape to it. The Nobody frowned slightly puzzled, trying to match the shape with someone he knew and then the child was moving and pulling back the hood.

Marluxia tilted his head slightly as if he were surprise to see the person that had revealed itself. The black hair and the face that was similar to Namine’s….he knew this girl. She was one of Vexen’s little toys and one of Roxas’s friends. Why was she here?

A second after the thought he heard her words, got his answer, and did not like what he heard. Frowning, he stepped out of the shadows.

“Get started on what?” he asked as he stopped a safe distance away watching the puppet whose face changed according to who looked at her. His own face was still hidden in the shadows of his hood.

[Xion]

Xion wondered if Vexen had any labs in the Castle. More than likely he did, but she wasn't sure where to find them. And she wanted to explore the place before she went to creepy places like that... She had been to Castle Oblivion before...the white rooms and halls...when she had taken a 'leave of absence' from the Organization...essentially deserted for a while. She had taken Axel's advice, and gone to Castle Oblivion, to see if she could find the answers she sought so desperately..anything that would explain what had been happening.

She had discovered information that had destroyed any sense of foundation, or of self-being. A Puppet....nothing more than an object that someone created, and filled with stolen memories. For the sole purpose of what? At that point in time, she had no idea what it meant...all Xion knew was that she had been a fake..a copy..something that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

But...she was her own person. She was. Just because some records said that she wasn't didn't change a thing. She had a real life..she had friends, even. Axel, that fiery-haired encouraging friend, and Roxas....her best friend in the world. She had even found a friend in Riku, who had shown her the way things really were, and told her about Sora, and the memories.

Xion was pulled out of her musing by the voice from the shadows. It was familiar...and yet, she had heard it so little..she couldn't place it. She debated Summoning the Keyblade...it would make her feel safer. On the other hand...she wasn't convinced quite yet that the figure in the shadows was a threat....yet.

"Exploring....researching. People are free to come and go here, aren't they?" She watched the figure, who remained in the shadows. Who was he, and what did he want?

[Marluxia]

He watched the girl, who was lost in thought. Watched as she debated something never noticing him as long as he remained silent in the shadows. Then he spoke and her attention was gained. He could read her emotions clearly. She was uncertain about him. Well, he supposed he couldn’t blame her. He was in the shadows and had yet to lower his hood down to reveal himself. Depending how things had gone between her and the other members, he could’ve easily been an enemy to her; however, luckily for him, she did not know him well enough to see him as a threat quite yet.

He didn’t know the puppet well, but he had been told what she could do, but like Roxas he did not feel threatened by this one either. It was more like he didn’t like intruders in his castle. He was back among the living and refused to let just anyone wander through his territory.

He stepped further out into the light as the puppet spoke. In response, he simply stopped a safe distance away eying her cautiously from the shadow of his hood. Research and exploring? Why would the puppet do that? Wouldn’t she want to avoid the place that she was potential made in? Stay away from the truth and go about her life “happily”? Apparently, this doll was more curious about her origins than he thought she would be. Strange.

In any case, the Nobody did not give any sign of his curiosity about the puppet's actions as he pulled back his hood revealing the emotionless face underneath and the cold eyes locked upon her.

“Maybe in the past they were allowed to, but not anymore,” he said folding his arms. “This is my castle. You come through here without permission and you may regret it,” he said in icy tones and then seeming to become “gentler” he said. “You are Xion, Vexen’s little toy, no?” His voice never went from monotone, never held emotions.

He wasn’t being cruel or anything of the sort. He was just up front and laying down the rules for her. If she was smart, she'd play by his rules and if not...well....let's not say what would happen if she did not play the game right.