⁂ come on, try a little

[rainprism]

Who: rainprism & edge_of_nothing; open [please message one of us before jumping in though! ♥]
When: [forward-dated -- past the Groundhog Day event] late morning into lunch time.
Where: Small shopping outlet, possibly the surrounding areas later. Starting out at a small cafe/deli.
Summary: Two very different individuals formally cross paths for the first time.
Warnings: Probable creeper-ing. :|a



It was almost over.

It was her biggest 'shopping day' since she'd received her first pay check there in Siren's Port -- second only to the frantic venture that was her search for appropriate winter clothing, which, thankfully, she was now able to comfortably adorn herself with. There were a few old Christmas gifts that had been undelivered, but it seemed unfair to dross those items up in red and pink wrapping paper and pass them off as presents from the upcoming holiday. Perhaps if they were supplemented -- if the thought was made more genuine ...

She'd been up since the stores were open on that day, having come to the resolute conclusion to complete all of her shopping for the event of Valentine's Day, and at last, it was time to take a breather. Of course, she'd gotten all of the easy shopping out of the way first -- basic craft supplies to decorate the house and construct festive nick-knacks, charms, and cards, which occupied the largest plastic bag sitting against the leg of her metallic table, a medium-sized, circular box that had been bagged to her right, and about two or three smaller paper bags overflowing with brightly colored tissue hanging on the angled corner of the chair she occupied.

And now ... There were only two names left on her gift list.

Aqua, cross-legged, enjoyed the sun in that warmest time of the day in her outdoor table alone, took a slow, careful sip of a frothy tea latte while scrolling mindlessly around on the NV network. Groceries last, she reasoned. I can make a quick trip home to drop these things off ... but I'll be catching the crowds at the mall afterward ...

Comments

[edge_of_nothing]

Her ability to recapture some composure was good. Admirable. Perhaps he was even quietly thankful Aqua found her footing again. It saved them both the trouble of making a 'normal' situation worse.

Xemnas saw the change in the Keyblade Master's stance, arching a brow with slight interest.

A hand?

He could have laughed. Not many people went through such lengths. He still remembered the day he first arrived -- one that had the Thirteenth ready to kill him on the spot. With each and every person from their world and outside of their universe, different greetings had been exchanged. This only added to the count.

Instead, a faint smirk crossed the First's features. "Yes, I have...but a lot of time has passed since then." His hand reached out for hers, a nonchalant but firm grip to match her stubborn insistence.

[rainprism]

If she hadn't been so carefully monitoring her behavior, it might have slipped just then -- a bit of transparency that would have betrayed a small amount of surprise that he actually did shake her hand. Her own handshake was warm, if not a bit feminine.

What did show through was a marginally polite arch of an eyebrow as she took advantage of the physical contact to take an exploratory 'glimpse' into just what sort of man he might be. Not ... a visual glimpse; More of a sensory intrusion of what might be a personal boundary for most. Something sightless, soundless, scentless -- an action that felt beyond physical touch. Just a quick, nimble glance, like passing one's hand over the flame of a candle.

And that was all it took, really.

The arch of the eyebrow signified the drawn conclusion that there was something distinctly different about Xemnas -- different than what she had sensed during the rampage of Master Xehanort, or during the heat of battle with Vanitas or any other manner of Darkness-born evil.

He felt ...

He just felt hollow.

"Has it? Were we acquainted when I was here before?"

[edge_of_nothing]

The use of physical contact was rare, and there were very few instances for it to be properly applied within any given scenario. It was something he would not have done so easily years prior; he was not the type to reach out freely toward anyone, and it was in his nature to be reserved and distant from those who worked under him.

Two years plus the one year he had spent in Siren's Port had subtly changed that perspective, leaving him to employ any kind of contact at his discretion. It wasn't too much of a difference from what he had previously done, really. The corporation he was heading now had more social cues to work with in order to pull off a normal company front. This was just another introduction.

The feeling that arose briefly from the touch was hard to describe.

Although it was nothing more than a simple handshake, the unspoken feeling vanished without lingering any longer than it should have.

Perhaps it was just his imagination.

Xemnas' eyes narrowed slightly at the young woman as he watched her expression shift, answering her question with one word.

"Somewhat."

[rainprism]

The narrowing of his eyes didn't seem to perturb her, but she did appear to be somewhat amused at his response.

"Somewhat? Meaning ... ?"

Putting her hands on her hips, Aqua canted her head to the side inquisitively.

"Did you send me anonymous messages? Follow me around while I shop?"

It shouldn't have been a funny idea, but ... well. It was. She could only imagine how flustered that would have made her in her previous stay.

Or maybe she just knew better.

[edge_of_nothing]

If it were someone else, they would have been caught stammering for a better explanation. This fell along the lines of an exchange between two normal people who coincidentally end up in the same spot while trying to figure out the truth of the chance meeting.

Two friends, even.

But that wasn't how it played out with Xemnas and Aqua.

Brows lift slightly as he tilted his head several degrees downward, his own posturing vaguely indifferent toward her questions. "You had little knowledge on how to use the filtering options over the Network," he said. "That was swiftly remedied, however." Another pause passed as the Nobody looked past her, staring at nothing in particular. "Presently, you seem to have a better handle of the technology given. Or perhaps you took the time to learn more about it on your own, taking up any help and advice given by those who decided to assist you."

She had her suspicions and she knew what she was doing. At least, she could uphold her composure and continue as if nothing was wrong.

Initially, he could have left her alone.

"This...was unexpected."

[rainprism]

"So ... you're saying that you spied on me."

Again, no turbulence beneath the surface. No bite in her tone, no hidden poison or resentment in her words. In fact, she mimicked him in glancing down the sidewalk in semi-feigned nonchalance.

"I did do a bit of practicing before I made any transmissions ..."

... And stole a glance back in his direction.

"Someone warned me not to trust the NV's. Were you the reason why?"

[edge_of_nothing]

A smirk pulled on the corner of his mouth as he listened to the Keyblade Master's impressive display of control.

"So I did."

There was no use in denying the fact. "Many people do. It is...human nature, after all."

His gaze didn't return to meet hers as she did this, but there was a hint of empty amusement hidden behind the look. It was paired with a short, deep laugh when she brought this point up, one that was subtle in its growing interest. Unnatural.

Nearly unsettling.

"I'm not the only one you need to be wary of."

[rainprism]

Her gaze rested on him again, impressed that he copped to the spying. Hearing this man laugh ... stirred up something of a mixed response. It didn't sound anything like Terra's laugh -- of that, she was absolutely certain. In a way, that was a great relief, but at the same time ... well, it was a laugh that matched its owner. It was a little weird. Kind of joyless.

"No, you're right. This is a dangerous city."

She pauses to gather up the shopping bags, arranging them around her feet in a way to prevent tripping. It's another relaxed gesture, demonstrating a bit of bravery -- bordering on brazenness.

"So ... you know more about this place than I do." A cant of her head. "Who, specifically, should I be wary of?" And a blink. "... Other than yourself."

[edge_of_nothing]

Xemnas still did nothing as Aqua recollected and rearranged her belongings, quietly watching as she did so. The chance to end all the talk and leave her where she stood was lost; if he had felt regret over the option, it would have caused inner turmoil over this whole scenario.

Nothing reinstated itself. And the two went on as they did.

There were several who were considered 'dangerous.' Some were questionable in their methods. There were also a good number of gray moralities that could easily sway toward the darker end of the spectrum.

It was all by choice, of course.

"You will know when you hear about them. You may even know when you speak to them."

[rainprism]

"That's not very specific."

The response was half-matter-of-fact, half chiding. The latter tone was only slight, but easily noticeable -- perhaps to him, who was on the receiving end. It wasn't something Aqua did consciously, nor was it something she realized she did at all after the fact.

Her head tilted in the opposite direction as she shrugged a shoulder lightly. "That's okay. ... I think I'll just rely on my own judgment ..." Her moral compass was fairly accurate ... most of the time. It had served her well during her stay in the Port thus far, at the very least. ... If not by the skin of her teeth, in some instances.

A thought occurred to her quite suddenly.

"Wait ... You aren't on a lunch break or anything, are you?" It was a little hard to believe that he'd dress that way casually ... but it was just a guess.

"I don't want to get you into any trouble ..."

[edge_of_nothing]

"...I'm certain you will do fine."

It was the tone that led him to delay his reply. One could say it was almost vaguely nostalgic, but it disappeared into the seriousness that had been prominently showing all throughout. Still, he brushed it off easily, never missing a beat.

"That isn't a problem," Xemnas said nonchalantly. "Being in charge of a corporation allows one to take as long as they want. It can be considered...a perk."

[rainprism]

"Oh."

So ... he didn't really have a superior to answer to. He was it.
That certainly alleviated that problem.
Slowly, she looked back down at her shopping bags, unaware of the time that's passed since her pause at the café.

"Even so ..." Now that she thought about it ... "... I should probably get some more shopping done while the stores are still open." There was an instant in which she looked at him as though she were considering to invite him along ... but she said nothing of the sort.

[edge_of_nothing]

The First merely nodded. It was a known fact. There was no need to hide it. Secrecy had a tendency of waning after its initial novelty had been played thoroughly, but not telling anything more than what was asked continued to keep it interesting. And she had many questions.

He didn't need to answer them all. Not yet. She still had other sources to go to.

Time was always an issue. He hadn't thought much of it ever since he went out, but the reminder from Aqua's own personal scheduling made him realize its passing.

"Ah. Yes." Xemnas then gestured. "If it is that important, then you should go. I will also have to return from this excursion at some point."

The NV, which had been silent all this time, puttered in disappointment to itself.

[rainprism]

Her eyes darted from Xemnas to the noise-making contraption, curiosity in her eyes, but ... no, she really should go if she wanted to clear her list before the youngest of the trio came home ... if one could even really call them a trio anymore ...

That was why Valentine's Day was so important. It was the perfect opportunity to try and repair a downed line of communication. And what better way to help an angry, stone-faced friend open up than with the gesture of gift-giving? But Terra wasn't the only person on her list. Not by a long shot. And ... after this not-such-a-chance encounter, her list got just a little bit longer.

"I should get going, too. I'm ... making up for missing Christmas this Valentine's Day, so ..."

[edge_of_nothing]

Upon being noticed, the NV whirred shyly before sinking down a few inches. That was ignored by the Nobody as he turned away from the young woman. "Of course," Xemnas said. "I understand. Time is a valuable thing."

Whether he truly understood was left a mystery.

What he didn't know was that the meeting had affected her current list in some manner. He was focused on the present for now; the results of this in the future would be discovered soon enough, thanks to the forever-curious NV.

The sunglasses were slipped back on. "We all do what we must. Gifts are gifts. Perhaps it will be worth the effort going through all the trouble of giving them." At least they could enjoy them. There was a pause as Xemnas closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"Aqua?"

Gold eyes were barely visible behind the shades, his face in profile as he canted his head ever so slightly.

"...Enjoy your holiday."