sirenspull_logs | String From Your Tether Unwinds

It had been far too quiet in the house for Ven to bear. He'd taken the day off from work, not really having the heart to go in after the day he had yesterday. Aqua was once again gone, and Terra seemed distant and unwilling to talk. It was okay, Ven understood, but he still couldn't shake the hurt feelings. It was childish he knew, so instead of pouting and flopping uselessly around the house... he'd decided to go outside. And pout.

His keyblade glider had kept him in the air most of the day. He'd lazed about up where no one could really see him, sitting on the board and looking out into the distance. Hours had passed with him doing absolutely nothing, until he grew bored and decided to travel back into the heart of the city.

Without paying attention he had ended up near XEMCorp. Lowering himself into an alley, he knew that if he kept his key close to the ground most people assumed it was a souped up skateboard, so that's what he did. And just as he slid out of alley onto a sidewalk, he found himself almost smack behind Xemnas.

If the hum of his glider didn't give him away, the little "Gah!" he gave at almost toppling into the Organization Superior would.

Now this was something he should have prepared for. Something that shouldn't have happened. It was like the universe had some free time, letting things play out as they were; it had no one to answer to, after all.

The Nobody's brow furrowed as he heard the yelp, turning as he nearly avoided being knocked over by the glider in question. Grazed, perhaps – the small bump of contact became a point of feigned annoyance.

Eyes narrowed slightly at the boy.

"...Ventus."

After the front edge of the glider bumped Xemnas' leg, Ven tilted it back to give the other a bit of space. "S-Sorry about that." There was a click as the glider rested on the ground, the blonde giving a sheepish smile and scratching the back of his head. Of all the people to run into today, he hadn't expected he'd run into this guy.

No matter how many times he saw Xemnas, he never could get over the connection the Nobody had to Terra. It always caused the blonde to stare a moment longer than he should. And even though he knew Roxas and Xion hated this guy, he couldn't bring himself to do the same. He felt slightly uncomfortable around him, sure... but there's was also a fascination he couldn't quite shake.

"Hi," he finally said, lifting his hand in a wave.

The face was the same. As was the hair. Same points, same accents, same frame. It was the personality, mannerisms, and clothing that gave him away.

Xemnas expected a quicker reaction after he said the boy's name. And once he was greeted, he let the pause linger before replying.

"This is not one of your usual hangouts." Gold eyes meeting still-naive blue, unrelenting. "Then again, I do not know nor do I care where you go around this city."

The beat of uncomfortable silence almost made the hairs on the back of Ven's neck stand up, but Xemnas finally spoke and alleviated some of the tension in the air. "No, it's not." He gave a little shrug, he couldn't explain how he'd ended up here. "I just wandered into the area."

He tilted his head and folded his arms. "If you don't care, how did you know this isn't one of my usual hangouts? Not like you'd be paying attention." Why on earth did he say that? No Ven, don't poke the bear.

Oh, he didn't.

The question brought a brief flash of a memory to the front, one that was recent– one that was less forceful in comparison to the Thirteenth's brand of bluntness. And yet it was enough of a push to cause a slight reaction in the Superior's expression.

"I have walked this way many times," he replied calmly. "I have seen many people pass through this area."

Maybe even one that led to a thin, meaningless smile.

"You, Ventus, are also very conspicuous. It's not that difficult to notice."

"How am I conspicuous?" Ven looked at himself, lips pulling down into a frown. He was supposed to be quick and stealthy. Back when he was traveling, he'd done an okay job of not being noticed. Unless he had to help someone... which happened a lot actually.

Now he was going to be self conscious. He knew his outfit hadn't exaclty fit in when he first came to Siren's Port, but he'd changed his style considerably since then. Good job, Xemnas, you made him worry.

Unlike Roxas, it was more interesting watching Ventus' expression change from one thing to the next. Unfortunately, he didn't feel bad for making Ven worry like that.

"...It's your hair," he added drily.

Sure, it was an off-hand and unnecessary comment, but it was fitting for the moment. Xemnas did have a habit of refining and adding to his list of idiosyncrasies of late.

As the poor boy was left to be concerned over his appearance, the Nobody turned away from him and continued walking. "Now, be on your way. I have other things to attend to."

One of Ven's hands automatically goes to his head, fingers running through his blonde hair. "My... hair...?" He knew his hair was a little wild, but it wasn't any worse than some of the other people he'd seen around the port. Still, he makes an unconscious effort to flatten the spikes down a little bit. Not that it did any good. The only time his hair flattened was when it was sopping wet.

Dick move, Xemnas.

"I wasn't really going anywhere," Ven replied, kicking off the ground slightly and using his glider to follow behind the older man. "What are you going to do?" This was really against his better judgement, but he decided to follow anyways.

Of course. He did it because he could.

There was a point in leaving the boy behind. He was going to spend his time alone. Nothing more than that. The chances of having a second shadow tagging along were...well. Few. But there was Ventus, casually 'skating' down the sidewalk after him.

Xemnas kept his eyes forward as he strode. "So you wander."

An obvious statement. There was much more to it. He chose to skip over the thought to answer the question. "Why should it matter to you? It could be a simple walk. A late lunch. More walking. It certainly will not be any more interesting than that."

"I was just curious I guess..." His glider hummed softly as it sped up. He was now side by side with the older man, keeping pace with him. Did he intend on going with Xemnas? He wasn't sure, but for now he was going to keep following unless he lashed out at him for some reason.

"It may not be interesting, but it is something to do." Ven laced his fingers behind his head and glanced upward. Anything was better than just hovering around all day and feeling sorry for himself.

Huh. So he was going to have company after all.

It wasn't like he would be able to regret letting the boy stay. The choices were left open; Ven just decided to go with.

"You are young, and your life should be full of surprises." As Xemnas spoke, he cast a sidelong glance. "Boredom should be the least of your concerns."

"Hm, I think I've had enough surprises for one lifetime," the younger answered, "Sometimes I don't mind being bored." In the short time since he left Departure, Ven had lived far more than most guys his age. It was a lot like riding on a roller coaster.

"Today's just different. I need something to occupy my mind."

"What an odd thing for someone like yourself to say. Isn't it usually the other way around?"

He didn't expect an answer; the rhetoric behind its use was not as strong as he intended it to be. In fact, Xemnas was curious. It wasn't every day he got to see what the other side was like for those who walked in the Light. Despite the hints, their privacy was managed well enough.

"Different," the Nobody repeated languidly. A subtle layer of interest lay beneath his dismissive tone. Again, there was a pause to let it sink in, letting it mature before asking, "How so?"

He was going out on a limb to see what was the matter. Considering that he had always been one to study his subjects, it was nothing new.

"Usually. But I'm not a 'usual' sort of guy either." There, he had an answer anyways. Because that was just the sort of kid Ven was.

He knew that this whole encounter wasn't really the safest thing on the planet. They were on 'opposite sides' when it all came down to it. He had heard enough about Xemnas from Roxas, Xion, and Sora to know that he should probably stay away and keep his mouth shut. But this was harmless enough, right?

"I'm... lonely." It wasn't a feeling he was used to. He'd always had Aqua and Terra at his side back home. "My house feels empty. Aqua's gone, Terra's never home... it's really sad."

Lonely. Empty.

These words were prominent. Concepts – ones he could easily relate to. Not like it was too complex; he knew what these words meant, but he could not fully comprehend the emotional standpoint Ventus had said.

There were several ways to take what was given, to twist these sincere feelings that came from the young boy's heart. Manipulation was a skill, but it was not to be abused. He had another option.

Xemnas kept walking, motioning toward the keyblade wielder as he turned a corner.

"...Tell me more."

There's a brief look of surprise on Ven's face. He hadn't expected that answer from the Organization leader, for him to ask for elaboration on Ven's situation and feelings. The younger boy scratches the back of his head.

"Living in this world is really different than the place we came from. Back home, the three of us were always together, whether we were learning or not. Here..." He tries to choose the right words, "Here, we have a lot more friends, that's for sure. But we also don't spend as much time together. Aqua has come and gone from the Port a ton of times, and Terra is just... not the same."

Ven was grateful for all of the new people in his life. But the fact that he was drifting from his two best friends didn't seem to be an even exchange.

"In one way or another, everything tends to change."

It is a simple response in regards to the boy's problems. He chooses to listen, assessing things as they are spoken. "Being in a new world usually leads to some distance between you and your two friends. A natural transition."

This isn't just filler. It's fact. And after walking for so long, Xemnas eventually does end up somewhere.

A cafe. One that specializes in desserts.

He holds the door open. "Come. We can continue this inside."

A natural transition. How is it that this person can make it sound so simple, and actually... very true. As much as Ven hates to admit it, things were't ever going to be the same as they were back in Departure. They weren't so innocent anymore, and their relationships were all evolving. Even the ones they had with each other.

"I guess... I wasn't really ready for things to change so much." He'd always been the most naive one, he knew that. Still, it's a blow to his pride to have to admit that to himself.

He looks up at the cafe now, a bit surprised. "Really? All right, sure!" And he steps inside, smiling a little more now.

This is a rare moment where the differences are mostly overlooked. The Nobody follows after in stride, gauging the changes in the keyblade wielder's demeanor as they are met by the hostess who leads them to their booth.

Several tables are taken, but that is what makes it all the better. The low hum of activity works well for this conversation, letting it slip into the ambiance without standing out too much.

Xemnas waits a while as he looks over the menu, his mind focused upon what the boy had said moments earlier. "Most are never prepared for the unexpected," he says, being the best at small talk. "Everyone deals with this in every possible way. Good or bad, one extreme to another."

After being led to a booth, Ven flops down on a seat and almost immediately scoops up a menu. His foot taps lightly on the ground as he looks over his choices, his ears perked up to continue to listen to what Xemnas was saying to him.

"You can say that again." In a matter of hours his life had gone from routine to chaotic. He still wasn't completely sure how he'd made it through everything. "It feels like we're scrambling around without a real destination. We're just... moving but not getting anyplace." He frowns, thwapping his menu lightly against his forehead.

"It's frustrating."

"Indeed."

The sentiment cannot be fully shared, but it is understood.

"The city serves no other purpose other than bringing whomever it chooses into its domain, leaving them stranded among those who despise their existence."

He briefly glances at his own menu, looking up and arching a brow when he hears the telltale thwap across the way.

"Nothing more can be done to fight it. Not when it gives and takes whenever it pleases."

"There's still got to be something I can do. Maybe not fight, but.... something." Ven rests his chin on the back of his hand, looking thoughtful. "Even if this city is just messing with us, it's done some good things for me too."

Done hitting himself with the laminated booklet, the blonde looks back down at it and finally makes a decision on what he wants to munch on. "If I keep being depressed, I won't get anywhere at all."

"An active, optimistic approach."

Xemnas says this just as the waitress comes by the booth, paper pad and pen in either hand. It hangs there; the usual spiel of service going on as he never looks at her, keeping that somewhat stoic gaze on Ventus. His order is said in return as he slides his menu to the side.

"It's the best one I can think of," Ven replies. He's distracted momentarily by the waitress, and gives his order. Something sweet, some good comfort food for him. Who cares that he's seventeen now?

"I mean, what would you do in my place?"

It was an interesting question. Not many people had ever asked him anything of the kind before. It just wasn't normal for anyone to ask him a question, period.

The other surprising thing was...he actually took a moment to think about it.

Strange how similar the situation was, now that he had experienced it twice. But the emotional attachment that usually came with it was nearly absent.

"I would have accepted it all the same. My involvement would be inevitable." A hand rose to gesture, keeping the words flowing. "Being who I am, people only matter if they contribute toward my own set of interests. If these ties are severed, then that is how it will be.

"But no matter where you are placed, you will still affect the world you exist in." A thin smile briefly formed across the lower half of his face. "Other opportunities tend to present themselves accordingly. They just aren't seen right away."

Of course, Xemnas' answer was a bit wordy for Ven. He places his hand on his chin, at least attempting to understand what the Organization Superior had really said.

"So you'd just.... live with it?" He frowns slightly. "And doesn't cutting people out like that make you upset in any way?" Somebody still doesn't quite grasp this whole 'Nobodies don't feel' thing.

"It's not like, even if you move on to something new, the odd things just go away."

Xemnas gave Ventus a look.

"How much more simplified does it have to be?"

Unfortunately, the boy did have a point. It was that fact alone that made it more of a nuisance. He leaned back. "No. They do not." Mild agreement. It was a start. "But who is to say that they cannot try?"

Think about who you are talking to, Xemnas. For this kid, it could always be simpler, just because. Ven just shrugs as an answer, since he figures he's basically figured it out by now.

He picks up a spoon from the table and taps it lightly against his forehead. "I guess it could always happen. But I think I'd feel like things were unresolved... I don't know if I could do things like that."

That was just him. Others might have no problem with it.

Since this is Xemnas, it is easy to forget.

A solemn nod is given just as the waitress approaches with the dessert, repeating the order as it's set down upon the table.

"Of course," he says once she leaves. "It will always be harder for you...because you have a heart."

There's a small twitch beneath Ven's eye, almost like a flinch. Ugh, Nobodies and their constant insistence that they don't have hearts. What was he going to do with them? He reaches out for his dessert, and digs his spoon around.

"I still think you have one too."

Deal with it, Ventus. This is what he says all the time. This is what is known.

Although he doesn't bat an eyelid at what the boy says, Xemnas does take pause.

"...That is quite a bold statement."

There's a pause from Ven too, but only because he's stuffing a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. Give him a moment to swallow, before he gives an almost cheeky little grin to the Superior.

"I know."

In an exchange like this one, it would have been natural for the man to reach over and ruffle the hair of the youngster for that response.

Instead, he opts to give Ventus another look before stifling what could be close to a chuckle.

Score. Ven knows a suppressed laugh when he hears one, even if it's small. "Things like that, laughter... smiles... they have to come from the heart. That's what I believe. They're not recreated or fake."

Years ago, he could barely muster smiles unless he tried with all his might. His heart was still mending back then, and took far more effort to do the simplest things.

How can he be so sure if it is real? Is this what hearts do? With the naivete and hopefulness it holds for this one in particular, it fuels the power of its believability.

"...I see."

Xemnas is not sold on the belief. "These attributes can be learned. It takes time to perfect them."

"You can 'perfect' them all you want, but it's never the same as the real thing. I think someone who is looking will always be able to tell the difference." He looks serious now, setting his lips in a thin line and giving a firm nod. It is important to him, he has to believe in this.

He really isn't giving up on this. His persistence is just like Roxas' with a hint more of optimism. Maybe like...Sora's. All of these similarities do become quite a headache after a while.

Seriousness is met with seriousness, relentless from different perspectives. It is only after a few more seconds that Xemnas sighs. "So you say. And perhaps it is true," he says, folding his arms over one another. "I will concede for the time being."

"Good idea." The serious look promptly breaks and is replaced with a smile and an almost smug wink. Ven would keep defending his thoughts for hours if he truly had to, but instead he pops a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.

Now the ice cream is depleting, and Ven scrapes the sides of his bowl to get every bit that he can. "Just enjoy your food instead."

Despite not being high on life, this irritatingly cheerful state of mind still manages to permeate the atmosphere. And he would never admit this small loss over ice cream.

In his silence, he complies, picking up the spoon to finish whatever is left in front of him.

String From Your Tether Unwinds

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