First Flare

[eternalfrolicbond]

[A lanky redheaded man in a long black coat waves at the screen, apparently already comfortable with how it works. A komory bat is fluttering around above his head.]

Didn’t think I’d see this place again. Hey, everyone, my name is Lea. [He grins.] Don’t forget it, now.

I don’t know how I ended up here again, but does anyone know what’s going on? The moogle said you guys had been trying to work out what was up but that it didn’t seem like anyone had figured out how to get home. Since this isn’t the exam, I don’t think anyone’s going to try to wake me up any time soon.

Comments

[eternalfrolicbond]

Yeah, just in and out.

[They must've been trapped for a while if so many people are asking him that. It doesn't sound good for getting home.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

'Just in and out?' How did you accomplish leaving before?

[eternalfrolicbond]

I woke up. Riku'd opened up the gate so it was fine; the problem was the Xehanort thing, but we worked it out.

[He shrugs.]

[wavesinherheart]

[Normally Aqua wouldn't drop in quite like this, but... well. That's a name she knows all too well.]

The... "Xehanort thing"?

[Private to Aqua]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Oh. He hadn't really thought that anyone would notice - or know - about Xehanort here. He probably shouldn't talk about him out in the open; some weird feeling in the pit of his stomach makes Lea worry that if you say the guy's name too many times, you summon him.]

[There's a delay as Lea asks a moogle how to make things private like Xion did.]

You know Xehanort, huh?

[Private to Lea]

[wavesinherheart]

Yes. I do.

[And to judge by the expression, she's none to amused by whatever shenanigans he's gotten up to.]

[Private forever?]

[eternalfrolicbond]

What do you know about what he got up to?

[He doesn't want to go over stuff that she's already heard and there's a lot to tell about Xehanort and his crazy plans.]

[Private forever!]

[wavesinherheart]

I know he tried to make the X-blade, and... he did some other things as well.

[eternalfrolicbond]

Mind if I ask why you want to know about it? A lot of this is pretty heavy stuff.

[And he's not sure he should share it at all. On the other hand, not having all the information in one place could screw them over.]

[Private]

[dork_of_keys]

Uh, Lea. A little tact when it comes to Xehanort? Please? Especially when you're talking to someone he may have murdered...

[Private]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea's silent for a long moment; he hadn't been expecting anyone to know Xehanort, much less that.]

Mind getting me up to speed?

[Private]

[dork_of_keys]

Eraqus is a keyblade master. He trained with Xehanort under the same master and they were actually pretty close, from what I've heard. I don't have all the details, but he either got to be an obstacle for Xehanort's plans or Xehanort needed to provoke someone, so he killed him.

I'm not quite sure what point in time Eraqus came from now, but I think it's pretty close to then.

[Or even right then, for all Sora knows. But he doubts prying about it is a good idea...]

[Private]

[eternalfrolicbond]

Thanks. I didn't mean to step in it right away; I'm doing a great job of that.

[Private]

[dork_of_keys]

Yeah, I kind of found out the hard way what a headache it tends to cause...

[Although now he kind of wonders it Lea would have added to the line of scolding Eraqus had gotten if he'd been here for it. Random thought, yes, but random thoughts are like that.]

[Private]

[eternalfrolicbond]

He does seem to be pretty worked up. That can't be good for his heart; how old is the guy?

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[And Eraqus's face gets a lot darker real fast. Was this ANOTHER thing he's done? Or was it related to what Sora and Riku talked about?]

What Xehanort thing?!

[Private]

[eternalfrolicbond]

It's not really something you should just talk about. What do you know about Xehanort?

[Private]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Much, and yet apparently, not nearly enough. [There's a long pause before he continues.]

I spent the majority of my younger years with him, since we trained together. I was aware of only some of his...ambitions.

[Private]

[eternalfrolicbond]

He's still after Kingdom Hearts. It's gotten kind of complicated, though.

[Private]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

That much, I have gathered from what others have said. Complicated how, exactly?

[unrecovered]

[He's been checking in on this conversation on and off, but that got his attention.]

The what thing?

[Someone who might not have hangups on giving him answers! Let's see how this plays out.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Armor; that was kind of weird.]

What what thing?

[unrecovered]

[...that didn't last long.]

You mentioned Xehanort. What do you know about him?

[eternalfrolicbond]

[They really should share info but he doesn't know this guy from adam and he seems shiftier than that pony princess.]

Why do you want to know?

[unrecovered]

[Well to be honest that really isn't a high bar to set, given that Luna has all the subtlety of a Mack truck.]

Because if he does wind up being behind this whole thing like half the people from your world seem to think he is, I'd rather be prepared. Keeping that sort of information quiet is only going to end in more casualties.