[Action, Open to Traverse Town]

[salvagedlight]

[Anyone in Traverse Town's Second District might notice weird flashes of light coming from down the small path to the Dalmatian house. This isn't something that's probably safe to practice inside the relatively small rooms of most Traverse Town buildings, but most of the space outdoors is so open that Ven's wary about practicing out there, too. He knows he looks young, and he's wary about people telling him he's overreaching himself or that he shouldn't be doing what he's doing, and the light would draw obvious attention so he's trying to hide it.]

[It's not all that successful, though, since the light is still really bright, and it flashes from the alley out into the main plaza of the District. There's also a rather odd sound with each flash, a soft, high, sort of scraping echo that's much harder to detect but is apparent enough from close in. Whatever Ven's trying, it involves his Keyblade, as the weapon is held out in front of him with both hands, and it doesn't seem to be working very well as the mostly determined but somewhat frustrated expression on his face reveals. For once, his Spirits are nowhere to be seen.]

Comments

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas can see the light from his window, and he's kind of curious. It's another excuse to not sleep, so he figures he can go check it out. Ever loyal, Bouncer trots beside him, and Flipper is not too far away. Sparkle went missing so she's been grounded right now.

He hangs back when he sees it's Ventus. He's not sure what to do with his lookalike still, so he's wary. It's weird, seeing another you, but not you.

Bouncer, however, has no such apprehensions and bounds forward exuberantly. It's the person who looks like his person! That means 2 persons. Best day ever!]

[salvagedlight]

[When Roxas gets closer it's easier to see that Ven's trying... something in the air in front of him. He'll grip his Keyblade in both hands, a beam of light will shoot from it to a point about ten feet in front of him - and there will be a miniature explosion of light, a bright firework, but no other reaction. Considering the brickwork in the area isn't in rubble it's probably safe to say whatever he's trying isn't harmful, but what exactly it is is another question entirely.]

[He's concentrating too hard to sense Roxas approach - something he'll have to watch in the future, because what if Roxas had been an enemy? - but Meow Wows are ridiculously friendly. And noisy. The bouncy cat-dog easily gets his attention and he looks down at it, then lets go of his Keyblade to kneel down and pet him.] Hey there - you alone?

[seasaltkeys]

[Bouncer wuffs cheerfully, leaning into the pettings, before turning to look at Roxas as an answer to Ven's question. Roxas, realizing he's been put on the spot, looks a little awkward. He hadn't really planned on this part.]

[salvagedlight]

[And Ven looks up in the Meow Wow's direction, his smile fading just a bit when he sees Roxas. Not because he doesn't like his face-twin, he does, it's just... well, their connection is an odd one, okay? Neither of them are really quite sure what to make of each other, more or less. But he stands, letting go of his Keyblade with his other hand as well and letting it fade back into the ether.] Hi. You thought there were some Nightmares down here, huh?

[seasaltkeys]

Something like that. What were you doing anyway?

[Because it had to be different than nightmares. Bouncer waddles back over and rubs up against Roxas's leg.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus happens to be back in Traverse Town, on his way to pick up some more supplies, when he spies the flashes of light near the alley. Chuza and Soemon are trailing along with him, and Soemon is immediately attracted by the lights and goes scampering off towards it.]

Soemon...

[He follows the Thunderaffe, only to discover Ven doing something with his Keyblade in the alley, looking frustrated. While he shouldn't be that surprised to see his student there, he is a little confused as to what's going on.]

Ventus? What are you doing?

[salvagedlight]

[See Master? He's being good and not going to Twilight Town unnecessarily. But the Thunderaffe charging in is enough to catch his attention, and he breaks off his activity as he recognizes this particular Spirit. He's spending more time with the Master than anyone but Luna and Celestia, so he's gotten to know Eraqus' pile of Spirits pretty well. And of course it's no surprise when Eraqus follows Soemon in, Chuza at his side.]

Oh - I was trying to figure out how to make portals. To see if... maybe we could get some people of out here.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[And he's definitely glad for that. If Ven's going to do training, he'd much rather that happen in a safe(er) place.]

[Soemon continues to prance about as if discovering the source of the lights is some great accomplishment. See? See, Master? It's just the little master-in-training!]

[His response isn't really chiding Ven, but more wry amusement than anything.]

And you don't think anyone else has already attempted to portal out of this realm, too?

[His tone goes back to more "serious teaching" mode.] Portals are difficult to attempt on their own, and even moreso without some instruction.

[salvagedlight]

Probably, but I should try, too, if I can. If it works, then people can go home.

[And he really wants to help people. But it's not working, that much is obvious, and he sighs a little in either frustration or resignation.]

I know... but I had to try. And at least it can't backfire on me if I don't get it right.

[Unlike many of his early attempts at fire spells.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Yes, I know... [He knows and understands all that. Trust Ven to think first of how to help all the others here even when he barely understands those magic techniques himself!]

If you want, I can try and show you some of it...although I don't think anyone is going to get many results here.

[Well, he's had fire spells backfire on him in training too, so he can't ever blame his students too much for that.]

[skysmirror]

[Xion is on her usual Nightmare hunt when she sees the light. While it isn't unusual for people to be out at this time, flashing lights are. Wondering who it could be, she goes to investigate.

She hangs back when she sees who it is. Well, first she almost greets him using the wrong name, but stops herself just in time. After that she doesn't know quite where to start. Xion and..Ventus haven't spoken much, after all, and much as he resembles Roxas, there's sure to be differences.

Her new Necho Cat, though, seems happy to go investigate the new Person.]

[salvagedlight]

[Ven's latest attempt at whatever-he's-trying pretty literally blows up in his face - a bright light coalesces in the air in front of him, a few feet away, having been shot from the end of his Keyblade. There's a glowing, mildly pulsing ball right in front of him for about a second - and then it bursts into little light-confetti, sparkles drifting to the ground and dying before they reach it. He's trying too hard, he knows he is, but he wants to know how to do this-]

[Oh hey, a Necho Cat. Ven bends down to give the kitty a rub on the head, since most Spirits seem to like that, but where there's a Spirit there's sure to be a person and he's looking up to see where this one's is. Xion's not hard to see at the end of the alley, though, and he gives her a small smile as he straightens up.] Hi.

[skysmirror]

[Xion's eyes widen and she smiles at the light show. It's like Theta's fireworks, only more colorful. Very pretty. So you could do things like that with a Keyblade, too...

Oh, wait, he'd said something.]

Hi. That was pretty--have you been working on it a long time?

[Demyx the Necho Cat leans up into the pets and purrs. He's a sucker for attention, and this Person seems nice. He meows for his person and Blossom the Wheeflower to come over and say hello.]

[salvagedlight]

[Not intentionally - or at least, he doesn't know how to do them intentionally. It's kind of a happy accident, but at least nothing's hurt in the meantime as he practices.]

Uhhh- [And Ven glances back at the place he was trying to put a portal, but no, there's still nothing there.] Not long enough, apparently. I'm trying, but it's just not working.

[skysmirror]

[No, no harm done, and it did have some nice results. Intentional or not, the fireworks had been very pretty.]

Oh! So that's not what you were trying to do?

[Xion hadn't thought of that. Meanwhile, she and Blossom have moved a little closer, the better for talking easily. Blossom squeaks a hello to all.]

[unrecovered]

[You know, when you've started keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary as a matter of course, an impromptu light show is really hard to miss. Of course, that means Wash is going to check it out, Melody padding along near his heels and Fang flying ahead to scout things out, just in case.]

[What he finds - and thank God it isn't Grif's sister doing dumb shit with lights - is Ven, weapon out and obviously frustrated. Well, whatever he's got it out for, it's probably not for a fight, or it's for one that was recently finished.]

Whatever you're attacking, I'm pretty sure it's gone by now.

[salvagedlight]

[And Ven turns to look behind him, a little startled that anyone's back there - he really needs to pay more attention when he's doing new things. At least it's someone he sort of knows, and knows doesn't mean him any harm. He lowers the Keyblade, shaking his head.]

I wasn't attacking anything - I was trying to get something to work, and it's not as easy as it looked.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Edge arrives by landing -- having vaulted off a nearby (if not high) roof, the ninja nails a perfect three point crouch on the ground, a blade in both his hands as he rises.]

[...No Nightmares, no signs of a struggle, no violence?]

I just wasted a dramatic entrance, didn't I.

[salvagedlight]

[Unlike a lot of people, a jump that high wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Ven and the other Keybladers he knew. So Edge's arrival is unexpected, but not shocking, and he's certainly not wondering how the ninja is still alive after that and without any broken bones.]

Umm... probably. Sorry, but thanks for trying to help.

[He's already cleared all the Nightmares out long ago, before he started practice.]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

[Still a bit sheepishly, he sheathes the two blades.]

What was with the lightshow then? The way it looked I figured someone was tossing out a Holy or a Flare, and I haven't seen magic that powerful since the Moon.