First Breeze

[salvagedlight]

We have a little situation on our paws, kupo, and we were hoping one of you guys could help us out.

[The speaker is a moogle, one that appears to be fairly high up if the flashes of picture over the communicator are anything to judge by. Well, moogles can fly, after all, but this one seems to be on the roofs of the second district.]

Don't worry, kupo, it's not anything bad! It's just something that needs to be taken care of - see, there's this tunnel between the second and third districts that's nice and high up and we wanted to put some mechanics in it, but Momo came up here to check it out and she found something we didn't expect.

[It's at that point that the moogle reaches its destination, which is indeed a square little entrance over the general shops in the Second District, not big enough for an adult to walk down without hunching over a lot and about just as wide. The moogle shines some sort of dim light ahead of himself, wings humming a bit as he starts down the tunnel - and about ten feet in, there's the obstruction. Ven is laying on the floor, dead asleep and face partially obstructed, curled around his Hebby Repp which is acting as a pillow for him but is also using him as a pillow in return. Neither of them react to the moogle or the light he brought with him, though it probably helps that the moogle doesn't make any noise or try to wake him. Instead he just gets a good shot of the sleeping duo before reversing course and backing out of the tunnel, back to the roofs.]

Does he belong to anyone, kupo? We've seen him around a couple of times, but ever since the first couple of days he's run off whenever he's seen one of us!

Comments

[hiptobe_eraqus]

Ventus!

I'm coming over there.

[And that's all he's going to say for now, in case Ven runs off again. In just a moment, he's run over to the second district, and is searching for the building where the moogle broadcast from.]

[salvagedlight]

Ventus? Does that mean you know him, kupo?

[The moogle's going to be helpful by flitting down to the edge of the building so Eraqus can see him more easily.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus notices the moogle, and walks over to the appropriate building. Figures that Ven would choose a place up there.]

Yes, he's my student. [But if he tries to run again...] Please don't wake him, I'll try and find a way up.

[shadearchivist]

Roxas?

[Ienzo frowns. He hadn't realized Roxas was here at all, and Namine must not have known or surely she'd have said something. He hurries off to the second district; he needs to get to the bottom of this.]

[salvagedlight]

Roxas? But that other man called him something different!

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo looks around when he arrives in the second district and heads for where he can see the moogle. He makes a face, looking up at the building, and sets off an aero spell to get himself up to the roof. He was not trained for this.]

I know him as Roxas...

[Ienzo frowns; he remembers something of a boy who looked like Roxas, but it's hazy, really.]

[raisethemoon]

[A lost human colt? Obviously, he isn't Luna's responsibility...but she likes children, so she goes winging off anyway. Soon, she settles down on the roof where the Moogle was, lighting up her horn and trotting carefully over to peer into the tunnel.]

They hath been living here this entire time?

[salvagedlight]

We're not sure, kupo! But if he's been disappearing for everyone, then probably. Why would he do that, though?

[raisethemoon]

[Her light is no more obtrusive than the moonlight, and she looks at the boy and Spirit for a few seconds before straightening to look back at the Moogle.]

We are not sure. Perhaps he had no money for the inn?

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora knows that spot. The ledge at the other side of that tunnel was the spot Donald and Goofy fell off of and onto him when he met them. So there is a concerned dork on the way to the spot.]

[salvagedlight]

[And there will be a moogle there waiting for him.]

Hello, kupo! Looking for anything today?

[dork_of_keys]

Yeah, it's kind of about that tunnel. Or rather, the person that seems to be sleeping in there...

[wavesinherheart]

Ven!

[And she's off and running, too. Where she's going isn't so important as getting there as soon as possible.]

[salvagedlight]

Ven- Ventus? So which one is his name, Ventus or Roxas?

[wavesinherheart]

It's Ven. Ventus, that is.

[colorbymemory]

[Oh, dear, why was Roxas there? Namine knew he liked high places, but why sleep there instead of inside? This was a little worrying...]

Can someone help me get up there? Please?

[salvagedlight]

We'll get a rope or something, little lady, just come down if you think you can talk to him!

[colorbymemory]

[Namine frowns in thought for a moment, then her expression clears, settling into a determined look not many have seen on her before. Grabbing her Potion--she'll need it later--she hurries out the door, Batty flying and chittering after her.]

[skysmirror]

Roxas?!

[What was he doing up there? Come to think of it, she'd called out to him at one point but he hadn't answered; acted as he didn't know his own name. This was weird.

I'll be there in a minute.

[And she's off. Fortunately, she knows that building and isn't that far from it.]

[salvagedlight]

Okay, kupo! Just be careful, this tunnel has another end!

Since apparently we need this, ACTION THREAD FOR CATCHING VEN

[salvagedlight]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus carefully made his way along the edge of the roof, towards Ven. His Keyblade glider was still hovering close by in case Ven tried to jump off somewhere else...and hopefully Aqua was close enough on the other side of the tunnel to prevent him from going far that direction.]

[Now, it was just a matter of figuring out how to wake him up...]

[defrostedpride]

Is that -

[He looks like Roxas, but at the same time, something about his clothing stirs Even's memory. The context darts just beyond his reach, but he's sure that he met someone who looked like that once, long enough ago that it couldn't have been Roxas.]

How odd...

Talkin' It Out

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[After that unnecessary spectacle, Eraqus was glad to actually be indoors, where they likely wouldn't be disturbed by Nightmares or otherwise. They'd sent off most of the spectators since Eraqus did not want to talk about this stuff with many strangers, but of course Aqua was there, and Ven insisted on having Luna there, too. Not at all ideal, but it couldn't be helped right now.]

[He also stopped to actually cast cure on himself, so the injuries vanished, although he still did not feel at his best. It would probably take a little more time to recover fully.]

[While he sat at one of the hotel room tables, Kura was scrambling around the window, trying to see if anyone was waiting outside. This was not going to be easy. And he didn't know where to start with any of it.]

I do not expect understanding from you, Ventus...or forgiveness. But I do hope for the latter.

[salvagedlight]

[Ven had followed Eraqus to the hotel, not speaking a word the whole time. Wheeler had cavorted along around him, and Ven had by now had a lot of practice evading the lizard as he moved. He'd stuck next to Luna for added protection, still wary. And when they got there, he didn't sit, partially because of years of training of standing in front of his master but also just out of nerves. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking solemn and probably far more grown-up than Eraqus was used to seeing - in contrast, Wheeler was trotting after Kura, trying to sniff the other Hebby Repp and invite it to play. Wheeler was only ever serious if Ven was under attack.]

That's where you're wrong, Master - I know why you... tried to do it. I know I'm not more important than the worlds or any of the people in them. But you lied to me and when I found out the truth you didn't even try to talk to me about it - you just attacked me, and Terra.

[He swallowed a little before continuing.] I always... I always knew I was your least favorite student, but I thought you still respected me. And you were willing to kill the person you thought of as a son.