paixaorpg | The Fallen [active]

This darkness was annoying. Sara had been out doing some surveillance around the city, and on her way back to report to Naja, she'd become lost. After trying to use a candle and her journal to see, and having those both fail, she'd resorted to using her hand to feel along the building walls. If she had been smart, she would have found a place to stay until the lights came back on, but no, she was stubborn and wanted to get back to headquarters.

Taking a turn into an alley...but she didn't realize that's what it was, her foot caught on something, causing her to trip, although she was able to catch herself. Turning back, she leaned over and reached down, trying to figure out what she had tripped on, and ended up with a fist full of Marluxia's robe.

Realizing that what she was holding was clothing, she let go, then focused on where she hoped the person was. "I'm sorry....Are you ok?"

Marluxia stiffened, hearing footsteps. So even in this darkness they were looking? And even if it wasn't any of his former coworkers come to punish him, the Nobody would rather not be discovered by anyone with an enmity toward him or any other members of the Organization. It was better not to risk it in this state. His mouth tightened into a thin line and he cocked his head slightly as he pressed further against the wall.

He winced as she tripped over him and glared. "Fine," he replied shortly, glaring at her. Marluxia slowly got to his feet, leaning against the wall. He made sure he was still facing the woman as he rose. He couldn't recall ever hearing her voice before, and it was too dark to tell from looks who she was.

"Right..." She said, hearing him starting to move and backing up a few steps. "Are you sure you okay?" She asked again, worried. She had been walking normally, and had probably kicked him pretty hard when she stumbled. On top of that, he seemed to be moving slower than someone who was "Fine." Plus his breathing sounded slightly off...but not too much, she was probably overreacting.

"Yes," Marluxia replied. The woman sounded worried. Worry was the last thing he needed now. Shelter, on the other hand... "Do you know where in the city we are at the moment?" he asked, his tone changing to something less hostile, though still carrying a hint of annoyance. "Or if there is someplace nearby I could stay?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing..." Sara mumbled, trying to look around again. "I was heading somewhere, then this darkness set in and I got lost. I should have stopped somewhere...wait." She stopped for a second. "I think I passed some apartments of sorts, do you want to do there?"

Apartments... That gave him some idea where he was. A vague idea, but an idea nonetheless. "That will do," he decided, nodding once. Should the woman prove to be untrustworthy, he would simply rid himself of her and move to another part of the city. There was little room for mistakes here.

At least she had yet to figure out who he was--if she knew to begin with.

"Ok." Sara said simply, taking a few steps towards the street again, then pausing before getting too far. "Not to insult your manliness," She started, "But do you need or want any help? It's not like anyone can see us any way." She offered, figuring that he would say no anyway.

Marluxia was silent for a moment, staring at the spot he thought she was, scrutinizing the darkness as though something would tell him what he needed to know. Humiliating as it was to ask someone else's help, it would be difficult getting there on his own, he imagined, and he wasn't entirely sure where the apartments were from here. But he knew what he would do should his decision turn out to be wrong one. He would be safe enough.

"Some assistance would be nice."

Sara nodded, although she knew that he couldn't see it in the darkness, then walked back over to where she thought he was standing. "I can help support you and walk." She suggested. "I remember how to get back to the apartments I passed." She reached out and grabbed onto his arm...at least she hoped it was his arm, waiting for some instructions.

No, he wouldn't allow himself to do that. He had too much pride even now to ask for help with such a simple act. "You need only to let me know where you're going. I can handle myself."

"Sure." She said, turning again, and running her hand along the wall until she reached the corner. "We take a right here." She said, before turning herself and continuing down the path she remembered to go in order to get back to the apartments. She had been inside when the lights had gone out before, and it would be simple to find her way back.

After a while she stood near the doorway of the building in question. "I think that this is the right place." she said, standing and waiting for him to catch up.

Marluxia waited until he heard footsteps before summoning his scythe. He saw little in the flash of light accompanying it, nothing that could tell him whether or not she was armed. The moment had been too brief. The Nobody followed after her, using the weapon to steady himself as he walked behind her.

"Good," he replied, only to let her know he had heard her.

Sara went inside the building, propping the door open with her foot as she waited for him to enter behind him. Something nagged at the back of her mind about 'helping strangers' and all that. But the former CSI in her was fighting back, saying that he was injured and she had to help somehow.

Besides, Naja had given her a weapon, and she would be able to use it if she needed, the gun tucked at her side, hidden under the sweater she was wearing.

The light went out as the door opened, but the woman inside (staying in the area in case any customers stopped by) set about to lighting the candles once it had closed again. She stopped and made a double take as soon as she saw Marluxia, her eyes lingering on his weapon as she meekly made her way back to her seat at the desk.

The Nobody ignored the woman who sat down, instead studying the woman who had brought him to the apartment. He recognized her. She was one of the subjects of the experiments, wasn't she? Yes. Sara Sidle, he believed her name was. A slow, almost wicked smirk curled its way onto his face.

He had managed to find just who he needed.

Marluxia hid his smirk away, silently watching Sara and waiting to see what she would do next.

Sara noticed the woman's actions and narrowed her eyes slightly, realizing that it wasn't directed towards her, but the person behind her. The man she was helping. She went about her business as normal, inquiring about a room for a while, and holding out the required amount of money for the time.

Then, she turned around and realized just who was standing there. The jacket was a dead giveaway, he was one of the organization she was supposed to be collection information about.

Now this is an interesting development.... She thought. Her hand gripped the key she held tighter, but she didn't make any motion towards her gun, waiting to see what he did first. She figured that he had taken her offer for help, and he was hurt.

She had time before he tried to kill her. She'd figure a way out before then.

An eyebrow raised slightly as he noticed that she hadn't pulled a weapon on him yet, especially considering her reaction. Interesting... Was she unarmed after all? It was best not to assume.

"If I had wanted to kill you," Marluxia began, his voice calm, "wouldn't I have done so already?" She had helped him without even thinking. Now to see if he could use that. "I just want somewhere to stay." He paused, a hint of amusement showing on his face. "You wouldn't harm a wounded man, would you?"

He wondered whether or not he should press further. Maybe hint at something she experienced during the experiments? If he remembered correctly, a certain Nymph had been responsible for her for at least part of it.

But no, he would tread carefully. He had nothing to fall back upon yet.

"I would if he threatened me." She said, glaring at him, now that the woman couldn't see her face. Really, she didn't want to get into a fight here, where someone else could get hurt, someone who wasn't even part of the matter.

"Although...how do I even know you're really hurt, and not just faking it?" She asked quietly, still holding the key to the room she had just rented, and still not giving away that she was armed. She wanted to keep that a secret until she had to give it away.

And she was really hoping it wouldn't come to that, especially here.

"And why would I fake something like... this?" he asked, a little strain entering his voice as he stood up straighter. The cut on his arm, the slashes at the base of his ribs and the one on his side, he made sure she could see all of them.

It was only for a moment, however, as he soon returned to leaning against his scythe, his teeth grit and eyes squeezed shut at the pain coursing through his body. "Now why," he sucked in a hissing breath through his teeth, "Why would I do something like this to myself?"

"To get sympath---" She cut herself off when she actually saw what was wrong. That was real blood, and his actions weren't faked, from what she could see. Looking at them, her mind flashed back to when she had been held captive by Larxene...the wounds looked like they could have been made by the knives she had seen the other woman use...on Greg.

"I help you get those cleaned up, at least." She said, turning slightly to walk towards the room, but not enough that she could see him and watch his movements, in case he decided to attack her.

She had no need to worry about being attacked. Not anymore. "There is something familiar about you." He pretended to think. "The Nocturne was sent to pick you up, wasn't he? Interesting... You would help someone part of the Organization, even after everything you went through?"

He was curious as to her reasons, really. It was an odd action to take. A foolish one, really. He had half expected to be killed on sight. Not that he minded staying alive.

Sure, Sara had her reasons for doing what she did. But she wasn't going to explain her rationale behind helping him, that being the fact that at any time she could contact someone to help her turn him in. Naja would come at anytime if she said the right wording.

"Everyone deserves a second chance." Was all she said, reaching the door and unlocking it. "Besides, wasn't it one of your comrades that did this to you? The one that I have a grudge against?" She sounded like a cheesy movie, but at this point she really didn't care.

"I think we could help each other, somehow."

Marluxia frowned. "Yes... A comrade."

"Help one another..." He mulled over the words a moment. Did she really think he would be helping her? She really was a foolish one, wasn't she? "How would you be able to help me?"

"Well, first thing, I'm not one of you. I'm able to move freely and listen for information about your friends." She put sarcastic emphasis on the word friend. She walked into the room and propped open the door, making her way into the bathroom to grab some towels she could use.

"And for now, I can make sure those don't get any worse than they already are." She pointed to his side and arm as she ran water on one of the towels. "I know enough about injuries and cuts to know that those won't be fun if they get infected."

It was a start, he supposed. Someone to listen to the word on the street while he paid close attention to whatever the people had to say on the journals. "That will do for now," Marluxia replied, nodding.

"And, as a bargain is a bargain, I think I should be able to help you. But first, you'll need to do something else for me," he began. "You are acquainted with Naja Salaheem, aren't you? I might be able to... get some information out through her, as fairly well-known as she seems to be. It's up to you whether or not you want to give her the information I have, of course."

"Naja? Yes, I know her." She said, not going into any details as to how she knew Naja. "I can pass on some, but I don't want to give away too much. She may want to try to hunt you down, if she finds out." Sara walked to where he stood.

"Sit down, and can you take your coat off? I can get at those cuts better." She said, nonchalantly, as if she did this type of thing everyday. "Just someday," She added as an aside. "I want a chance to get back at Larxene for what she did." She didn't think that anyone knew about what happened with Greg during the experiments, or even why Greg had been there...

"I never had any intention of giving that much information." Marluxia gingerly removed his coat and walked over to one of the chairs, allowing his scythe to disappear once he was seated. "I try not to leave loose ends unclipped." It was as much a warning as it was an assurance, and the smile accompanying Marluxia's next statement held a hint of danger to it. "But I doubt you'd be one to leave any lying about."

"In due time." The Nobody stared at the wall ahead of himself. "All in due time."

"Right." Sara said, just as a statement of assurance. She knew now that she was in this as deep as he was, and anyone who found out would have her marked as an accomplice. But, she knew better than to leave evidence around. Although the lady in the front room was one of those ends, she'd figure a way around her later.

She pulled one of the other chairs around and sat down, taking care to make sure her sweater still covered her holster and gun. She then reached out and took his injured arm, starting to carefully wipe at the cuts there. She was mentally calculating what she would need for a first aid kit, or what she could use as substitutes for one, since the cuts would need to be covered too.

Marluxia winced from time to time as she attended to his wounds. "What others do you know of with a grudge the Organization?" he asked curiously. He knew of a fair few, and then he could use the Resistance as well, but he wondered how many of them were connected to the woman beside him.

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Nobody that I can remember names of, really. I left for a while, then ended up back here after a period of time." She said, finishing cleaning the cuts on his arm. She walked back into the bathroom and rummaged around in the cabinets, managing to produce a small first aid kit before coming back out.

"I'll keep my ears open for that information though." She said, finding a bandage and wrapping it around his arm. She hoped that it would hold until she found something better to use.

"You're either going to have to lean back, or lay down for me to get to your side. It would be easier for you to lie down."

Marluxia nodded and leaned back to allow Sara to continue. No matter. He would find out who they were eventually, with or without the woman's help. In a city where most of the population seemed to carry a grudge toward his former employers, it would hardly be a difficult task. Convincing them, on the other hand... That would be more difficult.

He still didn't entirely trust Sara. She seemed to only be helping him due to fear and the misplaced notion that she would be able to use him, and even then the former may have outweighed the latter. That wouldn't do, though the latter would be of use. "So you seek vengeance?"

"In a way, yes." Sara said, continuing to work on getting him taken care of. She didn't mention why she did, and didn't really mention that it was because Larxene had (in her eyes) killed Greg right in front of her. She didn't realize that it had been a hallucination caused by the city that just happened to coincide with when she had been trapped by the Organization.

"I at least want to teach her a lesson on manners."

"Yes, she could use one well enough," he replied, scowling. And to think, he had thought her to have better manners than the other members of the Organization. At least he would never have to hear anyone attempt to use rank against him ever again.

Marluxia shook his head sadly. "So much cruelty... From the way you act, I can tell she's done whatever she can to hurt you. And so many others have had the same happen." He sighed softly. "And then there's everything the others have done. Their actions are hardly excusable, aren't they?" He, of course, never mentioned the acts he had taken part in. "It would be nice if someone new was put in charge, don't you think?"

The Nobody's gaze turned upward thoughtfully. "I've thought so for awhile."

"I hate to tell you this, pretty boy, but I'd rather see a lot of you gone." She knew she was treading on thin ice with that statement, but she really didn't care. "I could care less about leadership, if all your friends are going to do the same thing that they have been, I want them gone." She finished her work before walking back over to the bathroom in order to rinse out the rag.

"I will say this, I'm reserving judgment on you for now." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Why? I'm not so sure."

That earned a low laugh from the Nobody. "Really?" he asked. He wondered if her opinion would change if she knew the majority of the Organization's motivations. Could she really begrudge one's want to feel? "I suppose I should be thankful to be spared your rage."

And she had quite a bit of it, didn't she? That was fine. Those who were angry tended to be easier to guide than those who were calm. "All of them, some of them, it doesn't matter."

"Wouldn't matter to me." She said, rinsing out the rag and washing her hands. Walking back out, she finished bandaging his side and moved to sit in a chair across the room from the Nobody. She didn't fully trust him, and she knew that she never would.

She stared at him from where she was sitting, waiting for him to speak again.

Marluxia allowed the silence to linger for awhile, silently studying the woman in front of him. She wanted revenge and was willing enough to work with him to get it. A useful tool, one that he would make sure wouldn't do as Larxene did. No, he would make sure none of this pawns rebelled against him ever again. Trust... It was foolish to have even entertained the idea among traitors.

Now, though, now he could begin again. Slowly, patiently guiding the fools into carrying out his every whim. And they would never realize until all had been taken care of.

The corners of the Nobody's lips curled into a small smile. It was meant to look reassuring, but the acid venom of revenge that burned within Marluxia twisted it into something decidedly unnerving.

The Fallen [active]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject