The Horror and the Ivy [Active/Open]

[halfdarkened.livejournal.com]

Character(s): Riku, Timon, Sora, Kairi, Vyers, Toph, Neirenn, Lei’ella, Aerith Gainsborough, others?
Content: Exploring floors, mostly Halloween Town and Christmas Town
Setting: Starts about to enter Destiny Islands and makes its way up the floors.
Time: Week 19, Pre-dawn Paixao, Dawn/morning Destiny Islands, and somehow always night at Halloween Town and Christmas Town...
Warnings: Heartless encounters and various antics.

Note: IN THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION THREADS... Riku had been planning on this, too. Those invited posted in Riku's journal here. Feel free to join too. Also look in the OOC board for additional info, like here. Jump in when you're ready to be added to post order! Because THERE IS NO POST ORDER NOW.

Though he'd never admit to it, Riku felt sick when he got up. Unused to early hours and even less keen to be up that early, his body was a chore to move. Still, he got himself ready and shoved some food into his mouth before going to make sure Sora was up and meet up with the others.

Getting past the guards had been pretty easy, just as Riku had hoped at this hour. It had been a mixture of distraction and then literally shoving past as soon as the others were out of sight. He was thankful for his oversized pockets, beyond the fact it meant he never needed a pack. Having a little water in the ruins surrounding the city was a blessing, especially as his body began to slowly catch up with what his brain was trying to make it do.

And then came the Elysian Fields. He and his companions were under-lit blue by the grass, and Riku caught sight of an occasional animal unlike any he’d ever seen before. He looked up at the glowing snow and held his hand out only to find it sink into his skin. He jerked back a moment in surprise, but then looked back at his hand, marveling at how nice and warm it had felt. Riku decided he’d want to come back to see this place again.

But that would be for another time. The teen now stood in front of a door inside a beautiful though ruined church. He felt such peace there, yet he knew everything here was an illusion. Such was the nature of Castle Oblivion. The door itself felt slightly funny, and he felt an itch beyond his fingers: something with his Keyblade reacting to that keyhole. He opened it rather nonchalantly to be greeted by a painfully white hall and stairwell. His expression was less-than-thrilled, and his pace up those steps was quick. He wanted out. Now.

On the other side of the large white door was the illusion of his home, but the sight of which he was willing to welcome. With a single strong tug he pulled it open, greeted by a burst of a warm salty breeze that tosed his long hair back. With a smile, he stepped onto the sand and turned to look to the horizon just in time to greet the rising sun.

But as he caught sight of a tiny silhouetted island connected to a bridge, his smile faded. The last time I was here was afternoon, and I saw Roxas running on the beach. I was kneeling on the Island with the crooked tree. ...Why wasn't I sitting on the tree like I always do? Something felt out of place.

Comments

[restoreradiance.livejournal.com]

Aerith had managed to get past the guards relatively easily and made her way down to the proper place. She hadn't told Cloud or Leon where she was going, but she didn't really feel the need to since neither of them were in the habit of keeping tabs on her or her on them.

So, equipped with her quarter staff, she headed out for the Islands. She'd always wanted to see them, but not in this sort of setting. It felt wrong this way, but there wasn't anything she could do about that.

Glancing around, she waved at Riku and Sora. "Hello!" she called as she walked up. "It's good to see you both."

[keyofthesky]

Sora wasn't a morning person, at all. Even less so that Riku was. So the fact that he was actually able to drag himself out of bed to follow Riku to the meeting spot was sort of a miracle.

Something about the false islands still didn't sit well with Sora. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew it was a bit more than just the fact that they were fake.

"Hey, Aerith!" Sora said when he saw her walk up, "You're coming too?" He hadn't expected her to come, but it was always nice to see his friends again. And unlike some of the others he had run into, Aerith still remembered him.

[radiance-whut.livejournal.com]

... and wandering in came a Leon. He didn't post or respond much, but he was aware of what was going on; he knew they were meeting up, and decided to tag along. As always, his gunblade was next to his side. Nodding to his comrades, words weren't needed; he simply gave a small smirk, went to a nearby wall, and leaned with his arms crossed.

[sense-this.livejournal.com]

While Lei'ella wasn't exactly thrilled to see a group of unfamiliar faces, she wasn't really surprised. She hadn't exactly been making herself known in the city, and she preferred it that way. She approached the group nearly silently, and made her self comfortable standing on the outskirts of what seemed to be the circle of friends.

She let down the hood of her cloak, remembering that here there were some hard feeling associated with them, and mentally checked that she had everything she needed... daggers in place at her hips, a small pack hidden under her cloak held other necessities. She felt confident in her choices.

She greeted any other she recognized as they arrived, and proceeded to follow Riku wherever it was he was confident to lead them.

[blackwatermage.livejournal.com]

Getting from Point A to Point B had never been a problem for Neirenn in Paixao. Her portal spell might not have been any good for getting her back home, but it made for very convenient transportation around the city if she didn't feel like taking the train. At this hour of the morning, Neirenn didn't really want to deal with things like tickets and schedules, never mind sneaking past guards. "Good morning, everyone," she said, looking around at the five who were already there.

So... a boy with silver hair and green eyes. Neirenn hadn't seen that sort of coloration before; not an albino though. A young woman who looked relatively normal aside from her odd mode of dress, which really wasn't something Neirenn took into consideration in Paixao. Although maybe the other boy might be an exception to that rule... his weird clothing and weirder hair made it hard for Neirenn to not simply stare.

Then there was another strangely-dressed man and... Lei'ella. Neirenn drifted a little closer to her as they walked through to their destination. "Think there's going to be anything dangerous here?" she asked, not to anyone specific. If she had a chance to use her magic, Neirenn wasn't going to complain.

Anyone who still wants in just jump in as if you'd already joined the group!

[halfdarkened.livejournal.com]

Riku stretched as Aerith walked up, stifling a yawn. "Morning. Ready to head out?"

"No, she's here to pick paopu fruit." The older keybearer, however, had expected her to come and nudged Sora with his elbow.

Leon's arrival raised Riku's eyebrows slightly, but he offered a smirk. About time I get to work with the guy. The more, the merrier, he thought as he gave Lei'ella and Neirenn a nod. This group was taking shape rather nicely thus far.

After a short while, Riku looked around. The sun hovered expectantly above the horizon. "Okay, here or not, we're heading out." From the rumors he'd heard, Riku was certain he knew where the door was. Leading the group to the other side of the island, he passed through a shack and around a waterfall that always cast the most beautiful rainbows into the air at midday. Just past was a slight gap in the foliage: the entrance to the Secret Place. Nostalgia filled him as he glanced at the old scribbles on the rocks starting in the corridor.

Riku shrugged and glanced over her shoulder to Neirenn. "Heartless at least, so probably. Various mild traps tend to be around Halloween Town, too."

[mysterious-moi.livejournal.com]

He had woken up wondering why in the world he had agreed to go out and do anything at this horrible time in the morning. The sun wasn't even up. Would it not be better to pull the covers up around him once again and sleep a little while longer? He had done so and shut his eyes, only to find that he could not sleep. A small groan had accompanied the final decision to get out of bed.

It had taken longer to get Timon out of bed than he had thought it would and eventually Vyers had given up and stuffed the meerkat away to take along with him.

Now he blearily followed behind Riku, paying little attention to the people around him, though he was fairly certain he recognized a couple people in the crowd. Once he was a little more awake, perhaps he would make conversation.

The more he walked, however, the more the scenery took up his attention. "My, what a beautiful place," he said to himself quietly. He hadn't expected something quite like this.

[cowardly-hero.livejournal.com]

Timon had asked himself the exact same question when he was so rudely awaken by Vyers that morning. If he had known this was what Riku had been referring to when he said four in the morning he would have easily argued against it. What an absurd time for anyone to wake up! Why on Earth had Riku chosen to lead their little expedition so early in the morning? Wouldn’t they need to be alert in this new world? At this hour everyone was surely too disorientated to touch their own toes, never mind fend off the possible Heartless that awaited them. Clearly the teen hadn’t properly thought this over.

The meerkat groaned, refusing to leave the comfort of Laharl’s old bed when Vyers proceeded to try and force him out of bed. He clung to the bed sheets, pulling them right off the bed when the demon attempted to remove him from it. Once Vyers had successfully managed to separate him from the bed he seemed to place him somewhere Timon found surprisingly comfortable. It was quiet, dark – although everything was with his eyes closed – and provided him with more than enough room to spread out and slip back into his slumber. He continued to rest in the mysterious space until he awoke on his own accord where he then proceeded to explore the item filled space.

“Ugh, gross!” Cried a voice from what appeared to be thin air around Vyers. “This gums already been chewed!”

[restoreradiance.livejournal.com]

Aerith smiled around at the other people who arrived, blinking at Leon. She hoped he wasn't going to tell Cloud she was in trouble or something, though she didn't think he would have a reason to. Besides, he knew she could handle herself. Hadn't the attack on Hollow Bastion- ... Radiant Garden before it was given its original name again - taught him that?

She waved to him anyway and moved a little closer. "Hello, Leon. It's good to see you again."

Riku's taunt at Sora made her laugh softly, though, and she grinned at the two of them. "I don't think the paopu fruits have to worry with me around," she teased. "I don't know how to pick them or how they taste."

[overlords_wrath]

"Oi, where are you people going?" came a voice from behind.

Laharl, Etna and Flonne's plans to explore the 'Halloween Town' hadn't worked out at all. Sure, the trio had managed to find their way to the church and then find the door to Destiny Island, but once they'd arrived, Laharl realized his knowledge ended there. He had no idea how to get to the next floor. He couldn't remember anyone actually describing how they'd found the place. But it was a door, right? How hard could that be to find?

Through the rest of the night and early morning hours they searched the island, but the door had evaded the trio. Laharl, while still wide awake, was definitely cranky at this point. The sun rising on the horizon had only served to make him more annoyed, as it was a now constant reminder of just how long they'd been searching. How could they not find the door?! It wasn't like the other one had been that hard to find.

If he'd known it was going to be this annoying, he would have actually made effort to leave Paixao a LOT earlier in the day. It had been almost evening by time they'd finally got out of the city. Laharl had been almost ready to admit defeat and try to ask using the journals when they heard voices. Following the sounds had led them to find the large group.

There was at least one or two familiar faces Laharl could pick out, not to mention that one familiar voice, that made him already twitch with annoyance. What was his Old Man and Timon doing here? Figured of all people they'd bump into, it would be them.

[keyofthesky]

Sora waved at Leon when he noticed that he had joined the group, and batted Riku away when he nudged him, "I just didn't realize she was coming, that's all"

"Then I guess you don't know the legend of them either," he replied to Aerith, he was about to say something else when he heard a disembodied voice, a very familiar disembodied voice.

"Timon? Is that you?"

*liiiiives*

[myfearsmylies.livejournal.com]

Kairi had never actually been to what they called Destiny Islands here. Originally from Timon she had heard mention of 'islands' through some door in the church, but she hadn't thought much of it. After all, how could it be home?

But no, it was confirmed to be... Destiny Islands. Just without all the people and a heavy Heartless population. Well! She's proven herself that she could handle Heartless! The boys couldn't say otherwise, but she had a feeling they would. It was in their nature, and even if she tried to argue otherwise, their worry would always warm her heart.

Kairi had snuck off on her own to explore, just a little, but at last she returns to the group, settling her hands on Sora's shoulders and leaning over with a cheerful, "Hi Sora!"

Just to make sure he was awake.

[fangirlforlove.livejournal.com]

Flonne hadn't helped Laharl's exasperation in the least. Since this was technically her first time experiencing everything from the fields to the church to the world beyond, she'd wanted to stop at every little thing that happened to catch her interest; the pristine white flowers that reminded her of Celestia, the decorations in St. Destino, the crystalline ocean. After some hours, though, even her energy and motivation was starting to flag.

Now she stood somewhat behind Laharl, peeking from over his head to the group ahead with wide, curious eyes.

[cowardly-hero.livejournal.com]

“Hu?” Having heard his name been called, Timon looked around the dark space questioningly. Was somebody else there too? Funny, he couldn’t see anyone, just a bunch of items resting alongside him. He scratched his head and looked over the sword resting beside him. This was such a weird place to abandon something like that, especially when it looked suspiciously like the one Vyers carried. He would never cast something like that aside so carelessly. Speaking of the demon, it struck the meerkat as bizarre to find a rose on the left of him as well. However, his thoughts quickly drifted elsewhere he we spotted the Dried Worm beneath him.

Without as much as a second thought he snatched the worm up and tossed it into his mouth. That was when he discovered the Caterpillar Egg that was hiding behind the worm. “What a way to wake up!” he exclaimed happily. “Right into an all you can eat buffet!”

Hopefully Vyers wouldn't need any of the items the meerkat ate…

[mysterious-moi.livejournal.com]

Vyers immediately turned at the familiar voice. What was Laharl doing here? Vyers hadn't seen him during the discussion on when they were going to leave, though by the question asked, it seemed that Laharl hadn't known there would be a party leaving to investigate Halloween Town to begin with. It looked as though he had Flonne and Etna with him. Had they been doing some exploring of their own?

Before he could say anything, however, Timon's voice cut through the air, followed by one of the boys in the group asking for him. Well, if the meerkat was awake there was no more reason to keep him in his inventory.

"Wh-What are you eating in there?!" Vyers suddenly shouted as reached into his inventory to pull Timon out. Though he was sure he had a good idea he already knew what it was that would be missing.

How he hoped he wouldn't need to heal later.

[halfdarkened.livejournal.com]

Riku shrugged in reply to Aerith. "You know, I actually don't know either."

And then a familiar voice elicited Sora's attention and Riku's in turn. The silver-haired teen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as Vyers pulled out the meetkat. So he did come after all. Then what was his big problem with riding in my pocket earlier?

The last time Riku had been to the Islands, though the Islands were much like what he knew, there were often doors segmenting areas he could access. It didn't mater how much more he could see, the only way to progress was using a card at a door. But this was far different. It felt more like home, which Riku knew made it all the more dangerous. But the only door he knew of on his island besides the shack was...

In the Secret Place.

"Guys, this way." He motioned before heading off towards the other side of the island with a purposeful, quick stride.

Making his way back through the shack and around the waterfall pool, Riku pulled aside familiar vegetation for the first time in well over a year. Or is it two? Beyond was a cave wall and the hint of a few experimental scratches. His eyes were wide, trying to focus after the glaring summer sun. The soft breeze that often made it's way through the cave howled its way out a small opening above like it always did. Still sounds like an animal. They entered the singular chamber, complete with a pictorial history of their childhood imaginations. He couldn't help but smile at them slightly, but turned his attention to the door on the other side.

For many years Riku had wondered about that door. He'd even gone so far as to ask his parents about it, but it instead turned out to be a life lesson. Not even parents knew everything. Unsatisfied, he could only settle with wondering about the strange Keyhole that occasionally appeared on it. As Riku slipped his fingers in between a tiny crack between stone and wood, he found himself remembering the last time he'd seen that door.

And Riku hesitated, glancing away from the world and into the wood grains of the door.

[keyofthesky]

Sora jumped when Kairi sneaked up behind him, "Hi Kairi!," he replied.

He followed close behind Riku as he led then to the Secret Place, Sora looked around at his old drawings on the wall and smiled wistfully at them.

When Riku hesitated, Sora looked at his best friend sympathetically, "Riku?"

He could tell there was something really bothering him. Sora then went and slipped his fingers in the opening, and pulled the door open, and looked down a featureless white hallway. "C'mon, Riku!" And he ran down the hallway to the other door, pulled it open and there was a bright flash of light.

[cowardly-hero.livejournal.com]

Timon, dangling by his tail in Vyers’ hold, innocently slurped another Dry Worm he had found in the demons inventory into his mouth. He wasn’t completely sure how he had gotten out of the mysterious dark space, nor how he had gotten in, only that it had to do with Vyers. He didn’t carry a bag or have particularly deep pockets but at the time being, the meerkat supposed it didn’t really matter. He could always ask Vyers later and besides, there were more pressing matters at hand like where in Castle Oblivion they were. This place, this was not where they had been a moment ago. It was dark, eerie, and had a cool chill in the air that gave Timon the creeps. He looked around nervously, subconsciously fluttering his newly fashioned wings.

“Doesn’t look like anyone’s here.” The meerbat spoke up. “Oh well! We tried. Looks like we’ll have to try again later. Let’s go home.” Turning to look at the others, Timon gave out a cry in fright. These weren’t the same people he had been with a second ago! The meerkat turned bat fluttered about wildly in Vyers' hold, scrambling to get away from the menacing party that had perused him.

[halfdarkened.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Timon the meerbat (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a360/Rebmakash/MiscArt/HTTimon.jpg) and Werewolf Riku (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a360/Rebmakash/MiscArt/WerewolfRiku.jpg). YES I REFERENCED A CHEESY MOVIE SHUT UP]

Riku lowered his arm and opened his eyes, seeing the familiar sight of the floor he'd visited about a year ago. Or at least the look of it. He'd never actually been to the Hinterlands before. The smell in the crisp air was one of decaying leaves, and somehow, cheap costumes and candy. It was a scent combination anyone above the age of four not only recognized, but would feel nostalgic for. In fact, the scents seemed particularly strong, much stronger than Riku remembered.

And there was Sora in his outfit. But Riku couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at a few of the others. Or hold back a snicker at Timon's form and reaction. It looked like they had more fun than he did. Riku's mind glanced back to when he'd been on this floor before. His skin had been a little rougher and his clothes became coarsely-woven, but aside from Soul Eater becoming more wicked-looking, there had been no real changes to his form. As he mused, he idly reached to scratch the back of his neck.

"Oww!" There's no way I scratched that hard! He instinctively looked down to his hand for blood, only to find his nails had turned to sharp claws on thick, slightly gnarled gray fingers. His palms were padded in black calluses and the back of his hand bore ghostly white fur.

Riku's eyes grew wide and he looked himself over. His black shirt had vanished to reveal a well-furred torso and his vest was torn and twisted. A broken spiked collar was draped around his neck with a remnant of a slashed leash. His jeans were equally torn, especially at the bottom. No shoes could ever fit him, as he no stood on feet much more like those of a wolf. When he felt something brush against the back of his leg, he checked behind himself. A tail. I have a tail. His tongue discovered how sharp his canines had become. What he'd give for a mirror. He guessed this explained why everything smelled so strongly.

"Nice," he smirked. "This didn't happen last time." Riku gave Timon a toothy smirk for effect and laid his large ears back slickly. Still, what Timon said registered with the teen wolf and he sniffed the air. Everyone here had a scent. Some better than others. ...But it was only them. No one else.

"He's right, I don't think there's a lot of people around."

[mysterious-moi.livejournal.com]

It took Vyers a moment to notice the change in Timon, as he was more occupied with looking around at the strange place they had just entered. The darkened landscape held a slightly sinister air, though far from an evil one. Then again, perhaps sinister wasn't quite the word. It was one more of... mischief, he supposed, and the looming, gnarled trees against the moonlit sky gave the world a familiar--though not too much so--feel to the Netherworld, at least moreso than all the other worlds he had seen in this place.

Ah, but he was becoming homesick...

As Riku cried out, Vyers' attention moved back to the others, suddenly noticing the majority's change with considerable surprise. Was it this world that had done this? He could only stammer out a confused and questioning "Eh?" while glancing down at himself to see if any change had come over him as well.

Nothing had, which was a little confusing (was it because he was already a demon?), but the glance served to finally bring his attention to Timon who looked...

Vyers honestly had no idea what to make of it.