paixaorpg | Different Puzzels With The Same Pieces [Active]

Entry tags:

Different Puzzels With The Same Pieces [Active]

Character(s): Riku, Vyers, and Timon
Content: Pieces of the mysterious Paixao report are placed together
Setting: Porfavore
Time: Afternoon
Warnings: None

If Timon wanted Vyers to accompany him somewhere it was usually because he wanted something from the demon. Money, protection, or in this particular case someone to take the rap for the valuable document they had found. A document which they were certain belonged to the Organization. Timon had kept quiet about the mysterious report, expecting Vyers to have done the same, but after Riku had mentioned his own discovery Timon could not help wonder what his read. Or, maybe, he could even pass the part of the report they had found to the boy… For safe keeping, of course! Who better to be entrusted with such an important document and prepared for the backlash of the Organization? Not that Timon was scared. No, definitely not. ‘Terrified’ though, that seemed more appropriate because if the organization knew what information they held he was certain they would find themselves in very deep trouble. However, if they handed the report to Riku, they could clear their names and avoid attracting Organization Thirteen’s interest any more than they already had.

Most would say what the meerkat planned to do was dirty, and they would be right, but with the ‘children’ who inhabited their apartment in mind, Timon would easily argue otherwise. They did not need yet one more reason to lead the Organization to them. And, after all, he was not the only one who would choose to protect his own hide in such a situation! Oh, and the children’s hides too. Yes. He was thinking of the children too… completely.

Dragging Vyers out proved surprisingly difficult that afternoon. Not only had he been forced to take the far from willing demon along, he had to go somewhere both he and Riku considered ‘affordable’. There would be no ‘dine and dashes’ this time – though Timon’s last attempt had left him far from successful at the ‘dash’ part. Porfavore's felt like the right choice, especially when it was something both Timon and Vyers could agree on. The family owned restaurant had become a favourite of theirs when they had lived in their old apartment.

Timon sat boredly across from Vyers in their secluded booth, playing idly with their salt shaker while they awaited Riku’s arrival. He had seen Vyers use the shaker occasionally, but never actually its mysterious content himself. Curious, he raised it above his head and began to tip it, eye dangerously close to the shakers end in order to get a closer look at its content.

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No, Vyers really was not happy. After everything that had gone on, all he really wanted was to lay low and keep out of the eyes of the Organization. This... This was the exact opposite of that. The demon sat with his chin in his hand, glaring out the window, completely unaware of Timon's messing with the salt shaker (though he doubted Timon would listen to anything he said about it if he had noticed and warned him).

Did these reports interest him? To some point, yes. It was obvious they held information they weren't supposed to have, but what exactly it all meant and how it all fit together he didn't know. But he still couldn't help but wonder... Why did it have to be now?

And why did he always have to be the one to pay for everything? Every time food was involved, it seemed he was always the one who had to pay. Vyers reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of his face. This was not his day, was it?

A brief reach inside his vest and Riku was reassured the page was still there. He never was one to lose things very often, but it would be just his luck if he did. Though it would be just his luck if Timon spilled food on one or both of the pages. Why did they have to meet at a restaurant again?

After a sigh, Riku looked on at Porfavore. He'd never eaten there, but the smell of the bakery alone wafting through the street would be appealing enough to any teenage boy. He stuck a hand in his pocket, able to feel the gold silk leaves he brought... Just in case.

He stepped in, looking around. Good. At least they found a quiet spot. Riku began to approach, but paused when he saw Timon lift the shaker over his head.

The teen rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Luckily for Timon, his attention was one to quickly wander, especially when food was involved. For just when he was about to dump the shakers content on his face (and more importantly in his eye) the kitchens doors suddenly slammed open. He turned his head and the salt poured safely onto the table. The aroma that wandered from the waiter’s tray reached Timon’s nose before he had even taken a step into the dining, causing the meerkat to quickly drop the salt shaker and raced to the end of the table to investigate the dish. If it smelt that good, he could only begin to image how it must have tasted.

He leaned out, looming over the hot dish held at just the right height for him to steal from it while the waiter carried it past. However, in the process of taking something from the plate, Timon spotted Riku standing across from him not far from the table. His lip twitched, a nervously smile slowly spread across his features while he waved to the teen. A wave, of course, that was what he had originally intended to do. What did Riku think he had been doing, stealing? Preposterous!

Riku wouldn't have to worry. Vyers had brought more than enough for all three of them, mostly because he didn't know exactly how much Timon would order (how something so small could eat so much never failed to surprise him).

Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Vyers finally turned his attention away from the window noticing the silver-haired boy nearby performing a gesture he had come to know very well during his time in the domes. It was one saving grace of this meeting he supposed. Though he had to wonder what it was that the meerkat had been attempting while his attentions were elsewhere.

"Ah, I believe I remember you from the excursion to... 'Halloween Town,' was it not?" A trip that didn't exactly leave fond memories, but that wasn't the boy's fault.

Riku's features dripped with his lack of amusement as he watched Timon, his eyes finally free of his fingers. When the meerkat waved, Riku pointed first to him, then to where Timon should be standing a foot away, a not-so-subtle hint to back off.

The waiter gave Riku an odd look. The teen made eye contact, shook his head and gestured that it was nothing. He received another odd look before the waiter went on his way.

"Yeah, that was me." Riku slid into the empty side of the booth. "Timon says this place is affordable. What do you think?" He didn't look at Timon at all with that little jab. Still, a tiny bit of a smirk still tugged the corner of his mouth.

Edited 2010-10-08 03:20 (UTC)

Timon looked away from Riku and shuffled back to his original spot at the other end of the table, only pausing to shake some of the salt that had fallen on his feet off. Wanting to appear as though he had moved on his own accord however, he chose to look at one of the small desert menus placed on the table, pretending it had caught his attention rather Riku’s stern look. He hid his face behind the menu when the teen finally joined them and only gradually peeked out from behind it once he had began to speak. Timon’s glance then quickly shifted to Vyers who he sent a pointed look to. The demon had better not of planned to argued otherwise, then he wouldn't be the only one in a bitter mood.

Vyers had indeed not planned to argue, though it was by no means due to Timon's look. "The food is worth the price," Vyers replied. He waved his hand in a lazy circle. "While not the most luxurious, it is one of the best places this city has to offer." Though while the demon was being truthful, he didn't seem to quite have his heart in the words.

With a nod, Riku replied, "Well, it does smell pretty good, at least." There was no denying he was hungry, and his stomach growled. Riku had skipped (or perhaps better said, slept through) breakfast, and he didn't eat anything beforehand. Whether it was that he couldn't eat or so that he might show Timon a thing or two, it wasn't clear yet. Though as a teenage boy, it certainly didn't help. He eyed the meerkat, who was failing so miserably at hiding what he was doing.

Still, there were more important matters on his mind. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out a folded sheet of paper, tossing it nonchalantly onto the table. "Now what do you got?"

The meerkat gave a small groan and rolled his eyes. What did it matter what the place looked like? It was the food that mattered. It was not as though Vyers was going to live in the restaurant, and even then, of all the times they had visited the little family owned business it did not appear to have bothered him much then. He was doing this just to get on his nerves, wasn’t he? Maybe he would have been better off suggesting somewhere the gypsy folk ran. How would that of been for luxurious?

Thankfully, Timon’s thoughts were quickly interrupted by the folded piece of paper Riku threw on the paper: a piece of the report. He dropped the menu he had been holding and quickly moved to pick it up and examine it. Timon unfolded the paper carefully and held it up so both he and Vyers could read its content. Well, Vyers read it and Timon tried. There were no pictures on this page where as the one they had found at least had two to help him what it was about. However, he was at least holding the paper right side up this time.

Vyers peered over the meerkat to read the document, frowning in confusion as he finally came to the end. The first half, while not entirely clear to the demon, was somewhat understandable, but the meaning of the second half completely escaped his understanding. He read it again, aloud this time, so Timon could understand, keeping his voice low to make sure no eavesdroppers would be able to hear.

Before he began his line of questioning, Vyers pulled out the paper he and Timon had come across and handed it over to Riku. "Considering what you have given us, this document has suddenly become much more interesting." The demon put a finger to his lips in thought. "What is Kingdom Hearts?"

Riku watched, thankful Timon was careful rather than ripping the page.

"More interesting how?" he asked, taking the page. Before he got a chance to read, he looked down to the table in thought, trying to figure out how to define things for Vyers.

"Kingdom Hearts is a conglomeration of hearts. It's where they're born and where they go when we die. Yours. Mine. Everybody's. Organization was harvesting hearts to fuel the formation of it. But there's something I don't get. Kingdom hearts is supposed to be in the Dark Realm. The sun may not be shining in the World that Never Was, but it's not the Dark Realm. I've been to both, trust me. And I can't even guess how'd they move something like that to their headquarters. Plus they were harvesting people's hearts only when it's supposed to be the Heart of all Worlds, too. ...Which makes me wonder what it was we saw back at the World that Never Was."

Timon leaned in, taking the same interest in this Kingdom Hearts as Vyers. He had never heard of such thing, although he was familiar with the Organization collecting hearts. He had always assumed they were using them to somehow regain their own… Although, now that he thought about it, why would they possibly need so many hearts in order to restore only thirteen? Maybe they were just being greedy and wanted to have extra – as creepy an idea such was to Timon.

He placed Riku’s page to the report down and folded his arms across his chest. The teen had lost him once he had begun referring to other worlds. The Dark Realm, the World that Never Was, the Heart of all Worlds, what were those about? His eyes slowly drifted back to Vyers, wondering if he had somehow understood Riku had said. However, he did not wait for the demon to reply and find out. Instead he jumped on the opportunity to speak as soon as Riku had finished.

“You said they-“ The meerkat stop. Realizing how loud he had been, he started again, this time softer so only their ears could hear. “They were harvesting people’s hearts? When did they stop? And, more importantly, why?”

Much of what Riku said made about as much sense to Vyers as it did to Timon, and so the demon, for once, was glad that Timon had spoken up when he did. It gave Vyers time to piece together what information they currently had and come up with questions of his own. Timon's own question was of interest to Vyers as well. Ah, why couldn't Timon be like this more often?

"Could you perhaps give a little more information? Many of the terms you used are unfamiliar to me. What do you mean by the 'Dark Realm?' Is that some sort of Netherworld? And what is this 'World That Never Was?'"

"Guess it's more like, 'I think they stopped.' The Organization should have been out of the picture. Between me and Sora, we made sure none of them would be causing trouble... Now I'm not sure what they're up to." Riku held the new paper and smiled slyly. "But these should help."

The teen leaned back in his chair, folding his arms and taking a deep breath. This wasn't a simple explanation, and he figured he might as well get comfortable. "The Dark Realm. The World of Darkness. Whatever you call it, it's... It's like saying 'the dark side of the universe.' Not quite." He reached forward and set the salt and pepper shakers against each other. "These are the World. It's made of the World of Darkness and the World of Light. We're in the World of Light. And in those there are smaller worlds. Like each grain in the shakers. But if you're in the World of Darkness or the World of Light, it's hard to get to the other." He tapped on the glass of the shaker. It wasn't quite like that, but it'd communicate. Sitting back again, he continued, "And some worlds may not exist in either. Don't ask, I don't get it either. But those worlds, since they don't, may be thought of as not existing at all. Nobody-like worlds." Riku's gaze went through the table. "Thing is, there are worlds in darkness, but they aren't Heartless worlds. They have to have hearts, too. So how could there be a Nobody world? And the World that Never Was is called that because the Castle that Never Was is there. The land below is just 'Dark City.' And we were able to reach it by Gummi Ship, which means it's still in the World of Light." He leaned his arms on the table. "That's all I got."

Oh, great. Now Riku was starting to make even less sense. First these other worlds and now the Organization! How the Organization was still around in the first place was a mystery itself. As far as his knowledge went, Riku, Sora, and some king supposedly defeated them. What were they still doing hanging about? Didn’t they know they were supposed to be dead? Timon frowned at the thought. What a stubborn bunch. Couldn’t Riku and Sora just get them out of the city… castle… whatever thing they were in? Or at least out of their heads. The whole ‘memory reading’ thing was getting very old.

Timon looked between the salt and pepper shakers and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He tried to relay what Riku had just explained in his head however in the process his thoughts began to wander elsewhere. In the process of connecting the dots he jumped from one to ten to find himself both lost and confused. All he caught was that there were grains in the shakers, which only answered his earlier question as to what they contained. The meerkat hummed, turning his attention away from the two shakers and back to Riku.

“So that’s it.” He said, sounding as though he had understood the teen. “There’s grain in those things!”

Well, up until he opened his mouth.

Edited 2010-10-24 07:41 (UTC)

Vyers tapped his lips in thought. "As many are those who come from different worlds, there are equally as many who come from other times," he mused. "Perhaps you have come from a point in the future?" But then that didn't explain the mention of their usage of Kingdom Hearts, did it? If that was truly in the future from now, wouldn't they still be trying to put it together?

The demon listened closely to Riku's explanation of the two worlds, focusing on the shakers in front of them. When Timon spoke up, Vyers' expression shifted to one of annoyance, but little else--he was all too used to the meerkat's outbursts. "They hold salt and pepper and are used to flavor food. They are in those containers in order to make it easier for one to decide how much of the contents they would like on their food," he explained.

Vyers went silent for a moment and mused over what Riku had said. "I believe I understand. Worlds of differing dispositions separated from one another by a strong wall of sorts, correct?" It reminded him of the barrier between Celestia and the Netherworld in a way, only on a much grander scale. Mmmmn... I wonder where Netherworlds would lie." Vyers picked up the pepper shaker with curiosity, idly turning it over in his hand.

"You know, I never thought about it that way." There was something about the idea of being from the future that was inherently intriguing. "But I don't think I am. From what DiZ and I could tell, Xemnas never came to Castle Oblivion. It'd also mean there'd be a second Namine somewhere. The Namine I've met here is bolder than the one I first met, so she'd have to be from the future. And if there was another Namine being controlled by the Organization, trust me, Sora and I wouldn't be allowed to remember how this place worked. Why make it easier for us?"

As if by some unseen, magnetic attraction Riku's hand was pulled slowly to his face. Whatever the force was, it must have been strong, since it was a long few minutes before he seemed able to remove it. Simply attempting to bear with it for the meanwhile, he propped his elbow in the table and leaned his head against the palm his face was attached to. He just let Vyers explain. There was no point in dignifying the response with anything else.

"Pretty much, though I'm not sure if it's a wall, distance, or if it's almost like a parallel dimension or something. I know it exists, it's hard to get out of, and it's not a fun place to kick back." He listened to Vyer's musing. "...I'd think the World of Darkness, but I guess even the Underworld is a part of the World of Light. So I really have no clue."

Timon frowned. “Oh.” Vyers should have explained to him sooner that the shakers held salt and pepper. He also should have explained to him what salt and pepper were – other than used to ‘flavour food’. Did they make things sweeter or bitter…er? Curious, he watched the demon idly turn the pepper shaker. Whatever was inside of it must have tasted pretty good. At least, one would think so. He looked back to the salt shaker in front of Riku and scurried closer to it, inspecting it more closely though thankfully less dangerously than the last he had.

The meerkat continued listen to the conversation between the two, though pretended to look more intrigued by the shaker throughout it. He had not mentioned Naminé’s unique ability to Vyers and hoped the demon would overlook Riku’s vague mention of it. The Organization could be using any of their members to make others forget, right? Timon tilted the shaker slightly over and narrowed his eyes.

"Can you be so certain?" Vyers asked. "After all, many are those who have been changed by their time here. Who is to say what they will do when they return home? They could, by chance, change everything that occurred when they get back, or they may follow the same path as before. I have not returned home, so I cannot tell you if memories remain. Some come back with them while others do not. Is it not possible that something is different with this than what you went through before? Of course, you could be correct, but who is to say that is the case?" Though he was hardly an expert when it came to time travel or anything close to what seemed to be going on within the city, so this was mainly guesswork based on what he had seen.

He wondered a little about what Riku meant by not being allowed to remember how the castle worked. Namine had said something about being forced to change Sora's memories when they had had her mention the incident she had with Xemnas, but he hadn't exactly pushed about that ability. Perhaps he should have asked a little bit more.

Vyers nodded at Riku's explanation and set the pepper shaker back down. Thinking on the prospect a little more, the demon couldn't help but smile a little in amusement. "I suppose the situation regarding our connection with human worlds and Celestia would make things much more difficult as well. Ah, but we have digressed. You would not happen to know what that document of yours means when it states that a world survived the Organization's 'efforts' with Kingdom Hearts? Or have any idea?"

"If someone from my past is going to do something different, then I wouldn't remember what the difference was. And neither would you, because I might have done things differently here in Paixao as a result of that." Riku simply shrugged, but a strange look came over his face. "The Organization knows who Roxas is, though. Roxas was born when... And members like Vexen are still alive and kicking." Something between a smirk and a look of amazement came over him. "If all the Organization members are from the same time, then within a couple weeks we'll be getting some new visitors." And that smirk grew. "One will be my past self." Riku gave a little shrug, still doubting that was the case, but it was amusing nonetheless.

The teen shrugged again, almost as if to say, "I have no clue what Celestia is."

"...Kingdom Hearts is the Heart of All Worlds. ...Or at least a Kingdom Hearts is. I suppose if you mess with it, you could really screw things up. Especially if you target a certain world." He shook his head. "It sounds like experimentation on a world. Either way, if it means they have access to that Kingdom Hearts, we're in a lot of trouble."

Edited 2010-11-04 22:40 (UTC)

He tried not to think of what had occurred during his absents, how long he had been gone, or what would happen when he returned other than the fact that he would be home. From what he could tell, time appeared to have stood still and the time he had spent alone Simba and Pumbaa had never experienced his absents. He felt thankful of that but could not help but notice how he had aged in comparison to the two. They did not seem to have noticed, something he took pride in to know he still looked youthful, and if he had any choice in the matter he intended to keep it that way. Three years was a big deal to a meerkat, especially when they lead him astray of middle age. But this was nor the time to place to think of such matters. Timon would argue no matter what that he had not changed, though he knew Paixao had certainly had its effect on him. To think by simply returning home could change the events of the future on top of everything else he made his head hurt.

Timon looked no less confused than he had throughout a majority of their conversation at the mention of another Riku arriving. “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” he interrupted. “What do you mean you’ll be arriving here? You can’t be here twice at the same time… Can you?” He did not recall such an occurrence having ever taken place but this castle… ‘thing’ was full of all sorts of surprises. Although, there was another Riku who he was familiar with. Could Riku have meant him? “Unless... You don’t mean, the Replica, do you? Otherwise I met you before the growth spurt. We're talkin' only 'bout this high!”

Edited 2010-11-09 02:11 (UTC)

So this boy knew Roxas? Interesting... He didn't remember Roxas mentioning anyone who looked like Riku, but considering the Nobody's trouble with his memory, it was doubtful he would have been able to. Vyers filed away that bit of information for later, deciding to keep quiet on the matter for now. Roxas, after all, wasn't the point of this discussion.

"The Heart of All Worlds..." An interesting thought, not to mention a rather disturbing one. If Riku's former description of Kingdom Hearts hadn't convinced Vyers that this was a thing better kept out of the hands of those who would seek to abuse it, then this bit of information certainly had convinced him. He didn't know exactly by what means it could be used, but that in itself was a trivial matter.

He leaned a little closer at Riku's revelation that he--or some version of himself--might be entering Paixao at some point. Was such a thing possible? He hadn't seen anything of the sort happen yet, at least, not like that, but nothing had happened to make that sort of thing not possible.

Timon seemed to be just as befuddled as Vyers was on the subject, but the meerkat then added in another term that he had never heard before--not in this context. "Replica?" Vyers echoed, looking between Riku and Timon to see if any of them might provide clarification on the subject.

Riku looked seriously unimpressed over Timon's height demonstration. "So you already met a younger me. That helps rule that out. Though yeah, if time travel is involved, I could be in two places at once." That being said, he continued to mull things over.

"I don't think it was three months between when Roxas was created and when I stepped into Castle Oblivion the first time. And Sora and I were running around in here a couple weeks. But if this really was the past, me, Sora, Goofy and Donald would either be in the castle now or would to be real soon," he shrugged. "If Organization members start vanishing, we'll know." Idly he reached for a menu when his stomach growled.

Riku began to elaborate for Vyers, fully aware that was clear as mud. He might have been looking down at the menu, but he was only half-reading it. "Yeah, Replica. A fake. Sort of like a clone, minus the genetics. Vexen made one of me and some of my memories were put into it. It wasn't afraid to use darkness as much as it wanted. And it was a huge pain." He gave a little sigh. "And if my past self hasn't gotten here yet, I'm going to have to deal with him again."

“I didn’t mind him…” Timon mumbled to himself. The Replica had by no means been hostile or at any point threatened him. In fact, they had gotten along fairly well. Though, this news of using Darkness was new to him. He had had no idea. Of course, then he had not known nearly as much as he did now either. He wondered if things would have gone differently between them had he known. In Riku’s defence, however, Timon was not particularly fond of the thought of multiples of himself running around either. True, the world (or worlds) could always use a little more of him, being as magnificent a creature as he was, but the idea was kind of creepy.

His eyes travelled to Riku’s stomach at its protest, his own growling in return challengingly. He too tried to ignore it and looked away as though something on the other side of the restaurant had caught his attention. “So this is your second time in this castle, hu?” the meerkat began. “And you seem ta remember pretty well what happened inside… So you must remember the way out too, right?”

Frankly, Vyers didn't see any downside to anything that led to the Organization's disappearance, but he could understand Riku's discomfort in meeting another one of himself. The closest Vyers had ever come to such a thing before had been clone geopanels, but even those weren't real. Although he wondered if he could possibly convince Riku (or whichever Riku was going to come into the castle--he couldn't say he knew exactly how this worked) to leave Roxas and Xion be. Namine as well, though the boy didn't seem to hold any sort of malice toward her.

The Replica sounded a bit strange. Was that anything like the clone geopanels? But it sounded a little different, too. Maybe that would just have to be something they could return to later.

The sounds of discontent stomachs filled the small booth and Vyers, though not really all that hungry at the moment, found his eyes wandering toward the menus as well. Maybe a small snack would do well. He didn't get to try out the bakery quite as much as he would like. A piece of pie? Some cake? Ah, but the pie sounded better.

His wandering thoughts snapped back to the subject at hand at the mention of a way out. His full attention on Riku and Timon, he waited eagerly for an answer.

The teen caught just enough of that mumble to be suspicious of what was said, but didn't inquire, choosing instead just to continue. "The guy had a major identity crisis. And seemed to think he had to take me out to be a real person."

Riku frowned. "No." Both his menu and his elbows went down on the table, leaving his hands to fold next to his mouth. "The great thing about a castle with changing rooms is that I couldn't even tell you where I am now." He picked up his menu again, his shoulders rising and falling with a silent sigh. At least he noticed something that sounded good.

"...I'm just assuming we're in the basement."

“Great?” Timon repeated in disbelief. “You think it’s great? I don’t believe this!” He pulled his hair in frustration before he began to pace. “Yeah know, as spectacular as this whole experience has been, what with the kidnapping and all, I don’t think I’d go calling it ‘great’. You couldn’t get me to come back here if you tried!” The meerkat rubbed his temples and turned to face Riku again. “Do you at least know how many floors this stupid place has? And what about climbing this thing, how long is that gonna take? ‘Cause I gotta say, my feet are already killin’ me and we haven’t even made it up the first floor yet.”

My, Vyers couldn't help but feel a little bad for this replica, really. To be in that situation... Could he truly say he wouldn't react in a similar manner? Although he could understand why Riku was disturbed by the incident as well. Ah, there was no winning in a situation such as that, was there?

Vyers attempted to cut in a few times during Timon's rant, but eventually gave up, putting his chin in his hands and waiting for the meerkat to finish before putting in his own two cents. "I believe he was being sarcastic."

"And did we not go to that 'Halloween Town?'" he asked, a finger to his chin in thought. Yes, that was the name of that place. The place where he had fought against Laharl.

Riku just stared at Timon a moment before reaching out and placing a finger atop his head to get the meerkat's attention. Vyers replied for him, leaving him to follow up with a simple, "You got it."

He decided to dignify the demon with an answer first. "Yeah, we did." Turning back to the meerkat and leaning his cheek on a fist, he said, "No clue what you mean by kidnapping," not realizing the circumstances under which Timon had been taken to Halloween Town. "How long it'll take I couldn't tell you. But the place has 12 basement floors and 13 above ground."

“I’ve been trying to forget that.” The meerkat replied dryly. “Thanks for reminding me.” Halloween Town had proven less than desirable. Not only was the environment dark and unnerving (not that he had been scared or anything, heavens no) but also done something to them,‘them’ being Riku and himself. Vyers had oddly gone without alteration. He wondered what made the demon so special but maybe it was the fact he was so ugly he simply couldn’t get any worse. All he knew was he had no intention of ever going back. Not after what it had done to him; he was ugly and he knew it.

Paused in mid-step by Riku’s contact, Timon turned back to look at him. “What do you mean you don’t know? This ain’t some travel agent mix up! Think about it: nobody asked if we wanted to come here. They just took us against our will. That sounds an awful lot like a kidnapping to me! And you can’t tell me there are people who actually want to be here.” He shook his head and began to pace again, though at a much slower pace. “And thirteen floors.” The meerkat added with a sneer. “Who would have guessed? These guys sure are original. Are we going to have to perform thirteen tasks to get to each new floor too?”

"It is an experience easier for you to forget," Vyers muttered, mostly to himself. All Timon had had to deal with were the strange transformations that world imposed on others. And while Vyers could easily see how that would be unnerving, there was great difference between that and realizing that one's body was beginning to fail them. An event he would admit to being frightening, even for someone who had already experienced death, and not a memory easily extinguished.

"I imagine there are a few here who would wish to stay--with a few alterations to the current situation, of course," Vyers stated, holding up a finger. There had been a few times he had debated the idea himself, though they were usually only minor, passing thoughts. If there were some way to take parts of the condo with him back to the Netherworld on the other hand...

And while he kept it to himself, he couldn't help but be a little impressed with the Organization's dedication to their theme. Their actions were inexcusable, that much was certain, but they at least had a flair to it.

"Oh. That," Riku replied unabashed to Timon. "No, we didn't ask, though apparently some people who are here would have wound up dead. They're probably the only ones who would rather be here."

As Vyers spoke, he thumbed to him as a gesture of agreeance.

"As for getting to new floors, who knows what we got to do. We'll take 'em as we get 'em."

Timon did not respond to Riku’s comment regarding those who would have otherwise been dead had it not been for Paixao. That led to too many questions that were sure to hurt his head. If one of these alleged deceased folk were to reach the top of this so called castle, what would happen to them? Would returning home be the end for them, lead to their ultimate demise, or had Paixao somehow changed their fate? The meerkat wrinkled his nose at the idea and looked away from the teen. His attention, however, was quickly brought back to him at the mention of climbing the castle further.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” he said, waving his paws in the air in front of him. “’We’?” Timon repeated. “Where do you get ‘we’? You don’t mean ‘me’ in there, do you? Because as far as this whole castle climbing thing goes, you can count me out. Meerkats aren’t built for this sort of thing, you know. We’re anti-long-distance-climbers. Note the lack in stature in comparison to you: animals built for long distant climbing. Long distant castle climbing. You will take them on as you get to them.”

Vyers looked down at Timon, an eyebrow arched. "You would rather not aid in their progress?" he asked the meerkat, half expecting to know the answer. "The more help they receive the sooner we all will be able to leave." Hopefully. It was still difficult to tell how much of what that anonymous poster on the message boards so long ago was fact and how much was fiction, but they had little--if anything--else to go on. It was the only course of action he could think to take.

Though he would grant Timon that he would have a difficult time ascending the castle. Vyers could see why he wouldn't want to take part. But... "It is not as though there is no one here who would help you."

A sly smile crawled up Riku's cheek. "Hey, Vyers, we can't make him go anywhere. I mean, he's right, he's not a climber." Oh boy did he look smug. "Looks more like a long-distance pocket-rider anyway."

With that Riku slowly sat forward. "If he doesn't want to help, he can always just stay here as long as he wants." He laid his arm casually on the table. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be mayor after all. If the Organization lets you."

What had Riku just called him, a pocket-rider? Timon scowled, showing a clear dislike of where this conversation was going. It sounded as though they wanted to drag him along regardless of his protest. And when he should have understood their concern and accepted their help Timon simply brushed it off with feelings of betrayal. Timon did not do ‘teamwork’. He simply watched the team work. This was not something he felt strong enough to simply do himself. Actually, this was something Timon did not feel should have been expected of him in the first place. As horrible a place it was, to be honest, there was more in this castle than there had ever been for Timon at home. Leaving… Was not something he was eager to do anymore.

The Organization would never allow him to become mayor, he knew that. But to have actually been considered for such a title at one point, that had been something else. And though there were those who disliked him, a lot who disliked him, there were still more people here who accepted him than ever had at home. Simba and Pumbaa had been his only reason for returning to the Pride Lands but with them here, it no longer seemed important. All that mattered to him was that they were together.

Timon looked between to the two, unimpressed by their attempts to sway him otherwise. Riku had been no doubt pushed the right buttons, the mention of the Organization itself and their control over the city a reminder of the freedom he would never have. But, even then, he could wait. Wait for the others to reach the top. He had tried to help before and that had led him nowhere but Vexen’s laboratory. Running from the Organization was a far better plan than facing them head on as far as Timon was concerned. He had been running before and he’d keep running, as long as it kept his friends safe. He had put them in enough danger. And only once the others reached the top, once it was safe, would he follow.

The meerkat walked toward the end of the table, stopping at the edge before he looked back at Riku and Vyers. “I got everything I ever wanted right here.” He said firmly. “And no one, not even the Organization, is gonna take that from me. You wanna leave, leave! Just don’t expect ‘me’ in that ‘we’. Trying to help is what got me in all this trouble in the first place.” With that, Timon jumped down from the table and head toward the door.

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

Edited 2011-01-10 06:00 (UTC)

Vyers couldn't help but chuckle a little at Riku's comment, remembering the manner in which he took Timon to Halloween Town. It may not have proved to be the best of ideas, considering how his inventory was minus a good portion of recovery items once Timon was gone, but it had worked well and was still rather amusing in the end.

But as Timon left the table, the amusement was quick to fade. Vyers sighed and rubbed his forehead. Where had the Timon's want to help others gone? He had been concerned with himself before, yes, but Timon's sharing of information about the Organization for the sake of others was what had captured Vyers' attention to begin with. But Timon had mentioned that in a way just now, hadn't he?

It was the experiment that changed things, wasn't it? Vyers "hm"ed softly. "So it is fine if others go through what you did as long as it is not yourself?" He arched an eyebrow and stood a little straighter. "...You do not have to climb if you do not wish to. Nor do you have to lead anyone. But it is not fair to put in danger those who cannot stay."

Riku paused, mildly surprised at the sudden change in the meerkat. Timon not being hungry was a first. He wondered mildly if he'd teased Timon too much. Regardless, if he wanted to stay, that was his decision. Vyers said it very well. But there was another point to be made, one from his own experience.

"Hey Timon. So what're you gonna do when the Organization comes for everything you ever wanted? Takes away your home? Better yet, turns a friend against you?" All the while, Riku looked down at the menu, but still with an intense expression. The Organization was more than capable of doing all that.

Timon did not get very far before he was struck by their words. Both made good points, even if he didn’t want to admit it. He didn’t know what he would do if he lost everything he had achieved. What he would do if he lost his friends… He stopped mid-step, looking across the restaurant at the exit, fists clenched. The thought alone terrified him. After going so long without them, the idea of losing them again was almost too painful to bear. He needed them a lot more then he had ever imagined. And to think that they could ever go through what he had, have to tangle with Larxene or the rest of the Organization. Pumbaa wouldn’t stand a chance and Simba, poor Simba, he had gone through enough. He didn’t wish what they had done to him on anyone, especially not his friends.

Still eying the door, it was clear he wasn’t prepared to answer any of their questions, rather tempted to walk out instead. Running away from them meant running away from these problems, something Timon was far more custom to. The whole point of coming here was to dump one of his many problems onto Riku. His eyes shifted nervously around the restaurant while he found himself in thought. Passing the problem on suddenly didn’t feel so right. There was a bad feeling that went along with it, a feeling that made Timon almost want to take the report he had found back. But he refrained. This… wasn’t quite running from his problems. No, not really. Running from his problems wouldn’t get rid of them but passing them on might. And if he were to leave the two would likely not let him live it down. Vyers would nag him, Riku possibly go so far as to stop him from leaving the restaurant. He’d have to stay.

The meerkat took in a deep breath before turning to face the pair. He held his nose high as he walked back to the table, eyes closed. Timon did not answer their questions, instead hiding behind his menu as soon as he had the opportunity. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

“So order something.”

Vyers turned to look at Riku as the boy spoke up. It sounded as though he were speaking from experience, and Vyers couldn't help but wonder just what it was that had been done to him. He half wanted to ask, but would that be prying? He didn't mind prying, but that in particular sounded like something serious, a topic that might be better left alone for now.

It also seemed they had managed to get to Timon. He was returning to the table now, at least. Good. He wasn't saying anything to them, but he was here. That was something. Not a lot, but enough.

"I will just have something to drink," Vyers decided, barely giving the menu a passing glance. A glass of wine, perhaps. It wouldn't do much, but the more he thought and the more his thoughts went back to Kingdom Hearts and the Organization, the more he began to want something to drink. "You are welcome to pick whatever you like." The offer was to both Riku and Timon. The demon forgot to consider whether or not he would regret the offer later.

Not long after his own words, Riku turned to watch the meerkat. There was so much that the Organization could and had done, and Riku was no fan of the manipulation and kidnapping he'd seen firsthand.

At Vyer's offer, he gave him a bit of a smile and held his pocket out a little. A gold silk leaf, one of many, fell out. In case Vyer's couldn't have seen, Riku held it up with a bit of a nod. He could pay his own way easily.

That being said, Riku still was very hungry. He'd been ignoring that his stomach was trying to tie itself in a knot, though he had his priorities straight. Competing with Timon took a back seat for the moment. Besides, beating him probably wouldn't be in the best interest, considering the meerkat's recent reaction. "...I'll probably try the Ruben and the grilled fish sandwich. And soda." A caffeine buzz would be about the closest the teen would get to drinking.

His next question was to Timon. "What about you?" Riku had a hard time believing he wasn't hungry.

“I don’t know.” He replied, still sounding rather frustrated. The meerkat hadn’t spent much time looking at his menu. In fact, he had almost been looking past it. But, even if Timon had taken the time to truly look at it, it was not as though he could read what it said. He had always known what he liked best here, anyway. And, when their server arrived, he would tell them the same as he always had; regardless what he had told Riku, he already knew what he was getting.

Still hidden behind his menu, Timon spoke up again, this time sounding more like himself again. “No blue chicken this time, hu? Must have learned your lesson… I tried to warn you but you wouldn't listen.”

"There was nothing wrong with that meal," Vyers corrected Timon. "I am simply not very hungry at the moment." He would probably attempt to make something when they got home, of course, but for the moment this whole situation had thoroughly ruined his appetite. He then paused as Timon's words sunk in. "You... do not know what to get?" he repeated incredulously. That was new.

The demon was surprised when Riku offered to pay for his portion of the meal, quite unused to anyone offering to pay (probably because Timon tended to be the one to eat with him), but not at all unhappy. How comforting it was to see that there were children out there with some sense of good manners!

Riku had a similar reaction to Vyers and Timon's words. Afterall, the meerkat could really pack it away.

When Timon started sounding a bit more like himself, Riku smirked. "You forget already? The sandwich was just cheese, ham and normal chicken. I just feel like trying something new."

In fact, Riku had enough on him to cover all three of them, in theory. He'd learned from last time the dangers of going to a restaurant with Timon.

“Normal, pft! You call a blue chicken normal? Well, I still say there was somin’ wrong with that bird whether you want to admit it or not.” The meerkat cross his arms over his chest and shook his head, menu folded on the table in front of him.

Vyers was indeed lucky he would not be paying the meerkats bill for once. If Riku intended to challenge him, by no means was Timon prepared step down. He would stuff as many sandwiches down his throat as it took to beat this kid. Simba may have stolen his jungle crown but Paixao was another story. He was the fastest sandwich swallower in these parts and intended to keep it that way.

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Different Puzzels With The Same Pieces [Active]

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Character knowledge vs player knowledge here.

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