memoryborn | "sorry, I cannot answer"

My apologies for resorting to such an uncouth method of saying hello, but it seems it might be necessary.

At your convenience, I would like to speak to you in person very soon about a mutual acquaintance of ours. I will be in the vicinity of Violet City fairly soon if it is no trouble for you. I noticed you have a flyer.

I

[ When Xion got the message, her mind had gone almost completely blank. Worry bloomed in her head, followed by rushed curiosity. "Mutual acquaintance" could be a few people, but it's been a while and Xemnas might have started form some connection with people...

But the way he uses "at your convenience"? That sent Xion to start packing a few things. Taking the time to also brief Illya on where she was going, Xion flies on the back of her Togekiss to Violet City. It takes several long hours and making sure Bell gets a break in between, but she makes it, landing with a dull thump as she stands in Violet City. She recalls Bell for the moment, and instead, pulls out two pokeballs to summon Bahamut the Garchomp and Axel the Typhlosion, who both roar and look around for the reason they were called. She calms them both down, asking them to accompany her, before looking around.

Rather than calling out his name, Xion pulls out her Gear again and sends this text: ]

I'm in the city. Where are you?

['At your convenience' is anything but when it comes to Xemnas. It's the illusion of choice, the false image of having any say in the matter at all. That he offers even the illusion of a choice is ..almost considerate but not quite. He still expects prompt obedience.

Prompt enough anyway, as when the message is sent he was still some miles from the jump point Malice would need to send them directly to Violet City. It was a convenient and rapid means of travel, as Regret was willing to push her speed and stamina to its limits in the run from place to place simply because it pleased him.

Xion arrives only perhaps twenty minutes after Xemnas himself had. Going further for now simply wasn't possible, his zebstrika needed rest and time to recover, time given only grudgingly. He couldn't risk her foundering. When his pokegear beeps, his attention to it is prompt.]

North of the pokecenter, near the water's edge. I would come to you but my zebstrika requires rest.

[ That's not far, Xion pockets her Gear and motions for Bahamut to get closer. She slips onto his back, his large dorsal fin giving her a "backseat" to lean on, and despite his large size, he's speedier than Axel. With a call of his name, Bahamut goes to where she tells him, with Axel running on all fours to keep up.

It's only a few minutes before Xion rides to the spot Xemnas is in. She sees him first and slows Bahamut down. He skids to a halt several feet away and allows Xion to slip off, flanking his trainer with Axel as she moves ahead. ]

You wanted to talk, Xemnas?

[Three watch their approach; the zebstrika lying half in and half out of the water, not all the wet on her coat from the water, still breathing hard. Xemnas himself, and a terribly alert kadabra. Both the zebstrika and kadabra are collared, but the collars are loose enough where if they wanted to they could shake it off.

The typhlosion and garchomp would probably ordinarily be intimidating, but both Xemnas' pokemon seem intent on doing their own protecting at the sheer threat the towering duo pose, Regret hauling herself out of the water on unsteady legs, and Malice laying his ears back and baring a mouthful of needle sharp teeth in silent warning.]

Behave, both of you. Regret, lie down until you're at least cooled off.

[It's only with reluctance that he's obeyed. A typhlosion and garchomp are not things to be taken lightly.]

I did, yes. You'll forgive me I hope if I skip pleasantries.

[He seems as calm as ever. Xemnas is good at self control. But there is somehow an unmistakable humming thread of fury beneath the calm, like lava seething below a thin crust of stability.

It might well be the first genuine emotion she's ever seen in him. It probably doesn't bode well for someone.]

Who has Demyx been speaking to? And what sort of stories has he dreamed up?

[ She was wondering about the emotion she was seeing and hearing. Someone was in trouble, and it didn't take long for that "someone" to be identified. Xion holds her breath for only a moment when Xemnas speaks the name, while Bahamut gives a low roar at Malice for the showing of teeth. Axel just keeps a steely glare on Regret.

Xion frowns, hands curling tightly into fists. ]

Demyx? I wasn't aware he was speaking to more people.

[ Seriously. Didn't the guy listen to her suggestions and warnings at all? Lightning told Xion she was saying the same thing to the guy, too. ]

[His pokemon aren't going anywhere. He told them not to, and though they are watchful and hostile, very likely picking up on their trainer's rage, they stay put. Probably better for the zebstrika, who looks close to exhaustion. Not injury, just sheer exhaustion. Malice bares teeth again; kadabras aren't biters but Xemnas didn't care much for what a pokemon's type so much as putting everything they had to use. Including the wickedly sharp teeth and claws of an otherwise frail psychic.

Xemnas keeps watch but so long as they don't move to attack.. let them hiss and grumble. Their defensiveness was endearing in a way. They'd never win, but they'd try anyway.]

'More' people? There was more than this one?

[The echoed words are all but rumbled.]

I tolerated his original threats. Finding out he's been decieving others for his own gain will not go well for him. I do not know yet what he is claiming, but once I find out...

[Oh yes. He's definitely angry. At least he's not angry with Xion.]

You truly know nothing of what he's decided to concoct?

[The kadabra's ears perk back up as this question's asked; chances are high the psychic is going to be listening for a lie. Knowing what the truth is, no, he's not that strong. But whether it is the truth, or a lie, that's easier.

And might be why Malice is here at all.]

So he really did send that message...

[ Is the murmur to herself. Tch. For all his fear that he showed while talking to her, she didn't think he'd keep at it. Just what was he trying at? Moreover, why didn't he listen? If more people were going to treat Xemnas differently because of whatever... Demyx was saying, it wasn't going to go well in the long run.

She lets out an aggravated sigh at that before staring back up to Xemnas. She gives a shake of her head. She doesn't want to help out Xemnas, but at this rate, it's not even him that's making the problems. ]

Not when he talked to me when I tried telling people to lay off. Honestly, I didn't think he had any plot in his head. Just what has he been saying around to other people?

Oh yes. There are few in my Organization who would choose to threaten someone with other people's power. I was fairly certain by the second message he sent.

[He didn't approve of cowards. As Xion speaks, she's watched steadily and unblinkingly by the kadabra, who after a moment glances at his trainer. Nothing is said, but when it comes to psychic types maybe nothing has to be.]

I don't know. Only that he admits to lying in an effort to make people listen. What he has said, and to who, eludes me. Presumably aside from this one slip he isn't so stupid as to do so where I can see it. And I have been keeping watch.

[Close watch. But that likely will be no surprise.]

It seems the peace I've been enjoying in this world is going to have to fall by the wayside.

[ She'd been listening very attentively until that last part. She takes a step forward while vigorously shaking her head. ]

No, wait. Please. [ It's a near-shout, but she remembers herself. She quickly tries to think of a follow up, her mind searching for a reason to dissuade Xemnas from whatever that comment meant - it was obviously bad, but as to what he would plan... Then: ]

If you do anything to him, wouldn't that just be playing right into what he's saying?

[ Xemnas is hardly the fool, and she doubts he likes playing to someone else's tune. Hah. How fitting. ]

[As Xion steps forward, Regret lurches back out of the water in an uncoordinated stumble, head low, gaze fixed on the girl. What the zebstrika lacks in strength right now she's more than making up for in determination, doing her best to stalk aggressively towards the small black-clad trainer.

Really it'd work better if she wasn't so visibly tired.

She also doesn't get too far, stopped by nothing more than a hand on one soggy black and white leg. Xemnas doesn't need to hand out orders, she already knew she was supposed to be behaving. It had been a very long run, but she'd try anyway.]

Sometimes, child, when someone begs so much for a beating it is best to give them what they want.

[But not always.]

What would you suggest? Let him continue to run about doing as he pleases?

[There's no mistaking that Xemnas isn't going to consider that an option.]

[ When the Zebstrika makes a feeble attempt at a threat towards Xion, however small it is, it's still a threat. This makes Bahamut slam a foot down and roars at Regret. Xion lets out a little sound and walks over to stroke her Garchomp's neck to calm him down. He doesn't need to fear anything from these two.

Tension. It's what the Pokemon are all likely feeling from their individual trainers. It's setting Xion on edge, too.

Xemnas said Demyx had been lying to others about Xemnas. While she's personally experienced some of the things Xemnas is capable of and willing to do... he isn't doing that now. He likely won't be doing anything for a while. ]

You're dangerous- [ It's a fact she's willing to admit and be honest with him. ] -even without your powers, but even so. Demyx is probably saying things along those lines. Exaggerating them, probably. I could... speak on your behalf, but I've already done so before. People have to know he's not saying the truth.

Be still.

[Two simple words, though it's likely not to Xion's pokemon. Regret and Malice might be willing to fling themselves at pokemon that far outpower them, but Xemnas wasn't going to allow it. The kadabra shifts from foot to foot, rumbling under his breath, but settles back on his heels after a moment, resting his forearms on his knees. Still watching, but it's not a good stance to attack from. Regret sidles just a bit to one side, to make it very clear that anything attacking Xemnas was going to literally have to go through her.

He tolerates it. Loyalty was something to be encouraged, not rebuked.]

If it was simply danger, then it would not be a lie, Xion. Your two pokemon are dangerous and yet you stand beside them fearlessly. A risk alone isn't enough, is it? I will accept blame for my actions, but I will not accept accusations for things I have not done, or attempts to bait me into fulfilling those accusations.

[By and large Xemnas was alarmingly honest for a self-focused evil bastard. But he kept his lies to half-truths and lies of omission, not outright lies.]

I need none to speak on my behalf. I do however wish to know what he has been claiming. If enough people have listened to his deceptions then it is something I will have to address more publicly than simply beating him into submission.

[He sounds terribly displeased by this idea.]

[ Xion hesitates for just a moment, clearly weighing out her options. Her eyes dart to the side, but quickly refocus onto Xemnas for a moment before she lowers her gaze as she abruptly takes out her Gear.

It was information she asked Lightning to give. She trusted the other woman. But since Xemnas brought up the possibility of Demyx lying or exaggerating things... had her doubts. After a minute or two of her pressing buttons on her Gear, a file containing the information Demyx told Lightning about Xemnas be pinging on his Gear.

There. Deed's done. She looks back up to Xemnas to watch his reaction. ]

[What she's up to, he has no real idea. If she already has this information then her earlier words would have been a lie, and they had not been. He was certain Malice would have known, and the kadabra had detected no deception.

As she transfers whatever it is she had, he raises one silver eyebrow briefly, then picks up his device again and begins paging through what he's been provided. A conversation, it seems.

There's no flicker of emotion this time. His control is really very good.]

He did misunderstand the parable, how unsurprising. Or is misunderstanding it on purpose.

[It's muttered, and more to himself than to Xion. It takes him several minutes to get through it - and then reread it, with much more thoroughness and deliberation. Study required a different mindset than indignant fury did. But eventually, he reaches his conclusion.]

Exaggeration, here and there. Misunderstandings, possibly. I did threaten to hit him with a crowbar, after he threatened me with keyblade wielders. It's interesting that he left out that he was willingly cooperative.. and that he did as much harm as any other.. hm.

[There's a brief, disgusted snort.]

Nor did he bother to mention while warning that I might do 'anything like the things I'm responsible for' that it's completely impossible for me to do so, and if he'd listened to the parable, he'd know I wouldn't waste my time.

[He shakes his head slowly.]

Alarmist and exaggeration but no outright lies. There must be something else. Perhaps whom he'd been speaking to when his 'slip' went through..

And you don't know who that is, right?

[ Which is odd. There must be some leads, and anything on open channels could be dug up. And... a crowbar, really? It didn't sound like Xemnas even knew where Demyx was to begin with, but still. Did Demyx really think to use "keyblade wielders" as his defense? Sure, as a duty to protect others, but as for Demyx personally...

Xemnas took the information surprisingly well, though. Better than she thought he would. ]

[Xemnas saves his fury for things he hasn't done, and worse than mild exaggeration. What had been told to Lightning wasn't fantastic, but also wasn't damning enough to require being called a lie.

It told him there was something else, and far more severe.]

I can guess. I found it while reviewing a conversation I had with an intelligent young lady who'd been doing a small survey and asking why mammals in this world can lay eggs. I suggested monotremes, and we had a very pleasant chat. Others had answered her as well.

[He gestures with the pokegear.]

Given that's where Demyx's mistaken confession arises I imagine it was she he was speaking to, and possibly also lying to. There may be others but of those, I don't know. The question is how to go about asking after it. She seems a little too canny to just hand over whatever someone asks for.

[ The description of where the lead is coming from immediately brings to mind who Xemnas is talking about. Right, she remembers that survey. She answered it herself. She gives a nod. ]

I know who you're talking about. I answered that survey, too, and she mentioned you and I had similar answers.

[ In terms of answering the location of where they came from. Sorta. She knows she was born in Castle Oblivion. She's not sure on Xemnas. His quip about the girl being quiet about giving up information does make her pause. ]

Maybe if I could explain my reasoning, it couldn't hurt to ask. Demyx was telling the truth to Lightning, but he turns around and says something different to someone else? And on a survey, too?

[ Another option could be to ask Lightning to help her with gathering that information, too... But that's another story entirely. Gotta focus on right now. ]

Likely in relation to our origins. I had difficulty describing to her how one could interact with a world that doesn't exist. She asked intelligent questions. It was refreshing.

[Oblivion did exist, but was weirder yet.]

What could he say that would be unusually different? Certainly he won't sing my praises, so it would have to be worse than I have actually ever done.

[Which leads a whole lot of possibilities really. Xemnas didn't often bother to get his own hands dirty, that's what Saix was for. If he had to get involved himself, it was because someone else screwed up on the way.

It was a distraction at least, thinking about what might be where and who might be knowing it instead of how good it might feel to beat subservience back into the Melodious Nocturne. It's more difficult to stay furious when actually thinking.

But angry, that remains a steady hostile burn. Something that slips a little at her offer, and he glances up, brow furrowing.]

I can't force you to.

[That seems like a strange statement, except perhaps it isn't. He couldn't give her orders. He couldn't make her assist. And only now does he seem to wonder why she might bother. She wasn't required to serve. And yet she was, whether she thought of it that way or not.]

But nevertheless .... appreciated. Less direct than asking myself.

[ Her eyes glance to the side at the bit about his actions. Maybe he didn't need to act directly, as he had so many lackeys, but how much did anything pass by Xemnas without him noticing? Like making her and Roxas nearly finish each other off in Halloween Town. And just... other things about herself that she hasn't entirely gotten over.

She shakes her head when he says he can't "force her to." Of course he couldn't. She no longer works for him, and though it does seem like she's helping it, Xion really is doing this for the sake so that others wouldn't get caught up in this and possibly hurt.

It's the right thing to do. ]

You never did say what Demyx sent you.

[He recalled none of it. It might boggle him a little now, to set two perfect weapons against each other instead of trying to preserve both of them in case something happened to one. He understood the value of a little redundancy.

Isn't that why he'd sought far more than the three individuals he'd needed for Xehanort's plans?]

No. I hadn't. Transparency for transparency, Xion?

[It comes with a tone that she might, might just barely be overstepping bounds he'd allow.]

If you are so curious I will allow it, but it is not to be shared with others, either by word of mouth, psychic powers, or any other method one might think up. I do not need to justify myself to the world.

[But perhaps to this small black haired child, if she worried his actions might be unfounded. It takes him a little while to page through his voicemail. It hadn't been left audible, but that's easy enough to nonetheless neatly package and send as well.]

Edited 2013-09-06 04:17 (UTC)

[ She notices the tone, but isn't really affected by it. He called her out to discuss this. She's curious and the fact that she's willing to help out this much should be enough.

She checks her Gear again when he sends her the message and tilts her head at that parable. Scrolling, checking, scrolling again... Xion looks back up to Xemnas with a puzzled expression. ]

A scorpion and a frog?

You are unfamiliar with the parable, or parables in general? They are stories designed to instruct. Each has a purpose, a moral to it. Each tale, and there are hundreds, have their own bit of advice. 'It is wise to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow', or 'Once bitten, twice shy' and so on.

[Xemnas pauses, and smiles faintly.]

Do you understand the story of the scorpion and the frog? Demyx assumed it was about trust. Do you believe so?

[ There's a long pause on her end as she rereads the parable. Scorpions sting to defend themselves - it's a part of who they are. Though he wasn't in any danger, he still stung the frog. Logic wasn't a factor. The scorpion didn't want to drown. The frog... ]

Hmm... No? It seemed more like...

[ She rubs the side of her head as she thinks aloud: ]

The frog knew the scorpion stings... but he let him on his back anyway. If the frog hadn't let him on, he wouldn't have drowned with him, and it seemed like the scorpion didn't even sting him on purpose. It's his "nature."

[ Then she looks back on the situation between Demyx and Xemnas. Demyx was...

A bit of realization hits her and she looks back up to Xemnas. ]

If you tempt the possibility of bad things happening... they'll happen anyway?

[It's probably still strange, to see something like a smile on Xemnas' face. It's never quite certain whether or not the expression is genuine, but he seems pleased as she works through it. She didn't know the story, and thus didn't know the moral of it, but she was doing her best.

When she reaches her conclusion, the smile is still there, but he shakes his head slightly.]

An admirable try, and well-thought out! The scorpion speaks the moral of the story as it dies. 'It's my nature. I can't help it'. Nobody can change their nature. A scorpion will always be a scorpion, and a frog will always be a frog. Demyx will always be as he truly is, and I as I am meant to be. Likewise yourself. The fundamental nature of a being. He claimed to know who and what I was.

He was wrong.

[It comes with a gesture, light and spidering.]

One can extend it further, to say that to touch a scorpion is begging to be stung, as you say, but consider this, if one wishes to believe that route.

[He folds his hands, his smile a little fainter, a little more secretive.]

A scorpion's poison isn't strong enough to kill a frog, certainly not a large one. A scorpion can survive only minutes beneath the water. A frog can survive a very long time indeed, and may well shake the venom off before it needs to breathe again. Would knowing this, make the moral of the story different?

[ Was that a trick question? She hadn't even considered that. Heck, she didn't know that much about frogs and scorpions to know that one had a better chance than the other to survive.

More thinking this time. And then: ]

I don't think it does. Even if they both could survive- [ If the scorpion somehow managed to get back on land in the minutes it had before it drowned, that is. ] -it's still inconvenient for them both, right?

Oh yes, I imagine so. The scorpion will be dead, and whether or not the frog survives, it would be in terrible pain for a while at least. There's no trick to the last. A thought experiment now and again does no harm. It keeps one reasoning out new solutions to old problems.

[Xemnas leans back a little, sobering. It was interesting to see her work her way through things, but in the end it wasn't particularly relevant.]

Long ago I selected Demyx to be among our number. Not for his cleverness, I'll tell you that. Still waters run deep, and all things fall before the sea eventually. But that current could never be brought to the surface. He was too lazy, too cowardly, too unwilling to work for anything at all. Such was his nature. Such will always be his nature, even with a heart. A heart will only feed that flaw.

[ She'd always found it curious how and why Xemnas employed Demyx into the Organization... He did his job, but from the sound of Saix's constant exasperation on his reports, wasn't doing them well. Well, that solves one answer.

She looks back on his parable and his explanation of it, then to what he tells of Demyx. ]

Like what he's doing now? [ Or lack thereof. ]

Demyx will never fight his own battles if there is an easier way, Xion. It might be bad, it might be good, but for him it simply is. What counts as 'easier' to him, however, may differ from what we consider easier. When he finally chose to fight, on the day he disappeared, he could have run again. But perhaps to him, there was no easier way.

[It seems a little strange, to even try to explain the man framing him for god knows what, in a way that might make him not as disgusting as Xemnas saw him. But he was, if nothing else, honest. More or less.]

In this situation, I imagine he seeks to put as many people between himself and myself as he can. Fighters, or just the wary, anyone who will watch out and protect him. I don't believe he's considered that if I wished to, I would go through every barrier he placed in my way, and their blood would be on his hands, for he knows what I will do when I must.

[Xemnas sighs, the last vestiges of fury draining out. It would take a while to work up a good mad again.]

Doing so would destroy any peace I could enjoy in this land, likely permanently. But I too must follow my nature.

[A smile then, faint and brief, there and gone in the span of a heartbeat.]

Thankfully that nature is not blind, reckless fury.

[ Xion frowns. She certainly hopes it isn't, but at the same time... Reckless fury is loud and predictable. She isn't sure if she'd rather prefer that than the possibility Xemnas would be a lot sneakier and cruel as he tries to get back at Demyx.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, Axel crouches low to have his head rub under her hand and bring her back to focus. Bahamut also gently bumps his snout at her cheek. She gives them each a pat for their attempt before staring back at Xemnas. ]

Don't. Let me handle this. If I can find something more concrete, I'll tell you. Then we can work... something out. Peacefully.

[It's certain Xemnas would seek to make a ... lasting ... impression, which wouldn't really be good for anyone involved at all. As Xion struggles, possibly torn on whether or not this is even a good idea, the silver-haired man simply waits, seemingly endlessly patient.]

Peacefully may not be a possible resolution. You understand that, don't you?

[There's no sense that it's a threat or even an implication. Sometimes violence couldn't be avoided.]

Find out what you can, then. I would prefer far more concrete information before passing judgment.

[ She gives a slow nod. A part of her is wondering why she's going through all of this trouble. The other half, much more prominent, reasons that it's for the sake of other people. Demyx was adding to the people in an unnecessary way. If people started following up on that just because of his say so...

She turns towards her Garchomp for a moment glancing back at Xemnas. ]

That's all, then?

For now.

[There's a frown, and he shakes his head.]

There are still many things I wish to speak to you about. So many questions I would like to ask. But it is easier to become angry than to let it go, and I fear any such conversation is best held when I am not thus preoccupied.

[Preoccupied with the desire to do considerable and grievous harm. Xemnas favored control, and emotions were not as easy to keep in heel as he remembered.

For anyone else, he has the iron self-control of a saint. But to his standards, it's abominable.]

Perhaps another time. Thank you for your ... promptness.

[It's Xemnas; whether that thanks is genuine or not is dubious. But it's there.]

[ She nods again, slower this time. She's doing him too many favors, she thinks. She's acting as if he's still her boss. The thought irritates her, but for the sake of others, it's probably easier to keep up that pretense with him - even if he is smart enough to doubt otherwise.

So long as they're just watching each other for now. ]

If there's anything else... [ Well, he obviously knows how to get her attention now. She slides onto Bahamut's back for a bit, who gives a contented rumble and makes sure she's secure. ]

I'll contact you once I confirm things.

[Xion is watched as she moves to leave, measuringly. His pokemon are still painfully alert, but obedient to Xemnas' orders to not do anything recklessly stupid.]

Try not to take too long, if you insist on peaceful measures. The sooner this is handled the sooner I can return to other matters.

[The zebstrika is given a push with one hand, a silent insistence that the striped pokemon actually rest like she's supposed to be. Nothing is stopping Xion from leaving, but predictably there's nothing like a 'goodbye' from the silver-haired man.]

"sorry, I cannot answer"

[Text/Locked/Not very anon given the signature]

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