adamant | 23rd roar [ text ]; backdated to the morning of the 24th

Entry tags:

+location: mahogany town

23rd roar [ text ]; backdated to the morning of the 24th

[ Guess who saw the feed first thing upon waking and nearly flipped his shit? Yep. He flips it open to make some calls. ]

The empty base, and now this. Whatever it is they've got planned, it'll be best to stay on our guard.

[Private voicemail to: Cooper, Cooper, Sora, Ventus, Xion, Rise, Kisa, Nanako, Cecil, Yuffie:]
You're not hurt, are you? [ It's probably a good thing they can't see how worried he is. Suddenly--ping! ]

Error: user ID 'Yuffie Kisaragi' not found_

[ That's an unpleasant surprise. He checks his pokemon box--and finds Zuzu, looking forlorn. ]

[ Public text message sent out about an hour later: ]
If you knew Yuffie Kisaragi, she's been sent home.

[ He's just going to spend the rest of the day being grumpy and frustrated and torn between flying out to Goldenrod and staying on course to Blackthorn. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ A snort. ] I know that. There was a news broadcast. I meant, what happened to you?

... Oh. Um... [ fff, hesitance! ]

... [ Hmm. How to say she got the shit kicked out of her in a nice way? ]

...Xion.

[ Spit. It. Out. ]

[ There's a sigh, and... voila! Video.

Everything is still fresh, given the date. There's a large discoloration on one part of her face, with bandages and thin strips applied. She shifts the feed, and there's an obvious sling attached to her right arm.

And... a bunch of other crap hidden under her clothing. The feed speaks for itself. ]

[ He looks pained, almost ill at the sight. Worry levels over 9000. This is worse than the Vanitas incident. ]

Xion...

[ It tears him up to see her like that. What does he have to do to instill a little bit of self-preservation into this girl? ]

[ Her eyes avert themselves somewhere else. Note her surroundings aren't exactly... hospital-like, either. Ah, that Saffron morning sky.

This is why she wants to get stronger. She wants power. Things will be different... Things...

She looks like she's about to say something, but stops. She's waiting for that lecture she knows she's due for, either from him or Lightning. ]

[ If Leon knew what she was thinking, he'd clock her. And then hug her. ]

I... [ He stops. ] It must've been a tough fight.

There were a lot of them, and their Pokemon, too.

I didn't want them taking my Pokemon... and any others when I could.

[ A nod. ]

They weren't just attacking pokemon either, I bet. Did you use those techniques Light showed you?

Yeah. [ At this, she slightly smiles. ] Like that punch you both helped me on...

I'm glad it helped.

[ A pause. OKAY NOW IS LECTURE TIME. ] Xion...

[ She immediately stiffens. SHE KNOWS THAT TONE. ]

I'm not...disappointed that you chose to protect those people and attack the Rockets.

[ He at least wants to make that much clear. ]

But you knew you were on the mend after that last fight with Vanitas. [ Don't think he's forgotten about that. ] You have plenty of small pokemon that could have helped you fight instead of jumping into it by yourself.

But the smaller pokemon I have aside from Bahamut... They're still young. I wasn't going to let them take on other pokemon that were obviously higher level than they were.

Then you could have stepped aside and helped others who were fighting, instead of putting yourself in danger.

We were all in danger.

[ Oh, oh. Are we getting snappish? We may be getting snappish. ]

You're missing the point, Xion--you were already injured. Why did you feel the need to put yourself at risk for more? There were other ways to help!

[ If only because Leon just can't... understand what it was like there.

She doesn't raise her voice, though she's shaking her head. ] It wasn't like I had another choice.

[ No, he can't--he knows he's making a judgement call. But that doesn't stop him for worrying. He sighs. ]

I just wish you didn't have to get hurt all the time. Sometimes, I can't help but--

[ He cuts himself off. ]

[ It takes her a while to respond to that. ]

... You can't help but...?

[ There's a long pause, as he debates saying it. ]

Sometimes I can't help but think you go out looking to get hurt. [ A beat. ] That's what it feels like, to me.

[ And then there's this... look that crosses on her face. The light in her eyes suddenly dim as she looks down, but away from the Gear. Even she couldn't explain the odd feeling of... emptiness in her chest for a moment there.

Lifeless... then: ] That's not it. That's...

[ Another shake and the look passes as quickly as it came. ] I just want to help people, however I can. [ No matter what happens to me. ]

[ He pinches the bridge of his nose, wondering just how to word this. ]

Helping people is good. You should never stop helping as much as you can--but if you don't protect yourself, that's just...

[ And he trails off, at a loss. Disrespectful? Stupid? Foolish? TOO MANY CHOICES. And none of them fit what he wants to express. ]

I know! [ It's a snap, but it's not really towards Leon. ] I won't be able to help people if I don't take care of myself first.

[ Slumps. ] Still...

It's not just about that, Xion. Think of all the people who care about you; how do you think we feel when you come back looking like you took on a pack of Heartless without a weapon?

23rd roar [ text ]; backdated to the morning of the 24th

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]-->[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video] GO TO BED

[Video] JUST ONE MORE

[Video] GO TO BED /flips a table

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]