What could he say about that ride? Or Palamedes' house for that matter?

Well the ride wasn't the most eventful. His apparent team didn't stick by him like he'd hoped. What he hoped for was to bond with them during the drive, but loners so they kept to themselves. Emerald and Mercury stuck around with him, though they're not the most talkative pair. They actually remind him of a hitmen which he's not entirely sure how to feel about. That sounded like a delusional thought though so he just smiled and kept it to himself.

Jeannemary and Isaac took a liking to him, along with Gideon who looked about his siblings' age. She didn't seem as smart as them, but he didn't really want to mention that. Even Terra seemed smart, but again, didn't want to mention.

The two younger of the group were fawning over his, Emerald, and Mercury's hair. Awed by the colours of the latter two's and amazed by the zero gravity approach his own held. Ven couldn't tell if they were disappointed or not to hear that it was just bedhead, but he did hear a scoff from Harrow, he thought, on how he shouldn't be proud of being a mess. So harsh. Just like his grandfather actually. He liked the style though. So yes, he technically styled it that way. Some girls thought bedhead was cute. Aqua did when she squished his cheeks in the mornings. So piss off, Harrow, he was keeping it.

As for Palamades' house...well imagine a bookstore combined with some household objects. It was like if someone decided to move into a Borders or Barnes and Noble. Honestly, he probably spent a lot of time at those, though rip in peace Borders. Just like Blockbuster for him, it will be missed. Along with that, there were science experiments wherever there happened to be a free space from books, which was far and few so some just laid on books. They were all kept immaculately cleaned and tidy despite Ven's ever growing fear of a book avalanche that would snuff out his life in a heartbeat. Death by book. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about Jack so maybe knowledge was the way to defeat him after all. There were actually a few times Ventus had to scold Mercury, Emerald helped, in not touching the towering books lest they all die. Even Harrow had to scold Gideon for the same thing, and Judith and Marta for the younger teens. Were they not used to this yet?

Nevertheless, they were guided to a white room devoid of anything but couches to either sit or lay on. It looked right out of a sci fi movie. Or Habbo Hotel and you were shit at design and only had couches on hand. Wait, how did he know about that game, surely he was too young to know that one. He dabbled in the archaic, he supposed.

Magnus was pulling in a couple chairs from another room, looked like a dining set so not the most comfortable. With his luck, he'd get stuck with that. But oh shit, it kinda reminded him of Bokurano. That anime about the robot that steals life energy to pilot. Not bad.

"Instead of looking like Habbo hotel's shit designer, why not have everyone go to the store and pick out a chair they like best like Bokurano?" Ah fuck, he voiced it. No one. No one knew what he was talking about. All except one. Palamedes gave a look of surprise at the notion.

Shit, yeah, I'm surprised someone else knows that show too.

He wasn't too surprised at the lack of knowledge about Habbo. That was more of a game for those currently in their high twenties and low thirties. And what the fuck did it even offer aside from scams that even he took part in. What a fuck he was. Shit. Fuck. Why was he thinking about that game so much? Maybe he was in the mood to scam some kids. Not unlike killing children in splatoon of course.

"That would actually add to the room, you're right." Holy shit, he liked the idea. He was probably a total nerd. Ven decided to get to know him more based solely on that. Well on top of him fixing his hearing aid too. Actually, him being a nerd wasn't a secret considering how his house looked, but fuck yeah, he liked or at least knew of anime. Finally. And he wasn't cringey as all fucking hell like the weebs in the anime club that Terra teased him about joining. Those assholes calling things kawaii and saying desu all the time. Just learn the language. Sure he was also a total weeb like that, but have some self respect.

Maybe he was just an elitist though. No wonder he had no friends. He could cry. At least he wasn't like the kid that gave him morphine though. That was still the first time he'd ever experienced something talking like that outside of the internet or online games.

"We'll do that later, Pally, let's just start the game already." Ianthe droned on. God, the way she spoke just screamed gossipy bitch. At least she was upfront about it he supposed. Better than doing it behind someone's back. What kinda nickname was Pally though? Whatever it was, he was either unfazed or completely dead on the inside. Despite being a clearly bookish nerd, he was hard to read.

Maybe he was paying just a bit too much to Palamades. One might think he was gay. Well that wasn't a bad thought, he was cute. Vanitas was hot, but Palamedes was nice, smart, cute, and liked anime. Meanwhile, Vanitas, now that he remembered his mother's words, tried to trip him on a daily basis apparently.

Actually most people here were pretty cute, Dulcinea included. Sure he didn't have a thing for the hulking form of Protesilaus, and how could he ever split up such a perfect couple like Abigail and Magnus. Marta and Judith weren't bad, authoritative, badass and professional. Jeannemary and Isaac were more adorable than anything he'd be compatible with. Camilla seemed kickass but her and Palamedes were to together so fuck. Harrow looked like a skeleton spontaneously grew skin. Gideon was hot but blatantly not on the market for him. Ianthe and Coronabeth were hot too, but Naberius was still rocking the grade a douchebag look from a mile away. Vanitas and Sabrina were hot too, but they also looked and acted like assholes.

He didn't look at Ortus. Still rather blatantly avoiding eye contact as if he were an unwanted cousin at a christmas party.

Throughout his entire time of surveying everyone again, save Ortus, god rest his soul but he felt he was contagious and wanted to be away from him, throughout that time though, they'd set everything up. Each team took a seat on one of the couches that seated up to three max. There was plenty for up to save two people which now made him glad he was in a team of three.

That left Emerald and Mercury groaning when they heard the bad news. Technically he could have stuck the two rude loners on the chair island, but that would have been good foresight and he really sucked at that skill. Or was it hindsight? He wasn't sure, he mixed words up all the time.

Ventus took his seat besides the two that he really had to wonder how were wrangled into this mess in the first place. They were each given a headset and told to relax, though he couldn't relax in the slightest. This was a new home, new people, new everything. What if he was robbed or killed during his apparent session? Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. It was already making him sick to his stomach. Maybe he should go home.

"What? Are you gonna throw up on us?" Sabrina mused meanspiritedly. Vanitas grimaced at him. These were his teammates huh. God he hoped he didn't have to rely on them.

He could say something to reassure them, but last time he tried that he got punched in the face and rumours of him being a psycho spread throughout the school so, he wasn't really keen on speaking anymore. Honestly, maybe he should just stop entirely. That might help. Be mute and deaf. That would be fine wouldn't it? Safe and secure. Then again, he might as well be stuck in a hospital in that case.

Ventus grimaced at the thought.

No, he had to try. So he did, even if awkwardly.

"Why did you guys decide to join this group? You don't seem like you want to be here." The question was timid, and he'd probably be eaten alive for it, but he tried at least and that's what mattered right?

The girl huffed, crossing her arms defiantly with her headset in her lap, safe from harm. "My father told me to interact with people and Mr. Quinn proposed it to me." So sharp and harsh.

He looked to the boy. "And you?" But all he received back was the kinda sneer he got from everyone else at school. Would this really be okay?

Everyone else was putting on their headgear and well talking to his team didn't exactly go well so he wanted out as soon as possible. He just hoped it worked and he'd be transported far away from here.

The tongue of a slobbering dog was unmistakable. It's how he woke up every morning after all. Nothing out of the ordinary with that. What was odd, was that he could hear the dog licking him. So wet sounding and admittedly gross. Not enough to make him gag, but enough to make him grimace. Some sounds were better left unheard.

Maybe he just left his hearing aid in though. That could be it as it wouldn't be the first time. It was so clear, but right, Palamedes fixed his hearing aid for him. Wasn't that today though? When did he go to sleep?

Opening his eyes showed him a very very different sight. This wasn't his bedroom full of k-pop and game posters, nor was it any of the rooms they passed in Palamedes' house. No, this room was enormous and something you'd see in a castle. An extravagant one at that.

Oh my god, this bed is so cozy. I could lay in it forever.

That might've been changed, but his pets sure haven't. They all stayed the same which he was grateful for and confused over. So pets are the same, but house is like a mansion. Did he...get kidnapped along with his pets by a really rich guy or something? Cool. But inconvenient because he was supposed to be playing games and bonding with his new family members and friends.

There wasn't much time to take everything in, though he did note the colour purple to be prominent and silver linings. Before he could thoroughly look around, there was a knock at his door.

It was startling and he wanted to hide from whoever apparently kidnapped him and took the time to get all his pets, but a familiar voice beckoned.

"Ven, you have a letter." Said Aqua as she opened to join him in the room. She was wearing a black veil to cover her face, though her voice was unmistakable. Along with that, shit, she looked hot. She looked like she stepped out of a fantasy version of Bioshock Infinite.

Okay, maybe that was a loose comparison. She definitely had steampunk going on though and wow he shouldn't be drooling over his own sister this much, but well life wasn't fair. They weren't technically siblings. They weren't blood related.

It's just not fair.

Drool all he wanted, she stepped up to hand him the letter. It was oldschool, stamped with a red and white bird looking emblem thing. It kinda looked like a bird anyway. He wasn't sure how else to describe it.

He opened it though, not with the letter opener his sister handed him, but by tearing into it thankfully unlike a shark taking a bite out of a child. It was still in tact and not slobbering, though he did use his teeth which were surprisingly sharp.

"Ven…" She seemed so disapproving in his methods, but they worked didn't they? He shouldn't be blamed.

Ventus pulled out the letter and in a lovely mix of red and orange, that almost looked like fire bouncing off the sheet, he read the beautifully written cursive writing.

Welcome to the game, Ventus. Your task, much like everyone else's, is to bring peace to your kingdom and help us unite them all. You will be given all the time you need and you have infinite lives, though dying starts your team over at the beginning so get used to receiving this note.

P.s. Don't think you'll be let off the hook for ruining my lore with being a wolf hybrid in an elven family. You'll be sure to pay for that.

-Dulcinea.

This was the game? It felt so real. He could feel everything, see everything, hear, and smell. It smelt heavenly too. Aqua smelt like lavender. He wished he could embrace her, but wait, why was Aqua here. She wasn't part of their group.

"Aqua, how are you here?"

The girl chuckled, "I live here, Ven. We both do along with Terra and Phil remember?" She placed a hand to his forehead. "You're not sick are you?"

This was Aqua wasn't it. His eyes fell to the letter in his lap. The words had changed. Looking at them now, they said

That is not your sister, Ventus. She's a figment of your imagination made real. It's a bit disorienting the first time around, but everyone you'll meet is someone you already know. Easier than us making new characters every campaign so we steal from your subconscious to make those around you.

If you need any more hints or help, keep this letter on you and check it for updates. I'll be watching over all of you as your dm.

Okay, so this wasn't really Aqua but his version of her. How he remembered her. Does that mean Terra was a fucking idiot?

Oh wait, no change then.

The boy snickered to himself.

Anyway, he had to bring peace to his kingdom. How the hell was he gonna do that? He didn't even know what class he was, though by the looks of it, it was higher class. And weren't they supposed to be a team? Dulcinea did mention it in her original letter. So where was his team?

He looked back down at the note, but it displayed the last known message.

No help with that huh.

"So...about bringing peace to the kingdom." Maybe a straightforward answer will do it. Aqua chuckled again and ruffled his blond hair. Actually he felt something else. Ears, but why were they like above his head?

Don't tell me I'm like some hideous experiment like Frankenstein.

She opened her mouth to talk, but he cut her off. "Can I have a mirror actually?"

"There's a mirror in the bathroom." She offered. "Is something wrong though?" As worried and concerned as the real thing. Mystifying that she wasn't real.

He wanted to ask where the bathroom was, but that would be a dumb question if he actually lived there. He didn't wanna look dumb. She already thought he was sick after all.

His gaze caught the letters on the paper move as if they were from Jumanji.

Think, Ventus. Everything you need to know is in your mind. Disregard your real life and focus on the new one.

What in god's name did that mean? And why could she read his mind? This was an invasion of privacy.

Brainscans make the virtual world go round.

The letter replied sarcastically yet cryptically.

Ventus took in a deep breath and exhaled to clear his mind. Alright, think.

What came to mind was his normal life, but there was a layer on top of it, almost begging to break through so he focused on it. Apparently he was a prince. A disgraced prince kept out of the light given his demonic ailments. Some things never change.

So I'm a disgraced prince huh. Really going for the underdog story here.

A look at the note gave him a winky face and a grace for goodluck.

And she won't be helping.

He supposed his team could help. Maybe Vanitas or Sabrina were like royalty that the world didn't want to burn at the stake. Why did the thought of that feel so uncomfortable? He couldn't help but squirm and feel a bit suffocated. So uncomfortable yet so familiar. Was this part of his new life? He could see himself being burned by angry and frightened townspeople.

"Ven, you're crying." Said his fake sister. He wiped at his eyes, and sure enough he was. But why? Was he that entangled with his new life? He couldn't have been burned to death though. He was still alive in this life. It didn't feel like any of his visions either. Those he experienced full on, this was a blatant memory.

Wiping them away again, he shook his head "I'm fine." The boy insisted. Still unsure though, he proceeded to ask "Have I ever been burned to death?"

The blue haired girl frowned behind her veil. It was hard to see, but he could swear she was. "Are you sure you're alright Ven?"

So he wasn't burned to death in this life after all. Why'd it feel so frighteningly familiar? He was shaking even and felt sick, earning him an embrace from his sister.

He looked back down to see:

That's not part of the game.

Author's note: I know I said I wouldn't be doing anymore KH related fics, but I did have some in mind, and honestly I'm surprised anyone gets anywhere in this fic considering it's half a vent fic, though heavily earlier on, which I do have to remember and keep in mind. Not so much now but still. I keep looking at it as more of a normal fic honestly.

Regardless, most of my ideas involve his new gaming group so those sessions will be most of my content with some KH related things sprinkled here and there. Those'll be the focus with KH being in the back.