"NO!" An irate voice snapped out as a blonde male appeared at the top of the stairs of his workshop. His smooth pale was stained with soot and various coloured compounds, and his usual attire of the Organisation's uniform had been replaced with a blacksmith's apron, protective full-body clothing, a pair of goggles and heavy iron-plated gloves. His bright, almost feline eyes were narrowed down in annoyance as he snarled at the young man below him.
"Don't touch! Absolutely nothing must be moved!"
The young man jerked his hand away and glanced up at him, his wide-eyed gaze locking with the other's riled glare.
"Sorr-eee Vexen! I didn't mean to…um…disrupt anything!" He replied cheerfully, pushing his right hand through his mass of styled hair, feeling it knotting painfully around his fingers.
"Demyx?" Vexen asked, his tone softening. The scientist made his way downstairs, pulling the goggles away from his eyes until the rested on top of his head.
"Yup." Demyx replied, facing him and flashing him a grin.
"What are you lurking around for?" Vexen growled suspiciously, placing the goggles in a front pocket of his overalls. Demyx laughed, a little too readily in Vexen's opinion, and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Aah, y'know, just…uhm…checking stuff out…for…Xemnas…?" He offered.
Vexen narrowed his eyes and the Nocturne laughed nervously. Damn…he hadn't meant to be caught. This called for some improvisation…

…Even if it meant listening to him ramble on…and on…and on…

"So, uh…what're you doin' up here? Whatcha making? Anything cool?" He asked, grabbing at conversation straws. Vexen sniffed derisively and shook his head.
"Nothing that would interest you, Demyx." He replied, but the younger male was pleased to see that the scientist's shoulders untensed a little as he eyed the Nocturne scornfully.
"Heyyy- that's not true! I find science stuff interesting!" Demyx lied with mock-hurt.
"Really?" Vexen challenged, cocking one fair eyebrow and folding his arms. "The last time that you asked me about science, you fell asleep."
"…Yeah…" Demyx conceded, snickering at the memory. "Okay, I give; science sucks…buuut- uhm…not when you do it!" he backpeddled furiously, seeing the academic's face darken.
"If you haven't got anything of interest to say, then kindly remove yourself from my presence." Vexen growled, turning back. It was exactly what Demyx needed; he quickly swiped the object on the worksurface to his left and stashed it in his coat as subtly as he could.
"Kaaaay- bye Vexie!" He trilled, calling up a portal and hop-skip-jumping neatly into it as the other turned to snarl at him.

"Do you think Xigbar can crack him?" a listless female voice cut through the soft noise of a park of cards being flicked through. Luxord gave a tut of annoyance and turned his head slightly to look at the speaker.
"I assure you- Xigbar is exceptionally good at 'cracking' people." He smirked. The female at the other end of the table pushed back her hood and shook her head, ridding herself of the static caused by her own palms.
"He'd better- it'll be no fun if Xaldin doesn't join in." She complained, resting her chin on one hand and sighing irritably. Luxord yawned and went back to shuffling his cards, eyes closed. Larxene watched him for a few moments before continuing to carve the word 'BORED' into the table with her kunai.
"When are they getting back?" She snapped, sitting up. "I've got better things to do than wait here for those two."
"If I know Xigbar, which I certainly do, I would think he will be arriving shortly." Luxord shrugged. Larxene was about to retort with a contemptuous counter, before a whinny cut through the noise, which caused both blondes to glance at each other in a bemused manner.

"C'mon duuuude! I can't hear youuuu!" Xigbar teased, tweaking Xaldin's ears once more. The Lancer snarled and tossed his head, half-jumping out of the portal. Larxene raised an eyebrow at Luxord, who shook his head despairingly.
"Xaldin…? Were you making horse no--" The Nymph grinned, steepling her fingers.
"No." Xaldin growled dangerously, before scowling at the sniggering Xigbar. "Now get off me!"
"Don't get yer stirrups in a twist, dude." Xigbar cackled quietly, clambering down off of Xaldin's back before the other decided to physically educate manners into him. He narrowly avoided the arm that was swung out towards his head as he scuttled over to Luxord and jumped onto the other's lap, winding him.

"So he's joining in too, is he?" Larxene asked, indicating to Xaldin. The Lancer opened his mouth to retort, but after a meaningful and somewhat menacing cough from Xigbar, he quickly turned it into a seemingly bored yawn and a nod.
"He's so totally in." Xigbar purred demonically, grinning at the Lancer, who shot him a look of pure and utter loathing. Luxord coughed and wheezed, trying to regain his breath and Xigbar licked the tip of his nose, smirking.
"Aaah, quit yer bellyaching." He grinned at the Gambler. Both Larxene and Xaldin rolled their eyes.
"You're such a hussy, Xigbar." Larxene laughed, shaking her head.
"As if." Xigbar cackled. "I'm just havin' fun with him."
Luxord had the dignity to push the Freeshooter off of him onto the floor and dust himself off, sneering at him.
"Spoilsport." He said haughtily, poking his tongue out at the Gambler, hauling himself up onto a chair. Xaldin sat down next to Larxene, who tended to be more on his side when being abused by Xigbar.

"Very well." Luxord nodded, satisfied. "I assume that you are all aware of the purpose of our gathering?"
His question was greeted with nods, smirks and a deep scowl from Xaldin.
"I challenge you all to a little bet." Luxord smiled deviously. "A test of skill, agility, courage, tenacity and persistence."
"Stop bigging yourself up, Lux. Tell us what the damned task is." Larxene snorted dismissively, waving a hand. "Before we all get as old as Xigbar."
The Freeshooter chose to ignore the comment, cracking his knuckles instead.
"Fine." Luxord sighed, before closing his eyes and half-smirking. "The challenge is this- who is able to get pictures of every Organisation member-"
"That's it?" Xaldin asked, one eyebrow raised.
"…Naked." Luxord finished.

There was a pause.

"You're fuckin' kiddin', Luxord! I didn't agree t' that!" Xigbar growled. "That's nigh on fuckin' impossible."
"If you don't think you can do it, Xigbar…" Luxord taunted. The Freeshooter narrowed his eye at him and leaned back in his chair.
"As if…I'm in." He muttered. Luxord nodded, turning to the others.
"And you?"
"…I'm in." Larxene nodded, after a pause. All eyes turned to Xaldin, who scowled again and shrugged.
"Fine. I suppose I have no choice." He muttered, glaring at Xigbar who crowed triumphantly and punched the air.
"Alrighty! Looks like we got ourselves a wager!"
"Not yet." Luxord interjected. "Firstly, we need to decide upon the stake, and secondly, Demyx should be arriving with the cameras shortly."
"Alrighty- I'mma bet, um…how about six hundred munny?" Xigbar offered. Xaldin rolled his eyes.
"You don't have six hundred money, you moron." He pointed out. Xigbar wagged a finger at him.
"Pfft- no, but I'm not gonna be the one losing, dumbass."
The other three at the table chuckled darkly.
"I'll put in…four of my best bras and two hundred munny." Larxene offered.
"Eight hundred munny." Luxord shrugged. Xaldin frowned, thinking.
"…One hundred munny and three bottles of my best sake." He offered. Xigbar grinned.
"Alriiiight!" Xigbar cheered. "Sake too! Woo!"
"Don't get your hopes up, gunbutt- that's all mine." Larxene snorted. Luxord and Xaldin exchanged knowing looks.

"Then it is settled- we have ourselves a bet." Luxord nodded, satisfied. "Winner takes all."
"Pah- y'should say- 'Xigbar takes all'." Xigbar grinned, standing up. "So, Demyx has the cameras?"
"I think so." Luxord nodded. "I sent him to get another for Xaldin from Vexen, so we'll see if he manages it. He's got all four, so I suggest we go and locate him, since no doubt he's forgotten what it was he was meant to be doing. However- it's every man for himself in this game, so everything goes. Shall we?"

There was a group consensus and all four partcipants stood up, Luxord and Larxene stepping through their portals instantly and Xaldin calling up his, turning to walk into it.
"Heyyy…dude…" Xigbar drawled. "Yanno we have to get photos of every member, right?"
"Meaning?" Xaldin growled- as if he didn't know.
"Meanin'…I'll be comin' to getcha sometime, so watch yerself…" He sniggered. Xaldin shook his head.
"You really are an arrogant little bastard, aren't you Xigbar?" He growled.
"Not arrogant dude…Confident." Xigbar snorted, arms folded. Xaldin did not turn to see the Freeshooter's smirk- he could almost feel it.
"Don't worry dude- I promise…you'll enjoy it when I do." Xigbar purred cryptically, disappearing into a portal before Xaldin could retort. The Lancer tutted irritably and made a mental note to not be naked at any point during the next few days whilst he went picture hunting as he stepped into his own portal.

He had a feeling that this was going to be quite an entertaining game…