Scene 2.
Castle Oblivion: The chamber of naught.
"Here is where I come in….Sir Demyx… I was playing on my sitar that day…obviously…."
Open scene:
There was a long hallway of spiraling pillars, pillars as white as ivory, all marked with the symbol of the Org going up and down. From the ceiling hung banners of black and blue, and on them white or black symbols of the house of Nobody. This was the chamber of naught, nobodies sat all around, either lying against pillars and conversing with each other, or playing chess at tables. Some were even dueling each other. In the corner keeping the spirit of the place up was local musician in the Nobody's court, Demyx.
"And so to one and all I sing thee dance, water dance…" he played.
"Knock it off Demyx…" came a grumpy voice from the back. Demyx looked up from his sitar with a sad face, Xaldin came in scratching the back of his head.
"Awww what troubles you brother?" Demyx said leaning up. He would have sat up normally to great his brotheran but the sitar was too comfortable atop his lap, and he was to comfortable sitting on the long white chair.
"At present your incessant prattling while stringing that instrument" Xaldin said. Demyx finally snapped his fingers making his sitar disappear in bubbles of water that exploded into vapor.
"Awww come brother…" he sat up off his chair to give Xibar a happy hug.
Suddenly with a "SHING" noise, Xaldin's arm was out and pointed at Demyx's chest, and stretching out in mid air between them was a long lance, kept a float by a very light but powerful wind current. The tip of the lance pricked Demyx's nose.
"No…hugging…" he growled, and then Luxord spoke up as he moved his pawn to take out Zexions' knight.
"Now now, don't be so cruel to the lad…" he grimaced seeing his mistake as his pawn was taken out by the white knight of his opponent. He ignored it and continued, "He means well, and he does no harm…"
Xaldin grumbled and continued down the hall to the great double doors at the end of the chamber that lead out to the gardens.
Zexion awaited Luxords next move then countered it easily, "Also…his singing distracts him from conjuring up those bothersome water sprite things…" he said in his usual non caring manner,
"Oh…and check…" he added dully.
Axel came in with Xibar, Axel was fuming as usual as the rest of the Org guard came in behind him in case he blew a fuse again…which he often did.
"Axel…" Xibar was saying, "Come on…don't be a drag…not today, your foul mood'll soak everyone else's."
Axel continued down the hall without a word, Lexaeus took off his hood and put a hand on his shoulder, "You will be in no condition for tonight's gathering…" He cautioned.
"I shall NOT be the one who detains you…"
Axel just brushed his hand off jerking his shoulder, "I desire solitude brother…" he said. "Would you but grant me that?" Lexaeus groaned letting him pass.
Demyx got up to offer a tune to Axel, but the moment his feet touched the grown flamed jumped from the floor before his feet and Demyx had to summon a water sprite to fall on it to put it out.
"SPLASHY!" Demyx cried, "You made me kill splashy!"
Lexaeus put his hand up to keep Demyx from rising again, he shook his head. Demyx sat down and leaned on his Sitar whimpering as Axel continued down the hall towards the bend that lead to the side doors to the private rooms.
Luxord moved his bishop left to the knight of Zexions to block him from taking his King, "Most likely that's his grace again…" he hummed.
Zexion glanced up at him then moved his Rook forward to capture the bishop, he nodded boredly and awaited his opponents move again.
"How did you do that?" Demyx asked placing his Sitar back against his lap, trying not to sniffle.
Zexion shrugged, and saw Luxord move one pawn back. "Good move…" he said, "For once…"
Luxord made a face at him and looked back at Demyx,
"Chance my young friend…"
Zexion huffed not wasting a moment to move his own pawn back, "To much of that will blind a man, what is unpredictable to us simply means an order of things, SOMEWHERE ELSE took place that we as the person did not foresee, nothing is random…"
Luxord captured Zexions Rook now… "Ah…but, probability ruins your argument, gambling is all about chance, in a fair game it isn't rigged or preplanned, what happens happens, and no one can tell the Outcome. It is like love my friend…rare and fragrant, yet it does not come but on its own terms…"
He suddenly produced a card that spun in mid air above his palm. It had a rose on the face of it, and the organization symbol on the backside of it.
As it spun it looked like the Rose was moving like a flip drawing until it opened finally in full bloom with even a pedal falling off the side.
Demyx looked wide eyed at his trick. Finally Luxord stopped and made the card vanish with his fingers. Demyx looked sad again as the open space was empty again. "And what do you say to that…?" Luxord said.
Zexion sighed looking out the window at a figure coming down the courtyard garden. He sat up as if he had too against his well and said all very quickly,
"I believe in my argument to the fullest, you say that its chance that you can tell when Lord Vanitus arrives like a sixth sense when you forget that a sense is triggered by something even if not the original 5. You see the tell on the look on my face when I sense someone is coming whenever we play, its Tuesday and he often visits to see the Lord Marluxia's Daughter Namine at that appointed time and so my sensing his presence is a tell, just like in cards, the way cards are one generally in gambling is due to the tells of the human body when something crucial is made in the field of betting. Hence…it is most likely he used this method to tell if Vanitus was coming or not…." He cavalierly moved his pawn to the right.
Luxord rolled his eyes mimicking his opponent while Demyx tried to process what he had just now said.
"Well, be it as it may that I may have done so, it doesn't exclude the chance of the fact that no one can tell for sure who will win a gambling game, and life is a gamble is it not?" He leaned forward and glanced at the pieces.
Zexion got up as if he was done, "Life is only a gamble to those who treat it like one, and often die…those that treat it like it is…a system, survive by it fairly…"
He snapped his fingers and a book popped into his hand out of thin air. Luxord still looked at the board with a puzzled look. "Oh right…"
Zexion said opening the book and turning around, "Check mate…sir gambler…" he walked emotionlessly.
Demyx stared at the board with luxord next to his face, until Luxord noticed him. He moved and sighed looking at the board upset. "Can I play?" Demyx asked perkily. Luxord gave him a look that said "Not now…"
And walked off fingering dice in his hands one after the other, they floated in mid air above his palm.
Demyx looked sad. "Not even a song?" he asked knowing he wouldn't be heard, he sighed an unhappy sigh.
Now seated at the table Zexion was formerly on, he waited until someone announced the predicted guest.
"Lord Vanitus of the mark of nothingness!" came the cry from the hooded announcer at the door. Two hooded Nobodies now opened the doors of the great hall and they made a noise doing so.
In his chambers Marluxia sat up from his chair at his desk in his vast room.
Lord Vanitus strode in sophisticatedly. His armor was Red and black as well as grey in some area's looking almost silver, the mark of nothingnees' royal colors were Red and silver, but also held the Nobody colors of Black and white, it was one of the few families who deviated from exclusively using those colors. His cape was black of course, and it dragged on the floor behind him, at his side was a gilded key blade of red, silver, and gold mixed with dark black. It was of course for show since any known keyblader, and they were rare, could conjure a keyblade out of nothing, but of course Vanitus Paris of the Mark of Nothingness had to make a statement where he went…even in his own country.
Marluxia opened his arms in homage.
"Ahh." he said, flatly, not out of negativity, it was simply his way. Lord Vanitus you grace me with you presence once again, what brings you to my chapter Lord Nobody?"
Vanitus grinned at Marluxia,
"I simply to offer my apologies for missing out on fighting for the name of Nobody today…and of course condolences for those wounded in the affair."
Marluxia smiled shaking his head and walked towards his friend, "Must you always lie when you approach me?..."
Vanitus didn't replay, Marluxia walked up to him directly, "Come you know you are welcome in my house…to what do I owe the honor?"
Vanitus looked up, "Too call on Namine…" he said suddenly before Vanitus could even reply. Vanitus sighed.
"Sir she is the fairest of the fair…for one who withholds much I must speak my mind, I've never yet seen a creature as dazzling and glorious in continence as she…"
Marluxia smiled but this expression was cut off for he vanished in a pool of black and magenta void only to reappear on the other end of the room at the drinking table.
He began pouring a beverage out a glass bottle.
"Many a Nobody in this country would say so…"
Marluxia said smirking down at the glass he was pouring it into.
Vanitus would not be daunted at first though he knew, he was prideful and if he felt he was entitled to something would not let it go. However Marluxia knew that image was key in power, and if he wanted to keep his, as stainless as it was seeming recently, standing strong on such a dire matter as his daughters matrimony would in most certainly be key, even if he knew he would more than likely say yes to the young boy, it would be on his decision.
Vanitus looked down then back up,
"Sir, I feel as though I can no longer serve without her as a bride, she is in my head and heart, speaking with me of how well the match would be…"
Marluxia looked up with mock amazement at his statement, "That is a considerable problem for a lord such as yourself…." He mused and continued to pour into another glass.
Vanitus was now outwardly sad and aggravated, "Is there perhaps a suitor of whom I should be aware?"
Marluxia chuckled at this, finishing the two glasses, "Now now Vanitus you've nothing to prove, if it's any consolation…most have either been to afraid of what you could do to their name or body to request her hand, and the others have different pursuits…"
He handed one glass to Vanitus who took it without smiling.
Marluxia walked around now, "But let's be honest…just to jostle things." Vanitus took a drink from his cup listening. "You have no chiding of my daughter in your heart of how well the match is…she speaks to her mother of who she fancies and has not mentioned you…"
Vanitus looked taken a back as well as a might insulted, more insulted that Namine would NOT want the fair proclaimed Vanitus Paris. Marluxia saw this, expecting it, he moved on.
"So it would be actually YOU chiding of how well you two would be as a match, her feelings are not to be counted in the matter."
Vantius sounded angry now "And my approach displeases you?" he said through his teeth.
"Not at all…" Marluxia said his back now to him, "You see…she is not at the age, Lady Larxene and I feel is….good enough or yet ready to be wed…."
15… Vanitus thought to himself grumpily.
Marluxia put his arm around Vanitus in jest, consoling him now, both him and his wife loved playing cat and mouse with the moods of those who were easily swayed by them. He grinned at him in a now understanding manner.
"However you must realize to things…she must herself be motivated to want you in return if you are to sway her mother."
Vanitus looked up at Marluxia,
"There is but so much I can do to sway her…" He let go of him now and walked back to his desk. "And the matter of marrying our flesh and blood is one of them…"
Vanitus sighed, even he knew that Lady Larxene was NOT someone who changed her mind due simply to someone else's whim. He glanced at Marluxia and nodded. "A whole year then…" he said groaning.
"A whole year , quite…" Lord Nobody replied, "A whole year to woo…and love her…or make you think she does…to be agreeable on both terms."
Vanitus was not satisfied by the time factor before him. Marluxia sighed and strode over to the moody Lord.
"Give her some time, she's determined like her mother…and like me she's smart, she won't be…coddled into a relationship based on tradition or duty of family. We've given her that luxury…and if you wish to honor us with your son-ship, you must honor us in our wishes…"
Outside the royal room of Lord Nobody, Demyx was boredly playing on his Sitar, plunk by lonely plunk. "Lord Siax …" he started. "Would you….-" He was cut off as Siax stood to go up to the two swinging doors of the hallway. Vanitus strode out, unhappy, but head high. Siax strode besides him.
"You are cordially invited to the Ball tomorrow …" he stated congenially as he could, "Lord of the house wishes you presence there as a beginner for your…journey to joining our courts…" he said with a smirk.
Vanitus continued out, "IF perhaps I can fit it in…I have many other more pressing matters to see to…"
Siax stood there as he went out the two large doors that were opened for him by Nobody guards.
Elsewhere in castle oblivion, Namine was gazing out her balcony window, sighing.
Larxene strode in hands on her hips, "Where were you my dear?" she said in her usual manner, glancing at the drawings on her desk and the floor. Namine didn't reply but continued to gaze out at the gardens.
Larxene tapped her foot,
"Namine!" she snapped.
Namine snapped back from her pretended daze, knowing she couldn't pretend to ignore her for much longer….
"What are these?..." she asked touching the pictures on the table. Namine didn't answer as she watched two butterflies flying aimlessly around each other.
"Namine!" Larxene said walking over, hearing this Namine got down off the railing, it was never wise to make mother ask twice.
"Drawings mama…" she said.
Larxene looked them over, "Hmmmm what goes on in that mind of yours child…"
Namine turned around to look at her mother, "Just my dreams mother…"
Larxene looked at them, "Hmmm more time of that, less time studying or socializing in the Nobody court…"
Namine rolled her eyes.
Larxene looked at a sketch in her note pad… "Who is this?" she asked.
It was a picture of a boy, not in color, just penciled in plain graphite.
He had long hair, reaching down to his shoulders. His shoulders were broad, and he was in a Nobody robe and hood, his face wasn't detailed, she had just drawn his jaw and half a mouth.
Nadine's eyes traveled to the note pad, "Just…drawings…" she said biting her lip.
"Oh those r' just drawings of hot boys…" came a voice from behind the two of them.
Both turned, well Larxene more glanced then turned, "Hello Nurse Yuffie" they both said at once.
Yuffie, the small and smiling hand nurse to Namine, came in her Nobody robe that was grey rather than black. Larxene looked at her and raised the picture.
"You hold more counsel with our daughter then us…" She said eyeing Namine, who was looking down. "Who is it here on this paper…" she pointed to the mystery boy.
Yuffie peered at it as if she were intently deciphering it, at Namine giggled at her silly face. Yuffie then looked back acting serious again.
"Oh one of your daughters fancies…as every girl has…" she said simply, "I'm sure you drew many a design of a young man in your youth ma'am…"
Larxene grew pink and frowned, Yuffie quickly withdrew to put away the clothes she'd brought in. "If you please ma'am…" she hurriedly finished.
"Watch your tongue nurse…" chided Larxene in her playful yet threatening way which made her stack clothes all the faster. Namine skipped over to her mother.
"Do not find fault in her good mother…" Larxene looked down at Namine, "She speaks true…tis only a doodle…"
Larxene showed the "doodle" again. "Doodles have not such forms of muscle nor set jaw of face…" she said.
Namine sighed and looked down. Larxene smiled, she put her gloved finger under her daughters chin making her look up.
She smiled to which Namine smiled back out of politeness. "It was a dream…" she finally said. Larxene let her chin go. "Oh..?" she said.
Namine nodded, "A boy I met in a dream…" she said smiling to herself when her back was turned from her mother again.
"Uh huh…." Larxene said moving her tongue around her cheeks side.
"And what did you and this…boy do?" she asked inquisitively. Namine turned at once to give her mother a look of shock.
"MOTHER!" she said, "Do not make me as mischievous as that…if in life I say nay to many a lord who but fancy my company, would I do less in my dreams?"
Yuffie finished her clothes and stood up again.
Larxene still tapped her fingers on her arm as she folded them,
"The dream was not for long mother…" Namine said rolling her eyes, "I only did but catch a glimpse of him, its why I drew him…"
She sat on her bed and swung her legs over to dangle on the edge.
"I didn't that I'd wish to forget what he looked like…"
Larxene looked up then at the paper… she sighed, "Girl you trouble your father and I so…" she cautioned. "It is not my intent…" Namine protested innocently. Larxene continued "First you denounce any wish to wed, then conjure up a faction of a man to be wooed by…what a naughty game for a lass."
Namine again rolled her eyes and lay on her bed. Yuffie spoke up again, "It seems more a game as is played on her perpetual suitor…" Larxene glared at the nurse who busied herself about again.
Namine looked up again, "Its true mother…" she said. "..it's so cruel this game you play on Lord Vanitus of the Nothingness."
Larxene sighed this time laughing. "Oh daughter mine….are you telling me now you wish us to give you away at the young age you are now of 15?..."
Namine gave an "Ugh" noise. "No I simply wish his answer would be a no to my hand and have done with it…I feel as though sometimes I were a pretty mouse set for a cat to try to get on a string that's pulled back and pulled back every time it makes its advance."
Yuffie clapped in her mind at such a metaphor. Larxene put the picture down back on the table.
Larxene rolled her eyes this time and walked over to her daughter's bed side, "Now daughter, You and I both know how much your father and I value you right?"
Namine sighed a yes.
Larxene continued, "We simply want what's best for you…and to do that we have to…go through this process, the right kind of man will know to endure with right things because you're worth it my dear…"
She stroked her daughter's cheek that brought a little smile to her face.
Larxene smiled more, "Besides, Vanitus isn't the only young man out there for you…" Larxene sat on the bed now and Namine turned on her stomach.
Namine nodded, Larxene persisted "Your father thinks he's the best choice for your hand…"
"Why?" Namine asked, "Is it because he's such a feared Key-bladesman that no one else would contend for me? Or because he's almost if not more arrogant as himself?"
Larxene laughed, "Both…who knows….but more than that he's of good family, you would be taken care of well."
Namine sighed, "But mother what if I don't want too?" Larxene looked sideways at her daughter now.
"I don't…not appreciate what you and daddy have done…it's just…I wish…when I do fall in love…it's actually love. And I fall in it my way."
Nurse Yuffie smiled hearing this, than Larxene spoke up. "Ugh…what is the matter with you girl? You refuse to be selfish in every other way you're allowed to be except this one we'd ask you not to be…"
Yuffie rolled her eyes at this.
Larxene stroked her daughter's hair. Namine just lay there as she did,
Namine quickly put both hands on her back side and rolled on her back. Larxene laughed, "But that's just your father…I know for a fact there will be more young suitors coming to call on you tomorrow…"
Namine smiled now at her mother, "Not if father has his way…" she said, but her eyes were thankful at the gesture.
"You should wed who you want too…as well as who wants to wed you…Xemnes didn't like me…nor I him so we didn't approve the match from the start…"
Namine smiled, "Which is why you helped usurp him with dad?" She had a sly look on her face.
Larxene smrked, "Well it seems I've raised a cheeky young girl haven't I?" Namine shrugged.
Nurse Yuffie just shook her head smiling, "And a darling girl she is at that miss…" suddenly there were the trumpets for someone about to leave the Castle. "That would be lord Vanitus…" Larxene said. "Go on…see him out…"
Namine whined "Mother…." Larxene propped her up standing her on her feet. "Do as your told girl…" she kissed her forehead.
Namine smiled a bit… "Do you want your father to ask why you didn't go out to see him off at supper this eve?"
Namine admitted, "No…." remembering last time.
Larxene laughed and whispered in her daughters Ear,
"…I didn't say you had to actually catch him BEFORE he leaves…just go out to do so…" Namine smiled up at her mother and kissed her cheek. Larxene took this kiss reluctantly.
Outside in the hall Vanitus was now just leaving as the double doors closed behind him by the two hooded Nobody door guards.
Namine saw Siax standing there smiling overly polite at the doors till they were shut, then his face changed to his usual serious tone and he turned and walked back.
She curtsied to him, and he stopped. "Lady Namine." He bowed, then continued on down the hall. She saw Demyx sitting in his long chair and looked up Siax passing by. He stood to ask the same ol' question "Wouldst though care for a tune?" But of course was turned down and he slumped in his chair, and his water sprites fell into glum puddles around him.
Namine walked up to him, "Awww" she said sweetly. "Hello lady Namine…." Demyx mumbled.
"You know what I'd fancy?" She said. His eyes lit up. "A song?" he said excitedly. "A song…" she replied laughing and sat down smoothing her dress out on a chair opposite him.
He jumped up clicking his heels and his water puddles transformed into sprites again leaping with him making hi pitched "WEEEE" noises.