A Familiar Face (Axel, Zexion, Yazoo, Saix)

[Axel]

((had to let JJ read it before I could post it XD))

<firstsilentGOD> Shallow bath. Food. He'd started cleaning his blades. The last six pair had been made a lot sturdier than the ones previous; so it was just clearing the scorch, wrapping them in new bindings and getting the enamel on again. Axel had only gotten so far as cleaning them and wrapping them again before wandering into sleep. Four of his Assassins stayed with him at all times: and were still as he finished reading the public postings, turning on his heel and heading straight for the labs. His arm wasn't out of the sling yet, but the wound in his shoulder was already healed; he'd pulled the stitches from his side and it was just the remaining soreness now he had to deal with. That was nothing really. He didn't knock, didn't pause and didn't pay much attention to anything he deemed unworthy of attention in the room: he was looking around though, marking a few things. He was looking for a computer, any computer.. but he was guessing Zexion's would be the most useful.

<Kiwi-Pie> Larxene turned a corner and literally jumped. There he was, standing tall, his stance as cocky as ever. And that stupid red hair.. He was injured; served him right. For months now she had practiced in her head what she would say to him but, now he was there, all the words onhad ge. She slowly walked up the corridoor.

<RosedIllusions> Zexion was going over random useless files in said computer. Everything he'd needed before he went to Castle Oblivion...And now was more or less useless now. And now with the fact Axel was here, -the castle more or less reeked of the fire hazard sadly-, Zexion had gained a small burst of energy to do anything that didn't involve going upstairs. Sora... He'd have to swallow the fact he was around, but both Axel and Sora was asking to much.

<firstsilentGOD> Axel thought back for a moment, wondering if he should have tried to talk to Larxene, and setting it aside. He'd given her as wide a berth as anyone else he'd come across: staying as far to one side of the hall as he possibly could with his Assassins between her and him the entire way. She didn't say hello, and he didn't say hello: But he had kept his eyes, attention and guard up in her direction until he had turned the corner. Finding Zexion at his computer already, he didn't say a word or let him know he was in the room otherwise; choosing instead to take in the environment, any security, and especially casually looking for any evidence they had finished that mission from where he stood behind him: specifically, he was looking for that hard drive, if not where it might be stored. He suspected that if the mission had been completed, the information --among other things-- stored inside it's compact but massive memory space would be a major priority. His Assassins stood to either side as their master's eyes took in the space around them, though one of them having decided to whirl in a circle wasn't paying terribly much attention to it's extremities and managed to knock a container from a table edge nearby, making a clear sound between the hard bodied Assassin and the glass. Axel caught it on pure reaction with a snap out of his good arm, looking over the label as he set it back in place a little further from the edge.

<RosedIllusions> Zexion's ears tipped back and he sighed. He'd hoped Axel would have just walked off after having a good look through, but he was worried about anything else being knocked over with the others guards. "What do you want." The schemer said tonelessly, hiding the annoyance bubbling in him. Zexion glanced to the side, wondering weither or not he should let his pets out or not... And while looking towards the pacing creature in the cage he made sure to look around for any silver haired replicas as well... This was going to be a habit now with Axel around.

<firstsilentGOD> " I was getting bored. " The Flurry responded easily, turning the label out before he looked back to the Schemer again. " So I checked out that new billboard in the hall on the way back from the kitchen. " A brief wave of his hand, he shrugged on one side. " Saw your name and was curious to see if you'd be around, for one. " He took a few steps closer, tipping up on the balls of his feet to peer over Zexion's shoulder. Oh, he was aware of the critters in the room: but he wasn't worried about them at the moment. Besides that. Zexion was smart enough to know; most chemicals and creatures didn't do well under his kind of heat, if he was aggravated. He was trusting in that intelligence at the moment. " Nothin' better to do at the moment. You guys have been busy. What you up to? " Of course, Axel had also been busy. Very busy. Not that Zexion would know that. Honestly he was slightly nervous about being around the illusionist: though less so with Lexaeus apparently not present at the moment. That dude would probably be among the only lot of the other twelve that actually and honestly made him nervous. He was the size of a house, and that weapon of his was practically the size of Axel's whole torso.. never mind his head.

<RosedIllusions> Zexion bristled up the moment Axel started stepping closer. Narrowed eyes found their way to the others. "Do you mind?" He hissed out softly before minimizing the files he was scanning through to bring up his game of backgammon. Fighting against the computer even on hard was way to easy... "What do you want, Axel?" The younger repeated, knowing Axel wasn't stupid enough to walk in on someone he basically killed without desiring something important.

<firstsilentGOD> " No, I don't. " That little narrow-eyed look just egged a small smile on. It was amusing, the way the hairs on the ends of his deer ears stood up when he bristled. Maybe if he didn't have the deer parts it would be more intimidating, but to Axel the first thing that came to his mind when he saw that was a picture of baby bambi making a mean face with the intention to head butt him. That....... wasn't very intimidating, to say the least. He was trying, really hard; to wipe the growing grin away.. but it just wasn't working, because he couldn't get the image out of his head. Especially as his brain tried to work against him and tack the emo hair and book on. Just didn't work, at all: so he looked away, biting his lips between his teeth for a moment before he thought he could talk again without laughing at the extra image of bambi giving one of those serious rants that lasted for-fucking-ever with a know it all look on his face that usually came with the too-big-for-his britches Cloaked Schemer. " Actually I was supposed to help with that mission, in Radiant Garden; but I got side tracked, for one. Didn't like the idea of you and the Pansy being there. Saix, yeah. You and Pinky? Not so much. " His hand waved dismissively at the facts, past tense, the reasons were unimportant and a waste of time by comparison to why he was there now, and though it was only a half truth, it was a truth none the less when he said: " Besides. I owe Sai. He took a big risk for me that he really didn't have to. I gypped him on the mission, so I thought this might be the first place to stop in and try to make that up to him; I was betting, you'd have the hard drive plugged in by now. " Though he knew.. unless Zexion had the keywords, not to mention the original program.. even Zexion would have a hard time cracking encyptions based off of DiZ's stuff. Then there was actually accessing the files. A quick glance, and Axel still hadn't seen anything like what he'd need. He didn't let onto having that knowledge in particular though; and instead started to turn again towards leaving. He'd been there long enough. " But, I guess saying hi is enough for now. Don't want to cramp your style too much.. " He did have plans to come back though, whether the Schemer was there or not.

<RosedIllusions> Zexion didn't much approve of Marluxia being mocked... Well, he didn't approve of anything that left Axel's mouth down to the word 'the'... He took his attention away from the red head and pointed it towards the screen, making a move so the computer wouldn't have to continue to wait. "You're not getting it if that is what you're hoping for. I'll ask Saix first if you're telling the truth. If that is all you can leave and wait till I get the chance." The ears flicked back down and he snorted, damning the things for situations such as this. They played a damn good part in sex sometimes~ But... Besides the advanced hearing that his nose did a good enough job job to figure out who was around before the ears did.

<firstsilentGOD> Axel laughed outright, shaking his head. He 'd expected half that much. " You imply I want to take it out of here. " Which, he did. He turned again walking backwards the last few steps to the door, which he'd left open, and said a matter of factly: " Everything needed to crack at it's here though, right? Why bother? Anyway. I expected as much. Like I said.. I was bored. " and he shrugged again on his good side. " I'll be coming back though, to let you know. Saix'll back up my story. The mission was supposed to be something to ease the Zebra off my ass, and Seven's idea: not that I thought, or think that really would have helped for jack shit -- but I can't ignore the effort or the risk. So expect me, next time. I will pay Sai back. " Reaching for the knob, he pulled the door shut behind him again, and would have given a short salute if his bad arm wasn't still so sore. " Later, Bookworm. " His Assassins moved a bit ahead of him this time, as he made his way back down the halls. He wanted something to drink.. and he had to see if they had any red enamel. His had been left in Traverse Town.

<Kiwi-Pie> Larxene had stopped further up in the hallway, occasionally looking back, but feeling unable to carry on with what she was doing. In fact.. she'd actually forgotten. She cursed under her breath. Stupid Axel. She stood, staring at the floor, running a million and one scenarios over in her head. Taking a deep breath, she decided to go into the library and read Axel away. It was more sensible than drinking him away anyway.. She looked up and made her way to the library, suddenly stopping and realising she'd left her book on the kitchen counter.. She turned on her heel and made her way to the kitchen.

<Kiwi-Pie> Larxene had stopped further up in the hallway, occasionally looking back, but feeling unable to carry on with what she was doing. In fact.. she'd actually forgotten. She cursed under her breath. Stupid Axel. She stood, staring at the floor, running a million and one scenarios over in her head. Taking a deep breath, she decided to go into the library and read Axel away. It was more sensible than drinking him away anyway.. She looked up and made her way to the library, suddenly stopping and realising she'd left her book on the kitchen counter.. She turned on her heel and made her way to the kitchen.

<RosedIllusions> Zexion glanced back over his shoulder to make sure the assassins were still where they were and hadn't searched out the lab for the hard drive. He'd have his hybrid keep watch for the red head when he wasn't around the guard his lab, er...Vexen's lab....Details details. "A simple goodbye is all you need to say." Pleased that he saw no stolen goods, he returned his attention back to the game.

<firstsilentGOD> The Flurry was already in the kitchen by the time Larxene came in: two Assassins behind him and the third and forth just kind of sticking to the ceiling for the time being. He had his back to the door, and was aware of someone coming in just by the pause of whirling motion above. The Assassins there were staring at her, almost expectantly and prepared to do their job beyond being a first warning to defend him if need be. Axel in the meantime had only briefly paused, a slight lift of his head from pouring the cider into his mug, only to direct his attention to finding a cinnamon stick to plunk into the liquid. He hadn't yet bothered to even send one of his Assassins back to Traverse Town yet to retrieve the near-black leather jacket that matched the pants he was wearing: but they had been cleaned since his and Setzer's fight with Marluxia and his clone, and he was wearing another ribbed, screen-printed black tank instead. Those were easier to get into with his other arm as stiff as it was, and didn't require buttoning or zipping: and stretched easily over his head. It also showed the fact that the wound to his shoulder had gone straight through: the two-thumbs-wide scar forming there pinker than the rest of his skin exiting just in sight near the edge of the cotton tank that read across his back in bold red letters as well as down the side of the front in the same thin but readable flared text 'pyro' from pec to waistline. Physically, he hadn't changed much: a little more lean meat to his bones, thanks to training all of this time with the swords. Though they kept him in the same where-the-hell-do-you-have-body-fat lean sculpture, that muscle was definitely more filled out and has dispersed itself a little more evenly,especially around the waist. He wasn't a huge fan of the slight changes, but Setzer had said it was common both for the kind of training he had been undergoing in the weeks leading up to his reclaiming his proof and for his age to start filling him out better, so he'd gotten used to it. Ultimately, the other gambler had been grateful as well. He had teased wouldn't have fit into Axel's cloak without a corset if the Flurry hadn't had to let the seams out a bit due to that growth. He kept quiet, though his paranoia kept his attention as much on the other person's presence as the drink he settled in one hand held slightly away to boil in the ceramic mug as was, turning his back to and leaning against the counter to see who it was at the very least. He wasn't moving yet otherwise. He didn't trust anyone in the Castle short of Hiro, and maybe Saix. Okay, so Xaldin's usual calm but stern business-first honest approach was already winning him over a bit too, but that was a far toss from the rest. He expected that of the Lancer, really. The rest were wild cards to him.

[Axel]

<BloodRose1313> Yazoo glared at the goup of people that came into his kitchen then at the oven containing the 6th failed soufle for the day. He sighed and pulled the deflated pastry from the oven. " Is there some thing I can do for you ?" he asked with a warry sort of smile. His silver hair was up under a red bandana a white apren was over his black shirt and jeans. " I'm afraid only leftovers are avalable for food, unless you'd like to trie one of these....failed pastries...." he offered

<firstsilentGOD> Distracted from the other briefly, brighter green eyes slid slowly over to the other man as the cider came to a steamy boil in his hand, cutting off the heat and changing hands back and forth until he had the loop of the mug in his good hand and was stirring it with the cinnamon stick in the other. One brow quirked, though not at the offer. It was the man's appearance that had his attention first, and put him a little more at ease. He'd never met him before, but he knew basically who he was just by his appearance. Those features were hard to ignore. " You're one of Hiro's Remnants, aren't you? " He leaned over to have a look at the souffle, shrugging his good side a little. " I'll try a little, but not much. I've eaten already. " He still had the habits of eating like a bird, though he had improved in that direction a bit thanks to both Sephiroth and Setzer really. He was back to the previous posture as he blew briefly at teh top of his mug, and made for a sip. " Turn the heat down a little. Maybe ten degrees or so, and it helps if you put something soft between the oven rack and the pan.. like.. a folded, warm, barely damp towel, or a graded foam mat. Xaldin should have one of those around here somewhere. It'll absorb most shock from any motion that might jar it. " Yes, Axel actually knew a little something about cooking. Being a breathing hotplate helped. Liking Xaldin's cooking also helped. He'd had the habit of hovering around the Lancer in days long past just waiting for him to get done with cooking a meal.

<BloodRose1313> "Yes...I am one of the remnants...Yazoo, is my name" he said "And thank you, for the advice..but I think I'm going to forgoe this lovely experiment for the moment" he nodded to himself. He turned and began to clean up, His sliver tail twitching slightly. He'd never met the read head before, but he'd heard of him. He glanced over his shouler at him then back to his work. "You wouldn't happen to know whats got some of the members of the ...Residence of the caslte up at arms lately would you?" he asked

<firstsilentGOD> Axel almost snorted into his cup, his eyes coming back to Yazoo with the last before he finally swallowed. " Yes actually. " he was already lifting it to his mouth again. " That would be me; Axel: the Flurry of Dancing Flames. "

<BloodRose1313> "Ah, so you're That one" he said smiling before getting out one of the jugs of cider from the fridge. "There hasn't been much call for it served hot I'm afraide." he said offering to refil his mug. "May I ask, what exactly It is about you that rubbs the others the wrong way?" he asked watching him closely with his geen eyes

<firstsilentGOD> Axel's mug was still more than half full, and he shook his head at the offer. " Thanks though. " before he shrugged. " My job, for the for most part. Three of the five who probably hate me the most were traitors. Marluxia and Larxene in particular and more so than Vexen, whose biggest fuck up was continuing to allow himself to be egged on into betraying the Organization by Marluxia. Ultimately though, Vexen's death became useful at the time. It's a long story. "

<BloodRose1313> "I'll adk you about it some time" he smiled going back to cleaning up the kitchen " What brings you to the kitchen if not food?" he asked looking over his shoulder as he scrubbed at one of the more food encrusted pans.

<firstsilentGOD> Axel nodded, his usual quick retort coming back " Drink. " lifting his half full mug. " Need to find some enamel too, but I doubt I'll find it in here. Probably the grade I need, Saix has. Something that resists heat well. " And he pointed an elbow at the blades strapped to his thighs. " They kinda lost their polish in the burn this last time. " Though, thinking about it. " Hm. " he took another sip. " I might take something to eat to Marluxia. I have to thank him for something, much as I'm dreading it. Have you seen Hiro around, by the way? I have to talk to him eventually, and I know he's been playing suckface with Xemnas. "

<BloodRose1313> " I hardly ever see him" he said " I don't even Know where Kadaj is right now. " he shook his head he dried his hand off and turned to Axel " What would you like to take To Marluxia?" he asked dropping the subject of his brother and his ....well he supposed the term was Brothers, as they all three of them were techincally related.

[Axel]

<firstsilentGOD> " Ah. " Axel might have rubbed the back of his head if he'd had a free hand. " I would tell you where this Kadaj guy is if I knew, but I've never met him. " His eyes came back to the almost feminine looking silver haired man with the cat ears, eyes squinting a bit with the thought. " Huh. I dunno.. probably something healthy. I'll figure something out. " Disconnecting his back from the counter he offered a small, tense smile to the Remnant. " Thanks again for the offers. Next time I'll take you up on them for sure. Maybe I'll even cook for you, eh? " That said he left the room with the intent of finding that enamel if he could. If not he'd just start thinking up meals the Assassin might like before heading that way. " Later Yazoo. Tell Hiro I said hi, and I'm looking for him, if you see him. Okay? "

[Saix]

The Flurry's room was right next to his own, and the Diviner had to change clothes eventually. On top of that, he was trying to pack whatever he thought he might need a little at a time. So the fact that they ran into each other in the hall wasn't any surprise to the Diviner. He was himself still dressed in his own civilian clothes: black boots, worn out jeans and leather jacket, a single-striped sleeveless crew top, the chain of the necklace Marluxia had given him scooping in under his shirt, he'd skipped the other leather trimmings today: though his wrist rung softly with the bejeweled and belled choker the Diviner had wound around one wrist.

He nodded at Axel as he came into sight, calling ahead as the green eyes would settle on him; heading his way ignoring the Assassins in his company. " You look much better. "

[Axel]

" Hmph. " Axel had stopped for a step. Just a moment long enough to read into Saix's eyes, and shrugging as his cider had changed hands: nodding at the other and stopping just out of his reach. " Have to say, I like this look better on you than the black. "

His eyes shifted down the hall further back. He didn't like stopping in between locations. Granted, he felt much more comfortable moving around and being in the open now that he wasn't in a risk to pop a stitch or bleed to death just defending himself: and having his Assassins back as well as starting to feel a modicum of better control to his element returning helped, but that didn't mean he was letting his guard down any time soon. He looked to the side for a moment and shrugged on his good side. " But yeah. A lot better than even I expected to be after only two days. That salve.. it was Marluxia's work, wasn't it? "

[Saix]

" I like it well enough. The cloak can feel ... stuffy, some days. " And it was Saix's turn to shrug, a slight tilt of his head to one side, his eyes almost closing before his posture came back. He smirked a slight smile, crossing his arms over his chest, and nodding. " I applied it, but yes, the salve was his doing. The product of something Sora helped him to find, after an incident prior. "

By his expression, Saix didn't expect much more love for that name being mentioned than had been given the last time he'd mentioned it. He did however nod his head down the hall, towards their rooms. " Let's take this conversation out of the hallway though, shall we? " and he started that way, leaving which room to the Flurry, but most definitely wanting to speak to him in private if he allowed it. " Why do you ask, by the way...? "

[Axel]

" Gets in the way too.. " Axel's tone had drug off, his eyes slipping to the side for a few long moments. He didn't plan on getting back into the custom cloak any time soon. He'd planned on getting back to Traverse as soon as possible, but that hang up with Marluxia; not to mention the fact he'd only just confirmed the location of the hard drive was going to set him back by a few days at least.

He didn't respond much other than looking Saix's way again as his answer came. He'd expected that, just needed the confirmation. A nod, and he started after the Diviner, waving a hand towards the next door down. " Lets take it to my room for now. I wanna ask you a few things anyway.. " And he didn't say much else on the way to the door, slipping his key into the lock and opening it to move ahead with his Assassins after he flash-heated the lanterns. Axel never had been a bog fan of most electric lighting. Traverse Town had been the exception. He loved the mild glow of neon and warmer tones let out through the often amber-toned windows.

The night time was when he shone at his best and most comfortable really. Stepping in, he and his Assassins had cleaned almost everything, and they were messing with his laundry now. Waving another hand at the love seat against the wall furthest to the right he headed for the kettle on one of the shelves. " Jasmine, if I remember correctly... just wanted to know. " and picked out one tin with his eyes as he filled the pot. His fingers shifted curling around the bottom to heat the water while the other hand reached for the tea. It was a little old, but otherwise still good, and he had some cream and sugar he'd pilfered from the kitchen to set on the coffee table after adding the ball.

[Saix]

" Yes, Jasmine; thank you. " Saix had been in this room several times over the course of their existence since the split. The room hadn't changed much. In his experience the Flurry liked things a certain way, and left a majority of what change came and went to himself. Now didn't seem to be any different. Axel had somehow managed to pull himself off as the truly wild and semi-neutral card of the lot.

" I think, I'll cut to it.. " Saix said nearly in a sigh as he sat down. " ..what is it you plan on doing, now that you've returned? Will you be staying I hope? Or do you plan to .. seek life and answers, elsewhere? "