Not So Idle Hands (Vexen, Xaldin)

[Xaldin]

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *knocks on Vexen's door, a whole basket of things covered with a thin blanket under one arm* Vex. You alive in there?

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *opens the door and scowls* No, clearly not. I'm lying in a ditch some worlds over, bemoaning my fate. *snorts and opens the door* What brings you to this end of the castle?

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *chuckles a bit and shrugs* Well with the way things have been going on lately my friend, you never know. *lifting the basket briefly he nodded* I've been busy, but meaning to stop by to check on you. We've had a look at one of those greater heartless. I don't know if the one we've been observing --a really big spider with scythe-like front legs?-- is the same one that got you but. *he shrugged* It seems t have isolated itself in the woods for now; at least so long as it's not provoked.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *putters back to his bed and resettles amidst an ocean of folders, files and books* Ah, have a seat er....*blinks and shuffles sonme of the folders off the bed* there...*pats the empty space* Giant spider type thing? It's very likely. I didn't get the most spectacular look at the Heartless which attacked me.

[Xaldin]

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *helps him a bit with the files, following his lead to set them aside in a way they won't topple, and nods* I'd thought not. Anyway, I'm going to reccomend that the restriction on Halloween Town be lightened a bit as a result. There's no great need to go to Christmas Town anyway. Halloween Town is plenty useful enough for our needs at the moment as is. We'll just have the woods off limits. *looking over the files he smiled by half* Keeping up or catching up, by the way?

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: 8stretched and groused sightly before swallowing down the last of something from a mug on the bedside table before pulling his hair back into a low tail* That's just as well, so long as there aren't any unaccompanied visits to either. I'm fairly sure it wasn't the only one there, the thing that attacked me. *he glanced at the folders* A b it of both as well as some extra research. I'm trying to find mention of the Heartless that attacked me. I don't think it's new, which means somewhere we had to have encountered it before. Unfortunately our older files are...rather messy.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *looking to the door briefly, a soft gust from outside was just enough to nudge it closed before he said* You might want to look into any files from our first days: or try and get a hold of any from much sooner. I've been delving into what's already been discovered from that hard drive.. and I can say Halloween town isn't the only place familiar if not entirely unknown heartless have been cropping up. I think there's another in Traverse Town. Which, given teh nature of the place isn't too surprising I suppose. That place has become very busy lately in fact. I have the feeling we're going to need you in top condition.. *pulling the blanket free he pulled the files out of the basket first, before a covered plate of pineapplecheesecake* The researcher who's settled there in particular has my interest. She apparently claims to have been under the old man around the same time he was putting Sora and Roxas back together.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *nods* I'll make note of it. I have access to the files, I was hoping I wouldn't need to delve that deeply...*He made a face in distaste* The files really are a disaster.* But he was mostly distracted by what came out of the basket and the pineapple cheesecake which was given a worshipful look.* You my friend, are far too good to me...*before he nodded* Really? I should be back on full duty within the week. Care to take a trip with me then?

[Xaldin]

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *grinned almost instantly at his approval of the dessert, snagging a ceramic holder and drizzing the coconut-pineapple syrup over the top before he handed it to him along with a fork* As long as we've known eachother, I had better know you well enough to treat you now and then, hm? *and he nodded in return* Yes. She's pursuing a way to track specific heartless down and particularly capture them. Axel was among the first to make contact with her, during his stay there; and he's done most of teh talking at this point: but she's offered for us to test her latest advancement. It looks a great deal like something related to our current research. If they work without a hitch.. it won't just be us Nobody's able to release hearts to Kingdom Hearts. All of our allies will too. Axel's report is in these files. *he passed half of them to Vexen, the others just copies* There's not much, but she's confident enough in it to use it as a means of income: so I think it's worth checking out.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *ate a bite of the cake and leafed through the documents Xaldin passed over.* This is rather intriguing....*he set the plate down and pushed a pair of glasses onto his face to squint at the text on the pages* Very intriguing...

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *nodded, settling back a little* The capture network is centered around a stone, but I think she's using a modified version of my faceted ether-net somehow.. the barrier technology. There was evidence of it all around the shop when Xigbar and I first went through. She's mentioned to Axel the components aren't cheap, and implied they might be reusable to some extent. Whatever the case we won't know the full nature until we can examine one or two for ourselves. *a soft sigh, he rubbed his brow* I had hoped to catch up with her before next week, as in as soon as my Dragoon spots her: but so far we haven't caught up to her at all. Either way, whether we copy or improve on it.. or we simply use her current technology: if it works it's progress.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *nods and sets the papers aside* It is more progress than we have made, and progress is really progress regardless of the maker. *he reached over and patted Xaldin's shoulder gently* I'm sure you'll snatch her right up, and if all else. We can always steal away into her workshop and root through her things.

[Xaldin]

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *chuckled a bit at the last, though he wasn't beyond it really: not when it came to this* Anyway. Next week ?That's good. I'm sure Lex is happy to hear that.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *grin* He is. He seemed distressed he has not been around to help me recover. I think..perhaps it is partily rather wise. I may still be bedridden...

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *a slightly wider smile* You mean ridden in the bed?~ *and a light chuckle, he shook his head* He'll get over it though when he sees you're well. Just don't overdo it, okay? I'd like not to see you in the infirmary again any time soon..

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *snorts* I meant it exactly as it was meant to be taken Xaldin. *But he was grinning slyly* But you are correct, he shall recover I'm sure. I intend on avoiding the infirmary as much as possible for the forseeable future.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: Good. And in the meantime.. maybe we should get you one of those attachable tables.. you know. Bedside desks? *a slight rub to the back of his head and he tugged a smaller basket out from the larger one: briefly showing him the muffins and other pastries. He might have avoided teh fatty stuff if Vexen's metabolism wasn't like a bullet train* ..Don't eat these all at once. I'll bring more later. I've been baking when between missions.. *and producing a very detailed wood carving of a flowering camelia and a japanese maple, the blooms all made of snow quartz* ... and carving. *obvious attempt at distracting himself is very obvious*

[Xaldin]

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *eyes the sweets and then let shis brows furrow* Is something the matter Xaldin? Generally speaking you tend to spend your free time with your lovers...and if you're spending said feree time in other pursuits the logical conclusion must be...*he frowned* For ghods sake, just talk to me and keep me out of the medicine Marluxia keeps shoving down my throat.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *a slight sigh* He hasn't been around. When he has, it's been all right but I get the sensation the last few times it's been to attempt to placate me, or take out the temper that's been so rooted in my frustration lately. *a raise of his brow* ...but, Marluxia? I thought the Superior was seeing to a majority of your treatment?

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: Yes, by sending that smart mouthed little harlot. *frowns* Xemnas is a busy man, and he comes when he is available...but we are friends for more reasons than that we are both shameless workaholics Xaldin, now tell me more about your troubles. *he handed a pastry to the other man and settled back to pick at the cake some more*

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: Really? How does that work... *shaking his head a bit he probably wans't going to understand it anytime soon whether it was fully explained or not, and gave up on it quickly for the change back to the subject as he took the pecan roll* It's just finding ways to distract myself in my down time, between missions. Luxord isn't a god after all so he can't be in several places at once all the time, and I would really prefer he not try it to the extent he has been lately. It worries me. *a sigh* One of these days he's going to stretch himself too far and have a snap back. Probably end up in the infirmary himself. If that. *shakes his head* On top of that.. the man he's grilling is my ex from our days in the Garden. Setzer. And, he's set his sights on finding me. That makes things.. uncomfortable: but.. he insisted on taking the mission, and I'd rather not hide these things from him if they come up. It's complicated, obviously..

[Xaldin]

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: So talk to him when you see him. *he shrugged* Better it come from you than from Setzer. I imagine were lexaeus to ever encounter one of my exes, few and far between as they might be, I would tell him. I imagine it might come as a shock to him, but better to be aware of a situation than to have it suddenly thrown in ones face, yes?

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: Well. he knows that he is. It's the situation itself that upsets me I suppose. I don't like Gabbiani. I still haven't forgiven him, and I don't think I can: but likely the way he is he'll try his damnedest to make me. And that's a situation I don't think I really wanted Luxord dragged into. It's a bit much to ask your current to bear something like Setzer and all his ...eccentricities, even for a mission. *sighs again and shakes his head* I don't know, maybe it's part guilt for letting him go on the mission without protest in the first place. Setzer's an ass.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *snorts indelicately* I still have some leaves left from Luxord's favorite tea stowed away somewhere. You can plot something sufficiently enjoyable for his return. All shall be set to rights, and if not..I'll lock the two of you in a room.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *chuckles a bit and sets the basket over his lap upside down, having emptied it at this point: and chewing on the pecan paste before he swallowed* I think I do too, but I'm not sure I trust the age.. *shakes his head again, shrugging after* I'll just have to wait and see; and deal with it as usual. *another bite, he waved at the cheesecake as if to ask him if it had turned out all right*

[Xaldin]

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *had finished the cheesecake by this point and nodded,* Delicious, and I'm sure the stock I have leftover is relatively recent. If not it should be easy to aqcuire more...that is why we have peons...er *shifty eyes* I mean...well no actually peons is exactly the word I intended to use...

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *had intended to say something, really he did, but ended up laughing at the last* Just don't let my lessers hear you say that, they get uppity pretty quickly..

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: Don't deny it isn't exactly what they are. Better to learn their place at any rate. besides it isn't as if they're mistreated. *haughty look* Besides which, they should be quite pleased we don't have done with them.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *shakes his head a bit as he finishes off his pastry, stretching a little* That does remind me though.. when Axel spoke to her, she wanted a few lessers of ours for her research. *standing, he hipped the basket* I have my own opinions, but.. Given she's been studying the connection between us more towards a heartless capture goal: what do you think of that?

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *paused mid-pastry to glance up* Requested...absolutely not! *he set the folders aside* If she has managed thus far in her research, then requesting our Lesser's accomplishes nothing save perhaps making her appear suspicious. In light of her research, I wouldn't want to give her any advantage over us our lesser may provide.

[Xaldin]

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *nodded, taking that into account* Still, what that moogle said does make me wonder: and even if we didn't.. Axel's made it clear that Organization or not he has ineterest in what she's up to. Meaning we may not be able to control her access. More, she's mentioned already getting a hold of samples in Twilight Town. *sighing as he headed for the door he shrugged* Whatever the case we have to keep an eye on that one, even using her research alone; whether we contribute or not. But.. get some rest.. read over those files.. there's not a lot there, but I may drop by to add to them to be sure you stay up to date if things progress too quickly for you to be out of bed.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: *nods, face thin and somewhat drawn* Axel, as ever is the voice of dissent. He shall have to be watched as well. *then he made a face* thats gone and ruined my mood for sweets.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *shrugging again he grasped the door handle* Well, I don't blame him for not trusting or wanting to share with us.. we asked him to do what Marluxia ordered him to kill you for when he was infiltrating the original traitors. Not many of us have reached out to him with anything but element and weapons, where as Marluxia and Larxene were accepted right away with little question and absolutely no harm to their being: where he was stabbed twice and beaten unconscious his first day back.

<Noite-Bela> Vexen: I never once raised a hand at him upon our return, quite frankly I'm a busy man. But if you think I trust Marluxia or Larxene anymore than Axel then we're all in a piss poor position. The few of whom I trust implicit number quite few.

<BlindTaleTeller> Xaldin: *smirks a bit, and shrugs* I was just saying Vexen.. he has reason.. and until others accept that, and show him he should, he's not likely to pull his defenses down and obey orders well. But.. you sleep well, when you can. *closing the door behind him*