The Undine Lagoon (Xemnas, Sephiroth)

[Xemnas]

xaldinstrips (3:30:12 AM): They didn't spend a lot of time in France really, and much of it had been honestly spent like the first night. A few more days.. Sephiroth took him sight seeing in the city while shopping for essentials, including of course a brief visit to Notre Dame. He bought him a few bottles of wine.. and of course treated him to a few french sweets. China was waiting however, as were a few other places. The small house in the mountains of the Land of Dragons was ready before they arrived, warm and well furnished. The swordsman had seen to that as well as clothes fitting the worlds the were visiting: though this one belonged to him. He'd brought Axel here once or twice when he'd asked, mild evidence of it ashed in the trash bin. The place wasn't large but it was well insulated from the pure white snowscape that greeted them outside as he brought him to it: the village not far away.. just close enough that the smoke from the other chimneys could be seen over the next rise. Otherwise, it was very private, with an excellent view of the valleys below.. pine swept with nearly as much snow as the slopes. He opened the door, warmth more than apparent, holding it for him. " Tomorrow, we should go down to the capital.. but today, I want to spend solely with you.~ "

Hyacinth Witch (3:42:13 AM): Xemnas looked around as he walked in, gaze going over every little detail of the area before looking back to the other man with that special smile just for him. "That sounds wonderful, Seraph." He murmured as he set down a few of their things. "Did you have anything particular in mind?"

xaldinstrips (4:00:14 AM): Sephiroth nodded, going to one of the closets and taking a fur attachment out to hook to his coat, debating on whether he should take it off or not, and deciding not to. Instead he just started settling some of their things. " Well, once we're settled, I thought we might go for a walk to get acquainted with the area, among other things? I have a thicker coat for you here... " He was pulling it out even then.. a soft tanned sheepskin, lined with white fox fur, drawn together with the same leather ties. The beading and embroidery was masculine, but graceful at the same time. A post-wedding gift he'd picked out some time ago.

Hyacinth Witch (4:23:03 AM): "Sounds like a good time." He replied with a slight hum, blinking a bit at the coat as he looked up from where he'd been messing with one of their bags. He ran his eyes over it with an odd expression, somehow embarrassed, flattered and impressed all at once. The younger man seemed to pick up on the unspoken idea that Hiro had gotten it special for him. "It is...a very attractive coat." The First said after a moment, head inclined just a bit.

xaldinstrips (4:50:51 AM): " It's yours.. " he said smiling as he came forward offering it. He reached to touch his face, brushing a thumb across his cheek. " I like you in white, I think. " and leaning in he almost whispered against his ear. " ..almost as much as I like you in nothing at all.. " Before he kissed there.

Hyacinth Witch (5:06:46 AM): Sliding it slowly from his hands he smiled, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks at both the mention of his color preference and further with the other reference, turning his head a bit to kiss the other man's cheek. "Thank you, Seraph." He gave him another, it closer in to his lips that time. "I love it." And one final one on the lips. "Mm~ perhaps the unpacking could wait and we could take that walk right now?"

xaldinstrips (5:16:09 AM): " You're welcome love.. I'm glad you like it.. " A wider smile, he turned his head to steal another kiss after the one closer to his mouth; soft and affectionate. His thumb brushed over his blush again, admiring the color and smiling with a nod. " Absolutely. " Pulling the ties to his coat shut, he made certain his sword was securely in place. There were occasionally huns in the mountains, among other things.

Hyacinth Witch (5:26:07 AM): Sliding the coat on he marveled a little at the soft feel and just how well it fit him, guessing that Hiro had to have peeked into his closet for such accurate measurements. Tying it shut the younger reached out, snagging Hiro's hand and giving it a squeeze, apparently in the mood to hold hands with him, the flushed appearance lingering a bit because of it.

[Xemnas]

xaldinstrips (5:01:07 PM): Smiling seeing how well it fit: the fact was he'd gotten his size by other means remained a quiet secret tucked away in his smile. For him it was extra proof that he knew Xemnas' body by heart after all. His fingers slipping between Xemnas', the swordsman smiled leading him out, and tucking his chin into the fur with a wider smile. He loved the snow...and it showed as he started more towards the east. There was a small path there just wide enough for three people to walk shoulder to shoulder: likely it had been beaten down by soldiers, leading into a pine wood that went with the incline. Broken and worn stone markings poked out of the snow. There was some Chinese on them.. but some other language as well. The writing was cut off by the drift or by their being broken. " Axel had some interest here.. this path leads to another portion of the cave by the village. The path along the way, is very beautiful.. "

Hyacinth Witch (5:34:26 PM): "Oh?" Xemnas murmured, regarding the path with his head slightly tilted. "Was his interest in the cave or in the village?" He asked finally, leaning his head against the other man's shoulder lightly, adjusting their entwined hands idly.

xaldinstrips (6:19:28 PM): Smiling and turning his head a bit to nuzzle his hair, he gave a kiss there, though watching the path as it was slick in spots. " Mm. The caves. He was looking for one in particular.. " As they went along and turned the next corner, not just those pillar-like markers, but crystals of what looked like ice were poking out of the snow. They glimmered in the partial mid-day light, refracting it and making faint varied rainbows under the tree cover as it refracted. " ...you see.. " a soft smile, he looked around them.. the number only growing the further they went. " Beautiful. The ice has grown so thick here.. even at the main entrance and cave. It's amazing.. reminds me of the Northern Caverns back home.. "

Hyacinth Witch (6:37:15 PM): His breath caught a little, the beauty of the space unexpected to say the least. The First raised his eyebrows a bit as he let his gaze run over every inch that was available. "Are they...exactly like this back on your world...? Or are they better?" He asked, vaguely distracted by the sight still, though his curiosity for Hiro's home world pierced through just enough to manage the question.

xaldinstrips (6:46:39 PM): " Better, I think.. " His smile softened as he glanced long at his husband, there was another reason he thought so, and he was standing beside him, his hand clasped in his own. It was a truth he couldn't avoid. Xemnas.. made things better, easier to appreciate. Especially moments like this one. " It's a little bleak in the Caverns. There's the occasional ray of light, but aside from that and the crystals.. a few ancient shells.. it's not quite like this. There are other places I like more, there. " The further they went, the more crystals there were. They even climbed partially up the sides of and engulfed the whole bases of some trees. Something darker passed behind a grouping further off to one side, catching the swordsman's attention long enough for him to stop, and almost jerk his head that way. The motion had mostly stopped.. a back shimmering refraction fading into obscurity. It had gone too deep into the shadows of the woods..

Hyacinth Witch (6:58:51 PM): Xemnas had caught sight of that flicker as well, even more convinced of its existence when Hiro reacted much the same, the tawny leader releasing his grip immediately to allow his hands complete freedom if threat were to come. "Seraph..."

xaldinstrips (7:04:28 PM): His left was already on his sword hilt. " Yes I saw -- " And then the motion was ahead of them, his attention snapped that way as well. It was at the edge of the path, moving forward away from them. It was small, smaller than Zexion, but the form was hard to make out other than that it wasn't human per say. Rather than walking, it had the fluid motion of a snake. It seemed to pause close to where the corner was, perhaps realizing it was being watched. Instinct alone had made him put himself a step further and to one side in front of Xemnas. " Should we continue, and investigate, love? "

Hyacinth Witch (7:26:19 PM): "Yes, I think it would be in our best interests to pursue whatever that might have been." He said with a slight frown, not liking what he had seen of the creature. "Do you not think so?" The First murmured toward the end, allowing his aerial blades to pulse to life.

xaldinstrips (7:34:46 PM): Sephiroth nodded, though he didn't draw his blade: he did tighten his grip on the hilt. " I'm going to try to catch up with it at the very least. Stay close and watch the ice... Axel had interest in this area for a reason.. " with that he started off after the thing, and sure enough it sped ahead at a much faster rate. Sephiroth was no slouch on speed either however, and picked up his own, a glance back as they turned the corner it had sped around: the next bend visible in the heavy wood, snow and crystal. " I don't know much, but I do know he said it was in connection to the images on the hard drive.. " Something was glowing around the bend, a light, pale blue that tinted the snow. It was enough for the creature in question to cast a retreating shadow, which he pursued as well.

Hyacinth Witch (7:50:20 PM): He kept close as he was told, thinking over possible connections among other things relating to whatever the being was that skulked about ahead of them, his frown deepening just a bit as they drew closer yet. Could it be possible this was one of the opposites to his men? If that was the case how in the world were they going to subdue it without issue? He licked his lips absently; this was definitely going to prove interesting...

xaldinstrips (8:26:07 PM): The cavern opening was what was around the corner: and it was even more beautiful than the winged remembered. The changes, as much as the fact that likely their company had retreated inside: stopped him after only a few steps. The entrance was entirely enshrouded by trees, often dark.. but teh contrast of of snow had always made it easy to see under the deep shadow. Now however, there was a new light source.. ever so faint, a blue tinge was washed over the snow and ice almost like a layer of glitter: some sort of scentless chemical causing the glow. Specklings of it inside the cave were apparent, or rather growths. Smaller crystals glowed that same light bluish green color, almost making it look like a star field past the entrance. Incidentally.. that was how he spotted it moving, as it slipped back further in and blocked the speckled walls from view. " This place.. it didn't glow like this before.. " Which wasn't a complaint.. it was beautiful.. but it was curious none the less. There was the sense of something darker within, but it was distant, sleeping.. maybe even just a remnant of an intent, but it was there; and because of that he paused looking to Xemnas. " I'm uncertain as to whether this is entirely wise.. but I want to go in as far as we can. With what Axel was investigating, what he was after.. it might be worth it at least looking around. We can always portal back to the cabin.. "

Hyacinth Witch (8:53:11 PM): "Better to glean more information than less." He murmured as he leaned close to him, though his eyes were running over their surroundings suspiciously, the admiration only vague beneath the expression. "And better that someone more formidable go up against what might be lurking within." The aerial blades came back out as he crept past his husband, going further in a few feet before stopping to listen for any sort of movement beyond.

xaldinstrips (9:32:52 PM): " Agreed.. " Still, even when their eyes did adjust to the low light, Sephiroth knew it would be dark. He went in first, partially because of that internal defense mechanism again, and partially because he was used to the darkness. So long in Ansem's presence, and even without it.. he could tell one shadow from another: once his eyes were set. Following the wall the way the creature had, he passed the first corner, his eyes shifting slowly into clarity as they approached the next. He paused though. There was more sound than the slight drip and blow of air through the cave. Now, he could hear it as well: and he noticed, it was getting colder. " Do you feel that? "

Hyacinth Witch (11:10:59 PM): "It feels as though we have just entered a deep freeze..." Xemnas whispered, trying to keep his teeth from chattering as they crept through the darkness. "This is...very reminiscent of Vexen..." He finally added, it really all he could think of now...

xaldinstrips (11:34:15 PM): That comment seemed to kick his memory into gear. " Now I remember. " It didn't slow him down but he was certainly more alert. " ...Shiva. He was looking for Shiva, the ice goddess. Or a statue of her.. " Though there were a few turns ahead, they could see right down the middle into the next 'room' in the cavern. It was much like the shrine in the other portion of the cave.. excepting the fact that everything was taken over by that glow, and the ice. In the center back was a pagoda shrine: pools of glowing 'water' to either side. In front of that was their target.. not really a snake: he wasn't sure what it was.. but it was nearly pure black aside from the bright neon blue lines that almost streamlined it. Humanoid from the waist up, it's hands were bound like a dusk, with wild black 'hair', it seemed to have ragged, stiff fins keeping it's balance at either side and the end of it's tail. Sephiroth started forward again, at a more alert and cautious pace: catching it's attention again.. bright, yellow eyes opened to greet them: but it didn't move this time.

Hyacinth Witch (1:26:28 AM): Xemnas moved forward cautiously after him, choosing his footing carefully but his focus mostly pressed toward the heartless at the other end of the area, squinting in an attempt to better see its features in the minimal light. At the back of his mind there was the thought that maybe they were treading on thin ice...maybe even literally.

xaldinstrips (1:38:16 AM): " no... body.. " the words were half broken, slowed down, deep, uneven and almost wet. None the less as they had passed into the wider area of the cavern, it had most definitely come from their .. unique company. " ...want ...what..? " Sephiroth stopped there, and it's head lifted a bit.. along with winglike extensions in it's hair. Though his eyes didn't move from the thing, he noticed: the water to either side was sluggish, half solid. By all means, it should have been frozen like the path in front of them. " ...old scent.. darkness ... on you. " The bound fingers that pointed at him were sharp and long. He didn't nod, but he did reply. " Are you a friend of Ansem's then? " The way it's eyes shifted implied to him it was smiling. " ......no...... not a friend... "

Hyacinth Witch (2:15:04 AM): Xemnas stared at it for a moment or so, undecided on whether it was worth it to respond, the sound of its voice vaguely unsettling to say the least. "He is a difficult man to be friends with." He murmured back after some careful thought, making no threatening movements in case the thing was easily provoked. "Do you have a name, heartless?" The First finally asked, leaning in a little bit to try and see better.

xaldinstrips (2:33:28 AM): " He.............. is.~ " a deep chuckle with that agreement, again it sounded wet. With that lean it turned it's head: one eye only turned right at them. It most indefinitely was male: the features almost glimmered in what light there was, black on black.. moist, supple: and very masculine. There were lines implied on his face: if he was someone they knew, it was hard to tell though, aside from the very slight catch and contrast from the light behind his trim form, it was hard to tell much. Only that he was amused. " Eau. I... am Eau ....Eis. " Sephiroth's eyes narrowed a bit. " Is that a joke? Eau Eis? One is a word for water, the other for ice. " A shrug, it's lower half shifted: though backwards.. coiling around the shrine: the slush to either side shifted, as though it were deep and there was something in it that hadn't been seen. " Undine ..... master.. not a.. creative one...? " A moment or two passed, before it sighed, and held up it's hand. An equally dark trident forming it's hand from the shadows between the glowing crystals. He stood it on it's butt, only a mild form of irritation in his tone. " Still.... no answer...? " Sephiroth had been thinking. Undine.. undine.. his eyes slipped to the fanned end of it's tail.. and again very briefly to the slush at one side. " A friend visited here.. he showed me this place. I wanted to show my mate.. " A snort from the heartless said it was uninterested in that, but. " Red. .....Boy with .....fire? "

Hyacinth Witch (2:49:44 AM): "Yes, that would be him." Xemnas answered instead of simply allowing Sephiroth to do all the talking. "Was he a problem for you at all?" He sincerely hoped Axel hadn't done anything to the heartless that would curse them by association.

xaldinstrips (3:00:16 AM): Sephiroth was in the meantime trying to assess their surroundings and the heartless better. The contrast between the light and the utter dark though made things difficult in that respect. The light was too scattered, and broke everything up: especially as the one in front of them was very much close to the color and glow of his background. When he raised his trident, the swordsman gripped his hilt better, eyes narrowing, and wing spreading wide to the side. " No trouble.... helpful. " Turning the trident to the side, a ball of the slush collected a few inches from the tip, and he pointed it back, almost like a flashlight. There, behind him, several scorch marks were indented into the cavern wall.. as though Axel had tried to break through by force. Where he hadn't succeeded.. he had cracked the wall, revealing another layer rife with magic seals --symbols resembling the signs that had been on the markers along the path. One of them had been burned away.. and through a tiny hole, the frigid sludge was trickling out, black as sin.. but depositing the crystal along it's edges. " .....freedom... from... silence.. " The ball dropped, it splashed across the floor... and then did something especially odd, slinking across the floor back into it's place at either side. That, unnerved Sephioth; his feathers raising a bit. If it had the ability to move on it's own.. and the glow and crystals formed around it's edges... then by all accounts: they had been surrounded the moment they had entered.

[Xemnas]

Hyacinth Witch (12:07:32 AM): Xemnas frowned again as he let his eyes flick over the symbols, the blackness the seemingly oozed from the wall somewhat disconcerting. "These symbols...did Ansem place them here? Or are they from another source?" He wished he could say he recognized their meaning, it irritating to him that he could not better read into it. The subtle sound of Sephiroth's wing shifting drew his eyes for a moment, wondering what made the man that uncomfortable. Putting his gaze back on Eis he waited for a reply, keeping as on ready as possible, Hiro's discomfort making him worry somewhat.

xaldinstrips (12:30:22 AM): It's head lowered a bit.. not the kind that was thoughtful, it conveyed something... almost dangerous in humor. One word. " Why..?~ " Sephiroth shifted his forward leg back a bit, briefly catching Eau's attention, the bare hint of a smirk was there. " ...you realize ...yes...? " Sephiroth didn't say anything, but he shot a look of warning to Xemnas just the same 'stay on your toes'. The dark creature shifted on it's tail, a little higher vantage. " Yes..... I do not.. retreat... idly. " Again the slush to either side stirred, but noting came out. " Lucky.. you are. Lucky.. " it seemed to be rambling a bit with that, before a stretch that implied a yawn. " Sleeping... sleeping. Why...... are you ......really ...here? " Sephiroth spoke up again then. " This place, is also an intrigue, you must realize. Axel was trying to get into that place behind the wall. Why are you here? " That question, seemed to make him think, it rubbed at it's face, nearly half a minute passing. " Waiting...... for... words... for them to ... wake. Waiting.... for .. the key...? "

Hyacinth Witch (12:59:21 AM): The Superior finally did notice, eyebrows raising up high before returning to their previous places, hands immediately pulsing; how had he not noticed before? He had focused in too much on the symbols and the waterfall of questions that had cropped up inside him, his damnable habits as a scientists somehow clouded his judgment of the situation. Xemnas' expression of displeasure only deepened, hoping that the heartless was speaking metaphorically as he had had it with relying upon either keyblader anymore.

xaldinstrips (1:39:17 AM): Words... that was curious. What words could--" You mean orders? " A slight shrug. " ........Yes. " But not likely from Ansem.. then again... even enemies could be superior and subordinate. " And this key you refer to? " Sephiroth was already starting to ease back, step by step; and he was certain to give that subtler signal to Xemnas in the process. " The Keyblade..? " At that, it tilted it's head. " Key.....blade? " A long pause followed. A very long pause. " ...no. " A wet breath in, it wasn't taken through it's mouth or nose, but lower down somewhere. " ....you fear. You.... should. We... are ......poison. " A slight grin was visible, though it didn't last long, before it's head tipped up a little, more serious. " The key ....you ...might.. want it. " Pointing to the wall again, Eau chuckled. " Only a ........special.. key; opens .....the way. " And then it pointed that sharp jagged thing at the two of them. Sephiroth was highly tempted to draw his sword, but there wasn't any motion behind it to close the distance.. now shift of his torso, no loosening to the tail wrapped around the shrine. " Find ... it's bones. Find... the false Garden. Then.. then... you will be able..... to open the way. To... answer other .....questions. "

Hyacinth Witch (1:55:33 AM): Xemnas could have let out a sigh of relief at its rejection of the keyblade being whatever the "key" was. His relief was short lived as he moved backward with the other man, listening carefully to the information Eau was imparting, the part about the Garden making him wonder if it could be as simple a conclusion as what his brain had lept to. "Thank you for the information..." He murmured, catching Hiro's gaze a moment, silently asking if he should call up a portal.

xaldinstrips (2:07:09 AM): A deep laugh at that thank you, Eau lowered the trident a bit, more at the floor. Sephiroth caught another darker shadow moving, brief.. out and back into the slush near one of the crystals poking out of it. He didn't look that way though. It was confirmation enough to him aside from the earlier plural, that Eau Eis was not alone in this cavern... he was just the only one on the surface. " You are ....welcome. But..... not too... welcome. " Eau was moving more to the side, that fanned end of his tail extending to the slush, he was slipping in; but paused part way, watching them. He wanted them to leave and Sephiroth was more than willing to do so at that point. He bent first though as he nodded to Xemnas: reaching for one of the glowing crystals embedded on the floor with a handkerchief he pulled from one pocket. " Do you mind if I take this..? They're very beautiful.. and I'm curious. " An honest truth, both ways. It raised those fan-like fins on Eau's head, a grunting sound of near disbelief as he waited for them to depart. " Fine.... don't.... die. " Was also somewhat curious, in itself: in several ways. " I...... might be... hungry, later. " Another chuckle, his golden eyes flashed, and Sephiroth was reminded in the heartless' attempt at a 'joke': while Xemnas was already a Nobody.. he was not. He still had his heart. " I have no plans of doing that, any time soon.. "

Hyacinth Witch (2:20:18 AM): Flicking his wrist a portal came to life behind them, the First's gaze turning a little hard at the very bad joke the heartless made, clearly unamused by the implication especially if directed at Hiro. Without another word Xemnas caught his husband's hand, drawing him through the portal behind him, not wanting to linger further, the dark corridor all but snapping closed behind them. They ended up back in Hiro's cabin, the younger man letting go of him finally to run a hand through his hair as he tried to relax his body. "That was...an eventful walk..."

xaldinstrips (2:33:10 AM): Hiro didn't take his eyes off of Eau, nor his direction until they were on the other side. He took a deep breath as they did step into the cabin, the sudden warmth sending a shiver up his spine at the shock of it. Wandering in gradually he hadn't realized -just- how cold it was until they had ended up back there. " Very, indeed. " Raising the small crystal up and examining it, his brows furrowed. It didn't look like anything more than dirty quartz. " Don't die, hm? The color was similar, both to Eau's striping and the half frozen water he seems to prefer.. it must be a poisonous fluorite, for him to give me that warning. I wonder how many of them are under the surface. " Reaching with his now free left hand, he stroked Xemnas' face and set the crystal aside on a side table for now. " I think I understand a little more of why Axel was so interested in this place now though.. "

Hyacinth Witch (2:55:12 AM): "Indeed..." He leaned into the touch, expression probably the closest Xemnas would ever come to a pout, his hand coming up to cup against the swordsman's and press it closer to his face, turning and kissing the center of his palm. The First had been more unsettled by the parting words of the heartless than he wanted to admit. "I will have to send off a recount of that to the others..." He paused a moment, unsure of just which member would be best to receive and relay the information. "Mm...perhaps directly to Xaldin or Xigbar..." They would probably be the best suited of those who remained back at the castle at the moment.

xaldinstrips (3:03:04 AM): " Agreed. " Looking back to the crystal briefly, he pulled his hand away only to remove his coat, pulling Xemnas in close immediately after. " Hm. Perhaps have them post a bulletin as well, warning them not to interfere with that area until further notice? " His eyes were stuck staring at the air over Xemnas' shoulder as he nuzzled into his neck. The more he thought about it the odder it was to him. He had a heart: and the heartless had the opportunity to take it. Why not? " More... I think, whomever the information is given to, should be asked to pass along the idea to pressure Axel, and step up the investigation as to whatever Setzer might be holding. It's clear he was on a very ... appropriate, track. But.. if there is more information about this on the hard drive: it would be best to have that information. " Lifting his head, he realized what it was that had most bothered him, that hadn't connected. " Ah. Odd. Why wouldn't he look for the bones of this key himself..? "

Hyacinth Witch (3:17:14 AM): The younger sighed a bit as he rested his hands against Sephiroth's back, settling his chin comfortably on his shoulder as he listened. "Mm..." The bulletin was a definite must, as was keeping the Eighth out of harms way, the red head already damaged enough he was sure. This was best suited to be sent to Xaldin with that thought in mind, the Third having an uncanny influence over the younger Nobody. He blinked as his husband pulled back slightly, turning his head to look at him. That was odd. "...perhaps he was bound there? He did mention that there was a "freedom from silence"..."

xaldinstrips (3:25:29 AM): " Exodus of their silence, more pointedly.. " was sighed out, though that mention did perk his expression a little. " The markers.. the markers along the path in, they had the same writing as that inner wall that was leaking. " Thoughtful. he stroked a finger along Xemnas' cheek. A few moments passed. " A double layered seal perhaps? Either way yes.. it certainly would explain why they haven't been spotted until now, if they can't leave that area. They must be bound to that element somehow as well. I doubt he would have been able to fit through that tiny crack otherwise. " Shaking his head, he had to agree with what Eau had told them to do. " False Garden.. and the bones of a key, to open the way. " Still.. " I wonder.. why is he so interested in us opening the inner seal, if the outer one is likely to be still in place.. " He was going over everything Eis had said still. " And more interesting; is he waiting for Ansem's orders, or someone else's? "

Hyacinth Witch (3:34:12 AM): "His loyalties did not seem to lie with him, though that does not negate the possibility of enslavement..." The Garden reference still pulled at him, a light sigh leaving him as he considered the next thought. "Perhaps there is something behind the seal that would benefit Eis...he did not seem to be completely inconvenienced by existing in the cave." He licked his lips idly, regarding Hiro a moment before voicing his further thoughts. "The False Garden...perhaps my brain has become too literal...but do you think there is a possibility of a connection to the RG?"

[Xemnas]

xaldinstrips (3:25:50 PM): " No... they didn't. " Senses could be thrown, but... he was almost certain that was the case, and almost off handed thought escaped; not asking, but wondering out loud. " But.. what is to stop them from being swayed, if those orders never come? " Shaking his head, he stroked a hand back through his husband's hair, a half a smile forming. " Both may be the case: but it seems the best way to find the answers, is to follow Axel's previous lead; and investigate more. Somehow though.. I don't think he means Radiant Garden per say.. there is definitely too much missing in our information to make definite decisions any other way than to find more information, and keep alert for anything strange that might be related. "

Hyacinth Witch (3:52:29 PM): Xemnas sighed a bit, he knew why his mind kept leaping back to that place. The Radiant Garden always seemed to forever remain a touchy area with him, and anything that might even be reminiscent of it made him jump to every conceivable conclusion. "That is probably the next best course of action..." He finally murmured, thinking back to the markers outside on the path to the cave. "Do you suppose that somewhere on this world there would be someone familiar with those markings?" The First was definitely going to be sending photographs of them home for the others to examine. "Or would we be better suited looking to another outside source?"

xaldinstrips (4:15:24 PM): Sephiroth had to think about that, leaning in a bit to nuzzle his cheek as he did. " Hm.. the only way to know is to ask around, likely. " Stroking the hand already there repeatedly through Xemnas' hair he wondered if they would find anyone. " The markers at the very least seemed to have been there for some time. Either they were existing before being marked or, that seal has been there a long time. " There wasn't much else he could think of at the moment though; as his eyes slipped over Xemnas' face, his thumb coming forward to caress his cheek with a small smile. " But. For now... let us leave it at that? We can prepare a message or visit the others later, yes? " It was their honeymoon after all. As much as he wanted to know about what was going on.. they wouldn't be alone in that desire, and didn't have to do everything themselves. Looking at those amber eyes, he didn't want to either. " We'll do what's necessary tonight... and deliver what we need to the others then? " Something he hoped was quick. After that bad joke on Eis' part, he especially wanted to spend as much of their private time appreciating his husband, and the fact that he himself had escaped that fate so far to become his husband in the first place.

Hyacinth Witch (4:26:05 PM): "Mm...I shall send a message via one of my lessers later..." He said in a rather distracted tone of voice, looking up into Hiro's pale green eyes and losing most of his train of thought; he definitely would rather focus on what they had come for there in the first place than the danger that lay in the cave. "What would you like to do now that our walk is done...?" The First leaned into the swordsman's touch a bit more, his own hands caressing over his sides affectionately.

xaldinstrips (2:54:17 AM): Sephiroth's barely there smile widened once asked that question. Only a slight nod had been given at mention of a message: he'd help him write it himself to be sure they didn't miss anything when the time came: but for now.. his Jewel was right here in front of him, warm and in his hands. His thought on that question and the fact came out as one Sentence: " I had planned to show you into town... but... " one step, then another.. he was starting to remove Xemnas' coat, and more as he guided him backwards towards the bed. " ...suddenly.. I don't want to leave this house. Not for.. at least a few hours... " The last was only broken by a breath in and a lick of his lips, before he took Xemnas' kiss, one hand burying itself in his hair.

Hyacinth Witch (3:10:41 AM): The younger man moved backward with an unconscious practiced ease, slipping his arms out of the coat sleeves obligingly and sliding the sleeves of his sweater to his elbows, fingers curling into the fabric of Hiro's shirt as they kissed, having no objections whatsoever with this change of plans. "MMMmmm~..." It sounded briefly like he had groaned his husband's nickname into it, his hands wandering pointedly downward, a dark purr the next sound he made. Pulling away with an audible, almost smacking sound, Xemnas rested his forehead against his husband's, smiling at him with a very affectionate look in his eyes. "Sephiroth Crescent you drive me to distraction every time~..." His fingers traced the top of his pants, skimming the tips against his skin teasing and intending to tickle a bit.