Hoping for Tower of Animus.

[fierybeatdown]

Sooooo... finally found me a home, did you? I guess congratulations are in order, then?

Congratulations on finally getting off your lazy butt and doing something with me. It's only been, what, two months since you revived me? That has to be a record or something: longest time you've ever taken to find a muse a home. Forgive me if I'm not stroking your ego enough, here.

[Axel is appreciative to potentially have a home, finally; really he is. He just has a funny way of showing it.]

Comments

[badass_xemnas]

Good luck with that.

[fierybeatdown]

....I don't remember inviting you to my little celebration here, Xemnas. Don't you have more important things to be doing?

[Axel's certainly not even the tiniest bit intimidated by Xemnas' sudden appearance. Not at all. And if he is, nobody will ever know.]

[badass_xemnas]

Are we not on the same side? [Have a wary glance, Axel.]

I just want to wish you well in your ventures, Axel.

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel pauses, deciding how to answer that as diplomatically as possible. He's not sure exactly how much Xemnas knows about his plans.]

Sure we are. We just have very different methods of attaining our mutual goal. [Because an outright lie is diplomatic, right?]

Thank you for the well wishes, then.

[badass_xemnas]

[He nodded.]

Have you seen Saix around? I want to talk to him about something?

[fierybeatdown]

Can't say that I have recently. If you hang around long enough, he's probably bound to show up though.

[He's somewhat more relaxed now that he realizes Xemnas isn't going to just attack him here and now or something.]

[badass_xemnas]

Perhaps you are right. He is never around when I need him. [Need? Too strong, Xemnas.] When I want him.

[He watched Axel with a smile on his face.]

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel raises an eyebrow at Xemnas' use of the word 'need', but doesn't mention it.]

He's probably off barking orders at junior members, would be my guess.

[badass_xemnas]

[Yeah, he's keeping that secret to himself.]

Hmph. Probably. Doing his job as well as he always does.

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel tests the waters a bit, fully prepared to deal with whatever Xemnas throws at him -- quite literally, if need be -- or so he thinks.]

Well, it is his favorite thing to do, after all. One might go as far as to say he loves it.

[badass_xemnas]

Loves it? Hm, perhaps. Almost as much as I-

-as I love watching him bark at those idiots. [Recovery mode.]

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel smirks. He definitely noticed the pause there.]

Isn't it just crazy how much he just loves watching the lower ranks squirm under his authority?

[badass_xemnas]

[Was he trying to suggest something? Xemnas was trying to shake it off.]

Exactly. It's fun watching them squirm and getting that feeling inside of you when they break.

EEEE

[attheclocktower]

[Someone is trying not to sound too hopeful]

Axel? You're coming back?

[er-] I-I mean here?

[No telling if he'll remember last time or not, after all.]

[bringthefates]

As if you are one who can complain of laziness.

[worldsapart]

The Tower...? Again? That's --

[There is apprehension and worry mixed with relief and happiness in these blue eyes. And there's something about the way "Sora" is carrying himself...

It seems to dawn on "him" how all of this may come across, and "he" smiles hastily, awkwardly.]

We'd be happy to see you again, Axel. Really. [That hesitation has nothing to do with not wanting him there! Except it does. But it isn't what it sounds like, she -- er, "he" swears!

... Xion would just rather have him somewhere safe, instead of in that place.]

[fierybeatdown]

[Axel's going to keep pushing as long as he can get away with it.]

And I bet he's all calm and relaxed afterwards, like putty in your hands.

Metaphorically, of course.

<3

[fierybeatdown]

[Xion gets a genuine smile from Axel.]

Xion? Are you there too?

Wait, back?

[fierybeatdown]

What are you talking about? I am the epitome of a diligent worker!

[badass_xemnas]

[Xemnas raised an eyebrow. Nope, he was refusing to let Axel get to him.]

Putty? I suppose he is like that, yes. Metaphorically, of course. [He coughed.]

[fierybeatdown]

Sora?

[It's a question, because something about Sora seems really off... something distinctly not Sora-like... Something familiar...]

Wait no. Not Sora.

....Xion?

[Now that he says it out loud, he's pretty sure this is Xion he's talking to.]

Why do you have Sora's face?

[Because that's what's really important here, right?]

You don't seem so thrilled, actually.

[fierybeatdown]

But then again, some of the lower ranks are really dumb. Maybe sometimes he needs some extra help to relax, hmm? He does get pretty worked up sometimes...

[Smiiiiiiiiirk.]

[badass_xemnas]

True. He does need to relax sometimes. [Why were you pushing this, Axel?]

We could all do with a massage sometimes.

[fierybeatdown]

Perhaps someone should suggest a massage to him. Might loosen him up a bit.

[He's actually having a lot of fun winding Xemnas up.]

[badass_xemnas]

[He nodded.]

Perhaps. I think I'll mention it to him next time I see him.