Searching for Answers (Zienna, open)

[Faye]

Upon the streets of Traverse Town, a maiden, who appeared as if she had emerged straight out of a fairytale, walked quietly through the Second District. An orb followed behind her, shaped in clear crystal and brimming with purple flames within its core. It hovered around the sorceress as if it had a mind of its own, but never wandered too far from her. Fingers interlocked beneath her bosom, Faye’s ruby dress flowed behind her, almost giving the appearance that she was gliding on air. There was something almost regal about her mannerism, and she probably could fool someone that she was a noble. However, that was not the case. Faye only wished to present herself how she believed any proper lady should, a code of sorts.  

Faye quietly gazed in awe at the simple and otherworldly architecture. It was so strange. The buildings seemed to have a touch of what she was used to and yet it was entirely different in its own way. The sorceress did not know how to describe it. Gazing upon the clock tower in the distance, she admired the multicolored stained glass. It was nice to see that art existed in other worlds as well, though Faye believed the Enchanted Dominion were on a grander scale. Still it was nice to see that others enjoyed it.

Making her way down the stairs, she stopped at an intricate mural that was surrounded with a little mote of water. A good way to accent any art, Faye had to agree. She took a seat at the edge of the fountain, desiring to rest her weary feet. Since her arrival, she had been walking nonstop from district to district. First, she wanted to get a feel for the area, explore, eavesdrop on its people, and gather as much information simply from sight before she interacted with anyone. Partly, it was an excuse. Faye wasn’t the best when it came to people, at least in her home world and she knew not how people would react to her here. Already though, she could see that the citizens were much more laid back than those in the Enchanted Dominion. It was a relief to have that looming threat of an angry mob taken off of her shoulders. It seemed in this world, magic was practiced openly by all and was not restricted to fairies and their disciples. In fact, Faye wondered if there were any fairies here at all. Were they only in the Enchanted Dominion? Surely they resided on other worlds in some way or form.

Faye drummed her fingers against the stone, making a clicking sound with the long claws of her gloves. It would be here that she would begin her search. This place was as good a place to start as any. Someone here had to know more about this blade of light. The Keyblade as many knew of it. From what she had learned, the majority of the inhabitants had been displaced by the darkness. So many worlds devoured, leaving not a single trace. Is that what would become of her world in time. Already, the Heartless were growing stronger and stronger. Foolishly, she had believed that they could easily be dealt with in time, but she had been in for a rude awakening. These creatures were not to be underestimated. A mistake she would not make again.
The Enchanted Dominion will endure. As it always has. Its people may be stubborn, but they are strong. Faye thought. There must be a way to rid the Heartless completely from the kingdoms. I need the key. I must find that key. Someone has to possess one or at the very least instruct me on how to obtain one for myself. If only I had a little more information. There must be someone here that has the answers I seek.

[Zienna]

Within the usual calm of the city of peace, the cobblestone streets rumbled as a bulky giant strode down the path, resting his ax on his shoulder, pointed to the sky. The sea of people parted like a biblical story to make way for the the entity, giving his direction a variety of looks that went unnoticed. However, their eyes never stayed on him for long, quickly diverting to the two females who were not even half of his twelve foot height.

One had wings as black as night, and 'armor' that only seemed to protect her her lower arms, legs, and her intimate areas. The black, curled horns on her head were only noticed by a few, as most were preferring to admire her flawless skin and slender body as she walked with a sway that entranced men and women alike. One foot after the other, she tread a straight path, her feet placed firmly and never caught unbalanced between the gaps in the road, despite the blindfold over her eyes. She flipped her hair and shot a look to a group of men enjoying a round of ale, and she watched them all drop their mugs in one way or another, earning them a chuckle from the demoness.

The other woman, floating about a foot off the ground, had her fingers entwined in front of her with her head pointed down, but eyes looking ahead. The device on her back silently whirred as she attempted to let herself sink a little deeper into the machine to avoid the eyes that looked at her with an intent that would be better appreciated by her companion. It was something she should had grown accustomed to, but the sheer concentration was intimidating, and she tried to keep herself from looking at anyone directly.

They soon reached a fork, one path leading down a set of steps, and another going deeper into the heart of the town. The steps were far too small to be safe for such a big entity as the one following them, but Zienna wanted to see what was down there, curious of the culture of such a wondrous place. It was there they settled to split up for the time being. Isis and Wolfram went deeper into the settlement, and the succubus descended the steps and simply admired the architecture so beautiful. An ash-colored raven soon found her and perched on the top of her wing, nuzzling her cheek before it preened itself.

Zienna continued on, eyes still glancing towards her as she passed, until she found a fountain where a woman dressed completely out of place with the locals rested. Another traveler! she told herself, a smile of mischief curling into her lips. As she approached, she offered her a wave before sitting next to her. "Hi there~" she greeted sweetly, leaning ever so slightly over to her. "You're not from around here as well, are you?"

[Faye]

The faintness of magic drifted upon the air, invading the maiden's senses. With eyes closed, she inhaled deeply, feeling a tingle surge through her mind's eye as she found the source. Whoever carried the trace was certainly no novice, but she could tell they were not as adept in the art as she was. Not surprising. Faye mused, swelling with a hint of conceit. There was none that she had met yet that could match her magical prowess. Yet, being the key word. There are few who can be as patient and dedicated in the arcane such as myself.

The sorceress was not an exceptionally vain person, but she took pride in her accomplishments. Too much modesty displayed a lack of confidence. A weakness she would dare not show her enemies. Those filled with doubt placed themselves in a position to be taken advantage of and Faye was not going to be that person. Not if she could help it. Besides, she had always worked the hardest that anyone could muster when it came to achieving her goals. It was something to be proud of. Too many people from her homeland tried to put her down with their cruel words and she had no desire to add herself to that list. There was nothing wrong with praising oneself, especially if no one else was around or willing to do so. Everyone needs some kind of positive reinforcement and since Faye lived alone, it had to come from herself.

Glancing towards the stairs as the magic drew closer, Faye did a double take. Several thoughts went racing through her head. The first being that whatever creature this woman was, she was quite beautiful. Very beautiful. In fact, the sorceress felt a touch of envy strike her heart. One of her hazelnut eyes twitched. This beauty probably put no amount of effort into her appearance. It was just naturally there. For someone who cared deeply about their presentation, this was like a slap to the face. Waking early in the morning, the maiden would take an hour or more to get herself ready for the day. Makeup, hair, and dress had to be just right until she was satisfied. It wasn't a bother really. Dolling herself up was something she enjoyed immensely. Deep down, she would love to give someone else one of her makeovers, but no such opportunity had ever come along. Her friends were limited... consisting mostly of animals. There were a few she humans she had met recently that she thought she may be able to call her friends, but she wasn't for sure. What was considered a friend in the human sense anyway? When it came to people, Faye wasn't an expert and this made her come across as awkward to most.

The sorceress's eyes lingered upon the woman's black wings. A fairy? she wondered, noting the similarities, Perhaps an evil fairy... there is some dark magic possibly at work here, but it doesn't feel the same. No, she is something else entirely.

As much as she didn't want to, Faye couldn't help but notice her choice of attire--or lack there of. Sure, she had the body to compliment it, but the otherworldly maiden still found it bizarre. It wasn't proper. So unlady like. Why she didn't even know how to respond. There was nothing she wanted more than to grab one of her handmade gowns and throw it over the winged woman's head. Had she forgotten to dress herself? Surely not. If she hadn't noticed by now, she was quite daft. The sorceress had to remind herself that she could not do that. Cultures differed from world to world and it appeared the land that this lady was from... preferred revealing attire. As strange as it was, she knew she would have to be respectful even if it was an uncomfortable sight.  Perhaps she was from a hot environment.

Looking back down at the Wisp Sphere in her lap, Faye had expected the woman to go on her way, but she was surprised when she sat down right next to her. A friendly smile was upon her face and though Faye hated to admit it, she was alluring and felt comfortable around this person. In response to her moving closer, however, the sorceress leaned to the side. It had been a long time since someone had entered her personal space and it was a bit alarming. It just wasn't something she was accustomed to. "An accurate observation." she said, quirking an eyebrow as she answered the woman's question, her voice soft and noble. Compared to the citizens of Traverse Town, it was very different. Almost regal like. "I assumed the same of you." she continued to stare at the demon, observing every feature as she did with all she first met. Some found it intimidating while others were just disturbed. It was like Faye was trying to see inside a person, but really she was just thinking to herself. Wondering about what made up that person's heart. No other emotions could be seen, just a calculating gaze. Seeing that the woman wasn't going to walk away, she asked "Forgive me for asking, but what are you?" the maiden figured it would be best to state her curiosity bluntly now than later.

[Zienna]

Zienna could feel her demonic charms working on the woman already, as expected. Nobody could ever set their eyes on her and not instantly be attracted. But there was something else she picked up in the air. A trace of jealousy it was, stemming from her unnatural beauty. A chuckle of amusement escaped her when she noticed the woman leaning away from her, and giving the succubus a funny look. It was almost like she felt uncomfortable with Zienna being so close, though whether it was due to the vast difference of their attire, or simply because she felt like her personal space was being invaded, the demoness couldn't tell exactly, but guessed it was a mix of both.

While the woman was busy looking at her, Zienna did the same, taking extra interest in her brand of clothing. It was long and told of a woman who was much more conservative than the one she was currently trading scrutinizing glances with. She looked modest, covering much of her skin; even her arms were covered to the elbow with long gloves that, strangely, had claw-like nails at the tips. It looked sinister almost, yet somewhat proper. The corset completed her medieval look. Dated, but it was something the demoness could appreciate. Her eyes moved up to the woman's face and took notice of the mark on her forehead. Strange, that must have been put there on purpose.

Zienna tipped her head at the blunt request of what she was. Not who, what. To which she feigned being hurt, her hand coming up to her chest and pretending to grasp a bleeding heart. She smiled at the woman, giggled, and simply said, "I'm a succubus, though technically just a half-blood."

The way the woman was so properly groomed told the succubus that she was the type who spent a ridiculous amount of time making herself look fancy. Well, ridiculous for her as she didn't ever need to worry about her looks every time she woke up. Her hands were the only combs she needed, and makeup would have killed her natural allure. She was thankful for such gifts as it saved her from spending hours on fussing. Yet that was not to say that she didn't like getting dressed up from time to time.

She looked at the woman again, tilting her head to the other side. "What about you, gorgeous? You don't seem like an ordinary human to me." Which was another reason why she wanted to sit beside her. She was still new to the world and wanted to know the interesting things that it had in store for her. Awaiting patiently yet eagerly for her to reveal what she was, Zienna tapped her fingers rhythmically on the fountain's edge. Although the woman couldn't see it, Zienna was looking at her with curiosity. There was just something about her that stood out from the crowd, odd attire and markings not considered.

No wait, scratch that, the marking on her forehead was definitely something she'd have to ask about next. Maybe it would be something important.

[Faye]

A Succubus? That certainly intriguing. The term was familiar. Faye could recall reading about them in one of her tomes back home. From what she had learned, they were sinful beings that lured men and women alike into an agonizing death laced with pleasure. The sorceress wondered if this woman claimed to be the way same, even if she was only half demon. She would have to keep an eye on her for certain.

"Interesting." was Faye's response.

Although she felt comfortable around the woman, she remained cautious as she did with anyone she first met. The sorceress eventually turned her eyes away from the woman, casting them up towards the starry night sky. Somewhere in that vast canvas of diamonds was the Enchanted Dominion. When the succubus claimed that she was gorgeous, she tried to hide a smile. At least someone noticed the hard work she had put in.

"Define ordinary? It does differ from place to place." she said as she continued to gaze up at the sky. The sorceress knew that the succubus could mean many different things and honestly she just wanted to shorten the list if possible.

Faye noticed that the demon was staring at her forehead rather curiously. Reaching up, she gently touched one of the tiny red crystals that hung in a V shape on the golden headdress she wore. It was a beautiful piece of work that she had purchased from a traveling merchant back home. "Do you like it? I purchased it from a traveling merchant back home. They were from a land called Agrabah, I do believe. Their choice of fashion is intricate to say the least. This piece was not something I could pass up."

[Zienna]

Zienna pursed her lips in thought about the ever-changing definition of a word as common as 'ordinary'. The woman was somewhat right. What was ordinary in once place may not be so in another, however, the definition was always the same, as in, it meant anything that could be found normally in an area, or a event or occurrence that happened regularly. Like a flower in a flower field, or people celebrating birthdays. But perhaps she needed something more specific.

"Ordinary. Anything that's commonplace. Like say..." she looked around the area in search for an example. "Ahh~ Like people drinking in a tavern. But given my question, ordinary humans are those who are, well, common. They may have differences and some shine brighter than the rest, but if they're all placed in one area, it'd be hard to see any of them shining. However you stuck out from the crowd. You were substantially different, and not just because you dressed differently. Anyone could dress up to stick out. No, I felt something different about you."

She watched her touch the headdress, and Zienna sort of mauled herself mentally. It looked like a birthmark or something, how did she miss that? Maybe it was the lighting, but that didn't matter now. "Ooh, that's an interesting tale. Traveling merchants bring in the most beautiful things, don't they? I think those gems look amazing. Buying that was a good choice, to be sure. You've got good tastes. But I'm afraid I don't have much to show you though..."

[Faye]

The sorceress drummed her fingers against the Wisp Sphere in her lap, making a small clicking sound with each beat of her long nails. The violet fire within flared a little brighter at her touch and hummed softly, almost like it was a purring kitten. The enchanted orb was an intricate construction and not even Faye knew exactly how it was created. All she knew was that it was imbued with a small part of herself as reflected by the violet wisp inside. Rosethorn, her adoptive mother, had placed but a single finger upon her chest before extracting a thread of woven light. With a flash of magic, the sphere came into existence. Rosethorn had explained that what she had taken from her heart was comparable to a grain of sand. As Faye grew stronger, so too would the crystal ball. That was all that was needed to create the Wisp Sphere. Fairies were very mysterious creatures and even after living among them for years, Faye still didn't completely understand them, her mother included. Well, if that wasn't normal, Faye didn't know what was. She decided it wouldn't hurt to tell the demon.

"My interaction with humans is... lacking, I suppose you could say." the sorceress began" I have lived most of my life in the forest, raised by beings called fairies. It was only until a few years ago that I chose to reunite with my own kind. At times, I regret that decision." she spoke the last sentence barely above a whisper "In my homeland, that is seen as unordinary. Considering that I see no one here claiming the same, it must hold true for this Traverse Town as well." when the demon complimented her good taste for fashion, she couldn't help but smile a little, though she tried desperately to hide it "You have more than enough to show, I assure you." the sorceress replied, turning her head away slightly. "Your appearance alone is all you need to impress. Of course that goes for any succubus, I imagine."

[Zienna]

Zienna's interactions with humans were anything but lacking, and not just in a way to get what she wanted either. Unlike the pure-blooded of her kind, the connection of two bodies into one was not her overriding drive; she grew interested on other things as well, such as the lives of the more interesting of victims. Yes, victims, because even if she didn't immediately try to get into their pants, that was still something she would do if the situation allowed her to exploit people's animalistic needs. It's true that she could just blow a kiss and have her way with anyone, but she enjoyed the little talks she had going with the scenic route. Additionally, this method was a lot more fulfilling.

She giggled when the woman shyly turned away as she commented on the succubus' appearance. "It's a bit cheating though, don't you think? Aside from demonic beauty, a body is still a body, and mine is just a regular cut and paste definition of my kind, I'm afraid. Compared to this, your item has a story." As if irritated to hear her speaking like that, the raven on her wing screeched. Zienna giggled after hearing what the bird had to say. "It seems Nero would like to be shown off." The succubus pointed to the bird. "This bird brain is actually a cursed human, if you believe me. We found each other when were out and about. At first, I thought he was just a regular old bird, but when people started attacking me, he transformed and protected me. We made a pact and now he's my familiar. It's a decision I sometimes regret doing as well."

The raven looked appalled and hurt, suddenly turning his head towards towards Zienna. "Oh don't be like that, you know how you can get sometimes," she said to the bird before looking back to the woman. "Speaking of regretting decisions, why do you regret reconnecting with your kind? Did they have anything against the fairies?"

[Faye]

Cheating? Hm, Faye didn't think she could call it that exactly. It was more like a boost or maybe luck was a better word. Being born with flawless skin, silky hair, and a perfect body to compliment it all... that was definitely an otherworldly blessing, whether it was bestowed by a fairy gift or by blood. Beauty was beauty, plain and simple and the demoness was obviously turning more than a few heads with her radiance. Faye gently pushed the Wisp Sphere out of her lap like one would a spoiled pet. It rolled out into the air, stopping an inch before it hit the ground before coming to hover by her side. Lifting her chin,  the sorceress said "Well, generic or not, you are still beautiful and you certainly standout without any flashy jewelry." although the words were arranged to be a compliment, the tone of Faye's voice made it seem more like a fact--as if everyone knew that already.

The caw of a bird was heard and the sorceress turned to look back at the succubus. Perched upon one black leathery wing was a raven. Had it been there the entire time? Faye had not even noticed until now. It was probably hard to tell by her serious and proper demeanor, but Faye absolutely loved animals. They had provided her company during those long days of loneliness growing up. Her own house at the edge of the forest was always abuzz with wildlife. An array of colorful birds made their nests in the small crevices of her hut. Families of deer could be found grazing in the meadows, nibbling on the rich green grass. Squirrels would run about the trees, chasing each other all throughout the morning. Brown and tan rabbits relaxed on the stone steps, soaking in the heat of the warm sun. Of course, when she was up and about most of them scurried away, but the fact that they felt safe enough to keep coming back was touching. Just thinking about it made the sorceress terribly homesick. Seeing the other worlds was a great experience, but home was where her heart was. As much as she wanted to return, she couldn't. Not until her quest had been completed. Until she found the one who bore the key, she had to remain vigilant.

"Nero... he is a very handsome bird." she said softly "Although, I cannot say the same of his human appearance since I have not borne witness to it personally. Assuming that the curse prevents him from giving a demonstration, that is. I must say that would be an interesting sight to see." she tapped a finger to her chin "I have heard of curses like this before. Have you ever tried to remove it? It may be within my power to do so if you would like assistance. Mind you, I have never tried, but I do not doubt my own potential."

Faye tucked one of her wavy locks behind her ear when the demoness asked why she regretted reconnecting with humans. There were many reasons and she could go on for days, but she decided to reveal the root of the problem "People fear what they do not understand. The Enchanted Dominion is a world rich with magic. You can almost taste it in the air. Tis a pity that its people are so wary of it, but when there are dark fairies such as Maleficent..." Faye felt a chill run through her spine just saying the witch's name. Oh, how she prayed that the evil fairy was truly gone for good. Nothing had been heard from her since the plague of murders that had taken place all across the land. She, as well as everyone else, could only hope that the witch had been eliminated too "I can understand why. Nor does it help when there are those that would claim that the fairies are responsible for the chain of assassinations that swept through the kingdoms. That is complete and utter rubbish!" she said, getting rather heated in her rant, causing her pale cheeks to turn a dark shade of rosy pink "Sixteen years ago, there were three good fairies that served as excellencies to King Stephen's royal court and his was not the only kingdom to do so. Tis nonsense." she suddenly sighs, lowering her head "Twas not long ago that mankind and fairies lived in harmony, as we were always meant to... now darkness has come to our world and it threatens to consume us all. In their effort to place the blame on someone for the assassinations, the people have damned the most noble beings of all, our most stalwart allies. It may be a sin they can never atone for in time. The shadows creep ever closer as man blindly fights one another in the name of succession. Were it not my home as well, I would say let them rot in the darkness festering in their hearts."

The sorceress took a deep breath once she finished, placing a single hand to her chest. Honestly, she felt a little better after letting off that steam. For so long she had kept those emotions bottled up. She found it odd that she revealed everything to a total stranger, but perhaps that's what made it easier. "My apologies." Faye said as she rose to her feet, fluffing out her crimson skirt as she did so "I should not have rambled on as I did." as she gazed at the succubus, it occurred to her that she did not know her name. Why, Faye had not even revealed her own name for that matter. She had not foreseen that this conversation would continue on for this long. Usually at this point, people walked away, finding the maiden too strange or intimidating "It seems I have yet to introduce myself. Another mistake on my part, madam." the young woman delicately pinched each side of her dress between her fingers and bobbed a curtsy. "I am Faye, daughter of Rosethorn, sorceress of the Enchanted Dominion." it was a very formal greeting, one that Faye did enjoy performing when the moment was right.

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

Katsurou walked along the street of his new 'home.' He had already been here a couple of days, and so much has already happened. The Heartless have attacked, and he has fought back, eliminating a good few. Hell, Katsurou had gotten a good amount of munny because of it. Before long, he'd be able to afford a place to stay. He had nothing of the sort just yet, just a couple of nights at a nearby refugee's shelter. His Heartless hunting has been primarily spent on food, so far.

To be completely honest, Katsurou loved the food here. It was diverse. Even more so than that of Shibuya. While Shibuya had many foods; American, Mexican, Japanese, Traverse Town had even more of a selection. Foods from his world, and others as well. It made him want to break free, and see the universe for what it really was. A chance he would have never had back at Shibuya.

It was... strange. Katsurou had to thank the Heartless for being so... well, heartless. Had Shibuya not been attacked, had he not been attacked... Katsurou never would have been here. His experiences here were something to be considered, and he flashed back to when he first arrived. Katsurou looked simple. Black clothes. Blue hair. Dinky scythe.

But now, he was much more. He had the same black clothes and blue hair, but his scythe was much greater. The metal was dark, and it was large in size, even compared to him. And yet, it didn't seem all too heavy. Katsurou carried it over his shoulders, but it was almost as if its weight was negligible to him. While bulky, it certainly didn't weigh too much. Katsurou was glad to carry it around, and show off his power.

That was just who he was. Someone to show off his power.

Another symbol of power had made its way to him, too. A pendant around his neck, an exact replica of the emblem on some of the Heartless around. There wasn't much else to say about it, really. But, it did give Katsurou an air of danger, and darkness. That much was certain. And, Katsurou was happy to show it off.

Unfortunately, Katsurou's introspection met a sudden end. He was snapped out of it, when he saw two women down the street. One looked demonic... Heartless? No, he knew of no Heartless resembling a human, at all. This person was neither human, nor Heartless... What were they? An actual demon? A cosplayer? Those did show themselves in Shibuya, but this seemed... all too real.

The other woman seemed much more like a cosplayer, but there was more about her that would be impossible, except by magic. It simply was impossible for either of them to be completely human. And then, Katsurou realized two thing.

One. These two were outsiders, from other worlds. Just like him.

Two. He was completely visible. Out in the open.

Katsurou quickly dived to the side, hiding behind a crate. Were he seen, it would be easy to mistake him for a Heartless, were it not for his human complexion. And that's why he hid quickly, but it may not have been enough. And so, Katsurou sat there, behind a crafe. His scythe wasn't even hidden well enough, barely peaking out and revealing his presence. But for now, Katsurou sat there. Waiting. Eavesdropping. Perhaps he was well hidden, and could hear some new tidbit of gossip...

Katsurou could only hope.

[Zienna]

Nero waved his wing around dismissively when he was complimented by the girl, acting shy even though he was enjoying the flattery, and even beamed up at the mention of breaking his curse. That is, until he remembered why he panicked after his first transformation back to a human. Zienna just chuckled. "He's a little nervous about losing the ability to fly. I guess all that time in the sky kinda grew on him." In a way, Zienna could understand where Nero was coming from. She usually thought this, but never actually said anything: Being human sucked. Sure they may be innovative and fun, but when they're up against even the lesser demons, they struggle so much that they'd be forced to wield the powers of the ones they sought to vanquish. In a way, it was sad really... becoming the enemy to defeat the enemy. Most of them saw that as heroism, and perhaps they were right.

But as the girl revealed, her world was facing a different, yet similar situation. Humans feared the fairies, although some worked alongside them. Perhaps they saw those fairies as the rare deviants that fought against their evil brethren. It's a pity the fear within humans caused them to skip out on such a bountiful art, as contradictory as it was to her initial thought of humans and using magic. But then the girl revealed the situation in her home world, this Enchanted Dominion, and Zienna couldn't help but feel sympathy. Back in her world, fighting was everywhere. Even though the conflict was not quite like humans versus fairies, and more like kingdom versus kingdom with a middle faction taking it from both sides.

"Don't worry about it, dear. It's always good to let go of whatever's on your chest. And it looks like you feel a little better after that, don't you?" She smiled and leaned forward, almost teasingly. "It's nice to meet you, Faye. So you're a sorceress? What kind of magic do you specialize in?" she asked, but the question would go unanswered as Nero pecked the succubus.

"Hmm? Oh, sorry." Zienna placed a hand to her chest and straightened herself up to look dignified, and gave a small bow. "My name is Zienna, daughter of--" Zienna couldn't continue her introduction as something caught her eye, a figure that suddenly dove behind some crates. She would not have let it bother her so much, but she became a little cautious when she saw a gigantic scythe from the hiding spot. She would have pulled out the eavesdropper herself, but recalling that Faye expressed interest in Nero's human form, she decided this was a good time to show her.

Looking to Faye with a grin, she touched the girl's hand. "You wanted to see Nero as a human, right? It's not exactly human, but a pair of wings shouldn't elude too much from his form. Nero?" Zienna held her hand up and a dark, reddish ball the size of a marble formed just above her palm. To the perceptive, it would be clear that it was blood, and it grew as the seconds ticked. Zienna closed her hands, squishing the ball, but the blood turned to red smoke which Nero's body absorbed, darkening his feathers. With an unspoken agreement, Nero took to the skies, circled to find the eavesdropper and dove towards him. As he descended, a dark aura wrapped around him and his form enlarged. Loose feathers trailed his path, and what landed was a handsome man, dressed in all black. He stood upright and pointed a long and slender sword at the man behind the crates, the tip of the blade dangerously close and glowing red with heat visibly radiating from it.

His wings extended threateningly, making him look like a larger entity that he actually was. He held a smirk as he casually stole a glance of the girls before addressing the unidentified man. "Didn't your mother ever tell you to never eavesdrop on girls? Stand up and apologize!"

[Faye]

To see the raven act so bashful, it made him seem even more adorable to the sorceress. The dark birds were incredible creatures, smarter than most animals Faye had come across in her lifetime. As intelligent, playful, and even loving as they were... it was truly a shame that they had obtained such a bad reputation as heralds of ill omens. Faye herself had desired having one for herself, but it was well known that the evil fairy, Maleficent, had a raven companion that was always by her side. Diablo was his name; if she could recall correctly. Life as a fairy raised human was hard enough, and unfortunately having a pet like that would only cause more uneasiness among the common folk, simply because of that one connection. It was a pity really.

In a way, she wasn't surprised by Zienna's response. If she had the choice, she would probably remain as a raven too if she were in that postion. How she wished she could gain the wings that Rosethorn had and take to the skies, to touch the clouds and become one with the wind. If there was one thing she wanted to accomplish as a mage more than anything, it was not simply the power of flight, but to gain wings as well. She would find a way eventually. There was no doubt in her mind. It would just take some work. "I see. Either way... the offer remains on the table should you change your mind. I would be quite curious to see if I could break such a curse, or at the very least, weaken it." she eyed the raven. "I am sure there are some things you miss as a human."


Faye was glad to hear that the demoness had not been bored or annoyed by her prattling, and she was right. It was nice to rant to someone who could actually listen AND respond. Noir, her stallion, was a great listener... but he had no choice but to keep his opinions to himself. It wasn't very often for her to speak to anyone unless they captured her curiosity like Zienna. The sorceress would sometimes go days without uttering a single word, leaving her voice raspy from her lack of speaking. It wasn't that she didn't like to talk, it was just that she lived alone, and the people back home weren't taken with her. They were scared, raised on stories about the evils of magic. So, she learned that getting straight to business and going on her way was the best course of action. It spared her the trouble of dealing with those unworthy of her attention... prejudice and jealous fools that desired nothing more than to put her down. Was it a lonely existence? Yes, but she saw no other way... at least back home. Her experience in Traverse Town, however, was much different, and in a good way. Hopefully, it would get better.

When Zienna asked her what kind of magic she practiced, she had an entire speech planned out in the matter of a few seconds. Oh, how she loved talking about the mysteries of the arcane and its diverse schools.  The woman took a deep breath, excited to reveal her accomplishments as a mage, but she was cut short when the succubus was reminded that she had not introduced herself. "Ahh... tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Zienna."  okay, she was happy to know the demon's name, and she did think it was a lovely name, but she was just really really really eager to talk about magic and the interruption stole her thunder.... oh well.  Another time, hopefully. she thought as she tried not to look disappointed. The sorceress did like to flaunt from time to time. Admiration, awe, and praise were nice after all... and she loved to impress.

Something appeared to have distracted the demoness as she glanced over to the side briefly. The sorceress had not noticed, too wrapped up in her thrill for magic to see that a figure had ducked down behind a stack of crates. There was no hint of magic upon the air--at least nothing she could detect, but Zienna's reaction had her concerned. She attempted to sense for an enchanted item, but sadly, that degree of magic was still beyond her reach. At the moment, she could only sense people of magical talent, not their things. Though she could not feel them for herself, she knew from demon's behavior that someone was nearby. Not to mention, she could see the tip of a giant scythe peeking out from above the crates.

"Hm?" she quirked an eyebrow when Zienna touched her hand gently. At first, she did not realize she had done so... if there wasn't enough pressure, her damaged nerves couldn't pick up much of anything on her arms. "Oh, right." she moved her hand to her lap, making it clear to see that she was not comfortable with anyone touching her when she grew tense. It went deeper than just a pet peeve. "Yes, I would be curious to see this transformation of his."

Curiously, she watched as the raven ascended into the air; his feathers growing darker with the blood mist that his demon mistress had created. In a rain of black feathers, he landed, bearing a long sword. It was an impressive sight to see, but as always, Faye kept her emotions reserved and proper... even though on the inside she in awe. When Nero looked back with a smirk, she rolled her eyes. Man or bird, it didn't matter... he was a male and sough to dazzle the ladies. If the sorceress was, she never revealed it, continuing to watch with that cool calculating expression.

"Fascinating. What has he found? A farmer of the grain or the Grim Reaper?" the sorceress replied with her dry sense of humor.

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

Katsurou noticed something, something coming down from above. It seemed to be a raven, but soon... The raven transformed. Katsurou jumped to his feet, and popped the scythe off of his shoulders, acting as quickly as he could. However, his 'quickly' wasn't enough. Darkness danced upon the blade he held, engulfing the scythe he held in the pure and chaotic black energy. But, while his blade would have gotten into position, so would the now transfigured human's. And, to put it simply, Katsurou would probably be a pin cushion before he could get just one slash off. And so, it was time to judge his options.

He could attack, but he risked becoming the aforementioned pin cushion. Honestly, that was not a risk Katsurou exactly wanted to take. He just got here. It was not time for him to die just yet.

Katsurou looked down. The pendant seemed promising. Its powers were unknown. But, what if the powers weren't enough? Would he succumb to the same fate of pin cushion-dom?

Katsurou looked straight at Nero once again. He could try to push the man back, and make a run for it. But, he could fly. It was unlikely Katsurou would make it far, nor would he be able to hide from him.

Katsurou looked towards his weapon. He could drop it, and admit defeat. However, pin cushion. It was still very possible. He needed to be ready.

And, so, Katsurou finally made his decision. He craned his neck over, looking over his shoulder towards the women and companions. He called something out in a serious and urgent tone, as if he needed to be somewhere, and now.

"Hey, can you call the birdy off? I don't mean any harm."

With his back turned to the two, the Heartless Emblem Pendant was likely not visible, and probably wouldn't have attention drawn to it unless Nero decided to point it out. Maybe he could escape accusations of being a Heartless for another day.
------
Imbuement: Darkness [Activated]
Passive: Glint [Active]
Passive: Moon elemental boost [Active]

[Zienna]

Zienna watched as Nero stood firm against the possible enemy. She chuckled at Faye's jesting, but continued to watch as the one being confronted rose up to defend himself, only to freeze at the realization that Nero was quicker than he was, and already poised to strike. "A possible dead man," Zienna said flatly in response to Faye. "Maybe even a sliced and diced one if he does anything stupid." Nero was known to be merciless when provoked. Luckily for the eavesdropper, it was hard to do, at least when in the presence of women. Something about being chivalrous or something to that effect. But get him all alone, with no witnesses, and he'll assure you that there won't be anything recognizable of the fool.

The stranger seemed to be exploring his options, and Nero was patiently waiting to unleash a flurry of slashes. Instead of showing hostility, the stranger did something smart and requested them to call Nero off. However, he did make a mistake of not acknowledging Nero's order. "Hey! Did you hear me? Apologize to those two fair and wonderful ladies for eavesdropping, or we're going to have a little problem here, bucko." He twisted his sword a few degrees so that it lined up with the spaces of the stranger's rib cage. Just a single thrust would allow him to pierce right through the lung.

Zienna looked to Faye. "What do you think, Faye? Should we let him off?" she asked in a rather sly, joking manner. Nero heard Zienna and nodded to Faye, signalling that it was her call on what he was going to do to the man. Should she choose to ask Nero to lower the weapon, he would do so without further question, although he'd still have his eyes on the stranger. Tell him to attack, and it was just a simple motion to reach the lung.

Judging by how Faye presented herself, Zienna already knew she wasn't the type who wanted to see bloodshed if she could help it, although she also wanted to see how decisive she was. In a way, it would also show the onlookers that Faye was a good little girl, in case they saw her the same way as the people back in her world.

[Faye]

The sorceress closed her eyes, pursing her lips ever so slightly as she thought. It seemed that the choice of the stranger's fate was in her hands. Nero's sword would stay or thrust on her word, and honestly, she preferred it that way. There was no one she trusted more than herself. Power and control-- she knew she could handle better than anyone else. After all, she was very disciplined, demonstrating proper etiquette and magical poweress when necessary--which was most of the time. A lady must always be patient and think clearly, two traits Faye had nearly mastered. If she was to be the judge, she would gladly take the gavel.

There were so many options to weigh. Who was this person? What was their purpose? Were they hiding out of caution? Perhaps that was it. Had she been in a similar situation, she could not say she wouldn't have done the same thing. Collecting information was beneficial to her cause and she would do what she had to to achieve the knowledge she needed, whether it involved sneaking around or not. So, yes, she could understand if that were the case. However, she had no ill intent either and she had yet to deduce what this blue haired man's agenda was. Blue haired youths and lust seeking demons... the denizens of other worlds were so strange.

Rather than sit and ponder her decision further, Faye rose to her feet and began to approach Nero and the stranger. It was hard to make a choice by looking at the back of someone's head. No, the first thing she wanted to see was his face. There was so much you could tell about a person from their eyes. "Patience is a virtue. " Faye said, gently holding her dress skirt between two fingers so she would not trip.

She made her way around to view the "Peeping Tom" from the front and examined him closely. Like many she had seen from this town, he was dressed differently than what she was used to seeing back home. "Modernized" is what people called it. Pfft. More like a disaster of buckles and straps! This poor sod. The sorceress thought as she looked him over. Not many worlds had much sense when it came to fashion, in Faye's opinion. The designers had to create these abominations of cloth with a burlap sack over their head. That had to be the reason. No ribbons! No ruffles! No delicate shoulder puffs or finely sewn breeches! And worst of all, women wearing pants. Outrageous! It only made Faye want to cradle her head in her hands. Ah, but she had to remind herself that she wasn't here to critic his attire. There was one thing that caught her interest, however. Around the man's neck was a pendant resembling the emblem of the Heartless. It was for that reason that Faye did not instruct the raven familiar to lower his blade, but nor did she command him to strike either.

"Interesting jewelry you have there. A trophy?" she would give him the benefit of the doubt at first--the same kind she never received back home. The sorceress was not so chaotic that she would strike someone down for irking her, but neither was she very forgiving when betrayed. One chance. That was all she would ever give. No more. No less. Anymore would be foolish. If she saw a problem, she "fixed" it. If that involved bloodshed, then so be it. She wouldn't lose a wink of sleep. Her eyes met his, serious and observant. "You would have been less obvious without the size of your ridiculous farming tool. Do keep that in mind the next time you decide to sneak about. May I have your name?" her voice was polite and regal like in manner, and yet, she sounded as if she were on the edge of scolding him like a child.

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

Katsurou sighed, shaking his head. 'Seriously,' Katsurou thought, 'This is very unnecessary.' Katsurou was very, very frustrated by this situation, and this showed. But, he was in no position to remain quiet. Whilst keeping his scythe up in an attempt to keep Nero at distance, using the darkness dancing on his scythe as a method of intimidation, however ineffective, Katsurou proceeded to speak.

"Look, I wasn't here to eavesdrop or anything. You all are outsiders too, yeah? Don't really know who I can and can't trust, here. I needed to make sure you weren't all going to jump me the moment you saw me, and so I got outta the way until I knew you weren't evil or anything. I was gonna show myself right after I knew."

This was going... well, Katsurou thought. For an interrogation. While not the full truth, it wasn't an entire lie, either. He sighed, before thinking again, and considered whether to tell the truth or to lie. However, a lie wouldn't be in his best interests, if he were discovered. So, he tried to describe things in the best way he can.

"...The pendant is... a power syphon, I guess. I've taken the power of the Heartless, all while keeping my heart myself. It's pretty neat, but I haven't gotten a chance to try it out just yet."

He considered a couple of more things, before he speaks again.

"I know I'm not the stealthiest guy, but I like to show my power, y'know? I like it when people know they shouldn't mess with me. Even if it just keeps a couple of thugs away, that works for me. Makes my life just that much easier."

And, finally, Katsurou took one more pause, before speaking again.

"...My name's Atsuregi Katsurou. Er... In case you're unfamiliar, in my home world, the family name comes first. And, it's a scythe, not a sickle. The kinda stuff the old Reapers of legend use, y'know. Look, I know it looks like I take a lot of cues from the Heartless, with the darkness and emblem and stuff, but I'm not base like they are. If you're not gonna hurt me, I got no reason to hurt you."

Katsurou seemed finished, but then, he swallowed his pride... Literally, I mean, he swallowed right there, and spoke up again. Potentially interrupting someone who may have started speaking right as Katsurou finished.

"...And, I'm sorry for startling you guys. That wasn't the plan."

[Zienna]

While the stranger explained himself, Zienna had wandered close, circling him to get a good look at his physical characteristics. He didn't look that bad to be honest. One could say Zienna wouldn't have mind if he was peeping on her. Though it only made sense that the consequences would be severe on his lower regions if he was ever caught. But then, was there ever any doubt to that, considering it was Zienna being talked about? No. Definitely none.

The succubus' predatory tendencies began to show as she happily grinned at the blue-haired stranger, looking at him with eyes that would have shone with lust had it not been for her blindfold blocking the view to those windows. She wasn't just fantasizing about what she'd do with a pretty boy like that, she was listening as well, and what he was saying was swirling with a mix of half truths, which wasn't really all that important to the demoness, so long as he kept his word and not try his luck and attack any of them. That move would have been dumber than him hiding out with his weapon clearly visible in order to... show his power... Not really the sharpest tool in the shed, is he?

From behind, her hand reached out to his scythe and ran a finger on it, cutting herself in the process. "Sharp~" she cooed before walking back to rejoin Faye. She rubbed the blood out of her finger and revealed that the wound simply vanished, not a single scar nor hair-width scratch on the surface. "I accept your apology, though I don't speak for everyone, eh, Katsuruo, right?"

What ultimately happened to him was still Faye's call, and she was very procedural about it, allowing Zienna to see a little bit more into the man named Katsuruo than if she were the one doing the interrogation, which wouldn't really be an interrogation, but more like forcing him to tell the truth by bending his mind to her will. Something like a truth serum in the form of a kiss.

Zienna looked at the pendant that intrigued Faye. It was apparently a special thing with the power to steal the powers of Heartless. "So... what do you do after you've taken their powers? Does it boost you in a way, or do use it like a battery for your spells and the like?"

[Faye]

The sorceress watched as the demoness circled the man, obviously attracted to him by the way she swayed her hips. The sorceress eyed the older teen's features more closely for herself. For a young man, sure, he was attractive. That was not hard to notice, but that was about the extent of Faye's thoughts on the subject. Nothing more. Indulging in life's physical pleasures was not something she was experienced in, nor did she really have any desire to try; not when there was more important things on the line... studying magic, protecting her home, defeating the Heartless indefinitely, and most importantly, discovering the key. There was no room in her life for silly flings. It was very obvious how different the sorceress was from the succubus. The two may as well have been night and day.

This man was no different than anyone else... constantly beating around the bush with his explanations. The straight truth would have been preferable, but she could admire that he was playing it safe. When the blue hair man, Katsuruo (the strangest name the sorceress had ever heard), explained that he enjoyed displaying his power through his giant weapon, her eyes narrowed slightly. "It could just as well serve as an invitation as it does a scare tactic, and of course, the Heartless will attack regardless of presentation..." she looked at the pendant around his neck, tilting her head slightly in thought. "As you already know, I'm sure."

The Heartless emblem intrigued her. Katsuruo had spun an interesting tale, and it would be a lie to say she was not tempted to gain a power like that for herself. After all, she did have a mission, and that was to save her home no matter what. Although finding a wielder of the Keyblade was preferable, if it came down to it... she would not hesitate to learn how to manipulate the darkness. If she could command the Heartless to leave, then perhaps that would be enough to defend the Enchanted Dominion. It was a risk-- a risk she would be willing to take if all other choices were off the table. Hopefully, that would not happen, and the purity of her heart would remain safe.

This Katasuruo, he reeked of the darkness, saw it dancing upon his blade as he continued to point it towards Nero. The sorceress did not trust him, but then she did not completely trust Zienna for that matter... it was just she felt so comfortable around the demoness. She had to remind herself that it was only an effect and nothing more, not her actual instincts, or so she wanted to believe. Earning her favor was not an easy feat under normal circumstances. It took time for the sorceress to warm up to anyone, and even then, she was still a bit distant. However, she did have soft spot for children.

Faye bowed her head, accepting the man's apology. Were it a man from her own world, she would have liked something more dramatic, but he wasn't, so this would have to do. "Your reasons are understandable, and therefore, your apology is accepted." she nodded to Nero. "You may lower your blade. Let there be no bloodshed tonight." she raised one finger, looking at Katasuruo. "Do not make me regret this decision. Go on your way if you desire." she glanced over briefly at Zienna, wondering what she was thinking. "Or perhaps..." Faye began as she got an idea. "We can trade questions and answers. That was your intention from the beginning, no? Gathering information?"

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

Katsurou really is not the smartest man. This much is... quite obvious. However, this aside note is nothing more than just that. An aside note.

This whole time, Katsurou had been focusing on Nero, mostly. Waiting to see if he would have to -- or, perhaps, if he should make his move. However, at one point his glance wavered to Zienna. Namely, when she asked her question. At this point, a sort of combined magic took place upon him. Both Zienna's stunning sight, and Katsurou's own hormones made an assault on him.

It was super effective.

Katsurou forced himself to remain staring quite closely at Nero, to avoid looking straight at Zienna once again. His cheeks became colored with a pinkish hue, but he still spoke to answer her question.

"The power of the Heartless... It starts to change me, in a way. I don't fully fall to the Darkness, of course. I just... amplify myself with it."

He simply nodded at Faye's words, but then, towards the end of the mention of Heartless, he stopped her.

"For some reason, the Heartless like to leave me alone. At least, the one's I've seen so far, with very few exceptions. That is... Unless I'm feeling up to a fight."

And then, he let her continue. When Faye called Nero off of him, however, Katsurou gave a quite obvious sigh of relief. He let his scythe fall to his side, and leaned on it as if it were a staff. He took a few deep breaths, at this point. And then, he spoke once again.

"As I said earlier, I'm not here to eavesdrop. I'm just here to see who I can and can't trust. Some people take notice of me, like the two of you. I just wanna know who's willing to help me out, and who's willing to kill me off, y'know?"

At this point, if the three others were paying attention, they would notice that Katsurou's scythe would begin to change. The aura of darkness it held would fade, and it would return exactly to how it was earlier, without the darkness imbued into it.

---

Imbuement: Darkness [Deactivated]
And the Passives with it.

[Zienna]

A somewhat disappointed sigh escaped Nero as the heat from his blade simmered down rapidly. "As you wish, m'lady" he simply said to Faye. It had been a while since he used his sword to clash with another. Well, sure, he and the rest of the group would sometimes spar when things got boring, but it eventually gets old. But still, he was bound to the girl's word, and so he lowered his sword, staying true to Zienna's instructions.

Zienna glanced at Nero with a tilt of her head. "No complaints?"

"The one giving the order isn't a pain in the tail feathers, unlike someone I know."

"Meanie." The two of them chuckled at their short banter before Nero turned his attention towards the passing crowd, while Zienna refocused on Katsurou, instinctively giving him a soft smile at the sight of his pinkish cheeks. "Well, if you need help with anything, I'm happy to lend you a hand~" Her words were smooth and sweet, but was not so much a blatant flirt. If the two did notice, they'd more likely think they were imagining things. Although, Zienna's body language would affirm that suspicion.

Her stance was relaxed and inviting. She faced the man with the front of her body facing him, one hand on a hip slightly raised, and feet pointing towards him. She noticed the change on his scythe, but opted to let Faye question him next, since she did suggest a little Q&A between them. For now, she was acting as the eye candy. Possibly a prize for getting all answers right? She chuckled quietly at the thought.

[Faye]

As the darkness faded from the young man's weapon, the sorceress too, felt safe enough to relax. A little, at least. Allowing one's guard down completely was foolish, after all. Glancing sideways towards Zienna, she noticed the effect she was having on the blue haired youth, noticing the hint of pink on his cheeks. The demon's presence seemed worse for the young man, but then, it probably differed from person to person. His age was probably a factor as well. I mean, teenagers tend to let their minds... Faye didn't want to dwell on it. Even at her age, thoughts of intercourse made her feel awkward. It was better not to think about it.

With a slight shake of her head, she asked Katsuruo. "You are quite 'friendly' with the Heartless, then? Have you learned anything about them that is not basic knowledge?"

Perhaps he had answers that could benefit to her own quest. The more she learned about the creatures of darkness the better.

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

A passing image entered Katsurou's mind, but he quickly shook his head. He was not going to be one to fall so easily to desire in such a way, but instead, he looked to Faye, his cheeks increasingly becoming darker due to the whole ordeal. The question was simple, but he shook his head once again.

"Me and the Heartless... are nothing like friends. I'd like to think it more of... I'm their 'master,' in a way. Not how you're thinking. I'm not the one who's causing the Heartless to attack people recklessly. More of, if I see a Heartless, I can... influence its decisions."

Katsurou looked down, and held the pendant around his neck in one of his hands.

"The Heartless are... base creatures. They're nothing like us. They are mindless, but that makes them powerful. There are two kinds of Heartless, too, from what I know. Ones that have these, and ones that don't."

At this point, Katsurou looked back up at Faye, and began to explain.

"The ones that don't have these are pure black, from what I've seen. The ones that have these are a bit more colorful. I've looked into it, however. While the ones that don't have these, the 'pure' Heartless, are made of Darkness, so, too, are the ones that are more physical and colorful... Not all among those wearing the Emblem are immune, perhaps, but they are resistant. I've looked into them, and I'm pretty sure that most of their own Darkness is stored in that Emblem that they have on their chests."

[Zienna]

Zienna found Katsu's attempt to fight his influenced emotions a tad bit cute, and only heightened the succubus' attraction to him, though it'd be a while to get her to blush. Watching the strong-willed slowly getting their barriers chipped off little by little was so much more satisfying than having them instantaneously bow at her feet at first glance. And who said it was wrong to play with food?

Nero glanced at the succubus when Katsurou mentioned something about being a sort of master to the beings known as the Heartless, and how he could influence their decisions with the help of that pendant. The cursed human saw a little overlap between the scythe-wielding youth, and the salacious succubus. Heaven forbid she gets an item like that.

"Influence their decisions, hmm?"

Oh boy...

Zienna approached the youth and stopped just short a few steps, and although she wasn't breaching the average person's personal space, she already had her foot at the door. Then without any second thoughts, she held the boy's hand which was holding the pendant and ever so slightly tilted it to her direction. She seemed to be deep in thought before she spoke to Nero without taking her eyes off the pendant, nor her hand from the boy's. "Doesn't this look familiar?"

Nero nodded and offered a low-volumed grunt. "Same mark as the invaders on Limbo. So those things were called Heartless... Good. I'm sure Wolfram would love to know that."

Keeping her gentle grip on Katsu's hand, she looked up to level with his eyes, and just smiled sweetly. "If you happen upon another like this, would you mind if I asked for it?"

Hearing the request, Nero looked to Katsurou and slowly shook his head left and right. He knew nothing good will come out of the object. At least if it was in the succubus' hands.

[Faye]

The sorceress listened intently to the young man, regarding everything he said as new and valuable information. "Controlling the Heartless..." for a brief moment, Faye imagined what she could with that kind of power. It wasn't a question of if, I mean, she was confident she could control the Heartless if she wanted to, but how... that was another thing entirely. The dark haired lady quickly shot those dark thoughts down. They weren't healthy, and she would not allow herself to give into her weakness for power and change. Looking at Katsarou, she continued. "From my understanding, that is one good way to lose your heart." warning both the young man and the demoness. Faye let out a soft hum, folding her arms across her chest. "Nevertheless, the knowledge you present on them is quite fascinating. I would like to learn more about these fiends. 'Twould be wonderful if I could study a live specimen up close without it trying to devour me. I am uncertain of how much is documented on them, and I would like to make my own notes eventually." would Katsurou be able to help with that? Someone who could command the Heartless, maybe he could at least get one to hold still long enough for her to try, or maybe it was just a crazy idea.

[Katsurou Atsuregi]

Katsurou felt the soft touch of the succubus's hand on his. He tried to ignore it, for now, but then, she looked him in the eyes. Katsurou's own eyes widened, and he forced himself to look away. This time in the direction of Faye, but he simply gave off a 'tch.' And, he shook his head.

"I know of none other in this universe. It's improbable that another exists. You're looking at something unique, here..."

Keeping his eyes on Faye, and still avoiding Zienna and her (albeit somewhat magical) charm, he would shake his head once again, refusing the truth.

"I somewhat doubt that Darkness, alone, can take someone's heart. Only if I were to screw up and try to control something that had a stronger will than I. But, I'm certain you know, already. These Heartless. They're base creatures. They're just waiting to be dominated. And I somewhat doubt another Heartless could do just that. They're all so animalistic. However... Someone with enough control over Darkness, like me, can control them."

Thinking for a moment, as if considering something, Katsurou sighed. He spoke again.

"...Somehow, I doubt I could get a Heartless to stand still long enough for someone to study them well. But if you know of a safe place to keep them, I may be willing to help. It'd have to be something even something vicious like the Heartless couldn't break out of. Because..."

Katsurou then sighed, his gaze not sitting at any of them. He recalled the events from earlier that day, before speaking.

"It may not end well."

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