dressofheaven | ???? Grail [Action EVERYWHERE]

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???? Grail [Action EVERYWHERE]

[It starts with an unfamiliar woman walking up to the Breeding Centre in Goldenrod. She looks around for a bit, as if checking the place out, then puts her hands on her hips.]

Well, I think I just figured out what's going on.

[A few moments later, she's gone. Where? Well, it's fourth wall weekend. She could be anywhere.

Including right behind you, leaning over your shoulder and grinning.]

Hi!

[OOC: Route Future!Ilya is a go! Responses will come from

feelmyheaven. Everyone is welcome! Meet her at the Centre, wherever your character is, trapped in a cave somewhere, doesn't matter.]

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[ At that, Xion pauses. That wasn't a trick question, was it? The bit about Dialga interests her, due to Illya's past fascination with the Legendary, but she doesn't seem hurt, and that's the more important part right now. So Xion just goes for the honest approach: ]

I think so? You were always pretty and nice, Illya.

[Though she's come to expect those sorts of things from Xion, the unreserved compliment still colors her cheeks somewhat and makes her smile go a bit dopey.]

You always were a sweetheart. Well, that's one of the things I love about you.

[Her smile slips a bit, though, when she thinks about it a bit more.]

Though, "nice" isn't how I always acted... Hey, Xion, when is this for you? Are we done with Johto yet?

[ A puzzled frown mars her expression at the questions, and then realizes that Illya might be referring to the world around her. She glances at the skyscraper for a moment before turning back. ]

Done? I'm not sure... But being transported to random places has happened before in Johto. I didn't think it'd place me... here of all worlds. [ She says the last part almost quietly. ]

Worlds? I don't... oh, that thing.

[She looks at the skyscraper with a stern frown, folding her arms at it and almost glaring.]

This is your... base, isn't it? [She pauses a moment, then turns back to Xion.] Don't be too surprised I know that. By my time, we've both learned a lot about each other that we didn't know in yours.

[ That bit of information makes Xion visibly tense. How far did they go on that? ]

Um... like what?

[Ilya worries a bit at her lip as she thinks that question over.]

I... I don't know how much of that I can tell you, Xion. There's so much that we only told each other when the moment seemed right... little pieces of our pasts, of ourselves, that we shared slowly, until we could put it all together, and really see the whole for what it really was. To just tell you all that now... It seems wrong, somehow, like I'm betraying those memories, and that bond we built.

... But I know that we're both more alike, and more different, than either of us would have believed at your time.

[ She makes a brief noise of frustration at that, half turning away to direct her glare elsewhere. Even if Illya couldn't see her expression past the shadow of her hood, still... She wanted to know on account that Illya shouldn't have to worry about the fate that waits for her, and knowing that they're similar doesn't help her curiosity, frustration, and other complicated feelings she's having right now at that revelation.

After a while, she speaks back up: ] We should get going. [ She doesn't like this place, and she figures Illya wouldn't tell her no matter how hard she pressed on the subject. ]

[Ilya can recognize a Xion-sulk miles away by this point, and reaches out a hand to grab her shoulder and try to pull her into a soothing hug in a move so automatic it can only be reflex. She more or less expected this reaction, but she's sure this is the best way to handle things. They shared these sort of things so slowly... Xion would only be even more upset if she knew some of the things Ilya'd learned ten years down the line. Worse, she'd try even harder to keep them from her younger self, and Ilya can't stand that thought.]

Hey, don't be like that. I promise you'll find out in time, okay? On my soul.

[ She doesn't resist as Illya pulls her into a hug. This, too, seemed expected, or at the very least, Illya would try to do something to have Xion see her perspective on it. She doesn't resist the hug, but it takes her a while to slowly and loosely circle her arms around Illya, Keyblade still in hand. ]

It's not that, it's just... [ Sigh. ] I didn't want you to worry.

I know you don't, love.

[Her right hand rubs Xion's back gently.] Ironically enough, your tendency to try to keep me from worrying about you is the biggest reason I do worry. But it would be hypocritical of me to complain... I held back a lot of things from you for precisely the same reason.

[ She's quiet for a moment, just allowing the feel of Illya's placating gesture and the warm body around her. After a moment, she says: ]

I'll learn more about you, right, Illya? I won't have to ask them now...

[ I don't want to confirm that you end up as me and then I get even more frustrated that I can't do anything about it. ]

[She just smiles and ruffles her hair.] You don't need to worry about that, Xion. By my time, I don't think either of us have a secret left we haven't told each other.

... Just keep in mind that I'm holding back a lot of things for more or less the same reasons you are. It'll make me not telling you them for a long time make more sense.

[ When Illya raises a hand to touch her head, that's when Xion suddenly jerks back from the embrace and... just stands awkwardly as she listens to the rest of Illya's words.

She lowers her hooded head for a moment after her words pass and gives a stiff nod. ]

... Okay.

[She doesn't even try to hide the hurt in her expression when Xion moves away from her. She stands there with her hand outstretched, eyes a bit widened in surprise, biting her lower lip.

It takes a moment for her to lower it back down, and she brings it to her chest, curling it up as she tries to think of something to say. Ten years of casual physical affection has made her a lot more sensitive to losing it.]

I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry.

[ At that, Illya gets a vigorous shake of her head. She gestures with her free hand at her hood while her other clutches even tighter at her Keyblade, as if trying to gain some comfort. ]

It's not you, it's just... I don't want you to see what I look like.

[ Given Illya's words, ten years had passed for them both in Johto. The issue of Xion looking like anything else - anyone else - wouldn't have really mattered... until now. ]

... What, forgot to put your makeup on today?

[She manages a teasing smile with that question, though it's a bit wan. Even back in this time she would have known that it was something much more serious, but being deathly serious all the time is bad enough for Xion already, she doesn't need to be encouraged.]

[ Her response is just an even more awkward silence as the attempt at a joke flies over Xion's head. Or that Xion couldn't really see why the attempt was just needed. Or rather she's too focused on how to try and word this properly. ]

I guess. [ Xion tries to go for it, but the dull tone to her voice doesn't completely sell it. ] I'm not really stable like this. It's even worse when I'm here.

[Yeah, she more or less expected that would fall flat, but better that than let on how worried she's becoming.]

Would it help if we left?

[She pauses after that and looks around, frowning a bit.]

How do we leave, anyway? Do we have to wait for the world to shove us somewhere else?

[ Xion thinks on this for a moment. It would be easier if she could both pull them through a Corridor of Darkness, but she didn't want to expose Illya's heart to that danger. She glances back to her. There's power coming off of the older woman, but even then...

It's then an idea comes to her. ]

I have an idea, but could you... um, could you keep your eyes closed until I say can open them? Please?

[Ilya gives her a confused look briefly, but shrugs and closes her eyes as requested.]

Alright. Now what?

[ When she's sure Illya's eyes are really closed, Xion discards the coat and puts it over Illya's body. As she pulls the zipper up, she can already see the cloth conform to Illya's body. Xion feels the darkness swirl around her as her form changes, turns metallic. She lets out a sigh as she settles into the cold metal frame of her armored self and looks down at her hand. The golden talons that adorn her fingertips look sharp, but she makes sure that when she grabs Illya's hand, they don't do anything. ]

Just keep them closed. This will be quick.

[ Her voice probably sounds like it's coming through a metal filter now, and then there's a sudden sound of wind and space being pushed aside as Xion summons a Corridor of Darkness. The smells bitter and there's a touch of cold now that she doesn't have her coat, but she walks inside, gently applying pressure to Illya's hand as she navigates to... somewhere. Anywhere but The World That Never Was. ]

[When she feels Xion putting her coat on her, Ilya slides her hands through the sleeves automatically and kind of hugs herself, a little smile showing on her face.

Right up until Xion speaks. It would be pretty much impossible for Ilya not to be able to tell that something is very wrong with her when she sounds like that. And it's pretty clear that Xion giving her her coat is just exacerbating the problem.]

Let's hurry. I think you need this thing more than I do.

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???? Grail [Action EVERYWHERE]

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