Semi-closed Tomorrowland get together

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

[[Invitations here, party here. Backdated to yesterday.]]

Thankfully, the kid got over his slightly painful exchange with Katou rather quickly, especially in the face of a party and seeing everyone. He hadn't heard from Demyx, but the kid was holding out hope he'd show up anyway. Seeing the Starcade games on and going made the kid grin. The "DO NOT MAKE OUT HERE" sign on Cayce's office door only made him crack up. Fine, if he and Sara got caught making out anywhere else, and someone complained, he'd point out he wasn't making out in the office.

There were tables for refreshments on the upper level, along with tables for people to sit at with food and drink. He added some sodas he'd brought along to the refreshment table, then a couple of pizzas to another table, already feeling the giddy mood of celebrating for no reason enter his system.

His "duties" done, Setsuna went to the lower level and, instead of waiting by the door like a good host, the kid, impatiently, started to play one of the games.

Comments

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

Demyx grinned, "Carry around a notebook. Doesn't have to be a big one either... I think it's the only thing that keeps me from being completely clueless all the time."

He managed to shrug, laughed softly at the whole not getting out much comment. "I don't. I'm a homesick, heartless fish-person. And I'm absent-minded. Anyway, I'm sure it would be clean enough."

His amusement was clear on the final note; probably the closest a nobody can get to really expressing emotion. Either that or Demyx was just a damn good actor. Probably the latter. "Ah, the simple life," he chuckled, then gestured toward the door. "Shall we? Of course I could always try it again later if now isn't a good time."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"I'll go look for one," Setsuna decided with a shrug, hoping he'd remember to use it.

"It's weird that you're homesick, though," Setsuna pointed out. "I mean, you're not supposed to feel, and...what is your home like anyway? Are you really sure you want to go back? You're dead there...."

As for when? Setsuna headed right out, deciding the party could take care of itself now. "Now's just fine. Let's go."

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

Demyx nodded and let the other blond take the lead, thrust his hands into his pockets and simply strolled.

"Well... it's less humiliating and generally more pleasant when you're around people who understand you, you know? People don't stare at you. That and killing heartless was pretty amusing even if it did get old sometimes. Like stepping on cockroaches that respawn." He thought for a moment, then sighed, "The others didn't annoy me at The World That Never Was. Everyone understood. They were all nobodies. We had our own rooms, our own toys, our own willing and obedient servants, and anything we could ever need - minus a heart - and we were fed and well kept. We didn't need to do anything. Sure it was lonely sometimes, and the missions were shit every now and then, but we didn't have to worry about anything. If I could go back... I would. I think that maybe if we had stayed in line and behaved a little longer... if that dumb brat was never born... maybe we could have been whole..."

There was a sharp, hard sparkle of steel in his eyes not unlike a fanatic's. It was his only goal, drive, and reason to live. To get his heart back, to put it simply, was his only purpose. He seemed to calm a little, though.

"Not like I'll ever get it back when I'm stuck here."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Who stares at you here?" Setsuna asked with narrowed eyes while he considered this. Why would anyone there do that? The people Setsuna had met there seemed to be the most decent sort he had ever run into.

He listened to everything else, but by then end put an arm around Demyx's shoulders and said, "I think we need to get to that lake, and you need to show me this merman shape. You can't worry about that stuff now 'cause you can't change it. But maybe something can be done later. You never know."

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He shrugged. "Maybe it's the hair." He returned the gesture though and matched his step to Setsuna's almost as effortlessly, glanced up at the sky.

"Yeah. Good idea," he replied somewhat quietly. "Right now I'm a little worried about one thing. I've got all the necessary seals... runes, rater... for 'natural magic' in my head, and I remember the formulas for using them for this, but I can't remember the very last part of it. And since you'll probably ask me what's important about that last bit, it's the part that keeps me from turning inside out or suffocating as soon as I hit the water."

He laughed and shook his head. "But don't worry, I'll figure it out, I'm sure. And when I do, I hope you're good at charades."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna had to laugh at that. "I think there's plenty of people with weirder hair than yours. Maybe it's the outfit. It kinda stands out and makes you look like you belong to some creepy gang."

And then Demyx explained about the "last bit," sending Setsuna into immediate worry. Sure, he was selfish, but not so much he'd enjoy knowing he caused a friend to turn themselves inside out. Especially since Demyx was excused - he was drunk - Setsuna was not.

"Ahhh...maybe we should save this for when you're sober. And you remember this stuff," Setsuna suggested, wide eyed.

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

Another careless shrug. "Don't sweat it. It's not like I'm going to die. I know the runes I'm not supposed to use and even if I do turn inside out it's only temporary. And I'm not getting rid of the uniform. Too much sentimental attachment." He smiled and gave Setsuna's shoulder a friendly squeeze.

"Anyway, I don't mind. I'm feeling a little more courageous now. Why not give it a shot. It'd be good to go through it with you around too, since I trust ya."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

The squeeze got a sheepish smile.

"Trust me to what?" Setsuna said morbidly. "Get you killed!" A beat or so later he said, "At least if you turn inside out, don't hold it against me if I look away, okay?"

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He laughed. "Wouldn't blame you!" Coming to the water's edge, he instantly released Setsuna and bounded to the water with an excited whoop, started shedding off his clothes and throwing them aside in a pile.

"Hope you don't mind seeing me in my skivvies," he laughed, "It's more comfortable that way."

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Nah," Setsuna said with a shrug. "Had to change in front of a lot of guys before. Nothing I've not seen."

And here they were.... The blond looked almost eager now, eyes straining to watch this transformation.

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He plopped down indian-style on the bank in his boxers and started writing out symbols in thin air before him, biting his lip while he concentrated on the sequence of runes. He finished up a seal, gagged slightly and shook his head with a soft "bleh" sound.

"Nope," he finally mumbled, starting over. Upon completing the symbols the second time he barked and grasped his rump, turned to glare down at it indignantly below a shoulder. "What the!?" He sighed sharply and started all over again. "Don't have to go and bite me in the butt. Jeez," he grumbled petulantly.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

This got a long stare from Setsuna who muttered out, "Spells can bite you in the ass? Literally?" Because, well, unless it was a bug, Setsuna had no idea what bit Demyx.

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

Demyx finished the next seal, sneezed and shook his head. "Among other things, yes. Funny how messing up a spell can do things like that... Waiiit! I think I have it!"

He giggled and wrote hastily - but accurately nonetheless - and completed it, groaned and turned a pained glance to Setsuna. "Y-yep. That's it..."

He clawed closer to the water while his entire lower body seemed to go boneless and soft. He slipped into the shallows, vanished beneath the dark still water for a long while.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

He had been about to wonder if Demyx hadn't quite sobered up enough, but the sudden chance and Demyx heading for the water brought silence to Setsuna's mouth as he watched. Worried, he looked over the side of the lake and waited to see if, or when, Demyx would reemerge.

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

There was silence for a long moment before a sharp-nailed hand slipped out of the water. Seconds later, a blond head emerged, the same blue eyes and dirty blond hair, but there was a speckling of dark azure scales over his cheeks, blue and gold webbing where there should have been ears.

He blinked a few times then smiled, waved, mouthed the word, "Hi!" He carefully lifted himself up out of the water again, curling a graceful, long tail around himself.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"You really are seafood!" Setsuna yelled out, then grinned. "That's freakin' awesome."

[[The link seems broken or something, but I have a good imagination. XD]]

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He nodded vigorously and smiled with slightly sharper teeth than a human would have. He reached out a delicate hand, almost as if to prove he was actually real, but had yet to make a single noise.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

After a moment, Setsuna reached out to the hand and, confused, asked, "You can't talk or something?" It was obvious Demyx was being oddly quiet....

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He nodded and touched his pale throat with the other hand, propped up on an elbow. He quickly mouthed the word "mute", then shrugged softly glanced down a little.

After a moment, he glanced back up and purred softly and slithered closer to Setsuna. That purr was one of the few real sounds he could manage in this shape since he knew better than using Siren songs on people.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

To the purr, Setsuna gave a sweet laugh and asked, "What, are you partially cat too?" It was the first time he'd ever heard a fish purr, and had no idea some where capable of it.

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He lifted his tail, waving the caudal fin from side to side, grinning. If anything, that purr only intensified. He shook his head and tapped his chest lightly. He paused a bit again, this time leaned a little closer even, until he practically had his head in Setsuna's lap, looking up with a friendly grin.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna chuckled a bit and reached out to pet Demyx's head. "I never thought a pet fish could be interesting before. They always looked boring to me. Apparently mermen are affectionate, though."

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

Demyx's tail curved even more and he cocked his head a bit, placed a hand on Setsuna's knee. He glanced up with a look in his eyes that emphasized that last comment clearly enough. Instead of it being an emotional affection, though, it leaned more toward the instinctive sort and it was apparent enough.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Well, whichever it was, Setsuna was fairly amused. Eventually he asked, a bit concerned suddenly, "You do know how to turn back, right?"

[nine-musicnotes.livejournal.com]

He nodded simply, gasped a bit and smiled sheepishly, pointed at the water. His mouth remained open for the most part while he turned and slid back toward the lake's edge to wet his gills.