Birds of a Feather [Vexen]

[Slash]

All of you are crazy.

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Aixfeur sat in the Grey Room and stared outward through the window.

This had been a worse idea than she had previously expected. Everyone here was insane. She had no reason to believe otherwise. If the leader had wanted power and the others had wanted their hearts, couldn't they have come to a compromise of some sort? Certainly that would have worked if they weren't all crazy. Which they were. All of the ones she had met were insane, and the ones she hadn't? Probably insane, as well.

Some of them were so insane that they had left, giving up their goal. How much sense did that make?

Perhaps she should leave, too, and head back to Radiant Garden. Still, it didn't feel right to go through all of this for nothing...

She continued to stare at the landscape, her face no more expressive than a doll's.

[Matt]

Hmm...

It occurred to Vexen that, hard as it was to believe, he had forgotten something. After the rather unexpected and unfortunate turn of events of the previous day's meeting, the task of lecturing Zexion on his absurdly foolish actions had slipped his mind. Obviously this was a problem that needed to be fixed immediately. So far, however, the Academic's attempts at locating him had been unsuccessful. Having already checked the Schemer's personal quarters, the next most logical place to look seemed to be the Grey Room.

Stepping into the dully colored lounge, he was disappointed to not find the Nobody he was searching for. The only other member that was there was Aixfeur, the new Number Eleven. Or was she no longer known by that title, now that the ranks had formally been abolished? Who knew.

She appeared to be deep in thought. Perhaps contemplating the same absurd matter that he was. The overthrowing of the Superior, the return of certain traitors, the abolition of the ranks... Complete madness. No doubt the girl, being evidently so sensible to such important things, must have shocked be the turmoil within the Organization.

Usually, Vexen did not make it a habit to go out of his way and talk to most of the other members, particularly the newer ones, but this one was quite respectful, based on what he had seen. A vast improvement on those preceding her. Besides... he was curious to see what her opinions on the recent occurrences were. And, more importantly, what his opinion of her should be

"Pity, isn't it?"

[Slash]

It is.

[/center]

Ah. The Academic had shown up and had decided to talk to her. That was unexpected- Aixfeur had become used to being ignored. She didn't mind either way, though, and the Academic had seemed intelligent enough.

However, that didn't mean he wasn't insane.

No topic of conversation had been brought up, but he spoke to her as if there had been one. Perhaps he was referring to what she had been thinking.

"Yes, sir." She made a note to stop referring to everyone as sir. If a bunch of lunatics in an asylum pretended to be generals, was it right to defer to them as such?

"It is a disappointment. For something that is supposedly powerful, this Organization is too full of conflicting, mad interests. There is no structure, and it seems that anything but the loosest hierarchy is destined to be undermined by those who can't accept their position. It is foolish, and it only brings everything to a halt."

She had spoken more in that one go than she had in the past 3 days.

[Matt]

The Disreputable History of Organization XIII

"Yes sir"? How formal... Not that the Academic minded, of course. It showed respect, something that none of the other neophytes had truly managed to learn. Granted, he was no longer her official superior. He was quite aware of that. But it did not mean as her elder and someone who had been there far longer than her, he did not warrant a certain level of respect. And she seemed to be meeting that level just fine, a first. The new Number Eleven was on a quick route to becoming his favorite member.

"Indeed." he agreed with a shake of his head. "I'm afraid the Organization has been going downhill rather quickly for a while now..." The exact cause or point at which this occurred was a bit hard to place, and perhaps somewhat subjective. One could argue that the problems within the group actually traced back to the founding itself, however Vexen would not agree this to be the case.

"There were originally six founders, as you may know. Aside from myself, there was Zexion, Lexaeus, Xigbar-- all of whom you have met-- Xaldin, and, obviously, the Superior. It was at this point that the structure of the Organization was actually a relatively stable one." No, they system might not have been totally perfect, even then, but it had certainly been much closer than since then. "It was not until later when we began to recruit new members that things got... problematic."

"Number Seven, Saix, followed almost immediately by Number Eight, Axel. Both power-hungry traitors, that simply could not accept their place in the set hierarchy." Troublemakers with hearts, no surprise they would prove just as troublesome as Nobodies. "Nine and Ten-- well they were mostly just useless." He could not pretend to be sad to see them go.

"Numbers Eleven and Twelve, Marluxia and Larxene, however, were also unable to accept their ranks. They actually plotted and attempted to take over the Organization themselves, though ironically it was largely the other traitors that saw to their defeat. Only for the purpose of furthering their own plans, naturally. Using the situation as the perfect excuse to do away with three loyal members."

"The only reason Saix and Axel never got around to enacting their own coup, was due to a rift that formed between them." At this point Vexen was speaking mostly on hearsay, but his information was accurate enough. "Apparently Axel became a bit too fond of a certain Number Thirteen. The Keyblade Master's Nobody. Roxas." Vexen realized he was beginning to drone on, and better try to speed things up.

"To put it shortly, Roxas left, which ultimately resulted in Axel's leaving. Saix took it upon himself to eliminate his former parter, and ended up succeeding." So much for their supposed friendship. "Considering the fact that Axel was responsible for Zexion's death, and Saix Axel's, it is a bit odd that they would have actually all been willing to work together in this..." Particularly the Schemer, who Vexen would have thought smart of enough not to trust those two. "No long term memory, I suppose."

He looked over at Aixfeur, who at been polite enough to not interrupt him throughout this to ask questions. That would have been extremely annoying. "As you can see, this coup was not a first. The Organization has quite a history of betrayals and treachery. Even more so than I have said, believe it or not."

[Slash]

I should have taken notes.

[/center]

Aixfeur listened with detached interest as the history of the Organization was told to her.

...What a strange, disreputable gathering it was. And it seemed that Numbers Seven and Eight (she had been having trouble adapting to the lack of numbers) were mostly responsible for this, as well as some members who were now gone. Oh, and Zexion. Aixfeur felt somewhat bothered by the fact that she had once considered him favorably. Who was so weak as to team up with their killer against someone else, instead of redeeming themselves by destroying their killer? It seemed like a very cowardly road to take.

So Zexion is a coward, while the other two are simply powerful and very, very insane.[/color] And there was apparently even more to it than she had been told. Perhaps she would get to fight those two. They would be a great challenge...no, she had to train far more. She had been getting too soft, and when this conversation was over she was going to go straight to Deep Jungle, bring down a huge outcropping of trees, level the ground, and build a house using only her hands and her scythe. That would build strength.

"If the Organization is so disreputable, then I am surprised that you have stayed so long." It did seem that Numbers Nine and Ten actually had the right idea about leaving. There didn't seem to be much of a point in staying with a bunch of cowards and lunatics.

Of course, the Academic seemed somewhat reasonable, so there was probably some logic behind his staying.

[Matt]

I'm Not Going Anywhere... For Now

He waited as Aixfeur digested the information for a moment. Hopefully, she was drawing all of the right conclusions: those that he wished her to. As such a new member, she had yet to form opinions on her fellow Nobodies. This provided Vexen with a perfect opportunity for forming them for her. It wasn't exactly scheming, and it certainly wasn't deceptive. Perhaps it would benefit him somewhat in the long run, but the real purpose was simply to enlighten the Relentless Soldier from her current state of ignorance. Clearly he was doing her a favor.

"Why am I still here?" A good question. Honestly something that had crossed his mind more times than once as of late. "I cannot deny that I have considered it." he admitted lightly. "For one thing it isn't as if I really have anywhere else that I care to go... Though that is only part of it." A larger part of it than he was implying, granted. The Castle That Never Was might not have been a place that the Academic felt emotionally attached to, but it served as an ideal location for his research. He could part with this if need be, but it was not preferable course of action.

"More importantly, I refuse to leave because that would be an act of submission, of defeat. It would be completely cowardly. " Like he would want to give Axel the feeling of satisfaction that he had been able to run him off so easily. "Were I to leave, then I have no doubt that the little order I have worked so hard to maintain would be almost immediately destroyed." It had become rather clear, especially at that last meeting, that Vexen was the only one stopping the Organization from becoming complete chaos.

"You saw how much difficulty I had preventing that absurd idea of no leadership. They would have had the Organization thrown into complete anarchy, had I not been there to persuade them into a slightly more favorable alternative. Sad, really, how dependent upon his superior wisdom the group had become. More sad was how unappreciative of it they were. "Unfortunately, I find myself fighting a losing battle with the forces of insanity that surround me."

[Slash]

Two islands floating in a sea of insanity...or would that be icebergs?

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She understood. She understood very well, in fact. It was nice to have a clearer view on things, and she was duly grateful for the perspective she had been given.

The Academic certainly had quite a large amount of perserverance, considering what he had gone through so that he could maintain a small level of order. And if he had not been at the meeting, it was true that the idea of anarchy would have been completely accepted. That was absurd.

"Yes. They are quite insane, but that doesn't account for all of it..." She considered the matter for a second, then reached a conclusion. "Stupidity factors into it too, I believe. A large amount of it. Or perhaps simply an idealistic shortsightedness, which is so like stupidity that the outcome is the same."

She nodded. "I see. The traitors...Axel, Saïx, and Zexion, I mean, as well as those stupid enough to sympathize. Will they make an attempt on your life?"

If that was a possibility, she would have to take a few things into consideration. She wasn't going to let a bunch of idiot crazies to attack the one sane Nobody she had found in the entire Organization.

[Matt]

Not Much Trustworthiness Around Here, I'm Afraid

Vexen nodded. "Oh, no doubt. Stupidity certaintly plays a large role in the problem." Stupidity. What a perfect way to sum up the roots of the majority of the issues troubling the Organization. Idealistic shortsightedness was also a reason, though not a seperate one as the Soldier seemed to imply. It was more of a subdivision that stemmed from the forementioned explanation. Stupidity.

"Perhaps..." The Academic's current person danger was obviously one of his main points of worry now that Xemnas had been overthrown and past traitors had returned. "Axel will want to for certain. He has done so multiple times in the past..." Not to mention succeeded once, though that could be left unmentioned. "Saïx might if he sees me as a threat, which wouldn't be a surprise, though he would likely choose to send the former to do his dirty work for him." Funny how the Diviner never seemed to be the one doing his own dirty work, though he was not alone in this.

"Of the three, Zexion is the least to be worried of. Not to suggest he is trustworthy in the slightest, merely that he is too much a coward to dirty his hands if he can help it." At Castle Oblivion, always down in deepest depths of the basements, allowing Vexen, and later Lexaeus, to deal with everything while he hid in the shadows. This could still be stated of the Schemer, even if he was no longer literally in a dark basement. "He is only truly as much a threat as the chess pieces currently under his control."

"The other two are presumably still in league, but now that the coup has been completed I doubt they are working too closely with Zexion." All things considered, that partnership was, at best, a loose armistice based solely on the accomplishment of one goal. "Xigbar is unpredictable to the extent of being impossible to trust. I will have to keep a close eye on him..." That left only the Silent Hero. Well-- and the newest one, Alanix, but she was hardly worth mentioning.

"Lexaeus is the most trustworthy. That is... He tends to have the best intentions." Granted, that wasn't a difficult title to claim in this particular group. "He is, however, guilty of the idealistic shortsightedness you mentioned previously. And even worse is his history of serving as Zexion's loyal puppet. Currently this does not appear to be the case. Even he was not able to ignore the blatantness of what Zexion had done. But I wouldn't be surprised if the Schemer managed to get hold of his strings once more." In this sense, Vexen's nomination had been a bit dangerous, but it had been the best option at the time.

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[Slash]

So, that makes two islands and a raft in the sea, then.

[/center]

So Lexaeus was trustworthy to a small extent, then. That made some sense. He didn't seem AS insane as the others...although he had made the suggestion of anarchy. That had to be considered.

Two people were active threats, and it was Saix and Axel. The others were fine unless Zexion played his coward's game. Aixfeur could silence him if he did so. Of course, it seemed as if everyone was a threat in some way, shape or form. Interesting.

She'd definitely have to train, though. Deep Jungle was calling. She'd go there the very second she was given leave.

"All right, then. That can be dealt with if it arises, provided I train enough..." She stopped, considering how much sleep she could safely give up.

[Matt]

Dismissed

Well, well, quite the determination this one seemed to have. Practically the polar opposite of Demyx, who's incompetence and laziness was without equal. The Organization was lucky to have obtained a new member with such work ethic. And Vexen was smart to have chosen her as a possible ally. If the traitors decided to try to pull anything else, she would prove valuable in dealing with them.

The best that he had been able to hope for was that if trouble arose, Lexaeus would be capable of handling it. But as it were, one could not yet be so certain that the new leader was that reliable. This was a very good card to have in his hand, just in case. God, was he thinking playing card metaphors? He sounded like Luxord.

"Your resolute is admirable. However, I would not recommend you run yourself too ragged." He did not pretend to truly be worried about Aixfeur's personal wellbeing. Even if such a thing were possible for a Nobody, there was no reason for it. They were now somewhat officially allies, of a sort, though. She could prove useful, provided she avoiding literally working herself to death. "We wouldn't want you overdoing it."

Vexen glanced away for a moment, before looking back to Aixfeur. This had been a rather successful encounter, but it seemed it was about time for it to come to an end. There wasn't much more to be said, and the Academic had his experiments to return to. "If you'll excuse me, I have something I must attend to. Don't hesitate to come see me if you need anything."

He turned around, exiting the Grey Room. All interest of finding Zexion had been abandoned. Vexen had much better things to think about than the Schemer.

[Slash]

Understood.

[/center]

That had been an interesting meeting, probably the only one she had been a part of since she joined. The Academic was certainly an interesting ally- was that the right word? Yes, that seemed correct.

He had said to contact him if she ever needed anything, but considering her policy of helping oneself and her tendency to take that to an extreme degree the only time she'd take advantage of that was if she had overheard of a scheme to kill him.

I should go train now.[/color]

She disappeared into a Corridor. Time to spend the rest of the day in Deep Jungle.