Parley I Say! (Nothingness)

[Angelus]

This world was dark. Very dark. In fact, one might say that the darkness in this world overshadows the darkness of the world Beast's Castle. And from now having been to both worlds, this particular creature of battle could be one of the few to say so, and to be telling the truth. Port Royal was...

"Perhaps the perfect place for this Tool of the Darkness to reside."[/color] The figure stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight, and removed the hood hiding his face. He pulled his dreadlocks out, and let the breeze move them as it wished. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, acting as a primeval warning of danger and fear. It was too bad for this instinct that he paid it no heed. Fear was meaningless to him and his kind, and danger was exactly what he was. He doubted there would be many things on this darkness soaked world that would pose any threat to him. He looked up to the moon, and made a mental note to never under any circumstances challenge Saïx to a fight on this world. Luxord had told him once this world was always in a state of night, and the never ending supply of the moon's light was one thing Xaldin would not want Seven to have. He shook his head, dismissing the thought for now. Having done so his thoughts turned to his partner for this mission.

"Where is Ten? He is late."[/color][/size]

[Nothingness]

Time for Work

"One is only late if there is an appointed time to be at said place." Luxord's languid voice carried through the foggy air to Xaldin. The sound of boots thumping on wooden boards could be heard, and soon Luxord could be seen standing on the deck of one of the large ships that was currently docked. He had a glass of red wine in one hand, the other hand resting on the ship's wooden railing as he looked down at Xaldin. Taking a sip he set the glass on ship's railing and walked down the boardwalk to Xaldin. "It's good to see you haven't changed a bit, Lancer. The Fates have been kind to you."

Stroking his chin, he looked around. "So, how shall we go about our investigation? I don't think we'll need to worry about being noticed here. Between the pirates and suspicious persons that occupy this world, we fit right in." While it was true that he had been to this world before, that was strictly for work--he hadn't had anytime to enjoy himself or conduct proper recon.

[Angelus]

"So says you."[/color] Xaldin hissed in response to Luxord's comment about not being late. Truth be told however, Xaldin couldn't argue against the logic presented in that statement, it was essentially perfect. But then again, that was one things Nobodies were not.

"I accredit my being here to any silly Fates, but to the winds. They kept me alive this long."[/color] Xaldin said gruffly in response to Luxord's usual mumbo jumbo about fate. He looked around when Luxord asked where to begin. His eyes scanned for the place where those who might have information would be, while he asked the winds what they knew. His eyes stopped, and locked themselves on what appeared to be a tavern.

"I know the perfect place to begin Gambler. But we may have to get our hands dirty."[/color] Xaldin smiled as he began to walk toward the bar, and his lances were aching to feel the heat of battle again. Xaldin felt the need to point this out, though it mattered not to him what Luxord thought on the matter, Xaldin was stubborn and determined. He would fight those inside, even if Luxord would not. Well supposing they didn't give the duo the information they were seeking.[/size]

[Nothingness]

A Parlor Trick

A rather mischievous smile formed on Luxord's face when Xaldin mentioned that they were going to a tavern. The perfect place to test whether sobriety or luck prevailed, and in Luxord's considerable experience with both of those, sobriety (or lack thereof) played a larger part than luck. "I should be able to get anything from these people after a quick drinking game. It's rather intriguing, the effect a few drops of ambrosia's nectar will do to a man."

Following Xaldin into the bar, Luxord immediately saw some fresh marks for him to play. It was a group of three sailors and the captain of their ship--most likely one of those three was the first mate, another the purser, and the third could be a friend of any of them. Leaning over, he whispered to Xaldin, "Work as free as the breeze, but do try to keep civil. I'd rather we not cause a tempest before there need be one. Though a small tornado shouldn't bode ill." Turning his back to the Lancer, he ran his hand through his hair, disheveling it slightly, as well as smearing his hand across his goatee. A true player knows that every little detail matters.

Stumbling in true drunken fashion, he bumped into the table where the sailors were and caused them to get into a slight uproar. Apologizing with somewhat slurred speech, it sounded like he said, "I em trooly soory, plees, a'low me ta make op fer that. Wait'r, a rond o' drinks fer all thees lo'ely chaps!" With the promise of free drinks, the sailors immediately warmed up to their new acquaintance, asking him to sit and join them. If he had a heart, he would be quite thoroughly enjoying this. "Sobriety wins yet again."

After a minute or two of pleasantly inebriated chatter, their drinks arrived and Luxord started his game. "Now gents, I've go' a game fer ye all ta play." Pulling out his deck of cards, he began to explain a game that would've made absolutely no sense to someone who wasn't drunk, but, as luck would have it, these men were and the Gambler wasn't. "Now, as long as Number Three doesn't cause a barroom brawl, there shouldn't be any complications. After all, some things take a little bit of time..."

[Angelus]

(Navy text seems off for Xaldin, I'm switching to black to try that out.)

"Do whatever you wish for all I care Ten, and let me do the same."[/color] was Xaldin's response to Luxord's comment on not stirring up a fight. Xaldin turned away from Luxord and began his own little reconnaissance op. He walked up to the bar, nudging someone to the side to get to it and requested a drink.

"Whatever's strongest."[/color] The bartender handed him a drink, and he downed it in one swig. He motioned to the guy that he pushed to get to his seat.

"He's paying."[/color] This statement combined with the fact that Xaldin had pushed him out of the way sent the man over the edge, and unfortunately for said man, he attempted to attack Xaldin.

"I'm not paying for your drinks you f#@*er!" He drew a knife and took a swing at Xaldin. Xaldin spun around and punched the guy in the gut, causing him to drop the knife on the bar. Xaldin took his would be assailant's money pouch and put it on the bar counter. He then felt a breeze in a spot he hadn't felt it in a long time, and he looked around. The windows were open, which explained the breeze, but not why he felt it where he did. He looked behind the bartender, and saw a mirror. It was probably the bartender's way of keeping tabs on patrons while he wasn't facing them, but it served the purpose of telling Xaldin why he felt the breeze there.

His sideburn had been cut off. Or more accurately, shaved. Xaldin let loose a primeval growl, and grabbed the man by the neck, slamming his face into the bar. He then proceeded to push him out the door. He looked back toward the patrons and Luxord before leaving and noticed he was receiving a bunch of stares.

"He shaved my sideburn. And nobody touches the sideburns." He glanced over at Luxord and gave him a slight nod, one that could only be seen if one was looking for it. He'd found the man he wished to interrogate, and that was good enough for him. He followed his victim outside, and then proceeded to grab the guy's shirt collar. He readied a fist.

"You're going to pay for that nice and slow. But first you're going to tell me what I want to know."[/color] The guy spit in his face, just angering the already angered Nobody further. This guy was so going to end up dead. No question about it. He clenched his fist, and then lifted it up in the air, ready to strike. He took one good look at the man he was about to punch, and noticed that he bore a very vague resemblance to Zexion.

Not that this mattered to the Lancer at all, for he proceeded to punch the poor man in the face anyway.

"Now tell me what I want to know about a man who claims to be a tool of the darkness."[/color][/size]

[Nothingness]

I Weep for Subtlety

Luxord, as well as the rest of the bar, watched as the mysterious cloaked man (Xaldin) and some random patron began to fight. It didn't last long until the cloaked man forcefully removed the patron from the bar, most likely to either kill him or beat him up. "That wasn't a tornado, but it wasn't what I was expecting either. Preconceptions are just as much a gamble as any other." He didn't particularly agree with Xaldin's overtly forthright methods, but if he got results all the same it would be fine.

The bar itself only seemed to see that as a minor discrepancy in an otherwise normal evening and quickly returned to their boisterous selves. Luxord and his new "friends" all turned back to one another in tandem and continued their "game." Following another round of drinks, the Gambler at last felt it best to start asking questions. "So, chaps, I been lookin' fer a friend o' mine. 'e kinda wears a cloak like this 'un, but 't's all silvery and shinee. 'ou hav'n seen an'one wot looks like tat, have yee?" Unfortunately, be it because they were completely sauced or just ignorant, they hadn't seen anyone like that. The captain said that they'd seen all kinds of strange people and creatures ("Heartless", Luxord thought by the description) so someone like that wouldn't have been memorable.

After a few minutes of trying to leave, he at last managed to get away from them after buying another round of drinks. "Such a shame." He mentally lamented. "Their tongues didn't wag as their hands would hang low in a game, it seems. Perhaps the odds were in Xaldin's favor tonight. Hopefully he hasn't killed the man."

[Angelus]

Xaldin's punch had sent the Zexion wannabe reeling. He staggered a bit, and then took off toward the nearest ship. Xaldin followed slowly, taking the time to enjoy the fear he had instilled into the human. Fear was an easy emotion to manipulate, and even easier to instill. The man had managed to get on board of the ship, and frantically looked for a place to hide. Xaldin lept into the air and landed on a ship docked next to the one his target was on.

"Parley I say, Parley!" the man shouted. Xaldin jumped over to the ship his victim was on, and readied a lance.

"You're misinformed, I am no pirate. So screaming parley like a little girl will do you no good today."[/color] One of his lances appeared in his hand, and the man began to cry.

"Please don't kill me! I'll tell you anything you want to know, just don't kill me!"

"Man who calls himself a tool of the darkness. Where is he?"[/color]

"You'll have to be more specific, I've seen a handful calling themselves that. One of them had long silver hair!"

'So at least one of the silver haired trio was here.'[/b][/color] Xaldin said to himself, making sure to make a note of that in his report to Xemnas.

"This tool had an outfit similar to my own, except silver."[/color]

"I haven't seen anyone that fits that description!" Xaldin's spear sank into the man's shoulder.

"Then tell me what the long, silver haired man wanted!"[/color] Xaldin growled.

"All I know is that he killed some people, and that these black things with beady yellow eyes started appearing more often after he got here! That's all I know I swear!" Xaldin removed the spear, and the man ran. But Xaldin wasn't going to let him get away that easily. He sent his spear at him, and it pushed the man overboard. He turned back toward the town and began his walk to his partner, to inform him of what he'd unearthed. As for his victim...

"I wonder if there are any sharks in these waters."[/color] he said as he made it back to the dock.[/size]

[Nothingness]

Dinner and a Show

Luxord had left the bar just in time to see Xaldin drag the poor man away kicking and screaming. If Luxord had a heart, he'd be feeling very sorry for the man, so instead he simply "believed" that he felt very sorry for the man, since that wouldn't be difficult in either case. While Xaldin was busy dragging the man away and most likely torturing him, Luxord returned to the ship he had previously been enjoying a drink on. Seeing that the glass was both still there, as well as retaining the same amount of sweet liquor as before was a relief.

Walking up to the bridge, he rested one elbow on the railing and turned his head to watch Xaldin "interrogate" the man. It wasn't difficult to hear, nor was it difficult to figure out that this man knew nothing of great importance. Luxord sipped the wine delicately--it would be a shame to waste it all before the show was over. And yet, it ended too soon; Xaldin chucked the man overboard, bleeding and battered. Watching the Lancer stalk off, the Gambler turned around, set the glass down on a box, and walked over to meet up with him. When he was a good twenty paces or so away, he called out, "Lady Luck may have smiled on you tonight, but the shine of her pearly whites only illuminated a small find, it seems. The sheen of the silver coat has yet to dazzle and darken these shores."

[Angelus]

"That may be true, but the Superior will want to know that one of those silver haired men was here. And perhaps he will make having an encounter with them a priority."[/color] Xaldin stopped and turned toward Luxord.

"Perhaps it would be best if we shadowed that trio for now."[/color] he mused aloud. "After all, the trio works for the witch, and I highly doubt they won't do what they can to find this so called tool. We find them, and then let them locate him for us." Xaldin made a mental note that while it was not usually his way to let someone else track for him, it was a good use of his manipulating skills, and it was without a doubt more practical.

"It would save us the trouble after all."[/color] He turned away from the Gambler of Fate and made one last comment.

"Is there any reason for staying here any longer? Or would it be best that we leave now?"[/color][/size]

[Nothingness]

Endgame

Luxord didn't have any complaints with shadowing, as it were, the dark witch's little assistants. However, he would find himself remiss if he didn't warn the Lancer of the possible danger. "If we go along with such a plan, just be aware: one may find themselves the player, but may then sooner find themselves the played. Just something to keep you in the game longer." Opening a Corridor of Darkness, he walked through, leaving the Lancer to ponder his remark. After all, he would hate it if something were to happen to any of the players who just joined--no one likes it when the old-timers or the fresh-blood lost. The happy medium between them, well, they didn't matter.

[Angelus]

"How I loathe your game metaphors."[/color] Xaldin said in response to Luxord's remark about how the tables could be turned against them. The statement was true enough, in fact few words were truer than those, but it didn't do anything to calm Xaldin's hatred of Luxord's phrasing. There were other ways of saying such a thing, and bluntly was Xaldin's favorite. Save the dramatic statements for those that were the target of manipulation was Xaldin's motto (not really, but it could have been with as much as he thought it). Shaking his head and dismissing the thoughts, he opened his own corridor of darkness and left the world. It was time to report to the Superior.

End.[/size]