[Console | Video/Action?] did I disappoint you (possible spoilers)

[edgeoftheknife]

[The man in the video is gorgeous. True, there are dark circles under his eyes as if he hasn't slept well in weeks, but it kind of gives him that "I just stepped off a movie set and wow am I tired from being beautiful all day" look. If you've been around the Midnight Hotel at all over the past couple of weeks you've probably seen him there, shadowing after Anton Shudder like a lost puppy--which is pretty nearly the expression on his face most times as well. He looks lost.

He looks like he's forgotten what he came on here to say, as a matter of fact.

After a few more seconds he perks up, looking up at the camera instead of off to the side as he had been. When he speaks it's with an Irish accent.]

Right, hello. Ah, sorry about that. I seem to have misplaced my... brain, today. Anyway, I've met a few of you already, but for those I haven't, my name is Erskine Ravel. I also answer to "Grand Mage" or possibly "hey you."

[He gives a little two-fingered salute and a slight smile.]

I was hoping...

[He goes quiet, frowning.]

What was I hoping, again? I.... Mm, nope, it's gone. Ah well, if it was important it'll come 'round again. At any rate, I hope everyone's having a lovely day. Pay someone a compliment and don't forget to tip your waitress.

[The video abruptly stops.]


((ooc: possible spoilers, please mark comments as needed!))

Comments

[aquanimity]

[In the background behind Xion, Aqua's passing by with a vase full of familiar flowers in hand, smiling in laughter at the overheard conversation.]

Xion, I don't think he means literally.

[edgeoftheknife]

[You caught him. He grins.]

I'm sorry, that wasn't very nice of me. I beg your pardon.

And no, I haven't lost my brain in the strictly literal sense. It only feels that way today.

[needmetoo]

[Xion turns to look over her shoulder at Aqua as she passes]

But if people can lose their hearts back-

[Except then Erskine confirms what Aqua's saying, and Xion turns back to the screen, turning quite pink.]

Oh. That... makes sense too.

[edgeoftheknife]

Does it? Oh good, I wasn't entirely sure.

[He chews his lip thoughtfully for a moment.]

Is losing hearts common where you're from?

[needmetoo]

[Xion thinks of Roxas, of Axel, of the rest of the Organization and the lesser Nobodies. She grimaces, some of the embarrassment fading from her expression.]

Unfortunately, yeah. It is.

[edgeoftheknife]

And... how does one go about losing a heart, exactly?

[needmetoo]

[And that almost earns a bit of a wince. It's... it's not a story she knows well, but what she does know isn't pleasant.]

It's... [She hesitates] The Heartless usually. They try to steal people's Hearts, so that they're swallowed up by darkness.

[There's a note of uneasiness there, as if she isn't sure. Because she really honestly isn't - it's never happened to her. Not that she can remember, and given what she is, probably not in fact either.]

[edgeoftheknife]

What sort of creature is a "Heartless"? If you don't mind me asking.

[needmetoo]

Well...

[It's hard to try to describe Heartless anymore, dammit Bakura. But she'll try.]

They're creatures, made from darkness and people's Hearts. They go around causing all kinds of trouble in the worlds, trying to steal the Hearts of other people.

There's all different kinds too.

[edgeoftheknife]

Sounds... vaguely like something I'm familiar with. So what happens if one of these things gets to you, and you lose your heart? Do you just drop dead, or...?

[needmetoo]

[Xion hesitates, glancing over her shoulder, remembering vaguely how she and Roxas had had to talk to Aqua about this.]

It sort of depends. Sometimes... I think you just disappear but... if your heart is strong, there's a Nobody left behind. You just... keep going without your Heart.

[It's not an existence without consequences, however.]

[edgeoftheknife]

[He considers this for a moment, then says in something not quite a mutter:]

Not exactly a Remnant then, but not a bad comparison.

[And then he perks up, and smiles. It's not the most genuine smile ever, certainly not what he's capable of, but it's... something.]

And here we've gone off on a pretty fatalistic tangent, haven't we? What do you say we find something else to talk about? Less doom and gloom, that's what we need.

Your name is Xion?

[needmetoo]

Yeah. You said your name was... Erskine?

[In Kingdom Hearts there are no last names, everyone is on a first name basis, always.]

[edgeoftheknife]

That it is. A pleasure to meet you, Xion.