Roses are Red (Closed)

[shinjihirako]

A man tucked a lock of hair behind his ear staring at the twilight. Oranges, yellows, and of course red. Red, there were many things where the color appeared. Most people thought of blood, Roze of couse thought of Roses. There was more than just red in them though, the colors could range from the darkest ebony to the brightest ivory. Each one had it's own meaning. Black was favored for death if you could manage to find the rare strain. White a more common one could signify purity. Blue the rarest of them stood for sadness, orange for desire. Red was the most common though, it stood for love. Maybe that is why he preffered it the most. He wasn't sure but he loved all plant life, he just preffered roses more than any other.

He twiddled with a red rose, he closed his eyes and the rose turned black, then to white, then to black again, then back to red. If only people would accept their differeces he thought. Humans may have destroyed things that were different but were peaceful to one another. Heartless took the hearts of humans to satisfy their want. While the Nobodies wanted the heartless dead to open the door to Kingdom Hearts. He would fight for his side all the same, the side of the darkness, he would let it consume all the worlds so that they could all live in peace. One could call this genocide, he considered it a necessary action. Nobodies fought with eachother, Humans fought with eachother, but Heartless lived in peace with one another if they let themselves go straight to instinct. The smell of the wind was saturated with rose now. He had stayed in the same area too long. He walked off to find a place that sold shrimp.


(Do not be misled by the sig, his hair in the front isn't that long)

[winterlovesong]

Naminé wasn't quite sure why she was here.

She had been planning to visit the Old Mansion. In fact, that was her destination she'd had in mind when that dark portal had formed. But instead...

...she wound up on Sunset Terrace.

Not that there was anything bad about the place, mind. Sunset Terrace was beautiful, like a painting, frozen in one, perfect moment in the sky...warm colors blended together, creating a masterpiece of cherries and mahoganies and buttery sunshine yellow.

And Naminé had an eye for art.

But what was she doing here, anyway! She wasn't supposed to be out of the Castle. The Organization wouldn't think to look here, she supposed, but in due time they would find her, and then Marluxia -

- why was there the scent of roses on the breeze?

Had Naminé a heart, it would've stopped that moment, frozen in terror. They found her? Already? She didn't...she didn't even get to visit the Old Mansion on this excursion yet...

...but there was something unfamiliar about that scent.

Naminé whirled around from the top of Sunset Hill to walk, quickly and steadily, down the slope. She broke into a near run at the end, glancing edgily behind her...was Marluxia there? Was he following -

"Oh!"

She skidded to a halt, barely managing to stop herself from hitting a boy. Inwardly, she realized her mistake; she should've portalled away.

But she recalled how much energy that took, and realized that endeavor may have been impossible.

"I'm sorry, please excuse me..."

And then the scent of roses hit her like a windstorm, almost knocking her over.

She flinched, staring at this boy, her eyes wide with near-fear...he was like...like a Marluxia spawn. Sure, his hair was red, but it reminded her of flowers, and the flowery scent...

"I'm sorry," she whispered, turning swiftly around to head back towards Sunset Hill.

(No prob ;])

[shinjihirako]

Roze was lost in thought on top of sunset hill when a small girl ran into her. "I'm sorry" she said quickly before turning back towards sunset hill. He turned back and looked at her, something was odd, it was an aura that most normal humans gave off. He could place it before he snapped his fingers. A heart, it gave off an aura that showed it was there and all heartless could feel. But she gave off no such aura. Something clicked in his mind, a nobody. But that was odd, most nobodies were instictive creatures that attacked humans and heartless alike. But this one was different, she acted like she was afraid of him.

There was something very odd about her, the idea of seafood forgotten he cut off the smell of roses that he normally gave off, and followed her quietly. Whoever she was he would be sure to find out.

[winterlovesong]

Naminé hurried down, away from Sunset Hill, sticking to the areas that were desolate of people. She stuck to the shadows, though her white dress unfortunately shone against the darkness of the shadows. Every so often, she glanced over her shoulder, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

The smell of roses, however, did not leave her, so eventually she stopped in an alleyway. She did not glance behind her as she spoke; she did not need to, already knowing who was following her. That Marluxia spawn she had met on the hill.

"I know you're following me," Naminé said quietly, choosing this moment to now turn around. Distress was evident in her composure, from her wide blue eyes to the very way her fingertips played with the edge of her stark white dress. "Please...what do you want?"

It was all she could do to keep the tremors from her voice.

[shinjihirako]

A quiet delicate laugh filled the area. He rose from a shadow on the ground staring at the girl. "I suppose espionage has never been my specialty. As for why I am following you, you are a nobody are you not?" He brushed a lock of rose red hair from his eye.

(Sorry for shortness.)

[winterlovesong]

Naminé observed this flower-boy warily, the rose scent - despite its beauty - pungent. True, it was not the scent of Marluxia exactly, but it was close enough. Anything that remotely smelled like flowers was enough to trigger that spark of fear inside of the blonde.

She sucked in a slight gasp of surprise at his conclusion. Yes, she was, indeed, a Nobody, but how could he possibly conclude something that fast?

She observed him in a new light, her brow puckering as she frowned slightly. "Yes, I am a Nobody," she murmured, confirming his suspicions, and taking a slight step back in case this boy was hostile.

She knew not what to say next, merely watched him silently for his reaction.

[shinjihirako]

Roze chuckled once more. "As I thought, you don't have the aura that the heart gives off. So tell me, why have you not attacked me, surely you can sense it, many nobodies can tell when someone is a heartless." Roze spoke in a very soft voice but was loud enough to hear. There was no menace in it, just curiosity. He watched her step back. She was afraid, he narrowed his eyes.

"Tell me, why do you show fear, surely if I were a threat I would have struck by now. And from what I can tell you don't have plans of being hostile either." Roze was very curious, he'd encountered baser nobodies, instictive and destructive, just like humans. This was his first encounter with a nobody who had taken on human shape.

[winterlovesong]

Naminé's blue eyes widened in surprise, looking for all the world like twin, cloudless skies.

A Heartless? She scrutinized him, and realized her mistake; yes, he was indeed a Heartless, and she had been so obsessed over the idea of Marluxia that she had failed to notice what was sitting right in front of her.

And it was true...if he were a threat, he would have struck by now. Unless he was planning something.

But Naminé's cautious wall was starting to give way to her natural trusting side, and she found herself relaxing slightly, though her blue gaze did dart downwards so she wouldn't have to meet his eyes.

"I'm a pacifist," Naminé confessed, her voice still quiet. "I don't attack anyone... Whatever the case is, violence is not the answer."

She looked up at him then, her shyness slowly melting away. Naminé was not a confident girl by any means, but she'd slowly been building a backbone all these years. She was a different girl than the one that Marluxia had once held captive with pretty promises of friendship.

[shinjihirako]

"I'm a pacifist, I don't attack anyone... Whatever the case is, violence is not the answer."

Roze had quite the smile on his face now. Well well well, who woulda thought. "That is rather surprising but pleases me quite a bit. For you see I detest fighting as well. Though I may not be a perfect pacifist for some violence must be taken at some point to fulfill my goals I am glad there is another like me."

He took several steps foward and kneeled down so he was at her level. "So tell me, who are you and what are you doing in a place such as this?" Roze kept the smile on his face but was still curious.

[winterlovesong]

(Sorry for the delay >w<)

Naminé blinked, overwhelmed. A Heartless that was a pacifist? Was that even possible? There were very few Heartless that did not simply attack on instinct. One of them was Ansem, whom Naminé had only heard tales of and seen in Sora's memories, and he was truly a frightening figure. A Heartless that did not like fighting...well, it seemed that was a rarity, as much as Naminé was a rarity.

She resisted the urge to take a few paces back when the Heartless kneeled to her level, merely inches from her face. Immediately she felt threatened again, but swallowed, planting her feet firmly in the ground, trying to drown out fear with a resolve to obtain information.

Then she hesitated, wondering how best to respond to his question. Give out her name, as simple as that? Well...how many people knew who she was, anyway. The Organization, and Sora, Kairi, Riku, DiZ, and now Rook. She was unsure of who else knew of her existence; would it be a mistake to tell this mysterious stranger her name?

But she did not have a back-up name, and she probably wouldn't remember it if the need arose again. She'd have to go with the truth.

The blonde laid a hand over the place her heart would be, had she one. "My name is Naminé."

As for what she was doing here, well...she hardly knew herself, so spared the stranger that bit of information, leaving an awkward silence instead of an answer.

Her hand fell to her side, twiddling with the edge of her dress nervously. After a moment, she asked, "And...who are you?"

She would not be at all surprised if he lied to her or even refused to answer, but then that would be the end of this little conversation. She'd find a way to leave.

(I'm bolding all my quotes from now on, so I can differentiate the dialogue a bit better.)

[shinjihirako]

"My name is Naminé." [/b]

Roze smiled at that "Well Naminé it is nice to meet you." The smile was genuine and so was the joyful tone in his voice. He had at least made a bit of headway though she remained silent to his other question, oh well it was fine with him.

"And...who are you?" [/b]

"My name is Miyabita Roze, Roze for short." He kept the smile and joyful tone in his voice.

"So tell me about about yourself Naminé." Roze inquired.

[winterlovesong]

Naminé could not pretend she was not taken aback. This Heartless was even more surprising now that she had spared him a "second glance," if you will. Jovial? Friendly? Almost...kind?

She shook her head fractionally, as if trying to shake off that impossible second thought. No...a Heartless was not kind, that was...unfathomable. Couldn't happen. Maybe he was just trying to lull her into a false sense of security...

All the same, a shred of doubt started to expand in Naminé, and she almost relaxed.

Roze...well, she wasn't going to pretend the name didn't fit, though once again it reminded her of Marluxia, and her nervous twiddling on the edge of her dress became slightly more frantic. Was this perhaps an absurd creation of Marluxia's? But that would be more Vexen's style.

She hesitated, not sure how to answer his question. "...w-well, uh..." she stammered slightly, flushing lightly. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

"W-well...what do you want to know?" she asked hesitantly, looking at his eyes momentarily before flashing her gaze back to the ground.

Maybe this conversation was getting too dangerous...but for some reason, Naminé didn't believe that, and she slowly relaxed a tad more.

[shinjihirako]

"W-well...what do you want to know?"

He noticed her twiddling with her dress a bit more. "Well I'd like to know why you keep twiddling with your dress? Is it because I'm making you nervous? I know I'm a heartless but I'm being quite sincere in my intentions, you don't have to be afraid. He smiled once more and had a hint of concern in his voice.

(Short, I know)

[winterlovesong]

The blonde's cheeks flushed lightly at the Heartless' - Roze, she told herself firmly - comment. He'd noticed she was nervous, the constant fidgeting of her fingers, the darting eyes, the general aura of anxiety? ...well, now that she thought about it, perhaps it wasn't that hard to spot...

Naminé took a deep breath, and flashed her eyes up to look into his. She was startled by the concern she found in his tone, and for a moment, all she could do was look at him incredulously.

And, finally, she blinked, and her fingers stopped their nervous dance. Fear still lingered somewhere inside of her, but for now, Naminé had succumbed to her feelings of trust, given to Roze's friendliness. After all, he hadn't done anything to hurt her; she had no reason to be afraid. Perhaps he really was a benign Heartless, and Naminé was finally ready to give him that chance.

"No, I'm not scared," she replied, her voice still soft, but not with fear; she was merely a soft-spoken person. And it was true - for the most part, she wasn't scared anymore.

Of course, if he showed the slightest inkling to hurt her, she would revert back to her cautious, almost terrified state, but for now...for now she could be friendly.

"What else would you like to know?" Naminé asked, a shadow of a smile flickering across her thin lips.

[shinjihirako]

"No, I'm not scared,"

Roze smiled "Very well, I'll take your word for it. His tone reverted back to it's normal joyfulness.

"What else would you like to know?"

Seeing a small smile show itself his own grew a bit wider. "I'd like to know if you would like to take a walk with me? I could tell you about myself and I'm hoping you could do the same." He was taking a bit of a leap but he hoped she'd accept.