Curiouser and Curiouser...(Open, Rook)

[mallorywillows240]

"Excuse me, but if you're going on an adventure, count me in."

Mallory smiled at the new girl; she seemed tough enough, eager enough. She felt good about her turn of fortune...she made acquaintances with most people that she met, but she had never set off on an adventure with others...this was rather exciting for her.

"...R-Ren?"

Mallory raised an eyebrow; Ah, so they know each other....great....

It wasn't that Mallory was jealous, not at all. No, it was that there's nothing worse than meeting two people who have a history. The inside jokes, the arguments they may have, every interaction...it very easily excludes the new person. But no matter. The girl would make friends with them both on their travels...if they were to work as a team, they really should get to know one another.

"Ahh, so you're Ren?" Mallory smiled, extending her hand, "The name's Mal. Awesome to have ya with us!"

[winterlovesong]

Ren couldn't help it - she cracked a grin at Rook's utterly confused expression. It was too comical, really, the mouth agape, the eyes wide... She chuckled, smirking. "Careful, bro, you're catchin' flies."

Then, immediately, she blinked, and frowned.

Okay, wait - what strange force had possessed her to call him "bro"? She'd just met the guy ONCE. It was completely irrational of her to be that familiar with someone she hardly knew, not to mention probably uncomfortable for the redhead receiving the compliment...

She shrugged it off, however. What was she to care of how he took things? She never did have much tact, anyways; she said what she pleased and when she pleased, to Hell with whoever would dare argue with that.

The grin was back on her face when she shifted her eyes (having left her eyepatch on her ship again; sheesh, she was wearing it less and less lately) on the girl. She seemed nice enough, not to mention kind of tough-girl-ish...well, Ren prided herself in being a tough girl. Heck, a pirate couldn't live her life by being all soft and nice, blegh. Well, this new girl seemed pretty nice, which was one thing that was different between her and Ren. She allowed herself a mischievous smile. Well, well. This could be fun.

However, she was in a good mood now - being the bipolar pirate she was - and took the girl's hand, giving it a firm, strong grip. "Mal, eh? Nice to meet you."

And it was nice to meet her, much to the pirate's surprise. Was she possibly becoming - God forbid - nicer...?

...nah.

[rook]

Rook blinked a few more times as the exchange transpired before him. After a long minute of pondering the question in his head, it finally managed to stammer out into words of their own, "Wh-whuh...wh-Ren? How did... when-- what in the..?"

A deep breath filled his lungs to make up for the lack of intelligence his previous statement displayed, "I mean... what are you doing here?" He took a slow step forward, letting slip a light smile as he heard her call him "bro". It was cute, and unexpected.

His arms twitched. He was about to extend his arms to give her a hug, but stopped himself. After meeting one another after beating down a few Heartless, it probably wasn't a good conversation starter to let her know he was hanging around with Nobodies.

[mallorywillows240]

"Mal, eh? Nice to meet you."

This Ren girl...Mallory certainly did like her so far. She especially dug that eyepatch....but...was she a pirate?

...beastly, Mallory thought, grinning.

"Wh-whuh...wh-Ren? How did... when-- what in the..?" A deep breath filled his lungs to make up for the lack of intelligence his previous statement displayed, "I mean... what are you doing here?"

The girl took this as her que to step back; who knows what may come of this reunion...

(((Crap post .-. *shot*))

[winterlovesong]

Ren let go of Mal's hand, giving the kid a wink in reply to her grin. (Yes, she was going to call Mal "kid" - as long as Ren was older than her, she would use that nickname.) She already had her mouth open, forming a question in her brain - So, what kinda adventure is this gonna be? - but she was halted by some indecipherable noises over yonder.

Oh wait, that was Rook.

She rolled her eyes when the question he was going to ask finally came along. "Really now," she said reprovingly, her comment punctuated with a smirk. "Was it really that hard to roll that off your tongue?"

The pirate laughed at the question itself. "Are you forgetting that I have an airship, one that can access space?" she said, almost boastfully. Okay, so the smugness was for Mal's benefit, who had stepped back for the moment; Mal didn't know about Ren's ship, so it would make her seem that much more awesome.

Of course, Rook might not know that to begin with, she thought, then shrugged it off.

"Also," she added, "you're forgetting that I'm Ren. I'mma pirate! I'm always gonna turn up when you least expect it."

She grinned, feeling fairly satisified with herself, and placed her hands cockily on her hips. She winked at Mal again, so Rook couldn't see, letting the kid in on the joke - she was teasing Rook, and hopefully making him more flustered, because it was just so funny to watch him when he didn't know what to do; previous moments had proved that much.

Of course, she would apologize later; after all, it was only simple teasing, it's not like she was trying to make him upset or anything, and she highly doubted he'd be that much of a drama queen. King. Whatever. But that was later, and she wanted to have her fun now.

[rook]

Without much more hesitation, Rook fell forward and hugged the smaller female, picking her up as he lifted her from the ground, "Sis, I didn't think I'd see you again!"

He grinned widely, almost disbelieving she actually remembered him from their short introduction in Port Royal. That, coupled with her maybe-serious/maybe-not "bro", he ruffled her hair a bit, "I didn't think you'd remember me if we ever crossed paths again!" And it made him smile wider that she did. It meant he was slowly accomplishing his goal. Bit by bit, World by World, person by person. Kairi, Jason, Ren. He was being remembered by people.

Oh how they would be dissappointed in him now, though. Swaying in the Darkness, struggling to use it and not submit to it. And yet, all of the sudden, things seemed brighter.

The redhead looked back to Mallory and pointed to the pirate, "Yeah, sorry... this is my sister, Ren." He gave Ren a smirk, a teasing grin as if trying to irritate her again with the pronoun.

[mallorywillows240]

"Are you forgetting that I have an airship, one that can access space?"

Mallory's eyes boggled; This girl's a beast. I love her. She's my new sister.

"Also," she added, "you're forgetting that I'm Ren. I'mma pirate! I'm always gonna turn up when you least expect it."

She really is a pirate!

Ren winked at her. She smirked crookedly. Yes, Mallory was very happy indeed at this turn of events. Yeah, sure, maybe the Rook guy was a bit shy, but if he was with this Ren chick, he really couldn't be that bad at all...

And then the unavoidable happened; the two began catching up. The familiarity, the joy at seeing each other....oh, the alienation....

"Yeah, sorry... this is my sister, Ren." He gave Ren a smirk, a teasing grin as if trying to irritate her again with the pronoun.

Great, Mallory thought, More inside jokes...

She raised an eyebrow, saying jokingly, "Well, for two siblings, you sure as hell don't look alike."

[winterlovesong]

"Geroff me!" Ren grumbled in protest when Rook tried to break her ribs. Or, more aptly, gave her a bear-hug. It was a gesture of friendliness, Ren wasn't stupid, but she did like to complain an awful lot.

And at his next comment, the pirate snorted and rolled her eyes. She bit back a snide remark that was on the tip of her tongue - Trust me, Rook, I'd never forget someone like you - but refrained from saying it, mostly because the sarcasm wasn't true. She actually wouldn't forget Rook, but not for stupid reasons.

Ren arched an eyebrow at Rook's introduction of her. "Hey, can't a girl speak for herself?" she muttered grumpily, but refrained from uttering the comment aloud, as Mal was speaking. When the kid was done, Ren cracked another grin Mal's way.

"Haha, yeah, it doesn't take much brains to know I look nothin' like this kid!" She gave Rook a fake shove before walking closer to Mal. "Naw, it's just a stupid little thing Redhead here called me, the one time we met. I guess it kinda stuck." She barked another exuberant laugh before twisting slightly and giving Rook a hearty wink. No offense intended, the wink meant, just havin' a laugh.

And...Ren kinda liked the nickname "sis."

She stood up straight and folded her arms. "So, as Captain of this motley crew, I suggest you" - she pointed to Mal - "tell me where we're headed. What's this 'adventure' you had in mind?"

Tch, of course Ren was going to lead them, duh. She was a pirate after all, and very much the leader, not the follower. Though, of course, there was always the option of them working together instead of having one person lead, but no doubt they'd have that figured out soon enough. Ren just wanted to have a bit of fun, because what was life without that?

Dead depressing, that's what it'd be.

[rook]

Rook should debate Ren on the principle of leading them aywhere. Citing unknown dangers, that he was stronger and faster, that he could keep a better vigil over them... but he was still wary on being here int he first place. It would better suit them for Ren to lead while he anticipated having to leave at any moment.

He smiled at Ren and then passed it to Mal, "Yeah. Looks like you're navigator to Captain Ren here..." He chuckled. The blind following the blind. This was sure to be fun. Rook just hoped he could keep the two out of too much trouble.

[mallorywillows240]

"Haha, yeah, it doesn't take much brains to know I look nothin' like this kid!" She gave Rook a fake shove before walking closer to Mal. "Naw, it's just a stupid little thing Redhead here called me, the one time we met. I guess it kinda stuck."

Right, right...I bet they have friendship bracelets tucked somewhere, too, Mallory snickered to herself silently.

...but that would be nice.

"So, as Captain of this motley crew, I suggest you" - she pointed to Mal - "tell me where we're headed. What's this 'adventure' you had in mind?"

Actually, Mal hadn't thought that far ahead...well, she did, but she never planned that far ahead. She wasn't about to falter in the face of her new companions, though, so she spoke, grinning, with quite a bit of bravado, "Why, we're gonna go see the worlds, of course! First, we'll backpack across Wonderland, and we'll find something to take us to the next place...although I think we already have."

She winked at Ren.

((Whooo! 666th post XD))

[winterlovesong]

Ren grinned, and started to laugh after Mal finished speaking. It was a while before her booming laughter died down. This kid was amusing. Her spunk, her bravado, her sass...she would certainly be a great addition to Ren's "crew."

Of course, that would be if she hadn't made a promise to herself that she'd forever travel alone...

She allowed the barest hint of a frown to cloud her face. Certainly it wouldn't be a problem, just for a while, a couple of days, maybe a week or two?

No, no no no, that will never work! a dark voice hissed in the back of her head, but she brushed it off. Perhaps it was more logical, but she'd ignore it for now. She could stand to make a few more friends.

" 'Backpack across Wonderland?' " she repeated with a slight grin. "Let's start, then!"

And without further ado, she started down the path, comfortably realizing that she had no idea where she was going.

[rook]

Rook smiled a bit at the two of them. Regardless of his own worries and insecurities, and disregarding the short amount of time he had known Mallory, he was glad the two of them were getting along so well. Ren was more outgoing than their last meeting, not only seeming to accept this half-joke about their being siblings, but have fun with it. It made Rook glad.

But Mal, she didn't seem too far off now. Perhaps Rook might end the day with two younger sisters...

His smile faded. He couldn't let that happen, not when he was due back in the World That Never Was. He would have to leave Ren again, that was fate. As such, he would have to do the same with Mallory, should she choose to follow Ren and himself.

But... until that time, he would safeguard them both. This forest was large and deep, strange to boot. He said nothing as Ren began to wander into no where particular, bowing slightly to let Mal ahead of him before he began tailing them both.

[mallorywillows240]

" 'Backpack across Wonderland?' " she repeated with a slight grin. "Let's start, then!"

The girl was happy, no one could deny that. Mal hadn't traveled with other human since she'd left home. Of course her happiness got to her a little, it was all so sudden. I mean, for frisbee's sake, the girl was talking to the friggin' forest to keep herself from going insane, and now she has two companions by her side? This really was her lucky day. Mallory turned away from them for a moment, making sure that they couldn't see her quivering lip, her legs swaying a bit. She stiffened her back, and spun around on her heel to face her new crew;

"Alrighty, you two! Hopefully," she grinned devilishly, "You can keep up with me."

And with that, the girl took out her discblade, throwing as she held onto the attached rope, as though it were a grappling hook, and wedged it into a tree several yards away. She winked at Rook and Ren, then swung on the rope in a very monkey-like manner.

"Follow meeee!" she called to them, swinging deeper into the forest.

[winterlovesong]

It was a moment before Ren realized that Mal was not following her.

The pirate turned around with a quirked eyebrow before she realized that the girl was uttering a challenge. Keep up with her, huh? Like that'll be a prob-

The girl was swinging away, using some kind sharp-edged disc and a piece of rope, looking like an absurd gorilla or something like that.

-lem... Ren finished her thought with annoyance, trudging off the path to follow the little monkey. Irritation made her glower; wasn't she the one in charge, leading the way? What was this, mutiny?

Then she realized - she was thinking too much like a pirate.

I kind of am one, she reasoned sourly, but still; now was not the moment to be thinking pirate-y thoughts. She was with a kid, for heaven's sake, she could stand to be civil for once. She glanced back at Rook, raising her eyebrows at him, asking him silently, You like this kid?

But before Ren knew it, she had picked up her pace, and was soon racing Mal to the place she would land, a half-smile of challenge on her face. "Watch out, you li'l rascal, you don't have a chance racing me!" she found herself calling out, half-irritated and half-amused.

Well. Maybe she liked the kid, too.

[rook]

The girls took off running, and Rook simply took a few steps after them. They, for some strange reason, felt like siblings already, all joked aside. Playing, poking fun, snide comments and knowing looks. A feeling of warmth fluttered inside him. He turned to the Darkness. And found this?

He opened a Dark portal ahead of him, exiting in the lower branches of the trees the girls ran past, skipping from branch to branch and filling the larger gaps with portal jumps. He stayed in pace with them, but never moved ahead. This was a large forest, with numerous pratfalls and hazards. He'd keep a better eye on them from here.

"Family..." he muttered quietly as he contemplated the meaning in his immidiate future. Had he found one? And if so, what use did he have for the Darkness anymore? And would he have the power to keep what he had invited in at bay?