Rooftops and Such (Niaphim, Open)

[falsetruth]

A small bird had landed on the roof to roost, and had been there a while when it finally noticed its companion. The creature cocked its head at the young man, sitting still near the edge of the roof and looking out over the street. It took off after determining there was nothing of interest about the human.

Niaphim blew away a feather that had come to rest on one of his knees, which were folded against his chest. Heaving a sigh, he folded his arms atop his knees and rested his head. The movement reminded him of his body's stiffness from having sat here so long, but he didn't budge from his new position.

The people moving about in the streets below were actually of little interest to him. He closed his eyes, and slowly uncurled from his position, flattening his back against the roof and letting his legs rest in a criss-crossed position. He hadn't seen Kemlie in a while - their parents never let her leave First District. He knew, of course, that they were concerned about him, and not in a loving way. Kemlie had once mentioned that they thought he was turning into a criminal, with his rooftop-roaming between districts. He didn't mind. They could think what they liked.

His wandering hand found the hilt of his blade, and the corner of his mouth turned down as his hand closed around it. "Someday, Serent. Someday, I am going to gain justice for you. Wherever you are....." He released the hilt, his thoughts turned to the brother he hadn't seen in years.

[keyblade]

Aubrey Lucilia Halo had her back against a brick wall of a building as she sat in Traverse Town, the second district. From the ground, she pulled up a few blades of dead grass, and twisted them around with her fingers bored half to death. Sometimes, Halo wished she could leave this place. She wondered what it might be like in other worlds if they even existed. Had anyone ever done it, visited other places besides home? She wasn't sure, but on some days any place would be better fit then Traverse Town. Bad things happened there, people were murdered, Heartless would appear, and occasionally you would see people looking for handouts on the street. All of it was sad, and it really made Halo sick.
However, on happier days the world would seem a little bit brighter. Children playing outside, birds pecking at the ground for seeds, a clear blue sky. All of it was dedicated to the cause, only, it was rare to see any of it every happening. This was a place of nightmares, everyone knew it, epically whenever night fall, and things just get worse, and worse whenever whenever full moons occur. So maybe people turning into werewolves isn't exactly real, but it was true that animals, and man became a little more vicious. No joke about it.

She only really stayed here, wondering the streets for only a few reasons. Number one, Halo really had nothing better to do. Number two, she really had no where else to stay, and number three. Halo wanted answers, though, that probably sounds a little too demanding.
It was said that most people came to Traverse Town to solve their problems, or was just one day there because bad things had happened in their lives. From experience, Halo already knew how that was. Horrible, completely terrible. Most people living there always had a problem, and Halo's, to her opinion, wasn't really that bad. She had only met people who had it completely miserable.

Halo suddenly heard someone talking from above her. It surprised her, she threw the grass down, and stood up. This whole time had there been someone watching her, or just there? Who ever it was didn't exactly sound criminal like, in a weird kind of way the whole justice situation made the person sound more hero-like. Which, Halo figured that sounded completely stupid. Since when do you see a hero flying around someplace like this?
She shook the thought from her head, hitched up her dress with one hand, and began to walk up a ladder that was attached to the brick walled building she was once against using her extra hand to help with the climbing. Whenever to the top, she silently sat down beside the boy that she had heard, and looked over towards him.

"Hm... Excuse me?" She asked suspiciously. He really seemed not to notice, but probably would hear her.

[falsetruth]

Riaphim was drifting in and out of consciousness, his eyes closed, when a sudden voice close by startled him. He jerked his blade free as he sat up, eyes snapping open and gaze settling on the intruder to his quiet world of the rooftops. He lowered the blade, deciding against violence to drive her off. "What do you mean, 'excuse me'? I'm not in your way or anything. There's plenty of rooftops to go around." he said, believing her words to be nothing more than a rude way of saying 'you are in my way'. He hadn't really caught the tone, or he might have thought differently of it.

Plenty of rooftops to go around.....no. They are all my rooftops. My home. My rooftops. Mine. He frowned at the girl, silently daring her to stay, to witness his fouled mood. All had been peaceful for him until she showed up, butting into other people's lives for entertainment. He was not at all amused by this, and truly wanted to go back to thinking about his brother, sister, and otherwise boring life on the rooftops.

[keyblade]

Halo, after having a blade rose to her, lifted her chin up a little as if to say, drop it. However, the young man already seemed to have understood that on his own, and lowered the sword. After hearing the first thing he said to her, she couldn't help but thinking, wow, this guy's messed up. She forced herself up to her feet, and looked down at him.
"Well then, I guess have fun with your rooftops." She mumbled, and turned around. She walked over to the edge of the roof, and jumped down from it landing gracefully on her two feet. "Sorry for bothering you.." She added after that and watched as a scrawny black cat run out from it's hiding spot, dart past her, and turn into the nearest alley. The clicking of her heels only indicated she was leaving, or was gone.

She walked out in front of the busy streets; often they were not like this at all, but today, she guessed was different. Few cars ran by, and the people were completely everywhere. Halo had to watch carefully where she was going so she wouldn't run into anyone, or get spotted. Lately, all the talk was around district was how she had stolen items from the stores. Halo would have never done that in her whole life! So, who exactly started the rumor? Right now she honestly did not want to be questioned about any of it.
She finally ended up at a less visited section of the district, and sat herself down on a bench by a street light. Heartless usually showed up here. It didn't bother her, the creatures weren't her biggest concern after all. Shadows were weak, and the bigger kinds were stupid. It didn't really take much effort to defeat one.

[falsetruth]

As the girl disappeared over the edge of the roof, Niaphim rose to his feet, frowning slightly. His suspicion was restless......or perhaps he was just restless in general. Either way, he watched the direction she headed in, then proceeded to follow on the rooftops. Built close together, jumping from one to another was almost effortless, so following her was the only challenge in it.

However, when she stopped in the worst part of the district, he found his suspicion growing. He knelt at the edge of the roof, peering cautiously over it to be certain she had stopped. Then he rolled back into a sitting position. Throughout the run over rooftops, he had held his sword, and was still holding it. Moving into a crouching position, Niaphim gazed about himself, wary of Heartless. He had faced them before, but more often ran over the roofs to escape them. Every time her saw one, he saw his brother's face. Every time he killed one, he felt as though it had been his brother. It could have been, for all he knew.

For a moment he considered going down. But no. The roofs were his santuary, his comfort, his only safe place. On the ground he was vulnerable, subject to the limits provided by the streets. So he remained.

[keyblade]

Most people would probably think Halo had gone mad to sit calmly like this in a place surrounded by monsters, but she liked the place. It was quiet for one, nobody was their to disturb her usually except maybe the Heartless, but she didn't really mind them too much. It was also colorful at night. The place would light up with familiar colors of Traverse Town, and flicker off once in awhile. Not even criminals would be as stupid as to come here, which is why she wasn't, but maybe something else not really sure on what.
She crossed one leg over the other as she sat, and folded her arms over her chest, crossing them also. She wasn't as stupid as she looked, and already felt as if someone was there. She had quiet a good feeling on who it was too.

"Why did you follow me here, exactly?" She asked not even bothering on turning around. She stayed in the same stubborn position trying to at least get her way. It was after all how she acted. Determined to get what she wants.

[falsetruth]

Why had he followed her here? Indeed, that was a question he was asking himself. He smiled slightly, looking around. "Well, who said I followed I followed you here? Hmph....no, too much of a glum place for me to claim to like the spot. Nah, so how about I just say I had nothing better to do? It's the truth really." On the last few words his voice gained an angry, bitter edge. His life was going nowhere. And he didn't know where to take it. Any opportunity to break from the norm seemed like a way to break from.....well, the norm.

With a heavy sigh, he turned and lay back on the edge of the roof, turning his head to look down at her. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you come here?"

[iuma]

The rooftops of Traverse Town. A jungle to those that are unfamiliar with it. A safe passageway for others.
Carried by the wind, a soft mumbling was reaching Niaphim's ears. Incomprehensable words, coming from somewhere over the edge of the rooftop.
It grew louder and closer. Aswel as the sounds of something sharp tapping on the rooftiles. Definatly coming from behind one of the sharp rooftops. Somebody else seemed to be travelling in the same manner as he was.

To Aubrey Lucilia Halo, the approaching mumbling was also starting to become audible. But beeing in the alley below. The echo's made it seem the sound was all present. Not beeing able to determen where the source lies except somewhere above her.

From behind the top of a rooftop, Niaphim could see brown strands of wild hair appear. Followed by a wrinkled forehead. And then charismatic endless azureblue eyes that brimmed with youthfull energy followed by the rest of an old face. An old scar ran from the edge of it's mouth down till it's jawline.

The old man was walking up the steep sloop of a rooftop with the same ease as if walking normaly on a flat surface. As he stepped over the top and began his descend. A large brown trenchcoat could be seen. Carrying many bags and pockets. Aswel as a metallic walking cane and strider boots.

His eyes spotted Niaphim, causing him to frown. But a disarming smile appeared on his face as he didn't halted his tread or slowed down his pace. Making an agile jump over the narrow ally where Halo was standing in. Up to the rooftop where Niaphim was sitting. After landing firmly at the bottom edge of the rooftop. He halted and turned to face the young boy that was sitting there.

With a cheerfull voice the elderly man spoke to Niaphim:
"Well hello there young lad, it is not often that I come across people this high up in Traverse Town. Do you also find roads to be restricting and boring perhaps?"

[falsetruth]

(Isn't that kinda powerplaying a bit?)

Niaphim sat up slightly at the sound of approaching sounds across the rooftops. His eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened on his blade's hilt. Slowly, a person apeared over the top of a neighboring roof, and Niaphim sat the rest of the way up, ready to defend himself if needed. The stranger leapt across the gap between roofs with ease, and turned rather cheerfully towards Niaphim.

Niaphim found himself stumped by the stranger's words, and he sat frowning for a moment before forcing out an answer. "I.......yes......you use the roofs too?" He was more puzzled than anything else, unable to understand why this old roof-running man had chosen to come the worst part of the district and decide to talk to a random person while he was at it. Niaphim scratched his head, then rose to his feet, his sword held rather limply at his side.

[keyblade]

Halo heard the boy's heavy sigh, and then he asked her a question. It took her only a few moments to decide on how to answer it, why did she come here? "I guess.. to escape everything else. I come here often to get away you could say." She replied pausing only once for him.
Just seconds later it seemed, she heard mumbling next to her ear only she couldn't quite interpret on what this whispering was telling her. She lifted up her head a little bit, and looked, and listened. Where was it coming from? She turned around in her seat, and looked up at the young man, however, he was not what was making this noise. Besides, she really didn't expect him to be anyways. After wiggling back to her regular position she still heard it. The whispering was becoming more of a nuisance then anything, it was really annoying her, not to mention it was kind of freaky.

She summoned up her weapon using the necklace around her throat, and whenever it had literally pieced itself together she reached out, grabbed it's handle, and pulled it back. "Alright cut it out!" She threatened, and whipped her head up towards the roof in front of her. She didn't find anything, but she heard the noise coming from above her. Halo jumped up on the back part of the bench, naturally making it lean down quickly ready to collapse. However, just before it did fall she made a front flip, and landed nimbly on her two feet on top of the roof. She heard the bench hit the ground, and then looked around from where she stood. Nobody.
Halo turned around, facing the boy again after hearing a voice from behind her, and saw he was speaking with an old man. "Ah-ha, it's you!" She shouted from her place, and pointed an excusing finger at Gramps. "Were you trying to put us to sleep, or was that just one horrible lullaby?" Halo asked, lowered her hand, and sat it against her hip. This man was the only other person here, so what was he trying to do to them? What was that sound?

[iuma]

(OOC: if you feel that mentioning what you see and hear is so, then I won't do it anymore.)

At Halo's suddens appearance and accusation, the old man was startled and jumped back. Blinking confused with his enigmatic eyes before giving her a short stare.
The man wasn't aware of her presence to begin with. But after a moment he composed himself and started to smile towards her.

He then made an elaborate bow towards her, bending his head over deeply. And answered her with a clear and enjoying voice:
"Oh no sweet dear, do forgive this old fool for mumbling. But I do tend to sing during walking. A travellers song, causing my mind to wander aswel as my feet. But i'm terrible sorry if I have disturbed you sweet child."
The old man righted himself hastely and smoothly went to a little jump in wich he clicked the heels of his boots in the air. While resting his hand on his large walking cane.

Then he stepped forward again. Walking in a small arc around Halo to get closer to Niaphim. His feet planted at the angled rooftop, but without hindering him.
Addressing the boy now he spoke to him:
"Well of course I use the rooftops. The ground is far to dangerous these days. It was only yesterday that I crossed the large square in the Second District when suddenly an army of Heartless appeared..."

The old man narrated his story with much fire and enthousiasme. Using his body and hands to help him.
"... Lead by a human looking Heartless. A dangerous deranged green haired lunatic. I was lucky to escape in time."
The man then halted in his movement and stopped in his speech. Turning slowly to face both Niaphim and Halo as his jolly face melted and became more docile.
With a rogueish grin and a soft voice he concluded:
"... I'm truelly sorry, there I went again. Ranting like a raving bafoon. I shall leave you youngsters in peace for this is your time."

He made another bow but this time with much integrity and with meaning. After the bow he righted himself and started to look for how to continue his path over the ruggid plane of rooftops and streets that cutted through them as canyons.

[falsetruth]

"That was odd, to say the least." Niaphim said, rubbing his forehead with his free hand. He watched the old man disappear over the rooftops, and wasn't sure whether to feel confused or relieved. If he was being honest with himself, then he would have aknowledged that both feelings were already effecting him. He gritted his teeth and sheathed his blade. "What was he saying though? A human-looking Heartless? Hm....he's probably just crazy. Certainly acted like it."

Niaphim turned to Halo, wondering what her opinion might be. He was already guessing it was negative, due to her primary reaction to the stranger.

[keyblade]

Halo began to settle down listening to the old man. "A traveler's song?" She couldn't help but asking, and then began to feel a little bad as he apologized for disturbing her. Guilt was only natural to her however. The man mentioned why he used the rooftops, how it was dangerous below. So maybe it was true it was safer up high away from the terrible monsters residing below.
Then, what the man said next really caught Halo's interest. He had seen a Heartless boy with green hair. Was it even possible? Of course she wasn't doubting him.. yet, but it was true things like that really could happen. From rumors it was said that people filled with hate inside could easily become possessed.
"Well, I'm not going to say it can't be true.. From what I've heard it can happen, but I suppose the green hair sounds a little crazy." She replied looking over at him. "Who are you exactly, anyways?"

[keyblade]

((Edited.))

[iuma]

(ooc: Falsetruth is no longer a member for some reason. so i think he's probably not going to post anymore. If it's alright with you then we'll continue on our own.)

The elderly man turned around with an aggrivated look and frowned upset. With an insulted tone in his voice he replied to her:
"Crazy you say! Dear girl are you accusing me of lying? I have been places you never even heard off. Seen things you wouldn't believe."

The elderly man calmed down and stared still unfriendly at Halo. Sulking even at her for hurting his honor. He continued on a calmer tone:
"Has nowone ever taught you that it is impolite to ask somebodies name without introducing yourself first?
Mercator is my name. Travelling around is my fame.
And who might you be my dear girl?"