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Post by hoodwink on Feb 20, 2019 18:52:01 GMT -5
Sitting on the suitcase, the Vagabond listened to his comrade intently. It was at first relieving to hear that the spirits wouldn't cause that much harm, though less relieving to hear that something else might be causing what was going on with the teen. Geez... first spirits and now this? It seemed he had met someone with a whole load of troubles, carrying them around with them as though in a large backpack. The Vagabond imagined what it must feel like for this young girl, being hunted by monsters and spirits on and off her own homeland. What an exhausting existence...
This was becoming complicated. Initially here to investigate the Heartless, the Vagabond had seemed to have stumbled upon a much deeper mystery. What or who brought this girl here? Why are these spirits after her? There were a few questions forming in his head, though he would have to address them later, as Tori asked a question of her own. "Did...something...happen?" The Vagabond spoke slowly, his tone one of confusion as he said the question aloud. Wracking his brain, the man sat in thought for a full minute or two, scratching his head.
He had been in the Lagoon, resting with the Hippos and wondering the best method for obtaining new lab specimens. Hearing the sounds of someone yelling, he had made his way back to the clearing he had first arrived at. That is where he met Tori. After that, the two had begun to travel together on this world. "No, not other than me finding you here. Nothing." He tilted his head a bit, a quizzical look coming over his face.
"But what, or who is doing this?" It didn't sound like she would have an answer for him, but he had to ask nonetheless. He was beginning to wonder if perhaps the amount of Heartless on this world and the spirits arriving had anything in common.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 20, 2019 18:55:49 GMT -5
Tori shook her head eagerly, seeing that her question wasn't answered the way she was hoping for. She took a deep breath before talking once more.
"No, I meant... When you went to help me, at that Treehouse. When you found me there... Did something happen?" she asked, "It feels as if... Something did. But... I can't remember anything... That's why I'm asking you. There's... There's a reason why I'm as exhausted as I am now... But, I don't know what happened after I passed out... Do you know?"
She looked at him with clear uneasiness, even with the hood's shadow covering her eyes. Yet one could notice how serious she was then and there, wanting to find an answer to that which had bothered her ever since recovering her conscience back.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 1:46:51 GMT -5
Memories were a whirlwind, today had been filled with many life threatening events. It took the Vagabond a moment to focus his mind on them, closing his eyes in concentration. They were surrounding us... their numbers were countless... He remembered a weird mist surrounding them, thinking it was the spirits doing. That's right!
His eyes opened and he seemed relieved to have remembered. "There was this weird mist... and then this weird weapon showed up in your hands. It was crystal like... if I recall... you used that to get rid of the spirits." He had nearly forgotten! Her bizarre weapon, he was certainly curious about what it was and how it had harmed them. The Vagabond crossed his arms in thought before asking her:
"Is it the weapon that's making these draw backs? Just what was that?" He had never seen a weapon of that caliber, seemingly made of crystal glass and jagged. The odd shape was what really stood out, though it was a bit obscure. What shape was he thinking of? What had she called it earlier? His head was spinning, there had been a lot that had happened quickly. He hadn't anticipated any of this. If the spirits weren't Heartless, just how could they help his research? It was a growing thorn in his side, this feeling he was getting in the back of his head, like he was missing something important.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 9:02:58 GMT -5
"So I did use it..." Tori groaned, bitterly.
She looked away, frowning. So that's why she felt so exhausted... She had used that weapon. But, how? She recalled passing out, and then waking up at a completely different place. Could it be that she used it while unconscious herself? Or was it someone else, taking control of her body? That question was, right now, unable to be answered. But there were others that could be.
"...From what I know, that's a Keyblade. At least... That's what I think" Tori explained. She then held her hand forward, summoning a Keyblade, but completely different from the crystal one she'd used before, "This is my Keyblade. The other one... I'm not sure why, but... I can't use it whenever I want to. I'm still trying to figure that one out" she dismissed the blade, and looked at him, "There have been times where I've used the crystal one, but... Without me summoning it. You could say it's a bit random in that sense..."
Tori took a deep sigh, and looked down. She felt genuinly confused after hearing that she had used that Keyblade after she'd passed out, which caused her exhaustion and disability to use magic for the time being. Mostly, her abilities would be restored if she avoided using that power for the time being...
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 10:11:18 GMT -5
Shifting his weight on the suitcase he sat on, the Vagabond's brows raised slightly as the girl manifested her usual Keyblade. That's right, a Keyblade! That's what she had called it earlier! It did indeed look different from the odd crystal weapon she had used earlier, this one's shape actually remotely resembled a key, for starters. It seemed that this girl had not only one but two key blades, though the Vagabond was unsure about the significance of this. "I see... so it's the other blade that's random, and seems to act of its own will..." That part he could understand easily enough. It was similar to how there were moments where the darkness in his heart would activate without his will or knowledge in order to protect him.
It seemed that this crystal weapon was the reason behind Tori's weakened state. This caused the Vagabond to relax considerably. "Okay... so it must have appeared since we were cornered by the spirits..." He looked at the teen, who continued to have a more complex life by the second apparently, wondering how someone so young could deal with these pressures on their own. Youth is certainly resilient. The thought comforted him but made him sad at the same time. Bitter sweet. The Vagabond scratched his chin thoughtfully. "So the Keyblade is able to stop them... but just what is the Keyblade?"
He had never heard of such a weapon, nor had he seen one until today. There were many questions he had around it, for starters, it seemed to be able to dematerialize based on the user's will. That's handy... He wondered what else the weapon could do besides protect them from the spirit world.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 10:52:24 GMT -5
Tori shrugged, with complete sincerity. She knew that the Keyblade was a weapon of sorts, but that was it. What it was exactly, or why it was the only thing that could actually harm the Spirits... That was something she was no aware of.
"In any case... If you don't have any more questions... I think I can do some of my own, right? Info for info" Tori said, calmly, "It's only fair for me to answer yours questions sincerely only if you answer mine the same. Besides, I think I have the right to ask somethings..."
She looked calm, and, for a second, it was as if she was recovering her energy slowly. Being honest, Tori did feel somewhat better than before, but she had the feeling that it'd take a bit longer before she could hold her ground again.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 11:03:29 GMT -5
"Tsk." The Vagabond hadn't expected the girl to know nothing about the weapon. He couldn't help but allow his face to fall a bit as his curiosity was dashed. "Oh well... I suppose you'll learn about it more as time goes on." He stretched, fingering the leather-bound book he had pocketed earlier. He was curious about what contents it held, seeing as how it had been from this world. Maybe there is a clue to as what's going on in this world... His thought was cut short as Tori asked for exchange of info.
Being a researcher himself, as well as having fought with and traveled with this young girl, the vagrant thought it only fair he oblige. With a tilt of his head he glanced at her, curious as to what she wanted to know. He had slumped over a bit on the suitcase, his head feeling rather dizzy. Focusing on the film projector for something to steady his gaze, he drew in a few deep breathes. Ah...still ragged... He was frustrated at his own slow recuperation.
Shaking off the dizziness, he sat up a little straighter. "Fair's fair. What do you want to know?" He wasn't sure what her questions would be, or what direction the conversation would take. It made him only slightly nervous.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 11:16:06 GMT -5
Tori smiled uneasily, seeing that he himself felt quite a bit dizzy. Based on his posture and the like, it was clear he was at certain unease. But, she herself was there, too, as she answered his questions sincerely. Payback was quite the pain sometimes, but a pain worth the trouble.
"Well, for starters... What are you?" she asked, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to start trouble, but... You look human to me, but... Like, my head's telling me you're not. Not to mention those arms of yours look awfuly familiar to a Heartless'... And yet... You're not one. At least, not like the rest. So.. What are you?"
she thought it was a rather simple question to start with. After all, it was only natural for her to be curious about it.
"If he IS a Heartless, then... How come he's not like the rest...?" she thought to herself, "Gotta start establishing points from there..."
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 11:38:05 GMT -5
Yeah... probably should have seen that coming... The Vagabond scratched at his cheek, wondering how best to phrase this. He did not and would not go into certain things, but he figured the teen was owed some sort of explanation. His eyes were closed now, as he thought of how best to put what he had to say. He would be honest with her, he had decided that due to her own honesty. Opening his eyes he seemed determined, at peace with his decision.
"Have you ever seen it? What lies beyond the light? How dark the shadows go?" He was struggling to remember the name of it... where he had come from beforehand. "I don't remember my home other than small pieces, but I do remember that place." He thought of the lush greenery, the gentle breezes. A garden by a pathway. These were the only pieces coming back to him. It was all washed away with the dark. Where nothing exists but dread, horror and demons. The memory caused his breathing to waver, if only for a moment. How long had he spent there...?
"When a world falls to the Heartless, what happens to the people? You've probably got an idea..." An image flashed before his mind. A heart rising into the sky, turning to darkness. "But sometimes, people's hearts don't know when to quit." His tone began to sound bitter, as though he was resentful of such an existence. "I don't know how long I was there... but I do remember it vividly. The darkness, everywhere, so black it swallowed everything up. There was no light at all." He stood from the suitcase now, removing his black fingerless glove from his left hand. Holding it up, he showed the teenager the Heartless emblem that had burned itself there.
"My heart didn't give up. I was burdened with the darkness that awaited a fallen world." Around the emblem, the skin was blackened and charred, almost looking decayed. It only spread from the center of the hand to the edges, not exceeding to the fingers. It throbbed and shown with a menacing energy. "You could say I exist in both worlds. The light and the dark." His tone was still bitter as he glared down at his own hand. "I would say I exist in neither."
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 13:17:13 GMT -5
Tori flinched at his explanation, struggling to remain calm and show a collected facade. That all broke appart when the man showed the emblem his glove was hiding -a Heartless Emblem. She gulped, struggling to actually calm down, but couldn't recover that any longer.
"So... You're..." Tori struggled to even speak, shocked at the sight, yet somewhat understanding it, "...And is that why you're so keen on reseaching the Heartless? To know... What truly happens to them, and what happened to you?" she asked, concerned.
After a while, she looked at her own, gloved hand, with certain unease. She herself had also something she preffered to keep hidden, and it was best to keep hidden for now. However... IF he asked about it, then she would have no choice BUT to oblige.
"Neither... light or darkness..." Tori muttered, "...That, I'm not sure of. You're still you... Your heart didn't give into the darkness completely. It's almost as if... You embraced it. Although..." she smiled uneasily, "It's almost as if that darkness you embraced didn't belong to you... But someone else. ...Can I know... To whom it belongs?"
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 16:18:23 GMT -5
He expected such a reaction. Still for some reason it caused him to look away from both the teenager and the atrocity attached to his left wrist. Pulling the glove back over it, the Vagabond sat back down on the suitcase with a thud. He was still exhausted. The Darkness took its toll on his body and heart, causing him to need long rest to recuperate. At the girls speculation and question towards the end however, his body stiffened a bit.
She's perceptive, I'll give her that. The thought was slightly bitter. The memories still raw and painful. He chose not to focus on such things. With a shake of his head he held up a finger, seeming almost apologetic. "Sorry, but I think that's enough Q&A." He was exhausted, though truthfully the subject just made him sore. For a moment his dull green eyes simply lingered on the floor beneath him, almost as if he were lost in thought, in a different time.
Shaking his head a bit, the Vagabond let out a loud yawn. "Frankly, I'm beat. I'm sure you still need to rest, too." Standing up, he removed his large coat and put it on the tent floor, falling onto it in a heap. "We'll need to be prepared. If those spirits come back, we should think of a different method other than that weird crystal blade." He looked over at his companion from the floor. "And I still want to figure out why this world is so full of Heartless."
There was becoming a long list of things to do. They had to not only be wary of the threat of Heartless, but also these spirits that seemed to track Tori down wherever she went. Not only that, but the Heartless on this world seemed unhindered, almost as if there were no remnants of light to defend it. The thought unsettled the Vagabond. How many more worlds do they need to claim...?
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 16:49:16 GMT -5
Tori looked at him uneasily as he apologized and stated that he wouldn't answer any other questions. Not only that, but he had a point in resting. He himself look beat up, and it made sense considering how he faired in battle. He wasn't used to it, so it was logical that he'd get tired more easily. Although that could be said for Tori herself, as well...
She looked away, concerned for him, and seeing that he was also still keen on the Heartless... But his focus seemed to change, if only a bit. The fact that her last question got that reaction made her stiffen up, as well, knowing she was touching dangerous territory. But... Tori couldn't help but to understand that feeling. And some memories... Were best kept for oneself.
"I guess you're right..." Tori muttered, smiling uneasily and faintly, "But... You know... Sometimes... It is better to talk..." she recalled her friends, helping her, "You might not get much out of it, but... It can help you feel better. I know that too well... I'm a bit stubborn to talk myself, but... Everytime I've talked about my problems... It's almost as if they become lighter to bear... Y'know?" she asked, looking at him. She then sighed, "I'm not trying to get answers from you, mind you. I would do other stuff BUT tell you to talk about it" Tori chuckled.
She looked sincere, and, in her eyes, Tori was clearly caring for him. After so long, bearing her problems without letting anyone know... She learnt that it wasn't right.
"It caused me and others a lot of pain..." she remembered that time, back at Sakura, "I refused people's help... And now I'm caught in this... I can't make the same mistakes."
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 17:20:02 GMT -5
The Vagabond sighed. He was grateful for her offering assistance, not wanting to worry her further. He rubbed his eyes a bit, which were struggling to focus on the tent ceiling. The flickering light from the lantern in the middle of the tent was lulling him with its flickering shadows. Laying on his coat in the mimicry of a mattress, the Vagabond wondered just what it was that this girl had had to deal with. It seems like she's the type to relate...
He waved a hand nonchalantly before murmuring; "Thanks..." Rolling onto his side, he took a deep breath. How long had he sat with the darkness? He had started to not mind its dimming shroud, its comforting emptiness, its hollow vastness, echoing. He remembered when he had first escaped from the Realm of Darkness, how the light had blinded him. For a moment he had thought he would perish. It's a bit too deep for anyone else to get involved... The thought reassured him. He wasn't the type to involve others with his own baggage.
It seemed this girl was similar, though and learned from isolation that there is rarely strength in loneliness. I don't need strength... the Vagabond thought bitterly. Just answers. He wouldn't drag anyone else into the dark with him. As he lay there on his side, his eyes began to flutter open and close. He was tired. His voice seemed distant, slurred with the coming of sleep.
"We're safe here for now. You should rest." With that, there was a familiar loud snoring emerging through the tent. It seemed the Vagabond had finally succumbed to his exhaustion.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 21, 2019 18:04:52 GMT -5
She chuckled with some unease, and then saw how quickly he fell asleep. Tori didn't expect him to fall asleep that quick, though... But she let it slide. It had been a long day, after all...
She sighed, and looked down at her gloved hand. Tori was concerned for him, especially seeing where his stubbornes was taking him through. Regretting having kept some things secret, Tori looked at him once more, who was fast asleep. She looked troubled, and, while her body was telling her to go to sleep, her heart was telling her the opposite.
"I hate doing this, but... I'm sorry..." she whispered, holding her gloved hand towards him, her eyes turning purple, "I normally don't do this, but... I have to know... What happened... For you to become this person...?"
A faint, grey mist formed at the end of her fingertips, connecting her with the man. Soon enough, Tori would find herself within his memories... Against his and her will.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 21, 2019 22:00:05 GMT -5
As the grey mist reached out and connected the man of darkness to the teenager, memories began to flash before her eyes. There were lush bushes and trees shading cobblestone roads, a gentle coastal breeze passing through many of the tall grassy meadows. There was an image of a younger boy, though quick, who seemed to resemble the Vagabond. He didn't have the same dull green eyes that the older man had, but radiant emerald ones that seemed to shine of their own light. He had a smile on his face, a mop of brown hair much like the mans own. Lief. The name rang through the images, as the young boy began to grow older.
Suddenly the young boy Tori was seeing was a boy older than herself, not as tall as the Vagabond but just as broad. He was stronger looking, his face less gaunt than his siblings, a healthy flush of life in his face. Suddenly the memory began to shift, as the images began to grow dimmer and darker. There was a flash of multiple memories flooding into Tori's mind, as her spell seemed to snake the information from the slumbering man, who had hardly moved an inch. Luckily it seemed due to sheer exhaustion, the Vagabond was not disturbed by this probing of information. He always had been a sound sleeper.
Flashes of a small and humble kitchen, with little counter space and a modest closet, a tv posted up on the table playing a news report. Displayed on the screen were buildings collapsing, sightings of the Heartless emerging. Another memory soon replaced that one, showing helicopters flying above a small town, their harsh search lights beaming down upon a rampant swarm of Shadows and other Heartless. There was another flash of the young man who resembled the wandering vagrant, though this time he was surrounded by a different place.
It was dark, vast and uninviting. The floor itself was made of stagnant darkness, with tall towering hills protruding up towards a vast pitch black sky. There was a flash of the younger boy running, seemingly taking place from the Vagabond's perspective, who was running behind them. Their hand reached out, as Darkness began to surround the memory, causing it to fade.
Instead there was now an image of the two brothers on a shore, where there was finally a source of light, a moon. On this sandy beach, Neo Shadows began to swarm the two and come at them, neither having a weapon of any kind. The memory showed the swarm began to throng and surge towards the two. Lief...no! The name rang through the memory again, as the younger looking sibling was swallowed up by the throng of Heartless. There was a flash of light as the Vagabond watched his own brothers heart float up into the air.
As the Darkness of the place began to swirl around it, the heart began to transform, slowly at first. There was a steady pressure of dark energy, devouring the heart greedily without any hesitation. A pang of desperation seemed to hang in the air as the Vagabond shouted, reaching out to his brothers heart.
The memory faded away, the Vagabond groaning on the floor. He was still asleep, but seemed to be struggling due to the effects of Tori's spell. As the memories began to fade, the Vagabond's breathing began to even out, his breath shallow at first but growing in strength.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 22, 2019 7:11:18 GMT -5
She had seen enough. The flood of memories was way too fast for her to control, and, out of sheer pain, forced her way out. Those memories... The loss of someone dear... The despair within the Realm of Darkness... It was too much. But even so, Tori had gone through something similar before.
"Mom..." she said without thinking.
Tori felt stinging once again, this time on her arm. Another wound, that looked more like a crack of sorts... And, unlike a regular wound, it was faintly glowing white. She grew suspicious, and, making use of her knife, pinched her thumb to see if something was wrong with her. The thumb let out a faint bubble of blood, dispelling her theory. But then... What was that?
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 22, 2019 9:44:29 GMT -5
Though asleep, the Vagabond had certainly seemed distressed as Tori dug into his memories. He tossed and turned in his sleep, his brow furrowing and the occasional grunt escaping his lips. Other than that, it seemed the older man was unaware of the girls snooping. This was actually a small blessing, as the Vagabond surely would have felt violated and lost a sense of trust towards his ally if he had known.
Sprawled on the tent floor, the man rolled onto his back, lost to the memories of dreams. It wouldn't be as long as a full nights sleep, but the Vagabond certainly needed rest after relying on the Darkness. His heart was still not used to using such powers, the effects lingering and syphoning his energy. It seemed he would continue sleeping for at least a small amount of time.
He was unaware of the girls own tragic past, not knowing that she could most likely relate. It was his opinion that the shadows in his heart were too great a threat for those who's hearts were pure and full of light.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 22, 2019 10:38:21 GMT -5
Tori looked down, afraid. She wanted to wake him up, to talk with him... But it would definitely make things worse. Yet... A single slip of the tongue... Could set her against him. She was best cautious with what she said.
Sighing, Tori laid down on the floor, looking away from him. She was slightly shaking out of fear, hoping that her intrussion hadn't been noticed. Before, it had happened without her consent, but now... It had been her choice. And she regretted it.
"I hate this... So much..." she thought to herself, "It's because of this... power... That people hate me... That they fear me... No wonder that he's trying to kill me..."
She forced her eyes shut, recalling her problems back home. She had her friends and her guild, sure, but it didn't change the fact that he was being targetted by someone she once trusted. And she still couldn't explain his sudden change in behavior, but was left with no choice but to run and fight for her life.
After a while, Tori began to cry silently. It had been way too much for her to bear alone...
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 22, 2019 11:26:28 GMT -5
[[I'm gonna hop ahead a bit to keep it moving, if that's cool ]]
He wasn't sure how much time had passed. He could hardly remember his dreams, though the light sweat that had broken out on his body assured him they were nothing worth remembering. Sitting up with a groggy sway, the Vagabond looked around him. The tent had proven to be safe, as nothing had disturbed them while they rested. The restless sleep hardly bothered him anymore, he had grown used to it.
With a yawn and a stretch, the Vagabond slowly stood up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His gaze fell on his comrade, who had learned a lot about him recently, a little too much maybe, as it looked like she had been crying while he was asleep. The girl seemed stressed, though to be honest the older man wasn't surprised. She just appeared on this dangerous world, her only ally being part of the dark... He couldn't help but sigh. This girl was extremely unlucky by the looks of it. Almost more unlucky than him.
At least my world is gone. I wasn't taken from it. The thought was not reassuring in the slightest. For a moment a pang of regret washed through him, how he wished he could return to his old life. He shook his head a bit. What old life? You died. Remember? That's right. He wasn't him anymore. There was no old self left. Only a husk. A forgotten shell, left somewhere in the dark.
Physically he felt much better, the side effects of the powers he relied on finally wearing off. Rolling his shoulder a bit and stretching out his arms, he picked up his coat from the floor, putting it back over him. Turning to Tori, his green eyes seemed duller than before somehow. "How are you feeling? Is your magic back to normal?"
There was much left to do on this world. He had grown antsy of the refined safety of the tent. It was time for him to take another step forward.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Feb 22, 2019 15:19:56 GMT -5
Tori groaned awake, slowly. She collected herself from before, and rubbed her eyes, trying to remove any sigh of weakness and to wake herself up. Hearing him ask about her magic made Tori smile uneasily, and sat back up.
"I guess... I'm fine..." she said, slightly timidly, "I guess I did need to rest a bit..."
She looked away, and, after letting out a sigh, stood up. Her stomach was also waking up, and she looked down with unease. She needed a pick-me-up soon...
"I'll go look outside. There's gotta be a box or two that at least has canned food..." she said, not really omptimistic, "You just... I dunno. Do whatever, I guess?"
With that, Tori left to the outside. There were no sight of Heartless, with was a good enough sign. She looked around, trying to find anything that looked like resources or anything similar. She saw a peculiar box, and, with her sword, cracked it open. A couple cans, a bit of rotting bread and molded cheese. The last two didn't look even a bit appealing to try and salvage... So Tori grabbed the cans, and headed back to the entrance of the tent.
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