[OPEN] Nights are for sleeping through.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] The moon was such a lovely, pure color at this time of night. It wasn't often that Linai could stay awake past sunset. She was a "sleep before sundown, wake before someone finds you" type of person. Hollow Bastion was something of a safe-haven when everyones' homes had been destroyed, but Linai had never felt safe there; without her mother and father, she never felt safe. The occasional Heartless found her wherever she would lay, but she was a competent fighter, if there was only one. Tonight she felt she'd be left alone. Or she could hope. She sky was a dark, deep royal blue; each individual star shined against it like someone had cut millions of holes in the sheet that was night and allowed the day to peek through. On her back she lay, snuggled into a makeshift bed of boxes and worn-out bed sheets that she'd found on the ground beside a dumpster the previous night. She'd carried them here and now this was where she was meant to sleep, but something kept her awake. She knew she'd need energy for the next day - she always needed energy for every day, really, so she couldn't understand why she couldn't sleep. She didn't suffer from insomnia, certainly. Sleeping was one of her specialties. No exciting events were replaying in her mind at the moment - the day had been uneventful. Maybe it was just this pretty, eye-catching night sky. Normally, she couldn't stay awake this long, so maybe some part of her was excited to see the night? It hurt too much to look at the day sky; the sun was blinding, and it made her dark eyes water, but the moon emitted silver light that was more soft and gentle than the down of a baby duckling. It wasn't just easier to look at; it was a sight for sore eyes. Still, even when she closed her eyes, she couldn't find the will to sleep. She'd been laying there since after the sun had dipped below the horizon and now her muscles were constantly nagging her about how uncomfortable they were. Sure, boxes and sheets weren't the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but her body wanted to move, not lay still, even to watch this beautiful night progress. For a while, she ignored the feeling, but it continued to nag. With a resigned sigh, she rolled off the boxes onto her belly, grunting as she hit the concrete. She rose up quickly and grabbed two hair ties on one of the empty boxes to the side of her makeshift bed, running her fingers through her long hair with her other hand to get to knots out of it. She pulled her hair up into her usual pig-tails, then grabbed two cute bows and attached them to her hair ties. She examined her outfit; a short tutu-like black shirt and black laced leggings were on her body now. Her shirt, however, was a dingy white tank top. With a soft sigh she rummaged through the blankets that lay over her boxes, and then her black jacket caught her eye amongst the floral sheets; she put it on hastily, feeling a little chilled now that she was up and out of the blankets. She strapped on her leg holster, hidden beneath the frills of her skirt; she never knew if she'd be attacked. At that point she was ready to wander. Much of Hollow Bastion - or was it Radiant Garden now? - was the same as she remembered, but the way it felt... it was different. She'd lived here all her life. She knew when something changed, and, really, a lot of somethings had changed. For one, she was alone. Completely, utterly alone... Linai found herself up on a long walkway of stone; she leaned against the wall that kept people from running off over a cliff and stared out over the horizon. A slight breeze was present up here; it was warmer than one would expect. She sighed. Why did she have to be so restless all the time? Maybe she'd meet someone tonight... and maybe kittens would bark.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan roamed the new world with heighten curiosity it had seemed like a haven, excluding the heartless that would occasionally appear. He walked down a stone walkway he couldn't help but turn his head at every store and building. This particular world was one full of wonders, it had many items that he hadn't encounter anywhere else. He looked up into the night sky wondering if he would encounter anymore heartless. The few he had encounter were weak and not strong enough to even taste his SunSet Ender. It rested on his side, his gloved hand always placed on the hilt for a quick draw if ever needed. His slate grey eyes were filled with an adventurous spirit as he couldn't really contain himself in this new world.

While walking down the stone path he noticed the figure of a young girl. She looked like she was alone , and it wasn't all that good to be out here alone.although hesitant at first, Nathan walked up to the little girl " Hey little girl... Are you out here alone? Where's you're parents? " his head turned from side to side searching for any adults that could possible be hers.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai was lost in thought when a man - a stranger, more importantly - appeared out of the blue. "Hey little girl," he said, a little hesitantly at first. "Are you out here alone? Where's your parents?" She turned to face him quickly, hands suddenly down at her sides and eyes fixed on her shoes. A stranger. A stranger was talking to her. Why? For a moment, she considered lying to him. "Oh, they're just at home, but I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a walk." She couldn't lie about that. So she'd just tell the truth. 'Cause, really, what could it hurt? She scuffed one foot on the ground and replied quietly, "I, ah... they're not... here... at all. They were killed when the Heartless came to Hollow Bastion..." She glanced up at him, curious of his reaction. She could never be sure of how people would react when she told them. One time someone had thought that was the lie, and that she'd just run away from home. They'd learned their lesson when she had burst into tears after they'd visited every house in the city to find her home that she didn't have. Linai had never really lived that down. Every once in a while she saw that person, and that person would see her, and they'd avert their eyes and walk quickly in another direction. Most people just said they were sorry, and then, somehow, it became awkward. Other people didn't even acknowledge her 'cause they knew she was an orphan. It was sad. What was she, a disease? No. Not at all.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathans brows farrowed in anger, it was sad that she had become this way because of the Heartless. They were everywhere and they were killing, making kids orphans. " They just don't stop do they. " his fist tighten once his head lifted and looked around. He took in deep breathes before looking back towards the little girl " I'm sorry for your loss. But it really isn't safe for you to be out like this. Heartless are still lurking around. " he was unsure of how to go about the situation he wasn't to sure about leaving her there, but still it might be more dangerous if she had came with him " Do you have anywhere to go??? " he hoped she did, that way he could just escort her there and know she was safe.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai was quiet as the man responded to her words. He believed her. A soft mutter sounded under his breath, and while she didn't want to eavesdrop, she wanted to hear him. They just don't stop. That's what he'd said. No. They don't. The Heartless were cruel and thoughtless; some children never even made it to the point of being orphans. Oftentimes, the Heartless found the kids first, and when the parents tried to defend them they, too, would be brutally murdered by heart-stealers. She continued to watch the man, see his reaction. He was angry. His knuckles turned white as his fists grew into tighter hands, and he couldn't bring himself to look back at her until several deep breaths cleansed his fury, or at least pressed it down inside for another time. Linai knew that feeling. Finally he returned his gaze to her face and she stared steadily back, blinking her weary eyes. The man said it wasn't safe to be out. Of course she knew that. He also said that Heartless were still running around. She knew that, too. She'd always known that. She had a feeling that the Heartless were going to find her and try to drive her out of every home she made, or even drive her out of her mind, until finally she was caught and killed. They wanted her heart, and they were like freaking creepers; the harder the fight, the more they wanted her. So she'd have to run all of her life, maybe even longer. She'd be running, still, when she was in heaven. They'd never stop chasing her, it seemed. Yet this moment was quiet and empty, save for this man in front of her. The question came up. "Do you have anywhere to go? It always came up one way or another. She always thought it kind of funny. If she had somewhere to go then why would she be where she was right then? If she were at an orphanage there was no way they'd let her wander around in the dead of night with no protection save for three darts strapped to her leg, and really, what could darts do to a Heartless? It's not like you could aim for the heart or the temple and kill them like that. They weren't humans; they didn't have those weak points. She shook her head in response to the man's question. "No," she said. "But you don't have to worry about me. I've lived on my own for years. If I were meant to die I'd be dead by now, wouldn't I?"

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan smiled once he heard her answer, it was nice to see someone so small with such courage. He had seen what the heartless had done on other worlds and even though he still don't quite understand what that dream he had was about he took it upon himself to help out others as much as possible. He eyes rolled over to the upper corner of his eyes " Well since you don't have anywhere to be. Why not keep me company? " she was small but for some reason he was afraid she would reject him. His finger motioned to the top of his head, scratching it in a anticipation.

She seemed to have been living on her own for awhile now and He wasn't exactly looking for any traveling companions but maybe just while his on this world. Usually he wouldn't pry into other business but this seemed like a good enough reason to not let her be alone. Besides it was always good to have someone to talk with you when you're on the road. For some reason he didn't want to leave her there.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai continued to watch him. What was it that she found so fascinating about watching people? How odd. She supposed it was just because of how different they were, and yet, they were so alike. They all looked different, yet their hearts were just the same; you could see their emotions in their eyes. You could see everything, based entirely on posture and on facial expression. She'd learned to read people surprisingly well, but she chose to pretend that she didn't see anything. If she wanted to know people then she'd have friends or... or be a biologist. Or something. She did want to know people, but... everything was complicated. She looked down at her feet as she pondered this - her desire to be with people and understand people. Maybe her lack of company when she was younger drew her to examine people more closely. Maybe it was because, as the years passed, she'd begun to forget her parents. Their face, their sound, their smell, their voices. She forgot what color mother and father's eyes were, and she forgot what color hair they had and whether it was straight or wavy or curly, maybe even frizzy. She'd begun to forget, and she didn't want to forget them. They were her reason for living right now. Well... if you could call this living. Spending nights on boxes with spare sheets really wasn't living, was it? Still, Linai couldn't help but think of other children. They'd want this life until they had it. They got to call their own shots and eat whatever they wanted and do whatever they wanted, but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. You got tired of not having a schedule. Suddenly, out the of the silence, the man asked her if she'd like to keep him company. She looked up with her big brown eyes, a little surprised. No one really invited her to hang around. They just offered to take her somewhere. What was the point of that? If she wanted to go somewhere she could go there on her own. Still... she could see something like anxiety in his eyes. Was he... afraid? Maybe he didn't want her to turn him down. For a moment she hesitated, and then she finally answered in her sweet voice, "S...sure. Where are you going?" What could it hurt to go on a late night adventure?

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Hearing her innocent voice reply was good enough for him to return to his normal self. He glanced down towards her, looking at her brown eyes. He know it was bad to do so, but she sorta reminded him of a small puppy. The boy smiled while he imagined the girl being an actual puppy, but for right now there was no time for that " Well I just arrived here. So I guess we could go sightseeing. " he looked around for a moment than back to the girl " You been living here for a long time right? So you should know all the things that idiot tourist like me don't. " he felt that he should find something to occupy there time. Whether it be sightseeing or simply talking he really just wanted to get her mind off of everything around her. Giving her a friendly smile just to remind her that he was her friend.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai wondered what the man was thinking as he looked at her. Her response was what he wanted; he smiled, and Linai couldn't help but smile back, feeling a little comfort. Oh, how oblivious people were. Linai knew that every world would be a much better place if everyone recognized the importance of something so tiny and seeming insignificance of a smile. It warmed her heart to know that this man had already accepted her, despite that she was a strange orphan girl wandering around in the middle of the night all by herself. This man was very intriguing; she could see something like amusement twitching at the corners of his lips and making the smile even more broad. What on Earth was this strange man thinking? He told her that he had only just arrived on this world. He commented that sightseeing would be fun. To be honest, Linai hadn't explored the entire city since Radiant Garden had been rebuilt. She tended to stay in the areas that she knew. Still, being native, she knew where everything was, what it was, and why. He asked if she'd been living in Hollow Bastion long, and she nodded vigorously. "My whole life," she answered rather enthusiastically, a light shining in her sweet eyes. She laughed when the man called himself an idiot. "You don't seem like an idiot to me. You seem really awesome." Oh, the sweet, innocent little girl. She asked quizzically, "What's your name? I'm Linai." She held out her hand to shake his, an adorable gesture from such a young girl.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan eyes widen from the sheer cuteness being projected onto him. His jaw closed and his expression gradually faded to that of an older brother's smile. It had finally hit him of why he didn't feel comfortable leaving her out here alone " Eve..." his little sister's face seemed to have floated to his mind, aligning up with the little girls. They bore a slight resemblance but nothing serious. He gave her a chuckle while he blushed " I'm awesome huh??? Well that just made my day.. thanks alot. " he tried not to look scary, in fact he looked alot like a caring older brother, he thought that only eve would see that side of him but he guess he was wrong " That a nice name Linai..My names Nathan, but you can call me Nate. " he shook her small hand and couldn't help but feel like a giant. He stood up from his keeled position, placing his balled fist on his side. He lowered his head and quickly lifted it back up " Well than Linia..where too??? You have any place in mind. " She reminded him so much of Eve, no wonder he wanted to protect her so much. He remember whenever he would walk with Eve she enjoyed holding his hand, so it had basically become instinct to just hold it out for her to grasp on too. Though it wasn't Eve this time, it was Linai.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Gradually, Linai began to relax more. Granted that she hadn't been stressed or uneasy with the man in the first place she was quickly becoming more outgoing and talkative with this man before her. His appearance, his demeanor, everything just led her to be friendly and comfortable with him. The look in his eyes, the smile on his face, his compassionate voice, all of these spoke to her and told her she could talk to this man and feel safe being around him. He was what Linai assumed was like a brother. She, being an only child, wouldn't know, but he felt like something closer than a friend. No, it was more like family. The man whispered something, and Linai looked a little surprised. He was murmuring something to himself. Was that a name she heard him say? "Eve." Who was that? It wasn't her place to pry; perhaps he hadn't meant to say it. The man blushed at her compliment, which made Linai grin her childish grin as well, her eyes sparkling with happiness. She'd just made his day. That made her feel good. She liked making peoples' day! She just liked making people happy in general. She was that kind of person. The world was a much better place when you had a smile on your face, and when you had a smile on your face you could make the world a better place. It was a cycle that Linai had noticed ever since she was a little girl. The less you smiled, the worse the world seemed, and the worse the world seemed the less reason you had to smile. Linai invented reasons. She looked at clouds and found bunnies and thought of little cloudy bunnies hopping on the ground, leaving raindrops in their wake. That made her smile. The man then complimented her name and introduced himself as Nathan. He said she could call him Nate. In her opinion, Nathan was better. When the man took her hand in return, he knelt down and only now she realized just how much larger he was than her; her hand was so tiny in his palm. She released his hand when he did. He was at her eye-level now, on hand balled up at his side. She smiled at his face as he asked her where they should go. Linai thought about it. She hadn't walked around just for the sake of walking around in quite some time. She put her hands together and touched her lips to her fingers, a look of intense thought on her pale face. She looked up at him and said, "I suppose we could go look out to where all the Heartless used to be. I always liked looking down there at the Heartless... it was like an ocean of glowing eyes and empty souls. It made me appreciate my own life."

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[Nou Hiroaki]

A vast ocean of heartless. When she stared at it, she appreciated her own life. But it's much worse when swallowed by them, it's not a good feeling. Taking in there negative emotions and there last cries for help going unanswered. It's like drowning in pure sorrow. He looked down at the girl with accepting eyes " Sure...If you want Linai. Let's not get to close though." he sounded like a worried older brother. He rested his hand on his hilt and nodded his head for her to show him the place " How bout you lead the way Linai. " she was so small but filled with lots of courage. Some of the strongest people in the worlds wasn't brave enough to take a glance at a hoard of heartless. But she was, it seemed she use to do it all the time. ( Well I've made up my mind. If it seems like she's about to get attacked. I'll protect her with my life.She'll live) He stared at her with confident eyes when he thought this.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] Linai felt a little bit happier just thinking about the endless pit of Heartless. Like a heard of cattle or horses. You could tell one from another, save for slight color variations and the pairs of eyes that seemed to dig into your soul and try to take your heart just with a stare. They were a little bit frightening, to be honest, but she had dealt with that fear a thousand times. She could stare death in the face; she wasn't afraid anymore. Any death that she could die could be suffered through. In the end, she'd be with mommy and daddy again. She was looking forward to being in their arms in heaven; however, she would never give her life of her own free will. She would fight until the end. It was her nature. It was her entire life. Fight until you die, and live when you're dead. She didn't know where she'd adopted that personality. But she had it. That was fine. Linai, looking at the man, could see that he felt differently, but on what scale of different she was unsure. He didn't seem so comfortable with the idea, but he did not deny her what she wanted. He recommended that they not get closer than they had to. That was fine with Linai. In the middle of the night, the Heartless caused Linai a little more discomfort because of how they looked, almost like ants crawling all over the earth, overtaking everything in their path, including other Heartless. Though the Heartless were all the same - yet so different - they were known to attack each other on occasion, and thus start a riot down in the place where they lived. The man stood tall and placed his hand on his weapon. He looked determined as he told her to lead. She nodded and turned, walking down the long stone pathway. She followed the windy path, down stairs and ramps and beneath overhanging stone arches, for five or so minutes. At the end of that time they reached a massive gorge, and the sight was rather fearful. There were, perhaps, thousands or hundreds of thousands of Heartless there, squirming and crawling and hissing in the night. Their fluorescent yellow-green eyes were part of the only things that could be seen. The Heartless who normally flew were hovering over raised platforms in the gorge, unaware of the presence of the two beings above them. Linai thought very little when she arrived; it had been at least a year since she'd gotten close to the edge and looking over. Without thinking she ran up right beside the cliff and leaned over the edge, staring and grinning widely.

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[Nou Hiroaki]

Nathan walked with the girl as she showed him the way to this place, that was supposedly swarming with heartless. He was gonna go but that didn't mean he liked it. It was a dangerous to be surround by heartless like that. Especially if you're by one of there swarms. He watched Linai run up to the edge and look over it, Nathan was a little worried about this reaching his hand out a little before telling himself that she's been here before" Be careful Linai. Don't go overboard ok. " he decided it would better to be safe than sorry. So he walked up beside her to enjoy the view a little and also to be able to catch her if she so happens to stumble over. He laid his arm over the ledge placing his back towards the ocean of heartless " Linai. Tell me exactly what is it that draws you to this place??? " he was curious. He didn't understand why she would enjoy looking at those horrifying faces.

[Linai Faela]

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[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/ily9eh.jpg] It had been a very uneventful walk, to be sure. Linai wondered why the man hadn't said anything the entire way, but that was fine. Some people couldn't talk and walk at the same time. Linai often found herself either stumbling over world or stumbling over uneven stones when she tried to walk and talk at the same time, but Nathan was a grown up. Shouldn't he be good at stuff like that? Oh, well. Maybe he was thinking instead. Linai found herself stumbling whenever she tried to think and walk, too, though. Or, sometimes, she'd run into poles because she'd no longer be paying attention to where she put her feet but instead to what she was thinking. For a minute she'd zone out and when she zoned back in she'd be in some random place. As she'd run up to the edge, fascination in her eyes, she could feel the man's cautious gaze focusing in fully on her. He worried about her falling over the edge, she was sure, but why? She'd done this before. She knew from bad experiences where the crumbly rocks were and where it was safest to stand. From above the sea of monsters, she watched and looked for ways that she could take to get out. She was a child with long arms and legs and a body overflowing with energy; she could outrun them and escape without having to fight a single one, she was sure. Nathan warned her in his smooth, quiet voice not to go overboard and she heeded his warning, stepping back with a big grin on her face. The man suddenly asked her, once he'd come up to stand by her side and look over the edge, why it was that she came to this place. She looked over the randomly undulating sea thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling. She thought for a moment. She answered slowly, "Well... maybe.. maybe my parents are in there." She stepped back a little further, head dipped almost shamefully as she held her hands behind her back. "I just... I thought that maybe if I looked at the Heartless long enough, one of them would look back at me, and... and I'd know it's one of them."

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