The flowers of naivete,

[gracefuldahlia]

It had been an enlightening meeting, as well as a concerning one. Marluxia had given enough information to be helpful without exposing himself too much, and he planned to keep things that way, although manoeuvering around someone as dangerous as Aizen while doing that would be tricky. Marluxia didn't like the man; he reminded him of Xemnas except for the important and concerning possibility that Aizen might be a thousand times more dangerous, but he was a useful ally of convenience, at least for the time being.

Axel was alive, and on this world, and running around with Saix as though their time as Nobodies had never happened. That was something Marluxia had needed to think over. There were implications, not just to Axel's appearance here, but to his alliance with Saix. Those two made for a dangerous combination; together they'd plotted and executed the neat disposal of half the Organisation, having moved each other and the rest of them into positions that allowed them to follow through on a plan no one had realised they'd had.

Xigbar would be a fool to trust them, and Xigbar was many things, but regardless of how he acted, he was no fool. Zexion had clearly not known Axel was around, so it seemed unlikely that Axel had encountered the remnants of the Organisation prior to Zexion's departure, but they also hadn't heard anything about him before now, which made Marluxia wonder if he'd been hidden up to now. This was Khamja's first encounter with Axel, and given the record of certain former Organisation members when it came to picking fights with Khamja, and with Arrancar in particular, it seemed unlikely that would be possible, but these two were tricky.

Although how long Axel had been here paled into insignificance next to the fact that he was here. Axel had not been present when the rest of them... arrived. He'd got here somehow, after the fact.

And then there had been the way Saix summoned his old weapon....

There was one person whom Marluxia would reluctantly admit was smarter than himself, and it was him Marluxia came looking for in the library. Getting to Zexion early, when he was still on the back foot with the new information, may have given Marluxia an advantage with him, but it would also have put Zexion on the defensive, which Marluxia preferred to avoid. Instead, Marluxia had gone to process the new information for himself, first, and attempt to glean what little more he could from L, who had been very busy trying to track down how long Axel had been with the rest of the Organisation and had thus far found nothing except a distinct lack of his own informants where informants had previously been, before discussing the issues with Zexion.

Zexion, of course, was attracted to libraries like iron to magnets. Marluxia entered the library, expecting that Zexion would have noticed his approach already; Zexion had always been particularly talented at that sort of thing, and spotted the Cloaked Schemer at the large table in the middle.

He approached him without any particular hurry. Zexion didn't appear to be in a hurry to go anywhere, after all.

Comments

[theschemer]

Zexion knew full well that he was entirely unsuited to being anyone's sparring partner. He didn't deal in physical combat -- he was a back-row fighter. Magic, Alchemy and Illusion were his weapons, not swords or spears. His first thought for Marluxia was Lumi. He didn't know much about the man, but he got the impression that Marluxia and that particular non-Nobody Ryoka were relatively close. He had heard he was extremely dangerous, however. No matter, he thought. Marluxia can be rather lethal himself.

"It is not an easy process," he began. "Only the masked people that associate with Clan Skite have the ability to do the same. I did some research and apparently Quincies, a near extinct fighting Class, can do similar, except for the fact that they draw ambient Reishi from their environment -- Mist -- instead of using their own Chakra, much like Geomancers. There are a number of books on Quincies in the library," he said, glancing back towards the Palace. "I suggest looking through those. I'll find which ones have the most useful information. The technique is similar enough, it is merely the source that differs."

Zexion paused, considering how much he could reasonably explain without materials on the subject. He could demonstrate, he knew, but he was hesitant to do so where his Reiatsu might be felt. He had muted it entirely upon leaving the Palace, he could do without it being picked up now. The sight he could conceal using Genjutsu, it was nothing to black out the glass, but his Reiatsu was rather more difficult and it was an unfortunate necessity when it came to weapon generation.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia allowed himself an amused smirk at Zexion's suggestion. Marluxia expected no different, of course, from their former number six. Zexion's whole life revolved around books, so naturally, if he wanted to find something out, the first thing he did was look for it in a book, and when asked to impart that knowledge, his first advice was to read the book.

Not that Marluxia had any objections to gaining information from the source. Having alternate sources was always useful, and the book would, at least, be something Marluxia could put down for a few minutes if it became too longwinded. Unlike Zexion, who had not been supplied with a pause button on his transformation into a Nobody, which seemed to be an unforgivable oversight at times.

"I'd appreciate the reading materials," he said, graciously. Though going to the library for them right now would be unwise; he'd have to leave that for a couple of days. Too many visits to a place he ventured infrequently would arouse suspicion. "Though theory alone may be insufficient," he wanted a proper demonstration, not just the long range view of Saix calling Lunatic out of the air that Ulquiorra had shared, "perhaps right here and now is not the best of times or places."

They were talking. That was fine; they had a right, and a viable excuse, to talk here. But there were too many here who were too sensitive to fluctuations in people, and too observant in general, that it was a risk to ask Zexion to pull a weapon on him now, or begin to do anything out of the ordinary with his own chakra. If anyone had noticed that they were together, they would be observing.

"Tell me how to start," he said, "the first steps, and next time," when certain people had gone to maintain their public faces, "may be a better opportunity for you to explain the whole thing." By then, Marluxia will have read the books, too, which would likely help.

[theschemer]

That suited Zexion just fine. Give Marluxia enough time to read the volumes he intended to put on his list of suggested titles and let him work alone with the most basic of instructions and he might make a little independent headway. He was unlikely to master actual Weapon Generation without a demonstration, but he would certainly have more of an idea what kind of Chakra control and manipulation would be required. By the time they met again, hopefully when individuals such as Gin and Aizen had departed to keep up their appearances in the public eye, he would be in a better position to teach him what he needed to know.

"Very well," he said. "First things first; what are your Classes, both current and previously mastered?"

Not all of the Ryoka had put time into mastering more Classes than they had arrived with, but some had. Zexion, unsurprisingly, was one of them. Vexen, which would come as no great surprise to anyone, was another. There was a chance that Marluxia was among their number, so Zexion gave no room for error or omission when he put the question to him.

[gracefuldahlia]

Zexion was so precise, Marluxia noticed. Personally, he hadn't put more time in mastering classes other than those he'd been granted upon arrival, but that wasn't out of unwillingness. In Marluxia's case, the classes he had arrived with were both very well suited to him, and had required study.

"Geomancer, Commando, Ravager," he answered, simply. Geomancer had been the biggest challenge, although Ravager and the magical elements of Commando had presented their challenges to someone who was unaccustomed to chakra, and the control thereof. It had been a learning curve, and a worthwhile one.

If he was to have his weapon of choice back, Commando would certainly be worth keeping. Ravager, however, once he'd finished with it, opened up new possibilities for Marluxia to pursue.

The fact that Zexion was being precise, of course, meant he'd considered the possibility that Marluxia had already progressed past those the world had granted him at arrival. That meant that others had. Zexion would certainly be one of them, although it was unlikely he'd dropped Alchemist at any point to do so. Marluxia couldn't help but wonder how much of a tiresome little overachiever Zexion had been up to now, but the question could wait.

[theschemer]

Geomancer, Commando, Ravager.

A good selection of Classes, Zexion thought. Nevertheless, he was slightly surprised to hear the inclusion of Geomancer in that list. Mist manipulation was known for being difficult to perform and harder to master. As such, Geomancer, one of the few Classes that necessitated proficiency in that art, was one of the more rarely used entry-level Classes available to Spira's denizens that didn't require a specific tool or weapon. The world had been generous to the Ryoka with its allocation of uncommon Classes, it seemed.

"So you must have a fair to good grasp of Chakra control," Zexion said reasonably, speaking mostly to himself. "Given that you are a Ravager instead of a Black Mage, you're capable of directing Chakra for use into a weapon? That's fortunate," he said softly, bringing his hand to his mouth in thought. "How proficient are you at Ninjutsu techniques? The basics in particular."

The ability to mould Chakra with hand seals was known to provide another good basis for Nobody weapon forging. Not all of the Nobody Ryoka in The Order were particularly experienced in their use, but those that were found Weapon Generation slightly easier than otherwise. It wasn't necessary so much as an asset.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia rather thought he was very good at chakra control, certainly now. It had been difficult starting from scratch on a whole new way to utilise his power, but his early encounter with Kuja had afforded him a proficient teacher, and chakra control and mist manipulation were things he'd grasped well once he'd begun.

Ninjutsu techniques, however, he was less proficient at. He knew some, but the best at them in Khamja were disinclined to share their expertise for understandable reasons. The Order, he remembered, had forged some sort of alliance with at least some of Akatsuki; Larxene in particular appeared to be dating one.

"I'm capable of the basics," Marluxia answered, "and aware of a few other techniques, but have not had call to use them." He looked at Zexion steadily. It was becoming apparent just how much easier it had been for the Order to learn a variety of techniques through their allies and shared experience; a pity, really, that Khamja were more of a collective than a group.

Not that a collection of personalities such as those found in Khamja could ever be anything else.

[theschemer]

"You are able to use a selection of hand signs, or walk across the surface of a body of water for at least a limited amount of time, yes?" He found it hard to believe that Marluxia would not be capable of those, at the very least.

He, like Marluxia, was becoming increasingly aware that the Graceful Assassin's separation from the main body of the Ryoka group had led him, and Lumi, his associate, to develop their powers and abilities using entirely different methods and strategies. It was somewhat jarring, but it was an understandable effect of Khamja's hostile social environment. The Order had formed alliances with those they had met and, within reason, shared information and techniques. Zexion found it hard to believe that Khamja would have done the same.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia nodded, trying not to remember the graceless affair that learning to walk across a body of water had been. "Across water, up vertical surfaces, and hanging from the underside of horizontal ones, yes." Once learned, such chakra control and manipulation had proven highly useful. "I can use some hand signs, but it isn't something I have had much cause to practice." So his usage of them was limited, though the ones he knew he could perform without trouble.

"The ninja here consisted of Orochimaru and his underlings," Marluxia said. "What I currently know, I have learned elsewhere." Unlike the Order, who had gleaned their information from ninja who were better disposed towards alliances with Ryoka, not that Marluxia would have been willing to share any information with Orochimaru and his ilk.

[theschemer]

"That should be sufficient," Zexion said, shrugging one shoulder and shaking his head.

Individuals from Ninja Villages tended to have an above-average grasp of Ninjutsu techniques, as well as other jutsu types, but that type of upbringing wasn't necessary for much of it. Some Ninjutsu and, at least basic Chakra control and direction tended to be taught in almost every Spiran school from the age of eleven onwards and, in some cases, before. Everybody who attended should, at least, be able to do at least some of the things that Marluxia mentioned, even if it required concentration. Those with a mastery of it were able to perform such feats as if it was second nature.

"In that case, I suggest you practice it," he said simply. "Go back to the basics. Direct your Chakra towards your hand and pool it there. Learn to manipulate the shape and form of your Chakra field, once you're confident in that. Don't get ahead of yourself -- simply attempt to master extending its reach, or pulling it back in quickly. If you find that you need to release enough to make it visible to grasp that to begin with, so be it."

Chakra manipulation outside of the body was the hardest part. Most people with above-average Chakra reserves made a point and habit of suppressing the field of pressure it caused, so as to not damage or adversely affect those around them who were comparatively weaker. With most, Reiatsu could simply be felt. With particularly powerful individuals it was dangerous to be in the vicinity of it. Zexion had heard that some people had the ability to kill with their Spiritual Pressure alone by learning how to direct it precisely. The Nobodies had no need to go to those lengths, but it was the lower-level form of that ability that was required to form their weapons.

[gracefuldahlia]

It sounded simple enough, but Marluxia knew that anything involving fine chakra control would take time and effort to learn. He nodded at Zexion's advice, and replied, "That should not prove too difficult." He had space to practice that without having to concern himself with being observed.

Practicing with his scythe once it was formed... perhaps it would be wise to arrange a detour with Lumi. It made Marluxia uncomfortable to consider willingly stepping into a position of weakness against him, but he was the best option Marluxia had.

"As for the books," he said, "I shall retrieve them later if you put together a list." It would probably not be wise for Marluxia to go back into the library today, but in a day or two it would seem less unusual.

[theschemer]

Zexion nodded. Marluxia had ample space to practice out in the grounds if he wished. He also had the freedom to take advantage of the training facility a level below the Palace. That had the advantage of being purpose built and somehow mostly blocking Reiatsu from being felt outside it. Those that were extremely sensitive had the ability to bypass the paling's dampening effects to a small degree, but those were few and far between. In any case, it would not be unusual for one of the more physically slanted members of Clan Khamja to be making use of it and, as such, would look less suspicious.

"I will see which volumes are present in the library," he said, having not had the time or inclination to look that up ahead of this meeting despite knowing offhand that there were at least some on the shelves. "Rabanastre's Central Library had many, and I know that there is at least some crossover of titles here. Even so, this library tends to contain much older works owing to the age of the building itself, so I am not especially hopeful about finding anything published much after 600AW unless other members have brought in titles since the Palace was rediscovered, but I will check. Unfortunately, there were relatively few books published on the Quincy Class during the height of its popularity -- most were published after the fact as retrospective accounts -- but there are still a few decades of leeway even without late additions and, while this library doesn't have quite the time span that Rabanastre's posseses, there are, as I said, some useful volumes..."

If the Palace's library lacked the relevant materials, Zexion would not be averse to compiling a list for Marluxia to take to a public library. He, unlike Zexion himself, did not have any restrictions on his movement.

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia's expression fixed itself into one of patient disinterest, and stayed that way. Zexion in full flow was a marvel of unnecessary verbiage, and Marluxia indulged him in his prattle for a few moments.

"Name the titles, and I will locate them, Zexion," he said, after Zexion seemed to have said enough for this instance, "but later."

Staying on this topic would be open invitation for Zexion to continue talking at length about books, so Marluxia changed it slightly; "How long does the technique take to master?"

[theschemer]

Zexion failed to notice that Marluxia's eyes, like those of all the others he had inflicted his tendency to runaway with himself on, had glazed over somewhat.

He opened his mouth to reel a few titles off he top of his head, but closed it when Marluxia spoke again. His expression shifted to a thoughtful one and he tapped his lips with one of the fingers at his mouth. "It depends on the individual," he answered simply. "Producing the weapon itself can take between one session and a number of days. I grasped it quickly, but I was the one who discovered it, so there was much trial and error involved. Vexen managed it more swiftly than I, but he had all of the instructions at his fingertips, unlike myself. Vexen's manifestation is the strongest and most consistent. That said, Saix is particularly adept at recalling his weapon once it has been lost and can do so at his whim, even when in a Berserk state. It is down to limits, talent and ability, factors all rather difficult to predict."

[gracefuldahlia]

Marluxia thought on that information for a moment. Vexen having the strongest made sense; Frozen Pride was as sharp and stubborn an obstacle as its owner. Saix had relied on relentlessness in battle, more than strength, and more than speed, Saix's real danger in a fight was how he kept on coming, and so his being able to keep recalling Lunatic also fit his style. He debated asking how Zexion fared in comparison to the others, but refrained. If the capacity to draw on the weapon was influenced by individual strengths and weaknesses, then Marluxia didn't foresee much difficulty for himself.

Good. That would be embarrassing.

"Very well," he replied. "Is there anything else of great importance for me to know before we meet again?" It sounded like it would be a drain to use, but Marluxia only considered that a reason to choose his enemies carefully, which he preferred to do anyway.

It would be a relief to have a familiar weapon back. Having to learn so much from the beginning left him feeling handicapped; something he already knew would be appreciated as back up.

[theschemer]

Zexion took a moment to think about it, but shook his head in the end.

"No," he said, having given Marluxia all of the information he was likely to need. "I'm fairly certain that's everything."

He was going to have a lot to think about, even beyond Marluxia trying for his weapon. Axel was not a problem that was likely to go away, nor was his newly renewed truce with Saix. He could do nothing about that, though. It was best to concentrate on the weapon Generation. Through that, he would at least gain something of an ally, even if he knew Marluxia to be untrustworthy.

[gracefuldahlia]

"Then we shall speak again at a more opportune time for us both," Marluxia said, graciously. A more opportune time, naturally, would be when there were less people present who might find their conversing to be interesting. "I will take a reading list from you in the interim," he added, and shot Zexion a knowing little smirk as he said, "and if it will involve a visit to libraries other than the one here, naturally I will bring back any personal requests."

Zexion, being Zexion, probably would at some point want books from an outside library, and with being confined to the Palace for the time being, was unable to obtain them for himself, though the offer didn't extend solely to books. Not that Marluxia was about to publicise that he was making such an offer to Zexion.

"The Malboros should not bother you," he said, as a change of subject, and gesturing towards the exit of the greenhouse, "but I'll escort you nonetheless."