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aliceslantern · 6 years

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Nocturnal Memory, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, chapter 29

[Summary: Dying takes a lot out of you, it's true, but when Demyx wakes up for the first time since his fight with Sora nothing's right. His memories are fragmented and he's missing his true name. And he's not the only one. An incomprehensible mystery and an inevitable war make him question what, exactly, he would do to become whole, and reclaim the music lost to him.

on FF.net/on AO3]

Demyx knew this. Still, anxiety jittered in his throat. "How?"

"It's a fairly routine process," Even explained. "Obviously, we will not inflict physical harm against you, as that would be counterproductive."

"And inhumane," Ienzo cut in.

Even waved dismissively. "Simply put, we will tell you what we feel you need to know, and then we will question you about it."

"You have to know these things by heart," Leon said. "So… if the pressure gets to you, you're not thinking of these things on the fly, and your answers will be consistent."

Ienzo crossed his arms tightly. He looked like he was holding himself together. "The hope is that complete submission will not cause you undue harm. But… we must be prepared."

Demyx felt strangely disembodied. "Sure."

"Let's start now," Leon said.

They went into the depths of the castle, down where there were no windows. As they walked, Ienzo squeezed Demyx's forearm briefly, but reassuringly. A small room. A few chairs were brought. He sat.

They spent the first day telling him all he would need to know. Some of it was lies, and some of it was in-between. Made up attack plans on the vessels. Made up information about Sora's whereabouts and his mission. Stuff about the town, where its heart was kept, how the committee kept it protected. They made him repeat the information back to them, word perfect, over and over again.

The second day they began easing him into it for real. He was woken in the middle of the night and ushered to the room. No food. No water. He wasn't even granted bathroom breaks.

"You'll be kept uncomfortable, if not worse," Even said. "You'll have to learn to be clearheaded despite it."

It would go like this for hours, until the fatigue and the thirst and the hunger had him halfway dizzy and his tongue would hurt from talking so much. Normally he was good at remembering things, but whenever Even would pose a question, all the discomforts in his body would choke and distract him until Even would repeat the question again.

"You won't get a second chance," Ienzo said. "Speed and efficiency is the key here."

"It'll probably come across as more genuine if he seems scared," Leon said after another hours-long session. Ienzo handed Demyx a glass of ice water and touched his shoulder briefly as if to apologize. "He has to seem desperate enough to fess up."

The more time Demyx spent with these people—all of them, in the castle, in the town—the more he was conscious about the fact that he may lose them for good. Or that something else might happen to them after this battle. He knew little about the X-blade, but he'd garnered enough to realize that it could cause the end of everything. Something in him had shattered. Maybe it was the illusion of peace.

"But not overly so," Even said. "There has to be enough of some kind of determination or self-preservation to warrant a double-cross. You have to be cold towards us," he said to Demyx. "You never cared, you were using us. You thought we could save you, but the tides have turned. You understand?"

Demyx nodded.

"We all need to take a break," Ienzo said.

"There will be no breaks once he gets there," Leon reminded. "They're not going to be humane."

"Even so," Ienzo said. "We're all exhausted, and there are other things we all need to attend to."

He felt his days running through his fingertips. It was nearly impossible to sleep. He would toss and turn, snatching a few minutes or hours at a time. He spent these night hours with the sitar, writing disjointed songs. It didn't do much to ease the anxiety.

What little free time left he spent with Yuffie. Often their time together was unnervingly common; he'd accompany her on patrol, or go food shopping with her, or they'd just go to one of her quiet places and talk. The conversations were deliberately not serious because neither of them could bear it. He realized that he didn't even really know her, and he probably wouldn't get the chance to.

"…I love the fall," Yuffie said one afternoon at the overlook. The weather was only just beginning to turn, bringing a dank chill during the night. "The colors. The smells. Back before the world fell there was an equinox celebration every year. There was this one old woman who would make sweet buns, with these candied radish stars." She held her fingers slightly apart to show the size. "It was this old, old tradition passed down from geezer to geezer. She died in the fall of the world, though. Aerith and I tried to make them once, but they… weren't the same." She leaned back against the wall and drew her knees to her chest.

"I think about that a lot," Demyx said. "All the stuff that must have been lost. And I don't mean through darkness, but that happens. I mean like time. There were people that existed thousands and thousands of years ago, and they must have made music and art and stories and everything, but it all just sort of gets forgotten. Or someone dies, and there it goes. Gone forever. I want to stop things getting lost." He lay back and breathed the fresh air. That same canvas was still there, snapping in the breeze. "This is the place we first made out."

"You were terrified."

"You are kind of scary."

She nudged him with her foot. "You've lost a lot," she said.

"This isn't about me. I mean, everyone has." He realized that, laying against the cool stone, he was a little cold for the first time in months.

"I'm going to miss you," she said. Before he could come up with something to say that wasn't depressing, she continued. "Will you play that song you wrote for me again? I want to memorize it."

"…Of course."

One more day.

He woke early, took a hot bath. When he left the bathroom, Even was waiting for him with a pair of scissors and a businesslike expression.

"What are those for?" Demyx asked.

"Your hair, your hair," Even said. "It's been bothering me for weeks. You think I'm letting you into the wild looking like that?" He brought him back into the bathroom in front of the very old long mirror. For a while—as the sun rose—Even trimmed at the sides, the ends, until Demyx saw a shadow of his old hairstyle emerge. "I'm afraid I've nothing for you to style it with," he said. "But it's better than it was."

"Thank you," he said. He knew this was Even's way of showing kindness.

"Well, you can thank me by coming back. And with valuable information!" He smiled suddenly, but it felt forced and theatrical.

Demyx returned to his room to pack. He was so panicked now he was strangely calm, above it all. He had one small knapsack but doubted he would even be able to fill it. The knife, obviously. Some clothes. The piano book was too big. He had nothing that was important to him, even after all this time; he had the two small lilac cloths that Luxord's Somebody had given him, and the blue handkerchief that Aerith's cookies had been wrapped in months ago. He slipped one of each into his pocket.

"…There's no point packing," Ienzo said from the doorway. He had a dark package in his arms. "They'll take everything from you. Especially that knife."

Demyx took it off his waist. He realized that he had grown attached to it, not because Lea had given it to him, but because it had helped return the music to him. Ienzo reached out for it, but he shook his head. "Can you wait to give it to him? Until after?"

"Reasonable." Ienzo paused, and frowned. "I'm sorry about lying to you in the beginning."

"I know why you had to do it." Silence hung densely and heavily. "What's that?" Before he finished the question he already knew.

"…Your cloak," Ienzo said timidly. "I kept it. I mended it. You'll need it to travel by corridor." He offered the cloak to Demyx. "Lea will make one for you later. You remember the plan?"

"I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. He'll send me on to the World that Never Was. I'll find the castle and turn myself in." Still, he didn't take the coat until Ienzo offered it a second time.

The bodice had been partially ripped to shreds. Despite being repaired by magic, thin ripples of scars battered the soft fabric, barely visible in the bright summer light. He'd forgotten what one of these cloaks felt like against the skin; they looked tough and leathery, but they were soft, the fabric malleable, waterproof, and very warm. The pants were there, too. Demyx stared at them, reviled by them. He reached down next to his dresser and retrieved the boots as well.

"Nine, I realize things have been difficult," Ienzo said. He had looked down. "But I have come… to think of you as a friend of mine. I will not be escorting you tonight. I hope you understand." He was teary, Demyx realized with a jolt.

"Ienzo… I care about you, too." He was getting choked up already; his calm starting to shatter.

Ienzo squeezed him once, abruptly, around the waist, and then left the room very quickly. Demyx made the rounds very slowly. First, he went to see Cid and Merlin down at Merlin's house. He was feeling blurry and unreal. Merlin smiled kindly and shook his hand. Cid, however, embraced him in a crushing hug that, like Ienzo's, was over far too soon.

"You better come back to us, you bastard," Cid said. "You know how boring it'll be without you? Nobody to beat me at cards?"

Leon and Aerith were next. Aerith's expression was tight and drawn, but she did not cry.

"Lea will be escorting you to the point of exodus," Leon said. "You remember the plan?"

"As much as I ever will," Demyx said numbly.

Leon's expression softened. "Thank you, for all of this," he added. "For your work on the town." He squeezed both of Demyx's hands. "Aerith, give it to him."

She held out a small pink and blue card. Demyx took it, barely able to read it. "We decided to make you a member of the committee, if you'll have us," she said. "Even if you remember your home world… you can always call this place home."

The tears he'd been keeping at bay all day broke free and he hugged her, hugged both of them, to try and convey what this meant to him.

It had been a long day of saying goodbye. There was one left.

Yuffie arrived quietly. For a while they sat in silence on his bed, hands tightly clasped. She noticed the black cloak folded neatly on the chair near the bed. "This is really happening."

"I know."

She kissed him gently. "Please try to come back."

He pulled her close. "I'll do everything I can."

Her hand trailed the collar of his shirt. "But you can't promise anything."

"No." He sighed. "Will you stay with me? Until tomorrow?"

"Of course."

They made love, but it was less a gesture of passion and more one of comfort, of solace. It took a while, and it was dark by the time they were through. She nodded off soon afterward, her head against his chest, snoring softly. He didn't plan on sleeping, ans was surprised when it happened anyway. When he woke the light coming through the window was gray and thin. Yuffie was still asleep. He kissed her cheek, slipped on some underclothes. Gathered his cloak. Bathed and dressed in the shallow light and then stood at the mirror for a long time. "…Déjà vu," he said. His hair wasn't quite the same, and the fabric of his coat was battered with stitches. But he might as well have been going off on another Organization mission.

He met Lea in the town square. As he waited, he smoked the last of the cigarettes he had won off Cid. He saw Lea approaching from far off, his Keyblade drawn.

"Hey," Demyx said. The word was half smoke. "Look, I'm sorry about—"

"Don't worry about it. I probably would have done the same," Lea said briskly. He faked a smile. "Look at you, huh? Nice hair."

"Even did it."

"Talking about playing hero."

"Not even." He stubbed out the cigarette butt.

Lea's face softened, became morose. "No need to waste time," he said. I'll send you through the corridor at the outskirts of the World that Never Was. If you can help it, don't fight or use your powers while inside. They'll know."

Now that the moment had come, Demyx was strangely calm again, even though his heart clanged in his ears.

"You'll have to pretend you made the corridor yourself," Lea continued.

"Yes. I know."

"They might ask you to prove it. You might have to try. Get a message to me if you're ever able to," Lea said. "Tell one of the Dusks, or Nobodies—a Dancer—to leave it by the old wrecked truck. Be vague and cipher it. You remember how?"

He nodded. "What code should I use?"

Lea smiled. "'Seashell.'"

"It's time, isn't it," Demyx said.

Lea nodded. "I think so." He lifted his hand to open the corridor.

"Thank you," he said. "For everything. For… for listening."

"Yeah. Don't mention it."

"Roxas would be proud of you," Demyx said. "He really would." He hugged Lea, quickly, tightly, and Lea tensed a moment. Demyx pulled away.

"Don't get all emotional on me now," he said with a hint of lightness. Demyx heard the corridor rip into being. "I'll see you on the other side."

And Demyx stepped into darkness.

#nocturnal memory #demyx #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts 3d #fanfiction

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thecitysidewalks · 7 years

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A Weekend Guide to Charleston

Every magazine. Every travel article. Every Instagram post. I couldn't get away from it. Charleston was right in my face everywhere I turned for the last couple years. The Holy City has been on the rise in popularity with travelers from all over the world and it was about time for me to get down there to see what all the hype was about. That and the fact that I also wanted to feel like a little princess amongst those candy colored houses and cobblestone streets...

I'm not even going to waste my time with a long intro to this post because the content below speaks for itself (I mean, just LOOK at that enormous food list!). This might even be one of the most comprehensive mini city guides I've ever put together for you... Use this handy weekend guide to Charleston so you can easily figure out where to eat, sleep, and play on any budget!

In case you haven't been tuning into popular culinary shows like Top Chef or Parts Unknown, Charleston has officially emerged as one of the great food meccas of our country (and I will gladly have words with anyone who says otherwise). You can come to Charleston and spend a month eating at a different place for every meal and you'd only begin to scratch the surface of what this city has to offer (you'll see what I mean based on my list). This city is on another level when it comes to food--and I am all about that level.

The best thing about the restaurant scene here is that you can really find just about any cuisine you're looking for at every price range. Plus, everything you eat is guaranteed to be fullllll with flavor (give me all the buttery shrimp and grits, I don't even care about my cholesterol). To help you narrow down your [endless] choices, here's a list of some of my favorite spots you should check out when visiting Charleston!

Budget:

Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, $, 476 1/2 King St -- Do yourself a favor and grab a nice, homemade biscuit from here to start of your day. They are soooo yummy and come in a variety of styles. Such an adorable little shop!

Persimmon Cafe, $, 226 Calhoun St -- Quaint little cafe/sandwich shop that is located in a laundromat (yes, a laundromat). But don't let that put you off because the sandwiches are to die for.

Brown Dog Deli, $, 40 Broad St -- Pet friendly spot with really great sandwiches and salads

Dashi Food Truck, $, Location Varies -- This little Asian/Latin fusion food truck is all the rage with locals. And honestly, how can you not love a place that has a slogan like this: "Put Some Sriracha in Your Sombrero." All you have to do is check their website schedule to see where they will be on what dates. They're often at the weekend Farmer's Market too, which is definitely something to check out if you're in town when it's open!

Sugar Bakeshop, $, 59 1/2 Cannon St -- Cute little bakeshop with delicious cupcakes and sweets in a fun area of town. Gluten free options available as well!

Bon Banh Mi, $, 162 Spring St -- Incredibly flavorful food (tacos and sandwiches galore) at this Vietnamese-style spot

Verde, $, 347 King St -- Good spot for a quick salad

Pink Bellies Food Truck, $, 73 Saint Philip St -- Another incredibly tasty food truck to stop by in Charleston. This one serves up Vietnamese style treats to their hungry customers. Location may vary, so just check on their website or social media

Breizh Pan Crepes, $, 39 George St -- Delicious crepe spot that offers both sweet and savory options (with gluten-free crepes available, too!)

Butcher & Bee, $($), 1085 Morrison Dr -- So this place is a little higher priced than the others on this budget section, but it is very worth a trip. The food and all the ingredients they use are extremely fresh and filling. The decor and vibe are also very fun, so it's worth a trip outside of the downtown area. Make sure to try the roast beef sandwich!

Moderate:

167 Raw, $$, 289 E Bay St -- Do not skip this place. UNREAL seafood menu? Check. Trendy decor? Check. Affordable prices for incredible seafood? Check. Cute bartenders and staff...? Check. If you're into a little Ahi Poke like I am, order the "GAINZ BOWL" when you go (yes, GAINZ with a "Z"). It's an off-the-menu item that the staff will surely know about. It's basically the Ahi Poke mixed with a little avocado. Delish delish delishhhhh...UGH! *mouth drips with drool*

Xiao Bao Biscuit, $$, 224 Rutledge Ave -- I had no idea the South could pack so much Asian flavor into a dish until I tried this place. Incredible option if you're looking for some Asian Soul Food Fusion around Charleston. Their most famous dish is the Okonomiyaki, which is a Japanese cabbage pancake that you can add candied pork, bacon, or an egg to. The flavors in all the dishes are unbeatable.

Edmund's Oast, $$, 1081 Morrison Dr -- Great brew pub just outside of the downtown area that's wonderful for people craving a quality beer accompanied by a hearty meal

R Kitchen, $$, 212 Rutledge Ave -- Come here to enjoy the chefs cooking a 5-course meal for you right in front of your face

Hominy Grill, $$, 207 Rutledge Ave -- Ideal place to grab some authentic Southern style breakfast

Avila, $$, 141 Calhoun St -- A Venezuelan food truck turned brick and mortar joint. The arepas and tostones are a popular combo here.

Fuel, $$, 211 Rutledge St -- Located in an old gas station in a trendy part of town, this little spot has a variety of Caribbean style food that keeps people coming back for more

39 Rue de Jean, $$, 39 John St -- A delightful French brasserie in the heart of Charleston

5Church, $$, 32 N Market St -- The interior (particularly the art and the ceiling) is really something to stop in and marvel at. The restaurant is located in an old church and the entire manuscript of "Art of War," is written in white on the ceiling. It is absolutely incredible to see! The food menu looks just as appetizing as the drinks, too!

Pawpaw, $$, 209 E Bay St -- There are quite a few reasons why the locals in Charleston are flocking to this new hotspot: The wine on tap, the hushpuppies and fries, and basically the rest of the menu. You can't go wrong with anything here.

Also try: Poogan's Porch, Jestine's Kitchen, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Cannon Green (beautiful interior!), and O-Ku

Luxury:

Husk, $$$, 76 Queen St -- If you can only pick 1 place to eat in Charleston, let it be Husk. DO NOT SKIP THIS PLACE! The hype is very real for all the right reasons. The food here, which is all sourced locally, is un-freaking-believable. I didn't care much for shrimp and grits until I came here and actually tasted real shrimp and grits. The food is outstanding and you probably will need to arrange to be wheelchaired home because it's nearly impossible to stop eating once you've tasted the deliciousness that comes out of that kitchen.

Chez Nous, $$$, 6 Payne Ct -- This adorable French spot, which is tucked away in a hidden alley, is a well kept secret amongst the locals. The trendy restaurant has a different menu every single day and posts the daily options on their Instagram page every morning.

The Ordinary, $$$, 544 King St -- There is nothing ordinary about this restaurant and its menu. If you're looking for a good seafood dinner in Charleston, this is your spot! The oyster sliders are definitely something to write home about.

Halls Chophouse, $$$$, 434 King St -- There's a lot of debate as to where you can truly find the best steak in Charleston, but Halls Chophouse just might come out on top... They have a Gospel Brunch on Sunday, and the service here is said to be incredible

Coast Bar & Grill, $$($), 39 John St, Ste D -- This little seafood spot is tucked away in a hidden alley (which is picture worthy in and of itself) and boasts some great happy hour specials. THe portions do not disappoint either.

The Macintosh, $$$, 479 King St -- This trendy spot off of King Street has a great assortment of seafood and meat dishes on the menu, as well as a thirst quenching drink menu.

Zero Restaurant + Bar, $$$, 0 George St -- A lovely, cozy restaurant located in the heart of the uber hip Zero George Hotel

Circa 1886, $$$$, 149 Wentworth St -- The epitome of fine dining in the heart of Charleston. This world renowned place is located in the carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion. Definitely a place to go if you're celebrating a special occasion.

S.N.O.B., $$$, 192 E Bay St -- The acronym stands for "Slightly North of Broad," which is exactly where this restaurant is located. The food here is very unpretentious and outstanding. You can get a nice combination of shared plates, or your own larger entree(s) if you prefer.

Cypress, $$$, 167 E Bay St -- Although this definitely classifies as a fine dining spot in the city, they do have a couple of nights that there are incredible specials. Maybe the locals have just done a really good job a keeping it a secret, but you can come here for $5 burgers on Mondays! Also try the Wasabi Tuna and Lavender Martini when you're here.

Also try: FIG, Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar, Magnolias, McCrady's Tavern, Trattoria Lucca, High Cotton

BONUS: PLACES TO GRAB A DRINK

*I don't normally include a list of places to drink in my city guides, but Charleston's options had quite a few that stood out to me. Here are my favorites:

Prohibition, $$, 547 King St -- Great spot for music and also has a tasty food menu

The Belmont, $$, 511 King St

5Church, $$, 32 N Market St -- See above in the food section

The Cocktail Club, $$, 479 King St -- Pseudo-speakeasy right along King Street

Closed for Business, $$, 453 King St -- Beer and bar food are the specialties here

Bin 152, $$, 152 King St -- For those looking for a good wine bar

Minero, $$, 153B E Bay St -- Great for spicy margaritas and tacos with the girls

The Gin Joint, $$, 182 E Bay St

Bar at Husk, $$, 74 Queen St -- Husk is a must-eat place just as Bar at Husk is a must-drink place

The Luxury Hotel

Belmond Charleston Place, 205 Meeting Street

The Belmond Charleston Place is the ultimate place where sophisticated luxury meets Southern charm. It was my preferred hotel in Charleston because of the gorgeous hotel amenities and its prime, central location. You can read more about my stay here (and even see a behind the scenes video) by going to this post right here!

Also try: The Dewberry

The Boutique Hotel

Zero George Street, 0 George St

If you're looking for a great hotel for a girl's weekend, Zero George Street might be your place. This charming and refined boutique hotel, which is set in 5 historic, restored homes, is sure to make you never want to leave. Guests can enjoy the on site restaurant, breakfast every day, and even wine/cheese receptions. They also have loaner bikes available for their guests to use to bike around the downtown area. Too cute!

Also try: The Spectator Hotel or The Restoration

The B&B Luxury Mansion

John Rutledge House Inn, 116 Broad Street

I stumbled upon the John Rutledge House Inn on one of my walks around Charleston and decided to pop in for a quick look. The concierge was so kind and friendly and he even let me get a look inside one of their suites! The rooms were incredibly elegant and glamorous and made me feel like I had literally stepped back in time. Definitely a beautiful place to put on the bucket list if historic mansions are your cup of tea.

Also try: Wentworth Mansion or French Quarter Inn

The Affordable Inn

King Charles Inn, 237 Meeting St

This wonderful inn is perfectly located right in the heart of downtown, making it perfect walking distance to get anywhere you need. They also have a lovely rooftop pool and terrace, making it a great place to cool off in the hot summer months.

Also try: The Vendue or 1837 Bed and Breakfast

Things To Do in Charleston:

Sign up for a Candle Making Class at Candlefish. This was by far one of the funnest things we did on our trip! You'll instantly fall in love with the store when you walk in, so it's cool to be able to take a class where you can actually make your own product to take home (even though I went home with about 20 other products as well...). It's also BYOB, which makes for a great excuse to drink mimosas before noon. Make sure to sign up ahead of time because space is very limited!

Take a day trip to Folly Beach or Sullivan's Island

Rent a bike for the day from a place like The Bicycle Shoppe or Affordabike Bicycle Shop.

Go Shopping! There are so many adorable and local boutiques placed all around the city of Charleston and finding them is half the fun. I personally love Candlefish, mac & murphy, Candy Shop Vintage, The Commons, Sweet 185, Luna, Worthwhile, V2V, Vestique, and The Impeccable Pig

Visit Charleston's Historic Houses. Since Charleston is so old, you can surely bet that you'll get your fair dose of history lessons in your trip if you visit the historic houses/museums around the city. I love these attractions because it feels like stepping into a piece of history! You'll see how incredibly well maintained some of these properties are as well. My personal favorites were the Aiken-Rhett House, the Nathaniel Russell House, and the Heyward-Washington House.

Walk along Rainbow Row and the Waterfront Park, which are probably the two most photographed locations in all of Charleston. I recommend going super early to avoid the crowds!

Shop for your dream home around Battery Park and White Point Gardens

Take a historic walking tour or carriage tour of downtown Charleston

Wander around the French Quarter and downtown areas. It is the best way you will find the city's adorable hidden alleys, colorful houses, and courtyards.

Explore Upper King Street, which is becoming the new hip and trendy area with lots of new restaurants and shops opening up.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO Charleston? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT, PLACES TO STAY, OR THINGS TO DO? COMMENT BELOW WITH MORE RECOMMENDATIONS!

Thank you to Explore Charleston and Belmond Charleston Place for hosting my visit in Charleston. All opinions are my own.