Of course Orion wouldn't look her way for long. No one took it well when she called them out, but it didn't mean she appreciated being ignored. He turned to Kel and began to speak, but Karina had confidence. She stayed back and listened for a moment while Orion, aka Terra, aka Kurt spoke. Eventually Kel spoke up and at first Karina was dishearted, but then Kel changed tones and Karina smirked. She went as far as to laugh a little bit. "You should have known that we don't turn our backs on our friends so easily. Unlike some people here, we have standards." Karina glanced around quickly making sure there was no one else that they could be putting in danger before she were to continue speaking. "And since when did I say I would kill you. We could always just beat you to a bloody pulp and detain you until we have a way to get you out of Terra. Hard to body hop when there is no body for you to hop to. And trust me we will figure out your secrets, there are always ways. After al you left behind some very useful allies for us. One that is particularly fun to pick on, but I am sure he has some dirt on you. We will figure it out one way or another. So once again I will say, we don't need your help. You can go shove it."
"We don't need a damn thing from a traitor like you." Karina scowled at him. At least she was right, at least he wasn't actually Terra, no this was worse and he would regret telling her just who he was. There was a slight flicker of flames around her as her anger fueled her aura. "You betrayed one of your own, willingly betrayed her. You would not listen to what she had to say, you didn't give a damn about her feelings. Why should we care about you now? For what? Information? We have allies, allies that you have turned your back on, if they don't have the information they will certainly have resources to get them. You think you are all that, you are so special, but do you know what I think? I think you are a coward. You came running here because everyone you turned to abandoned you. Changing alliances didn't turn out well for you and now you are coming crawling back, trying to convince us to help you. Save you from whatever mess you get yourself into that required you stealing someone else's body so you were able to hide. Frankly it is pathetic. While you have been playing your games, we have been fighting No Heart. We have been fighting the Hellfire Club, and the Red Society. And guess what we were doing it without you. We had what we needed, we had people like those you abandoned. We had Kaida and DJ and Shiro supporting us. Fighting alongside us." Karina took one step closer to Orion as she spoke. "Do you think I don't know what happened in that trial? Why would I stand behind you after you hurt her? Why would I ever dare betray Kaida's trust just because you claim to have answers when you have not shown yourself trust worthy enough to give proper answers? If you want to keep hiding from whatever else you messed up, then fine, but don't drag us into your mess. You can go piss the hell off for all I care."
Kel took the moment to question and be nice about things, Karina meanwhile didn't take things that well. "That is bull crap and you know it. We aren't as stupid as you think. So who are you really?" Karina summoned her keyblade to her as she glared at Terra intensely. She didn't believe a word that came out of this persons mouth, but the one thing she knew was that this was not Terra. Karina might not have ever met Terra, but this behaviour, it was totally an act. "You aren't getting anywhere near Ventus or Eraqus, or anyone else." If she had to fight this person then and there she would, but she would not believe that he was an innocent party in all of this.
"Trust me, they know." Karina assured him before looking confused. "You said you have been trapped here and then that you have been here since the attack of the heartless. That was a year ago, yet you have been traveling looking for them for a year. Your stories don't match up. And if you were here when the heartless attacked, why did no one see you when we were all fighting for our *kupo* lives?" Karina questioned feeling this all seemed fishy. Whether or not she recognized the name didn't matter, he admitted he had been taken, who knew what had been done to him. He could easily be another spy of Nequa's,
Kel answered most of the questions, so that left Karina to ask her own once again. "Why are you asking about Ventus?" He could be either good or bad given Ventus went both ways. She then stopped. "Wait, you are one of the missing students aren't you?" She heard that much and was starting to put it together, which only made Karina more suspicious of him. "If that is true, then where the hell have you been? We know where Ventus has been, Aqua we don't know, but you... here you are like nothing has happened. Why?" Karina interrogated him.
"They drove us out, they separated us. They made us unstable and we lost people because of it. They got us thrown in the Realm if Darkness. They likely got information. They got plenty out of doing this, I don't know why they would abandon it but it isn't like they didn't get anything by doing this." Karina pointed out as they walked. She still didn't trust how quiet it was, but she could at least point out some reasoning. They didn't make it much further however before coming across a man, who promptly threatened them. Karina summoned her own keyblade as she faced the man down. "And they said this place was already cleared out." Karina said plenty loud as she didn't back down from the man. "Since we were essentially summoned here to meet other groups, and trained here for a while and are protectors of this place, I should be the one asking you that question." Karina stated very starkly, not even thinking of backing down. She was not scared of this man, she would fight him if she had to. The two strongest of their group were here, there was no way they would lose. Dawn listened to what Beuce was telling her and just crossed her arms. "Alright, so you need to train up in order to fill out ranks, but time is tight. Then you better get to it." Dawn stated looking towards DJ who continued to give out more instructions. She just nodded and sat back to listen to the rest of the meeting. Honestly Dawn didn't have as much to contribute as she wished, but she at least listened, figured everything out as she went.
Karina was surprised that everyone agreed with her suggestion. She thought at least someone would have another opinion. Either way it was decided and everyone left, leaving her just standing there, a little upset that there ultimately was so few of them that couldn't go that it felt pointless to limit it. Now it just felt like they were sidelined because they weren't important enough for anything. Karina let out a heavy sigh before she finally just went to sit against a wall. As she did Kel walked up and asked to go check the place out for themselves and Karina just shrugged. "It is better than being the outcasts sitting out here. May as well." She said getting up again. "You have a whole group of keyblade wielder to choose from. Why can't you fill out your numbers from them?" Dawn asked as she sat back and listened to the conversation. She was the newest out of anyone here, she was sure, so she didn't know everything, but she could at least try and understand. "Or could you try and get some of these people back? I mean we have been dealing with the Red Society up to this point, but it feels like we are running in circles a bit. Lea got taken, but left Karina in charge. Karina ran from her responsibilities, again, and left Koa in charge, but in this it feels like we lost the main goal and are just running around because it is all we know what to do. Not anything against Koa, he is doing great for what he has, but there has to be more we can do."
Karina crossed her arms, she still didn't trust this. There had to be a trap somewhere in here. Either way everyone seemed to be moving forward and wanting a meeting with a select few people. Karina crossed her arms and looked towards everyone. Three SoS people, well that wasn't too hard. "I would say Beuce should go, maybe Luna and Aux would have the most knowledge on the others side." She pointed out. Karina glanced towards Kel. "No offense Kel, but that whole thing makes me think it isn't a good idea to have you going in there." She stated. Well it was good to see that Karina was doing well, but the one who had left with her was no where to be seen. That seemed a bit odd, but Dawn didn't waste too much time on it as she looked around to the group planning. "Koa, you are the leader, chose who you want to go with you. I advise not Finlay." Since joining she didn't get along well with the very loud man. She couldn't actually deal with him, he was just too... well he lacked finesse that they desperately needed sometimes. She figured for a planning meeting the only thought he would have was to run in guns blazing, that wouldn't work. There had to be better people for this.
Karina noticed Beuce and Aux return, but was too busy with the conversation with Luna to really acknowledge them. When that conversation was over and they started to head off once more, Karina found herself laughing slightly at the sight of the two of them. It certainly wasn't what she was expecting to see when Beuce originally left to go take Ven to talk to Kel, which the two of them showed up shortly after Beuce and Aux did. Karina however, had talked to a lot of people in the short amount of time they were in Traverse Town, so instead chose to keep to herself for the flight to Central Haven. Upon arriving, things seemed quiet... to much so. It was because it seemed safe that Karina summoned her keyblade to her side. "I don't trust this, it is too quiet." She whispered to the others, afraid that if she spoke too loud she would attract something that she didn't want. Last time they were here they were chased out by heartless. She glanced to Beuce's arm for a moment, then managed to put her eyes back on the surroundings. Certainly there were more somewhere waiting to jump them.
Karina crossed her hands behind her head. "It isn't like I give him a bad time because I am still holding him accountable for that stuff. He is just easy to pick on. It is rather entertaining to be honest." Karina admitted to Kaida as she let out a sigh. "I don't think my father is completely behind it, I know that he went out of his way to make things worse because he knew it would get to me. The judge was probably his choice. He wouldn't have made me watch if he wasn't entirely sure that he had the upper hand completely." Karina explained a little more logical thinking now though keeping her calm about it. "But it is fine. That place sucked, everyone is allowed to vent. I think I have done enough of it lately. I am okay now. Actually all things considered I am kinda happy." Karina admitted.
Resent her? Why would they do such a thing? Either way Karina supposed that she understood some of that sentiment given all the thoughts after the stuff with her father. "I assume you were doing something you needed to do and were not just hiding. So no, I don't resent you. That trial was bullshit and we all know it. If we resented you then you wouldn't be here right now." Karina pointed out to her. It was at least an attempt at making Kaida feel better, she didn't know if she was doing a good job, but at least she was trying to talk and actually listen to someone else's problems instead of focusing only on her own.
Karina gave a slight glance over her shoulder as Kaida began to talk to her while leaning on the back of her chair. Karina was still trying to process the comment about knowing more about the trio than they knew about themselves when Kaida came around front to better converse. Deciding it was marginally easier to just answer the last question, Karina let out a sigh, "both, I guess. I keep running through the events of the last twenty four hours in my mind, and yet I can't seem to make one logical thought about any of it. So in that sense I suppose you can say I am thinking about nothing at all." Karina explained to Kaida. "So what brings you to my space of nothingness instead of exploring the town?"
Well she didn't necessarily do the greatest at explaining things, but soon Beuce, and it seemed AJ went to take to Ven to find Kel, Karina did not feel the need to go with them. She would probably end up saying something stupid anyways knowing her. She was at least trying to be nicer, at least she didn't say what she was actually thinking. She could have said much worse things than calling Ven a dog, besides it was the best way of explaining it. Either way they were gone to figure things out and Karina sat back down in the ship and began playing with her necklace mindlessly. There was a look of contentment on her face that she didn't usually wear. The three kids were still on the ship, but last time those conversations went only so well. Instead Karina decided to just stare off into space, waiting until someone else tried to talk to her, instead of her talking to them. It would be easier that way.
Well there was a bit more to the story that Karina knew, but not well enough to feel comfortable telling Ven what happened. She let Beuce sum up what most of them would know, having not been there for any formal discussions on such things, before she answered his questions. "You were playing puppet for Nequa. I am not entirely sure what they did to you, but you had no issues attacking my and another group of non-keybladers when you were told to attack. You just did whatever you were told like a dog." Karina explained as she crossed her arms. "But you clearly aren't as dead inside now, so that is something I suppose." She added with a shrug. Didn't mean she trusted him, but he was less iffy than before at the very least.
Karina's eyes narrowed for a moment as she saw the boy was now awake. She had not had a great track record with the boy, even though she knew that he wasn't himself then. Now the kid at least didn't seem like he wanted to kill them, but Karina still had to try and let go of the past. Karina waved at Ventus as she tried to figure out what to even say about it. "Yeah, they did some weird stuff to you and you were evil for a while but you don't seem evil anymore." Karina added on as a point to make. It probably wasn't the best thing to say, but she didn't know what else to say. "But talk to Beuce, he is the better person." She then added, not bothering to even pretend to be a good person.
Scared, that was a good way to put it. Even when she didn't want to admit it, she knew that it was true. This entire journey was driven by fear, the fact that she was running from her father. However now she didn't feel scared, at all. Right now she felt safe, in Beuce's arms she felt safer than she had ever felt before. While a small itch in the back of her mind wanted to say they couldn't keep her safe, the truth was, she knew that she was. There was no room for those thoughts in this moment when it was just her and him. The hug ended far too soon as Beuce mentioned they should return. He also mentioned the fight ahead and Karina looked towards Beuce's glass arm. It was trying to fight off the heartless there that he lost his arm... It was also after that where this whole journey of emotions started for her. When Beuce took her aside and treated her to ice cream, and talked to her like a normal person. She hadn't thought anything of it at the time, but now she could put her finger on the spot where it began. "Yeah, lets go take Central Haven back. I look forward to having a place that we can return to when we need a break." Perhaps not a home, but a least it was some place to relax. "Also never call me that again, it sounds weird, like an old married couple." Karina laughed, and it was a real laugh and smile. She felt happy, and Karina discovered that she enjoyed this feeling. She wanted to feel it more, and she hoped that with the help of Beuce, it would be possible.
For all of the things that Karina was mentally preparing herself for, this was not among them. She found herself unable to come up with something to say. For everything that was going on, all the things said, she didn't have any way to reply that seemed right. There was a slight blush to her cheek as she finally found herself looking up at Beuce, meeting his eye contact. "I...I was terrified of what my life would be without you... any of you." It seemed like a good place to start, though her voice was still quiet, shaking even. After another moment Karina stood up straight and walked a little closer to Beuce. "And I am terrified of him coming back... Terrified that my father will take everything I built here. I am starting to know what it means to actually like someone, and as soon as I did he showed up, tried to make me marry someone else." By this point her hands were shaking and Karina knew that this was something different. "And when you hugged me..." Karina couldn't believe that she was letting herself start to cry. She didn't know how to explain what she had felt then. She didn't remember the last time someone held her like that, maybe when she was really young from her mother, but even those were vague memories.
As they arrived at Traverse Town, Karina didn't find herself particularly interested in doing anything, even as the three kids that they had met in Monstro approached the ship. Karina looked to the one called Riku, almost assessing where he might be now with his journey. She still worried he would take the wrong path, but didn't dare say such things to him as he seemed more concerned with the other little boy. Meanwhile Beuce was tapping on her arm. Apparently he wanted to talk, and Karina's heart squeezed as she feared the worst after all the weird things that had happened recently. Between admitting her feelings and the strange reception to that, then telling her father they were engaged, she couldn't imagine this talk going over well, but it was better to get it over with now than wait and stew on it any longer. Karina took a moment to calm herself before she started to follow Beuce out of the ship and into a nearby alleyway. As she rounded the corner, Beuce was already sitting on some boxes, as Karina found a spot against a wall to lean, keeping her eyes averted. "Alright, lets get this over with." It was best to rip the bandage off quickly and just get it over with. She didn't want to let it drag on. She just needed to know how she felt so she could shut it down as quickly as possible and get back to work because that was all she could do.
Karina was left a little baffled at how this man spoke to her. It took most people a while to want to speak to her like that, and on top of that he barely knew her to be coming up with these sorts of... assessments of her. She couldn't help but just look at him baffled for a moment before finally opening her mouth to speak again, only for him to finish what he was saying and stood, ready to leave. Karina couldn't look him in the eye, couldn't fathom how one was supposed to respond to something like that. It took her a long moment to speak, and when she did it was under her breath. "I know." That was what made it so painful. She had slowly tried to open up, but all she achieved was making things weird with Beuce and opening herself to fear that she didn't want to admit she had. This whole experience reminded her how easily everything she built could be taken away. She had opened herself up to people, and because of that nearly walked into a situation she would have regretted. It almost felt easier if they didn't care about her, because then she wouldn't feel like caring about them. If she didn't care about them there was nothing to be taken away from her, but as it stood now she stood to lose everything. Everything she built could be taken away from her, especially if her father changed his mind and decided to come at her with his full force. It was a risk she didn't want to take and yet here she was. So yeah she was defensive and a bit closed off and she didn't want Quill's help with that, because this was safe.
Well that sounded like a bit of a backhanded compliment. Sure it was true, but she had not expected him to say it so outright. With a sigh she just nodded. "Yeah, they are pretty great, the best people I have ever known." She admitted as she let out another sigh. She didn't think he would hold her fathers actions against her, but when he mentioned it was when she got worried. "Well thanks for not." Karina answered rather dryly, though she didn't think it was needed, either way it was out there now. "As for the dress, my father had to threaten me to wear it, stupid engagement dress according to him, but thanks to these friends I don't have to go through with it. For the record, whatever my father did to you was lessened because of that ship. You don't want to know the punishments that were handed out back home. But at least he is gone. Apparently they fired my father, it serves him right." She stated rather coldly.
