((Takes place after Ansem returns from meeting Andrea and Nova comes home from hanging out with Demyx. Angst and bizzarness warning NOW.))

The couch was warm. It was a welcoming, soft place, the first she found walking in the door. Nova's eyes were shut quietly as she was caught in a dazed memory.

The young woman slipped into the house and cringed promptly.

Mother was home. She knew she wasn't supposed to go out, but....

Immediately her mother flew out of nowhere, cornering the young adult feircely.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Her mother snapped at her rapidly. The girl flinched.

"I was out... Just... At the mall...!"

"I told you not to go out alone."

"Okay... Sorry..."

The girl turned to go to the bathroom, a bottle of green dye in hand. Her mother grabbed her shoulder and pulled her over, then snorted disapprovingly.

"You look like a boy."

"I like my cut..."

"People don't like people who stand out like you do."

"If people want to know me, they'd look past what I look like." Nova said, trying again for the bathroom.

"You're different enough." Her mother gestured at her limbs. Nova cringed. She wished her mother hdn't reminded her that she had those. She was getting good at dealing with people, with the limiters in place to keep her from using the maximum force she knew they could deal.

"I know, mom."

"You wouldn't last in the real world. You live in a fantasy. Just like those crazies in that town. Do you want to be like that? You're already on the road to it."

"...."

Was she? Nova sighed, but was allowed to escape. A couple hours soon found her with not only short hair, but short green hair. She went to show her mother.

"You look stupid." The woman snorted. "Did you do the car like I asked?"

"I took it to the car wash. They'd do a better job." Nova brushed it off, but her mother was angry.

"I told you not to have it washed! Great, now al the money I had in the car is gone. Thank you."

"You act like it's my fault! Why am I always the villian!?" Nova didn't meant to snap. The glare she got from her mother said it all.

"Don't talk back to me-!"

Her mother reared to slap her, and the girl yelped, arms lighting up with a strange circuitry pattern that could only mean whatever the original owner had in their programming, it was overrunning the Limiter programs. She gave a whimper, but...

Her arms didn't move.

Nova's eyes snapped open with a scream before she realized the reason she hadn't moved in her dream was because Ansem was sitting on her, eyes slitted. She grimaced. She wondered if Heartless were in the cat family sometimes, the way the man acted.

"You are in my bed." Ansem was sharper than usual, eying her arms a moment before letting the girl up. She rubbed her head.

"Well falling asleep wasn't the idea." She grumbled.

"You're glowing." Ansem gestured delicately, and Nova groaned.

"Uh, it's nothing?"

"You did not glow when I came in the door." With that, he grabbed her hands, sniffing for a couple moments. Lacking antennae like most natural heartless, he settled for scent. It wasn't his strongest suit, in fact, it was amongst his weakest, especially compared to most of Canthry's creatures. But it was still more powerful than a human's. Settlng on the bandaged finger, he sniffed a second before making the same look a disgusted cat makes.

"Metal. I see." The Seeker dropped both hands and perched, staring, as he usually did. "When did you plan to inform me of this?"

"It's none of your business!" Nova snapped defensively. Ansem narrowed his eyes, not buying it a minute.

"We had an agreement. If you.. Have problems upholding a lifestyle conducting to maintaining a home, then I..." The Seeker leaps from his perch, pinning the girl before she could react. "I may find my self control slipping." As if to accentuate his point, he placed one hand directly on her heart, gaze unfaltering. Nova yelped, trying to pull back. Ansem allowed it, and dropped his hand. He wouldn't really steal it NOW; he was far too busy pulling his own daughter back to him. Still, the woman could be useful. She seemed close to Andrea's age, perhaps he could use her to further his cause for drawing Andrea close to him aain, where she would be safe, atleast, in his eyes.

"Now if you must..." He eyes the slowly fading patterns. "If you MUST have suh reactions in your sleep, do so in YOUR bed."

He climbed off, giving an irritated look. Nova frowned, getting up and turning... Saluted him with one finger. Ansem growled, cuffing her again. Nova jumped, afraid he'd dislocate a finger again, and bolted for her room, flopping on the bed for sleep. Satisfied with his own deed, Ansem climbed on the couch, kneading before going to bed himself.