Jade Curtiss (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sarcasmancer) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
towerofanimus2013-12-06 10:48 pm
sarcasmancer) wrote in towerofanimus2013-12-06 10:48 pm
1. Wisdom
[Characters]: Jade Curtiss, OPEN
[Setting]: Room 1-06, Floor 5, 19, 45, Cafeteria.
[Format]: Prose to begin, but I'll follow your lead if there's something else you prefer.
[Summary]: Jade's arrival in the Tower and what he finds there.
[Warnings]: Mild creepiness on Floor 45 but nothing more than that. Yet.
[Edit]: I had Jade looking up information on the Tower on Floor 19. Someone gave me a head's up that there aren't any texts about the Tower itself in the libraries, which is mentioned in the desc for Floor 3 but not 19, which is what I focused on. That's my bad, and it's been fixed. Sorry!
- Room 1-06 -
When he had gone to bed, the night over Grand Chokmah had been still and warm and calm. Could the world really have ended on so peaceful a night?
The note that greets Jade Curtiss when he awakens in a room with an unfamiliar ceiling says so, at least. He pulls himself upright, frowning at any of his new roommates should any of them be present--and if not, simply frowning at the clearly lived-in room simply for being--and then reads the note carefully.
His expression does not change for a moment. Then the fingertips of his left hand rest on the bridge of his spectacles while he sighs.
He is out of bed, ignoring for the moment the suitcase that is set up at the foot of it, and examining himself and the blue-liquid collar around the top of his neck, just above the collar of his usual military uniform, in the first mirror he's able to locate.
Then he is out, only briefly in the corridor outside his dorm room before he heads to the most logical first destination.
-------
- Floor 5 -
Jade silently observes the state of the world on the other side of the viewing station screen: everything dead and dust, from the humans to the planet to the stars. He rests a hand on his chin as he watches, a troubled look on his face. He spends a long time in front of the viewscreen, changing angles and locations and so forth. The vision of destruction never changes despite his efforts. In time, Jade turns his back on it, one hand in his pocket, one holding his spectacles in place as the glare from the overhead lights obscures his eyes, and walks away.
-------
- Floor 19 -
It had started in the more general library, which Jade had lingered in for no more than a minute until he was informed of where the actual research texts could be found. Then he brought himself here, and considers the many, many blank spots on the shelves, including and especially the entirely empty history section.
He sighs for the second time that day. "One would think that these 'benefactors' would go to more effort to hide the fact that they're hiding something," he laments out loud, despite being in a library.
Nonetheless, he flips through a few of the remaining astral projection books, then returns them to their correct spots and finds himself a relatively comprehensive text on magical theory; something on the Tower itself would have been ideal, but he hasn't been able to find anything on the topic. At least he can compare and contrast "magic" with the fonic artes he knows. He removes the text and takes it with him to a suitably squishy chair, where he begins to peruse it. However intense his concentration, though, he's not so absorbed that he'd be unable to notice anyone approaching.
That would just be foolish.
-------
- Floor 45 -
After familiarizing himself with the nature of his new "home," the man known as the Necromancer brings himself to one of the observatory levels. He strolls up to the glass walls, peering through the cracks in the clouds at the empty sky. He's about to turn to leave when motion in his peripheral vision catches his attention, and he turns his head to regard something that might be human if if it weren't clinging upside-down to the outside of a glass wall on cloud level.
And, of course, it didn't have waxy corpse-gray skin stretched all over where its face should be.
Like a lizard, it creeps slowly down, then across, before coming to a halt in front of the long-haired man. Jade watches it without moving. It watches--for a relative value of "watches" given that it has no eyes--him back. When he steps to one side, it follows; when he steps back, it skitters around on himself and winds that way too. As the skies gradually begin to redden, a couple more of the faceless things crawl in, and he amuses himself for a time by walking slowly back and forth across the room and watching as he gradually leads a chain around the circumference of the floor like the Pied Piper of faceless horrors.
-------
- Cafeteria -
Jade is tempted, once night falls, to go hunting for monsters. For the nonce, he opts instead to get his first meal, having not bothered to eat all day. He heeds the warning and takes a bowl of hot, plain oatmeal as his first meal, then carries it to the first empty seat he finds and eats with all the resigned resolution of a soldier. His expression is somewhat distant as he eats, but the moment anyone speaks to him, it transforms into a pleasant smile.
This may be a trap.
[Setting]: Room 1-06, Floor 5, 19, 45, Cafeteria.
[Format]: Prose to begin, but I'll follow your lead if there's something else you prefer.
[Summary]: Jade's arrival in the Tower and what he finds there.
[Warnings]: Mild creepiness on Floor 45 but nothing more than that. Yet.
[Edit]: I had Jade looking up information on the Tower on Floor 19. Someone gave me a head's up that there aren't any texts about the Tower itself in the libraries, which is mentioned in the desc for Floor 3 but not 19, which is what I focused on. That's my bad, and it's been fixed. Sorry!
- Room 1-06 -
When he had gone to bed, the night over Grand Chokmah had been still and warm and calm. Could the world really have ended on so peaceful a night?
The note that greets Jade Curtiss when he awakens in a room with an unfamiliar ceiling says so, at least. He pulls himself upright, frowning at any of his new roommates should any of them be present--and if not, simply frowning at the clearly lived-in room simply for being--and then reads the note carefully.
His expression does not change for a moment. Then the fingertips of his left hand rest on the bridge of his spectacles while he sighs.
He is out of bed, ignoring for the moment the suitcase that is set up at the foot of it, and examining himself and the blue-liquid collar around the top of his neck, just above the collar of his usual military uniform, in the first mirror he's able to locate.
Then he is out, only briefly in the corridor outside his dorm room before he heads to the most logical first destination.
-------
- Floor 5 -
Jade silently observes the state of the world on the other side of the viewing station screen: everything dead and dust, from the humans to the planet to the stars. He rests a hand on his chin as he watches, a troubled look on his face. He spends a long time in front of the viewscreen, changing angles and locations and so forth. The vision of destruction never changes despite his efforts. In time, Jade turns his back on it, one hand in his pocket, one holding his spectacles in place as the glare from the overhead lights obscures his eyes, and walks away.
-------
- Floor 19 -
It had started in the more general library, which Jade had lingered in for no more than a minute until he was informed of where the actual research texts could be found. Then he brought himself here, and considers the many, many blank spots on the shelves, including and especially the entirely empty history section.
He sighs for the second time that day. "One would think that these 'benefactors' would go to more effort to hide the fact that they're hiding something," he laments out loud, despite being in a library.
Nonetheless, he flips through a few of the remaining astral projection books, then returns them to their correct spots and finds himself a relatively comprehensive text on magical theory; something on the Tower itself would have been ideal, but he hasn't been able to find anything on the topic. At least he can compare and contrast "magic" with the fonic artes he knows. He removes the text and takes it with him to a suitably squishy chair, where he begins to peruse it. However intense his concentration, though, he's not so absorbed that he'd be unable to notice anyone approaching.
That would just be foolish.
-------
- Floor 45 -
After familiarizing himself with the nature of his new "home," the man known as the Necromancer brings himself to one of the observatory levels. He strolls up to the glass walls, peering through the cracks in the clouds at the empty sky. He's about to turn to leave when motion in his peripheral vision catches his attention, and he turns his head to regard something that might be human if if it weren't clinging upside-down to the outside of a glass wall on cloud level.
And, of course, it didn't have waxy corpse-gray skin stretched all over where its face should be.
Like a lizard, it creeps slowly down, then across, before coming to a halt in front of the long-haired man. Jade watches it without moving. It watches--for a relative value of "watches" given that it has no eyes--him back. When he steps to one side, it follows; when he steps back, it skitters around on himself and winds that way too. As the skies gradually begin to redden, a couple more of the faceless things crawl in, and he amuses himself for a time by walking slowly back and forth across the room and watching as he gradually leads a chain around the circumference of the floor like the Pied Piper of faceless horrors.
-------
- Cafeteria -
Jade is tempted, once night falls, to go hunting for monsters. For the nonce, he opts instead to get his first meal, having not bothered to eat all day. He heeds the warning and takes a bowl of hot, plain oatmeal as his first meal, then carries it to the first empty seat he finds and eats with all the resigned resolution of a soldier. His expression is somewhat distant as he eats, but the moment anyone speaks to him, it transforms into a pleasant smile.
This may be a trap.
Cafeteria (Although they are neighbors!)
Had she been the one in charge of what happened to the children?
For someone who liked kids, that was a disturbing thought, and one that made her stomach churn. She knew, however, that she had to eat, and after a long day of not doing so, finally made her way to the cafeteria. The smells were somewhat overwhelming to her empty stomach, but she opted for the lightest thing she could find and headed for a table, stopping when the aroma of oatmeal hit her.
Turning toward the source, and seeing the man's expression, she gave him an understanding look.
"You just arrived, didn't you?"
(A cafeteria is fine too~)
"My, was it that obvious?" he asks her, irony ringing loud and clear in his tone. It might sound biting, and it definitely borderlines on sarcastic, but there is a tone more of amusement than anything else.
When he opens his eyes, his demeanor settles a little, though he maintains the smile while he observes Sheena--her own demeanor, her expression, her body language and how she carries herself. He of course doesn't recognize her or her clothing style, but between humans, which she at least appears to be, there are some universals. Theoretically.
"I take it you've seen quite a few new arrivals, then," he continues, just as pleasantly. "It's a curious feeling, being the ignorant one." He spreads his arms in a broad shrug, one hand still balancing a spoonful of oatmeal. "A good thing I'm so humble and modest, or I might have problems with that!"
\o/!
Still, that doesn't stop her from smiling in return, though her eyes remain open--especially after hearing that tone of his which confuses her. Is he laughing at her? Or maybe he's just trying to make the most of this situation.
Opting for the second choice, she points to his oatmeal and shakes her head. "Not exactly. Only new arrivals have to eat that stuff, and in my opinion, it tastes too nasty to want to eat it any other time," she finishes with an embarrassed smile. Okay, so maybe it had been more obvious than she had thought, but she's too stubborn to admit it.
Nor is she going to admit that she's also observing him--and actually had been the second she had turned to him--but since it's a natural thing to do, human or no, he's probably already on to her. Still, she doesn't flinch as she meets his eyes, her smile fading at his question.
"No. I only just arrived here over a month ago. Or is it two months?" The fact that she has to ask that question frightens her, but thanks to his next statement, she's snapped out of it to give him a wry look. "I think your humility and modesty needs a little work," she chuckled.
no subject
Sheena interprets Jade's tone the way she wills, and Jade himself offers no explanation. At the least, when she points out her logic, he shrugs. "I don't find it that bad, but the reasoning is certainly sound."
Because, well, she's right; that's the entire reason Jade picked it. As for the flavor and texture, well, Jade is a military man who traveled with a pair of cooks who ranged from "bad" to "hopelessly bad." He can tolerate some pretty disgusting food. Oatmeal's no curry, but it's not pork, either.
He doesn't remark on her observing, but he does indeed notice it, and is unoffended by it. After all, he's doing it back. A sensible thing to do when you meet someone new in a place like this.
"Ah, so you're a fairly recent addition to the administrators' collection yourself," Jade remarks, before smiling serenely at her wry look. "Do they? Oh dear. And I work ever so hard at faking them, too."
no subject
Well, if Jade isn't going to confirm or deny what she's thinking, then she's just going to go with her reasoning. At his critique of the oatmeal, however, she raises her eyebrows in surprise, despite her pleasure at being complimented for her deductive powers. "Really? I guess I like things a little more flavorful. Like fruit...or curry."
Not that some of the things her friends cooked weren't flavorful, but one's attempts at the culinary arts could be used as a weapon if necessary. Although, Sheena wouldn't wish that on anyone--not even a crazy half-elf with a sister complex.
So, after another minute of just standing there observing him, Sheena finally asks him after nodding in response to his question, "Do you mind if I join you?" She may not like the oatmeal, but she's enjoying this conversation.
Especially when he comes up with gems like that last one. Rolling her eyes, she chuckles. "I think you need to work on faking your sincerity, too."
no subject
The fact that Sheena wants to spend more time with him, after he went out of his way to be obnoxious, says a lot about her tolerance for nonsense. Or maybe it's just okay because he's not a perv. She rolls her eyes at him, and he retorts serenely, with a broad smile, "I don't know what you're talking about. I've never been anything but completely open and honest in my life."
Then he shakes his head at her question. "Not at all. You're free to sit where you like, Miss...?"
no subject
Well, she's had the best training for tolerating nonsense, but Jade actually has two things going for him. The first one, obviously, he's not a pervert. And the second, he hasn't said anything asinine or inane during this conversation. "And that's a lie right there," she countered with a chuckle, "since you just told me you fake your humility and modesty. And faking is lying, you know!"
Her own grin widens at his permission, and she sits across from him, eying the oatmeal suspiciously before answering. "Thanks! My name's Sheena. Sheena Fujibayashi."
no subject
Oatmeal might be tolerable, but he would prefer to cook his own meals if possible. (Too bad this month is a bust as far as that's concerned, but he won't learn that until later, when Asch approaches.)
"I don't know what you're talking about," he then replies, the very portrait of innocence. Nothing asinine or inane, huh? "Perhaps you should visit the infirmary to have your ears checked?"
It is at least all in good fun. The fact that Sheena is thus far taking it in stride doesn't bother Jade, either. "Jade Curtiss," he replies, nodding to her in greeting. If they weren't both sitting, and he eating, he'd offer his hand to shake. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sheena. You can feel free to call me Jade in return."
no subject
Which is something she'd like to do, but like him, is disappointed that she can't raid the kitchen. So, she deals with it the best she can.
"Is that so? Maybe you should join me and have your memory checked," she counters, with an expression equally as innocent. She'll still argue that he's not saying anything asinine or inane, though. This is more along the lines of banter.
Banter she's enjoying immensely--if that grin she gives him as she returns his nod with a small bow of greeting is any indication. Because she's sitting, the bow's a little awkward, looking almost as though she's trying to faceplant into the food, but she pulls it off (she hopes). "It's nice to meet you, too, Jade." And how does she thank him for not being formal by addressing her as "Miss Fujibayashi"?
no subject
"That's quite all right. I'm confident in my ability to pass medical exams where it would be inconvenient to do otherwise," Jade reassures her, smiling broadly back.
No need to thank him, really. If she'd insisted on Miss Fujibayashi, he'd have switched to that without a problem, but he sees no need for formality in a place like this. Of course, Sheena doesn't know that, either.
[OOC:
Mind if we move this towards a wrap, as this post is pretty old by now? We can tag each other in future threads! Unless of course you'd prefer otherwise?LOL NEVER MIND I had some different ideas on how far back backtags are expected to go and learned the local culture is more lenient, so please disregard that!]no subject
However, she's trying not to let the negative show as she takes a bite of her meal, a smile forming around the fork as she looks at him slyly. "So, what you're saying is, you can lie then, too, right?" she asks before turning back to her meal to hide her smile. Although, the slight shaking of her shoulders may just reveal the chuckling she's trying to cover with a very fake cough.
Yes, she's a ninja, but there are just some things that can't be kept secret well.
And she'd never insist on Miss Fujibayashi; it's not her style to be addressed in such a way, although she has no trouble in doing so for others.
Once her humor calms down enough, she's finally able to speak in a normal tone of voice as she looks at him curiously, "This is probably going to sound like a weird question right out of nowhere, but where are you from?"
[ooc: It's okay! Backtags are good here. :) ]
no subject
The question itself isn't as strange as it seems, though. Jade shakes his head. "Not at all. I've already met several people here from a variety of different worlds. I myself come from a planet called Auldrant, specifically the country of Malkuth. And yourself?"
no subject
Probably both.
"'Creative truth-telling', huh?" she asks, before adding, "Well, you certainly are creative." And fun to talk to. So, before her curiosity about his comment gets the better of her, she finds herself replying easily with, "I grew up in the village of Mizuho on the planet Tethe'alla," before adding, "Auldrant? That's a nice name." Her expression softens into pleasant curiosity. "You haven't been here long, and you've already met a lot of people?" She leans forward, her curiosity deepening. That's usually done when someone's looking for information. Lucky for her, she had friends here to help her out.
"Have you been to the Library yet?"
no subject
"Why, thank you," he replies, red eyes still creased up in amusement. His expression shifts to something less amused but still pleasant when she talks about her homeland. He hasn't heard of the place, but then, he didn't expect to. He doesn't remark on that, thus, instead replying, "Yes. I haven't kept count, but it seems like close to a dozen people by now."
Largely these encounters were coincidental, but it is true that he met them while seeking information. Her next question gets a nod. "Yes. The one on the third floor briefly, and the one on the nineteenth floor at greater length. I wasn't able to read much that was useful, even if it was at least interesting; by and large it seems talking to people is the best way to gather information on this place."
Which he assumes Sheena already knows, but he doesn't mind remarking on this much to her.
no subject
Well, maybe not all comments, but then, she's usually blushing, and that speaks louder than she ever can at times.
"You're welcome," she replies just as pleasantly. Like him, she hadn't heard about his homeland, either, but she's willing to bet that she'll hear it again sometime in the future as she speaks to more and more people. "I don't know how many I've spoken to, either, but someone I know from home has been here for a while, and she's told me a lot." Her tone has become serious, indicating that not only does she believe her friend, but that she's experienced some of the strangeness of the place herself.
"Keep talking to people," she suddenly says--confirming that yes, she knows that's the best source of information. "The Library on the third floor has no information about this place that I've seen. As for the other one, I was there only briefly, so I never looked at a book." No, she had been there on a candy hunt, and if she had known then what she knew now, she never would have done it. Or had given all her candy to someone else sooner.
no subject
"I've spoken with a few old friends like that, myself," Jade agrees, sobering up some. "It's very helpful to hear about a place such as this," he gestures vaguely at their surroundings, "from the perspective of someone used to the same world as you."
Sheena goes on to urge him to continue talking to people, and break down which libraries have useful information. He's already figured that out for himself, but given that this is his first day, he appreciates someone taking the time to mention it, just in case. He only nods, though, and says, "Thank you for the information, Sheena. I'll do that."
[[OOC: Welcome back!]]
no subject
Jade not being a flirt is pretty fortunate, since she'd have had an entirely different reaction to his comments. Perhaps not as strong as those she normally shows Zelos when he flirts, but there'd be no mistaking them. Although, her reaction to any dry comments about getting along well with the Chosen would probably have resulted in the same response as before: Jade would have needed to see a doctor about his eyesight. A comment, of course, that may or may not be an appreciation of his humor--depending on the tone of voice she says it in.
That aside, she does consider Zelos a friend, and although the two of them had arrived at about the same time, she feels better knowing that he's all right and that he had been able to learn a few things about the place. Although, one of those bits of information still bothers her and she looks at Jade, her brows knitting in confusion. "Jade, did any of your friends tell you they'd been here for a while, but you had just seen them back home?" This is obviously something she's run into, but she still can't figure out how it's possible.
She's still mulling over her own question when he responds to her recommendation, and her "You're welcome" is already out of her mouth when she realizes something. If he's already talked to several people, they've probably already... "You already know about that, don't you?" she asked wryly, without a trace of anger.
[ooc: Thanks! Still catching up on things!]
no subject
On the other hand, according to Ion and a few others, they've been here for almost a year (albeit not by Auldrant time). Hell, by Jade's when, Ion was already dead. It had been a pleasure to see the young Fon Master again, even if he'd already known he was here. ...Even if it was here, of all places. So, yes, more or less.
"Something like that," he thus says, because he understands the gist of what Sheena is saying. As for the rest...
All he does is smile.
no subject
And at his smile, she glares at him, but there's a hint of the sarcastic in her expression as she shakes her head. Sighing, she rolls her eyes and looks up at the ceiling. "I should have known," she finally says as she turns back to him, breaking into her own smile.
"So... What did you find out in the Upper Library?"
no subject
...He is joking. Isn't he?
If he is, he doesn't bother to say so. Instead, he shakes his head. "Not much that's relevant to the current situation, I'm afraid. I did find a tome detailing the differences in magic from various other worlds, which was fascinating."
no subject
Shaking her head, she makes a disapproving sound as she focuses on her food, popping something into her mouth before she can laugh. That same food is quickly swallowed at the mention of magic and she looks at him curiously. "What are the differences? Isn't all magic elemental in nature?"