[CLOSED][BACKDATED] In the House of Upside-Down...

[thebigsister]

Characters: Eleanor Lamb (OU) & Naminé (OU)
Setting: Room 1-15
Format: Action!
Summary: Roommate shenanigans. BACKDATED before the event.
Warnings: None? Hopefully?

[Eleanor starts her days early, most of the time. She sleeps as much as her body demands of her, but once she wakes, she makes a furtive run to freshen herself in the bathroom before she returns and begins the almost-ritual by now of putting up her big sister suit. It's sturdy and full of memories both of her father and her mother and the hellhole that was Rapture. But she tries not to think too much about it lest she ends up psychoanalyzing herself. She feels good, this morning, though. And she finds herself singing softly as she inspects the suit for any damage.]

In the House of Upside-Down, cellar’s top floor, attic’s ground.

[The little tune is broken, but she doesn't mind, it's comforting on its own. And that too is something she doesn't think much about, either, because the implications aren't very nice.]

In the House of Upside-Down: laughing cries, and smile’s a frown.

[She runs her fingers over her weapons, the harpoon and the needle, the metal crooked and cool and strangely reassuring before she puts them down and reaches for her helmet, to make sure it isn't cracked.]

In the House of Upside-Down: found is lost, and lost-is found…

Comments

[lethechained]

[Naminé's a rather light sleeper, a quality that is a remnant of her troubled existence and the ever-present danger of being hurt or caught in her sleep. She was already close to waking on her own, but the singing and the sounds of Eleanor working with her suit nudge Naminé just that little bit necessary to rouse her. Her eyes crack open, but she doesn't move otherwise, blearily considering the ceiling as she lingers between sleep and wakefulness.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor pauses a second, feeling that instinctual nagging in the back of her head. It's not an attack, though, it's just the blonde girl waking up. She looks at her for a moment longer, before she moves on to inspect her boots. She resumes her singing, too.]

In the House of Upside-Down: cellar's top, attic's ground.

[lethechained]

[The girl lets out a long, quiet exhale and reaches up to rub at one of her eyes. Gosh, it's hard to keep her eyes open at all, only-- what's that sound? Forcing her eyelids up, she moves slowly into a sitting position and, after some more eye rubbing, she turns her head toward the source of the sound, looking disoriented.]

[thebigsister]

[While Namine woked up properly, Eleanor slipped into the suit with relative ease, tugging on it to make it hug her frame. She then offers the girl a smile she hopes is soft and kind when she sits up.]

Good morning.

[The image might be slightly bizarre, considering Eleanor sits down to put on her boots, harpoon and ADAM extractor lying on the bed next to her.]

[lethechained]

[She pauses, blinking as she finally manages to get her mind to focus on Eleanor. Ah, so that was it.]

-- Good morning...! [Slightly bizzare, yes, but that's what Naminé is used to. When is anything in her life NOT bizzare?]

[thebigsister]

[...her dress? Her dress is cute, not bizarre.]

Ah, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?

[lethechained]

[But there's not even a zipper, and it's KH-- I mean, sure, we'll go with that, yes.]

Mm-- I think I was about to wake up, anyway. [--Oh gosh, yawn. Excuse her while she stretches.]

[thebigsister]

Alright.

[She smiles, because... let's face it, Naminé is kind of adorable. At the same time, Eleanor goes back to setting up her weapons on her wrists, fingers moving deafly and keeping her hands busy so she will not fiddle or fidget.]

I... don't think we've been properly introduced yet, despite it all.

[You know, with Eleanor being out at all times and basically just dropping in to sleep sometimes.]

[lethechained]

[O-oh. Naminé has no idea that that's why Eleanor is smiling, so when she blinks at the other girl and smiles back, it's purely out of a desire to keep Eleanor comfortable. It's kind of awkward to smile at someone and not have them smile back, isn't it? Naminé's eyes trail down to the weapons after a moment, then back up at the words.]

-- No, I don't think we have. [Naminé's still uncertain about why her roommate, er, dresses that way, and admittedly the first time she saw Eleanor in that it was sort of frightening, but she's gotten used to seeing it by now.] ... My name is Naminé.

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor nods, and without the helmet, the gesture is noticeably deeper and more pronounced, because she's used to having to exaggerate gestures for them to be actually seen.]

Nice to meet you, Naminé... or well, to learn your name. I'm Eleanor Lamb.

[She finishes fixing the ADAM needle in place, running a finger over it again, before she gives Naminé a small, sheepish look.]

I... do hope I haven't... startled you. Before.

[lethechained]

[That is a bit peculiar, but Naminé isn't one to judge.]

It's nice to-- know your name, Eleanor.

[The girl can't, however, help watching that needle.]

-- Oh. I-- [She feels bad saying it, but,] ... You did. But that's okay...! I know better, now. [Er, hopefully.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor gives a wry smile.]

I'm sorry... more often than not, it's an unintended side-effect. I'm glad to know you're not startled anymore.

[lethechained]

[Head shake...!] You don't have to apologize. -- I'm glad, too.

[thebigsister]

I feel I should, but I'm glad to know you don't hold a grudge over it.

[Her smile remains in place, serene.]

Have you been here long, now?

[lethechained]

I couldn't do that. [For more reasons than one.]

[Naminé's careful to keep smiling back.]

Yes. Or-- at least, it's seemed like a long time.

[thebigsister]

[That, at last, makes Eleanor frown.]

I see.

[Then she tilts her head, and it is unnatural, without the helmet, but she doesn't seem to mind it at all.]

Do you... wish you could escape this place?

[lethechained]

[-- Oh. That's... not something she wanted to do, but she had to tell the truth.]

I....

[Well,]

... Yes. But--... there are people I would miss, and-- most of the time, it's... not so bad.

[thebigsister]

[Well, she's not mad, per se. But she's very expressive, her thoughts are easily read on her face. Right now, she looks confused.]

Could you... explain that to me? I don't understand.

[You see, for Eleanor, Tower = Cage. And if there's one thing in the world she hates, it's cages.]

[lethechained]

[Funny enough, it's a cage for Naminé, too. The thing is, this cage is so much bigger than any she's ever been in before and that... makes it a lot easier to deal with. She laces her fingers together, looking a little uncertain.]

Well... there's lots of space, and things to do. And-- most of the time, they don't make us do things. We don't have to be alone. Even if we can't leave-- it's better than it could be. [Than it has been, for her, and that might be showing in the way she talks about it.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor pulls her helmet to her body, hugging it like one would a treasured doll. Naminé's voice sounds sincere, but it's still confusing.]

But we should be free.

[There's a touch of childishness to that statement, the voice of a very young girl staring at the whole world in the eye, unable to understand.]

[lethechained]

[That childishness doesn't go unnoticed, and Naminé watches the other girl with a hint more curiosity. Ah, but there are other things to worry about.]

... Yes. We should be. [As a whole, anyway. Her own status is questionable.] But--... if we have to be in a cage, this isn't the worst one we could possibly be in.

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor frowns, puzzled. That's a lot of grey to take in, for someone used to things being either black or white.]

You... sound like you've resigned yourself to be caged.

[lethechained]

--....

[Has she?]

[... In truth, it's all she's ever known. Her hands tighten around each other and her eyes sink earthwards.]

... Maybe I have.

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor smiles lightly.]

I used to be, too.

[She looks down at her helmet, fingering the rough edges, almost lovingly.]

But then I learned that no one has a right to cage another, no matter what. That... that freedom is our one true wealth. And that no matter how hard it might seem at the time, the price is worth it in the end.

[lethechained]

[Used to be? The girl raises her head, watching Eleanor.]

... No matter what the price?

[thebigsister]

No matter the price.

[Eleanor sounds fiercely convinced.]

[lethechained]

--....

[Fiercely convinced, indeed. Feeling a touch ashamed of herself, she turns her eyes away.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor looks at Naminé for a long time.]

I'm... looking for a way out, you know.

[She shrugs.]

It's probably going to take short of forever, because this place is huge, but I'm patient enough. But when I do find a way out - and I will - you're welcome to come, if you want.

[She tilts her head to the side.]

Being here, I think, it's different if it's by choice.

[lethechained]

[She can feel the other girl's eyes on her, and, hesitantly, she meets them. The first words don't surprise her. Her lips press together slightly as she thinks of how many people have the same plan, the same desire to find a way out. None of them have succeeded, and yet Eleanor is so insistent. The offer, though, that does make her straighten a little. It's a kindness provided her before, but it never fails to startle her. And what can she say but,]

... Thank you. And... you're right. It is different, if you have a choice.

[thebigsister]

I don't think freedom is about whether you're in the cage or out of it.

[Eleanor smiles, somewhere between lazy and lopsided, and far, far too older than she really is.]

I think it depends on whether you choose the cage or not.

[lethechained]

....

[A little late, she smiles back.]

It does.

[And she can say that from personal experience.]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor stands up, surprisingly nimble in the heavy suit, and shifts around a bit to let it fall in place. It's slightly terrifying, how comfortable it's to wear the suit. Like bit by bit she's becoming one of them. But she doesn't think about that as she grins, surprisingly bright.]

That's why I'm looking for a way out, you know? So I get a chance to decide whether I stick around or not.

[lethechained]

[Naminé stays put, but watches the other girl stand. It's difficult to imagine a suit like that being comfortable.]

I understand. But... do you have any idea what you'll choose, if you do find a way out?