towerofanimus | Track 03 - Smile Like you Mean It [OPEN]

Characters: Yosuke Hanamura and YOU!
Setting: The Art Gallery (floor 22), The Media Room (floor 14), and The Glass Room (floor 4), after the collar event
Format: Action preferred, but I'll follow you.
Summary: Shit goes awry in the art gallery, and Yosuke is shaken all day long
Warnings: Angst! And Yosuke getting his little mind bent out of shape but I doubt it's anything too terrible.

The Art Gallery - Open

[To call the last few days horrible is understating reality, and on top of that Yosuke has to deal with the fact that a possible romantic interest has disappeared from the tower - as well as the fact that he was even considering romance in a tower like this. He's not much for fine art - music is more his thing after all - but for some reason he finds the paintings almost soothing to look at as he contemplates the deep thoughts of the universe.]

[Why him? Why his friends? Why are they even there? What if their worlds really are destroyed? He's been coasting by on a near blind optimism, but now he's forcing himself to face the facts as they stand. And on top of that, why's he even considering getting attached to anyone? What's the best case scenario there? That their worlds really are destroyed and they have to live out the rest of their lives there in the tower? That their worlds are still safe, and when the dust settles and they're free to go, they both have to go back to separate lives, never to meet again? And besides, it's not like one kiss really meant anything anyways. Maybe it's for the best that she's gone]

[It's lovely thoughts like these he's lost in, and Yosuke doesn't even notice when a familiar fog begins rolling in across the floor, slowly rising and eventually blanketing the area. It's only when his vision is suddenly cut that he's turning around quickly, heart sinking with dread as he realizes the familiarity of the situation he's in. Panic turns to a tense calm as he collects himself enough to slip on his glasses, rendering the fog a mere nuisance - but just as soon as he does, he wishes he hadn't]

[The pictures have changed, and certainly not for the better. On one, the ruins of what he can barely recognize as Inaba, buildings crumbling, plants dead, the vibrant life that the small town had going for it snuffed out like a candle. On another, he recognizes himself and the tower - and at his feet, the bodies of each and every friend he has there, mangled beyond belief. In yet another he recognizes his shadow self, holding him by the throat and pinning him to the ground as the bloody body of his best friend lies nearby. And more. Countless more, all filled with the worst horrors he can imagine]

[A short while later, anyone who finds him here will find no trace of the fog, and Yosuke himself curled into the fetal position, back to a wall as he quietly sobs into his knees]

The Media Room - Open

[Later that day, Yosuke's trying to shake off the effects of the art gallery by blasting music while playing some generic fighting video game where the women and men are both unrealistically proportioned. It doesn't seem to be working though - he hardly seems to be into it, and he doesn't even care when he's brutally beaten. He's certainly focused on something though, and doesn't notice anyone approach until they interact with him]

The Glass Room - Open

[Even later, Yosuke seems to have given up on escapism and is sitting on the floor quietly, staring out and seemingly lost in thought. He will hear someone approach though, and will even go so far as to look up at them and offer the a ~~painfully fake~~ smile at whoever approaches]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Whether he'd admit it or not, Yosuke's grateful for the company - it keeps him out of his head, and right now being stuck in his head is the last thing he needs]

I'm not really sure, I've always passed it by before. [He gestures to the couches and chairs scattered about] I think it's supposed to be some kind of lounge? It's actually not too bad, as far as floors in this damn tower go.

[ Belarus was never grateful for company, but this kept her mind distracted from thinking of her brother... sort of

flopping down on the couch she sighed ] I hate this place.

[That almost gets a laugh from the boy, and he turns on the floor to face her - he might be having the worst day of his life, but there's no need to be rude]

Join the club. I don't want to meet the sick bastard who'd actually like a place like this. That'd just be messed up, right?

I'd like to meet him.

[ she's leaning back against the couch, swinging her feet as they dangle off the other side ]

And impale him in the fucking head.

Now there's an idea I can get behind. It's almost as good as getting rid of whoever the hell dragged us here.

[He sighs and shifts, leaning backwards and resting on his arms]

I really hope that ends up being more than wishful thinking.

How long have you been here?

Not too long, compared to some people. Just a few months, I think? I didn't bother to mark the exact day I arrived.

I haven't been here even for week.

[ here was belarus' way at trying to comfort someone ]

Have you been depressed?

I was actually doing alright holding it together. I've went through a lot last year, and it helped me hold up alright.

Then - [He hesitates a moment before continuing] - this last week happened, and I today, I...

...

... I saw some things I wish I didn't.

[ she's getting anxious. fuck

this place was too creepy, even for her. there's concern in his voice but her expression stays cold ]

What did you see?

[He can't help but wince - Yosuke hadn't expected her to be quite so forward on the topic, and he doesn't exactly relish the idea of sharing something quite so personal with a relative stranger.

But if she doesn't know, it could happen to her too, and after a few moments, nobility wins out and he begins to speak]

There's a room - one with a bunch of paintings in it. And they seem normal enough at first, just regular art stuff.

Then... the paintings change. Suddenly you're seeing every horrible thing you could think of, every nightmare you never wanted to admit to having. Just... all there, right in the painting.

Who the fuck would do that sort of thing?!

[ she sounds pissed for a second

but calms down ]

Are you okay?

[Her outburst is fierce, but not entirely unwelcome. It's re-assuring, knowing that for all the horrible things the tower itself does, the people there - most of them anyway - are all in it together]

I'd be lying if I said I'm completely fine. But I'm sure I'll bounce back eventually. Maybe even finally make a plan to do something, instead of just sitting back and taking whatever the tower throws at us.

If you do plan to do something, count me in.

Well... I did have one idea, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a suicide run. I don't think I'd be comfortable asking people to die for me.

[ ... you're making her nervous, yosuke ]

What is it?

Have you seen the floor that's a big forest? With all the trees, the one that seems way bigger than it should be?

Yes, I've been there. I didn't really take notice to the tree though.

Well, I've heard that if you try to go too far into it, you get attacked by these weird animals - vicious ones. Here's the thing though. Apparently, being around them makes any powers or abilities you have stop working.

It seems like a set-up made specifically to stop people from snooping around, so I thought there might be something if we go deep enough. But I can't prove it, and the animals are dangerous - so like I said... suicide mission.

[ ohoho... ]

I can handle it, will you join me?

[If someone had asked him 'Hey Yosuke, will you be committing to a suicide mission by the end of the day?' when he woke up...]

... yeah. I'm done doing nothing. Whatever the cost, I need to try.

[ she smiles....? you can almost her the creaking of her face when she does ]

All right, whenever you're ready let me know. I have to get my knife first.

[Smiles are infectious, and seeing her give one makes one pull at the corners of his own mouth]

I will, I promise. I have a few other friends here that I'll ask before I set a date. The more of us, the better our chances, right?

Yes, I'll ask a few people that I've spoken with.

Sounds good. Oh, and if you ever need to find me, my room's 2-14. If I'm not there, ask John - the kid in the glasses - and he'll probably have an idea of where I am.

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knifehands - 2012-03-18 14:26 (UTC) - Expand

princeofjunes - 2012-03-19 20:31 (UTC) - Expand