001; intro.

[pactum]

Characters: Ciel and ALL OF YOU.
Setting: room 3-16 and ANYWHERE.
Format: whatever you'd like.
Summary: after waking up, Ciel has a look around.
Warnings: brief references to past abuse.

[ he thinks it's shackles, at first. that's what happens when you wake up from a nightmare--a memory--of being chained down only to find that upon waking, you can't move. it's understandable, really, how his eyes go wide and he feels his chest tighten in panic, when for a long and terrifying moment he thinks he's back there, bound and powerless. he might have screamed--or attempted to--if the paralysis had lasted any longer.

but it seems there's much more to worry about than that.

Ciel reads the letters, of course--finds the information difficult to swallow (completely ridiculous, really), can't take it as fact without confirming things for himself. he's used to being kidnapped. it's almost commonplace by now. what he isn't used to is being given free reign by his kidnappers. but the first order of business is, of course, to change out of the uncomfortable skintight clothing he'd woken up in. thankfully, just as promised, there are belongings in his trunk, including a change of clothing. he dresses himself quick as he can, though several buttons are in the wrong place, the bow is lopsided, and his eye patch is secured with what looks to be a rather hopeless dead knot. still far better than what he had been wearing, as far as he's concerned.

he lingers around the room for a bit before setting out to explore the building, curious to see if he can confirm anything else written in either letter. he's not so apt to believe anything he's been told just yet. as he walks, his fingers follow the edges of the yellow collar absently. he's tried tugging on it; no use, predictably. 

it's only after he's satisfied at least some of his own curiosity by looking around for a bit that he decides it is high time that he gets a second opinion on this matter. he calls only once, quiet but firm:  ]

Sebastian, come.

[ he's known since he'd gotten a proper bearing on himself earlier that the demon is present somewhere nearby. the bond of their contract is as stable as ever, after all--and besides, when doesn't Sebastian come when he calls? the knowledge that his butler is, as usual, only a word away is what's kept him this calm so far. ]

Comments

Doorframe of 3-16!

[hardknoxlife]

[ So moping about didn't exactly last as long as he thought it would. But then again, it's Ronald. He never really dwells on these things as much as possible. After his little spiel, he's out and about, hat on his head and puttering between floors with his trusty scythemower. (Now fondly referred to as Carrie. )

On his way back to his room, however, a lingering peek into one of the other dorms causes him to stop and just double take. ]

Cor, will you look at that... I'm guessing it's time for new people to come in, eh?

[ And taking a step off Carrie to haul her over his shoulder. ]

Welcome to the Tower, Earl Phantomhive. Sebastian will be happy to know you've arrived in one piece.

\o/

[pactum]

[ ugh. of course. the first person to greet him would be someone he would have gladly gone the rest of his life without seeing again. these damned reapers just keep popping up everywhere he goes it, seems. ]

I don't suppose you and your lot have anything to do with all of this?

[ that's the best greeting you're going to get, Ronald--that and a light sigh, which indicates that Ciel knows he's grasping at straws with that inquiry. and then, dismissively: ]

Yes. I'll let him know on my own time.

\o\

[hardknoxlife]

[ In his defense, you could have been greeted by Grell. But there's a sigh back as he ruffles his own hair. ]

Just as clueless as you are, I'm afraid. Buggered if the Undertaker's got anything to do with this. Woke up the same as you prolly did, 'sept I was on my own thanks.

[ Resting head on hand now with a small smirk. Oh man, this was gonna be good. ]

Had your first meal then?

random hallway? 83

[complementing]

[Hello Ciel, look at this scandalous girl wearing a skirt that shows off her legs and ankles. Also, red eyes. They look at him as he comes down the hallway, widening.]

Another one...hey, are you lost?

sounds good!!

[pactum]

[ ...what is this young woman doing wandering around half dressed? ]

I wouldn't say lost. I'm simply...looking around.

[ looking around without direction, and with very little idea of where he is or how to get back to where he was. definitely not lost, though.

oh, and if he falters a little, it's because he's still rather startled--and he'll be pointedly not looking anywhere near her legs, thanks. ]

[complementing]

[She smiles faintly at that. Hm, either he's an actor in old-timey clothes or he's actually from an old-timey era. Which...now that she's been in the Tower for a while, isn't as surprising as it would've been a few weeks ago.

Well, time test it! She doesn't wanna be rude and ask directly if he is, after all. Better to break him into the idea.]

If you're just "looking around", then let me show you a map on the terminal to help with that.

[She gestures to him to follow and walks to one of said terminals, fingers moving over the keyboard to pull up a map.]

[guiltapalooza]

[A couple floors above the dormitory level is one where sheer glass has replaced the outer walls, and drifting, smokey clouds are all that's visible outside it. The overall effect is enormous and rather lulling, and the various couches and tables strewn throughout the floor take advantage of the view.

Willow's laid out on one of them rather delicately, as she's injured. There's an ugly looking healing scrape across one cheek, faded yellowed bruising blossoming out from it; and she's balancing a heavy, leather-bound book carefully with a hand and a forearm, as the other hand is splinted. Fresh, clean bandages are visible along her shirt's neckline to the particularly observant eye, but when she glances up at the sound of someone approaching and spots him, she smiles easily.

He looks like something out of a period drama, to her. And she still hasn't been able to rid herself of the instinctual desire to protect all the kids that show up, though she knows probably not a single one of them would appreciate it.

She limits herself to a simple, friendly,] Hey. I haven't seen you around before.

[pactum]

[ he's captivated by this room. Ciel's seen gigantic windows before; floor-to-ceiling ones, even. he's been to the Crystal Palace in London more than once. but the Crystal Palace doesn't have a view like this. when he stands just beside the window, reaching out toward the glass, it feels like he should be able to slip his hand straight through it and touch the clouds. just how tall is this tower?

he's contemplating this, among other things, his palm pressed flat to the window, when Willow speaks. she'd been quiet enough that he hadn't noticed her. but now that he does, he takes stock of her carefully, just as he does everyone he meets. it doesn't take much careful observation to tell that she's injured. ]

I've just woken up.

[ he probably sounds like he's from a period drama, too. ]

[guiltapalooza]

[His accent is interesting, and, well, kinda cute. But boys don't usually like being told that they're cute, so she keeps that to herself, her smile turning a shade more sincere.

She closes her book and sets it on her lap, and shifts herself slowly as she speaks to sit up properly and address him.] Did you get the low down yet? I explain the tower to new arrivals all the time, I can totally give you the exposition dump if you still need it.

floor 19 library?

[dielikeyouwantme]

When she isn't loping around with Ronald (which she hasn't done much of, lately, considering the idiot pulled a disappearing act on her, following his supposed release from the Labyrinth), or making up reasons to track Sebastian down, Grell spends most of her time in one of the tower's two libraries. In spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, she's convinced there has to be something useful, in one of them. The only reason it hasn't been found yet, she thinks, is because she wasn't the one looking, prior to her arrival. Of course, the gigantic sections of missing books, on the nineteenth floor, gave her brief pause, until she decided it was too obvious. By removing all those books, someone wanted the tower's inhabitants to believe all the useful information was gone. But it can't all be. No one is that thorough.

Unfortunately, that applies to Grell, too. It's not as if she can read every book and every file in the entire building, in the hopes of gleaning information from them. Nor does she even have an organized system in place, for combing through them. Today, as on most of her afternoons in the library, she's drifting from section to section, running her fingers over the books' spines, scanning the titles. Yawning, now, because she feels she's been at it for a terribly long time, and nothing is popping out at her. Maybe it's time to track Sebastian down, again. Pretend she's learned something new. Stall, when he asks her what it is. Tell him he's going to have to bribe her with another pleasant little afternoon tea. In the meadow, maybe. She can pretend it's really good, really deserving information.

perfect!

[pactum]

It was inevitable that Ciel should end up in the library eventually. After having been shown a map, his exploration had gone much more smoothly. He's winding his way between shelves currently, merely looking rather than touching. It's eerily quiet in here, even for a library, he thinks--until he hears a sound a last: the unmistakable click of heels on the floor.

Cautiously he makes his way to the end of the bookcase, leaning out into the aisle beyond. The sound is coming from a little further back; he follows it, finding is source idly perusing another shelf of books. The sudden shock of red is unmistakable.

Given that he'd seen Ronald Knox earlier, he supposes it was really only a matter of time before he met this reaper here as well.

"Catching up on your reading?" The only reason he doesn't sneer is that his upper lip is too busy curling in distaste.

[dielikeyouwantme]

Oh, heavens no. Grell would recognize that little voice, anywhere. She can't forget it, even if she'd like to; it belongs to the boy responsible for turning her dearly departed Angelina into a simpering, sentimental fool of a woman. The boy responsible for her death. Nevermind that it was Grell who wielded the chainsaw against the other woman; she's not to blame, not at all. If it weren't for the Phantomhive kid, those dreadful events would never have taken place.

His voice is like...squealing cats, or nails on a chalkboard, or a brick sailing through glass. Offensive. Not something she wants to hear. Mildly embarrassing, too, considering the puny brat sneaks up on her while she's mid-yawn. She turns toward him, eyes briefly narrowing. What does he think he's doing? Things were going so well, comparatively. Grell was really getting used to the idea that maybe Sebastian's presence didn't mean Earl Phantomhive was going to show up. Looks like she was wrong.

"I can see you take after your butler. He's taught you well, hasn't he? Sneaking up on ladies, barging into their business. You're just alike, the two of you." She lifts an arbitrary book from the shelf, flips through its pages, to give herself an air of nonchalance.

In 3-16

[dontquestionme]

[When Ryu woke up, he didn't really have a lot to say. He read the letters of course, and just ... stewed over it. Angrily, but quietly as he found his clothes and got dressed.

He then assessed everything he had. Accel Driver, check. Engine Blade, check. Gaia Memories, check. Enhancer, check. Everything he'd need to do some damage if necessary, and he was quickly getting in the mood to do just that.

Because like hell he was going to believe being told something like that. He straight up refused to.

Taking everything except the Blade and extra clothes, he slams the trunk closed.]

This is absurd.

awesome!

[pactum]

[ well, his new...roommate (or so the letter indicated, at least) is certainly making quite a fuss. Ciel can understand being upset, but really.

then again, perhaps this is how people normally act when they aren't so used to being kidnapped? ]

Completely. [ he agrees, glancing in his direction. ] But do you actually intend to do anything about it?

Re: awesome!

[dontquestionme]

Hn.

[Ryu only glances at him slightly.]

Of course. This isn't something I can just take at face value.

Dormitory hallways?

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor has not been having a few days. Going on weeks, actually. Her powers have been sealed and her nightmares are even more atrocious than her usual. She is in a sulky, irritable mood, but given her current lack of power, it is nowhere near as dangerous as it could be otherwise. She walks along the corridor, barefoot and clad in a white dress, since her suit is just too heavy for her to handle at the moment.

Irritable or not, she still has to eat, and that's where she's heading, when she runs into Ciel... very nearly literally, too!]

Ah! I'm sorry.

[She sounds cranky, more than apologetic.]

sure thing!

[pactum]

[ luckily the genteel manner in which Ciel's been raised dictates that he treat ladies with courtesy--even grumpy ones. ]

Not at all, miss. [ he sounds genuine enough, even if he's far from appreciative of being nearly bumped into. ] Are you all right?

[ since she's shown signs of discomfort, he's practically required to ask. sigh. Victorian manners. ]

[thebigsister]

[Eleanor is not exactly genteel, though she tries to be kind. And her state of dress is currently not particularly Victorian, either. She looks down at him for a moment, before shrugging.]

Ah, it's alright.

[She offered a wry smile, a little jittery, a little nervous.]

It has been a few very long days, that's all.

Floor 33

[promised_victory]

[Ciel there is a woman in a more proper blue dress going ballistic on an impromptu practice dummy with a wooden sword. Saber has known nothing but frustration from the lack of answers this place holds, the question of how she is even able to exist in this place, and how her world could have possibly ended.

Even more importantly: she'd just discovered those godawful nutrition bars were the only food available aside from the oatmeal. How dare these people feed their inhabitants something so foul tasting? As soon as she found out who was in charge of this place she was going to give them a piece of her mind and possibly a strike with Excalibur.

She hits her target one final time, both shinai and the dummy breaking in two, the "head" rolling on the ground to come to a rest at Ciel's feet. Saber looks up from where it landed and has to keep her frustration in. If this place truly was at it said, then at least it was willing to save children whenever possible. It did not make the lack of information any less frustrating, however.]

Ah. Forgive me if I've startled you. [She walks toward him to get the head, intent on using it to erect another practice dummy. Despite her flurry of strikes she has yet to break a sweat. The session was more about venting than actual training. That would have to wait for the evening when those creatures she had heard about would come out.]

c:

[pactum]

[ admittedly, it takes quite a lot to startle Ciel--and he's probably used up his quotient for surprise today. while normally a young woman swinging angrily at a practice dummy with a sword obviously meant for for more than sport would be shocking to a young nobleman from conservative 19th-century England, after arriving and spending the day exploring the tower, he isn't quite as surprised as he would be otherwise. (and at least she is fully clothed, unlike the majority of the women he's met today.)

he does take a step back, however, when the dummy's head comes sailing off, arcing through the air and then rolling across the ground to land at his feet. ]

It isn't a problem. [ as he speaks he looks from the faux head at his feet up to her instead, noting how unruffled she seems. ] I should have announced myself.

8D

[promised_victory]

[Hey, at least her summoning her dress and armor before entering these kind of floors means she can keep the dress.

Saber looks the boy over. He's small and unphased by her swordplay, and there is an air about him that tells her he is not someone she should take lightly. She plants the shinai in the ground in front of her, both hands resting on the top of the hilt.]

I'm afraid I might not have noticed if you had. I was busy concentrating on my opponent.

[Not much of one considering it's a dummy.]

I am called Saber, a knight where I come from. [Close enough to the truth. She still has no idea what to think of this place, but she has always thought of herself as a knight serving her country first and foremost.] Who might you be?

wherever ciel is after he makes all his NEW FRIENDS

[onlynatural]

[ Sebastian can feel it when Ciel arrives. That strained connection snaps back to normal, and it's the tiniest bit jarring, but he doesn't go running to his young master right away. He'll let Ciel start to figure these things out on his own -- a sort of lesson in itself to make up for the ones they missed while on the Campania. That's not to say that he isn't on the alert for any danger, of course.

But then, a while later, Ciel calls, and as usual, Sebastian is at his side in moments, and gives him his usual respectful bow. ]

So very good to see you, my lord.

[ Just wait til he sees that outfit. ]

FRIENDS who makes FRIENDS ugh

[pactum]

[ he'll see it as soon as Ciel turns to face him fully--though he's since removed the ribbon from around his neck and simply stuffed it into his pocket, as it was being far too bothersome to deal with.

Ciel's had an eventful time of it, to say the least. he's met two reapers, and a number of other strange people besides. he's seen several floors of the tower, as well, though thankfully none too dangerous. Sebastian would have been summoned much sooner if that had been the case.

he acknowledges Sebastian, but not with a proper greeting. ]

It looks appropriate on you. [ though he places a hand lightly on his own collar, it's obvious that he's referring to Sebastian's. ] Properly collared at last.

floor 38

[nodeviations]

Truth be told, Jay hadn't wanted to bother manually exploring just yet. Even if none of the people here would have noticed, he was quite off his game emotionally speaking. It would have been too...indulgent to map the place out like he wanted, in lieu of all that was weighing on him.

At the very least, he had earned the right to poke around one floor down though. He was quite busy inspecting the furniture, turning over this and that, and overall examining the structure of the room to even notice anyone walking around. Poking holes in beanbag chairs to see what they are full of is much more important than socializing, thank you.

But, he wasn't completely aloof; the paranoia was still there, so the second he heard so much as a footstep, he'd be up like a spring, hands stuffed in his pockets hastily and looking for the noise source.

"Who's there."

very good. c:

[pactum]

Ciel had visited this floor earlier today and found it to be by far the most pleasant. Having seen quite a bit already--though thankfully nothing perilous--he'd returned in order to take some time along to consider what he's learned. It's when he begins to walk toward the outside of the room--along the window that makes the wall--that he hears someone speak. He swings is head in the direction of the voice at once, catching movement across the room as the speaker shoots up quickly to his feet.

Standing so far apart, it's easy to get a good look at the room's only other occupant. He's clearly on edge, judging by his quick, nervous movements; but Ciel is moderately startled himself. He thought he'd been alone.

"I am." He replies at once, as though it weren't obvious. His surprise is quickly replaced by suspicion. What had he been doing over there so quietly?