towerofanimus | Running in circles, coming up Tails. (OPEN)

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Running in circles, coming up Tails. (OPEN)

Characters: Fuhito and anyone at all.
Setting: In his assigned room/the tower hallways/the meadow.
Format: Prose or action, as you like it.
Summary: Fuhito arrives, then sets out to explore his environment.
Warnings: Fuhito is armed, and while he is ruthless, is likely to be circumspect.

Room 3-14:

Your world has been destroyed.
Gaia.

He had never left her willingly, though he would have given his life and all others for her safety. Could she have died, in the end?

Now that his mind is his own again, ever the strategist, he analyzes his failure. He numbers the variables and finds there were too many, and too many of those all too human. Humanity had defeated him at the last. Even his own had been too much of a burden.

He's already analyzed the letters. Shocking as they are, they are not more shocking than the feeling of being taken from the verge of the Lifestream. But are they believable? Having held only one belief for so long, a belief bolstered by hard science and harder experience, Fuhito hesitates. Is it the familiar burden of emotion that seeks to force a desired reaction from him? Or some truth he can prove?

Only time will tell. The one thing he seems to have plenty of.

Fuhito rises, dresses and arms himself, fastening his collar just beneath the ring encircling his neck. He leaves the AVALANCHE uniform folded away in the trunk, a souvenir from another life. Still, it might come in handy at some unthought of juncture.
The equipment he catalogs, then replaces. He touches the covers of his journals, but doesn't open them. More souvenirs. He isn't a sentimental man.

Later, throughout the Tower, anywhere between the Dormitories and Floor Twenty-Five:

A quiet man with a quiet step, Fuhito walks the tower halls with no direct purpose other than simple observation. An essential part of strategy is intelligence-- and knowing what to do with it once one has gathered it. He watches, listens, marks the faces of passersby and notes the locations of places to which he'd like to return. He has armed himself with both his armband and his weapon, which is holstered at his hip.

Fuhito is both wary and curious, but neither of these emotions show on his face, which is expressionless. Human feeling, always remote to him, is more remote now than even before his transformation, before his death. This new life is stranger even than the old.

Floor Twenty-Five:

Though he has reservations regarding the truth of Gaia's demise, Fuhito stands very still among the flowers, struck by this place more than any other he has seen thus far. He can see no other being, he can feel the wind. This was the Planet he had envisioned, free of her parasites, clean and blooming. It isn't sentiment, nothing so banal, what he feels is a quiet passion he had all but forgotten-- and along with it, a quiet pain. He'll remain here, lost in thought, for some time.

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[Hojo is humming under his breath--though sometimes, instead of a hum, the sounds he makes are murmured words, too low to be made out. He's thinking. He's gathering information and analyzing, laying groundwork.

Groundwork for work.

What else would he do, if not work? Oh, he's been defeated, he failed, such an indignity, but he has will and mind remaining. Will and mind, the scientist's greatest tools.

The meadow floor interests him, because its engineering is still a mystery, and there's also little risk of an attack there. The flowers, moreover, are easily gathered samples of living tissue. When he sees someone else is there with him, he hardly thinks of it at first, studying and then feeling dissatisfied with this plant matter, which isn't sufficient. He needs more subjects. Better subjects.

It's the thought of more subjects that makes him look up and study the man standing there (very still, and turned partly away from Hojo) more closely. When he does, his eyes blink once behind his glasses, slowly. He doesn't remember people easily, not because he has a poor memory, but because he usually doesn't care or bother to do so. But there's something familiar about this man. He's still several yards away from him, but he walks around rather than closer to him, to get a better look at his face.

At last, he makes a noise, an ah sound that's mostly breath.]

I remember you.

[There are feet treading on the flowers, treading on the periphery of his awareness. He knows the voice of the person to whom they belong. Someone he certainly never thought to see again, if appearances are to be believed. Why not?

Hojo.

How long has it been since Midgar, since their conversations, since the day of his death? Time has lost no small part of its continuity-- or does this place foster that feeling, intensify it? It's hard to say, yet. In the here and now is this man he's long admired. Someone out of another life. Like everything else he's encountered in this place, this life, whatever its true nature, is at least new.]

You flatter me, Professor.

I remember you, as well. Our conversations, your work.

[He tilts his head slightly to one side.] What do you remember of me?

I remember what's worth remembering.

[An an interesting scientist was worth remembering, his affiliations aside. He remembered this was one of the anti-ShinRa terrorists, but Hojo had no loyalty to ShinRa. They had been useful to him, no more.]

We did speak, yes, though our discussions were cut short. Yet in that brief time, I was intrigued by the work you'd done. Later, you came to me again. Less talkative that time, but no less engaging!

[Hojo nods his head, remembering both the living man and the altered remains he'd dealt with. He'd wanted some samples, and fortunately, there'd been enough to salvage. His researchers were resourceful. Well, they had good reason to be. He didn't suffer failures.]

Your little project. It gave me some ideas.

Came to you again-- I see.
Yes, I must have been much less talkative.

[The memory of his failure and death isn't a particularly pleasant one over all, but the knowledge that the Professor had seen him-- must have studied him, touched him mitigates his disappointment somewhat. He brightens almost imperceptibly under the Professor's praise.]

Were you were able to learn much my-- final form? My memories of the experience are distorted.
I was very nearly successful. You must have had more success with your own ideas.

Your final form was in pieces. [Hojo smiles, but without malice, as if this is a pleasantry of some kind.]

I was. It interested me a great deal. I studied you. The use of the Materia, the fusion... It was my idea, of course. You were always borrowing my ideas. But you took a subject I had deemed a failure, you made something of it, and then, you took a leap of your own. A precipitate one, perhaps, but at times, one cannot wait. At times, one must forgo careful research.

Science is ultimately a series of leaps. Punctuated by pauses, perhaps, but in the end, one must take that leap. So few understand that fact.

[His brief ramble finished, he sobers.] My ideas... ah, my ideas. I was always too quick to label my experiments failures. I did it again! If only I'd realized my work was better than I'd thought. I had some success, but my own successes were my undoing. [Suddenly, he breaks into laughter.] Hahaha, who would have thought?

And now--here I am.

[Fuhito nods, flattered and intrigued, yes, but also a little amused. Great men often have great foibles. Fuhito has a few of his own.

He adjusts his glasses.
His admiration for Professor Hojo is apparently deathless.]

Yes, science cannibalizes its mistakes-- and the ideas of the scientific collective as a whole, of course. I've never seen the point in leaving a resource untapped, no matter its origin. If the origin is nearly without fault, so much the better.

Whatever the case, one cannot be afraid to risk, to sacrifice. All other concerns must fall away, when the leap is made. You-- your work was a source of inspiration to me, in that way. I wonder how your successes could have undone you.

If you recall your findings regarding my transformation, I would like to hear them. I fell short, but only just. In the end, the fusion became too unstable for me to control. I was aware, but powerless within the form.
Now that I have control of my body, I'll revisit my notes.

No, no, you were quite right to use my work as a start. A solid foundation. You did fine things with my castoffs, and I was intrigued. Yes, your data was most intriguing.

One should always keep abreast of one's colleagues' work. [And steal the best of it, whenever possible.

The two of them have technically been enemies in the past, but the fact that they were colleagues had allowed them to interact civilly. Even though the man's ideals were foolish, Hojo could ignore them to an extent, if his research was appealing enough. He had been willing to go with Fuhito, then, in spite of their differences. And here Fuhito was again. How fortuitous.

He doesn't care to dwell too much on his failures now. Failures, failures--they irk and chafe at him. His failure as a scientist. He'll make up for it. He frowns, then smiles again.]

One must take that leap, in spite of the risk. I have joined with something myself! [He laughs, as at a great joke.] And may again in future.

I do remember some things. As it so happens, I have a sample here of your genetic material post your destruction. You're very fortunate. This tower has treated me and my work well, thus far.

[A sample. The idea is exciting, as is the praise. He appears animated, for Fuhito. The act of discussing scientific pursuits has put him in the way of feeling more himself than he has felt in some time.]

Yes, that is quite fortunate.

I haven't fully explored the facilities here. Have you found a adequate space and resources for your work?
Perhaps you would allow me to examine the sample.

Is your own joining a fusion? Or something all together new?

You may examine the sample! I am not adverse. If you will share some of your research with me. From what I remember, you had some interesting data I was looking forward to examining. If you can replicate it here.

There is a laboratory. The problem is that it is open to others, which is... Problematic, as I'm sure you're aware.

[A sigh.]

And even more problematic, there are those who would limit my work. They fail to understand its meaning. [As usual, no one understands his work and all its complexities. Poor Hojo.]

My joining is--yes, a fusion, of sorts. I've injected myself with Jenova cells. [And at this, he just laughs.]

Yes, I will certainly share with you what materials I have with me-- along with my own recollections, of course. I'm sure I can replicate much of the data. Nothing would please me more.

[His face expresses his surprise (even his admiration-- though that is not uncritical, after the first flush) for a long moment. Much longer than most.]

Professor-- that was a bold step. Quite bold. Jenova is quite aggressive. Have you reached a balance that allows co-existence?

Excellent, excellent. We're already working together so well. Sharing our resources is a fine start. And what materials do you have?

[He laughs again.]

Bold--that's the word for it. I found myself pushed to the utter limits of my research, and then I had no choice but to become one with it!

Balance... ah, I seem to be in balance now. I had changed, before. Now I am changed, but not so changed.

Had you changed? I imagine so.

He supposes great men must have great weaknesses (though he can find none in himself). It's obvious that Professor Hojo's attachment to the predator known as Jenova has led him down unaccountable avenues. He himself would not have tread there, still, he can't help but admire the man's-- dedication to his art.

He attempts to leave Jenova, as a conversational topic, behind.

I have with me a my complete project journals and notes, as well as some lab equipment-- a good portable microscope and a centrifuge, as well as some samples, tools, and analyzing instruments. I also have materia-- though not, of course, Zirconiade.

Ah, very much so, I took on new forms, and it was quite exhilarating, until I died, ha ha.

[And he can't help but laugh again, at death--death too, he was able to transcend. But he and Fuhito were alike in that now, were they not?

He's not so far gone into laughter that he can't listen and nod. He leaves Jenova behind in word--for the moment--but not in spirit.]

I'd be very interested in your notes and journals and samples. As I said, our earlier attempt at conversation was rudely interrupted, wasn't it? Now we may continue it in peace.

[Hojo seems to think everything is rather funny at the moment. He loves his own jokes.]

No, not Zirconiade. Is it still within you? I'll have to run some tests. I've already tested myself. There is a laboratory here. You might have seen it.

Yes, the feeling is nearly indescribable. I only wish I had been able to experience it fully before being put to death. You were more fortunate, in that regard.

[A series of small, nearly imperceptible changes move across Fuhito's impassive face-- like light or wind over water. Hojo would be very interested. Yes, this is what he wanted, that first day. To reveal himself, to be recognized by this man.
He smiles in a way that is rare and quite understated, but that is still quite obvious.]

I suppose even this place, this prison, must hold advantages for some. The continuation of our conversation should prove most gratifying.
I am eager to see the facilities. Perhaps we could make use of them. It would be prudent to test any hypothesis concerning Zicroniade's presence in my system.

Since I find you here, I should ask, have you encountered any other people from the Planet in this place?

I did enjoy the full experience before dying. I am enjoying it now.

[He does enjoy having Jenova with him, though that is possibly Jenova's doing to some extent.]

The continuation of our existences, our conversations, our research. Gratifying, indeed. This tower is dangerous, I've heard, but we've passed beyond such concerns, I'd say, wouldn't you? [He can't help laughing again, but then--he usually can't.]

Yes, yes, I should inform you. A few of my experiments are here, including Sephiroth. They have been brought from various times, but it seems but they are as irrational as ever. There is also a Turk, which fact may be of interest to you.

[Turks. This announcement earns a tilt of head from Fuhtio. The laughter he accepts as an eccentricity of genius.]

A single Turk? Yes, that might prove interesting.
Have you found the Turk, or Sephiroth useful at all, in terms of protection? Is your success as powerful as he was in life?

As you say, safety is hardly a vital concern, but death would be an inconvenience, a waste of time.

As far as I'm aware... It's difficult to keep track of everyone who might be here. There may be more.

Useful? [He laughs.] If one calls threatening to inflict head trauma useful, but I'd say it usually isn't.

Though I speak of the Turk, in that instance. Sephiroth is--another matter, but no--powerful, yes, but not useful in that regard. Those of my experiments who are present are disinclined to be of assistance, at best, hostile at worst. I imagine you can understand.

A waste of time, I couldn't have put it better. If one were to keep being dispatched, it would interfere with one's work.

Yes, I can understand. The dynamic between the creator and his creation is a complex one. Sometimes moreso than is desirable.

I don't expect to encounter any of my own work here, of course. Though I am armed, should a situation of any kind arise.

The Turk threatened you with bodily harm? How-- shortsighted, and futile. What was his reasoning, if any?

Mmm, very much so. Complex... Yes, I'd say that's one word for it. [There's another chuckle from him at this.]

You may, one never knows! I hadn't expected to find mine. Ah, yes, this place saw fit to arm me as well, fortunately, though I am a man of science first, and I have little interest in engaging in combat... Another inconvenience.

[Of course, there are certain--conflicts Fuhito is unaware of.]

There was some unpleasantness. I left ShinRa, you might say. [He shrugs.] He also took issue with my personal life. Who can say? These people aren't rational.

[Not like Hojo!]

[Hearing that the Professor is now independent of the ShinRa raises the man even further in Fuhito's estimation. He nods in affirmation.]

I've always found the Company lacking in that quality, yes.

Combat would be a distraction, but perhaps a lesser one than death. Is the weapon you carry of sufficient stopping power? I have a selection of powerful materia equipped to mine.

[Fuhito unholsters and displays his sidearm, which is impressive in that it plainly fires energy bolts as well as ballistic rounds.]

[If only you knew, Fuhito. Well, Hojo doesn't feel particularly inclined to elaborate at the moment.]

Yes, they can be more than a little simpleminded. Pathetically so. Sometimes I wonder how I was able to work with them for so long. If not for the resources I needed... [Yes, talking shit about people: good. It puts him in a good mood.] As if threats of violence would ever keep me from my work.

[He's surrounded by idiots, as usual. Except, Fuhito isn't so bad. He has the good taste, and sense, to admire Hojo.

Hojo inspects Fuhito weapon as he pulls it out. It is impressive. ~~Shut up this isn't innuendo~~.]

No, nothing quite like that. I have a handgun and some mostly defensive Materia.

I see.

[The weapon is a custom job, uniquely suited to its bearer's needs. A combination of heavy armament and elegant design. ~~No it certainly is not innuendo!~~

Fuhito checks a setting, then makes an adjustment.
He extends his half-gloved hand to The Professor, an orb of materia cradled in his palm. The colors within shift red to gold to orange, a brilliant captive flame.]

This should reduce the potential annoyance of any threats of violence, if you will equip it to your weapon.

I have offensive materia to spare-- I would be honored.

[Hojo smiles. He certainly hadn't expected to find such a useful, and perhaps even dependable ally so soon.

He doesn't hesitate to accept the Materia.

But then, Hojo rarely hesitates to accept things that benefit him.]

Potentially useful, yes. In such a dangerous place.

[And the potential usefulness refers to Fuhito as much as the Materia.]

While I don't mind a temporary death, another's temporary death would be far, far preferable.

[And of course, he has to laugh once again at this. He's such a fun guy.]

[Fuhito nods, allowing the slightest smile in a brief show of amusement and pleasure.

The Professor is an eccentric, but a genius also. Now that the man is separated from the ShinRa, he will not allow him to come to harm. If only because the time spent in Hojo's dying and being returned to life would be wasted for them both.

If a Turk should seek to harm the man-- well, he does enjoy the idea of killing a Turk. He needs subjects for his research, after all.]

Yes, I agree. Of course, should you find yourself under fire-- for the Turks, or any other parties, I'll be happy to lend assistance.

I won't allow our work to be interrupted. If only they realized that understanding the Tower is the key to defeating its architects. Their emotions blind them.

Our work, yes. [His work, really, but he'll let this our stand for now. Fuhito's proved himself excellent at working on Hojo's own foundations, and he can't say no to that.

In the end, the results are what matter. That is one thing lesser minds cannot understand. But Fuhito does, outside of one foolish idea that can be overlooked in this circumstance.]

I would be glad of such assistance.

They may have a negative emotional reaction to us, but they should realize, we are the ones most capable of assisting them in this circumstance. Most of them are little more than glorified weapons, unfortunately. They don't have the mental capacity to fully comprehend, let alone work toward altering their situation.

[Fuhito nods in agreement.
Though he and the Professor have differed in the past, in this place the problem of getting free takes precedence over any other.]

Yes, pointless grudges and petty conflicts are foremost in the minds of humanity, apparently.

[Thinking of Shears, he sighs derisively.]
They insist on acting without careful consideration and adequate planning-- leading with their emotions. It makes them shortsighted.
Even the best and least human of them are guilty of that weakness.

We will break this place, even if they hinder us. I imagine it will rankle, having us to thank.
[He doesn't look exactly sorry about that.]

[Reno stills at the sight of Fuhito with a faint frown. He remembers the man from what feels like a lifetime or two ago. He knows he should feel something about seeing him here, because unlike some from Gaia Reno feels very little about the field or it's flowers. The planet has been dead to him for far too long already for any sentimentality for it.

He figures he should be angry at the AVALANCHE scientist for what had happened back home, but he didn't see a point.]

Nothing anyone here does will bring it back.

[he mostly just wants a cigarette more than to pick a fight.]

And before you start blaming people it was nothing anyone could have stopped or prevented.

[A Turk. The man's uniform is worn in a somewhat eccentric fashion, but he is a Turk nonetheless. Blundering in, as usual. As if every meeting were a confrontation, as if every silence needed to be broken by assumptions. Before turning to face the man, he answers first with a tilt of his head. His voice is quiet, but it carries.]

Blame? It was I who failed the Planet, Turk.

So, you've chosen to accept the assertions that have been made by those in control. Have you been presented with proofs? I wonder.

Sayaka stopped a few steps after she'd passed by Fuhito in the hall, a distinct frown on her face. ..seriously, there was something about that guy.. she'd gotten a chill just glimpsing him.

Out of morbid curiosity, she glances back after him.

[The hallways are wide enough for him to be able to continue comfortably on his way without having to actually greet passersby, which is pleasant. Or it would be. He hasn't actually encountered anyone yet-- well, only just.

A child.

Fuhito is a man well accustomed to watching his own back. Having just passed the child, he can feel the weight of the stare. He turns to face the girl. Having already noted her collar, he's quite sure she's a fellow prisoner. When he speaks, his voice is mild, polite-- he sees no point in addressing a child any differently than he'd address an adult.]

Hello, I've only just arrived. My name is Fuhito.

_{[Oh snap, caught in the act. Sayaka straightens up under Fuhito's gaze, giving a quick glance around to see if he could c'mon, please be? addressing someone else. No luck.

..well, he doesn't sound so bad. Maybe it was just a bad first impression.]

Um! Okay, I'll remember that. I'm Sayaka Miki. Been here a couple months, don't have much nice to say about it.}

[This earns a nod and a slight smile (very slight) from Fuhito.]

I think it would be very unusual to find this place pleasant. Sayaka.

In the time you've been here, what sort of people have you encountered?

_{[..oh hey, a single pixel smile. That's marginally better than certain stoic transfer students she's known, at least.]}

Hah, you got that right. _{[Sayaka visibly calms. Bad first impression, that's it.]} ..I've been here a few months, so that's a lot of people to sort through.. mostly they're okay? There's a few weird aliens, and a total a-- jerk who's apparently a star.

[Yes. Simply a bad impression, surely.]

Ah, I see. A star.

Aliens. Do mean non-humanoid beings? Or merely people who vary from the physical norms of your universe?

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Running in circles, coming up Tails. (OPEN)

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/have a random passerby kid being skeeved out by the lack of expression

/your reaction does you credit, kiddo

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