towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Siira (

speaks_dirty), OPEN
Setting: Floor 25
Format: Prose but will match
Summary: After finding some bread and checking to make sure her mung beans are growing (yay subtle Cetra magic), Siira goes to train herself a bit. Uncontrollable magic shenanigans happen
Warnings: Potential for creeper scientists?

With a subtle push from Siira, the seeds she had found were growing nicely, no signs of plant diseases or anything on the beans. And with the addition of a couple loaves of bread, she could keep a small group alive for a week. Maybe two. So long as she kept the food properly rationed. She was using her Ice magic to create spikes, letting them melt for water. It wasn't grand or anything but it kept her alive, and that was all that mattered right now.

On the meadow floor, Siira sat back in the grass for a bit, trying to relax and calm herself. At least she hadn't chosen to wear her suit today, opting instead for shorts and a tanktop. Which made it even better and easier when she got up and started putting herself through her training motions. It only lasted about fifteen minutes though before there was a sudden casting of Lightning. Siira froze mid-movement, eyes moving to her gloves and bangle.

She didn't have a Lightning materia.

And then part of the landscape froze solid, her Ice materia shining from use.

"Shit!" Of course, she knew plenty of stories about Cetra being able to use magic without materia but she'd never put much faith in that, aside from her coaxing of plants to grow. She could actually feel energy being drawn from her as another Lightning strike occurred and it took a lot of focus for her to reign her magic back in before she caused too much damage to this floor.

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Hojo's appearance has changed, and without the collar keeping him stable, his transformation has already begun. His hair has quite obviously started to turn silver in places, and there are odd, pale, spikelike growths rising from his shoulder blades. Otherwise, he just looks slightly--off, his face drawn, his proportions subtly altered, especially his arms, which are slightly longer and thicker. The change is slower this time, but it isn't new to him. He knows what's coming, what he'll become.

He watches Siira from a distance for a short time, standing on the far side of the meadow before he begins to approach. His movements are strangely jerky, yet not slow. He moves in short bursts, more quickly than usual.

"I see you're having some difficulties."

Siira watched him silently, eyes narrowed just a bit. He was the last person she wanted to find her like this. And that was made even worse when she got a good look at him. Fluctuating magic definitely wasn't messing with her sight, at least.

"Some. Nothing I can't handle though." She gave him a once over again then gestured vaguely. "The hell is goin' on with you?"

Siira felt like this should seem familiar, despite having not been anywhere near Midgar or ShinRa until Meteorfall.

"It's nothing," he said, laughing softly. "Our hosts seem to be enjoying making some alterations to our circumstances. They seem to have done something to you, as well. Another part of the experiment, I'm sure." Even though he knew very well what was happening to him, he saw no need to share. He knew he would begin to lose his mind along with his form--the most unfortunate side effect--but he would try to maintain it for as long as possible. Injecting himself may have been a mistake; he could feel the other consciousness within his own, but there was nothing he could do to change it. He would care less as Jenova's influence increased. "You did not intend to attack the floor, I take it. If it continues, that could be a problem, for others as well as yourself."

Siira held her tongue on making comments on how familiar that sounded. It would probably have been the most stupid thing she'd ever do in her life if she mentioned ShinRa's labs, or Zack and Cloud. She still hated herself for not getting to them before Zack was killed.

"No, I didn't. I won't hurt anyone though, I can keep it in check. I might hand my materia over to Reno or Rude if I have to though." Because this is totally a problem with her materia, okay? "And if I keep myself active enough, I'll be to exhausted to cast. So no magical mishaps."

That's completely logical reasoning, right?

He didn't mention his condition again. He saw the parallel to his own labs, clearly enough. All the more reason to work to understand it, to turn it to his favor. Experiments were something he understood; he felt that gave him an advantage. That, and his undeniable genius.

He considered the earth scorched by lightning and frozen by ice, not bothering to disguise his skepticism, his eyebrows rising. "Do you think you can keep it in check? It doesn't seem as if that is the case. Probably you should unequip it now, to be safe. Don't you think?"

And Siira certainly wasn't going to mention it. Or touch the subject with a forty foot pole. Especially as she noticed that obvious skepticism and his question about her ability to control her own magic.

"I do, yes. Even with that... accident, I'd prefer to keep everything equipped until I get back to my room. Never know how many people here have sticky fingers, yanno? And then there's those monsters that hit the dorm floor the other day, can't be too careful."

It wasn't looking like she'd be able to get back to exercising. Not here anyway and not right now. Siira was already a bit on edge jsut from casting.

Hojo had zero interest in discussing his work with any of the Turks as it was. He doubted they'd be able to understand. His labs, his science--such thoughts were never far from his mind.

"A Turk, not confident she can protect possessions she has on her person?" He shook his head. "How disappointing."

He remained where he was, observing. He didn't seem to have any intention of going anywhere.

"It's not that I'm lacking confidence, Professor. It's that it's a risk I'd prefer not to take. And one I don't need to take, not yet anyway."

The Turk definitely wasn't hiding her irritation at his implication. And even if she could go back to training, it wouldn't be the smartest of ideas to do so while irritated.

"Since I'm not gettin' anything done now. Need anything, Professor?"

"Some are less confident in their abilities than others, I know," Hojo replied, ignoring her reasoning. "Often with good reason. That's not something I've ever had to worry about." Not that he doesn't feel the pain of his mistakes, keenly, but that's another topic he's likely to discuss with her.

"They're growing rather quickly, aren't they?" he said, ignoring her question as well, nodding toward the growing plants. "Plants like that should take weeks, or up to a month, to flower."

"I'm confident where I need to be. And my teammates make up for any of my shortcomings." Gun and Shotgun always watched her back, and she watched theirs. The girls made a good team, even after they ended up going into exile.

Siira crossed her arms, looking towards the plants. She may not have ever been the best gardener, but she was willing to bet Hojo hadn't thought to take any soil samples here. So, lies ahoy.

"The soil here is pretty healthy, good nutrients. I didn't think they'd grow as fast as they have."

"You know what's interesting," he said, in a low voice, "is that I have been studying this floor since I arrived. As a biologist, of course I am quite intrigued by the means through which life is sustained here. I don't doubt that I know a great deal more about it than you do." And he chuckled.

Siira would have lost that bet. Unfortunately for her, Hojo had taken numerous samples from every floor from which samples could be taken, as part of a project he had been working on since arriving. He was a scientist. The Tower was his current subject. His work was everything to him.

Edited 2012-06-20 02:25 (UTC)

Glad she didn't take that bet. And that there wasn't anyone with telepathic abilities nearby because she was mentally screaming a very loud 'damn' at that particular moment. At least she managed to keep her face straight.

"Guess I'm just good with plants then. Who knows." She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, still screaming inside.

The negative thing is when the next Lightning strike nearly hit one of your colleague. Most specifically, fellow Turk Rude who has just entered and found lightning falling next to him. He frowned and prepared himself to fight, thinking someone was attacking him when he spotted...

"Siira?"

That's not very nice now.

Siira was busy cursing at herself for a couple minutes before noticing Rude. She pinched the bridge of her nose and gave Rude a simple wave before jogging over to him.

"Sorry 'bout that. Just a little... accident."

A little accident? he nearly got fried. Alright, he readjusts his sunglasses and stare at her, no reasons not to believe her after all.

"Did a monster attack you?"

"No, there aren't any monsters on this floor during the day. Just getting a little exercise. Can't afford to get out of shape here, after all."

That was the truth, mostly. She had ulterior motives now that her magic was a bit out of her own control but, all in all, she just needed to keep herself active.

".........."

He nodded. if that was just it, he could understand. He had no clue her powers were going haywire just yet, so that made sense. he could afford giving her an advises maybe...

"Practice your aim."

Because really.

Siira wanted to tell him that her aim was fine but that would be tantamount to saying she was aiming at him. Or it would force her to admit that she couldn't control her own magic. Neither option was one she wanted to admit too. Especially the honest one.

"Ya gotta gimme a little credit, Rude. It's been a long time since I needed to bust out my materia, since Zirconiade. Be glad I even have the energy to cast."

He shrugged and boded, if that's all there was to it, then whatever. After all he too could get rusty when he didn't train for a while. Alright, it didn't happen in a while admittedly but yeah. ... Wait a moment, something didn't add up right here-

"You were fine when we fought those monsters two weeks ago."

Sorry, Rude's intelligent too and her skills were as good as could be when she helped him kick those monsters away on his arrival in the tower. You don't lose your skills in two weeks. You just don't.

"That was Ice though, Rude. This was Lightning, it's a little trickier. And Ice is my element, I was born and raised in Icicle, until I ended up in the slums."

Siira gives a casual shrug, as thought it's normal. And it very well could be. Lightning was always less predictable than ice. Her ~~lie~~ argument was completely valid.

"............"

Well, she had a point. He couldn't really argue with that, nor did he really have any reasons to trust her words. hence he nodded. Something told him it wasn't all that right though...

"Very well. Practice still then."

"Not to worry, I'll be practicing plenty for awhile. Maybe I'll take a break for today though. Already getting a little tired." She rolled her shoulders for emphasis and stretched her arms but she gave him a confident grin.

[Darkness and hunger and monsters rarely stop a Keyblade Master who can see in the dark and has little need to eat. He's been prowling the floors as usual, scouting out what he can find for days when he does need to eat, and seeing just how the others have been surviving.

Finding someone actually cultivating some plants was interesting, and he hung back a ways to watch. When her magic goes awry though he's interested - it's always good to broaden one's horizons on magic. And making new allies is certainly useful.]

He approaches at his usual pace, non-threateningly.]

Is there a problem, miss?

[Siira turned to look at the older man, surprised that she hadn't noticed him coming onto this floor sooner. Although, she had been a bit distracted, otherwise the Turk would never let herself be caught by surprise.]

Just a small one. My materia triggered.

I apologize, I don't believe I've heard about that. What do you mean by "materia"?

Materia is something from the Planet, Gaia. It's concentrated Mako energy and we can call on the Lifestream itself to manipulate nature. This is the only way that normal humans like me can use magic, where I come from.

[She plucks one of her Ice materia from her bangle and holds it up, letting him see the small orb.]

There are all artificially made but work just the same.

Ahh, a focus for magical power to permit those who do not have the innate talent for it to use it. Quite practical. How do you activate it, a force of will or is there another mechanic? One that would permit accidental misfire?

A force of will, mostly but we equip the materia in our weapons of armor. That way we always have access to it in battle, instead of fumbling with our pockets.

[She raises her arm now, showing her bangle and gloves. Both having small slots to fit the materia.]

[He appraises it with his eyes, curiously. The beads certainly seem innocuous, but he's not one to judge so easily.]

So you did not intend to cause this... [He gestures grandly towards the chunks of ice littering the floor, half-melted from the lightning strike.] Are you distracted, perhaps? If your mind is wandering or jumping to conclusions, it may be an indirect means of activation.

I'm a little distracted, so it doesn't help. But it seems like my materia is triggering itself suddenly.

[She does seem a bit sheepish when he indicates the melting ice.]

Perhaps if you remove it, that may help?

I could but it would leave me at one helluva disadvantage. A lot of the monsters here can't be take down with just martial arts and I'm not keen on this whole 'dying' thing, I've heard about. I'm sure you understand, right?

Of course. We must be cautious and not let our guards down. Who knows what could come out from the shadows when we aren't prepared?

[For such words, he sure doesn't seem overly concerned at all.]

[That surprises her, actually. That outward calm when even Turks were always concerned about what could happen.]

Exactly! I learned early that you never know what might jump out at ya, so it's best to always be prepared.

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