001

[alexandrianite]

Characters: Garnet til Alexandros XVII and OPEN!!
Setting: Mid Morning of July 1st. Waking up in room 2-08 and then wandering the floors afterwards.
Format: Action brackets to start, but I'll match you. Let me know where you meet her!
Summary: Garnet's arrival in the Tower, and any subsequent meetings after!
Warnings: FFIX spoilers!

[Room2-08]
[Garnet jolted up as soon as she was able to move her body. Her breath came in and out in gasps, her body shaking now that it was free of the paralysis that had held her when she first started to come to. Looking around wildly, her long dark hair swished back and forth as she studied the room around her. Four beds. Four nightstands. Chests at the foot of each bed... what was this place. She slowly set her feet upon the ground, the skirt of her dress rustling to the ground as she got to her feet. She stumbled briefly, and then gained her footing.

"Zidane? Beatrix? Steiner? Where is everyone?" No answers came, of course.

After a moment she noted the letters on the nightstand beside the bed and reached for them. Slowly opening the first, her eyes widened as she read it. Her eyes took in the short sentences over and over, before she fumbled for the second letter and ripped it open. It contained instructions, but she barely read it. Her legs gave and she sat down hard on the bed again. This had to be some cruel joke. It had to be.
[/Room2-08]

[Floor 38]
[It took a long time before Garnet had the will to leave the first room, but once she was up and about she was determined to find her way out. This couldn't be real, and she was going to get back home. Back to him. Descending some stairs, she found herself in some sort of lounge.

The chairs and beanbags looked comfortable enough, but she didn't have time to sit and rest. For the moment she just wanted too look around and see if there was anyone she could talk to.]
[/Floor 38]

[Floor 1]
[She tried climbing past the next floor, but it was so completely dark that she wasn't sure she wanted to risk it. After backtracking, she found a form of lift, and rode it down to the first floor. The first floor might have more clues for her to go off of.

Once there, she found herself in a cafeteria. Not exactly what she had expected, but at least she knew she could find food here. Her stomach growled lightly, but she ignored it. Now wasn't the time for food.]
[/Floor 1]

Comments

[pauldrons]

[Zack nods, and when they get to her room, he stays in the doorway and leans on the frame, peering in as she looks through her trunk. He tries to be patient, but it's really only a few minutes before he speaks up.]

Find anything?

[He's hoping it's not broken like his commanding officers sword was. That was a total disaster.]

[alexandrianite]

[She digs under the clothes and other items in the chest, finally finding something of promise.

It's not broken, per say, but the staff is one of her shorter ones. It's not what she was used to, but it would certainly work. It had to fit in the trunk somehow.

Picking it up, she carries it outside.]

Got it.

[pauldrons]

[Having never seen a summoner's staff before, and considering she doesn't seem upset or anything at the condition it's in, Zack will count this as a victory and grin, spinning on the heel of his boot to find the elevator.]

Then off we go! Time's a-wasting.

[alexandrianite]

All right. [She holds her weapon in one hand and proceeds to follow.]

I will follow your lead.

[pauldrons]

[Then lead he shall, hitting the call button for the elevator when they reach it and pressing the button for the cafeteria once they're inside. Thankfully, the thing is quick, but there is one warning he has to give.]

This thing stops on a couple other floors, but you're better off avoiding the restaurant. Nothing worth it in there.

[alexandrianite]

[Once in the elevator, she leans lightly on the wall.]

What makes you say that?

[pauldrons]

Well, I'm not sure how true it is, but...they ask for something in exhange for a meal. If you can't get it for them, they supposedly take something from you. Some kind of...[he makes a face and scratches at his cheek, unsure how to put this gently.] Well, let's just say what they take isn't worth a meal when there's free food downstairs.

[alexandrianite]

Oh... [She can't imagine at the moment what they'd take, but far be it from her to not believe her guide.]

Then I will take your advice and steer clear of that place. I wouldn't want to get myself into further trouble.

[pauldrons]

[They take body parts, Garnet. Body parts. Zack...just isn't quite sure how to put that in a way that isn't terrifying. He's not so good at the sugar coating, clearly.]

Yeah....you should probably stay off of most of the upper floors, too. Anything above Floor One has a lot of monsters in it at night, but after Floor Nineteen, things get really bad. [he shivers lightly; nothing's happened to him yet, but eventually, even his luck will run out.]

[alexandrianite]

[EEK. YES, DEFINITELY STAYING AWAY FROM THERE!]

If so many of the floors are dangerous... where do people spend time? I can't imagine they all stay in one place.

[pauldrons]

[That is a good idea. A very good idea. No meal is worth a lung!]

Well, most people can fight back and the monsters only really come out at night, when everyone's in their rooms. But I guess they spend time in the libraries or the lounges. Those are pretty safe in the daylight hours.

[Mostly. Barring any attacks by people.]

[alexandrianite]

Ah, so no night time strolls then... I can handle that. If there is a library, it is easier to curl up in a room with a book anyway.

I can breathe a sigh of relief in that case.