Holy water cannot help you know

[floreatnoctem]

Characters: [AU1] Chidori Yoshino; OPEN
Setting: Anywhere, everywhere
Format: Action, but I'll match if you prefer prose.
Summary: Chidori can't quite get back into simply existing in the tower, especially after the month she's had.
Warnings: Mentions of body horror, suicidal thoughts, righteous fury, possibly language if she gets worked up enough.



[Everything is still the same, and she's not sure whether it's depressing or infuriating.

In the month without them there, despite everything they've been forced to go through, how much they've been cut into, 'enhanced', mutilated for the sake of 'science- the tower remains just as she remembers it before leaving. Nothing has changed, save for the fact that some have gone and more have come in their place. Unsurprising, as most things in the tower were at this point- it was just another part of the routine, something to be seen, noted, and taken in stride. Nothing she couldn't do, and nothing she hadn't done before. The only thing that was different was that it seemed that some of the other residents of the tower had taken to emulating their captors, using the others against her will.

She could still feel a twinge where she'd been run through again.

Medea, for her part, has been nothing short of insufferable; the steady chatter of her derision a steady stream of sound in the back of her mind. Every day is an even greater failure to her, but as ever, Chidori ignores her and continues about her days as best she can. But the strain from the last few days is evident in the way she carries herself, the frost in her gaze and the derision in her tone, when she can be persuaded to talk. But she keeps the anger controlled, a seething roil of emotions held in check beneath her usual impassive mask.

It won't be too long before she can't keep her hold on it anymore though.]

Comments

Cafeteria

[fusedstars]

[It had been about that time to cook, and now that he was hunting for his own food, he could at least cook some nice deer meat. Hard to find deer, but he had managed to make enough meat for a few days. Setting some nicely cooked meat, the aroma ever so tempting, he was just about to go to his seat when he spotted the woman he knew, the one from the pods.

He stared at her direction.]

You were in the pods, weren't you?

Cafeteria

[floreatnoctem]

[The last thing she's been caring about is food- but there's a point where even sheer willpower can't keep a person going without sustenance. She isn't expecting anyone to be there, much less making their own food, but she's content to go about her business quietly. The question is only a little bit unexpected, but she stills nonetheless and closes her eyes against the onset of an unpleasant memory. The voice is familiar, however, and it only takes her a moment to place it.

The one who had been in another experiment before this one.

She turns to look at him, fingers settled lightly on either side of a bowl.]

I was. Jason's, correct?

[fusedstars]

Yes.

[That pod, the one he'd rather forget, yet couldn't. Honestly, it was better off that way, so he could fully expect what the madman would do next, be prepared, and eventually form a counter. And if all else fails, make his spirit stronger. Right now, with the loss of his allies, it was breaking a bit.]

We discussed details of the scientists and the facility. Do you recall that?

[floreatnoctem]

Of course.

[She refrains from mentioning that implying she wouldn't is something of an insult- even if even she wouldn't blame anyone for blocking any part of that experience out. She pauses to look over the oatmeal with disdain, but simply grabs as much sugar as is readily available and decides that she can make due.]

...how are you faring?

[fusedstars]

[He notices the sugar she aims for. Not a bad way to make oatmeal better, but there were other methods. Of course, the kitchen had cut out quite a few options down.]

Better than some would expect. Being able to actually cook, despite the lack of materials, is refreshing in a way.

[The facility had no such kitchen at all, only water and health bars offered, with occasional food from Facility 3.]

And what of you?

[floreatnoctem]

[It's the most effort she's willing to put into feeding herself at the moment, and doing any more would require she actually feel up to it. So the sugar will do, for now.]

You would think things were bad enough without coming back to a situation like this.

[Because effort though it might be, a good meal still does go a long way for some- like the other members of Strega, who she should probably check up on, honestly. Left to their own devices, the elder boys are liable to forget about food.]

Alive.

[It's all that matters, at the moment.]

[chainsawn]

[ If Chidori is passing through the dormitory halls at one point, she'll run into a younger girl. Except the running is quite literally, considering today Urotsuki seems to be daydreaming a little bit, so she isn't exactly watching where she's going - until she accidentally bumps into someone else while she's walking since she wasn't paying attention.

She seems slightly flustered because of it though, and once she recovers and realises what just happens she quickly bows. ]

.. S.. sorry..

[floreatnoctem]

[Being run into isn't altogether unfamiliar, considering where she used to live. But those had been brushes, and Chidori had usually been able to see them coming and maneuver herself out of the way. She senses this one coming, somewhat, but can't quite place which way she should move. So when she's hit it's almost head-on, and she stumbles back, hold on her sketchbook loosening. It almost falls from her hands, but she reasserts her grip on it and looks at the person who's just run into her, lips thinning in irritation.]

You should be more careful.

[Her voice is quiet and neutral, and it might seem like a well-intentioned warning if it weren't for the way her eyes narrow and her brows draw down in irritation.]

This place is full of people who wouldn't take an accident like that well.

[chainsawn]

[ Her eyes glance from side to side like a frightened animal for a moment, as if said people might just pop up out of nowhere just because Chidori mentioned them. It seems safe for now though, so Urotsuki glances back to the other girl.. only to feel a little intimidated by the frown, so her gaze turns towards the ground as her hands fiddle with the ends of her skirt just to have something to distract herself with. ]

I was a little out of it.. .. I'll.. try to pay more attention next time. [ only now she dares a careful peek at Chidori. ] Did something like that happen to you before..?

[floreatnoctem]

No.

[Her fingers tighten on her book, and her frown lessens- though only marginally.]

And it probably won't.

[Because Chidori is somewhat terrifying.]

But you aren't me.

[chainsawn]

.. No, I'm not. [ It's only the truth, so it's easy enough to acknowledge with a small nod, even if staring at her is still pretty difficult - there's something intimidating about her. ]

But.. I'll try to make sure nobody hurts me..

[miseris_socios]

[Ken peeks into Chidori's room, hoping to find her, and it seems he's lucky today. He heads inside, not saying anything, but just walking over to her and giving her a hug.]

[He needs it, badly, and he doesn't know what to say. There's nothing he can say. He doesn't know what to do anymore except fight to get them out - but it's hard to keep his faith in justice when everything seems so wrong.]

[floreatnoctem]

[She'd been expecting one of the boys eventually- though she'd honestly been thinking it would be Jin before Ken. She's surprised by the way he doesn't even hesitate in putting his arms around her- which she hadn't seen coming at all- and it takes her a moment of mental blue-screening before she remembers to slip her arms around him in return. That's enough to loosen the floodgates, and before long, she's got him pulled tight against her, chin atop his head, arms giving the occasional squeeze.

He isn't the only one who needs this, though he's probably the only one with enough sense to realize he is.]

[miseris_socios]

[To be fair, he'd had to convince himself, but he knew they both needed it. And so he had shown up. He just stands there for a minute, trying to come up with words, but there's nothing for a bit. He just holds her as close as he can.]

[Finally, though, he speaks.]

We'll find a way to get out. We'll get out and I won't let anyone hurt us again.

[floreatnoctem]

[She's got to squeeze her eyes a little tighter closed at that, letting out a heavier sigh than she'd intended. She gives another squeeze and pulls away a little, enough that she can look down at him, and shakes her head.]

It isn't about getting out of here. It's about the people who are keeping us here.

[miseris_socios]

... True. But... I just want you to be safe.

[He has to protect the people he cares about. They have to be okay. He'll make sure they're okay. He has to be one of the strong ones, or at least try to be.]

derp derp i mean um Floor Four!

[death_awaits_you]

[ > as you wander through the lounge, YOU SENSE DEATH

What better way for Ryoji to fill his time than to sprawl on a couch and watch the fog and clouds swirl by the window, especially as he sees the occasional firework go off in the distance? However as fascinated as he is by the sky outside, Ryoji is not entirely oblivious to others passing by, and when he sees a beautiful girl in white slip by like a ghost. He feels -- something familiar about her; it's the same sense he gets around other Persona users he's met, and he finds it fascinating and alluring in some way. Maybe it's the kinship Shadows share with Personas or maybe it's just that he finds the familiarity comforting or maybe it's even something to do with the deep seated hunger in Shadows. Whatever it is, it as much as her beauty and the fact that she's a girl he's not yet met draws him to rise from his couch and approach her, smiling in an open and friendly manner, secretly hoping she won't be too off-put by what he is. She reminds him of Fuuka in a way, and he doesn't doubt that she'll be able to, if nothing else, sense something off about him... It's all the more apparent since he fused with Nyx ere coming to this tower, anyway.

But either way, he's determined to be friendly (and get her name!), so he beams and waves. ]

Good morning, beautiful flower! I didn't realize how dark it was in this room, until you came in and brightened it right up!

here we go

[floreatnoctem]

[The feeling from him is familiar, and for a moment she thinks that maybe she's run across Minato in her wandering. She's not too sure she can actually handle that. But it's not him, it's that other boy instead- one of him, she's aware there are two- and she stares him down in surprise. Granted it doesn't show on her face, which is impassive and unimpressed. The line is a good one, she'll admit- but she doesn't like flirts, she never has.

After all, look where that got her back in her own world, after all.]

I was unaware I was still full of lightbulbs.

[That was a thing that happened in the Pod, by the way. Good job Ryoji.]

5 days later aww yeah

[death_awaits_you]

[ Ryoji blinks in some confusion at that, tilting his head. ]

Full of lightbulbs...? Oh no, was that something that really happened? [ His joy fades into concern. The way she says it so seriously makes him worry that despite sounding strange, it's really true! (of course, he doesn't know yet that she's another linefacer with a deadpan voice...) Besides, he's heard of some pretty weird things happening in this place. ] I'm sorry, I didn't realize. That sounds really uncomfortable...

I guess that was a pretty poor choice of words on my part, huh?

[floreatnoctem]

Yes.

[It really was, and Chidori just stares him down as he apologizes, an iota of confusion visible on her face. He was apologizing for bringing it up, but she was the one who'd mentioned it. Strange boy.]

It wasn't so bad. Just annoying.

[Another blink.]

You really couldn't have known.

Floor 35

[knightime]

[Dave was on the floor with the floating island. His shoes and socks were sitting next to him as he dipped his feet into the water of the lake. Dave wasn't much of a swimmer (read: can't swim), and he wasn't dumb enough to do much more but put his feet into it.

He looked paler than usual though and tired. The last few days were kind of hard on him and he hadn't been feeling quite up to speed since his misfortune of running into Jin and Minato.

It doesn't help that he's been kind of trying to avoid Bro and Dirk both and this place was usually quiet and devoid of others.]

[floreatnoctem]

[The isolation was why Chidori made her way to certain floors to begin with- and this was one of the better ones in which to be alone. Too many people were showing up now that liked the flowers in the meadow, and it made it hard to want to continue visiting if she thought she'd be bothered there. So she came here instead, and was surprised to find she wasn't the only one who thought to keep away from people here.

She could have turned back, of course, but that would have been more trouble than she cared for at the moment.

Besides, this boy looked familiar at least- though it took her a moment to place him. The sarcastic one from the pod, she finally realized, and moved further onto the island. He was more or less quiet when he wasn't quipping. She could handle that.]

I'm not interrupting, am I?

[Better to ask, of course, than to have him lose his temper at her.]

[knightime]

[Dave wasn't really paying attention, or he would have noticed her approach in general. He snapped his head in her direction, his expression not changing in the least. He was trying particularly hard to just keep his poker face up more than usual. Better to act like things are ok than to make someone worry.]

Naw, I was just staring at water. I mean, someone must find that shit interesting, but I assure no live changing moments are taking place at the moment.

It's a free tower anyways. I'm not really going to stop you from hanging around this place. I didn't know anyone frequented here though. It's kind of a bit of a travel to get to this floor.

[floreatnoctem]

[Chidori only gives a wan smile and moves closer, settling nearby and leaning forward to peer into the water. When she sees nothing of interest, she sits back on her heels and settles her sketchbook in her lap, giving a careless shrug of her shoulders.]

I have climbed higher towers.

[knightime]

[He recalls climbing the tower before entering the Medium. That was a good memory, actually. His mouth twitches a bit, although no actual smile surfaces.

He glances at her sketchbook though.]

You draw?