towerofanimus | Le désespoir

Entry tags:

Le désespoir

Open to all!
Setting: Floor 13
Format: Either~
Summary: Francisca reflects on the blackout and sings a hymn... as goodbye to her world.
Warnings: Angst, potential language

The voices were still whispering in her ears, her memory of the blackout far too keen. Her body still felt weighed down and tired from that far-too-close encounter with the not-England.

But England's voice had been too real.

She'd been trying to believe that England was alive - that this whole Tower business was just an elaborate scheme conjured up by some idiots smoking too much of Pays-Bas' drugs. But... perhaps she was now too tired to even attempt feeling hope.

She'd been strong as Rome and Germania would have expected of her, but even the strongest of defenses would slowly fall under constant fire.

She'd normally avoided this kind of place - too melancholy, too 'holy' for her tastes - but it was an apt setting for what she was about to do.

She moved to the altar, hearing the sudden hush of unheard voices, and took a shuddering breath, staring up at one of the beautifully decorated windows before she haltingly began to sing Pie Jesu, voice pealing out heartbrokenly in the language she'd almost forgotten since her childhood. Her eyes close as hot tears threaten to spill as she continues to sing.

England would have called her a drama-whore for it.

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Nagi had been drawn to western architecture for as long as she could remember, so floor thirteen had been on her to-do list for a while. However, she hadn't expected to run in to anyone else- let alone someone singing. Nagi kept a respectful distance from the stranger, absent-mindedly stroking her hair as she listened. Not a language Nagi knew, but the summoner could respect it.

"That was beautiful."

Francisca's head jerked up and she glanced back at the stranger, forcing her emotions down - ugh, England was right, she went around showing too much of what should be kept hidden.

She smiled, composed, and answered, "Thank you - I am a bit rusty though... Did you come to pray or explore?"

Nagi's lips pursed when the woman jerked, looking down at the ground after a moment's hesitation. "I apologize if my process has startled you. I meant nothing by it."

Nagi took a deep sigh, glancing about the room with a sense of wonder, before properly answering the question. "The theory that has lead me here is investigation...though I confess, I am also admiring. The only other church I have ever seen was in the Capitol."

"Ah, then you must have much to see," Francisca answered, smile growing. "If only you could visit my homeland... we have beautiful churches and architechture that has lasted for centuries-"

Well.... if she was to believe what the Tower staff kept drilling into their heads...

Her face fell a bit and she glanced to the side before smiling brightly. "So, what are you investigating?"

"Your homeland?" Nagi tilted her head, still stroking her hair. It was a bit of a nervous habit. "I haven't left Japan very often, unless we count this place. But, such is conjecture as to the location of this place."

Nagi shook her head, straightening her posture and bowing formally. "I am a Demon Summoner, ma'am. We investigate and handle any and all supernatural maladies that befall Japan. Though in theory, I suppose my job has become to watch over this tower instead." She took a pause, as if trying to rein in her wordiness. "I am working through the process of understanding this place, in short."

"France," she added, smiling. "Ah, if you can return to your world, I suggest you visit France - it is a beautiful place..."

If it wasn't gone.

She tilted her head at Nagi's introduction and stared for a bit. Hmm, she'd get along very well with Engla-

Not.

Going.

There.

She nodded in understanding instead. "I see... perhaps you should speak with the Doctor and Shoutarou - they have also been investigating the tower closer, it might help you somewhat?"

"France...ah, I wish I could go see more of Europe." Nagi gave a wistful sigh. "Once this matter is attended to, I will hopefully have the time."

The girl perked at the mention of the two others, once again bowing formally. "Thank you very much- this theory is most helpful in continuing my investigation. I'll need to have a proper report when Raidou arrives to attend to this issue."

...she sure seemed confident that this was all resolvable and temporary, but it was just how she'd been taught. "I'll be sure to approach those you mentioned, but in the mean time...are you homesick?" It wasn't proper to leave a lady to her own sorrows, after all.

"Homesick... in a sense, I suppose," she answers with a sad smile. "I'm afraid the blackout incident left me rattled and I suffered a moment of weakness."

Nagi nodded, taking several steps forward. "I was quite surprised when the lights came on- I awoke here amid the power outage." A pause, and she laced her fingers over her sternum. "But I cannot fault anyone for a moment of emotions, though I disagree with calling it a 'weakness'. Being desensitized is far worse."

Francisca shrugged and brought her hands up to straighten her immaculate hair, answering in a distant voice, "A nation does not act in fits of passion, lest they fall prey to others in that instant. That is a weakness."

She could almost hear Germania's soft and firm voice ringing in her ears to keep her poise, never behave rashly and for the love of all that is sacred, don't erupt with anger and lust the way Rome did. It was strange that in these moments of weakness she never heard Rome's sweet voice telling her it was alright to be emotional so long as you had the strength to protect yourself in such moments.

While the first thought in Nagi's mind was 'nation, what?', she managed to keep such from becoming the first thing on her lips.

"Passion, in theory, is the energy we use to further and protect that which we care for. My...master believed in a firm hand and a sturdy voice, but his conjecture is not my own." Nagi stepped forward further once again, this time close enough to actually feel on even footing with this woman.

"What is your name?"

"Yet is it not passion that makes one lose their head when that which they care for is threatened?" she murmured, looking down at her hands.

At Nagi's approach and question, she looked into her face and gave an elegant curtsy. "Francisca Bonnefoy, at your service."

"For some, this is true. But for others, the process of defending something passionately means never giving up, not until the last breath." Nagi took a moment to stroke her hair. somewhat concerned she was overstepping her boundaries. "Or, such is my conjecture. I suppose it is not the same for everyone."

Nagi seemed taken aback by the curtsey, bowing again, distractedly. "I am Geirin Kuzunoha the XVIII- however, I prefer to be called Nagi."

"To each her own, to each her own," she murmured, smiling a bit. "Pardon me, I am usually far more supportive of being passionate and never surrendering but I am a bit... off, today."

"Enchanté, Nagi," she answered to the bow. "You seem like a sensible woman, I am sure you will fare well here."

"No, it is an understandable theory- when one is feeling melancholy, it's only natural to be critical of one's emotions, isn't it?" That one she really was assuming was normal- she didn't know any other way of being, after all.

"Ah-" Sensible? She however, had no idea how to take the compliment, and simply gave a quick bow instead of saying anything in response. "Might I ask, however...what France is like? My master's associates often brought him wine from there, but we never got to visit."

Francisca brightened at first at the interest given in herself - well, her nation self - but then stopped short of gushing about the wonders of France. Moments ago she'd been mourning the possible death of England and now she was about to rattle on about herself?

Disgusting.

In a quiet and venom-filled voice, she answered, "France... is a petty and vain nation. France believes herself to be the most beautiful of all the nations in the world when she is nothing but a painted harlot seeking to claim everyting as hers' while ignoring the wishes and pains of those around her-"

She froze mid-rant and coughed into her hand, falling into awkward silence.

Her first, gut reaction was to simply stand and wait for the scolding to be through. It occurred to Nagi several words late that it wasn't directed at the black-haired girl, but at the woman's home. Melancholy could make one critical...but of their home? Sure, the letters had claimed that their worlds were destroyed, but...surely nobody believed such nonsense.

Then something else hit her, making Nagi visibly gasp, no attempt even to hide her emotions. "Oh!" This woman...the only time someone had spoken so critically and emotionally about their home was Akijiro, and he had also claimed to be the village itself. In short, this woman must have been an important political figure in France. Francisca's despair suddenly made all the more sense to Nagi, who bowed her head, heedless of any remaining awkward.

"I am sorry you lost your beloved country. I imagine I would be much the same, if Japan were truly lost."

"France is not lost - though I wish I were!" she snapped, irrate. "England deserved to survive, not the petty bitch of a neighbor she has!"

She took a deep breath and smoothed out the front of her skirt with slightly shaking hands. "... I apologize. I... don't usually lose my composure so easily."

"No one country holds priority over another. We cannot pin the blame on ourselves for surviving." This was a matter she'd already tried to help someone through before- and while that had failed, Nagi had to try again. "Especially with our captors being so clearly wrong about the process of our being here." That came out almost bitter, as if she too was irritated under the surface.

"But you still need not apologize. This is something we all must go through, in theory, by being here. I'm sorry I interrupted your singing." Nagi pursed her lips, as if looking for more appropriate words...but none came out.

Francisca sighed and gave a tired smile to Nagi. "Likewise, you need not apologize. It was a song that shouldn't have been sung, nor would I have if I were in my right mind." No, funereal songs should be reserved for when she knows for certain that England is dead, not a moment before.

Nagi gave a quiet laugh, turning sideways to try and convey she wasn't laughing at Francisca. "I will refrain from apolgoizing, then, or we will simply continue to cycle." It amused her mostly because of the many discussions she'd had with Akane back home...and how poor Tae had tried to scold them both.

"I am not the best with consoling others...but, I hope your heart will find peace, Bonnefoy-san." Nagi bowed her head lightly, crossing her hands at her thigh, matching the smile, though now equally tired. "Then you can sing much happier things."

"Such is the nature of apologies, they just go on and on and on until we are blue in the face!" Francisca exclaimed, standing and dusting her knees, straightening her skirts.

"You listened to my short rant - that is more of a consolatory action than you would think," she murmured, smiling. "Perhaps... in any case, I think I should go take a nap. Things are always better when you feel refreshed, non?"

As she turned to walk out of the room, she gave Nagi a kiss on each cheek in farewell, murmuring, "Thank you for listening."

"I understand. Please, have a good sleep-...?"

Nagi's face grew blank at the cheek kisses, turning to watch Francisca leave.

...Europeans had some peculiar and awkward methods of 'au revoir'.

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Le désespoir

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