Fellowship of Animus | First Council of Sages

[sageprincess]

Characters: THE FELLOWSHIP OF ANIMUS aka pretty much everyone
Setting: Floor 38, early afternoon - forward-dated to July 29
Format: Party style - pick your poison
Summary: After repeated delays, Zelda and Gandalf have finally called the populace of the Tower to discuss productive means of dealing with their situation.
Warnings: None yet, will edit should something come up

It's taken far too long to get to this point.

Come Sunday, the various couches and armchairs of the uppermost lounge have been arranged in vaguely semi-circle-like patterns, with chairs from other floors scattered amongst them to increase seating even more. The semi-circles face inwards towards a central point to facilitate discussion among a large group of people. Though this is by no means a party, small slices of Lembas bread are available on tables around the perimeter - though there is no shortage of food, the hungry tend to be less cooperative, all the same.

Outside, the sun shines brightly without a cloud to obstruct it, but the atmosphere inside is much less carefree. Considering the purpose of gathering here this day, it's to be expected. Should this council succeed, it may very well change life in the Tower as everyone knows it. If not, well... one should certainly hope individual efforts begin to bear more fruit than they have in the past.

Comments

Information gathering part II

[sageprincess]

Well. While everyone certainly has their opinions on the Tower's less-than-upstanding residents, allowing the meeting to stagnate because of that is something she can't risk. Not when there's so much else to work on.

The apparent leader of this council stands once again.

"We need to take an assessment of what we have at our disposal currently - especially in regards to information about the administrators and how they operate."

She pauses for a moment, knowing that what she's about to ask is going to be painful for quite a few, but... it needs to be done.

"If those who would feel comfortable doing so, please share any experiences they might have had with the administrators that might prove valuable in understanding or overcoming them."

Re: Information gathering part II

[thisclinchesit]

Shoutarou stands up, having been observing the meeting up until now.

"I'm Hidari Shoutarou," he starts, and removes his hat, giving Zelda a respectful nod. "I... Was away from here for a long period of time, but I believe I was of the first set of residents in this tower...what I think was close to a year ago. If anyone has questions about that time, I'm willing to answer them."

"I suppose it's obvious that they lack our best interests. I remember that we did get to meet our keepers once - there was a public question-and-answer session shortly after we woke up, initially. There were a number of people dissatisfied with what there was to do - new jobs were made available, as were new floors, in response. Initially, we only had the first four floors in addition to the dormitories - the cafeteria, the infirmary, the library, and the other lounge. We then gained the viewing floor, forest level, swimming pool, and the changing maze." He pauses, then frowns. "These were in response for someone wanting 'more things to do'. They do listen to us, whether we think they do or not. Any requests made of them should be considered very carefully - there's no telling how they may choose to interpret it."

Re: Information gathering part II

[myblueskies]

Romeo had been drawn to the crowd of people and had sat in the corner with Piccolo listening to the adults speak but he nodded at Shoutarou's words. "Sometimes they turn even nice requests into bad things, like when they only gave us icecream for a really really really long time."

He was really glad that people were finally realising how bad the bad people were, and working together, though having spent the last few weeks in his dead world he didn't know where they could go if they ran away, even if they managed to.

Re: Information gathering part II

[lyricalmagical]

"'Be careful what you ask for, it might just come through,'" Nanoha murmured quietly to herself, before speaking loud enough to be heard.

"If requests granted are still within the confines of what's being granted, just from a certain point of view... I do wonder if there might be some way of utilizing that to our advantage in some way? Of course, they're not going to be foolish enough to be easily tricked... but it might be worth some consideration, at least."

OH BOY YAY

[pitiedthefool]

He was waiting for this to be brought up. Truth be told, he didn't want to say a thing on any of what he saw in Jason's pod, his experiences... yet he knew he couldn't afford to keep the truth from the others.

'No more running.'

Another leader-type who was the most vocal of the ones who shared the same power stood as well, though he did tower at nearly six feet tall on his own.

"Last month, around sixty of us were taken from the tower and split into three parties. I cannot account for two of these groups, but I can for those who were unfortunate enough to be in Jason's pod." He pauses in his own thoughts, not even realizing the fist his left hand was clenched into. After taking a breath, he continues on. "Jason, who I can guess is the head of medical just by what we were subjected to for most of the month, doesn't care about any sort of right or wrong. Loves to modify others and see just how they tick, if he didn't know already."

"What he did to those in his pod angered a great number of us. At least, those who could still think and feel for themselves...I regret that I fell prey to his mindgames that first week, myself... which is why myself and a young friend of mine took it upon ourselves to show that we wouldn't take it any further without doing something about it. When we tried, we were stopped--literally in midair for my friend--by Ruana, who seemed to be in charge of the proceedings. Not only that, but she was right behind me in the blink of an eye."

....He said that much. If anyone asked for him to tell more, he might. But he said what he wished to for now, and the most important part. It was Ruana they needed to be wary of the most.

Yu sat down once more, hands resting in his lap as he calmed himself.

Re: OH BOY YAY

[nightmareofdivinity]

Fou-Lu is silent for a while, though his presence can be felt by those with any sort of sense for it - his great stream seems to flow around him. At Yu's words, though, he stands to respond, posture and tone both regal and formal despite his sentiments. He's not concerned about the abilities of the woman described - it's the man he has issue with at the moment.

"Jason, thou hast said? We be not aware of what thou hast encountered in thy world, but in the place we wert drawn from such magics and modifications art... a large problem."

He's not looking at Mami right now, though he's tempted. He will remain strong.

"Should we gather enough information for such a thing to be feasible, we wouldst suggest a strike against this mortal - or whatever manner of being he mayst be."

After a moment, he sits down. He's clearly not used to not being the center of attention.

All the people from our homeworlds...

[the_white_rider]

...

[ Gandalf looks particularly solemn as he is about to speak. He's speaking toward the end of the reunion so that people can leave if they don't want to hear the worse things. ]

Before anything, I need to say this is nothing but a theory. A theory with evidences I have collected, but until we get a concrete proof, there is not complete certainty. As it is, I have spoken with one of our administrators a few months ago and I have collected precious informations. I believe I can safely say, that the people from our homeworlds- All of them, they are alive.

[ A pause. ]

But I believe it would be preferable if they were not... The one I spoke with was Zo, and when asked if they were dead, he hesitated to reply. His definition of death is quite different of ours and I felt no deceit in his voice. He was clearly at loss of a correct word to describe the state our people are in.

Then, I investigated the matter and learnt of past events. I learnt Zo tried to summon everyone from our homeworlds into the tower, alas he was interrupted by the others. All we got was more monsters. Precisely, the phantoms. More monsters of all kind kept appearing since then.

There has always been monster in the tower... We know our hosts make mistakes sometime while trying to summon us. And I believe the monsters, at least the phantoms if not all the monsters- Are actually the people from our homeworlds.

[ He sighs and closes his eyes. ]

If my theory is correct- They are here, with us, only unable to take upon their true form. Trapped in a non-life of torment.

[childhero]

[Link doesn't say a thing. He sits very still for a very long moment, and if anyone takes a good look at him, they'll see unbridled fear in his eyes. Fear and... something else. It's almost like he isn't really there in that room.

But then? He simply gets up out of his chair and walks away. He doesn't leave the room, but he just... He can't. He just can't.]

[sageprincess]

[All in all, Zelda has remained fairly stoic during this meeting. She couldn't lose her head, couldn't show any bias or weakness in front of so many while in the position of "leader."

But Gandalf's words cause her to display more genuine emotion than she has in weeks. She can feel her heart drop into her stomach, feel her blood running cold, and the expression on her face is one of abject horror and disbelief.]

What...?

[the_white_rider]

This is, still, nothing but a theory.

[ Seeing Zelda's expression, he feels like he shouldn't have said anything. Yet, if it happens to be true, they have to know. Her more than anybody as he chose her. If anything, it's better for them to learn of this possibility now, than to have it told to them in a critical situation by the administrator or an evil individual. ]

I am sorry Princess, I should have told you earlier.

Re: All the people from our homeworlds...

[notontheflowers]

[Rusty is silent for a long time, letting it sink in.]

...what if... we weren't brought from our original world?

[There's a sad sort of pain in his chest at the idea that the people he'd come to care about after all that time were stuck like that. Vincent. Veld. Catpaw. Jinx. Isabella. Marco. Mimi. Kim. Sephiroth. Lucretia. Tseng.

All the people who remembered him from the Elegante, the one's he'd been willing to shoot a thing that had taken the shape of Rude to keep alive.

All the people he'd been willing to die to save.

All the people he mattered to.

He's not sure he can handle it to be honest.]

[the_white_rider]

...

Then I would assume this would concern only the people from the world you were on before you arrived in the tower.

[ That's a lie but that's impossible to say. According to what the administrators said, all worlds connected together die at once. Reno would have been a link between his Gaia and the Boat-

But he doesn't have to know that. It's too painful. ]

[pengeen]

[Kidou thinks about that. And thinks about that. And thinks about that.


If the theory was correct.... then that would mean that any monster Kidou fought could have been one of his friends. One of his teammates. Somewhere lurking around this tower could be his best friend Endou, deformed and changed into a mindless monster. Or maybe he has already been killed?

His eyes were wide in horror behind his goggles, and he stares at his lap for a long moment before speaking up.]

No.... no that can't be right... E-Endou and the rest.... they... they can't.... [This was something Kidou never wanted to think about or hear about, and now it was something that was going to bother him for the rest of his time in this tower.]

[midgarhorizon]

[Sparky had been listening in on the meeting even as he had been keeping guard, not saying anything, not even talking to anyone until now.

He turned from his guarding post and walked to the seated group, his face unreadable.]

Bullshit. Want to know why it's bullshit?

[dramatic pause]

Where are the collars? Every goddamn person here has collars, even the idiot drone people they got workin' the tower, even the weird red collared ones. The only 'people' that don't are the administrators.

The monsters don't got collars. So they can't be people.

[It was a simple and straightforward explanation, and the most likely one to counter Gandalf's theory.]

[firstofthefallen]

A counterpoint.

Perhaps only those in their true forms warrant collars, and putting collars upon the wrecked forms would be pointless.

Alternatively, I'm curious. Do you know if anyone has ever managed to remove their collar?

If not, perhaps it is the collars that maintain our forms if this theory is to be believed.

[myblueskies]

[Romeo looked over to Reno and spoke quietly.] Sir... when those monsters kill you the colour in your collar goes, like they are eating it... so maybe... maybe that's how they survive...

Zo really did try and bring everyone and some of them look like our friends.

[attheclocktower]

[You've stunned two of the Fellowship's founders with this. Their friends? The ones from their worlds? And if each of them was from a different world, then...

Her thoughts dart immediately to Axel.

She's staring, utterly horrified. This can't be real. It can't]

All of them?

[hachitaro]

[Taro stands up, suddenly angry. Not at Gandalf, no. At the idea in general. His voice is suddenly very firm, and very quiet, and yet his words are audible to all in the room.]

No. I refuse to believe that. Not even those I'm working against deserve this place. The people I care about definitely don't. If the people from our homeworlds are here, then we've already lost. Our aim is to return there, for those of us who can - not to have them come here.

I can't believe it. I won't.

[He seems to deflate, and sits down again.]

[forceless]

What?!

[Ven'd been standing guard, for the most part-- not that... it had entirely helped with some people that showed up, but he'd been around quietly, kind of getting bored, to be honest.

But he'd been listening and that-- no way man. No way.]

That's impossible! I was there when Zo tried to bring other people back, I saw the phantoms-- there's no way that was them! I thought one of them was my friend, but all it was going to do was kill me if someone hadn't helped!

I've run into a bunch of the monsters around here, and that just-- doesn't make sense! I've seen some monsters that look like monsters I'd find on my home world, why would people turn into those? Or monsters from completely other worlds too?! Those things can't think! You yourself just said it was a theory!

[Emotional? Yeeaaah probably.]

[cullscuttlefish]

[Feferi had been about to clear her throat and talk about what she had discussed with Jason, but she swallowed her words and sat in stunned silence. No, that couldn't be right. It couldn't be. The rest of them...no.

She thought back to what - and she doesn't think she's missed him more than she does now - Eridan said to her, about his version of her, when they tried to bring her. How all they could bring was her, so close to dead, how he'd had to kill her to be kind to her, how that had made him go mad. It would make anyone go mad.

The princess didn't realize she was crying as she began to speak - it was only when her first word came out as a choked sob that she took the minute to try and compose herself before continuing.]

I - I -

[And then it was too much. She broke down, crying into her hands.]

[technologic]

What?!

[April had been silent for most of the meeting, content to just listen. But this theory is enough make her yell in shock, staring at Gandalf as she thinks over what he just said.

She soon quickly shakes her head, disbelief clear on her expression.] T-that can't be! People are being brought here from same worlds a-all the time, s-so unless they were somehow changed back from monsters, then that can't be right!

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch is stone-still, staring at nowhere in particular as the implications hit him. That the phantom calls...really were...

He draws his knees to his chest, lowering his head. It hurts, hurts so much to think Armaros is being tormented yet again, but...wait. Lucifel wasn't in Meridian, and he doesn't know anyone here who would have known him.

He raises his head.* But I've heard a voice that wasn't from the world I came here from.

[justabignobody]

[Unlike many others, Riku doesn't react with shock or fear or grief at Gandalf's words (though admittedly that is at least partly because almost all his important people are trapped with him in the tower already).

What he says makes sense after all, especially given just many Heartless were roaming this place... and the fact that so far he had only once ran into lesser Nobodies.

He frowns to himself as he thinks through all that he knows about heart and soul and the bond that connects them.]

If that's really the case... then shouldn't there be a way to turn them back into their original selves?

[After the Door to Darkness had been closed, the worlds that had been taken by the Heartless and the people living there had been restored after all...

Though the real question was... if the Heart had been taken by the Darkness, and the Soul been turned into a Phantom... what had happened to the body?]

Re: Information gathering part II

[moontothetide]

...very slowly and hesitantly, like a student who's realized that their class participation is at stake, Tara raises a hand.

"I-I don't know...if it's something about the collars or, um, or anything like that. Maybe it was something about the tubes. But I, I think, between the three of them, Dax might be the strongest. All he had to do was, w-was press a button, and I died."

She fumbles in a pocket and pulls out a crumpled piece of paper, which she unfolds to show the note Zo had left to those who'd been left in the pods. This, she holds up for the group to see.

"But the boy...Zo...I, I think he's a lot weaker. From this, I thought he might have been the one in charge of the tower, when the other's weren't. He said he 't-tried his best', but...I guess he wasn't good enough to manage everything. Not at first."

[fusedstars]

Hei stands up. The information may not have been 100% relevant, however, such tactics might be useful in the long run.

"My name is Hei," he spoke, tone calm and strong, loud enough for everyone to hear. "As most you have heard and seed, several people in this tower, including myself, have arrived from a similar place, a facility within the depths of space. However, there were differences..."

He looked around him, seeing if any occupants from that place were here before continuing. "Our purpose was that of clones, nothing more than that, and possible defects which resulted in termination. I bring this up because I believe the two may be interlinked, yet still lack evidence to prove such a point, aside from my own memory."

"Scientists operated similarly here, however, experiments were conducted on a weekly basis, with perhaps one week free of them each month," he continued. "For those that are wondering the point I am trying to make is that perhaps the Consortium, our creators, may have had a hand with this place somehow, or are involved in some way. Those that travel to the so-called end of our world, it's possible it is all an illusion, created with machines. Such a place had been known as Facility 3."

And if they were linked, then maybe--no. There was no real evidence for that either. But something was off alright with everything.

"Of course, what I say is but a theory that they are linked. There is the small possibility that this is incorrect, but even so, the fact remains the scientists have made themselves known, and we do know who is in control."