towerofanimus | [.001]

Entry tags:

[ou] naminé

[.001]

Characters: Naminé

Setting: Twelfth floor

Format: Starting this way, matching responders.

Summary: A new arrival discovers the twelfth floor. This is not exactly good for her world view.

Warnings: Angst, low self-esteem, tl;dr. In summary; those stairs are blocked by an outwardly calm but internally angsting teenage girl.

Naminé had read the letters, of course. It had seemed prudent, considering that there appeared to be no one around to explain why she had woken up in a bed rather than… well, she hadn’t known what to expect when she went back to Kairi, for all her attempts to be optimistic, but this hadn’t even been on the metaphorical list. At the very least, shouldn’t there have been fewer beds? Sora was the one who always had guests in his heart, after all, not Kairi.

The letters had proved informative, as they were no doubt meant to be, but….

Try though she might, it was just impossible to wrap her head around the idea that the worlds she knew no longer existed. If the Heartless had tried to destroy them and failed, then how could something nameless and faceless succeed? It was an utterly stupid notion, of course, but something in her just couldn’t quite let go of it… until now.

Her feet had prompted her to take the nearest exit, to try to find her way back to something she recognized or make sense of this world. It wasn’t the first time she’d woken up in a strange place, and so she had found herself calm, but understandably apprehensive. It hadn’t ended well, last time. Her search had yielded no fruit up until the point where she stepped down onto the twelfth floor of the tower.

Vertigo and a lurch in her stomach were instant, forcing her to a stop right in the middle of the stairs. Once her mind had managed to convince her body that she wasn’t going to fall, she began to take in her surroundings – and, more specifically, what was going on in them. She ended up feeling sick all over again.

All of those worlds, destroyed as easily as one snuffs out a candle.

Seeing it was much more powerful than hearing it. Watching this destruction, endless and absolute, tore aside her disbelief and replaced it with much, much heavier understanding. Everything that she’d ever worked for, everyone she’d ever known, met, or – impossible for her to admit to herself – cared for was gone.

Her knees went weak, but did not buckle; they, too, seemed to be in shock. Her face was ashen, her arms limp at her sides, her expression still frozen in place. The prickling at her eyes went unnoticed in favor of the tumult in her mind.

She’d been able to handle the idea of herself no longer existing as a separate entity (after all, she would be whole, wouldn’t she?) but the idea that Sora and Roxas, that Riku, that Kairi, Donald, Goofy, the King, everyone else were no longer— she couldn’t even think the word. She was no stranger to death and the threat of it, but still, still--

Why her?

Why her, of all people? Of all Nobodies? What right did she have to be spared? What purpose did she have, beyond finishing the duty to Sora that her failures had put upon her and then going to make Kairi whole? What was Naminé supposed to do? All that time she’d had the answers, or at least answers that she could make herself believe, but now… she was really and truly nothing, without purpose or tie.

Still, she did not break down. She didn’t know how to. She didn’t have the right to. Her body stayed motionless like the shell it was as she tried so hard to figure out whether she wanted to scream, or weep, or laugh, or if she really didn’t want anything at all. In the end, it probably didn’t matter what she did. The only thing that did was that one question, the one that someone else always answered for her.

What now?

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"Naminé then. Nice to meet you." Ven smiled, greeting her properly. He could tell she still seemed to be a bit on edge or something akin, but again, he didn't press it. Hopefully by being friendly she'd loosen up, or at least get used to him enough to tell him what was on her mind.

"Huh?" He was a bit taken back by her question (in and of itself it probably wasn't that unusual, but her interest in it kind of was), but nevertheless answered. "Uh, yeah, one of my other friends showed up a week or so ago. Her name's Aqua. She's taller than me and has short blue hair. You'd like her, she's really nice!"

"It's nice to meet you, too, Ventus." Despite the lingering tension, it seemed genuine enough a statement. The smile was not unexpected, but at the same time it still surprised her; it was weird to see what looked like Roxas' face moving that way. She found herself smiling back, although it wasn't quite a match in strength.

"Aqua...." Oh, she knew that name, alright, although she tried not to let the recognition show. So, Ven wasn't the only one who shouldn't have been able to be there that was. Perhaps it had been silly to be so concerned that everyone was really gone-- it was just so easy to accept that a world had been destroyed when one knew about such things that had already occurred. "...I'm sure that I would."

"Oh, you can call me Ven! 'Ventus' always sounded too uptight to me," He told her, laughing a bit at his own expense. Hope it wasn't too weird for Naminé, 'cause there was going to be plenty of that smiling in the near future, especially if you were going to be hanging around the blonde derp.

He nodded eagerly when she repeated Aqua's name. "You should meet her! She's the only other person from my world that I've met here. I did meet a kid that I met before back in my universe, but he's from a different world than mine." Does he get to be the one doing the info dumping again?! This tower wasn't that bad! "Why do you ask?"

"Alright. Ven, then." She wasn't mocking him, although that strange little smile might have made it hard to tell. It would have been difficult for her not to smile back, even given the circumstances-- someone very much like him had taught her to smile for other people, after all, and to smile for someone with such an infectious grin of their own was all the easier.

"Maybe I'll be able to." That would certainly make this more bearable-- she'd been curious about those three and their master from the beginning. However, the mention of her being the only one from his world was less pleasant news-- though the mention of a universe made it likely that he'd meant his specific world, not the grouping of worlds as a whole. "A kid?" ...Unless he'd woken up in time to go around meeting some other kids, that sounded a little improbable. She knew, of course, that he wasn't the type to lie about something like that, though, so she knew that she could only wait for his response to that. The question, however, made her stiffen internally. It didn't reach her expression past a tiny hint. "Well...."

She couldn't very well say 'I know you're from my universe because I'm a witch who looked through your memories when I didn't realize they were your memories so I was hoping that maybe you could tell me if someone else from our universe was here'. So, instead, "...You... look like someone I know." She glanced away, then forced her eyes back up towards his again, her shoulders raising a minute distance in what might have been intended as a shrug before she added, "I was hoping he might be here." She was trying to smile, as if it was no big deal, but she couldn't help the sadness that crept into her voice.

Ven's infectious grin only got bigger, and he folded his arms behind his head, half out of habit and half out of some sort of odd happy-reflex. If she was mocking him, he wouldn't have known it.

"Yeah. His name's Ienzo. Gray-ish hair, wears a labcoat. I met him on a world called Radiant Garden." Ven has no respect for the don't-tell-people-about-multiple-worlds clause under the Keyblade contract.

Naminé's ambiguous answer-- while normally was something Ven'd just be confused at and ask for clarification-- didn't seem to phase him at all for once. "You mean Roxas?"

...He really was a lot like Sora. Of course, that made sense, considering their connection. In fact, it would probably have been more appropriate to say that Sora was a lot like him.

"--Ienzo?" It was impossible to hide her surprise. So he really hadn't met someone new, which was unsettling. But-- why would Ven call him a kid when he was older than Ven was, now? Not that that would necessary stop him, if he was used to thinking of him as a child, but... still. It made no sense. Zexion was gone. ...Although, she couldn't help remembering his talent for illusions and the number of time an Organization member had faked their death, and it sent a chill creeping down her spine.

Naminé couldn't help gasping quietly, surprised to hear that he knew that name. "Is he here?" She also couldn't help the hope leaking into her voice, or the slight urgency to her tone.

"Yeah. Do you know him?" Ven asked, curious as to her surprise. Maybe she lived at that castle he wasn't allowed into. Man he had wanted to go into that castle. Stupid guards.

He grinned once more at Naminé's tone. He's counting this one as a success! "Yep! He's one of my roommates." A laugh. "We haven't even been here that long and already people around here have been mixing us up. You one of his friends?" He recalled Roxas missing them in some fashion, so if Naminé was one of them, then things were looking up!

Naminé was quiet for a moment as this sunk in, one curled hand coming to rest against her chest, over where her heart would be. That was one great weight off of her shoulders. And if he was here, then... who knew about the others? They'd all been together, after all. "--Yes." It came out a little like a gasp once she realized she'd kept him waiting. "I know him." This princess was in another castle. His, ironically enough. Although, if you count Kairi, then... not too far off.

"I don't know if I can say that." It didn't seem to dampen her happiness at the discovery much, though. "We... it's complicated. But I am glad to know that he's okay. Thank you so much, Ven."

Ven tilted his head in curiosity as Naminé was silent, holding her hand over her chest as if...she was in pain or something? Maybe she was scared or something. He vaguely recalled feeling the same compulsions when he was telling Aqua and Terra about the X-blade. Augh yeah, that's what he needed to be thinking about right now. "Is he uh...not a friend or something?" That scientist guy he had seen with Ienzo was pretty weird, but the kid didn't seem that bad.

"Huh? Why not?" Complicated? Had something happened between them? "Oh, uh, no problem!" And he tried to muster the smile back in spite of his confusion.

More the opposite direction, really. "Well..." How was she supposed to explain such a thing? Apparently still attempting to work this out, she shifted to turn away slightly. "We... haven't gotten the chance to speak much." That's definitely true. "I'd like to think that we could have been-- could be friends, but I... I don't think I have the right to say that we are already." She is clearly not a stalker, just a potential friend.

"Hmm..." He was thinking about this. Since it was kind of confusing the way she worded it, but he got it, he got it. Not talking to people he wanted to talk to was definitely a foreign concept to him, however.

"Maybe you'll get the chance to make friends with him here then!" OK Roxas wasn't the most friendly, but he wasn't a bad guy at all! Just kind of anti-social.

"M... maybe." This thought seemed to be a comforting one, judging by the quiet little smile that ended up on her face. It was a bit strange that he and the others seemed to have gotten here first, but it hadn't occurred to her until just then and frankly, she wasn't inclined to worry about it right that moment. After all, if they'd been rescued so suddenly, it was likely that magic was involved, and perhaps there had been... side-effects, or something? She didn't feel very different, other than the reaction caused by the sudden and frightening knowledge that she really had no idea what she was supposed to do with herself now. That made her smile melt away briefly, but she shoved the thought away and recovered what comfort she'd managed to collect. "How is he doing here?"

"I'm sure you will!" Always the most confident he was. "Maybe that's why we're in this tower in the first place, to make new friends." He would come to that conclusion, wouldn't he. Friendship freak.

"He was kind of freaked out when he met me," fooooor obvious reasons, "but i think he's been able to make some friends. And he's not freaking out at least." From, what Ven could tell. Totally not bringing up the whole popsicle thing and all.

It would probably be silly to believe that ~~since it WAS Ven who said it~~ but it was a nice thought. As for them being put in a tower to make friends, "But why would someone go through that much trouble just to give people friends?" Naminé, why are you asking Ven this? You should know better.

She smiled just slightly, well aware of those obvious reasons. "Weren't you?" Although probably not as much so, knowing the both of them. "...Good. He deserves them."

"I dunno. Some other weird cosmic plot?" It's always some weird cosmic plot. "Or maybe they just want to show people other worlds! Some kind of intergalactic friendship!" That might have been the dorkiest thing he's ever said, but in his mind, the point still stands. Friends are awesome.

"Hm." He had to think about this for a minute. "Heh, I guess so. But I was sort of out of it when I first woke up," being unconscious for 10+ years will do that to ya, "so I guess I didn't really think about it that much." A chuckle. Truly only Ven could meet a doppleganger and not freak the hell out.

Always cosmic plots, always. "...This isn't all one world?" There seemed to be weird discrepancies, but still. "Do they... let us visit other worlds?" Because this does not sound very captorly and/or protective.

"Out of it?" Naminé couldn't help wondering if it was something she should look into, or at least that she should make sure to watch out for anything odd starting to happen. It was the least she could do-- and... as much as she didn't want to admit it, it would be nice to have a definite purpose, at least for a little while.

Stupid cosmic plots ruin everything. "Um, I think you can see the 'remains' of other worlds." Air quotes and all. "They don't let us visit, but maybe, sort of show us the worlds through other people? It would at least explain why there's so many different people here." Ven is losing his grip on his own theory. Derp.

"Yeah," He gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of his head, almost embarrassed. "Before I got here, I was in this big fight and after that I fell asleep." How would people around here react if he said that he had technically destroyed his own heart? Best not to bring that up with most people. "I think I was asleep for a long time, because it felt weird to be awake again. And when I was awake, I felt like I was still fighting for a minute."

They also start everything, too. Naminé tilted her head. She didn't seem particularly inclined to believe that theory, but she also wasn't inclined to laugh at him for trying. She watched him flounder, but smiled a gentle and judgementless smile. "Maybe." The smile faded as she worked through some theories of her own. "...Do they ask us to do things?"

"A long time...." Despite her attempts to avoid bringing up what she knew, she couldn't help but look... pitying? How in the world could she bring something like that up? Did it even matter, now that he was awake again? Would he be upset? ...Well, anyone would be upset about something like what had happened to him. "What woke you up? Do you know?"

They really need to stop messing around in the business of mortals. Ven gave another chuckle of embarrassment; he was glad at least that Naminé didn't make fun of him for flopping. "Um, I don't think so. At least not while I've been here, or at least not from me."

He saw the look of...pity? and quickly rushed to reassure her, shaking his hands a bit and grinning. "It probably wasn't that long! It just felt like awhile." Then again he, wasn't sure what he had been expecting. Had he been expecting to even wake up again? Or had he just expected it to be like a nap. Hm.. "I don't know. I just remember waking up here after some of my other roommates woke up." He added with a shrug after a moment of thought.

"Hm...." The answer in the negative seemed to only have given her a little bit of comfort. "And you've been here... how long, now?" Her face was serious, as if this information was important, somehow. On her part, she hoped to collect more evidence before announcing a theory.

"...." That look didn't go away, despite his efforts. She knew it was probably a bad thing to say, but... the idea of leaving him to a delusion like that was somehow upsetting. She couldn't commit to the idea of telling him everything, but... surely she could nudge him in the right direction, couldn't she? "You might have been asleep longer than you think you were." She forced her face into a small smile and, as if she hadn't said anything the moment before, added in a more relaxed voice, "Your roommates?" accompanied by a very slight headtilt.

"About a month I think," He answered, once again taking a moment or so to think. "Why?" Was she figuring something out? Given the look on her face, it was probably a better theory than his..

"H...Huh?" Naminé seemed to be a worrier, but that certainly wasn't the answer that he was suspecting. His brow knit in concern as he frowned just slightly. Did, she know something he didn't...? "What do you mean?"

"--O-Oh, uh yeah. Roxas and this guy named Eiji." ~~Let's not talk about that though.~~

She lowered her eyes to the ground as if searching for more evidence there. "I...." If she couldn't tell him about himself, how could she tell him about her own history? "...I'm just trying to figure out what might be going on." Oops, guess it's obvious she doesn't believe his theory now. "If it's been this long and they haven't asked for anything, then...." She trailed off, then shook her head. "Has anything else happened? Anything strange?" You know, besides transworld kidnapping.

She responded to the second thing he said quickly, in order to avoid answering the first thing. "Eiji?" No, no memory of that name. "What's he like?" ~~They both have things they don't want to talk about and one of them's probably going to lose one way or another.~~

"Hmm...." He crossed his arms, thinking a bit about what could be going on. Admittedly he doubted his own theory was spot-on-- but he wasn't dismissing the possibility! "Well, there was a blackout for a week or so. Only the lights in the room were working and everything was shutdown. And these...ghosts showed up." Urrrrrggghhhh let's not talk about that either. "I don't think that was part of their plan though."

"Um...." ~~Naminé why you dodge questions~~ "He's...uh, nice." Ven's frown was pretty prominent by now. He didn't want to blame the guy, but....

"C-Come on, what did you mean? How long have I been asleep...?!" Ven looked at Naminé straight on, not waiting for a reply to his previous comment and changing the subject again. He sounded almost panicked. What about Master Eraqus? And the Lost Boys? He had told Herc and Zack he'd be back to see them become heroes...!

"Ghosts?" Naminé is talented at bringing up awful things. A whole week? That was a long time to go without light. ~~How did anyone get down all those stairs to get food?!~~ "Why don't you think it was part of their plan?" Besides him being Ven.

"...." She straightened up slightly, staring back at him with the most inscrutable expression she could manage, although that pitying look was still lurking in her eyes. That panic... was exactly what she'd wanted to avoid. She wished she could say something like 'how should I know?', if only to save him further pain, but perhaps she was already in too deep, and besides that... she didn't know if she had it in her to lie to him. Not when she knew what he'd been through, and not when he looked so much like someone else she already knew had been hurt by the lies he'd been told so often. Still... perhaps it would be better to hear it from a friend? "...Ven... have you talked to Aqua about it?"

"Yeah.... They... kind of...." How does words "They looked like people you knew. I don't really know what was going on, but I think I almost passed out around one of them." S-Sigh. "The people that owned the tower, I think they were just as confused, or something went wrong." He didn't know how to work a computer really, but he had figured that much out.

Her silence almost scared Ven into retreat, as the panic somehow became even more scared as the silence wore on. "A-Aqua? No, I...she didn't bring anything up. She just asked if I was alright."

<3

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