towerofanimus | 003: Post Whale Depression (Backdated after Space Whale Event)

Entry tags:

003: Post Whale Depression (Backdated after Space Whale Event)

Characters: Cross Blanchard and You
Setting: Anywhere
Format: I'll match
Summary: Cross has noticed on the Network that people were killed (shocker) and is feeling a bit down about that.
Warnings: Nothing just sad

Anywhere
[ The whole whale thing is over now, thankfully. But not without a cost. The tower is in shambles and only a tiny part of it remains unbroken. Cross knew he tried his best to try and help everyone he could, sadly, he knew his best just wasn't good enough.

He only just found out that a couple hours after the whale thing that a lot of people did in fact, die and get revived. Sure, he was told death wasn't permanent here, but he could only just imagine how people felt about being killed. He was feeling even worse about offering himself up as a willing sacrifice for that stupid collar survey. Man, he really needed to shut up sometimes.

He just made things worse for others and he couldn't do anything about it. He was powerless here. Okay, he could fight, big whoop. But witnessing all those people perform otherworldly phenomenon just made the same fact he knew sink in. He was useless. Utterly, positively, useless. Currently, he is just lying down staring up at the ceiling wherever. ]

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[ To a trained soldier (of sorts) like Sertoria was, fighting in that event was secondhand to her and she reacted like she normally did: she kept pressing onward to focus on better things. It was a sad way of thinking, but it helped in the long run.

Although, she understood that not everyone was a soldier here - some were kids, for example - and she had to try to see it from their view instead of her own. That was all a part of becoming human.

So, as she goes into the cafeteria to observe, she notices Cross laying down and wonders what's up. Was he sick or did he pass out? Well, whatever the case may be, she'll come up to him and kneel down beside him. ]

It is a shame we do not have stars to look under.

[Cross has been ignoring everything for the most part. He wanted to picture himself alone for the moment so he could try and sort out his feelings.

But he couldn't do that anymore when a certain android he met came down beside him. Looking over, he offered a smile, but it was a vain attempt at one.]

Yeah, kind of boring looking a ceiling.

[ Oh, she knows that smile, Cross. So, her eyes will offer him that look that she knows he's hurting, but her lips will form a slight smile. ]

Do you mind sharing what ails you? I am...experienced in giving that sort of look and also receiving it.

H-huh? What are you talking about? I'm completely fine, see?

[Cross soon leaps onto his feet and shows her his arm and mechanical arm and legs. He's trying to deflect her question as if she were asking if he was injured.]

See? No cuts or bruises anywhere. My arm is a bit dented up, but I can fix that later.

[ See this look, Cross? It is a look that means she's not buying his lie.

At all.

Try again. ]

Your emotions are hurting. I can tell by your deflection.

[Crap, does she have a built in lie detector or something?

He sighs, rubbing the back of his head as he looks up at her like he's a kicked puppy.]

Is it really that obvious?

[ More or less, she is very old and has seen some bad things in life.

She decides to relent a little, but the mechanical part of her is still there. ]

Affirmative. You are bad at lying.

[Cross will pout a little at that statement.]

H-hey, I'm not that bad! I mean, okay I guess it's not okay to lie but I'll be fine. I just needed to be alone for a bit.

Please answer my question honestly: Is it better to be alone with your thoughts or is it better to try to work through whatever problems you have with others who can offer advice?

[Damn it, why'd she have to go and say that? He's always for getting people to talk about their problems with him. It's just how he was, caring more about others than he did himself. But now that she was asking him this he couldn't just go and lie. He'd be a hypocrite to what he often tired to do for others.]

It's better to have others to work through your problems, but...

[ Her hand will raise and she'll rest it on his shoulder. Even though her eyes are still cold, she tries to show that same warmth that works through her voice in them. ]

But, you do not wish to burden others with your problems, correct? You would rather suffer in silence with whatever is troubling you and try to deal with your issues alone - all because you do not wish to worry others.

It is noble and I will give you that, though the more you close yourself off, the more you will be worrying others and the problems will escalate that much further. You do not wish to do that, correct?

[Listening to her words, Cross lets out a sigh of discontent. Hanging his head, he shakes it slowly. He's never good with the thing people call logic. But, what she says makes complete sense. He'd just be an even bigger pain if he didn't talk about it probably.

He brings a hand to his face, trying to think of what to say to argue to that. But no. She was right of course.]

No...no I don't. I don't want to be a bother to anyone.

[ That's the thing with androids: logic tends to power them through any scenarios in life and this is one of them. Sertoria watches Cross react to her words and takes him into a hug. After all, that's what people do in these situations. ]

I can try to help you out to the best of my ability. Let us just say that I have been there and it is not pleasant to feel lonely.

[ That's why she wants friends and to not be turned away. It's hard to get them with the title she has, though. ]

[The hug is a little bit shocking, cause he didn't think that was going to happen. But he lets it happen. He's going to be kind of a dead fish for a moment before he hugs her back. She may be made of metal and stuff but the thought of getting a hug is comforting.]

Thanks...

[And Cross will be her friend. He wants them too after all.]

[ She didn't really expect to be hugged back, however it's very welcoming since - hey - she's rarely had a fair share of hugs herself. Her hand moves to rub at his back to show that she's there for him. ]

Do not mention it. I am...happy to be of service.

Now, are you comfortable sharing what has you down?

[Cross doesn't really know where to start. Breaking away from the hug, he takes a seat on some rubble nearby. He's trying to find the words right now, but they're hard. He'll just have to spill it.]

It's just, I heard people...died, during this whole craziness. And I-

[He's already lost the words and just falls silent.]

*The fifth floor - the site of the final showdown. Looking at the furniture strewn around the place, viewing stations ripped apart and security hub in chaos, some remains of monsters still visible amongst the mess....

Enoch has to pause on his floor as he climbs the tower to survey the damage. He steps off the staircase, picking his way through the mess. He hadn't followed the monsters he'd been fighting when they were called to the fifth floor, against his better judgment. He was simply too tired. Given what remains were there, part of him was glad he hadn't seen it, and yet...he was curious all the same, how their hosts had managed to defeat the creatures.

That's when he comes across a man he hasn't met in this mess, lying down. Here of all places? The meadow floor, he might think he was simply relaxing, but...he might be injured.*

Are you all right?

[Cross continued to lie in the rubble. He had checked the meadow floor, and like most of the others it had been torn apart and not looking very pretty. A place like here, one so marred and broken, yeah, that was better for his mood right now. He could convince himself to be happy again, at least for a little while.

His moment of contemplation ends when he hears a man's voice nearby. Turning his head, the young boy sits up and looks at him.]

Yeah, I'm okay. Just lying around really.

*Needless to say, Enoch isn't buying that one.*

Here?

[Cross needs to come up with better excuses.]

Uhhhh, yeah. I thought it was a nice place to lie down you know?

[With that he let out a nervous chuckle, waving his hand dismissively.]

*...No kidding. Enoch's expression is nothing but sympathetic.*

What troubles you?

[Crap, is he as paper thin to read to everyone?]

It's...it's nothing really. I'll be okay.

[His expression says the exact opposite though. Because, dealing with the fact that people died is not a fun thing to go through. Especially for someone so new to the tower and hadn't experienced people dying here until now.]

*Even if the excuse hadn't been absolutely horrible, Enoch's pretty empathetic. He hesitates at the young man's insistence. He clearly wants to be left alone, and part of him wants to do so - the half-effective guard against becoming close to people, the jaded immortal.

But he's also, again, empathetic. The sight of obvious distress makes him want to remedy it.

It's in this conflict that he stands there, giving Cross a look as if to ask if he's sure.*

[That look the man is giving him just says it all. He's still not buying Cross's act and it doesn't seem like lying anymore is going to help the situation, whatsoever. Sighing a bit, the boy rubs his head, focusing on the ground.]

I just...I dunno...with all that's happened and finding out people died...

[Is he giving off Newbie auras yet?]

*There we go. Enoch's expression relaxes and softens.*

I know. An event like this can be disturbing.

*He sits down, himself, careful of the stray rubble.*

How long have you been here?

[Cross is just curling up into a ball a little, his knees at his chin as he grips his legs, looking on to Enoch.]

I dunno, I lost count. A couple of months maybe? At least since the power was out throughout the whole tower and we had to find our own food.

*So he probably knows about the death thing already.*

I know that dying here can be painful, and painful to see...

I didn't really see it...I just heard about it. But it's still not good to hear.

I know... All we can do is be grateful it isn't permanent, that their lives didn't end before their time.

*He knows what hollow reassurance that is, and reaches out to put a hand on Cross's arm.*

[Did someone order a high octane dose of ~~psychotic~~ optimism? I think you did, sir! Kafuka peers at Cross for a long moment before walking over to where he is. She's back to her usual clothes and self, which means that's a mighty short skirt that just appeared in your peripheral vision, Cross, connected to the concerned looking girl bending over to put her face above yours.]

Eh, are you okay?

Edited 2012-08-23 07:24 (UTC)

[Oh boy, oh boy! Optimism!? His favourite dish of the day! ~~Except maybe the cray cray part.~~ But, if one expects Cross to suddenly get all flustered at seeing a short skirt, it won't happen. He's dense like that.

But, seeing the girl, Cross looks up at the girl who is now looking over him]

Uh, yeah, I'm okay?

[He's just a bit weirded out by this a bit though.]

What about you? Are you okay?

That's good!

[She smiles brightly at him, before bending down to crouch next to him. Because this is a thing you do while wearing the shortest skirt ever. Right.]

I'm fine, thank you! What are you doing?

[Getting into a sitting position, Cross looks to the crouching girl. He lets out a nervous laugh at her question. How's he supposed to answer that?]

I waaaaaaaaaaas...just taking a nap!

[It's such a horrible lie that he knows it probably won't hold up.]

[heeeeeeeeeeeadtilt.]

Really? Can you teach me how to take a nap with my eyes open?

[she sounds so earnest about it, too]

[He forgot about the part where he had his eyes open. Wow, terrible lie. But she was buying into it, wasn't she? Of course.]

Well, you see, my eyes were closed, but I heard you coming so you woke me up! See?

[Oh, she doesn't buy it for a minute, but she's good at lying. She's good at not being who she is.]

Aaaah, I see.

[A blink.]

I'm sorry, should I leave you alone?

Nah, it's okay. It's boring being alone.

[Just don't question how he's feeling right now.]

[Heeeeeeeeeeeadtilt.]

Would you like some company, then?

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003: Post Whale Depression (Backdated after Space Whale Event)

[ cafeteria, if that's all right with you? ]

No, get out. /yes it's totally fine XD

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sorry if i point the mechanical thing out a lot

It's cool.

Re: It's cool.

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Floor five?

Re: Floor five?

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Cathedral... because the ceiling is nice to look at!

Always a nice thing to look at

XD

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