OO1 >> wake up, notice your world's gone boom, and eat breakfast.

[altitonant_emperor]

Characters: Hidetoshi, 03-02 roomies, and people who want to interact with this here dude.
Setting: Room 03-02, and then various tower floors.
Format: Either.
Summary: Hidetoshi comes to what he can only assume is either an elaborate hoax or an insane new reality. Apparently he somehow slept through the apocalypse.
Warnings: NO... THING? At the moment at least, besides possible mentions of death and world destruction? Anything else I'll add as needed.


[ SCENARIO A || DORMITORY LEVELS: ROOM 03-02 ]

When Hidetoshi jolted awake, he can't move. When he opened his mouth to demand answers, he can't speak. He doesn't count the seconds as they trickle by, uselessly fixated on forcing his rigid arms to move or his leaden legs to respond. When they finally do, he sat bolt upright with a groan, taking deep breaths and tried to ignore the slight headache behind his temples.

Hidetoshi looked around and considered the very real possibility he'd lost his mind.

"What is this—"

The words were said tightly from between his teeth before snatching up the two letters and reading through them. His forehead creased into a scowl, not truly understanding what was written there. How could he? The whole idea was an extreme concept to process.

And then it hit him. Your world has been destroyed. I saved you. Let's all be happy here.

Your world has been destroyed.

Your world has been destroyed.

Your world.

Destroyed.

Let's all be happy here.

His movements felt automated as he sat down hard on the edge of the bad, flicking back a loose tuft of hair out of old habit, rereading the contents of the letter scornfully at first, and then with dawning surprise that quickly went to baffled shock before morphing into a dull denial.

The world had ended and Hidetoshi hadn't the slightest inkling or how it had, or more importantly, why. This had to be some sort of elaborate hoax, a cheap prank played on him by some of those student he'd pissed off earlier in the school year. But that explanation for this... this lunacy doesn't explain how they managed to get this tacky collar on him or transport him to this ridiculous sci-fi layout, or even how they could have knocked him without him remembering it. Hidetoshi had checked over himself for any visible marks of injury or bruises, but nothing had turned up. He was physically in good condition.

"Tch."

So, when Hidetoshi's new roommates come back to their room, they will find this hardass just sitting down on one of the beds, looking bemusedly down at the two letters in his hand, and kinda twitching angrily every now and then in confusion. He'll have already changed back into the Gekkoukan high school uniform.

Oh, and his truck's open but the contents haven't been disturbed much.


[ SCENARIO B || FLOOR 1: CAFETERIA ]

There's a grouchy-looking teenager with dark gray hair and a yellow armband, seated at one of the tables mechanically through his bowl of oatmeal, black-uniformed arms curled around his meal as he eats slowly in the manner of someone who woke much too early for school and was still half asleep, unable to register what he is eating beyond putting it into his mouth and swallowing hungrily. The unfocused way he stares down at the table and confused aura hovering around his shoulders practically screams, "Newbie right here, what the everloving hell is going on here?"

Hidetoshi is largely thinking about how bland and tasteless the oatmeal is, but at this point the grumble of his empty stomach is overwriting the lack of quality in how nasty it tastes. He can't devote much brainpower to thinking right at the moment.


[ SCENARIO C || FLOOR 38: LOUNGE ]

Hidetoshi is standing close to the giant stretch of clear glass that serves as this floor's idea of walls, arms folded comfortably across his chest as he looked out at the vast ocean of fog far below where he is standing. He wondered where his parents, his classmates, his teachers, his friends have gone right now, and if the letter wasn't a fat packet of malicious lies, if they'd felt anything when the dimension gave out like so much cheap paper around them. Or if they had survived and been rescued like the admins of this tower so cockily claim he had been from the devastation, if they're alive, if they're well, or if they're... dead. There is a chance they lived.

But while he's being realistic... They're probably dead.

Ah, he wished he'd had the chance to make amendments with his father. So much for that.

His eyes closed, and he rubbed the palm of his hand against his forehead. Damnit.

Comments

cafeteria

[puppy_lancer]

Huh...another new kid.

[Lancer glances down at the confused boy. There sure were a lot of new people coming in recently.]

Re: cafeteria

[altitonant_emperor]

[ Hidetoshi looks up at the sound of a new voice. Blinks slowly, chewed, then swallows his lump of oatmeal quickly. ]

Hello. I suppose you're not the person I should be asking if this is a crude prank made in ill taste?

Re: cafeteria

[puppy_lancer]

Nope. I still don't know if this Tower is a prank, but it's crude and the taste is shit.

[altitonant_emperor]

Wonderful. [ Hidetoshi was caught between being confused and being highly skeptical, and just went for both at the same time. ]

The letters I received upon arrival left much to the imagination, but they were... [ probably a gigantic pack of falsehoods? He'd honestly rather they were, but. There's no evidence to disprove them, besides how the heck do you destroy an entire world anyway. ] They informed me the world has been destroyed.

Lounge

[evokingfool]

As he entered this floor, his light footsteps can be heard. But they stopped suddenly, their owner pausing to stare at the familiar looking figure.

"Hidetoshi...?"

To say it very lightly, Minato was surprised to see his friend here. It's one thing to see other Persona-users, because they can defend themselves. But to see Hidetoshi here? And it's truly him, when Barong of the Emperor Arcana stirred in his mind.

Surprise, and then protective worries was what he's feeling. The tower was dangerous, very much so with the nightly monsters and monthly "games". He should try to protect him, his friend. With the sheathed sword by his hip and his holstered evoker.

Re: Lounge

[altitonant_emperor]

It's the sound of quiet footsteps that alerts him to someone else's approach, and Hidetoshi removed his head from his forehead before he glanced over his shoulder to check who it is. It's just as the newcomer called out his name Hidetoshi saw a familar boy with headphones and dark hair, one who walked around with a slouch and also happened to be very much dead. There'd been a memorial service and everything.

Hidetoshi froze in place, arms stiff and rigid at his sides and eyes wide. To use a terrible cliche, he looked like he'd seen a ghost. A ghost wearing headphones. But he'd know that terrible posture anywhere. But... Congratutlations, Minato, this is probably the first time in your life you've ever seen Hidetoshi look flat-out flabbergasted.

"M-minato-kun?"

He's shocked enough the holstered (seemingly loaded) gun and sword sheathed at his friend's side slip right past his notice at the moment, his attention entirely taken up by the fact Minato wasn't dead. Which was impossible. Because you see, when people die, they stay dead.

Re: Lounge

[evokingfool]

Yes, this would be the first time Minato saw Hidetoshi look so flabbergasted. If this was any other situation, he would quietly enjoy the sight with a small smile.

"...Yes, it's me, Hidetoshi-kun."

But they're in this tower. After his initial surprise, Minato started taking note of his Hidetoshi's reactions. From what he learned from other people, he can easily guess why Hidetoshi reacted like this. His friend was from a time where he's dead. This would be...somewhat awkward.

Lounge

[altitonant_emperor]

The flabbergasted expression stays locked firmly in place for a several moments as he looks at Minato before slowly morphing into a sort of pained hesitation mixed into a fine dose of confusion, and then into a polite blank-faced look that said loudly and clearly he had no idea of how to react to this.

"... Considering you're..." He stopped. Cleared his throat. It wasn't that hard to say it. "You're..."

For goodness' sake, it wasn't that hard to spit out. After all they'd only known each other one school year before his friend's sudden death on the school's rooftop and he was aware that he was not considered one of Minato's closer friends such as Yukari or that moron Junpei. "Currently decreased, Minato-kun, forgive me for having difficulties believing that."

cafeteria

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[There is a robot leaning over your shoulder, Hidetoshi.]

You alright? Y' ain't lookin' too good.

Re: cafeteria

[altitonant_emperor]

Hm? [ He jerks his head up, startled at the new voice since Hidetoshi hadn't heard anybody approaching and... kinda stares for a second or two. Girl, what is with that getup. ] I'm fine. Just... tired and annoyed, I suppose. This oatmeal tastes awful.

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Oh, sorry.

[She sat down a short distance away, looking curious.]

...What's it taste like?

[altitonant_emperor]

[ What is so interesting about eating oatmeal Hidetoshi doesn't know even if he doesn't mind someone to talk to. But he wrinkled his nose a little at the mention of the oatmeal's taste; ]

Rather like... wet sawdust soaked in milk, I'd say. Very bland.

3-02, he dont care if he ain't your roomie

[nodeviations]

One of Jay's more obsessive tendencies was trying to keep track of the tower census. After spending so long in his ruined world, it made more sense than sitting, sulking, or waiting- even if he'd had very poor luck actually dealing with people. Even still, he'd made sure to leave his jacket and bells in his room, padding quietly down the halls like a proper ninja, only stopping to record name changes on the dorm rooms, and occasionally peeking his head in to see if he could snoop.

Given there was someone in this room, that was a 'no' to rifling through trunks though. Damn. Time to put on his whoops-Im-innocent face!

"Ah, excuse me, I didn't know he wasn't here."

3-02, are you breaking the rules jay

[altitonant_emperor]

"—Um?"

Hidetoshi's eyes widened subtly in surprise then flickered upward from where he had been inspecting the paper in hopes of finding a signature or any other identifying mark of some sort, at the new voice when the smaller (uh, young girl? young boy?) spoke up. He hadn't heard any sound or indication of any footsteps approaching the room, so why hadn't he noticed... ? He must not have been paying the proper amount of attention.

Hidetoshi corrected his slouched posture, straightening up and placing the letters down in his lap before fixing his gaze on the person in the odd garb.

"Were you looking for someone?"

psshhh, welcome to tower yolomus, brosef

[nodeviations]

"Ah, yes- he was staying in this room before. I noticed his name wasn't on the door any more, but I wanted to be sure..." And a very carefully faced frown, for emphasis. But he needed to change the damn topic quickly 'cos like hell he actually knew anyone that was even on this floor.

"Are you a new arrival? I didn't mean to startle you."

i bet hidetoshi was one of the guys who just ragequits whenever he hears #YOLO

[altitonant_emperor]

"... My condolences for his departure." Briskly spoken, as the entire concept of empathy is not something that comes to the high school perfect naturally. Hidetoshi didn't see anything amiss with the swift moving along of the topic by the black-haired person and goes along with the topic change readily, even as he makes note of the fact it is possible to leave the tower somehow.

He nodded and held up one of the letters from his lap. "Yes, apparently I am. You're another... resident of this tower then, I take it?"

3-02, upon return there is a roomie.....

[neverbeamemory]

[Following Brief Exploration he returns to the dorm. Not expecting anyone else to be there despite the fact there are three other people's names on the screen outside the door. 'What are you doing here?' is an irrelevant question with that in mind, but this roommate is just a kid. What's that even supposed to mean in this context?

Either way, it's not relevant - just because they have to share the room isn't going to make him any more inclined to being social. The kid is given a slight glance before Sephiroth heads to his section of their dorm and commences round two of scrutinizing the letters]

3-02, can i just mention find it so amusing that hidetoshi is roomies with two major antagonists

[altitonant_emperor]

[ At the noise of someone returning to the dorm room, he looks up to see an imposing man with the cold, haughty bearing of a soldier or some brand of royalty, in his early thirties, and with strangely long silvery hair, walking in. He can't claim to be bothered that the man seems to harbor no interest in social interaction and only coolly glances at him once before retreating to his section of the plain room. He returns his attention back to the letters clutched in his hands.

But after maybe fifteen or so minutes of silence muffled only by the sound of shifting his weight on the bed and turning the papers over in his hands, Hidetoshi breaks the quiet; ]

... Excuse me; do your letters mention anything about the destruction of your world?

[ Excellent conversation starter for talking with your genocidal roommate, dude, Hidetoshi. ]

Re: 3-02, i know right. This'll be all sorts of weird!

[neverbeamemory]

[For anyone else the silence would have been awkward, pregnant even, at best. However he has nothing to share with the smaller guy and so they just sit, reading their letters.

Eventually, inevitably words broke the silence. Sephiroth was about done with committing what seemed important to memory Collar check-ups? Yea right. anyway and so looked up and across their dormitory. Kid alright; well maybe not as young as he had assumed when he first glanced over in that direction but still young as it tends to show in the face of mid-to-late teens. Polite as well it seemed; that was not expected, however he did seem to be wearing some sort of uniform...]

...What of it, if they do?

[Long pause preceeding the reply; he wasn't about to give anything to do with himself away in terms of what he may or may not know about this place]

cafeteria just gonna throw another antagonist at him yeah

[morituramfides]

Really, he could never eat in the cafeteria without someone making a stupid outburst, it seemed. And here he was just trying to enjoy-- ok well not enjoy, but consume his pumkin-themed meal.

"Looks like another moron's making an ass of himself in the Cafeteria to me."

aww yis i am cool with this

[altitonant_emperor]

He was in the midst of spooning up and eating another lump of tasteless oatmeal when the other person seated at the same table as him spoke up, cool and mocking or just plain annoyed by the racket. The words snapped his unfocused attention right back down to earth from his woolgathering with a jolt.

He swallowed quickly.

"Pardon?"

[morituramfides]

"You." He gestured at the other was his own spoon (though at least he didn't have to eat that crap oatmeal again.)

"Sit down and shut up. If you missed the destruction of the world spiel, then I'd have to congratulate you on the extents of your stupidity."

Aaand then he went and nonchalantly took a few sips of his soup. Though he didn't seem all that enthusiastic about it.

Cafeteria || This'll be fun and confusing-

[fractus_animus]

[ Minato only came here when he had to. Though he's actually coming here more often than not to... steal dry or freezable ingredients and save them for when he knows they won't have food. (AKA next time they have a "WE PISSED IN JASON'S CORNFLAKES HA HA HA" party, basically.)

Usually he wouldn't bother talking to the new people here because one, socializing is still something he's getting used to even after a year, and two, he hates explaining this place--it gets old. He's just not in the mood with it being October.

Fucking October.

But it's the Gekkoukan uniform that summons his curiosity--wasn't that Minami's school? ]

... You're from Gekkoukan, right?

[ Was he one of Minami's friends...? Ironically, he'd be a bit more hostile this time last year, but since learning she was his sister and since all that's happened with this place... er, happened, Minato's TRYING not to be too antagonistic. Kind of a shame he can't say the same for Jin. ]

Cafeteria || Fantastic~

[altitonant_emperor]

[ Hidetoshi was at this point scraping out the last dregs of oatmeal off the bottom of the bowl with the spoon. The menu here was deplorable, he thought to himself. Even worse than the school lunches. Consuming nothing but pumpkin didn't sound very appetizing or healthy to him.

But when he hears the name of his school, "Gekkoukan", Hidetoshi mentally perks up a little (there was mounting testimony and possible evidence that the world hadn't ended after all, he was feeling a little better in regards to that) and forces down the last bite of oatmeal before saying confidently: ]

Yes, I am—

[ And he actually takes a good look at whoever he's speaking, and well. Enjoy the fact that this guy is staring at at Minato like he's are either a.) a ghost in desperate need of exorcism or b.) like Minato just unexpectedly whopped him a real good one square in the stomach and he's reeling from the force of it. ] —Minato-kun?

if by fantastic you mean "this will be terrible most likely" then yes

[fractus_animus]

[ ... Well, that. Sure was a reaction he wasn't expecting, ha... ha. Said Minato is wearing his winter attire. It is probably fairly worth note that he doesn't look quite as healthy as he probably should which won't help Hidetoshi's concern much.

Actually at present he's just got a soda he's going to use to take some medication with before deciding maybe to sit down near Hidetoshi--he has a feeling this'll be a long morning anyway. ... And Thanatos, shut up. ]

... Sorry, do I... know you, somehow...?