towerofanimus | #2 -- "A faint shimmering..."

Characters: Commander Shepard, Nanako Dojima, and later Yu Narukami / Commander Shepard and the rest of you crazies.
Setting: Dorm, then she'll be around the tower. November 1st onwards.
Format: Action; I'll match you.
Summary: The aftermath of the Halloween event. Shepard visits with a certain bowlcut, before heading off into the tower to see not only the rest of the tower, but its new floors.
Warnings: Mentions of mutilation, and lots of body horror imagery. Will update as needed.

[...So that was it, huh. No more people turned into their costumes and corrupted to such a hair-raising degree.

It was crazy how this place seemed no different than her home galaxy at times. Granted, considering that the tower itself was a magnet for all sorts of people, good or bad, it was probably not as much of a surprise...but what she'd witnessed for all of those two weeks was horrific--especially what happened to Yu. It reminded her of what happened to people impaled on the Reapers' Dragon's Teeth; the slow transformation from normal person with a family to nightmare and enemy to all life, from pink to steel gray, from organic to synthetic...from human to mutilated abomination, whose 'organs' were in plain sight, and whose mouth was filled to the brim with exposed 'wiring' that looked--no, felt disgusting to even watch at. Not that it ever bothered her, but any other person would be absolutely freaked.

But that didn't matter anymore, since it seemed like it was over already. Good. That's one more worry knocked off her head. But then, that leaves the boy she'd only met over the last month... had he finally changed back? If everyone else she'd run into that was costumed did, then surely he did too, right? Well, she could hope. That's why when she wakes up that morning, she sits there and waits for Nanako to wake up.

When she does...]

Hey. You want to go see if your brother's alright?

[Once that visit's done and over with, she heads off into the rest of the tower. She could be found anywhere on the first or third blocks--more likely the latter, checking out the new floors--especially the observatory on the 45th.]

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[Hello there, not!kid. :| She gives the cat an acknowledging glance, before focusing on Yu for a sec.

...He looks quite a bit worse off than he's letting on. Maybe she should ask about that later...]

Mind if we come in?

[Nanako wasn't being that nice, though she'd probably apologize for that later. Her brother was okay... he was okay, and he was holding an adorable kitten. Clearly, he totally deserved to have her latching herself around his waist, holding him as tight as she could.]

Of- [oof-- oh no, sudden koala attack! o:] -course.

[Yu blinks. ...Okay, aside from the initial surprise of suddenly bitty koala, he didn't mind her not being that nice. Really, he was going to move aside so they could both come in when she decided 'nope, going to cling now.' Well, at least he's courteous enough to move a little so Shepard can come in? At least before the kitten decides that since he wasn't going to get his nap, might as well hope down and sit down near his bed and stretch. Meanwhile, he simply bends down and holds Nanako close.]

It's okay, Nanako... The scarier things are gone, now. [Well, the other 'rescued' aren't the kinds of scary they shouldn't be, anymore. Shh, it's okay his true self really isn't that bad. Though they both are a lot more powerful then they were back home...] Are you alright?

[What is caring about how he is? No, seriously. What even is that, having a naginata sticking out of your chest was totally normal yesterday.]

[In she goes, then--she plops down on the empty bed, not even the slightest bit ladylike about her demeanor, watching them quietly for a while.

The lack of concern for himself sticks out, though--it's something she files away for when they have time to themselves.] Could have been worse out there. I'm just glad it didn't turn out that way.

...Sorry for screwing up. [She doesn't say what it is--having the knowing feeling that he's got an idea of what she's apologizing for.]

Edited 2012-11-08 15:39 (UTC)

[Nanako wasn't crying -- no, really, she wasn't. She thought she would, considering what happened had been pretty horrible, and she wanted to be sad about everything that had happened, but she wasn't crying. And of course, her brother was more worried about her than he was about himself... she needed to fix that.]

[She clung to him tighter, tugging at his shirt as if scolding him.]

I'm fine. I'm more worried about you, onii-chan.

[She may not be now, but he likely would have for the both of them if he could. However, nothing came... Mostly because he wouldn't give Ruana the satisfaction of seeing him break down again. Maybe that's why hejust clung to her back, glad he could hide his expression from her... but not so much from Shepard.

It had sucked, definitely, and he hated being turned like that against his friends and family. But...]

I'm alright, Nanako.

[Not as good as he was back home, but considering the place they're in now, he knows how to adapt and just take the pain before changing it to something better. So scold him all you want, imouto-chan. He more than likely deserves it.]

It's just a memory, now...

[He looks up at Shepard's comment, though--surprised by the apology. His grip on his little cousin loosens as he shakes his head.]

No, don't be. I should be thanking you. [Oddly enough, he smiles--however faint it may be.] If you two hadn't shown up when you did, there would have been a lot more apologies to make.

[It's kind of lame, being able to take Lucifer and so many other demons and gods within you and... yeah. Have another hair ruffle, Nanako.]

Thank you, Nanako... Commander Shepard. ...Though that was a nasty punch, considering.

[Did you know he's actually pretty strong to almost all elements? ...Yeah, oops. Still going to be feeling that for a good week.]

Well, if you're sure about that...then I suppose there wasn't much point being sorry in the first place. [Her expression lightens a little...and one could swear there was a grin when she hears of how bad that punch winded him.]

I didn't hit you that hard, did I?

[...Shepard pls. Considering you went full throttle and Adrenaline Rush punched the poor kid, he is pretty banged up from that.]

[Nanako loosened her grip on her brother, shuffling to his side, though not quite letting go of him. She didn't want to let go of him anytime soon, least he end up getting in trouble again.]

[...still, that thought brought a very important concern to mind, and she reached over, tugging at his shirt.]

Onii-chan, do things like this happen often?

Exactly. [He saw that grin, and... sigh. he might as well admit it.]

A bit... doesn't help that Izanagi doesn't know any Dia skills, though-

[Oh, he'd been dreading that question. And Nanako, he'll be fine. Really, he will be. He knows how to take care of himself, even with, well...]

...Yes, but it isn't usually this bad. Normally, the admins pull something once a month. What it is depends on who's in charge at the time.

Well, as long as I did my job and kept anyone else from getting hurt...

[...She does shoot a concerned look at Nanako, nonetheless, before looking back at Yu.] Not to pile on the questions or anything, but...it sounds like she's been through this sort of thing before. Did something happen before she was brought here?

[Ouch. Way to cut to the chase and to a memory he'd rather not have to relive any time soon. Yet he keeps his cool, voice level and concise as he nods only once.]

...She was kidnapped once, almost a year ago by their calendar. It was my friends and I that saved her.

#2 -- "A faint shimmering..."

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