Need a Define:Animus Function

[nomassacreshere]

Characters: Euphie, Open
Setting: Floor 19
Format: Pick your poison and I'll match.
Summary: Euphie isn't capable of doing much compared to all the people with superpowers and military training, but she can at least do some research.
Warnings: NA?

[Well, the library on the nineteenth floor was an organized mess this evening, though all for a good cause.]

[There were papers scattered over a table, and if one looked, they would be able to see the words that Ruana shared with everyone the other day, some of the bits that seemed like it was very important information highlighted or circled, all written in very elegant handwriting. Next to the small mountain (which at this point was looking less like a mountain and more like a lake), was a thickly bound dictionary forced open to the entry on the definition of the word "animus" -- a "hostility or ill feeling" or the "motivation to do something". Judging from the fact that the book was obviously shoved aside, however, it doesn't seem like that was the definition the person doing the research was looking for.]

[If one looks deeper into the library, they'll find the person responsible for the mess, browsing through the thick tomes, or at least trying to. Euphemia wasn't exactly the strongest person in existence, and some of the books probably weighed as much as she did. At the moment she's up on a ladder, trying to get something from the top shelf, ignoring the fact that her ladder is wobbling...]

[...she might be in need of some assistance.]

Comments

[colonial]

[America is ignorant of the goings-on of the network, not knowing how to use it himself. He was just really wandering through floor nineteen, as most of the books were far too complicated for him to read even a sentence or two, and there weren't any interesting pictures at all usually, but he spots the wobbling ladder and wanders over, cautiously curious.]

What're you doing?

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphie let out a surprised noise, jumping a bit on her precarious perch. That did not help her situation at all, and she wobbled even more, flailing her arms as she tried to regain her balance.]

[colonial]

Be careful!

[America ran over to the ladder and attempted to steady it--luckily his super strength means he is actually able to hold it in place, more or less.]

[idolizer]

[ Sayaka figured that picking a book to read would be a good idea in order to better manage her time. Besides, she's curious about whether there are books from other worlds and the like, and if they're still readable.

Upon entering the library, though, her attention is brought to the lady who's pretty dangerously risking to fall from that ladder. Frowning a bit, worried, she walks over there and grabs the edges of the ladder with both hands. She doesn't know this woman, but she promised herself she would help out whoever needs it in the tower. They're all in the same boat, after all. ]

I supposed you could use some help, miss. [ She says, like to justify her action when there's no need to. ]

[nomassacreshere]

Oh!

[Euphie turned around as best she could on the ladder, looking down at the young lady that had come to her aide.]

Thank you, very much.

[idolizer]

Don't mention it! [ A smile. ] I saw the ladder tremble, and I couldn't let you risk to fall and hurt yourself, you know?

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphie let out a small laugh, collecting the book she had been struggling to grab before descending the ladder safely.]

I'm sorry, I was not paying attention.

[idolizer]

At least you got what you wanted. [ She glances at the books briefly. ] But please do be careful in the future.

[nomassacreshere]

Oh, yes. I will try.

[No she won't.]

[She paused, looking at the book in her hands, before letting out a faint sigh.]

I am not even sure if this is the book I want.

[warriorscribe]

*It was amazing how much the climate of the tower had changed, both in weather and socially. Enoch had the cloak he'd made the other week draped loosely around his shoulders, pushed back to reveal the neck guard of his armor.

When he sees the wobbling ladder, he approaches and steadies it on one side. He doesn't want to look as if he's blocking her escape, after all. The point of this was to make her feel safe.*

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphie did not notice someone had braced her ladder until she was finally able to reach for what she was looking for... and realize she probably should have fallen by now. She let out an embarrassed noise, finally realizing then that Enoch was there.]

Thank you very much, sir.

[warriorscribe]

It was nothing. What did you need that was so high up?

[nomassacreshere]

I was trying to follow a lead I believe I found in Ruana's messages the other day.

[Judging from her expression, it's a bit obvious she hasn't had much luck. Considering the psychology section she's trying to browse through was largely vacant, it's not hard to see why.]

[warriorscribe]

A lead? What was it?

*Given the way the air of the tower subtly changed after that, Enoch is more than willing to discuss this with people.*

[nomassacreshere]

Ruana referred to this facility as the Tower of Animus before all communications were deleted. I believe this may be a clue as to what the initial purpose of this Tower was.

[moralitypet]

[ Nunnally herself has been trying to teach herself how to become better at reading. She's not uneducated, but when you haven't been able to use your eyes for most of your life, it's a new skill to learn. Her automatic wheelchair will be coming right on by when she notices the trembling ladder. ]

Excuse me. [ In a proper voice as she lifts her head up. ] Your ladder is---Euphie?!

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphemia turned sharply at the sudden familiar voice.]

Nunna--?!

[And... that's about as far as she gets, before her sudden turn around has her falling clear off her ladder, landing in a heap of skirt on the floor. Clearly, she is the most graceful empress ever.]

[moralitypet]

[ The most graceful indeed. Averting her gaze to spare her some privacy, Nunnally will manage to squeak out: ]

My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you further.

[nomassacreshere]

Ah--!

[Euphie fumbled, shuffling her skirt away enough for her to sit up, looking up to Nunnally and just taking her in for the moment. She was... still in a wheelchair, but she could see? Was this Nunnally also from an alternate world?]

[...how cruel.]

It is all right; I was not paying attention.

[She reached up to take Nunnally's hand, but hesitated; what if she was from the same world as Suzaku and Lelouch? This would mean that... for Nunnally, she was already dead...]

[moralitypet]

[ Whatever gap remains between their hands will be conquered easily by Nunnally's eagerness as she tries to take Euphemia's hand herself. ]

It's easy to get caught up in this place, Euphie. [ She calmly says, the earlier edge of anxiety leaving her voice. ] It's our home now, isn't it?

[ She's already seen three other ghosts walking around, so a fourth can barely phase her. ]

[always_lies]

[Well, this was interesting.

Azula looked at the bits of information here and there with a sharp interest, peaked by the rumblings of the Tower residents about this mysterious "Ruana" person she didn't know.

Whatever this "Network" was, was obviously important, but she was frustrated by her inability to find out what it was or did.

Making an decision, she delved into the library, looking for this person responsible.

Upon finding a girl perched precariously on a ladder, Azula blinked.

Really?]

What are you doing? That looks rather... dangerous.

Oh, this is going to be the most amazing CR ever

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphie let out a startled noise, moving to turn around a little too quickly. The ladder wobbled precariously, though she just barely managed to grab onto a shelf, steadying herself... not without hurting her hands in the process, however. She flinched, carefully lowering herself before answering.]

I am attempting research.

We are on the same wavelength!

[always_lies]

[Azula folded her arms and watched, tilting her head and studying Euphemia's fumble.]

If you're going about it like that, I'm surprised you haven't fallen and broken your neck. Get down. I'll do it.

[Not out of concern for the girl, but more what Azula can get out of her. This looked like the person that had all the information spread out and Azula was going to make use of that even if she had to do some acrobatics trying to get the books down.

She easily climbed up the ladder, not caring in the least of it wobbling- her balance was pretty good.]

Which one did you want?

8D

[nomassacreshere]

[Euphemia stepped away from the small ladder, allowing Azula to climb up. She turned to watch her, carefully folding her hands before her.]

I am looking for a book that has a different definition of the word 'animus'. I do not believe the conventional definition applies in the instance that I am researching.

[always_lies]

"Animus."

[Azula deftly plucked several books off of the shelf and stepped down, not even tilting the small stack once.]

These appear to be dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Do you really think you're going to find an answer here? Our captors - [Azula had long decided her initial reaction of thinking these "admins" where captors was the correct one, of course.] control these libraries. If they did not want someone finding out certain intelligence in this place, they need not supply it. It's what I'd do.

[What was it her masters told her? It was all very boring spiritual stuff and had nothing to do with tactics or strategy.]

Rather smart of them, if you ask me.

If you're looking for a definition, you might try the spiritual section. The word seems familiar, but I can't quite place it. I'm more of a... people person than the spiritual type.

[Azula gives her a small smile.]