Totally handling this very well

[priceofmagic]

Characters: Satou Kuroneko & You
Setting: Starting in room 2-19, then wandering floor Forty-five and One
Format: Starting in prose, but will match!
Summary: Satou arrives in the tower, then proceeds to explore and totally not freak out nope no way.
Warnings: Satou may swear like a sailor. Filling out her Permissions's Post for her empathy would be helpful!


( Room 2-19 )
Satou woke slowly. Her last memory was of falling asleep next to Mikale, curled up safely against him as he took over the night watch. So her first realization was that she was waking to an unusual level of cold, without him holding on to her. The possibility of him having left to make breakfast was the first she considered, but one tiny glance taken through half opened eyes made that seem unlikely. She was in a bed that was not her own, unable to move for a full thirty seconds. By the time she did get herself sitting up she had thrown her thoughts into a state of panic. Pale, colder from fear than an absence of heat, and trembling and as frantically turned her head from left to right, up then down, rinse and repeat.

"Mikale? Mikky?!" She swung her legs over the side of the bed and dropped to the ground, rudely reminded of the paralysis that plagued her left leg. She hissed and pulled herself back up, now aware of how her wand was missing right when she wanted to cast a spell to help herself be standing. She intelligently ignored the letters, instead dragging herself to her feet and looking around the room. "What's going on? Mikale! Say something, you stupidhead!"

( Floor Forty-Five )
Thus far, Satou had somehow managed to climb safely down a few flights of stairs. She stopped on the forty-fifth floor, relieved to see huge windows. A chance to see just exactly where she was, even though the cloud cover was rather obnoxious and clearly just there to spite her. She tightened her grip on her heart-themed magical girl wand and placed a hand over her skirt pocket, confirming the presence of her handgun, before stepping off of the staircase.

It was easy for Satou to become a bit distracted. Squinting out the window through eyes that had become teary, trying to see through both the clouds and her angst. Her mind wandering to the contents of the letters she had eventually decided to read, letters that put stupid paper cuts all over her heart and then squeezed a lemon over it. She was so "focused" on the small visible space ahead of her that she did not notice what was crawling on the window until its faceless head popped into her line of vision.

As one does when a dead-looking human with no face crawls over your window and blocks your view suddenly and unexpectantly, Satou shrieked and fell to the ground. Covering her face to hide her eyes and mind from the horrific sight and muttering false comforts to herself.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, there's a window, there's a window, i-it's can't see me, it probably doesn't know I'm..." Her hands slipped to her mouth, as she tried to keep her new overwhelming nausea from making her ill. "Mikky... Touka-chan... Shugo..!"

Elevator / Floor One
As soon as she gotten to floor forty-one (after she got a grip) and found the elevator, Satou used it. She felt sick to her stomach and like her self-control was slipping into uncontrolled panic. She stood trembling in the elevator and then stumbled out onto the first floor, nearly collapsing on her bad leg since she was too scared to focus on the spell that kept her standing.

"S-sorry!" She squeaked apologetically when almost colliding into someone, feeling her terrified tears threatening to break out. Satou wasn't new to scary things. She wasn't new to suffering. But what she had seen so far in combination with being kidnapped and learning her world was gone had rattled her horribly. As much as she wanted to stay cool, calm, and collected enough to brain her way through this, it was all more than Satou could easily take in at once.

The porridge might help. She reminded herself while getting back to her feet. Satou brought her sleeve across her eyes, wiping whatever tears had squeezed out, and took a deep breath. You just need to eat a warm meal and calm the hell down, Satou! Freaking out isn't helping anyone!

Comments

2-19

[heavenscorpse]

[V/V woke up to the sound of someone panicking. A new girl - she'd have to help calm her down.]

It's okay, well - it's not okay, but there are people who are going to help you. Please take a breath.

[priceofmagic]

[ The breath Satou took may have been more like a gasp. As if she had been choking on something before then and desperately needed to refill her lungs. She turned her gaze to V/V, with it flickering between confusion, mistrust, and eventually settling simply on a stern look that covered her panic. ]

Who are you? Wh-what... what's going on? What did you do to the boy I was with? [ She blurted, her tone becoming more accusing as she mentioned Mikale. Nothing really personal, V/V. Satou was just used to the idea of being kidnapped and assuming that was what had happened here. ]

[heavenscorpse]

I didn't do anything. I'm just another kidnapping victim like you. Please calm down. I'm sure your friend is safe at home.

[priceofmagic]

[ She hesitated before seeming to calm down. Nodding slowly to signal she was willing to trust the stranger and setting herself back down on the bed. ]

Kidnapping... victim... We've been kidnapped? By who...?

[heavenscorpse]

This is a tower - I think it's called Animus. There are four administrators who bring people here from their own worlds. They say they're saving us, but since this isn't a very good place to live at all, I don't think they're telling the truth.

floor 45

[detecting]

[Naoto kneels down in front of the newcomer and offers the girl her hand to help her to her feet. She quickly glances over her shoulder. The... thing is still on the window, scurrying and clawing at it in its attempts to enter.]

Turn around and keep your eyes closed. I'll assist you down the stairs.

[Because this girl doesn't need to see the faceless creature again just yet.]

[priceofmagic]

Nn... nnngh...!!! I-I'm... I'm okay.

[ If "okay" is defined as "on the floor crying and trembling and acting like a child", then yup. She's totslly okay.

But she's not. Satou hiccups and holds up her hand, which is trembling as terribly as she is. Her first day here and she's already needing help... She's so pathetic. She's making a such a bad impression. ] I-I'm... s-so sorry...

[detecting]

Don't be foolish, it's alright. You've nothing to apologize for.

[Naoto carefully helps the girl to her feet, guiding her away from the window and down a few flights of stairs.]

Just a few more flights and we can take a rest.

[She wanted to get her down to the lounge on the thirty-eighth floor. The ones in between were not conducive to a calming discussion.]

[priceofmagic]

O-okay... okay...!

[ She repeats it in her head over and over. That everything is okay. Trying to imagine cute fluffy sheep to chase that haunting image out of her mind before it makes her ill. ]

I-I'm still... still really sorry, I should've known better s-somehow, probably...

Floor 45

[snowyvalemaiden]

[Xue had returned recently from having been lost in the winding halls of the maze for gods knew how long. She was tired, hungry and needed sleep. However, having heard the shriek, she couldn't keep herself from at least seeing if she could help.

She unsheathed her swords and rushed at unnatural speed towards the source before stopping. Her eyes narrowed, she sheathed her swords once more and took a step forward, keeping her voice calm, warm and welcoming.]

Pay it no mind mon... It ain' gonna hurt ya, not while I be here. Let's get ya outta here hm? Then we can be talkin' as to why ya be wanderin' dis floor.

[priceofmagic]

A-aah...!

[ That was meant to be a proper reply. Instead, a strangled scream died as it left her throat. Satou nods shakily and begins trying to stand, managing to focus her thoughts enough to get up and walk towards Xue. Her thoughts are so scrambled by the strange body that she can't be bothered to think anything about Xue is strange right now. ]

A-ah... y-yes, of course, my apologies...!

[snowdriftassassin]

[Xue puts a tentative arm around the girl, not wanting to startle her further but still wanting to reassure her she would be safe... Well as relatively safe as you could be in this place.]

Der, dat be bettah...

[Xue looked at her curiously for a bit before looking back, shaking her head and leading her to the steps.]

Dis ain't da nicest of floors ya know... Der be bettah ones, but I'm sure you know d... unless ya be a new arrival?

[And that was never a fun or pleasant thing to wake up to... this place was just. It drained you... emotionally for sure.]

[priceofmagic]

[ She nods shakily. Yup. New arrival New and terrified. ]

I-I thought... because... with a window, I could see where this place w-was but... [ The grotesque sight clings to her thoughts, begging for attention. ] ... How could something so h-horrible even exist? That's too sad.

2-19

[faithstaynight]

[Luckily(?) for Satou, Jeanne was on her way back to the dormitory just as the other girl cried out. In an instant she burst through the door... to see a completely unfamiliar face.]

... Ah. [that's right. Amalia had disappeared a little while ago...] You... must be new here.

[priceofmagic]

[ She tenses on the bed. Unarmed, neither with her wand or gun, but narrowing her eyes at Jeanne. Don't worry, she won't be mistrusting for long. ]

New here? Are you the one who put me here then? Where did you put Mikale?!

[faithstaynight]

[Jeanne raises her hands in a gesture of surrender, expression softening to one of concern.]

I assure you, mademoiselle, I did not bring you here. I am just as much a prisoner as you are. [She then motions to the metal collar around her neck.]

I know you must be extremely confused, as is everyone else when they first arrive, so I will do my best to answer any questions you might have. It would be much better to do that than let me ramble on and confuse you.

[priceofmagic]

[Satou relaxes only enough. So that she isn't tense with mistrust and anger, but with preparing herself for whatever answers she might get. That offer wasn't very comforting. If there's so much to know that it might confuse her then Satou needs to be prepared for at least some bad news. ]


Okay... Where is this? Who are you?

[nohardfeelings]

A girl almost tumbled into Seiko, but luckily Seiko was quick and jumped back just in tome. Seiko was surprised, but she could not feel mad at this girl. It was only an accident, after all!

She looks at the girl. Seiko doesn't notice the bad leg, though her eyes just automatically land on her face. Immediately Seiko noticed the tears welling up in the poor girl's eyes, and suddenly Seiko concern skyrockets.

"Hey, hey, what's the matter?"

Seiko slowly drew closer, holding her hands up in order to quell her. She looked okay, though she seemed to struggle getting up onto her feet. Seiko still felt concerned.

"Ne ne, you shouldn't apologize! You did nothing wrong. It was an accident, that's all."

[priceofmagic]

"N-no no, it's really my reason to apologize!" She blurted nonsensically. Satou felt she needed to say something. And though it was horrible of her, she felt a selfish thought tugging in the back of her mind: Finish this conversation quickly so that you can get that oatmeal and feel better.

Satou righted her leg, standing confidently now that her magic was supporting her. No no, she reminded herself. It would be rude to just ditch this conversation. "I'm... I'm okay, just... I was told I needed to eat oatmeal."
Which could imply the oatmeal was making her cry, Satou realized... but she wondered if that would explain that she was new.

[nohardfeelings]

"Oatmeal...?"

Oh, so she was new?

Seiko remembered arriving to the tower and not eating the oatmeal on her first meal. It was a very, very bad call. So it clicks with her almost immediately, and she stares at the girl in front of her with a very sad look. The oatmeal explains everything. Satou doesn't need to say anymore.

Seiko just reaches out and embraces Satou into her arms. It's about the only thing she can think of. She doesn't even think to ask, she just does it.

Elevator

[divinitysoiled]

Strong arms surrounded Satou, helping her get back to her feet. A dark female voice laughed as Catarina moved around to face her, her head tilted. "Seen something you haven't quite expected to see, mm?"

[priceofmagic]

"A-au!" Initially surprised, Satou turned her head to look. Strong arms felt familiar. She felt an ache in her heart, reminded of the person who might have woken up to find the girl he was trying to protect wasn't in his arms. But she chased the thought away, knowing it would only hurt her at this point. "I... mm, I... saw... somethi--"

The humanoid shape. Looking to be dead, yet somehow forced to live with such a gross body. A body without a face. Robbed of its identity... Satou almost wished she had checked the gender. She hated to think of that poor suffering person as a "thing", an "it".

"... Someone. I saw someone... outside the window..."

[divinitysoiled]

"You mean something." Her voice purred at the merciless word, and gentle fingers came up to brush back a bit of Satou's hair. "As far as I can tell, it cannot break that window. You are safe."

[priceofmagic]

"Something..." She repeats the word carefully, as if saying it too quickly would hurt. It's such a sad way to refer to those... things. Deep down, Satou is apologizing in her heart for saying it out loud. "Are there other... things locked out there?"

2-19 is full of nice girls I swear...

[moralitypet]

Please don't be startled.

[ Says a quiet voice from across the room. Sitting in the middle of another bed with a blanket draped up over her shoulders is a girl who's trying hard to not shiver. Next to the bed is a large and pink chair of some sorts, untouched and proper. ]

I haven't met a Mikale or Mikky yet, but I'd be glad to help you look for them once you've calmed down a bit. Do you want me to take a look at your legs..?