Cause we're just under the upperhand

[knightime]

Characters: Dave Strider and anyone who wants to run into the teen
Setting: Around the Tower
Format: Either
Summary: Dave is running from something only he can see because of his illness.
Warnings: Paranoia, Insanity, the usual Animus problems


[Dorm Levels]
You might be lucky to run into Dave here. He's been kind of absent from the dorm levels as of late. You might have been lucky to catch him the few days he actually has been in his dorm, but he usually only tries to sleep before disappearing off again. His poor Pokemon, Missy, has been waiting at the foot of his bed for him forlornly. At least he brings her food before disappearing again.

Right now, he's wandering aimlessly the floor. He keeps looking behind him, expecting something and sometimes he'll pick up his pace as though he has seen something.

He'll eventually start making his way to the stairs though. He really doesn't look like he wants to stick around here that long. He looks exhausted and his movements aren't up to par as they usually are from the looks of it.

[Floor 48: Graveyard]
Dave has started frequenting this floor, even if it was morbid. He kind of just like staring at all the names across the headstones. He makes daily visits to some of his friends' tombstones. He knows there's nothing in them, but it makes him feel better to leave flowers or something once in awhile.

Right now? He's running. He's running as fast as his feet can take him. He's mumbling and tripping over his feet and it looks like he's running from something. What it is? Well, no one else can see it. Only him.

[Floor 40: Storage Room]
He's basically tried to wedge himself in some corner, hands clutched over his ears and threaded in his hair and he has his face buried against his knees. Dave likes floors like these right now, because he doesn't think people frequent them as much. The less he has to be around people, the better.

[Floor 25: Meadow]
Dave had been going to this floor to avoid the cold. For some reason, it stays in Springtime weather, which he isn't going to complain about because it beats the rest of the tower. But he'll move soon. He can't stay on a floor for too long. If he does, the creatures trying to control him will find him and try again.

For now though, he's going to take advantage of the fact that he can be relatively warm for this short moment.

Comments

[knightime]

I don't think you can do much. [No one has been able to do much the passed while. This flu traveled like wildfire and he hasn't heard of anyone being able to properly shake it off.]

[lethechained]

....

[It's frustrating. Not because it's insulting, but because he's probably right.]

... I know. I'm sorry. But--... I can at least give you someone to talk to.

[knightime]

I...I guess I'd like that. [He sounds really tired. Kind of defeated.]

[lethechained]

[And she notices, of course, but she tries to let only the kindness in her voice come through when she says,]

Thank you.

[She doesn't move from her spot; better that she doesn't invade his space in a situation this precarious, she thinks.]

What would you like to talk about?

[knightime]

I don't know. Not about this. [He finally glances up at her. She can't see the worn out look in his eyes with his aviators perched on his face.]

[lethechained]

[No, but she can see the rest of his face, and any other indicators there. She's careful to keep her smile kind, warm, and in place.]

Well... then, read any good books, lately? Or see any good movies?

[How she small talk? She's trying, really she is.]

[knightime]

I don't really visit the library. Maybe I should. [There's not always a lot to do here, so he probably will.]

I...haven't really watched anything for a bit. November was weird and then I fucking got sick now.

[lethechained]

It's nice, sometimes. There are lots of stories, if you like that kind of thing, or books that you can learn from. And... it's quiet, and if you want to be alone, it's good for that, too. I've always felt sort of safe there.

[--....] Oh. ... Well, maybe we can fix that, once you're feeling better.

[knightime]

I'd like that. Yeah. Watching movies with you was nice. [He rests his head on his knees. God, he wants this to end already.] We still got a crapton of movies to go through, yeah?

[lethechained]

[She smiles a little wider, both because she's glad to hear it and to help provide some comfort, but mostly the latter.]

Mm. I enjoyed it, too, and-- it still will be nice, when it happens again.

[Gotta focus on the future, or something.]

Yeah. There are so many that I wouldn't even know where to start without you.

[knightime]

[He rubs at his eyes. He's tired. He glances up behind her, the faceless clockwork creature staring back at him. He looks down at his feet. Ugh. Pretend it isn't there. It isn't there.]

Someone else would have probably dragged you to watch movies with them eventually.

There's plenty of people here who knows what a movie is.

[lethechained]

[--.... What was that look for? But she doesn't press it.]

So? It wouldn't have been you. And-- that means it wouldn't have been the same.

[-- Pfff.] Well, the movie would have been the same, but-- not the experience.

[knightime]

Maybe you'd have a better experience. I'm not the biggest movie buff.

[He considers getting up finally. He doesn't want to be stuck here the entire time. But he's scared to see more of these things on everyone else.

If Namine listens costly, Dave might be muttering how they're not real to himself. Like if he says it enough, it'll be true. Or he can convince himself it's actually true.]

[lethechained]

I doubt it. Movie buff or not... you've always made it fun, Dave.

[She'd... possibly be relieved, if it could be taken as a good sign. His muttering - which she does indeed listen closely to - is perhaps not so comforting, but she doesn't interrupt him.]

[knightime]

[Wow. Doki his fucking heart. Getting a compliment like that and making all his heart aflutter. Senpai noticing him, Jesus Christ.

It's a better feeling to concentrate on than the creepy creatures looming over him. He may have grabbed hold of her hand as he gets to his feet and starts shuffling out of this floor. Once in awhile, he might jerk, like he was trying to get out of something or someone's grasp.]

[lethechained]

[She may not realize what her words did, but... he stands, at least, and she tries to take that as a good thing. She watches him carefully, briefly surprised when he takes her hand but not so much as to stop from letting him use it freely. If she can offer him any assistance, well -- that's more than enough for her. Her eyes linger on him, her smile meant for his benefit but at least partially helped that he seems to be making some sort of progress. She follows along with him, taking note of any jerks but making no comment on them.]

[knightime]

Sorry. [It comes out as a mumble. He knows that this is probably a pain in the ass to deal with right now, but he does appreciate it. It makes him feel a little better even if the creature is always there. But he thinks he can try and convince himself that maybe it's just his mind fucking with him.

He likes to think that Namine wouldn't be affected by these things. He's going to latch onto that though, even if he can't get rid of the sensation of them touching him out of his mind.] It's been a long week.

[lethechained]

[Mumble or not, she hears it. Her head turns toward him, just a little - she'd only been watching him from the corner of her eye before. She studies him a moment, quiet and as inoffensive as possible. When she does speak, her voice is gentle.]

Don't be. It's not your fault.

[In truth, one would be hard-pressed to control a mind like Naminé's with much of anything - but if anyone could manage it, it would probably be the administrators of the tower.]

It's been a long week for everyone.

[knightime]

Yeah it has. Sleep has been hell. [Poor Missy. He's been leaving her alone to try and deal with this shit, but he misses her and he's pretty sure she's sulking.]

You didn't get sick then? [That's at least something.]

[lethechained]

I'm sorry. [And she really is, even if she keeps her voice soft and tries not to sound too bothered. Poor Missy, indeed.]

No. At least, not yet. I've... been very fortunate, this time.

[knightime]

Hey. Wouldn't want to wish this on anyone, so I'm glad. [He sounds relieved. Or as relieved as one can sound in this situation.]

[lethechained]

[There's a brief hint of a smile turned slightly toward him for the short time it lasts.]

Thank you. [She really does appreciate it, and that's in her tone.] I just wish you could say the same.

[knightime]

It'll pass. Like everything this Tower likes to throw at me. What doesn't kill me I guess makes me exhausted. [Cause he doesn't really think it makes him all that much stronger...]

[lethechained]

[She studies him sidelong for a brief moment.]

You're right. As bad as things get, at least they don't last. We get some time to rest. [... Well,] It may only be so the next thing will still effect us strongly, but it's something.

[knightime]

Let's head back though. This place doesn't really make for a very positive environment. [It makes everything feel like they're looming over him.]