towerofanimus | [.oo8] A Compulsion of Memory [OPEN]

Entry tags:

[ou] naminé

[.oo8] A Compulsion of Memory [OPEN]

Characters: Naminé (OU) and any passersby.
Setting: Floor 11/later in the day Floor 3, December 26th
Format: Responder's choice.
Summary: Naminé's Christmas present from the Tower has put her in a strange mood. Studying ensues, resultant exhaustion included.
Warning: Memories/possible reference to kidnapping, violence, death etc. pretty much only as a past occurrence.

Floor 11

[Someone is seated at the edge of the lake, right in front of one of the waterfalls that empty into it. A couple of blankets are gathered around her, probably taken from her bed. Wrapped around her and even forming something a hood over her head, only a few strands of golden hair visible from behind her, they offer some amount of defense against the cold as she works. Curiously, there appears to be a small doll also tucked into the blankets, on the edge of them not far from the girl's right side. On her left, some distance away from her but close enough to imply that it belongs to her (whether she likes it or not) is a white cage, about the right size to house a small bird. It is empty.]

[Those who are familiar with it or have the sense for it may recognize, even before getting close enough to see what she's doing, that she seems to be practicing magic. Persistently, over and over as if training, she reaches out pale, slender hands to form glowing barriers against the falling water, allowing it to flow off over the edges of the spell but attempting to maintain or strengthen that shield as best she can. Other times, she does something else entirely, using another sort of magic to stop portions of the water entirely, as if they are frozen in time, though this, too, wears off eventually. Over time, she is becoming more skilled.]

[It looks like something has encouraged Naminé to do a little studying.]

Floor 3

[Later in the day, Naminé can be found in the library, several books relating to magic spread out on the table before her, the doll next to them and the cage on a chair by the far side of the table. Unfortunately for her, it seems she's done a little TOO much studying today, because she's out cold, head on her arms which are folded over the one book she was trying to use to FINALLY take a break, a book of fairytales (ironically) open to the story of Sleeping Beauty. The blankets are still wrapped around her, but in her sleep it has fallen from around her shoulders and now rests mostly against the chair itself.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[To say Xion was unsure at her own gift was an understatement. She didn't understand most of it, but what little she did understand was enough to give her a picture what the book was about. It was about her. Vexen's research notes.

Her flu symptoms were virtually gone, and thus she's abandoned her room and headed down to the library herself, where she spots Naminé sound asleep. The temperatures were still really bad, so Xion took the moment to pull the blanket back up and around her. She didn't want Namine to freeze. Hopefully that would be enough... the cold was really bad. If it wasn't, maybe she should get some warm water...?

Well, for the time being, she should focus on what she came here to do. She walks over to the shelves, and after a few minutes of searching, pulls out some possibly-related books. Returning to the same table, though at the opposite end, she sits down and pulls out the booklet of reports she received and starts comparing and studying. She'll still be there when Namine wakes up, frustrated at her lack of progress.]

[Naminé continues to slumber for a little while, but not long. The movement of the blanket and her own troubled thoughts left her sleeping shallowly, and so at last she wakes up, raising her head from her arms with a jerk, blinking sleepily. She realizes where she is before she realizes she isn't there alone, and so when she straightens up and reflexively casts a hand through her hair, the other hand reaching to make sure the blanket stays up, she does not look Xion's way at first.]

[It doesn't take her much time, however, to catch sight of the other girl out of the corner of her eye, and Naminé reflexively sucks in a breath, straightening sharply in her chair as her eyes snap toward Xion. Once the blonde sees who it is, though, she calms. For a second, she thought-- but no, no, it's not them.]

Xion--....

[Naminé falters, then seems to remember herself well enough to offer a cautious smile.]

... Hello. What... are you doing here?

[Xion bites her lip, looking up and splaying her hand hastily over Vexen's research notes. She'd been so absorbed in her work she'd forgotten Naminé was there. After a moment she eases, though her hand stays splayed over the notes. She's... a little self-conscious about them as of yet.]

Just... just trying to read something I found.

[Found next to her bed.]

Are you okay?

[Which doesn't escape Naminé's notice, although she makes no immediate comment, so it's hard to tell whether she thinks much of it. Her eyes flicker briefly over her own dubiously welcome items, and for a second she wonders if Xion has noticed them, but there are other things to address, and perhaps it would be better not to ask.]

... I see. I'm... sorry to have disturbed you, then.

[She pauses very briefly at that last part.]

Yes, I'm fine. I've just... been very busy today, that's all. [Does it count as changing the subject when she says--] What are you reading? [It's not accusatory in the slightest, it's just a legitimate question, said more conversationally than the rest of her words.]

[Xion hesitates for a moment, lifting up her hand and looking at Vexen's notes. While... it was true she was still self-conscious about it, maybe Namine would know something. Or maybe that was silly to expect but... at last she puts her hand down on the table.]

Just... things about human brains and thoughts and things... I don't think what I'm looking for is in here.

[Since she's looking for memories. She takes a deep breath, then slides then slides the notes over in Naminé's direction.]

I found these, when I woke up.

[The handwriting is very distinctive, and even through all the jargon it's pretty clear by the first page who it's about, and who it was written by.]

Edited 2012-12-26 06:12 (UTC)

[Naminé studies the girl across the table as she hesitates but does not make any move to force the issue, or really any extraneous move or sound at all. The witch is a patient girl, after all, and it is only when Xion speaks the first time that Naminé blinks unnecessarily, head tilting subtly. Still, she does not ask why, just reaches out to draw the offered book carefully toward her, nudging any other books in the way out of it.]

[There's a sense of foreboding in her, something she didn't recognize right away thanks to her own... discomforts today. But as soon as she sees that writing it clicks, and it doesn't take her long to realize what she's reading, her expression darkening.]

... So they did it to you, too.

[She pauses, then withdraws her hand from the book, leaving it open on the table before her. She half-wants to remove her eyes from it, as well, but she owes it to Xion to glean what she can from it.]

It seems the Tower has decided to remind us both of some things. [There's a brief pause, and then she raises her eyes back to the other girl, smile absent, and pointedly does not let her eyes stray anywhere near that cage or that doll on their way. Still, her tone is gentle when she says,]

What exactly is it that you're looking for?

[The statement that Naminé makes causes Xion to stare slightly curiously. Did what, and what had Naminé been reminded of? The fact that Naminé avoided drawing attention to her own uncomfortable reminder keeps Xion from noticing it (yet), but it's only asking Xion the question that keeps Xion from posing one of her own.

Instead, she looks down and away. What is she looking for? That... is a good question. Xion waffles over it, trying to figure out an answer that sounds good and makes sense. Because it's important? Important to what? And that still didn't explain what she was looking for. Justifications? Something to make her feel like she wasn't just a thing? Nothing works. Nothing sounds right.]

I just... want to understand.

[Vague, and not exactly a direct answer to the question, but it's the least wrong-sounding of anything Xion's come up with.]

[For a moment, Naminé just looks at her. And then, knowingly, she nods.]

Most people would, I think.

[Her eyes fall toward the book before her again, regarding it without serious focus; she knows what the pages it's open to hold already.]

I don't know if you'll find your answers in this book. But... I do think it's worth looking. If would like me to... I can help you search.

[He was only heading down the stairs to find some more wood (okay, and possibly take his outrage at what he found earlier on something at the same time) when he was walking down the stairs from floor 12 to floor 11 and noticed a familiar presence. It was hard not to, considering who it was, but... what was she doing?

Was that Stop magic on water?

...Maybe that's how people walked on it. Literally Stopping it from letting them sink.

Yeah, not going to lie. He is a little fascinated by it and it is a distraction from the black fabric in his hands. What's wearing what would normally be a decently warm coat to others?]

[She's absorbed in her work - and the thoughts causing her to do it in the first place - and in the water, stop and start, stop and start, as long a stop as she can manage. It provides a good target; the water provides consistent motion and an endless supply of targets for her magic, along with the challenge she needs. Even with her distraction, though, she is not unaware of his presence. She doesn't turn right away, not after she lets go of the spell she was working on, nor the one after that, or the one after that. Quietly, she wonders if he will address her on his own, or if he's content just to watch as she suspects he is doing. (Funny, how she can practically feel his gaze.)]

[But eventually she stops, though whether it is from the need for a break or because she's decided to see why he's there - provided he hasn't made that known already - is unclear. Withdrawing her hands, she stills for a brief moment before turning to look right at him. The sight of what's in his hands, however, draws her eyes downward toward it, her lips parting slightly and the corners of them tugging lower.]

--....

[... She forces her eyes back up, and though they are curious, she does not ask right away what it is he's doing with that.]

... Hello.

[Riku doesn't have any idea of his own gift yet, and probably won't have for another few days - Naminé will probably be glad to hear that he isn't planning on going out for any monster hunts fir another few days at least; he really isn't all too keen on getting sick again.

He is however falling back into his usual rhythm otherwise, which means that he checks the library sometimes around the early afternoon maybe, eyebrow raising when he spots Naminé dozing there, smiling faintly as he walks over to her.

Well... that's a rare sight for sure.

He frowns when he spots the cage and the doll - what were those doing here - and then reaches over to fix her blankets and then sit down beside her to take a moment to figure out if he should wake her or not.]

[Glad indeed. She may not be a doctor, but even she knows he should be resting after that ordeal. (Besides, the further he stays from even partially unnecessary fights, the better.)]

[She doesn't wake when the covers are shifted, though she does stir to nestle her face just a bit more into the (really only semi-adequate) cushion of her arms. After that, she slowly begins to move more frequently, as if she's drawing closer to waking, and at last she does, head raising from its resting place so that she can blink sleepily down at her arms, momentarily confused until she realizes just where she is and straightens sharply, frowning. She raises a hand to rub briefly at one of her eyes before letting it slide back through her hair, just as she starts to look around. For some reason, it feels like--]

[... Oh. She freezes when she catches sight of him. So that was why she felt like she wasn't alone, and moreover, why that didn't trouble her as much as it otherwise would. She blinks at him, hand slowly sinking downward again.]

--....

[The first thing that comes to mind to say is,]

... I'm sorry.

[It was stupid to fall asleep here, she knows that -- it was entirely unintentional, but still she feels as though she's failed to have done it.]

I didn't mean to--....

[Okay, no, excuses aren't going to help. She stops, then lets out a small sigh.]

... Hello.

[(Well... she'll have to define those unnecessary fights for him probably. Their definitions of that probably differs quite a bit.)

He smiles softly as he watches her shift and slowly wake, smile widening just a little at her greeting.]

Hi.

[It's not exactly the best place to fall asleep, true, but it's still a lot safer than quite a few others - and he really doubts that she did it intentional anyways.

He reaches over to lay his hand over hers and squeeze it lightly, then he lets his eyes drift, taking note of her books, of the fairy tales.]

...Interesting choice.

[(Probably, probably. She'll be happy to set him straight if it ever comes up-- /what)]

[Her guilt begins to ebb away at the look on his face. It's one she likes, she finds, and sheepishly she begins to smile, herself, the perceived weight of unintentional failure lightening. Her eyes shift slowly toward their hands at the touch, then more quickly back to him when he speaks and she realizes he's been peeking.]

... They're nice stories. Everything's so-- black and white. [Unrealistic, maybe, but welcoming in how easy they are to understand and moralize.] The good guys usually win. [And the witches usually die. Despite being a touch masochistic, it's still a comfort. (Mostly because she's found the nice, happy versions of said stories, not the twisted ones.)]

[(He'll consider her opinion if/when that happens.)

He likes the look on her face as well; the one that settles once the guilt fades at least. He pulls his hand away again, letting his eyes drift over the books again... They don't look anything like the ones from his childhood days, but they are likely similar enough. Somehow... he can't help some mixed feelings though...]

...Always the same pattern, right? The hero, the princess and the monster.

[No room in between. There are no fairy tales with two heroes. Or redeemed heroes. Right?

Also, stop dat masochism, Naminé. You aren't that kind of witch. :|]

[(She'll be glad for that much.)]

[Her own eyes skate over the pages only briefly before focusing firmly on his reaction, her arms moving out of the way entirely once her hand is left alone. Mixed feelings on this seem to be one of the many common things between them, but Naminé has chosen to focus on the more positive in that mix.]

Something like that, yes. [Or witches in place of monsters.] But you know-- I think I like the ones that are a little different, too. [Still clear cut in many ways, but... the sort like that, with the extra heroes and the ones who have made mistakes-- she wishes she could find some. But then, wouldn't that be too true to life?] Sometimes the monster is the hero. [Like Beast's story. She discovered the movie version in the Tower, and even if it was more than a little strange to watch, it's a story that had already had a place in her not!heart and entrenched itself more firmly after that different perspective of it.] ... I guess that says something about how much people can change, if they really want to. [Because if even something as simple as a fairytale recognizes it--]

[Tricking people, nearly trapping them or getting them killed-- who says she isn't? :c]

Tohko was happy that she had finally regained her senses and could fully enjoy the books and go back to her library duties again. There was nothing like the feel of paper and the words within. However, while working, she noticed a girl fast asleep at one of the tables, a blanket on the floor. Smiling, and trying not to wake her up, Tohko picked up the blanket and put it on the girl again, tucking it into place.

Edited 2012-12-27 08:15 (UTC)

Tohko might have gotten away with pulling the blanket back up, but tucking it properly seemed to be just enough to cause the sleeping girl to stir slightly. She didn't wake right away, but it wasn't long before that stirring picked up again, and soon she was raising her head from the cushion of her arms, blinking blearily. Brow starting to knit, she turned to look arou-- oh, hello. Should Tohko have remained in the same place, Naminé would end up staring at her, sleepy and still out of sorts.

Oh no..the girl was starting to wake up, which was not what Tohko had wanted to happen. She sighed and scratched her head nervously before speaking as quietly as she could.

"It's alright. Your blanket had fallen off, so I was just getting it for you. I'm sorry that I woke you up. You can go back to sleep."

Unfortunately (for both of them?) Naminé was a light sleeper, a habit formed during a time she'd rather not speak of. The blonde startled suddenly, a bit late considering how long she'd actually been looking at the other girl. Straightening in her seat, she blinked again, at least some of her drowsiness evaporating in the face of this development. Having unexpected company was one thing, but an unexpected stranger was another.

Still, after a brief falter, "-- No, that's all right. Thank you for being so kind...! I-- didn't mean to fall asleep at all. If anything, you did me a favor by waking me up." There was a smile offered, small but not unkind.

Tohko sighed again. The girl was clearly startled, and she hadn't meant to scare or frighten her. However, Tohko did return the smile.

"You're welcome. I'm sorry that I startled you! What did you have to wake up for?"

Naminé didn't seem inclined to blame her for it, even though the blonde did seem intent on studying the other girl thoroughly. The dangers of those one did not know was not something Naminé was unfamiliar with. Even so, her expression was not unfriendly; in fact, when it was replied to, that smile grew in strength.

"Nothing specific-- although I did want to finish reading. It's just... not safe to be caught sleeping out in the open like this. Not in the Tower." Or as 'open' as a library could be; it still wasn't the enclosed and comparatively safe haven of her own room.

"That's true..it is rather dangerous to fall asleep in the library, even with the librarians. I would have moved you, but I was afraid that you would have woken up."

After all, that had happened to Tetra before, and Tohko didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

"What were you reading?"

"I probably would have." There was a hint of apology in her smile, even though it wouldn't have been her (conscious) fault. "But-- thank you for at least considering it."

The question seemed to surprise her slightly, and she glanced down out of reflex, arms drawing away from the book. She'd nearly forgotten it was still there.

"Oh-- just some fairy tales. I'd spent so much time reading about-- other things," Like magic and its practical applications, by the looks of the other books. "... that I'd finally decided to take a break and read something less... heavy."

Tohko smiled. "Oh, you're welcome."

At the mention of fairy tales, Tohko's grin grew even bigger, and she looked over the girls shoulder to see what she had been reading. Sleeping Beauty. It was a good story that tasted like a fluffy, sweet piece of bread with nuts. Looking around Tohko could see that hte other books were about magic and it's applications.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with reading fairy tales! Quite a few of them are really sweet and delicious. However, I wish you luck in your studies. I know a couple of other people that practice magic here, but I'm not quite sure if it's the same type you're used to."

Floor 3

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Floor 11

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Floor 3

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Floor 3

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