towerofanimus | [.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

Tohko nodded.

"He did hint so himself..and when I called him out on that, he seemed..pleased that I had made the connection. Plus, he hasn't been deterring my efforts to find an alternative, even though he says I'll fail. So..I think he wants humanity to break out of the cycle, but until they can, he'll keep doing what he's always been doing."

"Huh." Strange, how much it seemed almost like a particularly harsh, manipulative parent. (Not that she'd know much about parents.) "He certainly is a strange person. But I guess-- maybe it's better for you that way. If he isn't going to stop you, I mean."

Edited 2012-12-28 23:04 (UTC)

"Wilhelm is rather bizarre..but it is pretty good that he isn't going to stop me. Not that he has any reason too. Since he think I'll fail, he just gets amused by my trying and doesn't think I'll be able to do much."

She then sighed. "However..you must have had some problems with chessmasters in your world as well, if you're able to keep up with this."

There was a moment of silence, kept alive by Naminé's hesitation. Her eyes lowered, her lips pressing together. "... When I was... growing up," for lack of a better term, "... I was surrounded by people who sought to control others. Most of them... lost their own games, and in doing so, lost their lives as well. They were too assured of their own understanding and of their strength, and in the end, it was their downfall."

Tohko sighed and patted Namine on the head again. "..I see. And you got caught up in those games and got used as a pawn. I'm sorry to hear that you had to be caught up and used in that."

For one faltering moment, Naminé felt the urge to ask how Tohko could possibly know Naminé wasn't a player herself, that she didn't manipulate others as well, but-- even she, for all of her guilt, for all of her shame, knew that the comparison would be a tricky one to explain and to justify. She did not participate by choice, and therein lay the difference. (Still, sometimes, she did not feel as though her crimes were any less terrible.) "... Thank you. I just hope things turn out well for you."

Tohko smiled and nodded. "You're welcome..and thank you. Hopefully they will. If you have any trouble with other chessmasters in the Tower or anything else here, let me know, alright? I'm a simple book girl, but I might be able to help."

"I will." It's easier to smile when being smiled at, and so she manages one herself. "And you can let me know if anything new happens, too. I'll do my best to help you, too. Besides - you might be surprised what 'simple' people can do."

Tohko smiled and nodded. "Thanks..and don't worry, I will! It'd be a shame if I left out parts of the plot that you were interested in..and I am surprised sometimes at what I can do..but I'm also surprised at the number of things I fail at as well."

Tohko sighed and scratched her head. However, the smile didn't leave her face. "However, that just means I'll have to improve a little bit."

That smile widened. "Right. And it would make it a lot harder for me to help you."

A tiny laugh, then, "You're right. Some things just take practice."

Tohko chuckled a little bit. "Well..that too."

She then nodded. "Right..but I'm sure that we'll both get better at the things we're bad with soon enough!"

Another laugh, and, "I certainly hope so." She'd been putting a lot of work into her magic that day, after all. It would be a shame for it be fruitless, but more concerning, it would trouble her to not be able to get better at defending herself and others. "-- No, I'm sure we will."

Tohko chuckled and, with a small nod, patted Namine's head again. "Of course we will! It may take a little time, but I'm sure we will. I'm sure of it!"

She was going to get spoiled, with all of those pats. "Hee...! I guess it's better to stay positive." Not that that negated the accuracy of that belief.

Tohko smiled and nodded. "Of course! Otherwise despair will swallow you whole, leaving nothing but your bones. And that's not a pleasant sensation, trust me."

...Still smiling while saying that. However, her eyes did look a bit sadder.

"...Mm. I know exactly what you mean." She and despair were no strangers, after all. "And I've already decided that if I can help it, I'm never going to let that happen again."

Tohko sighed and gave a small smile. It looked a bit sad..but warm as well. "..You and me both. Even if it manages to grab me by the legs and cut me every now and then, I'll still keep going. After all..it's hard to drag others out of it when you're in it yourself."

The analogy was one that threatened to make her frown, but Naminé managed to maintain a grip on her own small smile. A nod, and, "That's too important for us to let something like despair stop us. So-- good luck."

Have another headpat, Namine. "Thank you..and hopefully Lady Luck will smile at you as well. Again, if you ever need help with anything, let me know, alright?"

"Alright. I'll-- see you around?" It was somewhere between hopeful and encouraging. (Even though, realistically, even if something terrible were to happen to either of them, they'd probably still make it back one way or another, due to the way the Tower functioned.)

They probably would, but death was pretty painful, and Tohko would have liked to avoid it, if it was possible. She chuckled and nodded.

"Ah..alright then. I guess you have to get back to your studies..and I have to get back to the library! I've been out of commission for so long that a few of the back shelves have gotten unorganized! So..I'll see you around!"

Tohko waved to Namine before moving off again, working on cleaning up the shelves and organizing them.

Definitely a sentiment Naminé shared.

"I wouldn't want to keep you from your work...!" Any more than she already had, anyway. "Good luck with the shelves. See you later."

And the blonde waved in return, watching Tokho go before turning back to her own endeavors.

[.oo8] A Compulsion of Memory [OPEN]

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