Riding the intro wave

[pellegri]

Characters: Pellegri and any awesome person who wants to meet her
Setting: Floor 4, Floor 12, or Floor 13!
Format: I'm a conformist
Summary: Pellegri is here, and what a shock, she's not happy.
Warnings: None yet.

After waking and realizing she was obviously not on the durandal anymore, Pellegri had changed into her own clothing, made herself presentable, and made sure to grab her glaive. Somewhere, she learned about oatmeal and collars, and horrible experiments. She found the cafeteria and sneaked away with her plain oatmeal to force it down in private, then set about deciding what she would do.


[04]

The walls on the fourth floor might have been shatter proof, but Pellegri had no way of knowing. Since no one was around to stop her, she decided to test them. She knew that even if she did manage to break through, there was no telling how far down the ground might be, but she felt like she had to try anyway. And anyone entering the floor would be greeted with the sight of an angry middle-aged woman attacking windows with a spear.




[12]

While taking a little time to explore, Pellegri stopped on floor 12. At first, she thought she might catch a glimpse of home (maybe a nicer one than that other floor with screens), but it didn't take her long to realize what she was actually witnessing. The destruction of planets... whole star systems... Life. She watched the stars bitterly for a while, wondering if they were real depictions. And if, maybe, these were other worlds people had spoken of. If so, who was responsible for this destruction.



[13]

Pellegri may have had her faith in Ormus destroyed, but her faith in general still existed on some level. It wasn't even that though, it was simply the setting. The colors, the lighting... It brought back memories, good and bad. Pellegri sat in one of the front pews, staring forward blankly in thought. She wasn't sure if this church was meant as respite or mockery, given the situation. Regardless, it was a small comfort while she considered her new home.

Comments

[facedthetruth]

*He isn't sure why he's kept coming to this floor occasionally since that first time. His relationship with religion has been a rocky one ever since he discovered that Ormus existed purely to manipulate its followers, and he certainly hasn't been looking to any sort of higher power for guidance. Maybe he's just missed Pellegri more than he admits. In fact, the fact that Pellegri was on his mind when he stepped out into the cathedral causes him to stare in surprise for a moment when he actually sees her sitting in one of the pews.

But he's already seen both Jr. and Jin's sister fully alive in this place and from different timelines, and has seen chaos here from the past. She might be from a timeline where things went differently on Michtam, or from before those events entirely. Maybe even both.

He's grateful for the noise muffling effect of the floor, ensuring that she won't hear him as he gathers his thoughts. He could leave, perhaps contact her over the network later to find out. But no, this meeting should be in person.

He walks slowly as he approaches, waiting until he's close enough that he barely has to raise his voice for her to hear.*

Pellegri...I shouldn't be surprised that you were drawn to this particular place.

[pellegri]

Margulis...

[She looked up at him. She seemed guarded, but made no physical move against him.]

Is it true?

[facedthetruth]

*He didn't move, but one hand was on his sword warily.*

You've heard of the difference between my universe and most represented here?

[pellegri]

What was it? What happened to make you finally abandon those ideals, when..

[She shook her head and turned her gaze to the front of the cathedral again, and she stared bitterly at the altar.]

[facedthetruth]

I discovered records that indicated intentions behind Ormus kept secret even from the upper ranks. The true purpose of the organization remained obscured, but it was clear that we were nothing but pawns acting toward an end not of our own desire.

[pellegri]

So when you found it on your own you were willing to accept it. When I showed you, or Jin, you would hear nothing of it.

[facedthetruth]

The reverse was true of my universe. Neither you nor Uzuki considered my words as proof against Ormus.

*He regards her carefully, thinking about what she said.*

But from your words, you've come to a similar realization yourself.

[pellegri]

Yes.

[She left it at that simply, not wanting to go into how badly their relationship had deteriorated because of it.]

[facedthetruth]

*His hand drifts away from his sword, falling down to his side.*

What was it that convinced you of the truth?

[pellegri]

Ariadne, the secret weapon testing...

["Your attitude..." of course, she didn't vocalize that. There was a chance to change things between them, right? She didn't have to bring up how that incarnation had driven her away.]

I could no longer stand by while Ormus paraded our goal as a mask for its real desires. Corruption and murder...

[facedthetruth]

From what I've heard of my other incarnations, I'm reluctant to imagine how your version of myself handled those situations.

It would be something like that to drive you to reconsider your loyalties.

*Where just hearing from a friend that the organization they had complete faith in was keeping its true agenda hidden from them wouldn't.*

[pellegri]

But, if things are different here... If we are truly removed from Ormus's influence... I am thankful for that much.

[facedthetruth]

They have no representative here.

*He took a seat next to her and closed his eyes. It was strange, almost surreal. The last time he'd seen her face, she'd been accepting her death, lost because of Ormus. Now here she was, agreeing with him in defiance of that same organization...yet he didn't doubt that she was, on some level, struggling not to blame him for his actions in her version of events.*

However, you'll no doubt encounter others with now knowledge of your desertion.

[pellegri]

[She nodded.]

I have already spoken to chaos. He seems to play the role of peacekeeper regardless of the setting.

[facedthetruth]

I've noticed that as well. With the number and nature of the different timelines represented here, it's been a noticeably needed role.

[pellegri]

I can imagine...

[She was still uneasy about seeing the others. With Margulis, it had been like picking up before all of the painful times. Not there wasn't some measure of awkwardness, but it was easy enough to ignore for now.

With everyone else... It had been fairly difficult to win everyone but Jin and chaos over the the first time. She wasn't looking forward to having to prove herself to Jr. again.]

[facedthetruth]

So far, I've encountered three people who had difficulty seeing me as anyone but the commander of U-TIC.

*And oh boy does he sound annoyed over that, even for him.*

[pellegri]

If not for chaos, I would have assumed the same thing. I suppose you cannot blame others for acting on experience... Or being mistrustful, considering the circumstances.

[facedthetruth]

I don't blame the Little Master for his wariness, but the others continue to view me as they remembered despite knowing of my opposition to U-TIC.

[pellegri]

[Pellegri brought her hand to her mouth for cover and looked away, stifling a laugh. Hearing that title from him was actually kind of hilarious...]

[facedthetruth]

*He glances at her, half curious, half annoyed.*

What?

[pellegri]

Nothing... It is just that I would never expect to hear those words from your mouth.

[facedthetruth]

Hmph, would you prefer I referred to him as the brat? It suits him just as well.

[pellegri]

That seems more appropriate from you... Anyway... You knew all of the others who are present here? I am not familiar with some of them.

[facedthetruth]

Not all, no. Wilhelm and KOS-MOS aren't familiar to me and their roles seem to be filled by different individuals where I'm from.