towerofanimus | 8 years is a long time

Entry tags:

8 years is a long time

Characters: Ishtar (AU1) and OPEN
Setting: All Over the Tower
Format: Prose Action you pick, I follow
Summary: The age up event and Ishtar is out and about doing things.
Warnings: Character personality differences, possible violence and such. Will add more if anything else comes up.

[ the infirmary ]

Ishtar was seen tinkering with a few of the medical bottles and medical supplies. It seemed like she was preparing for possible doctoring for people if they needed it but she didn't pay attention to her surroundings too much. She assumed the infirmary would be an okay place to be without getting attacked but Sidia hung at her side just in case anything unpleasant happens and she decided it would be time to defend herself against the ongoing threat.

Right now, however, she seemed to be preoccupied with her work as she puts another bottle on the cabinet and walking off with the rolls of bandages to get stored. She seemed like a busy body and if anyone had noticed, her appearance changed slightly with her longer hair and taller frame. Her clothes style changed a little and her face longer and appearing a lot older than the usual Ishtar that zoned around Animus.

[ the wasteland; floor five ]

Ishtar peered blankly at the viewing stations as she touched the walls. It seemed like every time she went there, there was an unsettling pain that pinched her heart. She couldn't take it anymore. It had been almost ten years since she was here and there was nothing she could do. She didn't want to believe that the world she knew and the place she came from was obliterated. It wasn't possible. Sephiroth had said the same thing years ago when they had this conversation, but Ishtar refused to believe it just as he had. Maybe now, she understood why he didn't want to think about it.

It wasn't helpful, but she kept scrolling down staring at the emptiness. The remains of what was her world. The Facility, and her own. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists as she turned her form around. She continued down the path without much to say aloud. She looked away from the view finder, knowing that every time she looked and ventured here, that it was always painful, always. She wished that this was all a nightmare. That these eight years she was in some stupid coma.

[ the forest; floor six ]

Ishtar had Sidia out. It had been a few hours. Sweat rolled down her face as she slashes past another amount of vegetation that stood in the way. The clean cut left a good impression on her. A loud call of a foreign language and a huge light, destroys a nearby tree, leaving nothing but the stump. Ishtar continued to repeat the pattern as she slashed through the air and called out these random spells. It seemed like when she needed peace or practice, she was doing it out in the forest so that it would be easier to deal with if anything happened. It wasn't safe in the forest, but even if her abilities were completely neutralized, she could fend off the creatures with Sidia. Her sword skills weren't as pathetic or slow as they were in the past.

Her skills had heightened and gotten better. She was still determined to prove to everyone she cared and love for that she could protect herself and that no one would have to die protecting her. She didn't want to be a burden. She didn't want to think she was a burden and now, she wasn't a burden. If they could see her now.

[ the gothic cathedral; floor thirteen ]

Ishtar was sprawled across the seating area, with Sidia cradled in her arms. Her guard was up but she didn't seem to be moving. There's a peaceful sound of breathing coming from her. It seemed like the former princess was now napping after a long day and wouldn't like to be disturbed, but she wouldn't mind company if anyone chose to wake her up. She was just tired and worn out from everything. It had been too long and there had been a lot she was thinking about up until now. The Gothic cathedral provided her with some sort of peace and quiet whens he required it.

The mumblings didn't bother her as much as the noise she was used to and she could drown them out when she chose to, but it always stopped when she entered and she learned that speaking normally here didn't actually worked. Either way the older woman seemed to be out like a light sleeping soundly on the seating aisle with her precious sword. There was an almost peaceful look on her face.

ooc: all replies with be with the journal: pheliostasqueen

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Raphael was tolerant mainly because he was an Angel. Unless someone was insulting God and going against his plan, what reason was there to be upset? And even then, Raphael didn't get angry or try to stop people. After all, humans had free will. He couldn't interfere with that.

Raphael followed her towards the door. "Alright then. I have not been to the cafeteria yet, but it should be alright." As alright as anything could be in this place.

Ishtar didn't know he was an angel and she's never met an angel before,so it should be something if she ever discovered his true identity. It might be a shocker for but she'll probably be intrigued by it as well.

"I can show you the cafeteria and everything in it before we have tea if you want. It's a pleasant place for cooking food or just hanging out. It's not really all that pretty to look at but it's pleasant from time to time," she chimed happily as she started towards the stairs.

If she found out, Raphael wouldn't mind. After all, he would reveal himself if someone asked, and would be happy to answer any questions.

Raphael followed her as he spoke. "Ah, thank you. That would be rather helpful."

That would be interesting to learn one day, but Ishtar didn't often ask what others were unless there was a situation that made her behave like that. She strolled towards the stairs and then taking it down to the first floor.

"Just doing what I can for everyone," she chimed cheerfully.

Raphael kept following Ishtar and managed a small smile at that. It looked a bit awkward though.

"I am glad to hear that. It is good when people help others."

Eventually, they made it to the cafeteria but before that Ishtar offered him her usual grin as he gave her a small awkward smile. Somehow, she was fine with that.

"Really? I think it's the least I could do with the abilities that I have."

She didn't seem to mind being complimented but she didn't do her work so she would be recognized for it.

As Raphael walked into the cafeteria, he looked about, taking in his surroundings before replying.

"It could be..but it is always nice when people help others. Not that I am trying to change how you think about this."

Ishtar decided it was a good time to continue, "The kitchen's over there, and there's the sitting area. There's a fridge that stores food, and other things nearby. I think we're allowed to access most of them since I've been doing it for a while."

She replied with her smile glued to her face, "Nah, you're right. Sometimes, I feel like I'm doing what I do for selfish reasons, but at the end of the day it all ends up being done because I want to help people and nothing more."

She walked over towards the cabinets and such to grab some tea while boiling a kettle nearby.

Raphael, sadly, was a little new to modern technology. He may have been an Angel, but Lucifel didn't show him too much of the stuff that humans had made in modern times, and it wasn't like he saw much of it. He was too busy watching Enoch on his journey. However, he kept smiling.

"I am glad to hear that you are able to push your doubts aside at the end of the day. However, what is a fridge?"

Raphael followed her, but kept a bit out of the way. If she wanted him to help, she could ask for it, but since he wasn't sure how helpful he could be here, he was trying to keep out of the way.

It took Ishtar years to get used to modern technology, so she would understand if he didn't know what things were. Ishtar never knew that the future held so many things that she had never seen before, seeing she came from a world that was buried in the middle ages.

"Yes, it's something that I contemplate from time to time," she replied nodding her head and answering his question, "Ah, it's for storing food. It keeps things cold so they spoil easily and there's a freezer section where people keep frozen things. It's pretty much a huge ice box for storing food and such," she replied trying to explain as much as she could to him.

The kettle whistled and she quickly turned it off after distributing the tea into the cups.

"I see..hopefully it does not burden you too much."

Enoch had showed him what could happen when it did. He was telling the truth to Enoch-he couldn't lie-when he said he wouldn't have thought any less of the man if he had spoken of his doubts. But..heavy doubts and burdens, even spoken of and known of were still hard to dispel. As Ishtar described the fridge, Raphael looked at it.

"I see..that is a useful invention for humans."

It was good to see that humans had built stuff like this on their own merits..but before Raphael could finish that thought, the kettle went off, and he watched Ishtar turn it off and start preparing the tea.

"Not at all," she replied cheerfully. It kept her going in this place, this world. Without her motivation and what she did, she would be moping somewhere alone, and cold.

Ishtar giggled, "Yeah, we're fascinating beings aren't we?" she half joked as she questioned him after a thought, "So does that mean you're not human?" she mused not really minding if he wasn't but the way he spoke, she assumed he wasn't just from the words that he just spoke to her.

Ishtar finished the tea and walked over with the fancy looking cups with steaming herbal tea.

"Here you are."

"It's good to hear that then. You must be quite strong."

Raphael smiled when she giggled, and this time, it looked genuine. "Humans are quite interesting. And you are correct, I am not human. I am the Archangel Raphael."

Not that he sounded like he was bragging when he told Ishtar who he was. To Raphael, it was just another part of who he was, and not something to fuss over.

When Ishtar walked over with the teacups, Raphael nodded and took one.

"Ah, thank you."

"No, not at all," she quietly murmured as she handed him the cup while keeping her giggling in check, "We are huh? I guess we aren't too boring," she grinned as she nodded her head, though surprised at what he had said.

"Whoa, seriously? You're an archangel!?"

She didn't expect things like this to exist, so it was quite the surprise to her. It was almost pretty amazing if she thought about. She read a couple of things on them when she was here as well.

"You're welcome. I hope it suits your taste," she added while moving over to the tables.

"In my opinion, you are..and humans are never boring. They are quite interesting."

At her question, Raphael nodded and sipped his tea. He hadn't had tea before, so it was a bit bitter and strong..but it wasn't bad. It was pretty good.

"I am. Angels cannot lie. And this tea is quite good."

Raphael took another sip and started to follow her..only to start feeling ill after that second sip. Quickly, he put the cup down on the counter and headed for a nearby trash can. He had assumed correctly that these things were used for garbage and other waste, and threw up what little tea he had drunk.

"This..is not normal..or good." He coughed.

"Hee, is that so?" she mused cheerfully at hearing that. She rarely got people that weren't human to say things like that honestly, and she was surprised that a being such as an archangel was able to say that.

"Is that a law or a code you have to follow as Angels?" she mused, because clearly, Ishtar had a hard time understanding this because she knew no one before in her life that was an archangel. She waited for his reply but became worried as he threw up the drink he sipped in. She didn't even get a chance to thank him for it before she rushed over to him and see if he was alright.

"....Wh-What? Are you okay?" she mused worriedly. Ishtar was certain that there was nothing strange in the drink. There were no poisons, no toxins. So what happened? Why did he throw it up?

It was because he hadn't eaten the oatmeal yet. No one had told him about it, and this was his first time in the cafeteria. Besides..Angels usually didn't eat unless they wanted to or unless someone offered them something. Raphael didn't eat much.

He coughed again and tried to get over the uneasy feeling in his stomach. This as..pretty terrible. How could this happen? He was an Angel of healing..and yet, he himself was getting sick. What was going on?

"I..do not think I am. That..has never happened before.."

Carefully, Raphael let go of the wastebin and turned to Ishtar, wiping his mouth.

"As for your questions..that is what I think about humanity. And not lying is a law that all Angels have to follow."

..Raphael was starting to understand how being queasy felt and how a badly a stomach could ache.

"Is this..another thing our hosts do to the food sometimes?"

Ishtar didn't even know that he had not touched the oatmeal yet, but the signs were pretty obvious after a few minutes as she realized that since there was nothing in the tea, and he claimed that he shouldn't have that problem consuming a drink like this, so what was the reason?

She closed her eyes and tried to remember as she listened to him speak.

"That's strange, unless," she trailed off for a moment before asking him another question, "Did you eat anything when you came here?"

It was the easiest way to ask as she parted her lips to reply to his next comment, "Ah, I see. It must be tough," she mused giving him a a soft look before looking off again.

"No, not really, unless you didn't do something that was required here," she added quietly. She patiently waited for him to answer her question.

Raphael was fast to recover from physical blows, so he was feeling much better by the time he had to reply.

"I did not eat anything when I came here. Should I have? And..it is not tough to follow that law. It is simply how it is."

It was much like healing people, letting them die, helping them, and other things went back home. It was part of his role and his orders, so he did it. It was quite simple.

"Oh,then I think that explains it a little," she replied softly, "I heard from people here that before you can eat or consume anything, you haveta eat the strange food called oatmeal," she replied softly.

Ishtar still thought it was tough, seeing she had a hard time doing things like this before and so it was very motivating to see someone dedicated to what they do. she learned how to be like that now, but she admired his strengths.

Raphael gave Ishtar a puzzled look once he heard that.

"While I do not mind eating it, I have not heard of the dish before. Could you tell me what it is?"

Careful, Ishtar..Raphael was only like that because he lacked free will.

"It's something made out of wheat. It doesn't taste bad if you add some brown sugar and cinnamon to it. I also usually add fruit. It's something that people have to eat first before they eat or drink anything. It's like a porridge? Except with wheat and grains. At least, that's what it tastes like to me.

Ishtar probably wouldn't say that if she knew. Ishtar didn't like to see others lacking freedom. She had experienced things like that before too, but on a different perspective.

At that explanation, Raphael nodded. He understood.

"I see..thank you. I understand what it is now. Where might we find some? Or do we make it ourselves?"

..And of course, if Ishtar had voiced her opinion like that, Raphael would have been even more reminded of the Ishtar he knew back home.

"There should be some lying around," she mused rummaging through the cabinet and finding the box, "I can make some for you if you want, Raphael," she replied with a small smile, "since it's fairly easy and considered healthy for some people," she added as she started her task.

"You're welcome."

Ishtar would be further intrigued by that since she had never met anyone with her name, much less her similar mannerisms.

Raphael returned the smile as he spoke.

"Oh, thank you. That's very kind of you. I am sorry that I cannot be of much help here..this is my first time encountering modern cooking appliances. However, if there is something I can do to help, please let me know."

8 years is a long time

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shall we end it here?

Sure!