POST DATED to tomorrow.

[uzuki]

Characters: Shion Uzuki & anyone ♥
Setting: Kitchen, random floors, meadow (WHICH is technically locked to Allen), or research library.
Format: Your pick.
Summary: Needing a break from things constantly being horrible, Shion decides to spend some time with Allen outside of working. But of course, it's right back to business after that. Sort of.
Warnings: Currently none.



[Kitchen]

It had been a few days of near nonstop work, as well as mourning, before Shion managed to really get herself together and get out of her room. Of course, as soon as she did this, she went straight for the kitchen. There wasn't TOO much she could do with the ingredients at hand. Some egg and pasta variations, maybe some carrot cake cookies.

She's not in a huge hurry, and wouldn't mind sharing, or making something for someone. It WAS between the breakfast and lunch hours, after all.



[1-14]

Armed with a folded blanket, and as much of a variety of food as she could manage with what was available, Shion started up the stairs. She stopped off in certain rooms, like the library and the media room, looking around for Allen. Unable to find him anywhere, she headed back down to the elevator. Might as well skip those really nasty rooms on the way to the meadow!



[Floor 25]

Shion stepped out into the meadow floor, still armed with her aforementioned items, looking around for Allen. She was determined to have some time alone with him, and since he wasn't in any of his other usual spots, he had to be there. She was a little out of breath from the climb, but it didn't dampen her enthusiasm.

"Allen?"



[Floor 19]

Much later, Shion was alone again and seated at a table with a few stacks of books. Having had to slowly browse then collect all of the tomes she needed reminded her of why she had always preferred reading digitally. But there wasn't a lot she could do about that, since books were all that was available. So she sat for quite some time, scanning pages, until the text left her groggy.

She dozed off once or twice, her face resting in her open palm, and her elbow supported by a small stack of books. Until the weight of her head caused one thin book to slide out of the stack. The whole pile crashed to the floor, and Shion's face met the table with a yelp.

Comments

[temptestament]

Allen had been invisible when Shion stepped onto the floor, not wanting to be bothered while he was in a bad enough mood that he knew he would be short tempered. But at the sound of Shion's voice, he suddenly appeared a few feet away from her.

"Yeah, I'm here. Sorry, I was trying to avoid being pestered by people I don't know."

[uzuki]

Shion had been expecting that kind of entrance, but she was still just a little startled. She smiled anyway though.

"Allen, I'm glad you're here... Is something wrong?"

[temptestament]

Now that he was visible, he walked a little closer to her, rubbing the back of his neck and looking off to the side.

"Nothing major, it's just...I'm not too happy about that last event."

[uzuki]

"Event? What do you mean?"

She pushed the bag of food into his hands, to hold, then she set the blanket down and started unfolding it. There were a few small pieces of wood inside which she shook to the ground.

[temptestament]

He took it without an objection, though he did quickly look inside to see what she'd just handed him.

"You...didn't notice?"

[uzuki]

"No..?"

She looked up from the little woodpile she was arranging, her eyebrows raised. It was probably obvious she had no idea what he was talking about. But she shot a small fire ether into the wood before shaking the splinters out of the blanket and spreading it out next to the fire.

[temptestament]

"You're lucky, then. The Administrators made some of us think we'd been here for a lot longer than we actually had."

He shuddered as he set the bag down on top of the blanket.

[uzuki]

"Is.. That what happened to you?"

She scooted the bag over, then took his hand to pull him with her as she sat down next to the fire.

[temptestament]

He sat next to her, holding her hand firmly even though his eyes were fixed on the fire.

"Yeah...I don't remember many details, but I thought I'd been here for hundreds of years."

[uzuki]

"I'm sorry Allen... I should have come to find you sooner. I guess I just got so wrapped up in everything..."

She squeezed his hand gently and looked back at him, a little worried.

[temptestament]

He shook his head, closing his eyes.

"I'm actually kind of glad you didn't see me like that. I was pretty distant."

[uzuki]

"Well, I could have been there for you anyway."

Which would have been an improvement compared to what she actually did. BUT! She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, before resting her head on his shoulder.

[temptestament]

He smiled faintly and edged a little closer to her.

"Thanks. But at least I'm back to normal now."

Floor 19

[tohko_amano]

Tohko was cleaning up books and taking care of her librarian duties in the research library when she heard a large crash and a person cry out a few feet away. Quickly, Tohko ran towards the noise, only to find a pile of books on the floor and a woman with her head smashed into the table. Tohko put her left hand on the woman's head, a bit puzzled..but mostly concerned.

"Miss, are you alright? What happened?"

[uzuki]

"Oh... yes..."

She grimaced as she sat up straight, rubbing her face.

"I guess I was more tired than I thought..."

[tohko_amano]

At that, Tohko smiled, removed her hand, and started picking the books back up and putting them onto the table. It was a little bit slower with only one arm, but she wasn't too bad.

"If you're tired, you should get some rest. I'll take you back to your dorm room, if you want. I would feel terrible if you fell asleep while you walked back!"

..That was a half-joke.

[uzuki]

"Let me help!"

Shion moved quickly to gather up the books before Tohko and her injured arm could get to any more of them.

"It's okay, I'm feeling pretty energized now. But are you alright? What happened to your arm?"

[tohko_amano]

"Ah, thank you!"

At the question, Tohko sighed and scratched her head.

"Even if you're feeling energized now, you could feel pretty tired a few minutes later. It's best to get some rest now and make sure you're fully energized. And don't worry about me! I'm alright. I lost my temper with Sepiroth and tried to slap him when he was talking and chuckling about how great it would be if he managed to destroy everything that lived on his planet and remake things his way. But..he just turned my attempted slap into a broken arm. But don't worry. I should be fine in a month or two."

[uzuki]

"Oh no, it's really alright. It's just these old books, they always make me tired. I think I might be finished reading for today though."

As Tohko told her about Sepiroth, her smile faded.

"I see.."

Well, she was vaguely glad she didn't know him, since he sounded rather unpleasant. But it only took her a moment or two to get thinking again.

"You know, it's too bad nanotechnology isn't available in the tower. But I did see a request box the other day, maybe I could request some medkits from home. With nanomachines, your arm would be as good as new in a few minutes."

[tohko_amano]

"Still..even with the books, you should get some rest. But..how are they old to you?"

After all, for Tohko, many of these books were pretty modern and weren't that old. However, as the woman kept talking, Tohko couldn't help but give a small smile. Her guess may have been wrong..but the way this woman talked was similar to 'Behemoth'. There was no way that they weren't connected. Which meant..

"I suppose it is pretty terrible. But I can do without it and just wait for it to heal. I'm pretty patient. However, if you did that, that would be really kind of you. You don't have to do that though. However..this is going to sound strange, but are you Shion?"

[uzuki]

Her eyes widened in surprise at the mention of her name.

"Yes, I am... How did you know that?"

[tohko_amano]

Tohko thought for a moment before responding. It probably wouldn't do to mention her nickname for Shion's brother right now..it would just cause more confusion.

"I met your brother in the Tower awhile ago..and you two just sounded so alike with your descriptions of technology and 'old' books that I just knew you were his sister."

[uzuki]

She smiled, and shook her head. She should have known. If there was anyone who would talk about her to others, it would be Jin.

"You met Jin? I apologize if he bothered you by talking too long."

[tohko_amano]

At that, Tohko smiled and shook her head. So that was his name! She could finally stop calling him 'Behemoth'. That might make him happy.

"I did. And you don't have to worry! He didn't bother me at all! He was rather nice, and I enjoyed talking with him. However..how is he doing recently? I haven't spoken to him in a few weeks. Has he shown himself to you?"

[uzuki]

Her expression went blank for a moment, before becoming a somewhat melancholy smile.

"I didn't actually get to see him that often. But, that's how he was before too, always wrapped up in his own things. He's gone now though. He disappeared a few days ago, actually."