towerofanimus | 005 ♃ If we've met before but you were possessed at the time, is this really our first meeting?

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005 ♃ If we've met before but you were possessed at the time, is this really our first meeting?

Characters: Sheba and Allen; Sheba and characters that ... aren't Allen, if you wish!
Setting: Floor 03, the library. Sheba and Allen will be exploring other parts of the Tower as well, but that part isn't open, sooooo...
Format: I'll follow you, but I'm starting with brackets.
Summary: Backdated! The day after this exchange, Sheba goes to the third floor library to meet Allen, as agreed. But she's there early, so perhaps it won't be just Allen she runs into that day?
Warnings: Nothing except the potential for some rather slow replies on my end over the next few days, but they should come with more regularity on Thursday or Friday!

[FLOOR 03, MORNING]
[She was at least a few hours early, but she supposed there were worse things to do with her time than spend it reading. Anyone who happens to be on the third floor on the morning of the 27th will most likely see Sheba darting among the bookshelves, pausing to scan over the titles for a few moments before she moves on to another set of books.

It was all well and good to say, "I'm going to read," but when it came down to it deciding what to read was a lot easier said than done. There didn't seem to be any books on the subjects she was most interested in, which was a shame.]

There has to be something useful...

[FLOOR 03, NOON-ISH]
[Finally, noontime rolls around. By now Sheba has found somewhere to sit and is curled up in her chair, completely absorbed in her book. It's probably a good thing that Allen knows what she looks like, because even though she'd started with every intention of keeping an eye on the entryway, that just wasn't how things were working out.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It was a different, more military-esque outfit, but it was Mr. Walker alright. The stark white hair--now much more groomed and flat and white as snow, was a dead giveaway.]

[He looks around a bit for "a lot of purple", before noticing someone fitting that description reading a title he himself couldn't read.] Uhm, excuse me--

[He says with a smile.] Are you Sheba?

..!

[She looks up from her book as he speaks, and a moment later, she smiles. The book is shut and set aside, and she gets to her feet.]

That's right! And you're Allen... it's nice to meet you in person.

Same here.

[He turns to the side a bit.] Might as well get started. We can talk on the way.

Right.

[She nods, and with no further ado the pair of them begins their trek out of the library and to the stairs.]

The floor I wanted to check out is pretty far up. I think it would probably be easiest if we took the elevator to the forty-first floor and started from there. I can't remember which one is the one I'm looking for, but I'm sure I'll know it when I see it.

Now, first things first... [She pauses, trying to figure out the best way to word this.] How much do you remember of how the fight ended? I'm sorry, I know it's not pleasant to think about. But there were two very distinct voices I heard during it - yours and I'm guessing what was the voice of the "Fourteenth Noah." Are you aware of what's going on when he's... well, you know... and is he aware of what happens while you're in control of yourself?

....

[Short, sweet, and to the point.]

Heh, you like getting straight to it, don't you? [He smiles again.] Well, I can remember what happened, but I think that's only because I knew it was going to happen. I think if he wanted me--the 14th, I mean--to not know, I wouldn't have known anything, really.

In the end, I just saw the ceiling coming down and then falling asleep. And then waking up, but not normally. *he looks forward* It was like only having my brain awake. My body could move, but it wasn't long before I could again. Maybe that's how the revive system works here...."revive". Crazy, huh?

It's easier to work things out without beating around the bush. [She smiles, and falls silent to listen as Allen explains.

As he speaks, her brow furrows. Was the 14th really that powerful...? She knew for a fact that the 14th was strong, but to be able to keep Allen from knowing what had happened if he wanted to... that was a little bit of a problem.]

It sounds like the way you woke up was a lot like... [Her voice trails off and she shakes her head.] Like the way we woke up when we first got here. [She's been going to sleep and waking normally since then, but she will never forget how terrifying it was the first time she'd opened her eyes here, unable to move and unsure of where this place was.]

I didn't think it was actually possible to be revived until I saw you on that... "computer" thing. Naoya had said something about it, but I didn't really think... we have a concept of revival where I'm from, but it's not revival from death. Not like that.

Anyway... you said you were worried about something like that happening again. I don't know how to stop it from happening, but I think there may be something we can do to prepare for it if it looks like it might again. You said you knew it was going to happen - was there some kind of warning you had? Strange thoughts or feelings, maybe, that the 14th caused? Ones you knew weren't yours? Or was it something else?

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm prying... but the more I understand about how this works, the more I'll be able to do.

*laughs a little* I can't say we have a concept of revival, either. Life always seemed too precious for anything like that. You had one and only one life. Unless you were me. Then you kind of had two: me and that...other me. I remember once when I woke up and one of my friends had told me I "looked different" than I usually did. I had no idea what she meant at first, but now I see.

[He looks a little sad, despite his smile.] Shortly before I woke up here, I "changed" a little, like before. For the briefest of moments, my memory got all cloudy. I had been stabbed, but it didn't hurt after just a second. Another friend told me something, and then....well, that was when I woke up as the other guy.

...It's ironic, actually. My left arm--[Allen positions his hand in front of him, so that they both could see the cross on the back of it. His hand and his arm by extension was as black as coal. The cross, a symbol, was white. The bends in the fingers seemed to be on backwards as they protruded further from the limbs of his digits. One would normally see the hand and realize it was in no way belonging on a human.]--is a weapon. And it is the enemy of the 14th.

I was stabbed by my own weapon. While it shouldn't hurt any human being, I was a different story. Guess that's what really "woke him up". The recent time it surfaced was different. I 'knew' what happened.

*laugh* And that's about all I know. Sorry if that was a little much, but you 'did' say you didn't want to beat around the bush. *Happy smile* So, what place did you have in mind, if it wasn't just appearance-wise?

[She can't help but be a little startled when she sees his arm. Sure, she's seen a lot of decidedly strange things in her life, but seeing the arm so suddenly - and having him explain it so casually - isn't something she was completely prepared for.]

It's a weapon...? [She wonders how that works. Is its touch fatal to things like the 14th? Is it somehow stronger, more effective at ripping things apart than a normal human hand would be? It felt like every day she spent in the Tower left her with more questions than she'd had to start with.] How does it work, exactly?

[And it's only fair if he gets to ask questions, since she's questioning him so much--]

The place I had in mind is almost like a jail, I think. I don't know if it's really there or not - I can't completely remember. A lot of the things from that time are hazy, but some are clearer than others... [She frowns, just a little.] I can almost remember spending a really long time there, but every time I try to focus on the details I just can't recall them. But I can remember not being able to get out, and not being able to use my powers at all.

It's not ideal... it really, really isn't. But if you could feel him coming on, we could get you to that floor before he could take over, and he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone as long as you were up there. That would give us more time to figure out how we could make him leave so you could come back.

A prison...

[Much like what the Order would've put him in.]

It's worth a try. As long as the monsters don't catch us, that is. [His hand elongates to a mental command to "Invoke". The individual fingers become very long, elongating about three feet each. When once they were rounded and dull, they were now long and sharp. One could almost hear the wind slice as they moved.]

Almost immediately after that, one could suddenly see that a silvery cloak with a furry white collar suddenly appeared at around Allen's neck, trailing him as real as any other garment would. Two long, thin strips of purest white cloth also trailed behind, originating from a mask that hung just on the back of his neck, on the fur collar.]

Crowned Clown. That's its name. [His hand motions a bit in front of him.] It's really....*laugh* Don't lie, it's a bit much for a simple power, isn't it?

I'm sorry... I wouldn't have suggested it if I could think of any other way. Hopefully it won't even be necessary - and really, the only way it could even work is if we had some way to tell when the 14th might be getting a little more active. That, or if we had some way to lure the 14th up there somehow, we wouldn't ever have to put you in there. Just him.

...but to know whether or not we need to bring you there, we need to find some way to tell when the 14th is a threat. [She crosses her arms.] And that brings me to my next idea...

I can read minds. That's how I was able to figure out what we needed to do up there, the other day - and how I was able to hear your voice even though it's so hard to hear sounds on that floor. I thought maybe, if you'd let me, I could scan through your mind every so often to see if I could detect when he was getting stronger or if he had any plans. I was able to hear both of you that day... I think I'd be able to tell which thoughts were yours and which thoughts were his.

Also... it might be possible to try and get information from him, by reading his mind, if he ever came out again. Maybe that would help us figure out how to make him not be so dangerous anymore.

--!!

[She cuts herself off entirely when his hand elongates, though, and she jerks back a few steps. His fingers were longer, they were sharp--]

What in the world--?!

That's amazing!

[After a moment to allow her surprise to fade away, Sheba steps back to him and looks at his arm and the cloak, her eyes wide.]

It's really impressive! How is it just a "simple" power? What else can you do?

They don't have this where you're from, do they? [He smiles again, and keeps it up.] I'll have to save the real firepower for later, but I think this is more than enough of a show.

[His fingers move one by one in a wave motion. They move effortlessly and soundlessly.] It only really has one purpose: Destroy the Akuma, demons in other words. It's called "Innocence". A kind of magic. I think. Haven't found one that allows mind reading at all yet. Or any kind of mind reading. [Timcanpy lands on his head at that moment, unnoticed by Allen himself.]

As for you...I don't think I can allow you to do that. *small frown* I don't even know anything else about the 14th. They're not like people like us. Maybe you did it that time, but it might've been what he wanted you to read. I can't say for certain--

--but it's what 'I' would do. [He continues walking where they were originally going. To a command only he could hear, his arm reverts and the silver cloak disappears.] A Noah is a monster, an abomination no one knows anything about. It could scar you forever if you read it.

*light smile* I mean, I wouldn't want you to try it, that's why I'm telling you not to.

Not quite like that, no... the only times I've seen people change shape has been when they've turned into werewolves... or dragons.

[...it sounds perfectly normal. To her, anyway.]

It's never been just one small part of them that's changed.

[She tilts her head to the side. A weapon called "Innocence" that could defeat demons - it sounded like a very specialized sort of weapon, to be sure.] Does it work on the monsters here in this tower? Are they demons, as far as the Innocence is concerned?

...there aren't many people in Weyard who can read minds. The ones who can are Jupiter Adepts, like me - but not all Jupiter Adepts can do it. I'm not surprised that there's not really something you've found in your world so far that could let you read them.

[Her tone is serious at first, but she can't help but smile a little when Timcanpy lands on on Allen's head, and she reaches up to it - no sense of boundaries, this one.] Oh, it's your friend!

[But her expression becomes more serious as he continues.]

Maybe it was what he wanted me to read, and maybe it wasn't. Maybe neither of us have a way of knowing for sure. [She crosses her arms as they walk.] I'm not afraid of what I'll find in his mind, if there's anything for me to find at all. I've seen a lot of things in my life already that would scar most people, and I'm a lot tougher than I look!

I think it's a risk worth taking. It could help you, especially if we learn something useful about this Noah. You said yourself - no one knows anything about them. Maybe we can change that.

Edited (do the m and n keys HAVE to be right next to each other?! gah) 2013-01-30 03:50 (UTC)

[Tim is captured in her grasp, although it seems rather neutral about the whole thing. Allen pays it no heed. It was in good hands.] So monsters are the norm where you're from? Don't know if that's better or...

Nah. Anyway, I've not tried the full use of the Crowned Clown on anything in this place. I would think it'd be effective if I tried. It's more than just a weapon--at full power, it will only harm evil things. Like a fairy tale sword, only real. [Jupiter? Isn't that a planet? Or the name of a Roman god?]

....

[He seems to feign off to her words of self confidence, however.]

Edited 2013-01-30 04:12 (UTC)

[She giggles a little and places Tim on her shoulder, and then nods in answer to Allen's question.]

That's right. ...well, they weren't the norm. There were always some around, but they became more common when... [Her expression falls and she looks down at her feet as they walk.] They became more common not too long before I started traveling. Bad luck, huh?

[When she looks up, her smile is back.]

Oh! That would be really useful, then - you wouldn't have to worry about anyone getting caught in the crossfire! [She knows she worries about that sometimes, when she spellcasts.

She notices his silence and puffs out her cheeks.]

Allen. Please, just consider it. If it's within my power to help, I want to.

[She might try it anyway, without permission from him - but all things considered it really would go much more easily if he was cooperative.]

Yeah. Bad luck. [Oh too similar circumstances.]

...

You'd jump at the chance to endanger yourself wouldn't you? *laugh* Like someone else I know. [IE himself.]

[Tim, despite its metallic appearance, feels weird and can actually be stretched and squished when enough force is applied. In fact, pull him by two halves reveals that he has a mouth with sharp, miniature teeth. A mouth, I might add, that wasn't apparent at all before. It makes no noises, however.]

[After the elevator...]

Alright, now where to begin...

I would not! [She laughs, though; she's well aware that she can be a little reckless.] Well, at least I wouldn't literally do it. [Unlike someone she knows who happens to be Allen's roommate in the Tower.

When they step out of the elevator, they find themselves on the forty-first floor. It's pitch-dark and she can't see a thing, but she has the distinct feeling that they should move. And Sheba's had enough experiences with "strange feelings" in her life to know that following her instincts is probably a good idea.]

This floor always gives me the creeps - let's keep going. Just follow the stairs.

Alright. [Always something creepy in the tower...]

[Random noises would always keep one like him on his toes. His left eye didn't work here. This was a darkness even darkness couldn't pierce. At least the stairs were obvious.]

[Allen's steps are a little hurried, but it would be easy to keep pace with.] Any idea what floor the prison might be?

I don't think it's too much further... I remember it was closer to the elevator than it was to the dormitory floors.

[She sighs in relief when they leave the darkness behind them and emerge on the forty-second floor. She's had worse, but the strange noises really do creep her out.]

...no, this isn't it either... I think maybe it's the next floor up.

[The iron bars on this floor are definitely dangerous. She's pretty confident in her balance, but she still doesn't risk falling in - exploring these floors can come later. For now, she really wants to see if the floor she was thinking of exists, so she sticks to the stairs and keeps going up.]

[From farther away, Allen can be seen balancing on one hand on one of the iron bars above the chasm. Tim has since flown to his right foot, perched on his foot. His left leg is more spread away from his center, forming a sort of "Y" shape, only the left leg is point much farther away.]

[He's smiling rather clownish-like back to her, but his balance is absolutely perfect, if a little death-defying. His voice is friendly and carefree despite the wind.]

Hey Sheba! Look! One hand!

Edited 2013-01-30 06:09 (UTC)

...?!

[What on earth--]

Allen! Be careful - those bars sometimes move on their own...!

[What if he fell?! Would her powers even work on this floor? Maybe if she could get to him before he fell through the chasm, but--]

That's really impressive but... please come down from there!

Noon

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internet troubles. WORK, DAMN YOU!

I know that feel, bro ;A;

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Morning

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