(no subject)

[divinitysoiled]

Characters: Catarina and anyone on the floor!
Setting: Floor fifty
Format: Action, will match prose
Summary: A time of training lets Catarina reflect on events she'd rather leave alone
Warnings: Usual succubus warnings

[When she first woke up after reverting to her natural age, the memories had already been fuzzy and indistinct. And it shouldn't have mattered to her. They were events that were forced upon her. Anything she had done, or thought she had done in or before the time was meaningless. It had never happened.]

[At least she had no sense of deja vu at the new floors. Catarina wouldn't have known what to make of that. No, rather she had a sense that it had to happen, that these floors were to be. It made her hands tense at her sides as she walked up the stairs, her body shaking slightly. Her head turned to look at the floor before her- empty. Completely empty. Nothing for her to slam her fists into, nothing to cut aside with her knife, nothing-]

[She snarled, striding over to the middle of the floor to start shadow fighting. Something to do to ignore the feeling that it was equally so inside her. That she had something, something she had wanted, something that was cut from her at the end of the event. Thousands of touches and kisses - punches and kills - gone from her sensory memory, and the feeling she should have it. She should remember something.]

[Her face was wet, but she was working herself into a good frenzy. Sweat would do that. Yes, that was the story.]

Comments

[scorchedchivalry]

[If there was one time when Saber wished she could take spirit form like the other Servants, it was now. She hadn't meant to stop and watch Catarina, but only peek in to see what this particular floor had and move on.

But there was the succubus and the knight found she could not move away. Saber had been avoiding Catarina, yes, but she'd been avoiding so many she'd encountered during that experiment. So many disappointments...

This situation was different. It wasn't disappointment that had kept Saber away from Catarina. It was regret. She had not wanted what happened to have happened the way it did. The moment itself she didn't regret - as she had most definitely been wanting it to happen for a while before the Administrators manipulated everything - but it was the manner, the lack of... something to it.

In the end, Saber was still a human soul and she had grown very, very fond of the succubus. But she couldn't keep avoiding this. She couldn't, so, unarmored, she stepped away from the door and silently, slowly, approached Catarina.]

[divinitysoiled]

[She had felt Saber's eyes on her as soon as the woman had set foot on the floor. But she had ignored it, ignored the human behind her, ignored everything. The empty feeling grew as she caught glimpses of Saber in the corner of her eye, her breathing coming harsher. When Saber had started walking to her, so beautiful without her armor and so silent and deadly on her feet, her movements stuttered slightly before she turned, throwing one punch at the knight she knew would be blocked. Catarina didn't bother following it up, but rather looked at her with wild, dark, pained eyes.]

[scorchedchivalry]

[On the contrary, the punch hit. Yes, Saber could have blocked it easily, caught the fist even, but she chose not to. It didn't hurt much given the knight's Endurance rank, but the physical pain was welcome.

Saber raised her hand up to push some of her hair from her face and then gestured toward herself. Catarina had leave to continue if she wished.]

[divinitysoiled]

[Catarina blinked, taken aback. Saber... let her hit her? That wasn't- no. She hadn't wanted to really hit her, but... for the start of the fight. The feel of the two of them together in some way. She swallowed dryly, the following breathing coming raspy and hard. Painful. Deliberately, she took one step to Saber, waiting to see how she reacted]

[scorchedchivalry]

[Saber couldn't fight Catarina unless the succubus moved to harm an innocent or a defenseless. With the line that had been between them crossed, the knight's code would not let her. She could defend herself and others, but she couldn't take an offensive action against Catarina save to protect the succubus against herself.

So, when the woman stepped toward her, Saber turned her hand so the palm was up and held it out. If Catarina attacked again, she would not defend, but she didn't feel that was the way for her to work past the cause of the pain Saber could see clearly in the other woman's eyes.]

[divinitysoiled]

[When Saber raised her hand, Catarina just stared at it for a while. Her face was empty as she look at it, her thoughts whirling so sharply in her head that it might as well be the same. The memory that wasn't even half remembered raised its sleepy head, reminding her she was missing something. Then, slowly, she took Saber's hand, raising it to rub against her wet face]

[denigrator]

Hojo had an interest in everything, in all the floors. For the most part, that interest was low-level, but a scientific mind was always searching for new data. Nothing caused his scientific interest to peak on the fiftieth floor, but he did pause to watch as he saw the woman so obviously determined to fight with herself.

Training sessions were nothing new to Hojo. Not only did he oversee Sephiroth's training at times here in the Tower, but ShinRa had been fond of its SOLDIERs, his own creations, and he had often watched and tested them. He might not have been a fighting man himself, but he knew enough to make him an experienced judge of others' speed and strength and skill.

He could tell she was distressed, though he didn't particularly care. However, he did notice that she was attractive. That was more interesting.

[divinitysoiled]

Catarina wasn't completely unaware of her surroundings. She could tell there was someone watching her, and that was enough for her. Her leg swept up for a kick, then slammed down with more force than was necessary as she turned to him. Eyes quickly swept over him, taking in how much of a threat he was and if he could be prey to her attentions before she tilted her head, inviting him to say something.

[denigrator]

Hojo hadn't made any particular effort to hide himself, but then, he rarely did. He had less regard for his personal safety than most. That wasn't something he needed to consider any longer. He did prefer to avoid pain, but where the continuation of his life was concerned, he had made other arrangements. "Professor Hojo," he said, with a nod as he introduced himself.

As for being a threat, he was armed, but he made no moves, defensive or otherwise, remaining still, his own head also tilted slightly to one side.

"And if I might inquire, what is your species?" There was such a range of specimens in the Tower. She might be human, but then again, she might not.

[divinitysoiled]

Interesting. He didn't look much of a physical threat, but he didn't look afraid either. Which put her on edge; many mages had that same look and she was quite susceptible to magecraft.

"Catarina Amanto," she responded easily, hiding her wariness. She started to walk to him, her hips swaying. If he was a threat, taking him out first with a soul sucking kiss would be in her favor. Catarina stopped an arms length away, just enough to brush her finger tips along his cheek.

"Species? Hm... an interesting name for what you are asking."

[denigrator]

He was no mage, but he did have magic at his disposal, thanks to his Materia. Not that he believed "magic" was the proper term for such power. "Magic" was a matter of superstition, a term used by the ignorant and imprecise to refer to that which they could not explain.

He watched her approach, still unmoving, although he blinked slowly when she touched his cheek. The attention of women was nothing new to him, although he had received more of it when he had been well-known as the powerful, wealthy scientist who was one of ShinRa's elite.

"Is it? I am a scientist, and this entire Tower is a laboratory, of sorts. I'm only using the proper terminology."

[divinitysoiled]

Her lips curled into a smile, one a little too sharp to be completely welcoming. Catarina stepped closer to him, her hand moving down to take his hand, pulling it closer to kiss it.

"Hm. But is this your laboratory? I doubt it... as you are also an experiment."

[lightofhumanity]

[chaos had finally started exploring the new floors. He was always a little slow when it came to these things, but being slow on knowing every inch of the Tower wouldn't help him in the long run.

While stopping in this particular floor, he sensed and saw..someone. She was quite powerful. However, chaos was used to things like this and merely smiled at her.]

Good evening. Are you alright?

[divinitysoiled]

[There was something... off about this boy. Catarina stopped when he spoke, her breathing feeling far too harsh in her chest as she looked at him]

I am... fine. Merely training.

[lightofhumanity]

[At that, chaos nodded.]

If you wish, I could have a light spar with you. It might better help you than fighting alone.

[divinitysoiled]

[And that was alarms going off in her head. Something about this boy told the demon that was her that he was something far more than she realized.]

[But at the same time... she couldn't say no. Not to keep up appearances that she was harmless until it was too late. So she waved in front of her, offering the space for him to join her]

[lightofhumanity]

[chaos nodded and stepped into the space.]

Thank you. I do appreciate it.

[And, without another word, as a small warm-up, chaos snapped his fingers, sending a beam of energy to the left of the person. If she had good eyesight, she would find that she didn't need to dodge. It would miss her.]

[culbutiri]

Nesir stabbed at a piece of litter some inconsiderate idiot had left lying around the tower. She probably wasn't meant to be using her dagger for litter collection but it gave her the satisfaction of stabbing something.

It wasn't enough though, and she was being slow. Trying to put off the inevitable when she had to go to floor fifty five and throw it into the fire.

It wasn't that she was scared, it was just stupid. No one needed an incinerator that big, and she had had a job already.

This floor wasn't too bad, and the figure fighting caught her attention, even more so when she realised who it was. She stood and watched, keeping her dagger in her hand.

[divinitysoiled]

When she turned and caught sight of Nesir, something inside her lurched. The girl, the one that fought her with such little fear... it was a purely emotional response, one that seemed to have ties to what had happened in those too fuzzy memories. It seemed... happy? Proud?

Catarina slowed her movements, her head tilting at the girl. "Did you wish to join, little one?"

[culbutiri]

Nesir's eyes flashed at being called little one. But she said nothing. Just smirked at the invitation. Her dagger remained where it was, pointed at Catarina even as Nesir got closer.

"Can I be?"

[divinitysoiled]

Catarina grinned at her, sweeping her hand in front of her. "Only if you want to, dear."

[culbutiri]

Nesir nodded, "I do be wanting to..." Her tone was still wary though. Very vagualy she remembered in her own misty false memories that there had been a time where she had not been so wary of Catarina.

But those memories weren't her own, and she hated the fact that she could be given false memories, controlled like that.

[andajarofdirt]

[Jack watches her from a distance, somewhat wary. He's not afraid of her, of what she is or what she can do. But he knows better than to dive in recklessly. At least when she's moving like that. He checks his distance, gauges his chances, and then makes up his mind.]

Want some company, love? Some things are always better done in pairs.

[divinitysoiled]

[That voice. The pirate. She turned, her smile familiar behind its distraction]

I would always be welcome for your company.

[andajarofdirt]

Well, of course you do, who doesn't welcome my company?

[Jack grins teasingly at her, still staying at a small distance.]

Just wondering in what capacity you want it, that's all.