[.o1o] A Long Day

[lethechained]

Characters: Naminé [OU] and OPEN.
Format: Either.
Summary: Today seems to be a day of discoveries.
Warnings: Memories/consideration of past abuse/kidnapping etc.


[Floor 100]

[It's bittersweet, seeing Destiny Islands 'in person' for the first time. It isn't a memory, this time, but it's not real, either. Standing in what passes for sand on the small island with the bent tree looking out over the water, she cannot help but frown. She'd wanted to see this place for such a long time, but... not like this.]


[Floor 80]

[Blinking in the bright lights, Naminé is at first quite disoriented by this floor. It's very bright and colorful and perhaps in any other place she'd be thrilled by that, except this is the Tower, after all, and thus she is immediately on her guard. But that diminishes slowly over time as she lingers, having a long look around with more than a little interest. It's only her caution that keeps her from straying too close to anyone, including the clowns, but one can't always keep an eye on everyone, now can they?]


[Floor 78]

[The newly opened package hits the ground, the contents bouncing out and landing with a clatter. Naminé looks down at it for only a moment before reflexively stooping to put the tiny bird cage back in its place, her fingers leaving it as quickly as possible and then pushing the package back against the doors of the boxes nearest the floor, a hand moving to press over her mouth. She'd been startled enough to have received a package so suddenly in the first place. She'd just had to open it, hadn't she? Perhaps holding it so delicately, caution still present, had been what made her lose her grip of it in her surprise at the contents. Either way, now she frowns down at it, hesitating as though she's uncertain what to do with this development - because she is.]


[Floor 51]

[There's a blonde young lady leaning over one of the sewing machines, peering at it curiously. She inspects it thoroughly, at first only by sight but slowly moving on to messing with the buttons and, after a while, the pedal - which seems to startle her at first, but she soldiers through it. It's obvious that she hasn't the faintest idea how to use such a thing, but she seems to have taken an interest in it nevertheless.]

Comments

[oforder]

An interesting admission.

[ That was definitely true. Naminé suddenly turning evil would be a very scary thing. But, thankfully... that likely won't ever happen. He was of course referring to Yeshua, but that isn't something Wilhelm will admit out loud unless Naminé were to figure that out herself. ]

It is refreshing to meet someone who acknowledges that truth. [ Respect earned, Naminé! ]

Tell me. Why does this world bring you such pain?

[ And he's not talking about the Tower. ]

[lethechained]

[Proving herself interesting was not the goal, exactly, but she's never had any interest in lying; she's an oxymoron of secrecy and candidness. She blinks at the comment, lips pressing together slightly as her head lowers subtly.]

[It most definitely would. (Even without an alignment shift, she fears her own weakness.) She's got no frame of reference for anyone by that name, so he's likely safe on that front.]

[There's a belated hint of a nod, though she's not sure she's quite so glad about agreeing with him. Then again, she never has been one to fix people into categories.]

I.... [It's not 'pain', per se, but she's not about to tell him that. Her eyes avert, toward the sea.] ... I always wanted to visit this place, before. It's... not getting my wish, but it's close enough to be cruel.

[oforder]

Perhaps a more important question now is if you will be able to endure.

[ Everything about her confirmed that it was indeed painful. But she has so far proven herself to be stronger than she appeared. That alone was worthy of some modicum of respect from Wilhelm, but whether or not she was useful, or would prove to be useful, remained to be seen. ]

[lethechained]

[She blinks, straightening slightly. There's a hint of curiosity in her eyes when she turns them back to him, as if the idea of allowing such a thing to break her had only just occurred to her. It seems to be quickly discarded, however, in favor of a calm expression.]

... This isn't the worst thing that's ever happened to me. Something like this-- it doesn't mean anything. I may not like it... but it's not going to stop me. [There's not much that can, in truth; she's been in the tower a year and a half and the year she lived before that was no picnic, either. She made a promise to herself a long time ago that she wasn't going to give up, and nothing like this is going to even so much as slow her down.]

[oforder]

It isn't?

[ Wilhelm's eyes narrow for a brief moment. That caught his attention. ]

They are reminding you of that which you cannot have anymore. That which you have been denied. What could possibly be worse than that?

[ It isn't a rhetorical question. He's honestly curious. ]

[lethechained]

[Her lips part slightly at the change that she only just caught. Hm.]

[His words make her pause, then cause a small, wry smile to sneak on to her lips. She shakes her head.]

There are many, many things worse than that. [For someone who cares more for the suffering of others than their own, anyway. The thing is... she spent her whole life being denied literally almost everything that was not essential to staying alive. In the life she lead before the tower, she never had parents, never had friends, never had a 'real' life or even existence. She never had freedom, or the chance to grow up - or even the right to desire those things. Compared to all of that, this is nothing. Those things may not all be obvious to the naked eye, but there's a hint of it when she says,] But maybe it's not fair for me to say that. I never had it in the first place. [Not truly, so thus she could not lose it.] Besides... no one gets what they want all the time. If I hadn't learned that by now--... [with all the experience she's had on the subject,] ... I'd have to call myself a fool.

[oforder]

[ Despite the fact that Wilhelm almost never shows any emotion in any form, he appears... satisfied with her answer, in some crazy way. It seems he underestimated her. Good... very good. ]

I can see why Tohko seems fond of you.

[ He knew? Of course. He's Wilhelm. ]

You are surprisingly well-adjusted. [ His way of saying he's impressed. ] Perhaps she could even learn something from you.

[lethechained]

[She blinks at the name, but not quite suddenly enough to look surprised. Her lips do press together, however; that's one concern realized. She doesn't say 'I didn't know you knew' for a variety of reasons. After a pause,]

That's very kind of her.

[She'd prefer not to think about what Tohko may - or perhaps more troubling, may not have - said and why. But,]

... Thank you. [She's quick to move on; it's a bit easier to focus on something else rather than accepting such a compliment. (She neglects to mention that it may only be because she's not capable of not dealing with such things, lacking the heart required to be upset by them as she (thinks) she does.] Is that what you want for her?

[oforder]

Did you not expect her to? [ No way he's letting that reaction go, Naminé. Sorry. ] What I want from her is something that has little to do with you.

[ For now, anyway. He might just change his mind the way this conversation is going. ]

[lethechained]

[Shoot.] I... wouldn't it have been presumptuous of me? [That's both excuse and truth; what right had someone like her to think of such things, anyway?]

[She pauses, managing to maintain a fairly steady expression. Then,] Maybe not, but shouldn't I want to know what happens to her? If she's fond of me, like you say. [Whether that's because it's mutual or because it's an obligation - well, that he'll have to figure out himself.]

[oforder]

She will know if and when I decide it is necessary.

[ Sorry, Naminé... he doesn't show his hand too early. ]

[lethechained]

[As expected, then. She's still testing the waters, but that at least comes as no real surprise. He's proving himself a worthy chess master, in truth. She knows a thing or two about the consequences of not keeping one's mouth shut firmly enough.]

I understand. [Even if it encourages the slightest of frowns.] I suppose I didn't really expect anything else. [She pauses, then shakes her head, apparently deciding against further comment upon one subject or another. Whatever it is... she hopes that he is good to Tohko, insofar as that can be managed in such a situation. He at the very least seemed to appreciate a less... messy solution with that other person he'd mentioned before, so there was that, anyway. Pardon her if she's studying him quietly, her own expression not giving much if anything away.]