towerofanimus | [.o1o] A Long Day

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well-- they're usually-- [She forms her fingers into the shape of a ball, trying to remember the word. (She almost never has to use it.)] ... spherical. I've tried some flat ones, too, but-- I haven't done very much with other different shapes...! I thought it would be important to focus on making them last, or hold up against a lot of force, so that's what I've always practiced.

Like this?

[Rei holds up her hand, forming a partial AT field in front of it. It looks like a clear partial sphere rippling with orange waves.]

This isn't magic, though.

[Naminé backs up slightly, automatically, looking up the field with curious eyes. Huh.]

-- Yes and no. It doesn't look like that...! [But it may well serve the same function, she suspects.] It's not orange, and it's and kind of solid, but partially transparent, too. [... Naminé, just go ahead and show her, geez.]

Really? That sounds cool.

[She keeps the field generated.]

Does it feel like mine? Go ahead. Feel mine.

[The girl pauses, looking up at Rei as if to make sure it's really okay. Then, slowly, she reaches out to cautiously press her fingertips against the field.]

[It feels oddly solid despite how thin and transparent it is. As Namine touches it, the ripples change to becoming centered around her fingers. Every place where her fingers touch spouts its own ripple.]

[The change makes the girl draw her fingers away briefly, then cautiously press them back again a few moments later, watching the ripples with interest.]

... Huh. It's... kind of like this, yes.

It must be a really nice barrier then.

[Though magic barriers probably didn't react to the emotions of the wielder. Not like an AT field, which only reacted when the user wanted to "reject contact."]

I've always liked it. You know-- as far as barriers go.

[Smile.]

It's been very useful to me.

I'd bet.

[Her expression gets a little more serious.]

I hope...people aren't always attacking you and making you need that barrier. That would be bad.

[She falters, smile weakening.]

... No. It's-- not like that. [Not anymore, anyway - there was a time when she really was at risk of being hurt by other people at all times, and that sneaks a little guilt into the back of her mind,] ... But in a place like the Tower, it comes in handy now and again. [Monsters and the like.]

Whew, that's great.

[She gives Namine a reassuring smile.]

But if anyone tries to hurt you, you can always find me. I'd help you.

[She pauses, smile returning.]

Thank you, Rei. ... You know... somehow, I'm not surprised you'd say that. [Not because of anything Naminé did, but because of Rei herself.]

...I'm glad. A lot of people are surprised, though.

[For Rei, this means Namine believes in her, which in turn means that Namine is the type of person who would happily believe in others.]

[Not like some people who shut themselves off and were unable to trust.]

[Naminé is not one who trusts freely - but she is someone who's good at recognizing the nature of others, and at seeing the good in them. Rei hasn't done anything to prove herself untrustworthy, exactly - strange, yes, but not actively a bad person. The blonde tilts her head.]

Why? You've been kind to me so far.

[She shrugs.]

It's different for other people, I guess. Sometimes they've been hurt pretty badly, sometimes they want to be strong for themselves. So they don't expect me to want to protect them.

....

[If she had a heart to be hurt with... she'd not be able to deny that applied to her, too.]

... I think that says more about them than it does about you. The truth is - I'd rather you didn't have to protect me. But-- even so, I appreciate that you offered.

I understand. Thanks, though, for appreciating it.

[Her smile is grateful, too.]

You're welcome...! It would be thoughtless of me not to.

[She giggles.]

I don't think you have it in you to be thoughtless.

--!

[Her laugh is small in response, her eyes turning away even though she's smiling.]

I don't know about that.

[She'd done things that were before, after all - even if most of them actually DID involve thought.]

You don't have to know. Just believe. Believe in the me who believes in you! And I believe that Namine is too kind to be thoughtless.

[Her laugh is an embarrassed one and kept in check behind her hand, her eyes shutting briefly. Then,]

Thank you, Rei. For having faith in me.

You're welcome.

[If it was one thing Rei had in abundance, it was faith in other people.]

[The girl takes a moment just to smile up at her, then,]

So-- would you like to do anything else, or would you rather just go and rest? You've been through a lot.

(no subject)

terreifying - 2013-02-17 22:23 (UTC) - Expand

lethechained - 2013-02-17 22:24 (UTC) - Expand

terreifying - 2013-02-17 22:26 (UTC) - Expand

lethechained - 2013-02-17 22:27 (UTC) - Expand

wanna end it right here?

terreifying - 2013-02-17 22:51 (UTC) - Expand

Sounds good /o/ Thanks for the threeeeeeaaaaad. <333333

lethechained - 2013-02-17 22:55 (UTC) - Expand