towerofanimus | Only a shadow of what it seems (backdated to the 6th)

Characters: Enoch and anyone
Setting: Floor 48, backdated to the 6th
Format: Doesn't matter!
Summary: Enoch has a new job! While he wouldn't necessarily mind being given something productive to do, this doesn't exactly count as productive considering they aren't real graves...
Warnings: Grieving I guess? Mention of a child's death.

He cut an eerie figure, himself, dirty brown cloak wrapped around him with the hood pulled all the way up. Only the duster in his hand marked him as working here, and only the gleam of white armor occasionally visible as he walked hinted at his identity, with his head constantly bowed. There were few flowers that survived the snowfall, so the watering can hadn't been necessary.

Enoch didn't like this floor. Each and every grave marker represented someone completely isolated from other people, all alone with nothing but the ruins of their world to call home. Perhaps some could starve to death; that one young man had said he foraged for food. Perhaps they would find release. But to die that way...

Oh, he didn't want to be here. He was actually somewhat glad the tower had doubled in size, taking it away from the dorms. But he'd received a letter in the morning telling him he was now in charge of maintaining it. And as much as it may hurt him, he knew disobeying would probably bring consequences.

Even though it wasn't the same at all. Even though it wasn't maintaining a peaceful rest. Even though reading names he remembered and seeing flashes of distraught faces in his mind's eye was worse than any instance of realizing they're dead now ever was on Earth...

...okay maybe he didn't want to do this. He fell to his knees at the grave that read Ryotaro Dojima - his first roommate here, someone who, like him, dearly wished for the presence of a loved one. Did he grieve over his daughter's little corpse even while she was right here in the tower he had just left? His eyes stung with tears - he'd only been gone a week. He hadn't seen Dojima in months. Was the man even sane anymore?

Wrapping his arms tight across his stomach, he forced himself to his feet and moved on, cleaning the newest rows of graves and again collapsing at the pain of considering each person here, trapped and all alone... Even if he didn't know who they were.

But he had finished the first day of his job, so he could afford to sit here on his knees and quietly weep, shaking with the pain of reopened wounds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[chaos came up to this floor occasionally when he was feeling too depressed, too nostalgic. He would stand by the fifteen wooden planks he had put into a corner of this massive graveyard and think back, only leaving when he was tired of thinking back and ready to move on and help with the present.

He was just about to walk away from these markers and move on when he sensed Enoch a few feet away..and, if his senses and powers were still working normally, he sensed that the man was not in good shape. Quietly, chaos walked away from his markers, walked through a line of graves, and turned to see Enoch sitting on his knees in front of a grave, shaking and weeping quietly.

Quietly, chaos walked over, knelt beside Enoch, and put a hand on the man's shoulder, using some of his powers to help calm him down. He wouldn't talk unless Enoch wanted to..but he would be here if he did.]

*Enoch felt the pain slowly seep away with the warmth of a hand on his shoulder, and he looked back to see the white-haired young man, the one with the "guess" that still made him uneasy...but one who seemed good overall.

His breathing slowing as the calm took him, he lowered his head, letting his acquaintance, for once letting anyone, play with his mind, if it was a respite from the pain.*

[That was the only way chaos did help Enoch though, just some calming powers and being there. He may have pried through people's minds, but it wasn't like he altered or twisted them to hurt themselves, others, or even for fun. He liked free will. He still believed in humanity, and if he started altering humans, he would become a hypocrite.

However, it was good that Enoch was calming down, that it was working. In the back of his mind, chaos sighed. He couldn't have children, thanks to what he was, but he had lost friends, seen children die, had his lover and counterpart die, and had seen Earth die. His long life had not been kind to him, so he understood Enoch's pain..even if the man did not trust him.]

..I shall listen, if you wish to speak. And if you do not, I shall be here for as long as you need me.

*It was strange. This was the same situation he'd found others in...and now here he was, mourning for the entire floor, for the people left to the emptiness of their ruined worlds...*

They're alone...they have nothing and no one...

[Perhaps it was to Enoch. For chaos..it wasn't that strange at all. However..upon hearing of what happened to people who did leave the Tower, who's universes weren't like his, he sighed.]

..Which is a cruel, unbearable fate that no one should have to suffer. I do not know exactly what has happened to the other universes..but if that is the fate that falls onto the people who return home..then it is tragic. More so than words can describe. I am sorry..that you had to experience that..and that these people have to as well.

And there are so many markers here...

*Dax did say they try to bring them back...he hopes he succeeds.*

That there are..while some have not been put here by the Administrators, the majority of them are..and each are living in something far worse than a nightmare.

[chaos, sadly, hadn't heard that.]

If only there was some way we could help them...

[..And suddenly, a small idea.]

..Right now, I do not think there is, except for taking care of ourselves and making sure that we are well. However..if the Administrators can put people into this nightmare..there must be a way to pull them out. I do not know how..but there must be a way.

They don't do it. It's accidental. Dax said that when someone is lost, they do what they can to try to retrieve them...

[At that, chaos nodded.]

Then..perhaps we can offer our assistance..find out how they are lost and what we can do to help..it will take time..but that may work.

Perhaps. If there is anything we can do for any of it, for the restoration of the worlds, for learning of the phenomenon that destroys them, for preventing the tower from losing people...

... *He sighs.*

...I will ask when I next have the chance.

[Now, it was chaos's turn to sigh.]

Enoch..I once offered you my help for anything that you needed. I believe this is one of those times. You have quite a bit on your shoulders. I shall ask and see if there is anything that can be done. Take some time you grieve and rest. You do need it.

*Enoch shakes his head.* No...you can ask, but I will as well. It isn't any work to seek the truth.

..I cannot and will not stop you from asking..but one must always work to seek out the truth, even if it is lying right in front of ones nose.

However..do take some time to rest. Working yourself to the bone coupled with horrible revelations does not help most people in the long run.

[Note that he said 'people'. It was chaos's generic way of referring to everyone, as humans would really out him as not being human, and some non-human entities might not work well under those conditions either.]

I know. Work is all we have here. I will rest only when I must...

*He can't stop to reflect too much, you see...*

[This time, chaos actually sighed.]

..Otherwise, you shall brood too much and collapse under everything. Believe me..I do understand. However..this seems to be one of those times Where some rest is required.

*He wouldn't really know what constituted rest for him, Enoch thinks. Resting is time to reflect and he can't do that, not now.

He needs something to keep busy. ...Maybe an extra cloak for Lucifel. He never was dressed for the cold; cold didn't matter to the angel before this. He gets up.*

If there is rest to be found.

*And he's walking away.*

[chaos got up and turned to Enoch. However, he didn't follow the man. He simply watched and spoke.]

There is always rest to be found.

[He then paused for a moment before quickly speaking again.]

I know you do not trust me, and I do not blame you for that. However, if you ever need me, I shall be here.

[In the back of his mind, chaos sighed again before he too, started walking away.]

Only a shadow of what it seems (backdated to the 6th)

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