towerofanimus | 001: Got my heartbeat waiting. [Open]

Entry tags:

001: Got my heartbeat waiting. [Open]

Characters: Fushimi, Mihli and you!
Setting: Backdated to February 15th; Floor 1, Floor 4, and Floor 10.
Format: Opening with action, but I'll match whatever you might tag with!
Summary: Fushimi's new and scouring about the tower for information and anyone he might recognize. Comes with optional bonus event flavor: "#1 Crush". Plus a closed encounter with Mihli for additional violent event shenanigans and awful first impressions.
Warnings: Under the effect of "#1 Crush" it's possible that Fushimi is going get violent and, uh, sharp after a point. Because you should look only at him, after all. And in their thread, Fushimi and Mihli will be under the effects of "Howl" which will also probably end up going down a similar route.

[Scenario one: Floor 1, open.]

[Today, Fushimi situates himself to a corner of Floor 1. His expression is as bored as it usually is, but there's a faint tightness to it--he really would rather not deal with anyone right now. But, of course, the odds of finding someone familiar would be greater here. Because, supposing that the world actually was destroyed on such vague terms, surely he couldn't be the only one to end up in this place.

Surely.

Either way, lookout duty is getting boring and frustrating, fast.]

'Tch, he's not here, is he...

[Scenario two: Floor 4, #1 Crush, open.]

[So there is an outside.

Fushimi doesn't know what to do with this information. It's as bad as the slow days of work, that left everyone with nothing to do. Possibly even worse, if what he had heard was to be believed. Was he expected to just live from day to day, as the Tower did as it pleased? How stupid. His own world was already irritating enough, he didn't need this on top of that.

As Fushimi plops down on a sofa with a drawn-out sigh, tired and frustrated at the information he has and hasn't received, a heart-shaped recorder forces itself out from between the cushions and proceeds to jab him in the hip.

When he reaches down to pry it away, it switches on.]

[Closed scenario: Floor 10, Howl, with Mihli.]

[By this point, Fushimi is damning the number of floors the tower has. At least this floor is a little fascinating, if nothing else. Just a little. It doesn't help ease the concerns he's kept quiet, though. As Fushimi eyes the aquarium, something shoots out of the water and on to the floor. A heart-shaped recorder, dripping wet, skids to a stop at the other end of the room.]

What-?

[It starts to play.]

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[And guess who just happens to be passing by? Naoto! And oh does she know a new face when she sees one. They all have the same sort of look to them -- confused, tired, frustrated, maybe a little angry or sad. Clearly now is the best time to extend a helping hand, amirite?]

I take it you're new here, yes?

[It was supposed to be a simple day.]

[Mihli was exploring the Tower cautiously, mapping out more of its design ~~while hoping to stumble across some of her friends~~ to get away from the hustle and bustle of some of Animus' more populated and active floors. She wanted to clear her head, perhaps get a little combat practice in, but this room held her interest for obvious reasons.]

[Unfortunately for her, before she could get too excited about the abundance of fish and what she thought was an empty floor, something strange catches her attention, its tone faint and unnatural... As if by chance, through searching for its source, instead she notices Fushimi - but that's odd since she could've sworn this floor was empty up until now.]

[Normally, she'd ignore the presence of another individual and continue her exploration, but something about this guy just... demands her attention.]

...

[Someone's staring at you from across the room, Fushimi]

[It is clearly the best time to lend a hand! Why, the scowl on Fushimi's face even lifts at the sight of Naoto.]

Ahh... that would be correct. And you are?

[There's a peculiar lilt to his voice, though.]

[Mihli's arrival doesn't go unnoticed by Fushimi, either. He takes careful, but excited steps towards her.]

What? Is there something you needed?

[The heck? She wasn't expecting him to cross full length across the room to meet her. Everyone in this tower was way too excited for some reason or another, it was irritating. So why was her pulse rising all a sudden?]

Wha-? I didn't ask for anything in parrrticular, did I?

[She narrows her eyes at this guy. Something about him just sets her off, and it was a gut reaction she was hard pressed to ignore, but that damn annoying thumping in her chest -- why couldn't she just walk away?]

Edited 2013-02-16 23:52 (UTC)

[Oh wonderful! This will go very smoothly and not be uncomfortable for either party in the least.]

Naoto Shirogane. And yourself?

Oh, so you just stare at everyone you come across, then? How creepy.

[With that, Fushimi shrugs and half-heartedly turns his attention back to the aquarium. He's stopped a few yards away, a solid distance away, but there's a faint restlessness to his posture.]

[Not uncomfortable at all! Speaking of uncomfortable though, it's at about this time that Fushimi pushes himself up from the sofa to stand before Naoto as he speaks. Because it's only proper, of course.]

Fushimi Saruhiko. And it's a good thing that you showed up when you did, Shirogane-san.

[That hits a nerve. Fushimi can see it in the way she twists her lip. She can look wherever she damn well pleases, thank you very much! Besides, she was just looking at these fish, see? FISH]

What an odd assumption to make.

[An offhand comment. She could've been looking at anything y'know.]

... You shouldn't be here, the tower's unsafe and you'll be in trouble if you're still strolling around come nightfall. Not my prrroblem if you end up getting yourself killed.

[Why did she even care? Regardless, she at least sets herself in the right mental state to finally put more distance between herself and this weirdo as she heads off, not in any particular direction, but just plain AWAY from him. This place was expansive enough, maybe she could lose him in the fish. Watch for him from a distance. Make sure he gets out alright...]

Edited 2013-02-17 00:15 (UTC)

*Trying to work was a bad idea. Between the graves being doubly upsetting after his memories were returned and the oddity of having a fellow gravekeeper, just a boy, too, make advances on him, Enoch was ready to just sit and relax somewhere.

Somewhere like the lower lounge. That was a nice enough place. Decent traffic too, so strength in numbers in case a monster showed up. Much like Fushimi had, Enoch sank onto a couch with a tired sigh, drawing his cloak around himself like a blanket.

He doesn't hear the sound the recorder makes clearly, at least, considering the direction his couch is facing and the recorder's place between the cushions.*

So what am I supposed to do? Stay in my room? Like you said, whatever happens to me isn't your problem.

[As Mihli puts distance between them, Fushimi shrugs and takes slow, deliberate steps to follow the aquarium in the other direction. Maybe he'll go find whatever the water spat out on to the floor, and figure out what was up with that. Or maybe he'll climb further up the tower just to spite this woman, that's certainly an idea.

Or perhaps his actual intention really is to just waste time and stay on this floor, in the end.]

[The recorder is quickly forgotten at Enoch's arrival. Fushimi twists around just enough to keep it from digging into his hip, and so that he might better focus all of his attention on this stranger. The way he sighs strikes a chord in particular.]

Don't tell me you're new here too.

[How irritating. Everything he did was irritating. His attitude. His smile. Those glasses. That stupid gait. His entire existence was beginning to grate on Mihli's senses.]

[How the hell was she supposed to protect him if he was just going to nonchalantly wander around the Tower without a care in the world? This was just plain inconvenient. She couldn't look out for everyone, nor did she want to - that was an impossibility - but this guy, he was her sole responsibility. Hers alone. No one else's.]

[She found him first.]

[It didn't matter why she had become so fascinated with the idea of keeping him alive, the fact now was that she was fascinated. This had quickly evolved from a chance encounter to a genuine mission, but how could she keep him out of harms way...?]

[Before she knew it, her hand found itself resting upon the hilt of her club. It was so obvious the logic bordered on the edge of stupid - why didn't she think of this before? If she smashed his legs at the ankles, he wouldn't be able to move anymore! Then she could keep him safe for as long as she needed]

[Yes. That's right. Then afterwards perhaps she could smash his arms to keep him from crawling away. It was perfect! Why hadn't this ever crossed her mind? She'd been using this club the wrong way from the start! And so once she was certain Fushimi was set on his course, Mihli turned and began to follow him happily, club in hand, her presence lacking any sort of weight or sound as she cut the distance between herself and Fushimi in half with demented glee in her eyes.]

Not new... Here for too long and given an impossible task.

And why is that?

[The push and pull is a bit different from what Fushimi is normally used to, a little easier, too easy, but that is just fine. The result is the same, after all, and he clearly has her attention right now. He has her attention, and that is all he wanted.

Perfect.

Fushimi spins on his heel to face Mihli. There's a flick of his wrist - a laugh in his voice - and a knife is sent flying in her general direction.]

Didn't we just have a discussion about being creepy?

[He hums thoughtfully.]

... No, perhaps it's better to ask when it wouldn't be a good thing, if what I've heard is true. As foolish as it is to rely on others, there is an advantage in numbers alone, isn't there.

[Fushimi leans in a little close. Maybe a little too close.]

Even if it's only just one other person - just you, Shirogane-san.

[That's... not reassuring at all. Fushimi leans forward, and decides to forgo tact.]

And that would be?

To tend to the...memorials of those who have slipped away from the tower.

*A newcomer wouldn't realize they spoke the truth...Enoch has to talk about it.*

[A counter attack. The music altering her senses had to have been the cause, she wouldn't have been so sloppy otherwise... No matter. She'd learn to cope with the improvements its granted her psyche on the fly.]

How unforrrtunate,

[With a flash, Mihli spins her club to a reverse grip to merely angle her weapon in the trajectory of the knife, deflecting it as she eliminates the distance, free arm swung, shield suddenly on a war path towards Fushimi's face]

My original intent was to prrotect you, but now I'm going to have to punish you for the trrrouble...

[An unmistakable bloodlust resides in her eyes, though for the oddest reasons, she's smiling.]

... Memorials? You must be joking. If the Tower is so dangerous, then what is the point of us having supposedly been "saved"?

No...not death. We don't die here permanently. It's...worse.

How... no, never mind. Then what are these memorials for?

[A shield being aimed at one's face would catch anyone by surprise, really. Fushimi is no exception - he makes a noble attempt to weave out of the way, but it's not quite enough to keep Mihli's shield from connecting to his jaw with a solid crack. His eyes unfocus for a moment, dazed from the hit.

And then he laughs again.]

To protect me, was it? Ahh, you're too kind.

[The blue aura flares up in Fushimi's fist as he quickly twists and lashes out at Mihli in return. An eye for an eye, after all.]

Those who have slipped away to the ruins of their worlds.

*They were alone out there...*

[There's a pause as Fushimi considers this.]

I fail to see the point - it could be argued that those people are better off. There are far more productive things to put your attention towards.

Better off?

*That tone of voice is one that says Fushimi probably did not want to say that. Incredulous, hurt, with a touch of anger.*

Better off? No. Not in the ruins of a dead world with only the corpses of their loved ones to accompany them. I have been among those lost and I can't say this tower, with all its horrors, is worse than such isolation.

[Fushimi picks up on Enoch's displeased tone, but it only causes him to... smile.]

Can you, though? Can you speak for those who have no loved ones? Who have nor want anyone at all? Is it fair to keep them in the tower?

In my experience...those who say they want no one have never truly been alone.

I once thought I wanted no one, a long time ago. It nearly drove me mad.

Again though, that's only your experience.

... Well, whatever. The affairs of others don't concern me, and I'm neither home nor pleased to be in this tower. Though I suppose there is at least one reason for me to be content here.

Someone you won't miss, I assume?

*There's just enough emphasis on the hard consonants to make it sound sharper without sacrificing his soft tone.

Enoch has met people who say things like he does. His opinion is that they are narrowminded, and do not realize what it is they wish for.*

Aah, there's a lot in my world I don't care for.

[Fushimi leans forward with a twist to his smile, ever closer to Enoch. The movement causes the heart-shaped recorder, its presence forgotten long, long ago, to sink back down in between the cushions.]

But I was talking about you.

*Enoch leans back on instinct as Fushimi leans in, his expression one of worried confusion - him? They'd only just met, and weren't even really getting along, to boot! Oh no, what if it was that thing that had affected John?*

What do you mean?

[That's not quite what she expected. So bed-head's packing some sort of magic too, huh? At least this'll make for an interesting kill.

In such close proximity and with her shield arm stretched out of reliable blocking ranges, she only really has access to her club as a means of defense - fortunate given it's made of sturdier stuff than the shield to begin with. Not exactly wanting to know what that flame will do to her jaw, Mihli brings her club up to block the incoming blow, and is surprised to feel the impact of such a hook capable of blowing her straight back out of melee range.

Without skipping a beat, she digs into the ground, kicking herself back into the fray with Fushimi as her club blurs with movement, arcing downwards for his face while she attempts to set a foot between his legs so that she can attempt a followup shoulder-check to knock him off balance.]

It's quite simple, really. [Fushimi laughs in a way that could be considered almost amused, or even fond. But something about it is a little... off.] Suppose the tower really is so awful, even the state of our homes - but what does any of that matter? What does anyone else matter?

As long as you're here, I don't need anything else.

*Something about him knows this is just like what happened with John, that logic won't mean a thing...*

...We've only just met...

*And yet, it's the only thing he has short of getting up and running away.*

Is that not enough? People judge and make assumptions of others based on first impressions all the time. You've already revealed enough about yourself in the short conversation we've had that I can form a very solid opinion of you.

It didn't sound very positive until just now...

*Enoch was starting to regain his nerve now that the shock of the sudden change in his behavior had worn off. He wasn't intimidated by him - he was stronger than most men, and even though there were many factors in a world that hosts from many worlds he couldn't account for, he had plenty of reason to believe in his own ability to defend himself if this man's strange behavior took a turn for the violent.*

Perhaps not. I still don't get your attachment in maintaining such memorials - they're of no use to those who are gone and only serve as an annoying reminder to anyone that bothers with them. [He shrugs.] But I can admire a person who would not abandon others so easily.

[Fushimi holds his position, though there is a tenseness to it.]

I...wouldn't abandon them, but maintaining them isn't my choice.

*His lack of abandoning them would manifest in other ways; a drive to see to what Dax has said about wanting to restore their worlds. He'd aid the man however he can.

But that would mean dealing with this situation first.*

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001: Got my heartbeat waiting. [Open]

2! Let's make this awkward. :D

OH BOY PSYCHOS

Excellent. :)

AW YES, GOTTA MAKE THE MOST OF THIS EVENT.

CREEPER FUSHIMI JEEZ

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WELL. YES. HE JUST KIND OF WEIRDLY WANTS YOUR ATTENTION, MIHLI

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Cats make good stalkers.

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I'm so sorry for the lateness, events kind of swept me away.

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I've very sorry this is late too, thank you so much for indulging me!

It's okay! Everyone puts up with me, after all!

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♥

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I got blindsided by final projects. I'm really sorry. ;;

It's totally okay!

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