towerofanimus | Miserable Birthday

Characters: Hei and YOU
Setting: Floor 48
Format: prose, but will work with whatever
Summary: Hei spends time at the graveyard for his birthday, bidding another friend goodbye...and gets attacked by the Husks from Mass Effect.
Warnings: fighting, possible blood, etc.

Another month, another loss. He barely even knew of what was going on within the tower, thankfully dodging those dreaded tape-recorders. Info was all around for him to gather, but not right this second. Now had been a day he didn't wish to experience, and one with another tombstone. Amber, the Contractor the original Hei regretted losing, was gone once more. This wasn't the first time he lost someone. He lost Yin at the facility before, then Minako, then Raven, then Lucy, and more. Growing close to others had been another reason for his hesitance to be attached to them, knowing they would just fade away like the rest. Amber was no different it seemed.

He had set himself down before her tombstone, putting another mask he made onto Amber's grave as well. Farewells were never given, and though he was just a clone, the pain was the same. He sighed, bowing his head, hands held together. Not a prayer to God or any other higher being, but for those gone. At least they would find peace in death and not within this accursed tower. That however didn't ease his thoughts in the slightest.

Neither did the sounds of movement, of ragged breathing. Monsters, he thought. Figures. Even on his birthday, no one would allow him the peace he desired. Hands instinctively went to the knives under his coat, brandishing them out and getting up. Eyes glared, glowing a bright red as his power peaked. Husks, beings capable of a similar power to himself. They desired him dead, and at this moment, the feeling was mutual. The numbers seemed to grow, five rising to nine, nine becoming fifteen, etc.

There was no fear in his pose, no confidence, nothing. Emotionless, yet at the same time, as he began by slashing on Husk on the neck, deadly. His movements were quick, moving between them, quickly getting slash after slash. Electricity seemed to hit him, but he grit his teeth, continuing his assault, moving through the crowd growing through him. Knives soon became embedded in two more Husks. Staring at the incoming horde, he swiftly took out his staff, swiftly knocking aside a few in one swift strike. The staff separated,hands grabbing the hilt of the swords that came forth.

Help him, or watch and see how he gets out of this?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Most, however, would not acknowledge that the truth is there, or that it does not matter. Whether these worlds are destroyed means nothing. We are here, the toys of these creatures. And, unless we gain the power to break that, learning to cope comes first."

"And if you can't find a way to control your mind from it all, you are doomed to fail. Others fail to take that into consideration as well."

Or unable to maintain it entirely. Months ago, Hei was driven insane by some events. Even the future event had him murder a tower resident in cold blood.

"Most are likely new," she said, shaking her head. "When they are still learning, they seem unable to know how to treat the brief moments where the games of these halls will drag them into madness. What happens when an Admin toys with them, turns them to a toy to break? Do they blame themselves, or apologize and move on?"

She chuckled. "Survival... requires... perspective. Even the recent event reminds me of that. It is so easy to be little more than an animal."

"You certainly know how most can act within this tower when they lose that control."

He was beginning to see how she and Kirika knew of each other more and more.

"On the island, it was the same. The goddess would play a game. Convince them they were married. Make someone bow before their worst enemy...," she said in a low voice. "Alliances sundered, friends wounded. Always, the same questions..."

"The facility was almost the same. Every week, save for one break, we were subject to various experiments, some of which turned us against one another. Growing more killer instincts against the ones you love, having to witness someone betray you and lose someone you care about, or even taking away memories. It...wasn't a pleasant experience."

"Very similar, and this place much the same. Threats on these floors can afflict a person's mind. Best not to take these things personally," she said, shaking her head. "But people will always do so."

"Agreed." Even if he failed to do that for the past few months. Ever since the facility, he did act on his feelings more and more.

She paused and glanced at him quietly for a moment. "I will, however, warn you. I can be very ... possessive about her, regardless," she said. "I will try to keep it under control. It ended poorly once, and I think the vision I had warned that would be no different here."

He paused as well to study her face. "She doesn't want you dead, and I would prefer things be kept civil rather than hostile. Should things go beyond that, I don't think I have to mention my own intervention in the matter."

Even if he promised Kirika he would not kill Chloe.

"I don't want her dead either," Chloe said, shrugging. "Part of me... well, let's just say shoving a fork into my lung did not exactly make me happy with her at the time. However, I do not want her dead. I am certain of that now."

"It is not her that should be concerned..." And she looked at him levelly. "However, I do not think you are like that woman was. Rolo, though... I am not sure how to address."

"You don't need to. I have my eye on him as well." He was the protective big brother after all. Even anyone that acted nice to her often got the attention of Hei, and he wanted to know everything; he was beginning to be reminded of Harry Dresden now, when he was interrogated by the wizard for reasons.

"I'll take your word on it, for now. The last thing anyone needs within this tower is more enemies."

She looked at him quietly and frowned. Whatever reasons he had to watch Rolo, they were likely very different from her own reasons, but it wasn't necessary to address that at the moment. "For now, all things are what they are. I can ... play nice I think. Admittedly, there are a few more to play with, and I have learned to at least look at other fish in the sea."

He eyed her carefully after that statement. "You would do well not to cause conflict. There are those here that can surpass what either of us are capable of."

Sephiroth, the Servants, and far more. Even if some were allies, Hei preferred to make sure. And keeping tabs on them from far away was becoming harder.

"I am aware," she said, softly. "But trouble has a way of finding me. Still, I do not plan to seek it for the most part, unless it seeks me."

Miserable Birthday

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