| 001 | Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places.

[primordial]

Characters: Sam Erstwhile and YOU
Setting: Room 2-18 and floors 1, 5, 10 and 13
Format: I'm doing action, but I'll follow whatever you have!
Summary: Sam Erstwhile discovers he's found himself right back in the place he hates so much.
Warnings: Sam is kind of not exactly human, so there will be slight mentions of a different diet and being able to breath in water and stuff, but other than that, nothing much! Also lots of text, I apologize in advance.

ROOM 2-18

[He was glad, so glad to return here, to Hinoto-Ri. Yes, it wasn't his home world, but "home" was something that Sam hadn't known for a very long time.]

[He opens his eyes wearyingly, blinking up at the dark ceiling. After a trip like that, he'd need to head down to the river and spend some time there, just sitting at the bottom and letting the water flow around him. It was the best way to get the memories of that place out of his mind for good, to erase the helpless feeling of not knowing what would come next.]

[But...wait, that's odd. There's something heavy on his neck. He glances down, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, and-]

[Is that a...collar?]

[He sits up straight in his bed with a sharp gasp- no. No, this...he had seen this thing among the residents of Animus, what in the world was it doing on him? Sam growls slightly, wrapping his hands around it to tug it off, as if it'll break off easily, but it doesn't budge.]

No no no no no. NO!

[And now he notices that this room is not the one he went to sleep in last night, and he gets to his feet, breath shallow with true, honest fear. This can't be happening. He was brought back home, there is no way that after all that work, he's been brought back without even a second thought.]

[Out of the fire into the frying pan and then back into the fire.]

[Completely ignoring the note beside him, Sam lets out an shriek of indignation and annoyance, pounding the nearby wall with his fists. This is unfair. This is nothing but a travesty, that he's now one of those residents who were involved in such a dangerous and horrible place for good. Really, what is his luck?]


FLOOR 1

[After that unsightly freakout, Sam's calmed down some, finding himself in the cafeteria. Yeah, yeah, he knows about the oatmeal rule, but that doesn't mean he's still willing to eat it. He frowns at his bowl, lifting the spoon full of the stuff before dropping it back in. And then doing it again. And again. And again.]

Ugh. Who even invented this stuff, it's nasty...

[There's also the point where he won't eat anything that people eat because they're highly distasteful to him, but he honestly never liked oatmeal, even before his...well, "incident" back home.]


FLOOR 5

[Time for a bit of exploring. He makes his way to this floor, avoiding the gazes of the people there as he wanders over to the outer ring. What are these things? Viewfinders of some sort? After glancing around, Sam decides to whet his curiosity and peers in the one in front of him.]

[Ah, that's...his world.]

[It really is destroyed, by the looks of it.]

[But there are no tears coming from this young man. No suffering, no sadness, just...emptiness. He doesn't care. In fact, it almost feels good, knowing that the person he wanted to kill has probably been destroyed  along with anything else.]

[The only thing he cared about was long dead before he came here. Why should he feel anything for the rest of the world?]

[So, he stands there, silent, a solemn expression on his face as he continues to stare at that vision of ruin (it's like staring at a car accident, he thinks), totally unaware of anything around him anymore.]


FLOOR 10

[Now, this is a floor he can appreciate.]

[Not for the beauty or anything. No, this is his new cafeteria now. Catching all this fish should be a piece of cake.]

[But also, he's phenomenally glad to see there's no glass, which means he can spend time inside the water as much as he wants. It's a calming place, water. He smiles slightly as he walks around, brushing over the water with his fingers, before he randomly up and decides to try something out.

[People passing by might wonder why in the world he's got his entire head sticking in the water. He doesn't seem to be even struggling for air- he just behaves as if he's sticking his head out a window instead of in a substance that might prevent him from breathing any time soon.]

[At least he looks comfortable?]


FLOOR 14

[Sam Erstwhile is not religious. if you asked him if there was a god, he would probably shrug and shake his head. He doesn't know, nor does he care. If there is, there is, if there's not one, there's not one.]

[So, finding himself in this cathedral is quite the interesting experience. He can clearly hear the mumbled voices in front, though there's no one there, and he seats himself in the back, narrowing his eyes as he tries to parse what's even being said.]

I wonder if those are ghosts talking...?

[It must be really sad, to be stuck for life giving masses almost no one will listen to.]

[...]

[Eh, whatever, they're probably happy doing it, why should he care?]

Comments

[primordial]

[A somber nod as he leans his head on his hand- he looks absolutely completely done with this situation, and he's only started...]

Exactly. Now I'm like the rest of you...

[myblueskies]

[But... that meant that world was gone. And the bad people had stolen his soul back. All the friends Romeo had met... They were all dead and the bad people had got this person and stole his soul... Romeo lent over to look into his eyes seriously] I'm really sorry sir...

[primordial]

[He lets out a short sob, burying his face in his hands.]]

Yeah...What-what can you do?

Not a thing...

[myblueskies]

[Oh no... he was crying. Romeo bit his lip and stood up to walk round to him and put his arms round his shoulders. He didn't usually hug adults but... he couldn't let him be so sad.] I'm sorry sir, don't worry though. Everyone's nice here and it's not all bad, you don't got to cry.

[primordial]

[Ugh. Ugh, no, he doesn't want hugs, but he has to bite his lip and take it without reacting to the contrary- seriously, sometimes he really hated acting the way he did.]

[So he gives a little pathetic nod, dropping his hands from his face to frown down at the table.]

Yeah...yeah, people were nice when I was here, so...it won't be too bad, I hope.

[myblueskies]

[Romeo let go and stepped back after a moment.] You just got to keep your spirits up.

[primordial]

[Thank God. He lets out a sigh.]

Yeah...but that's easier said than done.

[myblueskies]

What do you do if you can't keep your spirits up?

It had been a long long time ago since Romeo had sat with Alfredo on the riverbank on the way to Milano, scared of what the next day would bring. But he had never ever forgotten Alfredo's advice, there was only one day like today in your entire life, and so when everything else failed you just got to keep living, and keeping your spirits up.

And he remembered Alfredo answering his question, and he reached over to take the man's hand. "When you can't keep your spirits up, do this!" He raised their hands into the air.

and it's times like this i regret not playing a nice character and instead playing a secret jerk

[primordial]

"Huh??"

His hand...it's now up in the air thanks to this kid, and Sam just stares at it, unsure what is going on. Is this like some bizarre way of cheering him up, or something?

If it is, man, is it stupid.

But he masks that condescension behind wide eyes and a confused tone, glancing to the boy in question or an answer to all of this.

"I, um...okay??"

but secret jerks are fun!

[myblueskies]

Well it always made Romeo feel better, maybe it didn't work so good for adults. "It helps keep your spirits up, and as long as our spirits are up the bad guys can't win!"

they are ;;

[primordial]

"O-oh. I see."

He tries to smile, but it's a really pathetic attempt to- just one side of his mouth quirks up from it's usual sad expression.

"That's a really good thing to keep in mind."

[myblueskies]

Romeo beamed at the attempted smile. "So see things aren't too bad sir!"

[primordial]

"Ha, yeah, maybe...if I can get over the fact that I'll probably never see home again."

Annnd he's back to being pathetically miserable again. Good job, Romeo.

[myblueskies]

No! This is the opposite of what he wanted. Romeo shook his head, "I'm sorry sir, it's really bad... but bad things happen all the time and you can't just be sad about them. You got to find good things to happen, they do! It's just harder to find them here..."

[primordial]

"Yeah...but that's easy to say when you've actually had good things to find before."

He lets out a small laugh, though his face is anything but happy.

"...Let's just say that my life has been chock full of bad things."

[myblueskies]

Romeo felt bad at that and rested his hands on his chin. "I'm sorry sir. That lots of bad things happen. But I'll help you okay, and help you find good things from now on!"

[primordial]

"You-you really will?"

He looks up at that, eyes widening and something softer and happier coming into his expression.

"You'll do that for me?"

[myblueskies]

Romeo nodded earnestly and brought his fist to his heart, "I swear, that I will help you, and help you find good things!"

[primordial]

Oh, Romeo, Dear, sweet, Romeo. So helpful, it's almost admirable.

Good.

"Wow, I mean...I've never had anyone want to do that for me before..." A small smile. "T-thank you."

[myblueskies]

"It's okay sir! When only bad things happen you got to have friends to help you!" And it didn't seem like this man had many friends, so Romeo was happy to help out.

[primordial]

He gazes off, bashful expression coming to his face, as if he can't face Romeo after such kind words.

"Oh, wow, um...I don't think anybody's called me their friend before."

Like ten different people back in Hinoto-Ri didn't say similar things to him when he was back there, really. No, act like you have the least amount of friends as possible. That way people will feel more sorry for you.

[myblueskies]

Romeo smiled at him sadly, "Well I'll be your friend, and I'll introduce you to my friends so then you will have more! And the more friends you got the easier it is to keep your spirits up!"

[primordial]

"You really would?"

He looks so incredibly touched by that, and he's silent for a moment before he realizes something, gaze whipping back to Romeo.

"Oh! Oh, I don't think I ever asked your name. I-I'm sorry."

[myblueskies]

Romeo nodded with a smile, which brightened a moment later. "I'm Romeo sir! What's yours?"

[primordial]

"Romeo, huh?"

He again attempts to smile, nodding at the boy with a little shrug.

"I'm Sam. It's...nice to meet you. Romeo."