But what do you do when you don't know where to start?

[plumesofdusk]

Characters: Ryoji Mochizuki and you!
Setting: Various Floors
Format: Any - will be starting with prose.
Summary: Ryoji wandering about the tower. All April Post?
Warnings: Typical tower stuff; will update as needed.

Dorms

Even when the sleep paralysis wears off, and Ryoji can move again, he doesn't. Not for a long while. Instead, he just lays there, staring up at the ceiling and thinking. Finding himself in the tower again, he almost wants to scream in sheer frustration, but he doesn't. There's no point to it. There's no point to a lot of things now. But there's also no point to just lying around all day, so eventually Ryoji rises again. Briefly, he checks his trunk. It seems to have been a bit water damaged in his absence, but nothing inside is ruined. So, after assuring himself that Aigis' heart is still safe, he closes the trunk again and leaves.

He spends a while wandering around the dormitory floors, as much just assuring himself that there are people and things still here as anything else - and perhaps he checks the network, skimming any entries from the past few weeks, but he doesn't spend too long on it. He hopes to come across his other self, wanting to talk with him, but he doesn't at this time, and so eventually he leaves the dormitory area to wander other parts of the tower. He doesn't return to the dormitory very frequently.

Floor 81: Stargazing

Ryoji spends a lot of time here, in this lounge. The way the windows bulge out, he can simply lean out over them and watch the clouds far below or mostly, he watches the stars high above. They're not his stars. They're not the stars he would have wandered through as Nyx, but -- they're stars all the same, and it's comforting to think that there is at least one place where stars still shine.

Floor 75: Fighting Monsters

For better or worse, Ryoji feels restless, and his restlessness builds up the more he wanders the tower without getting any closer to a solution of what he ought to do with himself, now - especially since everything in this tower seems unhappy anyway, including the monsters. Eventually he comes to the idea that maybe he can at least reduce some of the problems here by reducing the number of monsters, if he can. It saves the monsters from suffering for a time (though he wonders if they are brought back like everyone else here when their bodies are destroyed) and it might make some passage safer for others. He remembers being told about the night patrols around the dorms, after all.

And here, he finds one strange room of the tower that has a great many monsters in it, so here he stays for a while, forsaking his human form for one or the other of his other true forms (or sometimes something somewhere in between) as he tears through them with his own magic or his sword - whichever winds up being more effective at quickly dispatching the creatures.

When there is a lull, though, he wanders inside the empty tower, sliding back into his more human guise.

Floors 22, 19 & 3

As he continues to struggle to figure out what he should do with himself here, Ryoji finds himself turning to the pictures in the gallery - and to books. The paintings provide food for thought, even if they're not always welcome sights, and the books... well, he hopes to find some sort of insight somewhere. Unlike his counterpart, he's more used to wading through even thick, dense volumes, as much of his time before coming to this tower was spent wandering through humanity's left behind libraries.

Unfortunately, the power is out in floor 19, so to read, he winds up calling forth a ball of light or two - contained hama spells. Be careful in touching them, as they might at the very least knock you out...

Comments

[crouching_sin]

Naoya spends a bit of time on the 81st floor as well. Even without the patterns he knows, the stars are always the same, and it's nice to have something consistent to hang onto. He notes Ryoji, and almost says something - but no. This is a different one. There's something strange about him.

He steps up to the window next to Ryoji's, looking at the stars but also taking note of what the other is doing. He's curious, but something tells him not to poke this one too hard.

[plumesofdusk]

Not poking him too hard is probably a good idea, lost in thought as he is, but eventually Ryoji pulls his gaze away from the stars to look to the side at his companion. Hitherto, mostly he has simply been looking up, leaning against the glass a little and just... watching, but now he stands back a little.

"Do you suppose there are other worlds out with those stars?" he asks, softly - as much because Naoya is there as anything else.

[crouching_sin]

He turns his head to address Ryoji as he speaks. "Amongst the stars? It's hard to say. But we've been told that there are other towers, yes."

If they can survive long enough to find them... that's a different question.

[plumesofdusk]

"Other towers...?" He turns his gaze back out the window. "I wonder if they are as..." He trails off, searching for the appropriate word before settling on, "...strange."

Dormitory Hallways & then Anywhere [not really here...]

[neverbeamemory]

One of the first things to establish when going out of your way to keep an eye on someone, is where said person is to be found at whatever time of the day. They all have routines, no matter how Sephiroth will do his best to randomize his activities the best that he can out of sheer determination NOT to be predictable. He makes a point of not being an easy resident to locate at any given time, at least to other residents.

Having checked out the Mailroom, to discover that currently there is only one "Ryoji Mochizuki" with an activated mailbox, the Dormitory for his mark was the next important location to be verified.

Already this stalking was proving to be more of a chore perhaps than it was worth. Sephiroth had to remind himself several times already why it was so very important that the number of informed persons about their latest trip downstairs had to be kept contained. He wasn't a fool, either, to believe that Ganondorf really did have the interests of the so-called 'alliance' at heart - after all why should he in the end, once his conquest of the Tower was completed...

Dormitory 03-10. Ryoji Mochizuki. Not too far from his own Dormitory. What luck was this? A quick peek inside verified that no one was home and so Sephiroth went about sweeping this floor in case his mark were anywhere nearby. He would remain out of sight, around corners and into rooms if needed, and so silent - the intention to discover the habits of his target.

Ryoji may eventually think he's being watched, but aren't they all spied on in the Tower anyway?

not really tagging back then

[plumesofdusk]

Ryoji has never paid much attention to how predictable or not he is, nor is he particularly paranoid, but he does have good senses. So from time to time, he might catch a glimpse of swooping silver hair, and maybe he feels followed and watched, but this tower is already suspicious enough on its own. If he notices Sephiroth, he doesn't bother to confront the man over his stalking habit.

Sephiroth might find it interesting to note, however, that Ryoji spends most of his time just wandering through the tower. From time to time, he pauses to stare down a hall or off into space, fiddling with his scarf or the ring on his finger. Mostly, he's just trying to learn the lay of this place and puzzle out what mysteries he can, when he's not indulging in self-reflection and/or avoiding large groups of people. It's... strange to be in crowds, now. He also doesn't like to linger on most of the floors that render powers useless. They make him feel strange and like something is missing - as if his arm has gone numb or even disappeared altogether. The one other thing of real note is that this Ryoji does his best to be viciously quick when dealing with monsters. He isn't interested in prolonging any fights - just... finishing them. He makes his kills swift and painless, when possible. Poor Sephiroth, therefore, probably has a boring time stalking him.

Floor 75

[evokingfool]

Fighting inside this floor's tower, full of dangerous monsters crawling inside, was almost nostalgic. There were monsters on other floors, but the very act of entering a tower and fighting monsters? That's far more nostalgic.

Minato walked around with his sword in hand, Mot following right behind him. The entombed Persona was currently "closed", waiting for its next silent orders. Every time they encounter a monster, the coffin opened a little for Mot's hand to come out, alternating between dark, wind or electric spells.

When he found himself on an apparently empty floor, he paused before dismissing Mot for now. Then he walked to explore the floor in silence, until...

"Ryoji?"

[plumesofdusk]

Hearing the footsteps behind him and then the voice, Ryoji pauses in his own traveling, turning to look behind him. A beat or two paces where he struggles with memory and recognition, and then -- ah, yes. The other Ryoji's special person.

"Hello, Minato. It's ... been a few weeks, I think." He offers a friendly smile, not wishing to worry Minato.

[evokingfool]

Considering the last time he talked to his Ryoji, Minato can guess this was the other Ryoji.

"A few weeks for you?" Minato knew how easy it was to lose track of time, and other people, in the tower. It made him wonder how was Ryoji doing, both of them.

"...Yeah, it has been. Are you doing well?"

[plumesofdusk]

"Well enough." It's a lie, but he shrugs and keeps on smiling. "What about you? I heard there was crazy weather inside the tower a little bit ago..."

Third floor.

[tohko_amano]

Tohko, being a librarian, always took care of the books in both libraries, but when she saw Ryoji looking through the stacks, she couldn't help but quickly walk up to him. They had been exchanging letters, and after his attempts to disconnected himself from her, she couldn't just leave him alone.

"Ryoji! Hang on!"

Sadly, Tohko had no idea that this was a different Ryoji.

Apologies for the delay! Weekdays interfere with tagging.

[plumesofdusk]

Hearing his name, Ryoji blinks and looks up from the book he'd just pulled off the shelf. "Huh?" He -- does not recognize the girl coming towards him, but he waits instead of moving on to the next shelf. "May I help you?"

It's alright! Don't worry about it!~

[tohko_amano]

Well, that made Tohko stop in her tracks. This was Ryoji..but it he was acting like they had never exchanged letters or met. This had to be..she sighed.

"..Don't tell me. You're a different Ryoji than the one I met, right?"

[plumesofdusk]

"Well, if I'm not supposed to tell you, then I guess I shouldn't say anything." He smiles a little in an attempt to show her he's just being silly. "I'm sorry if I'm not the one you're looking for, though... Do you need him for something?"

[notsogrimreaper]

This Ryoji has had the same idea as his counterpart with fighting the monsters. He used to patrol during the evenings a great deal more often, but he's honestly been in hiding after recent events. He doesn't leave his room until it's absolutely necessary, and that evening, when it's very late, and when most people would be asleep, but he is getting restless after staying cooped up so long.

Despite wanting to avoid the other inhabitants, the noise coming from one of the floors distracts him from his trek up the staircase, and he enters the room only to find someone he didn't expect to see.

He looks afraid for a split second, but that's understandable after seeing one of the forms he usually takes in front of him. He almost worries that somehow Nyx split off from him and was left wreaking havoc in the Tower, and he tenses, even after he remembers the other Ryoji being here for a while, and manages to call out his name.

"Ryoji?"

Still strange, saying his own name to address a monster that he tries not to think of as being him. He's not a bad person, and his counterpart isn't either. He's certain of that.

[plumesofdusk]

Ryoji doesn't respond immediately, as he is in the middle of dispatching a monster, but when the task is finished, and the monster's corpse falls to the ground, he turns to look. There is a brief pause before he phases back into his human form. Mostly. There is still something a bit... claw-ish about his fingers, and shadows cling to him a little more than normal, but he still smiles. A little. Hesitantly.

... this is a little awkward, as it's been a while since last they met. "... hey."

[notsogrimreaper]

He offers a smile of his own, trying to ignore the shape of the other's hands and the darkness around him.

"It's been a while... I was worried that you had left."

Though it might have been good for him to leave. Ryoji still doesn't know much, but this Ryoji would have been happy to talk to Minako again, wouldn't he? He seemed to care about her a lot.

[plumesofdusk]

He shakes his head, and his smile slips a little for a moment. "I woke up back in my world for a while but... I'm here again, now." But then the smile is back. "I'm sorry for worrying you. How... have things been here?"

floor 81

[chainsawn]

[ There's someone else on the floor too, watching the stars. Not that she notices Ryoji too, she's too busy being off into her own world judging by the blank look on her face. She looks fairly normal now - thanks to Kidou coming back, really, it's the only thing that made her more sane again.

.. Except.. well, she's still not entirely normal. As she's standing there and watching the stars, her body suddenly changes color until it's completely lit up in rainbow colors until it goes back to normal. ]

Apologies for the delay! Weekdays interfere with tagging.

[plumesofdusk]

[ If that's not eye-catching, then he doesn't know what is.

Ryoji stares for a moment at the flash of rainbow and then another moment, as she is normal again. ]

Woah... that was beautiful! How did you do that?

i will never forgive you!!

[chainsawn]

... Huh?

[ She turns her head towards him slowly, as if she didn't even realise he was here. Then she blinks a few times, processing the question (she's a little slow) before slowly speaking up. Everything about her seems very blank, as if the emotion is really difficult to read. ]

Do.. what?

/weeps!

[plumesofdusk]

You turned all rainbow!

[He pauses, tilting his head. ]

Did you not do that on purpose?

floor 81

[terreifying]

[Rei hadn't seen Ryoji for some time, so she greets him enthusiastically as she catches sight of him on this floor.]

Heeeey, Ryoji! What'cha doin'?

Re: floor 81

[plumesofdusk]

[ The familiar voice takes Ryoji a moment to place, lost in thought as he is, but it still gets him to turn away from looking at the stars to blink at Rei. There's a brief pause before he smiles and shrugs. ]

Just watching the stars. What about you?

Re: floor 81

[terreifying]

Not much. Everything seems to have calmed down for now.

[No more crazy weather, at least.]