ajealouswind: (Bleak)
Kain Highwind ([personal profile] ajealouswind) wrote in [community profile] towerofanimus2013-04-03 09:34 pm

01.5 - Nightmares Within Nightmares

Characters: Kain and anyone else
Setting: Dorms (Room 3-06 and nearby), Floor 61
Format: Prose to start, happy to follow with either
Summary: Kain is back, after two months wandering the husk of his dead world. He's not taking it terribly well.
Warnings: An angsty and volatile dragoon?


Darkness. Cold. Solitary suffering in the ruined remains of the world he had once saved, that was the existence he had come to know so well in these past... how long? Time had quickly begun to lose meaning, when the same grey sky and same blackened land was all there was. Which was why when he felt soft sheets beneath him and heard voices somewhere nearby that he jolted sharply, violently awake. He tossed aside the sheets, gasped, coughed, and passed his hands over his face as he tried to get his bearings. When his hands reached the collar around his neck, things began to make a sick sort of sense.

The Tower. I've been returned to The Tower.

And then a sick feeling came to his stomach, as he could no longer deny that the letter from his first morning had been truthful. His world was destroyed. Those were the remains of it. Heedless of anyone that might have also been in the room, he bolted for the door. He needed to breathe. He needed water. He needed to be away, to be somewhere high, if he could find it.... but that would have to wait until later. The bathrooms were closest. He would duck into the first one that he found, to splash water on his face and to drink. To collect and compose himself, and fight back the urge to have an ugly and undignified emotional outburst. Or an uglier one than he was already having.

-

The Tower had... changed since he had last explored it. To his knowledge, the graveyard had been at the very top. But he had gone thirteen floors past that, for the stairs kept leading ever higher and higher. This was mad. This was impossible. Was this a further sign that he had somehow lost his mind?

This was as good a floor as any to stop and rest and try to recompose himself. A blue sky and warm weather was comforting, after what he had been through. And he had yet to notice that the hills and clouds quite literally had eyes. So he stretched, and then he found a rock to sit on, and he breathed deeply....

Wait. Was that a chocobo rushing through the grass? That was a chocobo, wasn't it? When was the last time he had eaten roast chocobo? Far too long. Well then, this was a chance to rectify that, wasn't it? And roast chocobo would be a far finer meal than the dusty bars that The Tower administrators were providing. He gripped his makeshift spear and lowered himself so that the high grass concealed him. Let it come closer, just a bit closer, just within range of a good, long jump... and he hoped, as he waited, that something or someone wouldn't show up and frighten it away.
oathshackledbird: Past (Past)

[personal profile] oathshackledbird 2013-04-06 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Diarmuid shakes his head, "Don't give up on your weapon so quickly. I am far from the most skilled craftsman in this place. If I cannot help you, surely there will be someone within the tower who can. You can't have been the only one to arrive with a weapon in such condition." Though, Diarmuid can't help but be even more grateful that usual that his weapon is literally a part of himself. How crushed would he have been to find his beloved spear in so many pieces in his trunk?

A light blush covers his face when Kain repeats those words, "Ah...yes, but as a fellow knight how could I just stand by and allow her to die? She is my friend and a skilled warrior. It was nothing more than I would have done for anyone who I care for." He pauses when he sees the discomfort on Kain's face. Cautiously, he reaches out and touches the man's shoulder, "Lets not worry about that for now. You seem to be in pain. Is there anything I can do for you? I am no healer, but..."
oathshackledbird: Profile (Profile)

[personal profile] oathshackledbird 2013-04-07 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
"As much as I dislike it, there is always the Network as an option to see if there is someone who can help. I prefer doing things face to face, but sometimes that is not the best option. Especially if you want things done quickly," Diarmuid notices when Kain pulls away from his hand, so he lets it drop.

Not everyone likes to be touched after all.

"I don't know anyone personally, but the stories I have heard have been generally the same. The person is left to wander alone on their dead world. I can't imagine it is a very pleasant experience. It is not something I would wish on anyone. I think I would rather be here with all the dangers than there all alone."

In fact, he knows he would rather be here since the last thing Diarmuid wants is to be alone.
oathshackledbird: Quiet (Quiet)

[personal profile] oathshackledbird 2013-04-09 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
"I am sorry," Diarmuid looks down, closing his eyes for a moment. "No one should have to suffer that. I think that is probably a worse fate than being in the tower forever. Is there anything I can do for you? Or would it be better if I left you to gather yourself? I am in room 4-16. If you would like me to look at your spear, you can stop by when you feel more up to it."

He pauses a moment, wishing there was more he could do, but with his curse acting up and the other man's upset state, perhaps it would be better to let things go for now.
oathshackledbird: Profile (Profile)

[personal profile] oathshackledbird 2013-04-09 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
Diarmuid bows respectfully to him, "My door is always open. Stop by whenever you feel more settled. Good luck, Sir Knight."

For a moment, Diarmuid seems like he is going to say something more, but pauses and tilts his head as if he hears something. A frown crosses his face. It sounds like some of those who were following him earlier are closing in again.

Definitely time to get moving.

He nods toward Kain and then is suddenly gone having dropped into the invisibility provided by spirit form and bolted toward the stairs.