[o1] Just a little more madness to add the pile. ☂ Open.

[semantating]

Characters: Break [OU] and whomever!
Setting: Various floors about the Tower during early afternoon. BACKDATED SLIGHTLY TO BEFORE EVERYONE STARTS DISAPPEARING.
Format: Action works best, can't promise I won't be slow on prose.
Summary: Break has been here for a little bit and he's... well. Let's just say a bit displeased is a good enough word. Also, he wants information and he wants it now.
Warnings: Break is his own warning--seriously, he'll troll and manipulate and crunch candy at you. Just saying. Or he might offer you some! Who knows.

[ROOM 4-06; LOCKED TO ROOMIES.]

[ And so the newest in the room awakes. The initial sleep paralysis does not disturb Break; indeed, he is apt to put it down to his body, but as he refuses to NOT wake up, wake he does immediately once it relinquishes control to his breathing and eyelids, and other muscles. He sits upright quickly. His single red eye narrows. He finds the notes quickly, all in silence, and--

Crumples the the "your world is destroyed" note into a ball and tosses it aside like yesterday's newspaper, only the briefest flashes of utter loathing and disdain on his face. This collar. It had a purpose. He did not like how it boded. Was his Chain sealed? Could Vincent be responsible? No. He was sharing this room. Hatter was still quite active, he could feel it, though it was dormant as usual. And so Break wordlessly disappears into his trunk, removing a change of clothing and disappears down the hall to change.

When he comes back, he sorts out the rest of the trunk, grabs his cane and Emily, who is now on his shoulder quite happily, and he flops noisily on his bed, acting far happier than he had been moments before. ]

Haven't they put us with some interesting people, Emily?

[ Flop flop flop. He leans over the bed to look at his other roommates with a grin like a child, almost, unfazed by the world. ]

Perhaps they should introduce themselves!

[Floor 95]

[ So there's an adult in the ballpit. Having a ridiculously fun time, juggling some balls even, swimming about. Maybe he snuck up on you. Maybe he didn't. Either way, have a hello! ]

My, isn't this delightful? Who knew our captors were so concerned with keeping us entertained!

[ Grown man. Playing with brightly colored balls. ... Right. ]

[Floor 94]

[ Break finds the Dark Room particularly interesting. Photographs are not a particularly popular staple of his world, after all; they are just developing. If you bump into him here, you're likelier to notice his red eye before anything else, though... or he just might notice YOU first. Here, he desires simply to observe. ]

[Floor 1]

[ Bah, that oatmeal was tasteless, utterly. But someone probably told him to eat it either way, and Break isn't stupid, so he'll happily be pulling out a happy little tin of candies and choosing one now. Looks like a swell person to come talk to, this victorian-clothed man with his white hair, pale skin, and red eye, and that puppet on his shoulder... don't you think? Floppy sleeves, a bit of a slouch; harmless! ... Right?

Of course. And so he plucks out a candy and waves a most floppy sleeve to you. Come sit with him~! ]

[Anywhere else]

[ Just specify or handwave! Break is apt to wander purely to gather information, from the dorms to the elevators. ]

Comments

[tohko_amano]

[Since Tohko had come into the Tower confused and very bent-out-of-shape, she didn't really want anyone else to go through that, if they could help it. Tohko returned the smile and nodded.]

..As I said, not all of them are really interested in our general safety. Jason likes watching us squirm, and Ruana and Riki don't particularly care. However, getting around isn't that hard, once you get a weapon and start training.

Thank you for the offer. It's quite kind of you..if you ever need my help with monsters or anything of the sort, let me know, alright? I'm a simple book girl, but I might be able to help.

[semantating]

[ Here, Break takes a piece of candy out of that tin of his and offers it to her. ]

Most things are simple, but their potential to be much more is hard for some to see, Miss Amano.

[ ... And then he moves a little over the candy and it splits into FIVE candies. ]

Do not sell yourself too short; I am sure you will be most helpful to me. You have already told me a great deal I did not know before, after all.

[tohko_amano]

[..While that trick was quite interesting..that line sounded..ominous. Maybe she was just being paranoid from having dealt with the likes of Wilhelm and Hagire..but she would have to ask.]

Oh, I'm not selling myself short. Don't worry. I'm a simple book girl..but a lot of people forget that there's a lot that one book girl can do. By the way..it's probably just me..but..it sounds like you're thinking of using me in a plot.

[semantating]

[ Quite honestly, he chuckles. He takes one of those candies and opens the wrapper with his teeth, rolling the candy between them and talking all the same. He allows the others to remain in his free hand. For now. ]

Miss Amano, there are two things you should know. But first, I will ask you a question. Tell me... what do you think a 'friend' is? I am most curious as to your answer.

[tohko_amano]

[..Now, this was really suspicious. Tohko's puzzled look didn't vanish as she replied to that question.]

Well, friends are people that you love to spend time with, that you want to share your troubles, your laughs, and everything else with. Friends help support each other during hard times and understand how the other one feels. They're not family members or lovers, but they care about each other all the same.

[semantating]

[ Ah, yes. About the answer he expected. His smile grows a bit sharper, almost to a smirk. That red eye of his narrows just slightly in amusement. He doesn't normally find the need to say much, but it seems this young woman needs some lessons taught, and quite quickly. Or she'd be heading toward a very sticky end. ]

Then would you say you're using those people for their support and comfort? Are they not using you for the same benefits in return? One grows to understand a person from observation and knowledge around them... "friendship" is a nice way of saying you're using one another. I will give you some advice, particularly in this place: throw away that useless compassion of yours, Miss Amano...

[ And then he sort of leans closer to her--voice barely above a purr. ]

... Or else there will be those who wield it against you like a dagger, and they shall use it to pierce that pretty, idealistic little heart of yours. As I said... I will tell you two things: the first is that I will be honest with you at all times. I need help. I am not afraid to ask for it. The second? Use everyone around you, because they will use you in return. Be honest and simple about it, do not lie, do not be a coward. You will get much farther.

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko backed up a bit, her smile gone. This guy..he wasn't like Wilhelm..but he definitely reminded her of Hagire without the blood. This..wasn't good, not at all. She was only allowing herself to be associated with Wilhelm because she knew that they had the same goals, even if he had different methods and had lost his hope in humanity.

..She wasn't sure if she wanted to be a chess piece in this guy's game.]

I wouldn't, actually. Actually, for the majority of the time, I help and support others. There are times when I break down and they help me, but it's purely of their own free will, and they usually don't get anything out of it-except knowing that I'm okay. I won't deny that you can better understand a person from observing them and talking with them, but friendship isn't just a nice way to say that you're using each other. After all, there are some people here that I might be able to use, but since I hate them, there's no way I would get involved with them.

I'm not going to throw away my compassion. Once you start tossing out one emotion, the rest might slowly follow, even if I don't realize it. I know that there are terrible people in this Tower. I've encountered them and fought a few others, but that hasn't changed my views on friendship at all.

I will help you with some things if you need it. However, I'm not quite willing to be used in your chess game, since I have no idea what your goals are yet.

[semantating]

[ ... He's going to stare at you, Tohko. Give you an honest, rather unamused look. Like he's trying to determine just what kind of soul is underneath that fake flesh. His eye feels like it's boring into you, almost.

... Just like that brat, he swears. Just like him. Not as weird, or as creepy, but just as stupidly idealistic and believing in that sort of thing... what an irritant. "Friendship". This thoughts turn to Reim and that same little brat and the idiot rabbit and his little Raven, but he pushes it from his mind. There is no use caring for what was. He would get by. He would not give up. He's spent too long trying to just simply give in. ]

... You're a foolish little girl, aren't you? That sort of naïveté... it is most unbecoming. You weaken yourself by being so open. You are inviting disaster, and yet you blindly forge ahead, uncaring... it's almost comedic. You may choose to ignore my advice, but you will find out sooner rather than later the reality.

[ At any rate. There is one thing he must clear up, and so Break waves a hand at her. ]

And chess is a disgusting game for rats in the sewer, for cowards who cannot admit their favorite past-time is safely distancing themselves from any sort of work. As I have said, I have been honest. If you are concerned about people using you as a pawn, however, Miss Amano, I would rethink those whom you call "friends," because they must be quite dishonest indeed.

[ Such an infuriating insinuation. Of course he uses people, but everyone uses everyone else. Why does she not fail to see how this works? He wonders how long it will take for this one to see such naïveté is why he is as he is now. Stupid child. That aside, the game he plays is one much larger than a single board. Cards and pieces and checkers and relationships and serving and trying to meet his goals is his end, not trying to capture a king. ]

[tohko_amano]

I'm not that foolish or young, and I know that I open myself up to some hurt with kindness. But I've never felt more pain than happiness by doing so, and even if that changes, I won't. If I did, I would just be closing myself off to future joy. Call it naive, foolish, innocent or whatever else you like..but that's the way I'm going to choose to be for as long as I can.

[Tohko sighed..and smiled as she said that, thinking over Break's second point.]

I'm not sure chess is a game for cowards..but I am glad that you're honest. However, I only have one person I consider a friend who would use me as a pawn, and I know that he doesn't really consider me a friend in return. However..he's not really dishonest. He's just very enigmatic. The rest of my friends aren't like him though.

[..Good luck making Tohko agree with you, Break.]

[semantating]

[ ... Well that's enough of that. Break stands, and then--the dishes are stacked on his head. Off they go to be taken, wobbling about insanely, but not falling or dripping or anything. The tin is also put on his head... and the lid...

But the candy from earlier? The few pieces on the table? He's left that for you, Tohko. Think of it as a peace gesture. ]

I believe it is quite time for some tea. I shall need to see if we cannot find some proper! But it would be remiss of me not to do my dues, so do excuse me, Miss Am-a-no. Please consider my offer! ♥

[ And off he goes, clownishly and silly. If Tohko goes to find him in the kitchen, she will notice him quite gone somehow, though. ... Uh. Weird. ]

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko, noticing that he left the candy, but not thinking of it as a peace offering and instead taking it as him forgetting it, quickly grabbed the candy and ran after him, calling out.]

But there aren't any tea leaves for you to make tea with! And I don't want to use..huh?

[..Okay, where did he go? Tohko sighed and pocketed the candy. A cynical magician. Well..it could have been worse. She could have been dealing with It. She would simply have to return the candies later.]