{Un} L'État, C'est Moi

[silencetoreason]

Characters: France and you!
Setting: Dorm room 3-14, Floor 101 (the hanging gardens), the staircase between floors 97 and 100, the elevators, and Floor 1 (the cafeteria). Backdated slightly to before people started disappearing because of the event.
Format: Starting with action, but I'll match you.
Summary: One fabulous, frantic Frenchman wakes up in the Tower, and has a look around.
Warnings: France is a flirtatious guy, so be aware of that when tagging. Also, a fair amount of sometimes Google translated French. Other than that, nothing, but I'll update if needed.

3-14

Impossible! What a cruel joke! How terrible!

[These are the things that can be heard in dorm room 3-14, where a rather distressed-looking Frenchman is sitting, one hand on his violet collar, the other on his welcome notes. France is no stranger to waking up in strange places with no recollection of how he got there, but the situation he's in today is much weirder than what he's used to. The sleep paralysis was disconcerting, for one thing, and the catsuit and collar are different, too. The more France reads, the more upset he gets, until he's shouting so loudly that the entire floor may well hear him.]

Sacre bleu, this is not funny at all..!

Floor 101

[Once France calms down and changes into normal clothes, he starts to explore his new surroundings, however tentatively. He creeps down the stairs, and when he steps on the glowing stair that transports him to floor 101, he's left momentarily breathless for a variety of reasons. The first and most obvious reason is because he's never been teleported like that before, and the shock of it leaves him bent over and gripping his knees for a few minutes after it happens.

The second reason is because, when he gathers his bearings and looks around, he finds that the floor is absolutely beautiful.]

Mon dieu... [He wanders slowly around the hanging gardens, taking in every detail. His voice is set at a low mutter, as if he's afraid that speaking too loudly will disrupt the fragile beauty of the place.] I can't believe it. How could this..?

[And he trails off, taking in the sights in silence.]

Staircase between floors 97 and 100

[France continues making his way down the Tower ever-so-slowly, until he finally comes upon floor 97 - i.e., the floor covered in gigantic monsters. As soon as he sees them, he does what the gallant people of France are known for.

He turns around and starts to run like hell.

France stumbles up the stairs, taking them two, three at a time, trying not to slip and fall as he goes. Anyone coming down the stairs will have to risk running into a terrified newbie.]

Elevators

[So, once he makes it back up to the dorm levels, France decides that taking the elevator will probably be best. This doesn't mean that he's prepared for how slowly it moves, nor how long it takes to get to the cafeteria where the welcome notes have instructed him to eat a bowl of oatmeal. He leans against the wall and sighs heavily, seeming so inconvenienced that one might wonder if he's laying it on thick on purpose.

He turns to the person he's standing closest to in an attempt to strike up some boredom-eradicating conversation.]

I haven't even been here for a day yet, and already, je vous jure, I am sick of it. What a horrendously inhospitable place, don't you think?

Cafeteria

[Finally, France makes it to the cafeteria. He's prodding at his oatmeal with his spoon, shoulders slumped over, looking as if he's undergoing the worst punishment in the world. He mumbles to himself, stirring the oatmeal around to avoid having to put it in his mouth.]

Disgusting food... So bare, so plain! How do they expect me to 'be happy here' when they cannot even serve a decent meal? [He reluctantly puts a spoonful in his mouth, swallows it with difficulty, and winces.] Like English food, augh...

Comments

cafeteria

[puppy_lancer]

You were fine eating before.

[Lancer is looming behind the somewhat familiar blonde man. France, if Ruler's lingering memories serve him.]

[silencetoreason]

Hm?

[France turns, and, upon seeing an unfamiliar face, gives the other man a curious once-over. He's eager enough to talk to him, though - any excuse not to eat that slop is fine with him.]

Was I..? Pardon, have we met somewhere before?

[puppy_lancer]

...Don't you remember?

[Or was this a case like Ayaka's, where people would go away and come back without memories?]

Since this is backdated, I can have Tohko bug you on the 101st floor.

[tohko_amano]

[Normally, Tohko didn't come up this high, but she had wanted to look at the greenery and see if she could read peacefully amongst the plants. However..when she saw France walking around, looking at everything, she smiled and closed her book. This had to be a new France. The one she had met had vanished from his room, which was sad, as Tohko had wanted to thank him. But..if he was new, than she wanted to help him out. After all, he wasn't a bad person. So, carrying her book, she walked over to him.]

Good morning! I'm guessing that you're a new resident here, France?

[silencetoreason]

[France turns to face her, expecting to see someone he recognizes. Unfortunately, that's not the case. She doesn't feel like one of his citizens, which makes it even odder that she knows his true name. Still, he plays it off, hoping he'll remember her in time.

He flashes her a gentle smile.]

Is it that obvious?

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko, still smiling, shook her head.]

Oh, it's not! Don't worry about it. It's only obvious to the people that knew a France here before, so don't worry. I only know because one helped me out back in December. However..if you are a new resident, I would be more than happy to tell you about the Tower. That way, you'll know what you're up against.

[Staircase]

[faithstaynight]

[And here's France's first victim: a young, boyishly-dressed girl knocked flat on her backside by the nation bowling into her, letting out a yelp of surprise. She recovers fairly quickly though, scrambling to her feet, her posture that of one on full alert...

She pauses, though, when her violet eyes fall on him, and a look of utter shock crosses her face.]

.... Francis? [The shock is clear in her voice as well, mixed with disbelief and... possibly fear?]

[silencetoreason]

[France stumbles and catches himself before he can fall. He yelps out a quick apology with every intention to keep running, but when he hears his human name, he stops in his tracks. He tilts his head just in time to meet the girl's blue-eyed gaze, and immediately, he's hit with a feeling not unlike déjà vu.]

You...

[He blinks, and in the back of his mind, he tells himself to keep running, but he can't bring himself to turn his back on a girl he just ruthlessly bowled over. Especially not one who seems to know who he is.]

...Yes, that's my name. Pardon, mademoiselle, I did not mean to hurt you, but- Those beasts..!

[The memory of them is still fresh in his mind. Towering over him, limbs bent at odd angles, stalking around with ferocious looks in their eyes, it was a sight like nothing he's ever seen before. His heart is still racing, and even now, his chest rises and falls in shallow little pants.]

[faithstaynight]

[Her demeanor instantly switches back to full alert at his mention of "those beasts". God, she's been both hoping and dreading for this reunion for some time now, but... no. Not like this. Not while they're both in danger.

There's a sharp, steely edge in her gaze now as she glances towards the steps spiraling down. There's no immediate sound of footsteps, but even so, that might not last for long.]

We will be safe if we reach the dormitory levels. [She gives him a light prod on the back, just enough to get him to snap out of it and move.] Go. I will be right behind you in case something follows us.

[If things do come to that, it shouldn't be a problem once they reach the dorms and Ruler can once again tap into her powers.]

cafeteria

[keepscalm]

[England is just emerging from the kitchen into the cafeteria when France starts mumbling. At first the voice seems fairly nondescript and distant, just another murmur of someone dealing with Jason's cafeteria fare.

It's the insult that really catches his ear. He scans the tables, an affronted look on his face and a retort ready on his tongue, until he catches sight of a face that is far too familiar.

The words die in his throat. In his mind's eye he can see people in hospital gowns, him in a hospital gown — England's stomach lurches with the memory as he desperately shoves it down and away.

He's gone. His name is still in the graveyard. England visited just days ago, the damn iris is probably still sitting on the grass in front of the stone.

He doesn't really think twice about it; he just marches over and roughly sets down his mug and saucer on the table next to France, making a point with the loud clinking of the dishes.] I beg your pardon?

[His voice is sharp, as expected, but there's an unusual hint of urgency about it. And his expression is one of a man that has just seen a ghost.

Perhaps extra eerie on a man that's actually accustomed to seeing them.]

[silencetoreason]

[France jumps in his seat, looking first at the dishes and then up to the one who slammed them down. For a split second, he almost looks relieved, because he's finally being approached by someone he's completely, 100% sure he knows.

Before he can stop himself, he lets out a surprised noise a hop and a step away from a squeak.] You're here-?

[And then that shock melts into a look England will be much more well-acquainted with: a condescending smirk.]

I said, this food tastes like the garbage they try to pass off as fine cuisine in your nation. Just as bland as your sense of humor!

[Wow. What a warm, tender greeting!]

[keepscalm]

[Without any sort of preamble or warning beyond the angry twitch of his brow, England's arm snaps out and back, quick as the bite of a snake. Except he doesn't let go on the draw back. He fully intends to bring France to him kicking and screaming by the hem of a shirt collar.

He rears back with his other arm, and it shapes up to be one nasty punch that's coming, the tilt of his body just so that most of his weight is going into the blow.

Except it doesn't come.

He opens his fist. Closes it again, even tighter than the first time around. He can't stop seeing the broken shell of a man he'd encountered that awful October, can't pull his brain away from the thought of Francisca ready to throw herself into the water with no plans to come back out again.

And France is just smirking at him, none the wiser about how fucking sick it all makes him feel or how many irises and lilies he'd left on the graves that bore their names.

He drops his fist and France's unfortunate garment at the same time, something like the third sign now that not all is well with England (the fourth is that he recoils like he's just laid hands on a lit stove, and his expression is one of genuine offence instead of any kind of front).

He doesn't say anything. He's too busy thinking to speak.]

staircase!

[ghostytrainer]

[John was on his way down from the dorms, humming idly with his hammer swung over his shoulder and his Lampent trailing faithfully by his side. The last thing he was expecting was to literally run into someone coming up the opposite way.]

Woah! Ah! [Aaaand down goes the short teen, possibly taking France with him depending on how exactly they ran into each other. His hammer falls out of his hand, landing a few feet away on the stairs. Cooing worriedly, his Lampent swoops down to check on her master more closely. John merely shoos her away, assuring her that he's fine before turning his attention to the blonde, clearly a little annoyed.]

Hey, watch where you're go-- ah! You! [John cuts off mid-gripe, recognizing the man who ran into him. It's a face he hasn't seen in quite a while, but it's hard not to remember somebody who claims to be a country. Man, he is just seeing all kinds of familiar faces in this tower.]

[silencetoreason]

[France does go down with John, as a matter of fact, landing hard on his palms and knees. He hits the stairs with a grunt and quickly tries to right himself. He's getting to his feet, about to run off again when the boy's exclamation stops him. He looks over his shoulder, equal parts scared and frustrated.]

Me? What? Dieu, I don't have time to sit here and talk! Run, mon petit!

[ghostytrainer]

[John gets to his feet, brushing himself off and picking up his hammer but not moving one way or the other on the stairs.]

Okay, I'm not sure what that means, I don't speak French but what exactly am I supposed to be running from? [He glances down the stairs, looking a bit baffled.] I am not really seeing anything here. And by "not really," I mean...not at all.

[There's nothing on the stairs, man. What are you freaking out about?]

Elevators!

[fragileprophet]

[After the nearly-fainting-of-exhaustion incident on the staircase Ion caused due to his own recklessness, the boy learned his lesson. This time, he decided not to risk anything and take the elevator to explore the tower. Even if the wait is far less than ideal.

He's mostly lost in thought until a heavy sigh and highly unfamiliar accent shakes him back to the present. Ion stares up at the tall blonde, and gives as encouraging of a smile as he can muster.]

It's not ideal, is it? I have to admit I wish it wasn't so dangerous...but I'm sure we'll be able to get used to it in time. [If the administrators saved them from extinction...it couldn't really be all that bad, right? Let him dream.]

[silencetoreason]

[When France gets his answer, he's admittedly a bit surprised. That long hair and soft face had him thinking his companion was a girl, but hearing that voice, it's apparent he's a boy. His surprise only shows on his face for a second, though, and then he lapses easily into conversation, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk on his face.]

Ah, mon petit, why wish for simple complacency? If anything, we should be demanding that our hosts make this place more comfortable for us, no? After all, we are their guests...

[fragileprophet]

[Ion isn't able to control the way his smile widens. Such spirited ideals! He reminds the Fon Master a bit of Luke--if a bit less aggressive.]

I didn't think of it that way. You do have a point, [he admits, but then hums] but...I'm not sure I could take advantage of them. Not when they're providing us with room and board. [Ion didn't like to complain, even if he was less than enchanted by the provisions of the Tower. And if their worlds really were destroyed, they didn't exactly have anywhere to turn to, did they?]

elevators

[colonial]

[America, having previously been occupied with trying to keep himself awake--he'd been up way later than he should have and was lucky England had been asleep through it or he'd have gotten in trouble--hadn't actually noticed France on the elevator too until he spoke. At that point, he looks up at the older nation like he's concerned France might eat him, or something.]

Um--I'm not supposed to talk to you. [Still, after a moment he does anyway.] It's not much fun here though.

[silencetoreason]

[France had spent most of the elevator ride thus far sulking and huffing around impatiently, so he didn't bother to look at his companion save for a few odd glances out of the corner of his eye. Now that they're speaking, though, he turns to give the boy his full attention.

When he actually takes the time to look at him head-on, he's floored.

He knows that face. Quite well, in fact, because he recalls spending a lot of time in the 17th century trying to convince England that said face resembled him the most, so it would only be fair for the great nation of France to call that boy his little brother.

The confusion is evident on France's face, in how he stares open-mouthed for a few moments. That's impossible, isn't it? There's no way this child could really be America. He closes his eyes, shakes his head, tries to convince himself that when he opens them he'll see things correctly, and-

No. The child still looks just like America did when he was a baby. France gives a stilted chuckle, stooping down until he's almost at eye-level with the kid.]

Now, what on earth is someone your age doing, wandering around this place all by yourself? [France tries to play it cool and give the child the benefit of the doubt. He manages to flash him an easy smile.] Come, don't be silly. Of course you can talk to me! You don't have to look so afraid.

[colonial]

England said I can't. [America is hesitant, though less afraid than before. France never really seemed much worse than the rest of Europe, when they visited.] Are you from someplace where he didn't say so?

[Surely France would have understood right away otherwise.]

Staircase

[midnightblackandgold]

[As he's running up the stairs, Marisa is walking down them with her broom over her shoulder. They collide and she ends up bouncing into the wall and then onto her backside, dropping her broom.

At least she wasn't flying fast.

Her broom rolls down a few steps before coming to a stop.]

Hey! Watch where you're running! You're lucky I didn't zort you.

[silencetoreason]

[France is still so frantic that he doesn't have time to ask her what she means by that. Instead, he whips around, glancing first down the stairs to ensure that none of the beasts have followed him, and then looking to the girl he's just toppled over. He flushes and bends over, intending to grab her by the arm and tug her up.]

Pardonnez-moi, but we can't just sit here, you know? Down there, there were- Ah, I do not even know what to call them!

[His face is white as a sheet, and he's having trouble articulating. It's plain to see that he doesn't fancy the idea of standing around and talking, though, as he keeps glancing up and down the stairs and shivering.]

Cafeteria

[mostremaining]

[Gilbert is heading to the cafeteria to get another hoard of nutrition bars when he spots Francis. He just sort of stares at the man for a moment before just about running up to him.]

Francis! You're back! Welcome back to the tower! ...Hey, why are you eating oatmeal? [Then it clicks. Only new arrivals eat oatmeal.] ...Have you been here before?

[silencetoreason]

[Prussia's abrupt entrance makes France jump, his spoon clinking noisily against his bowl. He whips around, brows knitted together, and shouts.]

Merde, you cannot just sneak up on somebody like that! [It's less that Prussia really startled him, though, and more that France is jumpier than usual. Waking up in the Tower will do that to a person.] You could have given me a heart attack! I'm not as young as I used to be, you know?

[Bluh bluh old man whining. France exhales, calming himself down. It's only Prussia, after all, and it's nice to see a familiar, smiling face.]

But no, of course I haven't been here before. What kind of a question is that?