towerofanimus | {Un} L'État, C'est Moi

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{Un} L'État, C'est Moi

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...

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No, nothing.

[With him leading, Ruler instead keeps her eyes behind them, watching for any hint of movement. There's been no sign of any monsters since Francis ran into her, and so, when they finally reach the first level of the dormitories, she does not hesitate to slow down, hand slipping from his as concern washes over her face.]

Are you all right? They did not hurt you, did they?

[Once they reach the dormitory floors and the girl pulls her hand away, France slows to a stop and bends at the waist, breathing heavily. He takes a moment to suck in deep, heavy breaths before he attempts to answer, and when he does, his voice is breathless and a touch ragged.]

Non... But, dieu, they were huge... Like buildings, each one! Oh...

[He lays a hand over his heart, straightening up a little bit, though his shoulders remain slumped over.]

[Aaaah, now she knows what exactly had him so spooked.]

It is... certainly a frightening sight. [She'd be lying if she said she wasn't intimidated by the creatures' sizes the first time she had stepped out onto that floor.

Alas, she doesn't focus much on that for long. The girl is staring at him again with a rather intense gaze, that strange mix of emotions slowly returning as the brief adrenaline rush fades away.]

You... it really is you. You're back...

[France is still on-edge from what he saw, but that look on the girl's face gives him a whole other reason to be wary. It isn't enough that she looks like she's about to burst, but the way she talks to him as if they've met before only strengthens his feeling that he knows her from somewhere.

He shifts awkwardly, because he's quite sure they didn't meet in this place, at least. She seems to be under that impression, though, and France can't for the life of him figure out why.]

Back? I... [He bites his tongue, trying to figure out what the best way to approach the situation is.] ...Chéri, I have never been here before.

[Best to just be honest about it, he supposes.]

If you were not here before, then how would I know that your name is Francis Bonnefoy, the nation of France?

[It is a bit of a gamble, putting it that way - Ruler isn't really sure how active he is among his people, or how many of said people know him by that name... but it's a start.]

It makes little sense, I know. I have been here some time and I'm still unsure of how things such as this work. But I assure you, Francis, I have nothing to gain from lying about such things.

[France blinks, taken aback. That considerably narrows down the list of people who this girl could be, but it's still not enough to convince France that he's been here before. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, starting and stopping himself, until eventually, he gives a sigh and a smile.]

...All right. You clearly know who I am, but I am sure we didn't meet in here. After all, I've only just arrived, and I'm sure I would've remembered such a pretty face if you've spoken to me before.

[He winks, and reaches out in an attempt to cup her cheek if she'll let him.]

Let's try to think of other places where we could have met, shall we?

[A look of surprise crosses her face, and rather than swatting his hand away, she takes a step back, just out of his reach. Is he... seriously trying to flirt right now???]

I-I do not know just what is going through your mind, but I assure you, the truth is quite different!

[The startled look fades into something a bit softer. Ruler knows that this won't really help convincing him that he was here before, but... she's not going to hide from him. She didn't hide from the last Francis, or Francisca, so... even if he's acting a bit differently, she's not going to hide from him either.]

I go by the name 'Ruler' here. But that is a mere title. An alias, if you prefer. But I believe you will recognize me better by my true identity... [She takes a deep breath to prepare herself - the revelation of her name with both Francisca and the previous Francis had been quite intense after all - before sweeping into a low bow.]

My name is Jeanne d'Arc.

[France shrugs and pulls his hand back when the girl steps away from him, and all in all, doesn't look much worse for the wear. A ghost of a smirk plays on his lips for the first bit of her introduction, but when she finishes, it falls right off.]

...Je... anne?

[The way his heart raced when he saw those 50-foot monsters was nothing compared to how it's pounding now. He feels like someone's sucked the breath right out of him, and his head's swimming like he might faint at any second.

The familiarity he'd been feeling comes crashing down on him all at once. He felt something similar back in his home some time ago, spotting that one face in the midst of a sea of tourists and just knowing it was her, but meeting a reincarnation without memories was completely different than meeting his Saint again, alive and bowing before him.

He brings a hand up to his mouth, muttering something unintelligible to even him, his breath coming out quicker now so that he has to suck in a gust of air to steady himself.]

B-but- No. You're... [His throat seizes up, and he feels the beginnings of tears prick at the corners of his eyes. He refuses to say the word. He won't say "dead."] Impossible... You, like this, I- I-I never thought that...

[And he cuts himself off again, staring at her like he's seen a ghost. For all he knows, that might well be the case.]

[... Well. So much for steeling herself for his reaction. She thought she'd be prepared, but she was wrong. Maybe it was because of the way he switched so quickly from his previously flirty attitude to this one of complete shock. It was... not jarring, but a surprising change that made her heart twist a bit.]

I know. [Mirroring his previous action, she holds out her hand. Not to touch him, since she's really not sure what he'll do when caught in such intense shock as he seems to be, but just... giving him that option. To show that she's actually real.] I'm... afraid I cannot explain the reason why I have been brought back into this world, but I assure you, I am as real as I was nearly six hundred years ago.

[She tries to laugh, then, but it comes out as more of a weak chuckle.] You could question me, if you need proof that I truly am Jeanne d'Arc.

[France reaches out tentatively, as if afraid that touching Jeanne might cause her to vanish. He skims his fingers over her palm, then, when she proves to be as real as she was when he held her hand on the steps just moments ago (as real as she was centuries ago, clad in armor, fighting by his side), he takes both of her hands in his own. His touch is soft, unsure.]

I...

[The pad of his thumb slides over her hand. He tries to imagine those hands, ones that seem so small compared to his own, taking up arms to protect his people.

He looks up and meets her eyes, giving her a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes.]

I wouldn't dream of questioning you like some common criminal, my dear. If you say that you are Jeanne, I believe you.

[A look of surprise crosses her face when he grabs both of her hands, but this time, she doesn't pull away. In fact, she turns one of her hands so that she can gently grip his, her expression fading back into a warm smile.]

I'm very glad that you do, Francis. But if you would like to question me about other things - this tower, specifically - I encourage you to do so. It would not be wise to remain in the dark for long here.

[France would be happy to just stare at Jeanne's smiling face for hours on end, if the content look on his own is of any indication. He never thought he would have the privilege to be so near to her again (at least, not while she's aware of who she is), and the more he thinks about it, the more overwhelmed he feels. It's lucky their hands are clasped together right now, because if they weren't, France fears he might topple over then and there.

He heaves a sigh, because she does have a point. As much as he'd like to reminiscise with her and try to act carefree, he knows he can't. It's not that simple.]

Oui, oui, I suppose I do have quite a few questions, no?

[He chuckles.]

Most importantly, I suppose - and I don't mean to be rude, not at all - but... [Though he's still smiling, the look in his eyes is more puzzled than anything.] ...How? How could you be here, like this? Pardonnez-moi, but I'm afraid I still do not understand...

If you mean here, in this tower... then that is one of the answers I do not have. We are told why we are brought here upon arrival, but I do not think anyone knows just how the administrators brought us here.

[She looks away from him then, frowning slightly.] And if your question pertains to me specifically... then as I said, I cannot tell you. I wish I could, truly, but it is part of a secret I have been tasked with guarding however I can.

[It should go without saying that France wants desperately to hear that secret, but - much as it pains him to do so - he keeps his lips pressed into a firm line. His curiosity is evident in the way he searches her face, in how he shifts from foot to foot and gives her hands a squeeze, but he manages to squash the barrage of questions rising in his chest.]

I see... Oh my.

[He heaves a sigh and lets go of her, raising a hand to brush a strand of hair away from his smiling face.]

I'm feeling a bit lightheaded. Are there any other strange things in this place that I should know about? I fear this old man's heart won't be able to take many more surprises...

[She feels guilty. She really does. She doesn't want to hide anything from him... and it's silly to hide it, really, considering the tower is largely aware of a "Holy Grail War" thanks to that Waver boy. But she has sworn that she would uphold the rules of the War... and that meant she can't reveal it to people who don't already know about it. Now, if he finds out on his own, then things could be different.

Luckily, she doesn't have time to brood on that for long. His comment manages to make her laugh, snapping her out of her train of thought as she shakes her head.]

"Old man"? Nonsense. You are no such thing. [Her smile fades, just a bit.] And it might be easier to say what isn't strange about this tower. Most floors have some level of danger to them, monsters roam the halls at night... and every month, we are subjected to the whims of those in charge here. It is... not always a pleasant experience.

[France smiles at the compliment, but his happy look fades as Jeanne goes on. He can't imagine her being in such a place without him; the very idea of his Saint left up to the whims of someone who locks people in a tower full of monsters is enough to make his blood boil. He's comforted somewhat by what she said before, about meeting another France, but even so... He doesn't want to dwell on what might have happened in the past. He's here now, and that's what matters.]

How terrible. [He bites his lip, searching for the right words (something that he doesn't often have to do).] I am... I'm so sorry that you're stuck here like this.

[There's a hint of guilt written on his face. As much as he doesn't want Jeanne to get hurt, he's happy to see her here. He thought that he'd resolved himself to living his life without her long ago, but after meeting that girl with the too-familiar face touring around his streets, the longing to see her again sprung up worse than ever. She's held captive in a truly terrible place, and he can't be happy if she's gone through any amount of pain, but just meeting her again is more satisfying than he can say.]

Do not say such things. You have nothing to apologize for. [Her voice is firm, as is her gaze.] And do not dwell on the thought that this place might have broken me, because it has not.

[She smiles again, but there's something in that smile; that same spark she held in her eyes nearly six hundred hears ago, fighting so hard against odds stacked so highly against her.] I've had the fortune of befriending just the right people. There are those who are attempting to fight against the administrators, who wish to free the population of the tower, and I have joined this fight.

So my arrival here is... somewhat unfortunate, but I am making the best of this bad situation.

[France just stares at her for the longest time. He takes in everything about her, from the shine in her eyes to the curve of her smile to the line of her jaw, with such intensity that it almost feels like he's trying to see the inside of her as well.

At long last, he chuckles. There's an edge to it, something a bit too breathless to be casual, but there's genuine happiness on his face now.]

You haven't changed at all.

[He raises a hand like he's going to touch her, but at the last minute, he pulls back and tucks a strand of hair behind his ear.]

I'm so glad...

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{Un} L'État, C'est Moi

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