don't leave me here like this, can't hear me scream from the abyss;

[crouching_sin]

Characters: Naoya and whomever stumbles across him. (Aside from floor 13 which is closed to close CR only.)
Setting: Floor 101 (the hanging gardens), floor 64 (the desert), floor 13 (the cathedral). Backdated slightly to before the event.
Format: Either.
Summary: Naoya is... upset, over various things. He's trying to calm himself down, but it doesn't go that well.
Warnings: Severe rage. If you catch him badly he might attack you or simply go silent. Also, only close CR should tag him on floor 13. If you don't know if your character counts, please ask me first or just PM me.


[Floor 101]

[This floor. He hates this floor. It just reminds him of what he lost, what was stripped away, what he can never, ever have anymore. It's almost as if the plants here are taunting him for what he did. It hurts.]

[Naoya doesn't spend too long on this floor, just enough to check to see that the plants are still flourishing. He turns to leave.]



[Floor 64]

[This floor is much more agreeable for him. It reminds him of home - his first home - and while it hurts, it's comforting. He doesn't venture too far from the staircase - he knows better than to step into the desert without better tools - and sits in the sand, closing his eyes briefly and trying to remember how things were at first, before everything.]

[Then other memories cut in, of violence and blood and pain. He opens his eyes, and stands, brushing sand off of his clothes. It's time to keep moving, or he'll just remember more.]



[Floor 13 - CLOSED TO CLOSE CR]

[He hates this floor most of all. He heads to the front, shutting up the mumbling, and stares at the stained glass. This thing... all of this. Everything.]

[He punches the podium, but doesn't succeed in doing anything but hurting his hand. Still, he pounds at it, trying to get someone, anyone to listen. Even if it's not Him... some kind of higher power. Something.]

[Why does it not matter to anyone that while yes, he was the murderer, he was also a victim? Why does he have to be the example? Why did Abel have to be thrown into the demon world and then shattered? Even the Abels he's met haven't ever been the complete Abel. He misses him. He misses his brother, he misses being able to think and not be overwhelmed by this damn curse. He misses being able to just live. And He wants him to repent? It's all His fault! He was the one who stoked the desire to kill in him to have his precious example!]

[He cries out, making another attempt to shove over the podium, but it's useless. He falls to the ground, on his knees and elbows, hair draping down around his face. He can feel himself crying and he doesn't even bother to stop it.]

[No. It doesn't matter anymore. He wants to hold out hope, but it's so difficult when everything keeps going wrong. He was betrayed by his own brother, and yet he still loves him... but he can't think of any other way.]

Comments

[crouching_sin]

Heh. Too many people have tried to pity me. It's disgusting.

[That's part of the reason why he just doesn't tell people anymore.]

[destructiveprinciple]

[Snort.] Geez, if they're going to something wasteful like that, they ought to try giving you more substantial things.

[Not really big on being pitied himself.]

[crouching_sin]

Ugh. Yes.

[... Though he does have something else he wants to talk about.]

What, exactly, did you mean by being summoned? Surely someone didn't just summon you because of your charming wit.

[destructiveprinciples]

No, no, a bozo like me? There are witty folk aplenty they didn't need to call up with sorcery.

[He laughs a little, and elaborates on the information given freely. His feet, bare except the black bandages, are quiet on the hot sands as he shifts his weight.]

'Servants' are existences called into an era by a Master and placed into a 'class,' a vessel prepared beforehand, and bound by a contract to serve 'em. To put it simply, they're tools for fighting. I was summoned to kill my Masters' enemies.

[crouching_sin]

A contract... and what sort of benefits do you get from this contract, out of curiosity? If you're willing to share, at least. The contracts formed with demons where I'm from generally involves paying them with macca, the currency of the demon world, and offering up energy, usually emotional.

[destructiveprinciples]

Mm, benefits? The master acts as an anchor, and allows them to remained tethered to existence. Continued survival, a material body, fuel... That's a nifty perk, don't you think? [He allows the indulgence of this man's curiosity. The Servant system of the Holy Grail wasn't exactly designed with the equal benefit of the magi's tools in mind. They came because they wanted to fulfill a wish, not because they expected to be treated nicely.]

The demons of your world sound very different from the ones in mind. Macca? Ah, I see. We don't get paid in currency. The Master supplies the Servant they hold a contract to with prana—energy. [A silly grin.] Not emotional though.

[crouching_sin]

Sounds like it. Though... hm. I suppose it would be troublesome if your master weren't here with you.

[It'd be an interesting opportunity, to say the least, if it could even work between worlds. He'd pass it off to Asako, but with her current state he doesn't want her to engage in something like this...]

Heh. They're useful... many of them are simple-minded, though. At least those of certain types are.

[destructiveprinciples]

Yeah. It's troubling. I can't fight at full capacity without a supply of prana and in a ridiculous place like this, I'd prefer to be at my best.

[He glances from the man towards the expanse of the desert, gazing out at where the rolling, dusty horizon appeared to meet the skies. The heat raises with the faint breeze of some distant (or not so distant) sandstorm.]

The ones in mine are well, mm. Not better, though yours sound like they're at least self-aware. Church girl said they were... along the lines of living energy called forth by the wishes of humans and given shape by 'em. They have the whole demonic possession deal and everything.

[Shrug.]

Or something like that.

[crouching_sin]

Demons at home don't possess people as much anymore... though I know of someone who was possessed by both a demon and an angel at the same time.

[Tch. Troublesome woman...]

What other supernatural beings are around in your world, do you know? Or do they all fall under either your classification or demons?

[destructiveprinciple]

Huh. That sounds like a clusterfuck just waiting to happen, that combination.

[He chattered idly.]

All sorts! There's familiars and them vampires too. Eh, demons only fall under one rank of spirits. You got your wraiths, your Nature and Animal Spirits, Elementals!—the highest rank of spirit is Divine Spirits, no brainer there. Extensions of the World or something. [He gestures widely with one arm swept outward.] And there's Heroic Spirits, who're ascended dead people, plus Mythical Beasts from the time of the gods.

[crouching_sin]

It was. And I had to work for the group she was a part of. 'Interesting' doesn't quite cover it.

[He nods, listening carefully.]

What sort of dead people become Heroic Spirits? And technically, angels fall under the same classification as demons do... they can be summoned the same way.

[destructiveprinciple]

[A chuckle.] The Church would get pissed off methinks, if you put the divine and the demonic in the same category.

[As an answer to his question; whose who stood out, whose, a person who saved another person, whose who saved the world and slayed beasts and achieved great deeds. Whose who made a difference and who were great kings, authors, and leaders, and warriors. The grandness of stories who become phenomenons. The objects of worship and lore.

Whose that were remembered by humanity as traditions and folklore and legends and myths and monsters and enemies.]

Individuals who were reviled or revered in their lifetimes. Really, it's more specific than that, but that's what all the technobabble basically boils down to.

[crouching_sin]

The Church can deal with it.

[... He thinks about it, and then chuckles.]

Heh. I suppose I might be counted as that, were I able to actually die. Not that I'd count myself as particularly heroic... but details.

[destructiveprinciple]

[Well, this man talked like he lived in the old days and was a significant figure in them, so Angra has no surprise.]

Hah, the term 'Heroic Spirit's' a bit of a misnomer. The common understanding of the title 'hero' doesn't matter for qualifications, honestly.

[Doesn't everybody view themselves as the protagonist of their own stories, as the cliche goes?]

[crouching_sin]

I figured. As long as people remember you... though I'm not sure who would want to summon the first murderer to their aid.

[Or that he'd agree to work for them, for that matter. It'd depend.]

[destructiveprinciples]

I told ya', Servants are tools for fighting. I'd say they wouldn't have much qualms about summoning a guy like you as long as the job got done. Every hero's a murderer, one way or another. Being the first of 'em just gives you an extra note on your resume.

[That's what spells of absolute obedience are for lmao.]