towerofanimus | oo4 | tell me how I'm supposed to breathe

Entry tags:

oo4 | tell me how I'm supposed to breathe

Characters: Mami Tomoe and you crazy kids (aka everyone)
Setting: ~~Choose your own adventure!~~ All over the tower, all through out the event!
Format: Either or works!
Summary: Mami seems a bit different today...
Warnings: Body horror, probably death. Mami will malfunction and try to strangle people to spare them the burdens of the tower. If you want to be killed, just give me an a-okay!

[ Maybe it's when you wake up you notice her. Her entire body is covered in gold ribbons and she remains silent as she stands over your bed, watching you. She's been there for a few hours, watching as you toss and turn. You should probably ask what the hell her deal is, right? Not that she'll actually answer unless you can command her.

Maybe it's when you're taking a lovely stroll around the tower you notice her. She's kneeling down, doing what she thinks is her work. Still, no sound comes from her and her expression does not change as she breaks the bodies down.

It's her job after all.

Or maybe it's when she's reaching out to you, you notice something's not right. It's not that she's reaching out to you that's a problem; the ribbons that are extending from her hands seem a bit attached to your neck. She pulls the ribbons, tightening their grip on your neck and you're having some trouble breathing.

She wants you to stop suffering. She wants you to escape the burdens of this godawful place.

Don't worry; she'll make everything better. ]

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[Diarmuid hadn't meant to fall asleep, but fall asleep he has. This week has been terrible. He swears every time he has turned around, he has run into another person he cares about twisted into some kind of horrible shadow version of themselves.

And he hasn't been able to help anyone.

He knows now not even sending them to their deaths helps. They just come back in the same form they had died in. It frightens him to think about what that means. Could these horrible changes be permanent?

His sleep hasn't been quiet. He's tossed and turned, nightmare images flashing through his mind. Ryoji and his split skull and scythe. Cu Chulainn as his twisted face and sharp, sharp teeth. Kain and....

Diarmuid's eyes fly open, a gasp catching back in his throat. He takes a minute to try and calm his ragged breathing and that is when the golden flash catches his eye. Immediately he sits up, face paling.]

Mami...

[When Raphael saw Mami wander into the clinic and saw the state she was in, his smile vanished. This was cruel..to do this to someone who's soul was already in such disrepair. At first, he was going to speak to her, see if she needed any healing, but when those ribbons wrapped around his throat, he paused for a moment, shocked, before going into spirit form. It would be like those ribbons were wrapped around air now.]

Why are you trying to kill me?

(ooc: Guy's a Group A, and his malfunctioning will have him try to kill her and add her to his corpse collection, but I would actually prefer if she would kill him, if that's okay! It could make for an interesting fight scene.)

--

[The distress over the man heading for the elevator was easy to read. He was tilting on that line between everything is just fine and sheer panic. Every kill that happened when his mind would be taken from him, sometimes only for a minute or two...

He wished to just climb the stairs until they had no end, keep himself up and busy and working and AWAY so that this wouldn't keep happening. Even as he passes by the girl wrapped in ribbons, huddled over and breaking apart a corpse he easily recognized as a girl he'd killed only the day before, he can't help but bite back a sound of distress. He could FEEL his brain fighting, wanting to turn and add this girl to the pile - to his OWN collection---

His steps slow, stopping just to observe her. Just to voice a simple question, voice rough and weary.]

Worker... w... what are you doing?

[There's an odd jingling noise coming from one hallway. Kazumi is standing there, facing one wall, twitching erratically, causing the bells attached to her skin all over her body to jingle every time. She keeps switching between her normal clothes and her magical girl outfit, manifesting her staff, dropping it, then going back to her normal clothes. Inspect?]

[OOC: When Kazumi malfunctions, she sees all other magical girls as witches and tries to kill them. TIME TO FIGHT?]

[ She remains silent as she continues to pull. The look on her face shows that she's sorry, but not for killing him. She's sorry that he has to experience this awful place. He's miserable here. He needed to be spared of this disastrous pace.

She remains silent as she holds both ribbons in one hand, a tight grip on both of them as she lifts a finger to her lips, shushing him. ]

[ She says nothing, seeming a bit confused as to why there was no person there. She holds her head, trying to snap out of her current state. If she could get out of that state long enough, she could run away and not hurt anyone.

Yet, she wanted to spare everyone of this burden. ]

( ooc; sounds fantastic! )

[ The girl in ribbons is silent as she continues to break the body down. She could never find her voice when someone asked her what she was doing. It's only when she hears Guy that she looks up. Not because she recognizes his voice exactly, but because something tells her that she should listen to him. ]

My duty.

[ She suddenly turns, facing him with sad eyes. She could hear the hesitation in his voice. However, she mistakes it for something else. ] You're feeling misery, aren't you? The tower is a burden. [ The ribbons from her hands start to expand in length, uncoiling themselves. ] I want.... I want to help you.

[ Clearly, this is a sign of someone who is suffering from the tower. The ribbons from Mami's hands begin to uncoil, dragging behind her lazily as she walks up to her fellow magical girl. A hand reaches, at first it looks like it might touch her shoulder. However, the ribbons suddenly snap up, ready to make their way to the girl's neck. ]

( ooc; FIGHT TIME! /o/ )

[That is why... Diarmuid's hands immediately go to the ribbons around his throat. He had assumed the reason his breathing was so ragged was a combination of his nightmare and the shock of seeing her so changed, but that is obviously not it. Already, the ribbons are soaked with his blood, their sharp edges digging into his skin as she pulls them tighter and tighter.

He tries to get his fingers under the ribbons to pull them loose or straight up break them, but they slip on his own blood and ribbons themselves prove to be as strong as she had once told him they were.

They will not break and their damp state only adheres their edges all the tighter to his neck.]

Mami, please! Let me go! I don't want to have to hurt you!

[His words are already horse from the pressure on his throat, but Diarmuid has learned from his previous death. His spear appears in his hand as he knows words alone won't save his life. If he doesn't want to die again, he is going to have to fight.

He just hopes that he doesn't have to hurt the girl he regards as one of his adopted daughters too badly in the process.]

[He starts at the sudden untangling of golden ribbon from her hands, taking a step back, hesitant to move any closer. The fingers of one hand are already resting against the top of his sword, not yet gripping onto the hilt as he eyes her warily.]

Help me...

...Worker, how can you help me...?

..Can you not speak?

[That seemed to be the case. Raphael would have liked to put a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her..but if she was going to try and choke him again, he couldn't risk it.]

[ If it hadn't been Diarmuid, she wouldn't have hesitated.

Once his voice gets to her, her movements come to a halt. She stops pulling, but does not uncoil the ribbons from his neck. It's just a minor pause, as if she's trying to rethink her actions. And yet, there's something in the back of her mind telling her to continue on her task.

He needs to be saved.

Mami needs to save him from this burden. He shouldn't be here. He shouldn't be suffering like this. In order to escape this burden, she needed to kill him. Yet, it feels so wrong to be the one to do it. Yet, it feels right at the same time. She didn't want anyone else killing him. It had to be her. ]

I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

[ Her grip tightens, and she pulls as hard as she could. ]

[ She does not speak. The only movement she gives is a small nod. ]

[Raphael saw that nod.]

I see. You cannot hurt me while I am like this, but can you communicate to me through writing?

The tower. It's a horrible place isn't it?

[ She steps forward, the ribbons from her hands clutched in her palms. She stops for a minute, eyeing the male. Her sad look never seems to go away. ]

No one deserves to be here. I want to help ease the pain. I can't bear to watch this anymore. This is the only way.

[ With that, she springs forward, her ribbons extending out, aiming for his neck. Once they've coiled around his neck, she pulls on the ends, trying to shorten his breath. Of course, this leaves her in a pretty defenseless state, since she's so focused on strangling him. ]

[Sleep doesn't always come so easily in this place, especially at a time like this. When any encounter on any floor could easily turn into a life and death battle, her dorm room has become one of the few safe havens in this hellhole. Not that this stops her from sleeping with her armor on right now with her sword next to her bed, but she's never seen a dorm room be attacked, so they're safe right?

Until just now, because the first thing she saw when her eyes opened was Mami, eyes flickering down to her collar for a split second before instinct kicks in. She's gotta admit, this is the fastest in her life she's ever managed to wake up as she suddenly rolls sideways out of the bed, grabbing her still sheathed sword from next to her bed in one smooth motion.]

W- what're you doing in here?! [Oh please don't be crazy right now...]

[And suddenly, as if sensing the attack, the twitching stops and Kazumi spins about, costume on, staff in hand slashing at those ribbons coming towards her. Her eyes are wide, a crazed look in them as she stares down her attacker]

Witch.

[All she sees is the frilly, bonneted form of Candeloro standing there before her]

[The modifications must have increased her strength as well because the pull jerks Diarmuid off the bed. He manages to control the fall somewhat, but the ribbons still cut deeply into his neck. In fact, an unwelcome numbness runs down the left side of his body. Fortunately, he is able to keep his hold on his spear, and he swings it around bringing its point into contact with the ribbons as he releases the seal holding its ability in check.

He has never been more thankful than he is now that his noble phantasm is one of the few that doesn't need a vocal command to activate its ability because he's pretty sure he can't talk anymore, and Diarmuid isn't gong to waste what little breath he has left trying. Instead, he focuses his energy, hoping that his spear's ability to dispel magic will interrupt the control she has over her ribbons. One moment is all he will need to free himself.

Nothing happens. Either the magic is too different or the ribbons have been modified so much that magic no longer controls them. Whatever the reason, the spear's magic dampening properties do no good.

If he could speak, Diarmuid would curse because this development leaves him with only one choice. If he wants to save himself, he is going to have to attack her...]

[Saki has been in a state,to say the least, since she's seen Kyoko in the shape she's in. She had already been starting to feel the strain of having been in the tower so long, trying to keep her brave face, but now? The despair was starting to set in.

It's the ribbons that catch her eye as she sees Mami on the staircase. Pretty, but something about it is just wrong...]

[The wound he got from being attacked by one of the monsters in the tower has still not entirely cleared up. It's probably because he's been too hasty in fighting them, and hasn't even attempted to feed yet for fear of harming someone.

Vampire powers only seem to work so far after all. He's sitting on one of the beds, trying to sew shut the gaping wound on his stomach. It takes him a moment to look up and notice Mami, staring for a long moment at the state that she's in.]

What has happened to you?

[It catches him completely off-guard, the initial spring forward triggering his already-enhanced fear and forcing him tense, so when ribbons wrap around his throat and begin to squeeze, he's panicking.

Guy's sword is drawn, swinging outward haphazardly, trying to either cut the ribbons taking the breath from his body or, Score forgive him, hurt the girl that was in control. It's hard to see when he's choking for air and struggling underneath the unusually tight grip. But the attempt is still strong, hoping for a hit.]

[ Are there tears in her eyes? It might be hard to tell because she has a blank expression on her face as well. The little part of humanity she still has wants her to stop, but it's ignored by the part that wants to kill him - to save him. ]

Please stop struggling. This is for your own good. [ That's what she would have said if she could speak. However, all Diarmuid gets is a small look of despair on her face as she gives the ribbons a tight tug, stepping on his chest with her foot to help her tighten their grip on his neck.

She wants it to be over. ]

[ She doesn't move. She shrugs her shoulders a bit. ]

Please stop struggling. Everything will be fine.

[ His sword does indeed cut her just a bit. She grunts in pain before shaking it off slightly, extending the ribbons length right again. They shoot out, right at his throat as she uses her free hand to summon one of her rifles. Once her ribbons find his neck again, she holds the gun to his forehead. Her finger rests on the trigger as she uses her other hand to pull the ribbons, tightening their grip on his neck. ]

[ She grits her teeth, wanting to fight the urge to kill a fellow magical girl. She summons one of her rifles, holding it in her hands. Her finger is on the trigger as her free hand continues to extend ribbons, though they aren't used to attack yet. Instead, she holds the fabric in her hand. Waiting for her to make a move first. ]

[ Her hands twitch just a bit and she's fighting the urge to do anything harmful to the girl. She continues to stare down at Amelia silently. If Amelia tries to move closer to her, Mami might just snap and attack her. ]

[ The footsteps alert Mami and she turns around to see who was approaching. Right, that was Saki wasn't it? They had talked a few times since Mami's arrival at the tower. The elder magical girl does not greet the other one.

Instead, she's more focused on the look on her face. She seems sad, in some kind of trance. Clearly this is the work of the tower. She doesn't make a move yet. She's trying to fight the urge of hurting another magical girl. ]

[ Sadly, he doesn't get much of a reaction from her. Her eyes move down from his face to the wound on his stomach. Something in the tower did this to him. Tears swell up in her eyes as the ribbons from her hands extend in length.

She lunges forward, ready to attack him. ]

[Kazumi is too far broken to try to hold back. Seeing no attack, she charges forwards, swinging her staff around to swipe at Mami and those ribbons in her way]

[The tears are what do it. Even with her blank expression, Diarmuid can tell just how much this is hurting her. And the despair that flashes across her face for just that short moment stops him from throwing her off him like he could so easily do.

It will only delay the inevitable. It will only lengthen her pain.

Diarmuid's spear disappears from his hand, his arm falling still against the floor only seconds later. Already his throat has been cut through by the ribbons' sharp edges and his struggles, and the numbness on his left side suggests his spinal cord has been damaged too. Red and black dance across his vision quickly becoming much more prevalent than normal vision is.

He's going to die. Even though he had actually tried to stop it this time, he's still going to die. He had been doomed from the moment she had wrapped those ribbons around his sleeping form.

Best for them both not to drag it out.

He shuts his eyes, focusing as hard as he can to mouth what he hopes will be words of comfort for her.]

It's all right. Finish it. Let our pain end.

P-Please... *kkkh* p-p-please, n-n....n-no....!

[The panic in his eyes is rising, even as they start to roll back into his head as he struggles for breath, his face already turning an odd shade of red. There's a kick of his legs, another swing of the sword, blindly trying to hit anything.

He can hear the sounds of the processing floor dimming out, his extremities starting to twitch and numb. There's a choked, silent yell, his sword swinging wildly yet again. No... no no no NO NO NO HE CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS...]

Alright then. Please, wait here a few moments. I shall bring you some paper, and a pen, if I can.

[And, quickly, still in spirit mode, Raphael would walk out of the infirmary and down to the library.]

[He stares, trying to jerk away from the ribbons, but the shock of being attacked by someone wrapped in ribbons means that he doesn't move out of the way fast enough.]

[Despite the adrenalin rushing through her system she takes a second to compose herself, eyes darting around the room to verify it is in fact just the two of them in there. Good, they're alone. And if those twitching hands are anything to go by this is probably going to get violent very shortly.

For just a second the young knight leans ever so slightly to one side, eyes glancing between the ribbon-clad girl and the door before she makes her move, attempting to break off into a full sprint past her and towards the door. She'd rather not be forced to fight and there's the potential for escape, so she's going to try. And if this fails and she gets attacked?

Well she's pretty much making this plan up as she goes along.]

[ There's a moment where she stops. He stopped struggling, meaning he wants her to go along with it. Her hands feel weak but they do not let go of the ribbons. Even if she stopped, he wouldn't make it to the infirmary. He would bleed to death. He probably couldn't even move.

She wants it all to end right there and now. Both of them wanted to end it. Tears continue to fall as she finally pulls on last time, shortening his breath for good, letting the ribbons cut through his flesh like it was scissors cutting through a piece of paper.

There's an anguished cry leaving her lips. It's a short one, though. She stares at his lifeless body, picking it up. It was time to break it down and do her job.

Their despair wouldn't end, no matter how much she wanted it to. ]

[ She watched him for a moment. She needed together out of there. She w trying do hard not to attack. The young girl made her way to the door, deciding that it was best to leave. ]

[ There's o much struggle. Mami wants to stop, she's desperately trying to fight back herself, but her movements continue their violent ways. She digs her heel into his stomach to keep him steady, her finger still on the trigger of her rifle. ]

Everything will be alright. [ She gives him a sad smile. ] This place won't harm you anymore.

[ I'm sorry, I'm sorry. ]

[ The veteran magical girl manages to quickly move out if the way, though some of her ribbons fall from her flesh, finally using her rifles. She stands a few feet back, shooting bullets after bullets at the broken girl. ]

[ Her ribbons wrap around his neck for a brief moment. Yet, there's hesitation in choking him. She's trying to fight back hurting him, trying to come to her senses. ]

[ Mami doesnt turn around. Instead, her ribbons slink down for a moment, and sending that Amelia is sprinting to the door, the magical girl finally turns around, grabbing Amelia's ankle with said ribbons, tripping her. Once she was on the ground, Mami began to drag her towards herself. ]

[Raphael, after awhile, had managed to find some paint, a brush, and spare papers in the workshop. The library had given him nothing, so he had to go there.

However, as he got back up to the infirmary in physical form, carrying the things, he saw the girl start to leave the infirmary.]

Are you alright?

[Guy can barely hear her words, gagging as her heel presses into his stomach. His sword drops to the ground with a loud KLANG, both hands blindly grappling at his throat, fingers weakly trying to dig under the clench of the ribbons, drawing blood with his nails as he keeps meeting with failure and more ripped-up skin...

Not that his grip can stay strong for long. Willpower aside, the frantic beat of his heart and the lack of oxygen to his brain are working against him. Already his lips and the tips of his fingers are paling with a tinge of blue, the man coughing and receiving no intake of breath in return.

He... he can't...

He can't...

The hold of his fingers weakens and slumps as he falls unconscious, the struggle to breathe now a much less frantic one. Only a couple minutes more, and his heart would give up the fight, his brain far too damaged to maintain itself.]

[Now admittedly this is kind of the last thing she'd expected, and when her legs abruptly stop moving thanks to her ankles being snagged she topples over forwards with about as much grace as you'd expect a surprised knight in armor to have. Which is to say she comes crashing straight down onto the floor with a startled yelp.

However to her credit she doesn't panic when Mami starts dragging her in, instead her mind suddenly shifts gears, taking advantage of this second to roll over so she's at least facing the other girl. And rather than try to untie herself with her hands she goes straight for her sword, drawing it and swinging down at the ribbons. It's worth a shot to see if she can cut those before resorting to anything more drastic, although even if it works it'll no doubt take her a second to climb back to her feet.]

[Hissing, Kazumi closes in, doing her best to stay close and within the minimum range of those rifles. She uses her staff to constantly knock them away, though defending like this gives her few opportunities to attack as well]

[He takes the opportunity to try and remove the ribbons from him, unable to cut away without a blade on him. Whatever is going on, he doesn't understand it.

But he's not the sort to try and guess, instead focusing on breaking free of the grip.]

[ She stares at the paper, lifting her hand to write her response down. ]

everything's fine.

[Raphael may be bad with empathy sometimes, but he's not stupid.]

You tried to kill me a moment ago. Why?

[ It's only when she's certain he's not breathing that the ribbons slip from her fingers. She looks at her work, the smile long faded from her lips as she inwardly screamed at herself for killing someone she didn't even know. She lingers around the corpse for a few minutes silently before dragging his body a bit.

She had a job to do, she couldn't show any regrets. A new body was waiting for him, anyway. ]

Mami-san...

[Saki's approach is slow and careful. She doesn't want to scare her or anything, but she does want to help, if she can.]

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oo4 | tell me how I'm supposed to breathe

Room 4-16, late in the event, malfunctioning, death okay, obviously...

Infirmary, malfunctioning

Processing Room, Malfunctioning - OOC comment for my ideas!

[Malfunction Junction?]

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In her dorm room, malfunctioning is fine! I'll poke you on Plurk about how this might go down? :D

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staircases; malfunction junction, what's your function?

Infirmary; malfunction

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