100

[looselips]

Who: Shinji Matou and OPEN
Setting: Room 2-06, Floor 96, Floor 14
Format: Action preferred
Summary: Shinji has emotions and passive-aggressively plays video games
Warnings: Shinji having no idea how to cope with feelings, will add anything else that comes up

[Room 2-06]
[The video game Shinji receives is a good one. He's fond of it. Maybe not his favorite, but it would certainly rank within his top ten, if someone forced him to sit down and make a list. Under any other circumstance, he would be all but overjoyed to receive it.]

[Now, though, all he can think is, That's it?]

[In his anger, and with his usual childish level of restraint, he raises an arm and chucks the game, still in its case, down at the floor. He isn't particularly strong, but the force combined with the angle as it hits the floor is enough to make the case crack at the top corner and along its spine.]

[...But that's it. He doesn't throw a full-blown tantrum, like the time that Rider left. Instead, he merely stares in silence at the video game where it has settled on the floor, a second or two passing before he moves to pick it up again, checking to be sure that it is otherwise undamaged and sitting properly in its case.]

[Floor 96]
[Shinji hasn't actually set foot onto the floor proper yet, lingering on the stairs. The video game he received earlier is tucked under one arm. Evidently having drifted off into his own little world of thought, he isn't paying particular attention to his surroundings, his expression blank as he mulls things over.]

[He's heard what will happen if he steps onto this floor, and where the thought of losing his memories normally unsettles him, it almost appeals to him in this moment. He can remember being restrained, and having people standing over him, and the horror of being conscious but unable to control his own body. He'd rather not be able to, so here he stands, weighing the pros and cons.]

[Floor 14]
[And, because this is a Shinji post, he can at some point be found irritably and passive-aggressively playing his "new" video game in the media room. It isn't actually making him feel much better.]

Comments

[looselips]

I'm not sure if fools is the word I'd use for them, but yeah, you could call them that. [The sour expression remains as he starts up the stairs, back toward the nearest elevator.] So I guess you were one of the lucky ones?

[bowandblade]

I find myself wondering if luck has anything to do with it. [But he was still new to this place and could not say much. Even if his expression is a little serious (for him), he gives Shinji another pat on the back.]

And what would you call them?

[looselips]

[Shinji doesn't argue, because he doesn't care one way or the other whether his "participation" was the result of luck or a deliberate choice.] Don't take it so literally, then.

[He only bristles a little at the pat, and it goes without comment. At least Archer didn't try to ruffle his hair again.]

Sick freaks, maybe. I'm not sure if that's strong enough, though.

[bowandblade]

No, not very strong at all. [He agrees with the assessment, but offers no harsher insults.

Instead, he goes straight for a blunt question.] So what do you remember of it?

[looselips]

[The question gives him pause. It's not like there's any real point to hiding that he had been one of the "participants," but at the same time, he isn't sure how much he wants to talk about the experience.]

[Eventually, he says:] Enough.

[bowandblade]

[He gives a nod at that, glancing behind them at the white room before continuing with a lighter tone.]

Then it would be best to find nicer things to remember. You should begin immediately!

[looselips]

Yeah, okay. I'll get right on that.

[He says, voice dripping with sarcasm.]

[bowandblade]

Excellent! Then we will proceed to make nicer memories beginning now.

[This time, when he touches Shinji, his hand doesn't go to the boy's back; instead, he reaches up and tousles the boy's hair.]

There are many things to explore, as I am sure you know. I will show you a good time!

[looselips]

[Archer, Shinji doesn't even know what to do with you.]

[He knows so little about what to do with him, in fact, that he is utterly defeated. Even the ruffling of his hair is met only with the incredulous, soundless opening and closing of his mouth. What a weirdo.]

[But, since he doesn't know where to start, he doesn't even attempt to argue, so apparently being a weirdo gets the desired result.]

...Fine. Where are we going?

[bowandblade]

[He hums thoughtfully, already beginning on his way downstairs. There were certainly options available, with so many floors... But what would be a good choice for a boy like Shinji?]

Somewhere we can go hunting!

[He speaks with confidence and enthusiasm. His idea is obviously spectacular.]

[looselips]

Hunting.

[Shinji repeats the word flatly. But, whatever impression he may try to give, the way he speaks doesn't sound completely uninterested, and he enunciates the syllables as though weighing them. It's not a hobby he has ever so much as considered, but...]

What exactly do you want to hunt?

[bowandblade]

There are large birds that are fairly quick and do a decent job fleeing like a proper prey animal. They may be difficult to find in the day, but it would be something to do.

[More so than the actual catching of game, the act would give Shinji something else to focus on.]

They do not taste terrible when cooked, either.

[looselips]

[He stops to consider that. It wouldn't be unlike how he spent his time with Rider, both before and after arriving here. Though she always seemed more interested in the chance of finding whatever she perceived to be treasure than in the act of hunting itself.]

...Yeah, alright. Sure. I'm sick of those disgusting bars in the cafeteria, anyway.

[And maybe something familiar and active would be comforting and exciting, but he doesn't say that.]

[bowandblade]

Very good! Then we may begin immediately.

[He smiles at Shinji's assent; it was always better to have agreement, even if his decisions were obviously the best ways to go. No sooner do those words leave his lips does he turn to face Shinji and take hold of the boy under his arms. With ease, he hefts Shinji up to sit on one of his shoulders.

If he wasn't a Servant, it would probably have been at least a little awkward for his balance. But he continued to stand straight as he held onto the boy.]

[looselips]

H— Hey!

[He squawks when he's lifted, of course. There might even be some reflexive kicking and squirming. That doesn't do him much good against a Servant, though, and he is placed upon Archer's shoulder regardless.]

I didn't say I needed you to carry me around, you dolt! My legs work just fine!

[He is obviously far too mature for something as childish as riding on someone's shoulders!!!]

[bowandblade]

[There was some of that spirit that he remembered from their first encounter. Gilgamesh laughs and pats Shinji's knee, smiling at his reflexive struggles while he gets used to his new situation.]

Did you truly intend to walk a hundred floors on those legs? It will be much faster if we travel this way!

[As if to prove his point, he holds on to Shinji's legs and jumps down to the next landing on the stairs, easily landing and turning to continue down the steps.]

[looselips]

[Well, that's one way to get him to stop squirming. He yelps when Archer decides to demonstrate with a leap, immediately going rigid and clinging to the Servant, hands latching onto his wrist and forearm.]

Ff...

[The sound is more of a simple exhalation than the start of any particular word, and Archer has already started down the steps when Shinji finally manages to blurt out some kind of reply.]

F— Fine! But only because you're making yourself useful, got it?!

[bowandblade]

[He hums as he continues walking down the stairs, still holding Shinji securely, as if that would somehow alleviate the little boy's earlier tenseness. But he says nothing to the way Shinji had latched onto his arm to steady himself, to the way Shinji was stammering.]

I would not have suggested we go hunting otherwise!

[Did that even make sense? It didn't matter. The important thing was that Gilgamesh practically sailed on his way down the steps; he was by no means as fast a Lancer class, but his speed was well above that of a normal human's.

...Though, considering his passenger, he's not going at full speed.]

[looselips]

[It makes enough sense to Shinji, but he also isn't focused on analyzing Archer's words too closely now. He clings as hard as he can, despite how securely he is held, and says nothing as they descend down the staircase.]

[bowandblade]

[He barely looks at the different floors that they pass over; the floor that looks like the insides of a pyramid, the mermaid lagoon... He does not stop until floor 86, which at least looks like a mild enough floor to set Shinji down for a short while. There is warm weather all around them to take in as well.]

Have you been to this floor before?

[looselips]

Not...really.

[He stopped and looked at it once, but he hadn't thought it was anything that would draw Rider's attention, so he moved on quickly. Now, though, since Archer has brought him here, he looks at it more closely, head turning this way and that as he takes in his surroundings.]

[bowandblade]

[Archer hums as he looks around the fields, starting to walk around a lot before placing his hands on his hips.]

Since this floor is rather flat, it will not take long to scour. If there is one of those giant birds here, we will see it quickly!

[As if that declaration was some sort of segue, he marches forward to take in more of the floor. Have fun following this one around, Shinji.]

[looselips]

[Well, whether Shinji will have fun remains to be seen, but he does scramble after his companion. Despite the fact that he had been demanding to be put down shortly before, he feels affronted that Archer has left him to dash after him now, reaching out with one small hand to grab a handful of the Servant's surcoat in an attempt to keep himself from being outpaced.]

[bowandblade]

[He barely refrains to keep from laughing when he feels Shinji grab on to his clothing, bringing a hand down to the boy's shoulder as he slows down to a more manageable pace.

It's all for the best, though; with monsters much rarer during the daytime, they're not going to find a chocobo on this floor. But Archer does stop and debate the bullfairy flying off in the distance.]

It looks like there is no challenging game on this floor.