Xerxes Break ☂ Just a Mad Old Man (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
semantating) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
towerofanimus2013-04-20 03:35 pm
semantating) wrote in towerofanimus2013-04-20 03:35 pm
Entry tags:
[o2] A little discussion. ☂ Closed.
Characters: Break and Tohko.
Setting: Floor 81, the lounge, around 10AM, forward-dated to the 22nd. (After exchanging some mail.)
Format: Starting with action but you can use prose if you're more comfortable.
Summary: Break and Tohko decide to have some tea together after all that went on.
Warnings: Mentions of the event, most likely, and Break probably being Break. I will edit if anything else happens.
[ Break, having arrived with a tea set and a bit of tea, enough for a few kettles, he is sure, is quite happy to find a nice table in the lounge after getting the water and sugar he would need and bringing it to this floor via the elevator. It is a shame, he thinks, that they've no cream or milk, but it will just have to do. He prefers black tea, of course; he only hopes his guest will not mind the flavor. He would sweeten it with honey, but that is also harder to come by here.
So he waits for Tohko to arrive, once he has set his tray down. Emily is sitting on the table nearby. Truthfully, he is not sure whether or not she is going to be followed, and if what happened has had any bearings on his current goal to learn as much about the limits of this place and the admins as he can. If she was brainwashed, it was quite possible she may have reported to the administrators that he was dangerous, and if that is true, well... he needs to find out. That aside, he quite needs someone with information, and so he begins dropping sugar cubes into his own tea, one, two, three... and on he goes until fifteen are in place.
When Tohko arrives, she will find him sitting there looking entirely at ease, though she may note at the moment he is not wearing his coat and such as he usually does, he is in his Pandora Uniform. Why? Well, he got himself kind of... nicked up in his other clothing, oops. A few people decided to attack him when they were insane. Besides Tohko. Not all of them were easy to handle. He has his cane nearby, leaning against the seat. Can't be too careful, right? ]
Break and Tohko.Setting: Floor 81, the lounge, around 10AM, forward-dated to the 22nd. (After exchanging some mail.)
Format: Starting with action but you can use prose if you're more comfortable.
Summary: Break and Tohko decide to have some tea together after all that went on.
Warnings: Mentions of the event, most likely, and Break probably being Break. I will edit if anything else happens.
[ Break, having arrived with a tea set and a bit of tea, enough for a few kettles, he is sure, is quite happy to find a nice table in the lounge after getting the water and sugar he would need and bringing it to this floor via the elevator. It is a shame, he thinks, that they've no cream or milk, but it will just have to do. He prefers black tea, of course; he only hopes his guest will not mind the flavor. He would sweeten it with honey, but that is also harder to come by here.
So he waits for Tohko to arrive, once he has set his tray down. Emily is sitting on the table nearby. Truthfully, he is not sure whether or not she is going to be followed, and if what happened has had any bearings on his current goal to learn as much about the limits of this place and the admins as he can. If she was brainwashed, it was quite possible she may have reported to the administrators that he was dangerous, and if that is true, well... he needs to find out. That aside, he quite needs someone with information, and so he begins dropping sugar cubes into his own tea, one, two, three... and on he goes until fifteen are in place.
When Tohko arrives, she will find him sitting there looking entirely at ease, though she may note at the moment he is not wearing his coat and such as he usually does, he is in his Pandora Uniform. Why? Well, he got himself kind of... nicked up in his other clothing, oops. A few people decided to attack him when they were insane. Besides Tohko. Not all of them were easy to handle. He has his cane nearby, leaning against the seat. Can't be too careful, right? ]
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I'm sure not all goblins are horrible..but you're right, it is a little foolish to think of me as a goblin, just because I eat stories and words.
[She then sighed and scratched her head.]
..I'm sorry. I don't tell people up-front about this usually..but you're pretty good at seeing through masks. Oh! As for your question, I just have two things for right now: Are you a mask-wearer yourself, and are you feeling alright?
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How right a person is can be qutite relative, especially as everyone wears masks, it is just a matter of how ma-ny, what kind, when, and where!
[ He said he'd answer, but he never promised he would answer against his usual personality type. For him, that sort of thing IS honest. And with that he is upright again and perfectly balanced and everything is just fine. Or so it seems. He is very good at hiding his intent and feelings, unlike Tohko; it comes off quite sincere, or at least cheerful enough. ]
Of course, this Network you spoke of--I assume it is not made of nets?
[ If you're done, Tohko, he's going to steal your dishwear and stack it on his head accordingly. ]
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Not everyone wears masks all the time, or even ever..however, you are right. The network isn't made up of nets, but rather, computers.
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... I have no idea what a computer is, but why would you ever name something after nets if no nets are involved in its operation?
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[ Said flatly-- ]
Miss Amano, I am afraid you will have more than a bit of explaining to do. It seems the gap was less of a skip and a hop and more of a potentially broken ankle! Of course, we should be most careful not to break our ankles. I would be happy to go with you.
[ In other words he has no idea what that word means either. ]
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[And so, Tohko walked out of the room and pressed the call button for the elevator.]
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[ Juuuuust a little silly twirl--he is totally fine, yup. ]
I must say, I do find this place quite curious--so many different mechanical objects, and not a horse in sight! Though it lacks the regality of a stagecoach, I suppose the ride is far less bumpy.
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[He may look fine, but Tohko wasn't quite sure if he was wearing a mask or not. He could be..but at that comment, she smiled.]
Well, I wouldn't mind having a stagecoach here, but the steps might be a bit too bumpy for it, and the monsters might destroy it. However, I do remember their being a horse here on the twenty-fifth floor.
[And, at that moment, the elevator finally came up.]
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[ He steps in with a kind of hop. How those dishes stay so perfectly balanced despite teetering is anyone's guess. Whether he was wearing a mask or not, it seems so genuine that in itself is suspect, and Tohko is certainly not stupid--but, you see, it's hardly a mask for him. The entire person of "Xerxes Break" was simply a construct he created when Kevin Regnard's usefulness had ended. Kevin Regnard was dead, and so there was only a mask in his place. Xerxes Break wore no mask, he was one, so differentiating the two for even the smart can be difficult. ]
I DO wonder what would happen if we pressed all of these at once, though! One day I shall try this out and see what the result is.
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[Tohko followed Break inside, sadly ignorant of the fact that the whole identity of Xerxes Break was, in a way, a mask, and not so ignorant about those dishes. He had probably had quite a few years of experience with them, and if he prided himself on being a good servant, he would probably try at all times to keep those dishes steady and silent. At his last comments though, Tohko chuckled as she pressed the button for the meadow floor, the closest and safest way to the nineteenth floor.]
You really shouldn't do that. These buttons take you to different floors, so if you do that, you'll just end up going everywhere in the Tower and spend quite a long time in the elevator.
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[ He's just being silly as usual at this point, of course; but it's a valid question. Has anyone actually tried? ]
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If you're hoping to look for secret floors and the like, you're doing it in the wrong elevator. There's one that does take you down to the Administrative floors, if you can figure out how to open it without getting caught.
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Am I, now? Should I be pushing buttons in another lift, then, Miss Amano?
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It would be nice if you could, but like I said, there isn't a safe way to get in that I know of.
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[ He pauses momentarily, spins for a moment... and then he's giving Tohko a smile, turning around with that cane of his. ]
... About earlier, Miss Amano. I have considered your offer. I would like to assist you. Though I would ask you bear in mind I would not be asking for your help without offering my own in return, of course. I assure you it will be a mutually beneficial relationship. I simply need you to do a small task for me.
[ But before she can reply, he holds a single finger up to shush her, just to make sure. He has no idea if they can hear him in here, so he will be vague. ]
But first... say nothing, to anyone about this, simply give me a yes or no. You see, I will give you a little piece of advice at the moment: you are too lenient with me. You are being too trusting. If it were someone else, you might have some... difficulty with that, Miss Amano. I am somewhat concerned about how easily you open up to a friendly face. Please be more careful, won't you? As I have said, you should remember your priorities in a place such as this.
[ How nostalgic. He once told another younger person such a thing, but ah, he's not here anymore, and Break is in need of a new... set of eyes. ]
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I'm being a bit trusting with you because I think I can trust you a little. I'm not telling you anything that would put either of us in danger, I think. And I'm not going to take up a deal like that until I know specifically what favor you want done. I made a deal with a person who a little bit like you once. While I'd like to be friends with him, he's not someone I wholly trust. I would like our relationship to differ a little bit from this. And don't worry. I'll be careful.
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... Even so, if it should ever put you in danger, or I should cause you harm, do not hesitate to sever all ties with me. It is hardly anything so complicated, Miss Amano--one calls that "partnership". If it is disadvantageous for one or both parties, you break that agreement. But until then...
[ Here, a hand absently reaches toward the side of his face covered by hair... whatever he's driving out, yes, it's strange, a little off, but there's not any malicious intent, certainly. ]
I am simply in need of help... navigating this place. It is far too large for only one set of eyes... don't you think? A librarian has access to quite a few books, after all.
[ There's a little more implied here than he wants to outright say. He wants to get a better read on their situation, wants to better understand their captives and the administrators and this hellish place, but he cannot do it alone, unfortunately, and Tohko is a girl who gets around quite well in a lot of circles, it would seem. So that is his hope. He needs... a new left eye. ]
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[Tohko noticed that reach to the side of his face covered by the hair..and while it was odd, she wasn't able to connect any dots until he talked about a new set of eyes. She got two meanings from this: that Break needed to learn more about this place and needed help doing so, and..that something..might be wrong with his actual eye. Maybe.]
..I'm not just a librarian, but yes, I do have quite a few books and stories at my disposal. However..Xerxes, what is wrong with your eyes?
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Friendship is an unnecessary thing that will only weigh you down.
[ He smiles a little wider. There is no need to dwell on THAT subject. ]
There is nothing wrong with my eyes, Miss Amano, I assure you--unless, of course, you count those old tales about the red eyes of misfortune... if it helps to see me as an old man in need of a bit of extra help, however, you may think of it as such... I would not ask things you do not wish to know the answer to.
[ There's more to it than that, of course, but he's not going to divulge it. ]
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[Sorry, Xerxes, but there's no way Tohko is seeing you as an old frail man who needs some extra help. You're way too acrobatic for that role.]
I don't think you're a frail man, and if I didn't want to know the answer to a question, I wouldn't ask it. Even if the truth is horrible, I still want to know it.
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[ ... He just chuckles darkly at Tohko on every account, removing that hair over his eye, opening it up, and--it's quite hollow, nothing but a hollow eye socket. ]
My eyes are in perfect working order. One of them is simply... misplaced. But you needn't worry. This is just a small detail... pay it no mind. What is important...
[ The hair falls back--and he smiles. ]
Miss Amano, I need you... to become my other eye. For all of those spots where I am blind, unable to see... you are able, and different. I cannot hope to help bring an end to things otherwise.
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Xerxes..did you lose that eye in hell? Or by some other means? And..why do you need me to become your other eye? I don't mind being your friend or helping you out, but you're making this sound like something extremely shady, the sort of thing someone who hated gangs and mafias would be a part of.
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... Understand I am not forcing you into this position. I have told you before, Miss Amano. There is one thing I do not do: it is lie. Dishonesty is the act of cowards. I have said, it is an agreement. If you assist me, I will reward you in turn... you will have all my power at your disposal, and all that entails.
[ And he vaguely leans against the elevator, here... ]
Hm--I will tell you that story another day. It is quite a long one. Suffice it to say, though... I am only one man. One servant. And I am a little handicapped, if you must know the truth. I need help. I need eyes. I need someone who can... assist me in... righting the wrongs in this place, so to speak. If you are worried about my betraying you, know one very important thing: loyalty is not something I take lightly. Those with no loyalty disgust me.
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So, Tohko sighed as she thought before replying.]
Xerxes..didn't I tell you before that I didn't want to be in a relationship like that before, when we first met? I would like to help you as a friend, and if you help me, I would like you to do so because you want to, not because of an arrangement we made. While I'm glad that you're not lying to me, I'm not very fond of relationships where people just use each other for profit, even if they are loyal.
And while I'm not going to force you to tell me, I'm always happy to hear a story, even if it is long.
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