towerofanimus

Characters: OU!Riku and open
Setting: Dormitory floors, Cafeteria (001), both libraries (003 & 019), Block 1 Outdoor Floors (011 & 020), Meadow Floor (025), Hedge Maze (029), Beach Floor (062); just all the places where Riku is prone to hanging out; taking place over the course of the week following the event
Format: Action, but I'll match
Summary: With Zelda and most of Dax's Armee compromised, Riku struggles with his paranoia as he tries to figure out just what the hell the rest of them is supposed to do now.
Warnings: Nothing note worthy, probably?

[After the first shock of Guy's network announcement passed, Riku has spent most his time feeling on edge, quiet and more withdrawn into books and magic practice and just waiting what consequences Jason's success would bring (It's thankfully not really that differently to how he acts usually).

He observes the changes with a light frown, quietly taking note of the increased number of retrieval units in the tower and around certain people, and while he is utterly stumped on what they are doing on the power draining floors when about half the tower is on disadvantage there anyways (though he supposes, that works in his favor at least), it's hardly hard to guess just why they are around latter. He hasn't been overly involved in the Princesses' efforts - not in any visible way at least - and there are only few people that know of his visit on the administrative levels back in Febrary. All things considered, he should probably keep it that way.

It's kind of maddening he thinks as he moves through his day; he's long been aware that privacy isn't all that big around here, but overall he still can't help the paranoid feeling of being watched - it's utterly irrational and really... being too much on edge is almost just as bad as being too careless. It won't help anyone, least of all himself, he knows that.

What might help is to act as normal as possible... and to figure out how to go from there.

To say that that's easier said than done, is a bit of an understatement though.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While Tohko was still recovering a bit from the recent experiment and from the information that the Administrators knew about the rebellion, she didn't let up on her librarian duties. Even though it was hard to steal away a few minutes of privacy whenever she wanted to eat something. It was hard to dodge the retrieval units all the time.

In fact, she was just turning the corner around a shelf, hoping that she had finally lost one, when she saw a boy with white hair looking at the shelves. Even now, she wasn't going to ignore a patron.]

Good morning! Need help finding anything?

[Riku is absorbed by the titles when she speaks up, his hand tracing over by now quite familiar books, though he doesn't seem that surprised by her appearance. He glances over her after a moment, a fain smile on his lips as he shakes his head.]

Thank you, but I'm good.

[He's been more than long enough in the tower to know where to find most things by himself.]

[..Hang on here..this boy was a bit familiar. While she returned the smile and nodded, she spoke.]

Ah, alright then..pardon me..but you're not the boy that was watching The Nutcracker a few months ago, are you?

[He frowns in surprise for a second, but then nods when he recognizes her.]

Yeah, that was me.

[At that, Tohko smiled a little bit. The retrieval until had finally caught up with her and turned the corner, but while she heard it, she didn't pay it any mind.]

Ah, alright then! Did you enjoy the rest of that play? And are you doing alright now?

[Riku does turn his head slightly until he can see the retrieval unit, eyes narrowing slightly as he tenses, but then forces himself to relax again.]

...I suppose, I did.

[Even though the whole thing confused the hell out of him. And he is side-eying Ruana for stuffing him in that costume.]

And yeah, I'm fine.

[Tohko saw how Riku was turning his head around and, a bit puzzled as to why he was, looked behind her and saw that her stalker had caught up. Sighing, she turned back around.]

I'm glad to hear that..but you know, if you didn't understand the plot of The Nutcracker, I could explain it to you. And..don't mind Ivan back there. He's been following me ever since the recent incidents, but he won't attack unless provoked.

[Have a wary sigh as Riku shakes his head.]

It's not the plot I've had problems with.

[That much he was somewhat able o figure out at least. It's his relation with the costume that he can't figure out.

But enough about that.]

You named it?

Then what are you having problems with? If you tell me, I might be able to help..

[At the question, Tohko sighed and nodded.]

Well..yeah. It just didn't feel right for him to not have one, even if he is a stalker. And it does fit him.

[Riku shakes his head.]

Nothing. Nothing that deserves further thought anyways.

[To be honest, he had almost forgotten about the whole fiasco until Tohko had reminded him just now.]

...I guess that's one way to look at it.

Well, I wouldn't know, since I don't know what was bothering you..but I won't press you about it. However, if you ever want to think about it again, I wouldn't mind helping you put it all together.

[At that, Tohko sighed again.]

I know..it seems odd to name your stalker, but it's hard to even talk about him properly without a good name. And Ivan does fit him.

[Riku glances over her shoulder again, starring hard at the retrieval unit for a moment. He probably wouldn't have trouble talking about it without a name, but well...]

Why Ivan? How does that fit it?

[He doesn't see it, to be honest.]

[To be honest, Tohko probably wouldn't have a hard time either, but it did help, in some cases.]

Well, in The Master and Margarita, there's a character named Ivan who has a very long chase scene with the Devil and his posse. He tries his best, but since it's the Devil, he fails to nab him. This drone keeps chasing me just like Ivan would chase the Devil, so I gave him that name.

I... see.

[Somewhat. Though why Tohko would liken herself to the Devil is beyond him.]

[It's not that sees herself as Woland, the devil, but that Jason probably thought of everyone that he had sent the drones to spy on as little devils. Therefore, Ivan. However, at that reaction, Tohko smiled a little.]

Good..come to think of it, have you ever read The Master and Margarita?

[He shakes his head.]

I haven't.

[He doesn't read much fiction anymore.]

[Tohko was never going to stop being a book girl, so she had read it, along with several other works.]

Maybe you should then! It's a wonderful novel, and I'm sure it would help you deal with some of the people in this Tower sometimes.

I'll consider it.

[Maybe. Though he has no idea what to do with that statement; he's never needed much (or really any) help dealing with the people in the tower.]

[It depended upon the types of people you met. If you weren't used to chessmasters or Wolands, than the novel really helped..but even if you didn't need help, it was still a delicious piece of literature.]

Alright then..hopefully you'll decide to read it then. It's a fantastic story that can be enjoyed at all sorts of different levels: a satire, a slapstick, humorous novel, a fantasy novel with love mixed in, or a message that the Devil isn't as bad as we make him out to be sometimes!

015

Third Floor

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