[006] Ladies Night

[springserpent]

Characters: Mihli Aliapoh, Amelia, Naoto Shirogane and YOU for prompt one. It's a mingle thread, so party hard. Two is a closed scenario. Sorry fellas.
Setting: A severely depressed and existentially challenged Mihli Aliapoh gets paid a visit from some rather unlikely friends as she attempts to get absolutely hammered on floor 88 -- feel free to come drink! Some unspecified amount of time later, she runs into a stubborn, adorable girl with pigtails in the cathedral.
Format: Aaaaction~!
Summary: Wow, being brainwashed and skinned alive sure has a way of dampening a girl's spirits! Obviously it's time to get smashed and console each other. Who brought the peanuts?
Warnings: Language, angst, drunken antics, perhaps some graphic descriptions later, who knows.


[Good ole' whiskey. Or at least that's what she thought it was. It's not often that Mihli drinks, in fact, she can count on hand the number of times she's done it, and usually it'd been only to make a point; Maybe to demoralize some hot-shot merc, or to prove that she can hold her liquor better than some of her fellow soldiers despite her less-than-mountainous stature. Hell, there was this one time where she and General Zazarg sang and drank until the walls came dow--

....

Ok, rewind. Now that she's thinking more clearly about it, the reason the walls came down was because they were attacked, and maybe she can't exactly count the times she's drank on one hand. But maybe, just maybe two is sitting a little closer to the mark! The fact of the matter is, she swears this isn't a habit - it's a social hobby despite her amazing capacity for the stuff and near invulnerability in regards to actually getting drunk, but damn if it doesn't feel great to cut loose with an entire bottle right now.

She's rather fortunate to have even found any spirits around this dusty (smoky..?) old place - most of the bottles behind the counter were either too suspicious or most obviously NOT alcohol in the first place (here's lookin' at you, tomato juice.) so finding not just one, but three separate bottles of the stuff is a little more than just lucky. Which is exactly why she's taken to indulging herself on an entire bottle, leaning heavily over the counter, but still very much in control of her own thoughts - if a bit tipsy.]




[How cliche that she'd find herself on this floor above any other? But it'll do, especially now that she's tired as hell. Ever since being returned, Mihli made it her mission to keep away from any and everyone in this godforsaken place, spending most of her time sleeping on the forest floor, and even the maze when that'd become a chore, but never even close to the dorms. Being in proximity with other people didn't feel right after what'd been done, but more than that? She just couldn't deal with the fact that she was wrong. Plain and simple.

Arturia told her so. To steel herself and prepare for anything that the Administrators could've thrown at her, but maybe she'd grown so accustomed to the way things had been back home, or the fact that she had others to depend on. Wasn't as bad as being alone, but here the hope she'd grown to rely on was nowhere in sight, nor the people she was supposed to protect.

"Vana'diel's dead already, right?" There was no evidence to the contrary, and people who've been here for far longer have already accepted the fact that everything they knew and loved is gone. In a blink of an eye - no, even worse - in her SLEEP she'd lost everything. Every friend, every enemy, every man, woman and child she could've ever met, gone in an instance. So why the hell was she the one spared? It's infuriating, but more than that, after being toyed with so effortlessly and forced to kill and maim innocent people AGAIN, she feels dirty, used. They cut open her mind, revealed everything she was and anything she could've ever been and warped it.

But that's not even the kicker. The best thing is the fact that to this day she still has no absolute proof that her memories are even real. How else could they have mutilated her body, then returned it to its former state? She's read the Network - who hasn't? We aren't real. These bodies are fake. So how long has it been since she's actually been in this Tower? When do the true memories end, and when do the fabrications begin? Was she merely asleep? Crowded in some basement with the others until it was her time to dance on strings? It's ... tiring, to say the least, and attempting to decipher anything else in this mess is useless in and of itself when all she can do at this point is wait for the next nightmare to begin.]

Comments

[tohko_amano]

[While Tohko had made up with the majority of her friends, there was still one person she was looking for and worried about. Mihli hadn't responded to her mail, and she hadn't been able to find the catgirl earlier, but that didn't mean that Tohko was going to give up so quickly. She went through every floor systematically, searching everywhere.

However, it was when Tohko decided to enter the cathedral that she finally spotted her old friend sitting in a pew, looking lost in thought. While her friend probably wasn't doing well, Tohko couldn't help but smile. Finally! Here was her friend! Running to her, she called out, not really caring that this was supposed to be a quiet place.]

Mihli! Here you are! Finally..where have you been?! I've been looking all over for you..are you alright? I was worried!

[springserpent]

[Yup, she's been expecting that. Only a matter of time until she was found, but at least it's someone she knows. Or at leas, someone she thinks she does. Mihli glances back towards Tohko, too tired to force a smile, so a small wave will have to suffice.]

Right as rain.

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko returned the wave before sitting next to Mihli. She wasn't buying that 'right as rain' comment, not one bit.]

..Mihli..that event was terrible..are you sure you're alright? If you want to talk, I'm here..after all, we were both affected. I understand. And..that still doesn't answer my first question.

[springserpent]

[Someone hasn't been sleeping. Tohko can tell that much by the way Mihli holds herself]

I wasn't ready for this. I don't think there was a way for me to get ready for something like this, you know? But it's fine... Because this is just how things worrrk in this place, right? You've been here longer than me, so you know better than anyone.

[tohko_amano]

[..Tohko could tell that, and at Mihli's words, Tohko sighed and, shaking her head, tried to pat Mihli on the head.]

..No one is ever ready for something like this. And it's not fine..it's horrible, no matter how much time passes. Free will is important, but they ignore it and twist you around anyway. In the past, one of my best friends was manipulated by the Administrators like this..and it nearly broke him.

..So, if you want to talk..or need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here.

guuuuurl let's do this

[detecting]

[It had been an interesting week to say the least.

Normally she stayed away from the 88th floor. She wasn't a fan of the smoke nor was she much of a drinker. Today she decided to change that. She had more than enough of a good reason to do so. After all, being brutally torn to pieces does things to you.

When she saw Mihli sitting at the counter she hesitated for the briefest of moments. Peering over her shoulder, she manages to catch a glimpse of one of the retrieval units that's been following her around. For the time being she pushes it out of her mind and steels herself, going to sit down next to Mihli.

What happened wasn't her fault. It wasn't her fault, it was Jason's and that's all there was to it.]

Hello again.

So a general, a detective and a knight walk into a bar...

[gradosfinest]

[When she'd first gotten here she honestly didn't think this place was that bad. Even when she found out there were monsters. The mist soured her opinion on the tower considerably though, and then there was the incident with the insane weather...

And all of that absolutely paled to everything that had just happened. This place really was a hellhole wasn't it, and one of the small things she'd liked about this place was how "At least it wasn't like a war". Except for when it was, apparently. And even if people came back from the dead here, that didn't make killing somebody any easier.

These were the thoughts that joined her on an impromptu patrol through some of the higher floors of the tower, because frankly staring at the wall or gazing out of a window in deep contemplation was starting to drive her crazy. At the very least she hoped she might encounter something or someone that would help to take her mind off of everything that had happened. And wouldn't you know it, she had only planned on glancing into this floor for a brief moment before moving on. Which is when she spotted someone quite familiar sitting at the counter next to someone she didn't recognize.

... well what the hell. Not her usual hangout, but it couldn't hurt to go see if she was alright. And admittedly it wasn't like she was getting much of anything done anyways. So with that she actually sets foot onto the floor, cringing slightly at the smell of smoke before calling out as she approaches the counter, not that her armored boots do anything for her stealth.]

General Mihli...?

[springserpent]

[Heeeey, look, it's these two guys! And one of them happens to be the girl she killed. WHUPS. Drinks do wonders for inhibitions though so she's not as torn up about Naoto being in her general proximity as she would've been otherwise. She gazes over at the two of them, then the drinks on the counter-top before finally responding...]

So I'm assuming you two want me to sharrre, huh?

[detecting]

[A small smile pulls at her lips as she shakes her head.]

Not at all. I'm perfectly capable of getting my own.

[gradosfinest]

[At that she shakes her head, although she'd be lying if she said she wasn't considering it for a moment...]

I don't really drink, but I appreciate the offer. Mind if I join you anyways? [Jeez, if Mihli's about to start knocking back drinks then does she even want to know what she went through...?]

RENOVATES THIS LADY COMBO wow okay that's terrible

[get_bent]

[This was definitely not Kanji's favorite level. The smokey atmosphere was much different than the usually clean bar-like areas he'd been in (so basically the time they had gone in Iwatodai). But he did like beer. Sometimes he got really lucky, and one would appear.

And after how crazy last week had been, he definitely needed one. Unfortunately, luck was not with him, and thought the smoke, he could see someone else. She had an entire bottle of something. Kanji didn't like drinking hard liquor that much but at this rate he's drink anything. Besides, considering how dangerous the entire damn tower was, figured he could just make sure they were alright.]

Hey.

[Smooth.]

oshi--!!!! Kanji!! :D

[springserpent]

Yo.

[Mihli lazily looks over towards the newcomer, bottle in hand, another just within fingertip's reach --the same one she pushes over towards the adjacent stool.]

You look beat. Rough week?

[Note the sarcasm, though she means no harm. She's pretty tattered around the edges herself.]

In the get-bent I mean the flesh

[get_bent]

[Oh she's got this really adorable face, shit. No Kanji you like Naoto! Okay. Okay he's fine.]

Y-yeah.

[No worries, he's had his share of rough weeks here, he knows the whole game now.]

Tch, they really got us this time! Man, this entire situation just continues to piss me off!

[He slams his fist on the nearby wall. It's good anger management.]

[springserpent]

[Mihli sits completely placid amidst the clattering glasses that shake underneath the force of Kanji's fist. They don't fall - she ensures that much with a nonchalant flick of the wrist. Wouldn't wanna spill the goods.]

They know us well. I bet the sons of bitches think themselves cleverrr~ Dreaming that they know more about us than we do ourrrselves. *hah* It's amusing, honestly. Once you get passed the thrashing and the anger. Knowing just how powerless you are here. It's more hilarrious than anything.

[The tip of her tail flits around idly-- It's the sort of movement Kanji may equate with an annoyed cat if he's at all educated with them]

Sit down and drink. Betterrr than breaking all the booze before you even get to taste the damn stuff.

[get_bent]

Not only that, but there ain't much to go back to either...

[He still remembers when he met Naoto as a crying mess. How that made him feel so angry not just at the administrators but that someone like her reached to that point...tch...not only that but...


....oh dammit her tail twitches too that was sorta cute no wait he can't think about that! So he does sit down.]

Not really supposed to be drinkin' booze...[but I was here to look for beer]...how strong is this stuff exactly?

Bar

[bigbridgebattler]

Gilgamesh's wanderings wind up taking him to the bar. He looks around, seeing who is about. As a newcomer to the tower he's still learning who is there and how things work in this new place, and at this point he could use a quick rest.

He plops down on the stool next to the Mithra, big and heavy looking more like a Galka than a Hume.]

Hrmmmmm, where's the bartender?


((OOC: greetings from Ragnarok server :) ))

Greetings from Odin!!!

[springserpent]

[Now there's something you don't see everyday. Gilgameshs' bulk suddenly settling down in the stool next to her gives Mihli a start - not many people here are built like the Galka from back home. It's more comforting than intimidating for that very reason.]

Not a one to be found. This place is self service, dont'cha know. Besides, what would we even pay with, ourrr teeth?

[... Best to not state that aloud, actually.]

Re: Greetings from Odin!!!

[bigbridgebattler]

[Gilgamesh's face twists a bit as he thinks it over, crossing his arms and "Hmmmm"ing a bit.]

I don't know. If it's okay to take it that's one thing, but I never like taking abandoned things. It doesn't feel right unless I have to test myself to get it.

[He must be new.]

[springserpent]

Test?

[Blink. This guy for real?]

Trust me, the only "test" in this place? Is seeing how long you surrrvive. And from where I'm sitting you're looking peachy-keen to me. So congratulations! You passed the test.

[She takes a swig, her voice as dry as her throat]

[bigbridgebattler]

[Gilgamesh frowns a bit at this.]

Going to need some new swords. Most of my weapons went missing when I woke up here. I have a few simple swords, but almost all my named weapons are gone.

[His eyes flick over briefly to see what the Mithra has equipped, if anything.]

So who in this place is considered to be the best fighter?

Floor 88

[yougotthatwrong]

[...Ah, he's not sure why he's here exactly, considering the nature of this floor and the memories it brought him regarding alcoholic drinks please don't drag him to drink again Mondo, but well. He guessed he could play pool for a while...?

At least, that's Makoto Naegi's line of thought before he noticed a familiar shape.]

...Aliapoh-san?

[...Yep, there's that last name and weird suffix again.]

[springserpent]

[Under normal circumstances she may have been happy to see Makoto, but right now, with a bottle against her lips, it feels wrong. Just weeks ago she was giving him a pep talk in hopes that it'd lift the kid's spirits. Now she's drowning herself in booze. Ain't that grand.]

There you go with that weirrrrd name again

[He can probably tell that she's not too inclined to look him dead in the eye for too long.]

Kids don't belong on this floor you know.

[yougotthatwrong]

W-well, yes.

[...There's no doubt of the fact that the elder female is drowning her sorrows away. Related to this month, maybe-? But in any case, just seeing her like this is already bad enough.]

But I don't think drinking solves anything either.

[springserpent]

It doesn't.

[She knows that much.]

But it surre as hell takes away some of the sting.

[yougotthatwrong]

Does it really?

[It doesn't. He knew that much, even if you remember or not, the fact that the feeling still persisted still meant something, at least that's how it was to him.]

What if it returned after you're done with it?