towerofanimus | unchanging, the earth will always keep on spinning

Characters: Some death kid (Ryoji), a swishy-haired jerk (Sephiroth), and you!
Setting: Dorm 4-16, and Floor 14 to start, but the rest can happen anywhere else. Sephiroth will be training in the gymnasium as well, should anyone want lone encounters with him.
Format: Prose to start, but I'll match.
Summary: Ryoji has just woken up in his new dorm room, and is going about a 'normal' day in the Tower, though he does feel a little strange...
Warnings: Someone is messing with Ryoji slightly, so expect threadjacking that results in bizarre mood swings and paranoia. Ryoji's opinions of various CR may be slightly messed with. Other than that he should be fine this time around.

Dorm 4-16

Even though Ryoji had gotten that letter, it was still a bit of a shock to wake up in a new room. As soon as he was able to move, he sat up as quickly as possible and checked the trunk. Everything there was still the same. Nothing was damaged. It seemed so strange, to be magically transported a few rooms down in the middle of the night, but he supposes stranger things have happened.

He's a little embarrassed that his love-sick request actually got fulfilled, but he has to admit it isn't too bad. He's managed to at least partly forgive himself for brutally murdering Diarmuid, enough to be able to look him in the eyes and smile honestly again, and though he didn't know Lancer very well, he seemed nice enough. Strange, though. Diarmuid hadn't mentioned who his other roommate was...

He'll stay in the room for a while, just to get his thoughts in order, and maybe see if anyone shows up, but after a while, he's ready to go about his regular business. As he leaves his doorway, he pushes a bit of an uncomfortable feeling to the side. He felt strange, but he was certain he wasn't sick. It was simply an interesting start to the day that made him feel like this, nothing more.

Floor 14

A few hours later, Ryoji has already forgotten about that nagging paranoia, and is enjoying an animated film with some cartoon animals. He hasn't seen this one before, and is clearly invested in the story. His eyes light up as one of the characters bounces onscreen, and he's laughing at all the right times.

If anyone decides to enter the floor, he'll be a little too absorbed in the movie to notice them, but he still wouldn't mind a distraction.

Any other public area in the tower

Unfortunately, some of those distractions ended up going a tad awry, and now Ryoji's starting to suspect that he should have trusted his instinct this morning. He can be found on any other floor, but whether he's reading in the library or getting rid of some of the monsters on infested floors, he's keeping his distance unless spoken to. Then he'll shove his worries down and try to hold a regular conversation. He just hopes he's just having a bad day. His friends are still trustworthy, aren't they? He's just reading into things too much. Maybe he didn't completely get over how he acted during that experiment.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think his name was Naoya... I don't know him very well.

[He knows him well enough to know that he was a good person, and likely wasn't to blame for it, but he can't let Tohko know about that.]

[Well, that got Tohko to pause for a moment. Naoya..if he was part of Ganon's group, then things were very bad. Enoch had let a rat into the whole operation! Or was he a double agent on the side of the resistance? Either way, she would have to confront Naoya about this later.]

I see..I'm familiar with him, but his skill lies mainly with technology, not telepathy.

Technology? I see... Maybe he still has other powers you don't know about.

[At the moment, Ryoji's paranoid enough that he might even think everyone was a suspect, if it wasn't for Sephiroth's affirming illusion.]

That's true..but..I'm not sure if he's a wholly horrible person yet. Sephiroth still seems like the bigger suspect..even though Naoya is suspicious.

Still... Sephiroth is just a suspect. There's no reason to attack him if we don't know if he did anything.

That's true..but we do know that he's been stalking you. It's suspicious, and while I did call him one, Sephiroth isn't one to lie, I think. So we'll confront him about it, if you're still not sure.

[She was though.]

I think he has other reasons for following me... And we shouldn't confront him! What if he gets upset?

[He might end up hurting Tohko again... Ryoji can't let that happen because of him.]

Well, then we'll have to defend ourselves and run away as fast as we can. And what other reasons do you think he might have?

I… I mean, he worked with Ganondorf before. Maybe it still has something to do with that.

Unless you're involved with any of Ganon's current schemes, I kind of doubt it. I have a feeling that Ganon would much sooner discharge you with what little information you have instead of wasting time and resources on you, since you seem to be pretty scared of them already.

Of course I'm not... And if that's true, I'm glad.

[But if Ganondorf knows about Ryoji's past and his other forms (and there's definitely a chance Nesir told him, or he found out on his own), Ryoji doubts he'll be completely let go. Death incarnate would be a good ally.]

Well..there's nothing wrong with being scared of them, you know. And I would be happy if that was the truth too, and, currently, it seems to be, in my opinion. So this is just a personal grudge that Sephiroth has against you.

There is. There is something wrong with being scared. If I wasn't, you wouldn't have to deal with this, and I would be brave enough to protect everyone.

[Ryoji lowers his head, squeezing his eyes shut.]

Why can't I be stronger?

[At that, Tohko sighed but..kept smiling and tried to pat Ryoji on the head.]

Being scared doesn't mean you're weak or not brave, Ryoji. It's normal to be scared, and I don't think there's a single person who isn't afraid of something or someone.

You're not weak for being scared, and you're not weak at all. Sephiroth and his friends are just stronger than you physically, that's all. But you have a bigger heart than them, so you win against them in that area. You just have to let your friends help you when you need help with people who are physically stronger. And I don't mind helping you out. After all, I'm your friend, remember?

[Ryoji backs a bit away, trying to avoid Tohko's hand, but he does offer a weak smile in apology.]

But a strong person doesn't let their fears get the better of them. A strong person wouldn't give up when I do.

I am weak... and I'd be weaker if I let you try to help and then just get yourself injured again. I should just take care of this by myself.

[While Tohko saw that weak smile, she just sighed a little as her hand went back to her side. However, she forced herself to keep wearing a smile as she spoke.]

But..sometimes that does happen, Ryoji. Even strong people can become so terrified sometimes that they can't even move. Even strong people can sometimes give up when they don't see any way to keep walking.

However, when they lose sight of themselves and become frightened, it's usually best for their friends and loved ones to help them out so that they can keep walking again. Ryoji, you're not weak, and accepting my help wouldn't make you weak either. You don't have to be alone, and helping you won't injure me mentally or emotionally.

It seems hard to believe that.

[But wasn’t it the truth? None of the SEES members aside from Minato could move when they faced Nyx. It’s strange to think he could be just as strong as them, but maybe…]

But helping me may get you hurt physically, and even if death isn’t permanent, I don’t want to be responsible for that.

[At that, Tohko just smiled as she spoke. She's heard things like this from Ryoji before. And, even if she hadn't, it wouldn't be much of a deterrent for her.]

I know it's hard to believe that..but believe me, it's the truth, even if it does take home hope and faith in your friend to get it to work. And you don't have to worry! Even if I get hurt, if I can help you, I won't mind, and I can't really see any way that I can get injured for trying to help you.

[Ryoji sighs quietly. He had a feeling Tohko was going to keep encouraging him, and frankly, it really is starting to work, gradually.]

I'll trust you and try to believe you, but... you really should care more about getting hurt. I'll have to make sure you don't help me with anything that could cause you trouble.

[Which was something that Tohko would be quite happy about, if she knew. At those comments though, Tohko just let loose a genuine smile.]

Good! I'm glad to hear that, Ryoji! And don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You're not going to cause me any trouble, so you can let me help you with whatever you need help with.

unchanging, the earth will always keep on spinning

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