towerofanimus | Episode 1: It's not always sunny after a storm

Characters: Barnaby and YOU!
Setting: Room 2-04, Dormitories, Library, Cafeteria, and Anywhere Else.
Format: Action. I can switch off on demand.
Summary: One retired hero arrives in the Tower and refuses to believe the news.
Warnings: Potential for irritability, deadpan snarking, and a few hints of depression.

Room 2-04:

[The seemingly innocent letter was promptly folded up and tossed away the moment Barnaby finished reading it. First he found himself in clothes that he never would dream of wearing, along with a collar that only compounded his embarrassment-- what kind of person did everyone think he was? Then, to add to the strangeness of the morning, the note dared to tell him that everything he knew had been laid waste.

He ran a hand through his hair, tossing his curls from his face.]

Don't tell me that people honestly believe all of this?

Everywhere Else:

[Barnaby set off on his own in search of something that made sense in this Tower, taking in every new piece of information with a dose of skepticism. Although the battle on top of the Justice Tower had been a bitter victory and Sternbild had finally awoken from its bizarre dream, he wasn't certain about how much in his mind could be trusted.

Not even his senses were infalliable. It was a painful lesson to learn.

That was why he wandered the halls with the attention of a detective, taking note of anything and everything that struck his interest. He would eventually end up in the Cafeteria when he got hungry, studying the menu with bemused interest as he took a short break. Later on he could be found in a quiet corner of the library, taking advantage of the comforting quiet to make sense of everything that had happened to him in recent days-- along with the strange situation he suddenly found himself in.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't be. Kotetsu-san isn't one to go down easily.

[Not when he 'returned from hell' just to punch someone out after being knocked unconscious by a blast from a laser rifle that was fired at point-blank range.]

I hope not.

[It's been a long time since he probably was sent to his ruined world.]

[Barnaby still refused to accept the party line.]

He will be fine. I wouldn't trust him to be my partner otherwise.

Edited 2013-05-13 14:27 (UTC)

Anyway... how else can I help you?

['Cause that was going to go nowhere.]

[It was definitely going to go nowhere, and he didn't want to talk about it further.]

...where can I find my glasses?

[He could see decently enough, but the details started to blur past where Aleph stood. The letter was tricky for him to read.]

And is there a map of this place? If we're here for a while, I'd like to not get lost.

Your trunk has your possessions, and maps are still being made by hand - I'll let you know when they're decently available.

There's a trunk now?

[He glanced over to the foot of his bed and saw it, a trunk, as innocent as anything else in the room. Barnaby slipped off of the bed to investigate its contents as he continued.]

I'd appreciate any maps that do become available...

[There was his leather jacket, his boots, a suit, his glasses--

and a certain gift that he didn't quite want to share yet. The stuffed pink bunny with a friendly smile was a discussion that he wanted to avoid, even if he was quietly glad to have found it.

He pulled his glasses on and peered over at his room mate, still curious about the relative stranger.]

I wouldn't be opposed to working with you in the future, Mister Aleph. [Forgive him. It was an ingrained habit.] And I'll probably ask you more questions in the future.

In the meanwhile, do you have any more warnings about these monsters? They sound...unpleasant.

The most effective warning I can give is to avoid the dark. Some of the more dangerous monsters come out only in the nighttime or on the floors that are constantly dark, and some that are out all the time grow more dangerous. Besides that, some are resistant to certain kinds of attacks. Don't be afraid to run if it seems that what you're doing isn't working.

[A nod, although the thought of surrender chaffed at his pride.]

If you're familiar with Kotetsu's abilities, then I'll let you know that mine are the same. [He was incredibly fast and incredibly strong...for all of five minutes.]

It sounds like the wisest option besides staying indoors, is to travel in groups. But, that's probably already been tried.

It's still effective. What one person can't handle another might be better suited to.

[Aleph was a group all on his own, but he understood the need for it.]

[He smirked. There was something that made sense.]

Hm. It's good to see that some things never change.

Oh, I do have a question for you, as your roommate. It's related to my fighting style I suppose but more about rest and recuperation... uh.

How do you feel about demon summoners?

[Important questions to ask.]

[A very strange one.]

I know nothing about them. Are you one?

I am. They're relatively common where I'm from, and I'm one of the more skilled ones.

[Seriously. Ever.]

I see. Then what do you do that makes people uncomfortable around you?

Are you a religious man at all?

[After the trauma that happened on Christmas, the one that he was never full able to get over...?]

Not particularly, no. I also try to keep an open mind. You have to, because you never know who's a NEXT and who's not.

Well... technically, a demon is any supernatural being on my world, and demon summoners can call angels as much as they can call beings from the darkest pits of hell. But, since I killed God, I have a bad reputation with anyone religious.

[Calmly spoken.]

[If he were to truly believe that this was reality and he kept an open mind, then the explanation seemed simple enough-- although he wasn't sure what he believed.

All of his uncertainties ground to a halt, however, at the final line.]

Hold on a second. [He raised an eyebrow.] You killed God?

Yes. Yes, I did. It was necessary.

[In the save the world sense.]

[He smirked.]

That's a good reason.

The best one I can think of.

[He still wasn't sold, but Aleph had been more than patient and informative. The least Barnaby could do was hear him out.]

What does this have to do with the original question?

Some people are very religious and what I've done makes their attitude toward me shift to 'kill on sight'.

[while on that subject:]

-- have you ever used those skills to murder people who stood up for their beliefs against crime and corruption?

[That was the important question.]

(no subject)

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