01- Apple Gel

[notduchess]

Characters: Duke and anyone-
Setting: Starting 2-08, Cafeteria, Floor 12 (universe death-), floor 3 (library)
Format: [ These ]
Summary: Arrival and exploring.
Warnings: Unhappy knight is unhappy. Also please look here for a quick note-

[ 2-08 + Dorm levels ]
[ The most alarming thing to Duke isn't really the inability to move shortly after waking. Its the lack of familiar clothing.

The note is left alone until after the knight fishes out at least the undershirt of the uniform and pulls it on. The weird white clothing can come off another time, as getting some protection on seems like the best idea in the new place.

There's just a blank and resigned look at the letter. Destroyed? Eh... ]

Did they just argue until it all came down, or something? Idiots...

[ And then its just time to get the rest of the armor on. New place but 'let's be happy?' Uhhuh, sure. Armor is probably never going to come off now. ]

[ Cafeteria ]
[ So plain oatmeal isn't the most fascinating thing to eat ever, but the knight is just sort of eating with that steadiness that says someone is half asleep. That, or food is food.

Either way, Duke is watching the rest of the people here, although hopefully the knight looks a bit sleepy. ]

[ Floor 12 ]
[ Duke just watches that for a moment. ]

.... Not what I was expecting. Although if they couldn't see it... Odd, but..

[ So maybe the knight is going to crouch and watch for a bit. ]

[ Floor 3 ]
[ So maybe Duke will be spending a lot of time here. Just maybe.

Might be hinted at by the way the knight just sort of paces through the entire thing a few times before really looking at bookcovers. ]

Comments

[tohko_amano]

Well, it's not like he can really run away. Ruana would probably kill him if he ever tried, assuming there's even a way he can.

[notduchess]

... With a side of 'didn't change his mind', perhaps.

[ Yea, 'lets be happy together'... The knight sighs again. ]

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko sighed.]

It's possible that he's putting on a ruse..but I doubt it. After all, if he was, why would he go to the trouble of building a mourning floor for us after Dax's death?

[notduchess]

... I'm sorry, but you're talking about things I haven't learned yet.

[ The knight is rather new. ]

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko sighed.]

Alright then..how much about the Tower do you know?

[notduchess]

What the letter told me, and that I had to eat oatmeal, and that it wasn't what I thought would destroy my planet that probably did it.

[ Guess who woke up here not terribly long ago- ]

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko nodded, thinking, before letting out a sigh.]

Alright then. I'll tell you what I know about the Tower. It should help bring you up to speed. This is the Tower of Animus. Four people now run it-Riki, a secretive man who builds the Tower and is in charge of the records, Zo, a small child who can bring souls here, Jason, a sadistic medical doctor who sometimes experiments on the residents. He, I believe, helps transfer your soul when you die. Finally, there’s Ruana, a woman who has been here for thousands of years and doesn’t quite understand human empathy or emotions, and hates it when people go against her. She may seem sweet, but she is capable of removing free will and cannibalizing her own Administrators.

There used to be a fifth Administrator named Dax. He was the most humane of the bunch and did his best to protect us from Jason and the monsters here. He even managed to sneak people down to the Administrative levels in order to let them know more about this place. However, when he tried to go against Ruana..she killed and ate him, possibly absorbing his powers in the process. He was a good man.

Death isn’t permanent here. If you die, you’ll just wake up in your bed the next day. However, don’t throw your life away for foolish reasons. For one thing, you’ll probably get punished if you die too many times, and for the other…your body is made up of recycled parts. Only your soul was pulled to this universe. Your body, and the ones you’ll have afterward, are not your original body. That’s why you have the collar. It helps make sure your soul safely stays in your body.

I’m sorry to say that your universe is destroyed. You may see people you know here, but they won’t be from your own universe or point in time. I don’t know exactly how our universes were destroyed, but I do know that it was caused by Ruana watching our universes, for some reason.

Monsters roam the Tower at night, and some of the higher floors have monsters that attack if you get too close. If you can’t fight, then I would suggest learning. There are plenty of people here who would be willing to teach you.

[notduchess]

[ Well, that's a lot. The knight blinks a few times, then gives an uneasy smile. The last thing is easiest. ]

Well, the last shouldn't be a problem. I don't dress in metal because its particularly comfortable.

[ A little bit of clicking from gauntlets. Now Duke is all the more uneasy about seeing teens about. ]

Universe is.. big. And with all the people here... [ Just all the more awkward. ]

The theory of choices? Where each choice made splits off a timeline, and thus different 'you' can exist? The one who turned left, the one who turned right, the one who turned around, the one who avoided the path all together?

.... That... is... [ Duke might uncomfortably finger the collar. ]

... Enlightening. [ Ought the knight feel queasy? Its hard to tell. ]

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko gave a small smile at that first comment and kept it all through the conversation..but it was just a bit of a brave mask she was wearing.]

Well, that's good to hear. But yes..that is what's going on here, as well as literal different universes.

[notduchess]

A great big mess.

[ A heavy sigh. ]

Makes noble-politicing and problems between Empire and Guild preferable.

[tohko_amano]

I imagine that most people would prefer dealing with non-violent politics back home. Sadly..we're all stuck in the middle of this mess.

[notduchess]

Sadly.

Thank you for explaining to me, though.

[tohko_amano]

Oh, you're welcome. It's always pretty scary coming here and not knowing anything, so I'm always happy to try and bring people up to speed. If you ever need help with something else, let me know, alright?

[notduchess]

I'll look out for you if anything comes to mind.

[tohko_amano]

Good! I'm glad to hear that.