001 Acts of Kindness

[queensgeneral]

Characters: Darres + Anyone!
Setting: Dorms 4-18, Floor 87, 19, Anywhere on the stairs
Time: All day
Format: I'll match
Summary: Darres is adjusting to his current situation, and exploring his new environment.
Warnings: Drowsiness may occur on the 87th floor.

[(Dorms) Darres found himself in an unfamiliar, dull setting. For the moment he was unable to move he was concerned, but his worry soon subsided when regained his mobility. He checked his surroundings out of habit before coming to a note informing him of his supposed situation. The general found it rather hard to believe and was skeptical that his world fell to such perils.] Just what I needed. [Another unwelcome consequence he was almost certain was caused by Ishtar. His first priority was to search for her.]

[(F87) Having left the dorms, the first floor that came off less suspicious and more like home was this one. Figuring it was a good place to start to find her, Darres enter with caution. Not having his weapon readily available made him far more vulnerable that he was comfortable with. "Ishtar, where are you?"]

[Gradually he found himself becoming drowsy and he hadn't the faintest idea why. The stubborn knight general kept his stance for as long as he could. Darres was having very little luck finding her, and before long it felt he was going to pass out. Still, he was unaware of the underlying cause.]

[(F19) Long his close call with floor high above, he eventually led himself to the library. It was as good as good of place as any too look for any key information to help him better understand his situation that the others were unable to inform him of. However, he was having trouble finding what he was looking for and stumbling upon theories and scientific research he's never even seen or heard of before. Growing frustration at the attempt to uncover any specific information, he will be found here for quite some time until he either becomes satisfied with his current findings, or gives up for the day.]

Comments

WOW THIS IS GETTING PAINFUL

[queensgeneral]

[If Darres wasn't so helplessly concerned with finding her, he would have been more angry. The knight more than anything just wanted to be reunited with her. His relationship with her had matured considerably over the last several years but it felt like he was backtracking with this.

Regardless he set all of his major thoughts aside with the priority of finding Ishtar first and foremost.

Give or take some hours, he probably found her.

She couldn't hide from him after all.]

Ishtar!

[Stop running, you can't run from your problems forever.] Why did you run?!

IS IT? >> OOPS?

[xroyal_bratx]

[ This was not her day. The sound of his voice echoed enough for her to stiffen when he called. ]

...

[ Ishtar shifted uncomfortably obvious as he found her. Why was he good at this?

It was better if she kept running, but she was so out breath. She was still half panting when he came in contact with her again. ]

...

I...I don't know.

[ She didn't look at him. ]

[queensgeneral]

[It was no use lying to him, Ishtar. Darres knows you far too well, especially now that their relationship was more serious than before.]

You do know.

[What he really wanted to know was what was bothering her.]

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Honestly,she didn't know at all why she ran away. She really didn't. She just felt pained and worried.

She couldn't face him, so that was maybe the reason. She kept her distance, taking more steps back. ]

...You...don't understand.

[ but he'd accept it. ]

It's...I can't...

[queensgeneral]

[His exterior noticeably softened. Darres wasn't trying to pry things from her, he just wanted to know so he could understand, but how could he if she shut him away?

He wasn't her enemy in this, he just wanted to help.]

Can't what?

[xroyal_bratx]

[ She kept her eyes down. ]

...You- I'm not...I...I'm not who you think I am.

[ She backed up more. He could be accepting all he wanted but her heart, and her mind, they couldn't easily believe it. ]

[queensgeneral]

What do you mean by that?

[He's noticed the subtle differences, but that didn't matter to him.]

[xroyal_bratx]

I mean exactly what I said. I'm not really Ishtar, and I don't deserve your care, Darres.

[ She kept back stepping. Scars ran along her form and age did some changes to her. The only thing that didn't change was the sword that rested at her side. ]

[queensgeneral]

How are you not the real Ishtar? [Unless she's being impersonated again?] You're right here with me.

[xroyal_bratx]

I am a...clone of Ishtar. You should notice by now that I feel different from the Ishtar you know Darres. I am not really her. You are looking at someone who was created for experimental usage by a group of Doctor.

[queensgeneral]

A clone of Ishtar?

[This is a new one.] How are you a clone? [What difference did it make?]

[xroyal_bratx]

Yeah. That is what I am. I am not really Ishtar.I am not lying Darres. I don't act like her that much anymore, and I can do things she never could.

I have also not been home in over three almost four years now.

[queensgeneral]

[Almost four years? That news upset him more than he would admit at this point, but he wouldn't express his discontent over it, he wasn't at all bothered by the fact that she wasn't the Ishtar he was familiar with.]

You're a clone? [If only a small confirmation. His tone was open and accepting, if not, a little curious.]

But you're still Ishtar.

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Ishtar didn't lie about things like this but Darres could believe what he wanted. She didn't expect him to believe her or anything of that sort. ]

Yes/

[ He was too accepting in his own right and it made her feel worse pretending to be someone he knows. ]

... You don't understand Darres.

[queensgeneral]

I think I do understand.

[Even if she wasn't who he expected her to be, his feelings for her weren't any different.]

It doesn't matter to me.

[It was as simple as that.]

[xroyal_bratx]

...This isn't a joke Darres!!!

[ She shouted back, curling up. ]

...How can you say that?

[ She knew he was like that but it still didn't stop her from fighting it. ]

[queensgeneral]

I'm aware of that, but clone or no clone... [you're still Ishtar. Wasn't that enough?]

I say it because I mean it.

[He just wanted her to accept his acceptance.]

[xroyal_bratx]

What do you mean by that?

[ Ishtar didn't get him sometimes but she knew he was right. He was always right about these things. She might not be the same Ishtar, but she was still Ishtar through and through. ]

Prove it to me. I don't want--I don't want to be left behind anymore.

[ Cue, tears. ]

[queensgeneral]

[It wasn't obvious what he meant?]

You won't be left behind. You can take my word for it.

[He'll be the same loyal knight he's always been. Attached at the hip by her side.

Nothing pained him more than seeing her cry. He made a vow that he would protect so no one would have to see her cry; so she would have no reason to cry! The gentle knight took her in a soft embrace. It was rare occasion for him to engage in physical contact, but he wanted to get his point across. He never took back his words.]

[xroyal_bratx]

[ She can't trust it anymore. It's too much. All of this, everything. She's lost too many people and she's terrified. ]

You...you can't guarantee that Darres. You can't.

[ Ishtar would be relieved for that but if the Tower wants to get rid of him like they did, Duzell, it wouldn't be a problem. They did a good job at it and it hurt her to no end knowing that truth. Ishtar accepted the warm instantly, clinging to it like a lost child and letting tears roll down her face.

It was comforting to know that someone was still there for her, despite everything. She might not have a real identity but she was already set on making herself a new identity, but it still plagued her. The fact that she wasn't the real thing. ]

[queensgeneral]

[He couldn't? Did the tower really have that much control over them? He still wasn't sure what he was getting into, but he wasn't going to let that deter him.]

I'll have to try.

[Regardless of how little he had control over. He wasn't going to give in.]

[xroyal_bratx]

[ Control was something that everyone here did not have. Ishtar didn't like it because she couldn't do anything to prevent it. If worse case scenario, she would have to watch it happen before her eyes. ]

If...If you're gone too, then what?

[ She wasn't giving in but let's face the fact, there was no lasting happiness in a world like this. Here or Facility, it was the same. ]

[queensgeneral]

I won't vanish. [It aligned with his vow and he stuck strongly to his vow.]

If you have been away for as long as you claimed, there's still a chance I will be as well.

[Through the odds, there was percentage on his side still.]

[xroyal_bratx]

....

[ She quietly cried while listening to his words. She knew his words were promises, but promises don't last here. They never do. ]

...Maybe, or maybe they just like watching people suffer at the loss of their loved ones.

[ She hugged him tighter. ]

[queensgeneral]

They can't keep it up forever. We'll prevail.

[He was determined.]