This world is a false prison, created by the Fallen Angels

[warriorscribe]

Characters: Enoch and anyone (one prompt closed to Zelda, one closed to Raphael)
Setting: Various places, backdated to June 2nd
Format: Whatever works for you!
Summary: Enoch goes to retrieve something from his sauna locker and then tries to do something else, that you wouldn't expect of a man who's just taken part in a rebellion plot.
Warnings: Nothing yet!

Elevator from D1 to F81

Enoch may be found here on the fifteen-minute elevator ride, still a bit agitated-looking. More than anything, he's still angry at Ruana. The only thing he can conclusively say she's done for them was the protection and...what must have been a glamour enhancement at Reno and Elena's wedding - and neither of them are in the tower anymore. If anyone wants to catch up with him for any reason here, he can be found.


Sauna (F77)(Closed to sageprincess)

So this is it. With everything back up, it's finally time to take a look at what Dax left them. There's no turning back now even if he wanted to. Does he doubt? Naturally. People have hurt because of this. But people will be hurt so much more if he does nothing. He's going to do whatever it takes.

The first thing he does is run or Arch Glide the flights from floor 81 to lose his stalker, and he makes his way to his sauna locker as quickly as he can. With the worker unit patrolling, he dismisses his armor as if he was simply going to get changed. But before he does anything even remotely useful, there's something he wants to check. He reaches in for the waterskin he'd made earlier and looks inside.

Water. He should have known Ruana wouldn't afford them even Riki's previous glamours. Oh well, he isn't complaining about a water store, and maybe it will become wine again eventually. He takes a mouthful of it to rehydrate him after that run, and then places it back in his locker. He pauses for a deep yawn, leaning on the locker wall for a moment. Dax has a mission for them, but...he's so tired... It's just enough pause for his fellow leader to find him before he does something stupid.


Infirmary(F2)(Closed to godheals)

He didn't think he'd seen Raphael in the chaos of yesterday, and after that conversation with Lucifel and for the first time seeing the angel at a loss for words, Enoch had to find the other angel here - normally he and Raphael's paths hadn't crossed very often in the tower. With the sterile steel of the infirmary too harsh for his tastes, he rarely ventured there outside of his collar checkups or to get some supply or another.

It isn't to say that he didn't care about his guide, but that he was content simply knowing he was doing well and doing a service for the tower. He had been, after all, a swan most of the time, high above or nowhere to be found. He had been, most of the time, a presence that was scarcely there, but known to be somewhere.

But after this, Enoch had to see how he was holding up. So he stepped out into the waiting room on his way up to the forest. "Raphael...?"


Forest(F6)

Enoch can be found cutting off bits of trees or cutting fallen branches down to size. It may seem a waste of time to those who know him, but he has, or so he hopes they will be taken - good intentions. If the beam of his Arch disappears, he moves away from the animal, sometimes even jumping onto the stairs to evade them. Eventually, he will leave with five little logs about six inches long and roughly the length of his finger in diameter.


Workshop(F15)

Part 1
And this is what he's doing with those logs - he has a book on woodcraft from the library and a...scalpel. Probably not the best whittling knife around, but he couldn't find one on this floor so he had to grab something. If he's not using that, he's very carefully using the Arch to cut off a larger piece, maneuvering it awkwardly with both hands on the middle of the weapon's structure for control. He's making good time with what seems an entirely frivolous project, at this point already having a vague humanoid head and shoulders cut out from one of the logs. He seems a lot less agitated, at this point. Relaxed, even.

If a monster shows up he'll drop what he's doing to kill it. A little help or a preemptive kill would be useful. But it's much more likely one will come upon him in peace.

In fact, it's only in peace that he murmurs to his creation (often while flexing a cramping hand), "If only I could shape your base, itself..."

Part 2
The dollmaking project goes surprisingly well. Until his lack of sleep catches up to him. There's a sharp hiss out of him and he drops the doll he's working on - there's no damage to his finger, but a fine crack has appeared on the right neck guard of his armor.

With a tired sigh, he gathers up the doll, a vague feminine shape carved down to the waist, though not yet perfected, and the other logs and stands up to go to bed before he sleeps to dark. He would be going to bed a little early, so all the more reason for someone to find him, if they need him.

Comments

Forest

[lightofhumanity]

Normally, chaos wouldn't think about making himself a weapon. He usually relied on his ethers, his powers, and his own body to fight. However, with the recent power loss, he realized that if left with only his body, he might not be able to protect others or himself if he came across anyone with a sword or a stronger weapon. Even if his body was, under the illusions, strong, it would not be once those illusions were removed.

So, he had decided to make himself a staff. But one couldn't make a staff without wood, so he had wandered into the forest, both examining tree branches and reminiscing about Earth, back when it existed with it's forests. As he gazed up, he sensed Enoch and looked down to see the person cutting wood. Smiling a little, he spoke.

"Good afternoon. Might I ask why you are cutting wood?"

[warriorscribe]

Enoch cut a log down to size and tucked it into the crook of his arm; he nearly has all of them now.

"I'm planning to carve dolls from it for a child I know."

At least the upside to all of this is that whatever mistrust that had lingered for chaos was dampened or gone. He was too tired to be wary of someone who seemed otherwise good.

[lightofhumanity]

chaos nodded at the explanation and, finally saw a branch that was about as thick as his arm but not longer than it. It would have been best if he brought a knife..but it seemed that Enoch was going to move on soon anyway. Best to wait before he used his powers out here. The person might not have mistrusted him now, so it was best to try and keep it that way.

"I see. That should be good for the child then. This has been a tough time for most of them. You may not need it, but should you get stuck, do let me know. I shall assist you."

[warriorscribe]

"It has been...and for all of us. I return your offer as well, on one condition. Tell me the truth about our first meeting."

Enoch was willing to let everything go to rest, if the source of his distrust was settled. They only had a year, for better or for worse (the sense of mortality was almost invigorating in a scary way). It was time to bury hatchets, however small.

[lightofhumanity]

..The only problem with burying this hatchet was that it would bring his powers out to light, get him to openly admit that this too, was something else that he could do, which would only further mark him as a non-human. The smile immediately fell from chaos's face, and while it took him a few moments to collect his thoughts and the proper phrasing, he did eventually speak.

"..I apologize. Until I came here, peering into the minds of others was something I did quite often. That is what happened when you and I first met."

Sauna, obvs.

[sageprincess]

"Enoch? Enoch...!"

A heavenly man falling. A gnashing maw with too many razor-like teeth. Another man, crying out, but ultimately voiceless.

The occasional dream of premonition is difficult to distinguish from the more common nightmares that come with sleep, but in this instance, she refuses to take any chances. After finding him in neither his room or the bathing rooms, Zelda began the trek down to the sauna, calling his name out all the while.

They've come too far, and have far too long to go to lose everything now.

"Enoch!" It's not a happy cry she makes when she sees him leaning against the lockers, his own open. With quick, purposeful strides, she walks over and shuts the thing before (hopefully) too many have seen the envelope that rests inside. Only then does she fully turn her attention to Enoch. "Please tell me you only came here for water."

[warriorscribe]

In all fairness, his own body had been blocking the view to the locker for the most part. He blinked groggily and shook his head to clear it. Zelda wasn't happy - was there a reason he shouldn't have-...

His mind fumbles with the realization right at the edge of consciousness, and then in a burst of adrenaline that wakes him he finds it. Ruana's power is watching!

With a grateful smile that shows his next words are only for show, he says, "I was actually here to relax. But I don't think I'd like to fall asleep in there." The armor comes back. "But it sounds as if you needed to speak to me. Will you tell me about it as we walk?"

Because getting out of the sauna sounds like a good idea, and Enoch really does want to know what Zelda was looking for him for - surely it was just luck that she kept him from doing that, right?

[sageprincess]

The Princess sighs in relief when she sees that realization hit, and she can't help but give her partner in crime a bit of a Look when he acknowledges it in his smile. Heroes, honestly. Can't let 'em out of your sight for two minutes.

"No, it would not do for you to be roasted like some feast boar." Still, her body language relaxes, playing along with his act. There's a worker unit watching the saunas, after all. "Certainly. The Tower is easier to scale with company."

Yes, luck. That's exactly it.

[warriorscribe]

At least that idea can't possibly last too long if she's honest with him. But for the moment he assumes she was looking for him for some other reason and walks with her back to the stairs, not even having to act the part of the concerned companion.

"What is it you wanted to find me for?"

[ghostytrainer]

John's not really sure if they even need to eat anymore...or if there's even a point to it. Or, for that matter, if he can even look at whatever the food is disguised as this month without feeling upset.

The worst truth is the food, it's true. He'll never be able to look at it the same way again knowing it's all nutrition bars.

But he's heading downstairs anyway, probably more out of habit than anything else. This is probably part of the reason his Lampent once again floats at his side, despite how fake she actually is and always has been. But even though he knows the truth now, it's hard not to take solace in having his Pokémon around. When he spots Enoch in the forest, he decides to take a little detour from his intended route to the cafeteria.

"So what are we up to over here?"

[warriorscribe]

Considering he still feels hunger, Enoch wouldn't take any chances. He himself has already been to the cafeteria and even has a couple of nutrition bars sticking out of his pocket.

"Ah... I'm cutting wood to make dolls from. I intended to make some for a child I know."

And he's not letting the fact that there isn't really any wood here deter him from keeping his promise to himself that he would do so.

[ghostytrainer]

"Ohhh. Cool! What kind of dolls?"

Even if the wood isn't real, what kind of person could comment on that fact to someone doing something nice for a child? Or even think of judging it for that matter?

[warriorscribe]

Oh he'd know the type. The same sort of person that would call the victims of Jason's experiments weak.

"Only simple ones. It's not my trade at all."

Infirmary

[godheals]

While Raphael was sitting in his usual spot, waiting for patients, any smile he would have had normally was not here. It was not because the illusions had come down and he had seen what his body actually was. He had known for awhile now that only their souls had been brought to this place, and since that was enough, the wiremesh body did not startle him.

However, the fact that his healing powers, the reason he existed, were taken for some time, had put some stress on him. While that had almost faded away, since his abilities and appearance were restored, something else was on his mind. Raphael tried to check into the third floor library at least once a day so that he could learn more and keep up to date with the terminals.

This meant that he about the deadline the Tower and the residents who inhabited it had. The idea of mortality was a new one, and while it wasn't a pleasant one to think about, Raphael kept forcing himself to do so. This was what normal humans went through, after all. Understanding it could help his job.

However, when Enoch stepped into the waiting room and called out to him, Raphael stopped his musing and stood up to greet his friend. "Yes? Are you hurt, Enoch?"

[warriorscribe]

Enoch shook his head, and crossed the room to meet him. "I didn't see you yesterday... I wanted to see how you were. Are you all right?"

[godheals]

"I was keeping close to the infirmary, in case anyone injured wandered in. Even without my abilities and tools, I could not abandon my place."

..Even if his options would have been limited-or nonexistent-if someone who actually needed help wandered in. The question was an odd one, and while Raphael wasn't quite used to people asking him if he was fine..perhaps answering would help.

"I am not sure. It is..odd to suddenly have a deadline like this."

[warriorscribe]

"I know..." He almost says I'm sorry, but having been reminded Ruana is likely watching them closely, he isn't sure he wants to out himself as a member of Pandora explicitly.

"...I'm sorry this had to happen to you." That much was safe.

Forest

[keybearer]

[It's hard to believe that the whole forest is just an illusion. Now that the glamour system's up and running again, the whole failure feels like a twisted nightmare. Yet in light of the failure, Riku's come here for similar reasons: to gather wood. It's been ages since he's carved anything. Maybe a sparring weapon's a good start.

His curiosity's piqued, though, when he spots Enoch and his much smaller timber. Hopefully he won't mind if Riku moseys on over.]

Aren't those logs a little small?

Forest

[warriorscribe]

*At least these are mundane things to talk about. Enoch welcomes the question with a weary smile.*

Small for what? I plan to carve some dolls for the children here.

*Perhaps not Romeo or Taiki, they didn't seem the type, but...he had a couple in mind.*

[keybearer]

Ah, then I take that back. Just wasn't sure what you had planned.

[He shifts his own timber around.]

How many kids are there, anyway? I haven't been keeping track.

[But the fact that there are any disturbs him on a fundamental level. The tower's no place for kids.]

[warriorscribe]

At least three, not counting Zo. *It was at least three too many for Enoch, too. And most of them are too old for such simple playthings, but...he's going to ask them if they'd like one.*

Floor 15 (Part 1) | I hope I'm not too late!

[averytinyparticle]

Even though it had hardly been a day since the Glamour Failure had occurred, Quark's face is drawn and sleepy--as if not only had he not gotten sleep the night before, but the trauma he had endured by seeing himself and the environment around him as it "really" was had erased the sleep he had had for days prior. Circles encase his big, childish eyes, and the regular bounce to his step has all but vanished as he shuffles slowly onto the floor and toward Enoch--one of the few individuals in the Tower he had become acquainted with so far.

He didn't trust his room. He didn't trust any of the floors he had seen during the previous night. But he remembered this floor, and as he hadn't seen it revealed as a mess of metal and slime, Quark felt his fluttering insides soothed enough to venture toward it.

"What are you making, now?" the boy asks when he's gotten close. The question lacks the enthusiasm and loudness Enoch would have remembered in Quark, but there's still genuine interest evident.

No such thing, I'll backtag forever.

[warriorscribe]

Dolls, for some of the children I know.

*Oh, Quark. He sees that tiredness, but can't...exactly apologize for what happened. Not if he wants to make these in peace without Ruana going after him. If she doesn't already know somehow.

The doubt does cause him to slow, distracted. He sees that in himself enough to stop working on that doll completely for the moment, resting it in his lap. At least Quark isn't the only one who's tired.*

Good to know! <3

[averytinyparticle]

Dolls, huh? Quark frowns, though it's more out of contemplation than anything else. "I've never made a doll before. Is it hard?"

Not waiting for an invitation, the boy takes a seat for himself next to Enoch, looking at the little figure in the man's lap. He wonders what kids they're for. He'd only met a few more of them in the Tower, himself, but they all seemed really nice. They'd probably like the present. "Are you going to make the joints bendable?"

[warriorscribe]

"This kind...it's easy, but time-consuming. I wouldn't know how to do anything else, including bendable joints. It never has been my trade..."

The figure only has the vague outline of a head and shoulders carved into the wood. And it's clear the wood has been cut away in large chunks at the top to make this faster; those chunks are at his feet with all the shavings.