Palms rise to the universe...

[awfulsentimetal]

Characters: The Spine and YOU... guest-starring Rabbit (Night)!
Setting: Floors 61, 5, and 28
Format: Action spam, but I'll switch to prose if you'd rather!
Summary: The Spine is dealing with recent events as best he can--as well as that creepy feeling that sleeping in his dormitory room may not be the wisest thing to do.
Warnings: Robots?

Floor Sixty-One

[A week or so ago, The Spine had been directed to this floor if he wished to see the sky. There certainly was a sky to see, but it was not the one he had hoped for. For one thing, there were far too many eyes. He stands just inside the door, brim of his fedora pushed up with a silver finger as he regards the clouds and mountains with evident suspicion.]

Floor Five

[As dangerous as exploring could be in the Tower, The Spine was restless, particularly after discovering that the sky he had been promised was as false as everything else in this place. It's beginning to get to him, this knowledge that nothing is real. Nothing, except the souls that he and his brother shouldn't by rights have. The souls that made death, real death, a possibility.

He finds his way to the viewing stations and stays there for a while, expression impassive as he stares at the ruin of his world.]

Floor Twenty-Eight: Day

[The Spine can be found standing near the back wall with a guitar in his hands, playing as he quietly sings one of two songs.]

Floor Twenty-Eight: Night

[Night time will find two automatons sitting close in the music room. Being surrounded by instruments is a great comfort, as is the presence of each to the other. They might not need to sleep, but wandering the hallways at night is dangerous--as is, The Spine feels certain, staying in their rooms where something lurks beneath their beds.

...It's a bit difficult to ignore the way some of the instruments occasionally play snippets of unsettling, unearthly tunes. No stasis time will be had this night for the silver automaton.]

{OOC Note: Tagging Floor Twenty-Eight: Night will get responses from both Rabbit and The Spine!}

Comments

[spaghettiinmysoul]

Rabbit was huddled close to The Spine. So soon after getting his sibling and things hadn't gotten any better, but worse. It bothered him. His death still bothered him, but it wasn't fear of Spine that got to him. No, he could never be afraid of The Spine.

It was this tower. And everything about it. He kept close to his brother at all times, idly playing random chords on the accordion. No stasis for him tonight either, it seemed. Far too unsettled now by the recent events in the tower to relax enough for that to happen.

[awfulsentimetal]

Rabbit's death still weighed heavily on The Spine, his optics frequently drifting to the copper automaton to reassure himself that, yes, those mismatched eyes of his were still glowing.

The idle notes from his accordion were less grating than they might have been under other circumstances, and The Spine eventually reached for the borrowed guitar leaning against the wall beside him. He played a slow, gentle melody, somewhere between a waltz and a lullaby.

"... How're you holdin' up, Rabbit?"

[spaghettiinmysoul]

Sometimes the notes would congeal into a melody. Sometimes. Most of the time though it was just a scale, or a few disjointed keys. Rabbit himself was staring off at an opposing wall, trying not to let the gravity of the situation wear down on him too much.

Spine spoke, and he leaned against him just a little more, holding a single note for a long moment before going silent.

"I'm fi-fine. I'm d-doin' fine..."

[awfulsentimetal]

That didn't sound fine, not at all, not that The Spine had truly expected anything different. Just over a week and they'd already been through so much here. Too much. It was all becoming too much. He wanted the peace of the H.O.W. back, a respite from monsters and malfunctions and death.

He set the guitar aside and wrapped an arm around his brother's crooked shoulders, uncertain whether it was for Rabbit's comfort or his own.

"... Good. That's good."

[spaghettiinmysoul]

Rabbit was really not fine, he couldn't have been less fine. He'd died, lost his body, lost his memory... He closed his optics, before slinging an arm around The Spine's shoulder and resting his head on him lightly. He would have given anything to be back at home right now, where it might not have been sane, but at least it was safe.

"... Miss the others. All of 'em." It was lonely. Not knowing anyone else here. He gave a steamy sigh, now picking up a mournful tune on his accordion.

Floor 28 | Day

[averytinyparticle]

Quark had never been to this floor before, and overall didn't really know too much about instruments. But there are so many here that he'd never even seen before in pictures that he can't help but stare in surprise.

His behavior has been subdued since the Glamour Failure, but now that it's been after a week Quark's calmed down enough to approach the man--no, robot playing the guitar and singing by himself. He watches curiously, his wide eyes all alight with intrigue and his hands folded behind him, but he figures it would be polite to wait until the robot's done with his song before he says anything.

Grandpa taught him better than to interrupt people, after all.

[awfulsentimetal]

It was definitely a robot, silver hands moving with mechanical precision over the strings and voice perfectly pitched. Occasionally there would be a hiss of steam and a click of gears and his knees would dip sharply, only for the automaton to slowly stand up straight once more.

Performing was one of his main functions, something he enjoyed, and he didn't miss a beat when he noticed he had an audience. Even if the sight of yet another child wandering the Tower alone made him feel as though a gear had slipped. He just flashed a small smile at the boy in a pause between lyrics. When the song was over he haltingly bent to prop the guitar up against the wall.

Why were all of the children he had met in the Tower so far unprotected? "Hello there, bucko. Lookin' for someone?"

Just realized I read "action spam" and somehow processed "prose" instead I'm so sorry for that.

[averytinyparticle]

((Also, you should know that every time I see the two of you posting I immediately feel the need to go into my itunes and listen to Steam Powered Giraffe aaah...))

Quark shakes his head when the robot finishes singing and addresses him. "Not really, no." The admission makes him sad, however, and his face flushes in mild shame. "Well, I was looking for my Grandpa for a while, but...I'm not so sure I'm going to find him anywhere." It had been a month, after all, give or take. Sure, the Tower was big...but it seemed too unlikely that the old man was going to appear, now, after so much searching.

"I just heard you playing and decided to come over; it was really nice, you know. I didn't know robots could sing." Quark had never met a singing robot before. Well, he couldn't really say that he had ever actually met a robot at all. Especially not one that looked as well made as this one. He had heard a lot about them, though, on his planet. Rumors of all these amazing high-tech models that could do all sorts of things.

Of course, people like him were too poor to ever have access to that kinda thing.

No worries! <3 Sorry it took me so long to get back to you!

[awfulsentimetal]

{MY WORK HERE IS DONE.}

Aw, no, don't look so embarrassed, kid. There's no shame in missing someone, something The Spine would be quick to point out if he knew. "Oh, uh... Well, a lot of us can't." Even the other Walter robots in the manor. Just the three that had originally been built to play music and the fourth that was given the necessary upgrades. "I'm part of set of three--or, I was, anyway."

Oh. There's a bit of sadness in his voice, a slight downward tug of those black lips. But he doesn't want to worry a stranger, so he perks up almost immediately. "Thank you for the kind words. It's always nice to meet someone that appreciates music." And, naturally, he remembers that he has yet to introduce himself. "I'm called The Spine. What's your name, partner?"

I understand! I can be pretty slow sometimes, too! As...it is now obvious lmfao.

[averytinyparticle]

Three robots...Quark wishes he could see. He bet together their music was even cooler. Which meant...super-duper cool! But then, if he was anything like Quark, he was probably something close to being alone here. After all, it wasn't as if any of them had asked to wind up here. They just...had.

"The Spine? The Spine?" Before he can help himself, Quark finds himself grinning. "That's like a title! That's really neat!" He laughs a little, then. "My name is Quark! It's nice to meet you, too, The Spine!" He couldn't wait to tell people that he had met a singing robot.

Floor Twenty-Eight: Night | TWO ROBUTS TO GO PLZ (^▽^ )ﾉ

[idol_support]

[Normally, Rise knew better than to be out after nightfall. The monsters were a lot more active then, and there was less of a chance of someone else being around to help out if you got into trouble, plus the Tower just seemed more sinister in the dark. But what with monsters suddenly being able to get onto the upper levels at night...well, if nowhere was safe anymore, she might as well go wherever she wanted whenever she wanted.

Besides, ever since the Glamour Failure, it had been a lot harder to worry about “staying safe” or anything like that. She still used Kanzeon to scan floors, checking for monsters just in case, but she couldn’t help wondering just how much good it was really doing, or why it even seemed like it was working. After all, it was just another illusion, wasn’t it? Her powers, everyone’s powers...they weren’t real. Not anymore. Not here.

It wasn’t really much of a surprise when she found herself on the stairs, heading for the Music Room. Her body might not be real, at least not in the same way it was before, but she hadn’t felt “real” when she’d been a famous idol either. Yu-senpai had helped her realise otherwise though, and she’d come to accept the fact that being a star was still important to her; she wasn’t ready to turn her back on the world of showbiz just yet after all. “Risette” was every bit as real as Rise herself, because she was Risette, and always had been.

Still, now that they knew their bodies weren’t real, there was really no reason to keep practising every day like she’d been doing these past few months--she didn’t have to worry about keeping up with her voice training anymore. The routine was comforting, however, and the idea of leaving the noise and bustle of the campout site behind and being alone for a while was tempting as well. She wouldn’t have to pretend to be cheerful, or happy, or strong if she was by herself.

She didn’t expect anyone else to be in the room at this hour, so she blinked a bit when she saw the two robots sitting there, huddled close together. Then she realised she recognised one of them.

Oh, hey! You’re that robot from before! The Spine, right?

[Though she’d paused in the doorway on first seeing that the room wasn’t empty after all, she started forward again with a smile. There would be time to be alone here later, maybe on another night. For now, brave face: ON.]

Who’s your friend?

TWO ROBUTS OVER EASY COMIN' RIGHT UP

[awfulsentimetal]

[The sound of footsteps was, potentially, not a welcome one. The Spine looked up, the arm slung around Rabbit's shoulders tightening. Who was--

Oh. Oh. It was the young woman he had shared an elevator with when he'd first arrived at the tower. His optics widened and he offered her a faint smile.

Brave face: ON.]

That's right, Miss... Rise, was it?

[He glanced at Rabbit and lifted an eyebrow, waiting for the inevitable explosion of energy. Or maybe, tonight, it was something to hope for rather than something to expect.]

This is Rabbit.

TWO ROBUTS FOR YOU

[spaghettiinmysoul]

[Rabbit was... less enthused than usual to see someone. He actually jumped slightly to hear someone else in the room, looking up from his accordion to see who it was. Oh! A... a girl. Were he in a better state of mind, he would have noted it was a pretty girl at that, but...

He just smiled faintly, continuing along with his absent, meandering, mournful tune]

H-h-hey. How's it g-goin', sweetheart?

Hurrah! <3 <3

[idol_support]

[They seem pretty depressed, and she really can't blame them. But the brave face is on, and it is staying on; thus, her tone is light, friendly, and only just short of cheerful.]

Yup! Rise Kujikawa! Nice to meet you! And, well...I think we all know that things could be better. But they could be worse, too, right?

[...Okay, they probably didn't want a pep-talk from an almost complete stranger, even if she was pretty good at that sort of thing. So instead, she fell back on another little 'trick' she'd learned while she was an idol: most people liked to talk about themselves, so...ask them a question and get 'em talking!]

So, what're you guys doing in here so late?

[awfulsentimetal]

[There was a small smile from The Spine when it turned out he'd remembered her name correctly. Not that he often forgot them. It was difficult to forget things with a mind like his; which was part of the reason he was so melancholic, lately. Having perfect recall of the moment you ripped your brother's head off can do that to a person. Or a thinking, feeling robot, for that matter.]

They could be worse, yeah. Could be monsters in here with us.

[It was meant to be a joke, but his voice fell a little flat. His photo-receptors shifted to Rabbit and then back to Rise.]

We're, uh... just stayin' here for the night. Seemed better than stayin' in our rooms--that probably sounds pretty crazy, huh.

Floor 28 | Day

[technologic]

[The music floor is one April had found herself wandering too often, either to just listen to music or practice the piano; it helped to soothe her nerves when she found herself getting overly jittery or anxious.

She is faintly surprised when she hears someone else playing when she arrives on the floor, and curiosity prompts her to take a closer look and listen. While the fact he's a robot piques her interest, she's far more interested in the music, even if she does look a bit sheepish as she listens.]

[awfulsentimetal]

[Oh, he has an audience. A pleasant smile crosses The Spine's face as he starts in on the final chorus of his song. She seems harmless enough, although he isn't about to completely drop his guard.

Still. It's nice to play to someone.

The last note dies away and he smiles again, reaching up to grip the brim of his hat, giving her a polite tip of his head.]

Hello, Miss. Were you wantin' to use this guitar?

[technologic]

[April tips her head back, giving him a shy, but friendly smile. She seems a bit less sheepish now, though still anxious judging by how she fidgets with her hands slightly.]

Ah, n-no, I'm more of a piano person. I j-just, um... W-when I heard you play, I couldn't help b-but stop and listen. You're really good!

[awfulsentimetal]

Thank you kindly.

[It's sincere, and his smile widens slightly. It's always nice to meet someone that can appreciate music, let alone another musician.

She seems so nervous, though. Shy of strangers, perhaps?]

I'm called The Spine, on account of this titanium alloy spine of mine. [Easiest to explain right off the bat, really.] What's your name, if you don't mind me askin'?

floor 61

[blackwitch]

[ There's another person there, watching the sky. But she's noticably different from the last time they met. Evatrice is sitting on the floor, in the middle of the grass, her legs crossed in front of her. But her elbows are leaning on her upper legs and she has the most grumpy look on her face as she's supporting her head with her hands, looking like a very grumpy kid. (It doesn't help that she looks to be about fourteen or so..)

She seems so lost in her thoughts that she doesn't notice him. ]

[awfulsentimetal]

[It takes The Spine a moment to realize he's not alone, distracted as he is by the strangeness of being watched by the clouds. It takes him another to realize that the young woman seems vaguely familiar.

He approaches cautiously, having taken other tower residents' warnings to heart.]

Miss? Pardon me, but are you all right?

[blackwitch]

This sucks.

[ Her answer is fairly simple, as if she doesn't even care who is talking to her aside from the fact that someone is saying something. It sounds very much like a little kid too, and she doesn't move a bit from the position she's sitting in. ]

This totally sucks.

[awfulsentimetal]

[Aw, no. Sad kids are the worst. There's a hiss of steam and hydraulics as he crouches down to be at eye level.]

If talkin' about it would help, I'm willin' to listen.

Floor 5

[perceivesjustice]

[While Apollo has looked through those viewfinders once or twice, he's never made an effort to look at them often. It tends to kill his will to investigate - what's the point in trying so hard to get out if that's really what's left of the world?

However, after the whole glamour failure business, another dose of reality can't hurt. When he lays eyes on The Spine, so tall and yet so downcast, droopy almost, his steps slow.

He approaches with caution.] ...Spine?

[awfulsentimetal]

[Long seconds pass before The Spine slowly turns his head, gears clicking, to look at Apollo.]

Mr. Justice. I didn't expect to see anyone else here.

[It isn't a room he imagines most people would frequent. He'd stumbled on it by accident and wishes he hadn't.]