01. I could lift you up.

[thinkwisely]

Characters: Ivan and open
Setting: Dorm 2-08, Dorm Floor 2, Floor 69 (the cloud floor), and the Cafeteria
Format: starting with action, but I'll follow!
Summary: Just the usual newcomer shtick--waking up and trying to gather his bearings.
Warnings: Ivan has a bad habit of trying to mind read anyone and everyone he runs across if he thinks it'll get him the answers he wants faster than just asking--please make sure to let me know if this is or isn't okay! Otherwise, nothing.

Dorm Room 2-08

[The instant Ivan wakes, his mind begins to spin with questions. He couldn't remember lying down. When had he fallen asleep? Why couldn't he move? What was this strange white room? His brow knits in concern once he feels the ability to move once more, and sitting up, the blonde immediately starts to inspect the strange material he's clad in. Eventually, Ivan's hand comes to rest upon the collar affixed to his neck. He frowns.]

Huh...

[No, this definitely wasn't Tolbi. He was...somewhere else. But how had he been transported? And where exactly, for that matter? Ivan supposed that no such questions were ever answered in response to idle behavior, so he swings his legs over the side of his bed and stands.

Moments later, he's thoroughly inspected his trunk, relieved to find not only his traveling clothes and a few of the items he had been equipped with during the Colosso Tournament, but the Shaman's Rod nestled safely inside. With a sigh of relief, he picks it up after strapping his sword to his belt and storing his other items in his pockets. As it is, he doesn't want to leave the staff lying around out of his sight. Master Hammet would be rather upset if he lost it again, after all.]

I guess I should...oh!

[Ivan was just about to leave when he spotted the letters on the nightstand next to his bed. He darts back and grabs them, but not wanting to stay in the uncomfortably white room for much longer, he decides to read them as he explores.]

Dorm Floor 2

[Ivan's eyes scan through the letters fervently, his face becoming more and more troubled the further he reads. Likewise, his pace picks up to one of brisk agitation. Where he started off at least attempting to keep a solid awareness of his surroundings, he's soon so focused on the words on the paper that Ivan completely forgets to watch out for anyone else that may be walking nearby.

A full-on collision is becoming increasingly likely.]


Floor 69

[This floor is the first one that really catches Ivan's attention as he makes his way down as fast as he can manage. Maybe it was just because he was a Jupiter Adept (as he'd found out quite recently), but something about the large layer of clouds calms him drastically. Ivan sighs, his shoulders sagging in a relaxed fashion as he steps forward tentatively, onto the clouds.

Maybe this wasn't such a bad situation, after all. He'd find Isaac and Garet and Mia sooner or later and then they'd get back to finding the Elemental Stars.

For now, he could just...enjoy a moment of quiet serenity. Ivan smiles to himself, laughs a little, and plops eagerly down. It all seemed so simple and so manageable now. Really, he wasn't sure why he was getting so worked up in the first place.]


Cafeteria

[Once Ivan had gotten his wits about him once more, he went the rest of the way down to the Cafeteria without stopping, too wary of the rest of the floors to give in to any amount of curiosity. Sure, it wasn't pleasant to feel anxious...but Ivan would take feeling anxious to having clouded judgement (pun not intended) any day.

When he retrieves his bowl of oatmeal and finds a place to sit, he does so heavily (though he's at least considerate enough to lay the Shaman's Rod gently across his lap). Ivan doesn't want to eat--he isn't hungry--simply knows he should.

If only he could find the motivation to actually pick up the spoon and eat.]

Comments

Cafeteria

[nordic_dovahkiin]

[Brunwulf notices the small blond boy ahead of him and sees that what he has laying across his lap. A mage? Yet, the boy looked so young. Perhaps a mage in training. Ugh, mages. The bowl of whatever the boy was eating looked less than appetising and the big Nord sighed. Curiosity got the better of him, as he found himself walking towards the young boy.]

What in Ysmir's beard is that you are eating, boy? It looks like something I would feed my horse.

[thinkwisely]

[Ivan can't help but be a bit startled. He wasn't expecting to be approached by anyone--well, he maybe hoped that he'd run into his friends. But when he turned and saw the large, gruff, frankly quite intimidating man? That definitely wasn't anything close to what he had been expecting.

Still, not wanting to be rude, he gives a somewhat awkward, bashful smile.]

It's oatmeal. [When he pauses, his eyes flicker down to the unappetizing bowl and he manages a small chuckle.] Well, it's made out of oats so...I'm sure it would be quite suitable for a horse.

[Another pause. Always introduce yourself, Ivan! That's the polite thing to do.] My name is Ivan; I just woke up here not too long ago.

[nordic_dovahkiin]

Oatmeal? Is this what they feed us in this food hall? We are men, not animal. [He scowled at the others around the hall eating the same thing.] Does no one protest at what they are eating? Why does no one ask for something else? [His attention turned towards the boy.]

Ivan. I am Brunwulf Bear-Claw. Well met. [He gave a sharp nod to the boy.] How long have you been within this tower?

[thinkwisely]

I've heard that anyone who refuses to eat it just gets sick. [His smile becomes a tad less bashful. This one is must certainly from a world other than Weyard. And, you know, once you got past the hulking-giant (at least in comparison to his short self), it really was interesting. Brunwulf was friendly, at least. He gives his own polite nod in return at the greeting.] And the same to you. Would you like to sit down?

[After a short pause to allow Brunwulf to sit (or decline sitting), Ivan answers the next question.] I only just woke up earlier this morning. I take it you've arrived here today, as well?

[Not a huge leap in logic. It would explain all the questions.]

Floor 69

[crouching_sin]

[There's a hand on Ivan's collar, and he's suddenly lifted up by a man on the tall side.]

Don't stay here. You won't move and then you'll die.

[He proceeds to start attempting to drag the boy back towards the stairs.]

[thinkwisely]

Wh--!

[Ivan's words fall flat into a sort of surprised, mildly offended sort of squawk. Being so short and so light as he is, it's pretty easy for him to be lifted up and dragged along.

That isn't to say that he quite enjoys being manhandled. It's asking a bit much.]

Excuse me, but I can walk! [Ivan tries to pry himself free, tripping awkwardly the entire time, as politely as possible. His calm all but shattered already, he frowns.] And I was only planning on staying for a few minutes.

[crouching_sin]

[He lets Ivan go, and looks down at him.]

Yes, you say that. And then it's hours later. This place has a way of messing with your mind.

Dorm Floor 2! I think they live next to each other!

[gradosfinest]

((OOC: Feel free to do a bit of mind reading if you want! Although not knowing how Infiltration has played out for her yet, the only thing I ask is he doesn't try and dig up anything about the most recent break-in on the admin levels. If that even occurs to him.))

[And who should be rounding a corner at that exact moment but Amelia? The young knight's more than a little lost in thought herself, knowing these tend to be among the safer floors of the Tower. But with no shortage of things to think about herself, she's allowed herself a moment to just kind of drift about and stretch her legs.

Exactly one second after rounding the corner, she suddenly realizes somebody's walking straight towards her- and then straight into her. And while the impact's not enough to knock her off of her feet, she does stumble backwards a step or two, hand instinctively shooting down to her side towards her sword before she hesitates, not actually drawing it as she realizes she just walked into somebody.]

What the-?! Oh, I'm sorry!

NEIGHBOR ouo

[thinkwisely]

[Ivan makes a startled noise, fumbling as he tries to catch his staff. As a result, the letters he was reading go fluttering to the ground. He blushes, embarrassed, and spares an apologetic glance upward at the woman he practically assaulted before stooping down to retrieve them.]

No, it was my fault...I should have been paying attention. I'm sorry.

[gradosfinest]

[She doesn't hesitate to kneel down as well, picking up one of the dropped letters before returning it to him with a slightly apologetic smile on her face.]

I wasn't really paying attention either but that's alright. Er, excuse me for asking but are you new here...? I don't think I've ever seen you before, but my name's Amelia! I'm a soldier, from the Grado Empire.

Floor 69!

[seekinganswers]

[She isn't expecting to see someone on this floor as she makes her way up the stairs - but she sees a flash of something that definitely isn't a cloud out of the corner of her eye. Clouds aren't green, after all. She takes the stairs to the edge of the floor, her brows furrowed.]

Wait - you shouldn't be out there...

[Then she gets a better look at him and gasps.]

Ivan..?!

[thinkwisely]

Hmm?

[Ivan turns at the voice--but unfortunately for Sheba, the look on his face when she calls out his name is nothing short of confusion. She wouldn't have to read his mind to tell that he has no idea who she is.

That is, at least not for a long moment. A faint flicker lights up his violet eyes, and he gasps lightly in recognition.]

Ah! I remember you! You were staying with Babi, in Tolbi. [He pauses and frowns in thought, though makes no move to get up. Ivan seems quite comfortable.] I think...the man outside said your name was...Sheba? But...ah...how strange; I didn't think we'd been properly introduced.

[Though he had read her mind. And she had reacted quite strangely.]

[seekinganswers]

Yes, I was Babi's guest for a time...

[Sheba frowns. It's strange that Ivan only recognizes her from Tolbi - there are many more instances they've interacted that are, in her mind, much more significant. Lighting Mars Lighthouse, or teaming up in Contigo, or defending him from Karst and Agatio at Jupiter Lighthouse, or even that time at Venus Lighthouse where he and his friends had tried to bargain for her freedom.

Either the administrators have been messing with his memories, or he's simply pulled from another time. It's not the first time she's seen it happen in general and not the first time she's seen it happen to someone from Weyard. That doesn't make it any less disappointing for her to realize that one of her friends has no idea who she even is.

Using her words would take too long. She's sure Ivan can understand the sentiment; he'd read her mind in Tolbi, after all. So Ivan will soon feel the touch at the edge of his consciousness that indicates someone trying to read his mind. He's an Adept, so Sheba's sure he'll realize what's going on and will probably be able to block her out if he wants to, but she's looking for any sort of memories he might have past Tolbi.

And if he realizes she's an Adept because of this attempt, well, that's one conversation that will begin more quickly than it would otherwise.]

Cafeteria

[flamingjustice]

[Jenna has already finished her bowl of oatmeal and she is about to leave the cafeteria when she spies Ivan just sitting down with a bowl of his own. It's a surprise to see him but the surprise is a welcome one. The place was strange enough without the sensation of being surrounded by strangers.

She takes a seat across from him and sets down a glass of water. The nutrition bars don't interest her at all right now.]

Look at this stuff. It makes you miss travel rations, huh?

[thinkwisely]

You could say that.

[Ivan looks up at the girl who had approached him so casually. Unfortunately, it's not a look of altogether friendliness. In fact, for her, the clear lack of recognition is probably troubling. At least this expression changes quickly--as if he does think he knows her, but can't quite place it--and then the lightbulb clicks on. Ivan's face brightens, though it's more in relieved surprise than happiness.]

Oh! You're Jenna! [The blonde smiles.] I'm glad to see that you're safe.

[The last time he saw her, after all, was when she was being held captive at the Mercury Lighthouse. They hadn't been introduced personally, though Ivan knew her name from his friends. Perhaps she had recognized him from that time! That would explain why she had approached him.]

[flamingjustice]

Of course I'm Jenna.

[She is puzzled. Mind reading wasn't a skill Mars Adepts possessed and Jenna has no way to know that the Ivan in front of her lacks memories of anything past Tolbi. She leans forward and watches his face.]

And of course I'm safe. The worst of it is over... that's what I thought before I woke up here anyway.

Floor 2 after collision, initial first interaction

[queensgeneral]

[It was easy to see who was new and who had been here for longer periods of time based just on how people carried themselves. On strut by the new one alone told Darres he was new. So it was that time already?]

Do you need help with anything?

[He called out somewhat. Darres didn't want him to fall into any danger like he, and others have done.]

[thinkwisely]

[Ivan was still terribly flustered from his mishap, and the bashfulness shows on his face by the way he sort of skirts around making eye contact with the knight who addresses him.

What a tall, strong-looking warrior! Well, at least he sounds friendly. So Ivan gives a slightly non-committal sort of nod.]

In a manner of speaking. I...just woke up and... [He gestures to the letters in his hand.] ...finished reading. I'd just like to know: are...the words contained withing these letters true?

[queensgeneral]

"Of our destroyed worlds and that we've been saved? The fist part is unfortunately true, as not even our bodies are real. They are an extension of the tower. There's a glamour feature in effect that gives us the appearances we have.

Whether we've truly been saved or not depends on your definition of it. Some have...others have not..."

Cafeteria- Mind Reading is OK!

[thelordsage]

[Ah, another newcomer, judging from the oatmeal. Perhaps another mage, too, judging from the staff. Well, all Sephiran needed to do was inquire.]

Pardon me, but are you new around here?

Then mind reading it shall be! 8D

[thinkwisely]

Ah...yes, I am. I just woke up a short while ago. My name is Ivan.

[Ivan frowns sadly. Being so obviously new...

Before Ivan can help himself, he's tapping into his Psynergy to reach forward with his mind--searching for an answer to a question it might have been much easier to simply ask: how long have you been here?

Being a mage, Sephiran may likely feel the invasion--or even be able to push him back out. Either way, if Ivan's able to find his answer, he'll retreat immediately, his face pulling down into one that looks even more troubled than it had before.]

[thelordsage]

Ah... so you are a newcomer. I see you've found your oatmeal. You'd best eat it now; it will save you some trouble down the road. There's a lot of information to take in, but it will filter to you eventually.

[Sephiran does indeed feel the tug at his mind, but since he hasn't had much experience with mind readers, he isn't able to push Ivan out. The answer Ivan will get is "a few months."]

Cafeteria

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko sometimes wandered into the cafeteria to eat normal food so that people wouldn't suspect that she could only taste books, and this was one of those times. As usual, her retrieval drone, Ivan, followed a few feet behind her, wearing his nametag, paper hat, and a sheet of paper taped to his chest, telling everyone who looked about what might happen to the souls that went back home.

However, when she saw a boy with a bowl of oatmeal, Tohko smiled and wandered over to him.]

Pardon me, but are you new here?

[thinkwisely]

[At the sound of another voice, Ivan looks up from where he had been staring gloomily into his bowl of oatmeal. It wasn't becoming more appetizing as he watched it settle--only colder.]

Oh, yes. I am.

[He nods, bashfully, twisting the Shaman's Rod against his lap.]

My name is Ivan. I woke up here a few hours ago.

[tohko_amano]

[Ivan? Really? While it was always a possibility, Tohko had never really expected to meet someone else who shared the name she gave to her drone, so she smiled as she pointed at said drone and spoke.]

Really?! His name's Ivan too! It's nice to meet you though. I'm Tohko Amano, the book girl. If you want, I can tell you what I know about the Tower..and I can help you eat your oatmeal, if you want.