(no subject)

[thirtybits]

Characters: Judas and yoou
Setting: Floor 100, mailroom, and openended
Format: Starting with action, but whatever
Summary: Catch-all post for the individuation event
Warnings: The later in the week, the more likely there may be mentions of suicide and other such things.


A. Monday - anywhere

[It started with one, it was almost nice to have the company, if it weren't for that unsettling look about it. But within a day there were at least a dozen figures surrounding Judas. He goes about his usual day, tending to the crops he's planted, visiting the library and cathedral...and then going to spend a long while in the media room. It's not without some difficulty, though. They've started talking to him, calling to him, asking for his help, wanting to know what's happened. Of course, Judas has no answer for them and is equally frightened. So, while he might be trying his best to ignore it, he can't help but look over his shoulder constantly.]

B. Wednesday - floor 100

[Over the last couple days more still have gathered around him, and now it seems they're never still or quiet. He can't focus on any of his daily agenda without them getting in the way. But more importantly, their accusations are quickly getting to him. Not so difficult to do, really. But normally no one seems to agree with the things he says and thinks about himself. Why were you saved and not us? Why didn't you try to help? Everything is Judas' fault, everyone would be better off if he never existed.

Finally he stops on the one hundredth floor. To him, it looks like a field. No one is around of course, and it's entirely empty, but twelve of the shadows following him certainly understand what he's seeing and suddenly their voices are much louder than the rest. It wasn't enough to ruin our days together, Judas?]

C. Friday - mailroom

[When Judas opens his mailbox, he takes a step back as several coins spill out onto the floor. He doesn't need to see those still left in the mailbox to know what they are, the gleaming of silver through the wash of blood over them says it all. And although he doesn't want to think about whose blood it could be, he's quite sure he knows that too.

And then of course, there's the dozens of shadow children to speak up before he can think about what to do with the silver, or rather, before he can take a moment to calm himself. Is that your payment for killing us all? You should have at least asked for more, thirty coins are hardly worth anything now. You're always so good with figures.]

No, I didn't, I'm sorry, I don't want to be the only one...

[He drops to his knees, biting his lip as he reaches out to gather up the fallen coins.]

D. Anything

Comments

B

[puppy_lancer]

[Judas isn't the only one who has shadow children following him. Nor is he the only one trying to take solace in familiar surrounding. Though solace definitely isn't the only thing Lancer has on his mind.]

Look, Connla, this floor is nice. It shows you places from home.

[He's gesturing excitedly while beckoning to one of the shadows following him.]

And you too, Master, look!

[He turns his eyes to the room, where he spots Judas.]

Hey!

[He waves at the familiar figure.]

I've got some people I want you to meet. They just showed up today!

[Yep, there just might be something a little off about Lancer today.]

[thirtybits]

[How anyone can be so cheerful about this, Judas has no idea, making him hesitate in replying.]

...Are you alright?

[puppy_lancer]

Of course. I'm just fine.

['You are. I'm not.'
'You said you would save me, you stupid dog. And yet here you are completely fine while I'm dead along with the rest of our world.']

[He directs a quick glance back at the shadow children.]

What are you talking about? You're both right here.

[thirtybits]

[Wow he's just going to chat with them, really... Even if Judas can only hear one side of the conversation, it's not too difficult to guess the gist of what's being said on the other end.]

Are you sure you understand what's going on, then?

Friday- Mailroom

[papillonmagique]

[The shadow children following her with the voices of her family and best friend were starting to wear on Zoe's already frayed and short temper, so she's stuck on the brink of lashing out at someone. Luckily, when she's about the walk down the stairs and past the mailroom, she spots Judas and any sort of annoyance is shoved aside as she walks over to him.]

What is the matter?

[thirtybits]

Aah, it's...

[He chokes back a sob as he looks down at his hands and realises the blood has come off on them.]

[papillonmagique]

[Her eyes widen and she's quick to go over and drop down onto her knees next to him, understanding dawning on her as she looks at the bloody coins on the ground and his hands.]

... This place is absolutely horrid... [She ignores her shadow children that trailed behind her, and pulls off her neck tie and hands it to him.] Here, this could clean the blood off.

[thirtybits]

No, I don't want to stain your tie...!

[He flinches a little hearing Jesus' shadow child remark that his hands are stained with more innocent blood than can be seen or scrubbed away now, but tries not to let Zoe see. He can't be a burden to her, especially when she clearly has her own troubles.]

C

[pinnaculum]

Hello, Judas. May I help?

[There are only two shadow children with Sephiroth (although a third one seems to flicker in and out of existence, like a shadow of a shadow), and for some unexplained reason he's wearing a tattered red headband, contrasting his plain, dark gray clothes.

Acting too quickly to be stopped, he leans down to pick up the silver coins deftly, seemingly untroubled by the blood that gets on his hands.]

It is not logical to listen to them.

[thirtybits]

Ah, no, please don't, you'll get it on you too-

[He can't just let a child have his hands covered in blood for the sake of helping Judas.]

But, yes, I know it's not...it's just so hard not to when you know they're right.

[undroppedeaves]

[Sam had also received something in the mail, and like Juadas his was not something to bring happy thoughts. Still he bent down to pick up the coin that rolled to him and stepped towards the man to hand it back, he noticed it was covered in blood.]

Whoever did this enjoys bringing suffering to others. [He held a torn bloodied cloak over one arm]

[thirtybits]

[Judas smiles slightly in appreciation as he takes the coin, even if he didn't necessarily want it.]

I guess there's not much question as to who did it.

[He can't help but notice Sam's similar situation, a cloak in that state can't mean anything good.]

[undroppedeaves]

No, there don't be much question in my mind at all. [He frowned] Though I would like to know why, but that's a question most likely without an answer.

[thirtybits]

I think there's an answer...it just isn't a good one. They probably just find it entertaining, somehow.

Monday, Library

[sunflowerfairy]

[The day had not been very kind to Yotsuba. While she only had two shadow children following her, they were the most precious people in the world to her-her Daddy and Jumbo, Daddy's friend. And while they hadn't spoken much, their words had been cruel to her whenever they did manage to speak, and while she didn't cry at all of them, she was always a bit depressed after dealing with them.

She had come into the library looking for a nice gem-book-but..it was hard to focus on books when your Daddy sometimes insulted you when you tried to look at a story. So, when she saw Judas, she would try to hug his leg, for both attention and comfort. Her shadow companions would follow her, but she was used to their appearance, so she wouldn't mind the twelve shadow children that surrounded Judas. She just wanted an answer.]

Mister..why does Daddy hate me?

[thirtybits]

[He blinks down at the girl clinging to him in confusion and surprise, suddenly someone actually real? He's not just hallucinating that, is he?]

A-ah, I don't know, I'm sure he doesn't hate you!

[sunflowerfairy]

[No, he wouldn't be, for better or worse. Yotsuba knew about strangers, and this guy looked a little creepy, but..she just wanted some help right now.]

We do, actually. And why are you talking to a stranger, Yotsuba? Are you looking for more comfort so that you can rub it in our faces? That's horrible.

Then why does he say he does?! And..are you a good person?

Monday, media room

[seekinganswers]

[When Judas looks over his shoulder, he'll see a young girl who is doing the exact same thing, shooting a shadow that's peeking at her from behind a chair a suspicious glance. She looks forward again and blinks when she sees him.]

Oh - sorry. I didn't realize there was someone else here. [The shadow from behind the chair makes an indignant noise.] ...Someone human, I mean. [The clarification comes with a roll of the eyes and the shadow scampers off, opening its mouth and sticking out a shadowy tongue before vanishing.]

[thirtybits]

[He smiles weakly, nodding his agreement mostly to tell himself they really must just be some sort of monsters and not at all human.]

It's alright, I didn't either. It's hard to focus on much lately, isn't it?

Friday

[alephbet]

[Aleph has already gathered his 'gift' from the tower. He didn't want to see the others collecting their gifts, but passing by this floor, he couldn't help it.]

I'm sorry. [He stepped off the stairway to approach Judas.]

[thirtybits]

[Judas shakes his head, clutching the coins close to his chest.]

It's alright...I expected this to happen eventually.

[alephbet]

I can't help with the gift, but for what it's worth, those shadows following you - everyone has them. It's not just you who's being harassed.

[Indeed, Aleph has a small flock himself. He is, after all, the Messiah of the entire world.]

wait never mind it's actually Monday, but still Floor 51!!

[sicharia]

[Claudia has amassed a sizable collection of shadows as well—not as many as Judas, but enough to stand out. Maybe it's because of them that she seems so on edge, even as she tries to focus on the task she has given herself. A sewing kit laid out and a pair of buttons set aside as replacements, she's trying to remove the glassy, dead-looking glass eyes from a stuffed lamb.]

[But despite her attempts to remain focused, she abruptly starts, and seemingly for no reason at all. Her head snaps up, and she scans the room, wide-eyed.]

—Ah. Hello.

[thirtybits]

Oh, Claudia.

[He smiles a little, offering a small wave. He certainly can't help but notice the shadows, but thinks it best to try not to pay attention to them.]

You sew?

[sicharia]

[He smiles and waves, and she relaxes a little, though her smile seems a little nervous regardless. She keeps hearing her name called, in voices she recognizes, but there's never anything more than that. It's put her on edge.]

Oh, well, I... A little! I'm nothing special, but I know enough to patch things up, at least. [Unthinkingly, she glances toward the plush lamb again.] I just... I got this in the mail, but...