towerofanimus | Game 04 | Life is Ours, We Live it Our way

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Game 04 | Life is Ours, We Live it Our way

Characters: Jonouchi & Others
Setting: All week - floors 81, 14, 57, 18
Format: I'll match
Summary: His power of friendship becomes toxic.
Warnings: General angst, maybe death?

[Floor 81, Lounge (Sun-Wed)]
[Jonouchi had definitely noticed the shadows sneaking about the tower, but then again, it wasn't like they tried all that hard to keep their presence hidden from him. Even before coming here, Jonouchi had a natural aversion to anything the tower presented him with. It was only expected that he was paranoid beyond reason and constantly frightened by these shadows. The fact that they spoke softly further challenged his level of comfort. He often spent a lot of his first days around the lounge where other people could be found just so he wouldn't feel so vulnerable having the shadows stalk him. Though it appeared he wasn't the only one experiencing this problem.]

[Floor 57, Sports Field (Tues-Thurs)]
[Jonouchi was on the soccer field, but not for a game, just to simply lie on the grass. Was he really losing his mind? Is the tower finally starting to break his spirit that he had tried so hard to keep hold of. The blonde wanted to be hopeful, and optimistic, but was that foolish of him for trying?

Laid out on the grass he was staring at the sky ignoring the taunts and calls of the shadows that had been stalking him since it started. He was nearly doing a good job until they gradually grew louder, and more familiar.

"Brother, I can never see your face again…all I wanted was to see you, but now I never can because of you."

The voice alone caused him to jolt up from his attempted form of relaxation. He jerked around and stood on the grass.]

Shi-Shizuka? Shizuka, where are you?! SHIZUKA!

[His…his sister!]

[Floor 14, Media Room (Wed-Fri)]
[It seemed as if, the longer things drew out, the worse they got. Jonouchi found it hard to find comfort being around others, that he resorted to his normal safe haven he claimed when he first got here: the media room. Or perhaps it was influenced because of a specific voice.

"I trusted you, Jonouchi-kun. You broke our promise!"

An an eerie tone only familiar to Jonouchi-kun because he was the only one from his world.]

Yuugi?

[He shuffled around, confused. Jonouchi could have sworn he was here, and the voice almost condescending. It was something he had never imagined from his friend. Maybe the media room wasn't a good idea.]

[The following say he kept swearing Yuugi was here and Yuugi was calling to him, but every time his friend spoke to him, it was only to blame him. Then more voices started to persist.

"How could you do this to us, Jonouchi. What about our friendship?"

"All those times I had your back, and they're wasted, when you can't even have mine.

Now it was as if it were Anzu and Honda were with him as well. If he was quick enough he could actually see his friend, but only in fragments and not their whole person. Like they were fading away from him.]

But…you're wrong..I'm trying to [help you,]

[But what has he really done? Jonouchi didn't have the power to oppose the admins, and the last time he tried, it ended in death. How were they suppose to restore the worlds when they didn't even know how. He was useless to help his friends and he couldn't deny that. The pain driven guilt staked him where it hurt. As a friend.]

[Floor 18, Classroom (Sat)]
[A floor he had never ventured on before until now, yet he couldn't help but feel slightly comforted. How he even managed to make it to a floor this low was to be questioned. It was in a setting he was familiar with, something that held many happy memories for him. A setting where, if he could fix things, it would be something like this but with others to share it with.

"I was dumb to think you could actually change, Jonouchi-kun."

Jonouchi wanted to fight, and to continue fighting, but he just didn't have the energy. The voices continued to drill on him and he couldn't shake them. Without even thinking, he just sat at one of the desks, and stayed there, practically motionless. Now he could just rest, and rest. The blonde was dejected, he couldn't do it anymore. He didn't care to do it anymore. Everything up until now just didn't matter, and the only thing he cared to do was sit here while he was uncertain if the voices and the appearances of his friends and family would ever come to an end.

"Don't tell me you're just going to feel sorry for yourself. Tch, maybe we should have left you with Hirutani. At least then you were where you belonged."]

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[Ion wasn't sure what had brought him to this floor. He knew he shouldn't be alone now. Ever since the Shadows had appeared on Sunday, he only ever felt remotely okay when he was with Anise. Otherwise...

I wish I had never become your Guardian. You're such a big hypocrite, Ion. Always talking about how you want to save the people of Auldrant...and then you went off and saved yourself while the rest of us were left to die.

...the shadow that sounded like Anise stabbed away at his heart. He closes his eyes tightly, tries not to listen. He was sorry, Anise, really...but there was nothing he could do about Auldrant right now. He was worried about some of his other Tower friends. What they were going through with their own shadows.

He hadn't seen Jonouchi almost all week.]

There you are...

[Ion's a bit breathless when he catches sight of the blonde, glad he was closer to one end of the tower and not stuck somewhere in the middle. But he isn't relieved. Not with how close those Shadows are swarming and not with how pale and drawn he looks hanging over the desk he's seated at.]

Jonouchi!

[Geeze, Ion. Luke's voice is clear. I thought I was your friend. Did you just forget about all of us once you left Auldrant to burn? Some friend you were.

Ion hurries forward and immediately falls to his knees by the blonde's side so he can be more on level with his friend's face. His brow is knit with concern--his own collar notably pale, but nowhere near as translucent as Jonouchi's. He grabs the teen's arm and squeezes.]

How long have you been here? Have you been listening to the shadows all alone?

[They always seem to have something to say. Anything, really. They should do, he hasn't been as helpful as he wanted. In the end, all he ever does is fail. His friend did have reasons to be upset with him. He broke his promises and he hasn't pulled through.]

They're--were my friends. [Almost monotone.]

I couldn't save them.

["You're not a friend. You're just a bully, Jonouchi."

And Anzu was right.]

Edited 2013-08-14 08:40 (UTC)

Don't talk like that. You can still save them! There's still time. Don't give up hope...

[Somewhere over his shoulder, a shadow laughs. It's a cruel sound, and it cuts far more deeply than it should.Stop kidding yourself. You're a worse failure than I was. Just accept that you're trash, already. You failed. There's no second chances. Maybe they should've made another one of us. Maybe the eighth would've actually been able to fulfill his purpose.]

Whatever they're saying to you...I know it hurts. But please believe me when I tell you--[My parents devoted themselves to all the things that you stood for, Ion. Why did they have to die because you were weak? Why did they get punished for your cowardice? Why did I get punished, too?

Ion's voice catches in his throat for a second, but he only tightens his grip on Jonouchi's arm.]--it isn't true.

Can I, Ion? [There was a strong hint of guilt in his voice.] All my life, I have been involved with the wrong crowd or did something I wish I didn't do. I'm bad at everything I do, I can't seem to do anything right...and it's not because my friends said so, but that's just how it's always been.

[His father was worthless, his mother may as well have given up on him, and now his sister was condescending him. It was all so very painful.

"You're not my friend, Jonouchi-kun, I won't help you feel better about yourself."

He just didn't want to go on anymore, maybe if he could just rest here.

Jonouchi slumped over on the desk, almost limp.]

I'm not a good friend. I'll just let you down. [Like he's done with everyone else.]

Of course you can! [Ion can feel his heart breaking for Jonouchi. It had always hurt so much more to watch his friends suffer than it did to suffer through his own trials.] You're worth so much, Jonouchi. And I know...I know you can't see that right now, but it's the truth, I promise.

[He leans forward, and his forehead comes to rest on Jonouchi's arm just above where Ion's pale fists have taken handfuls of his sleeve.

Who are you to preach about friendship?
Who are you to preach about worth?
This is disgusting; you're disgusting.
Stop making promises. You're just going to hurt more people.]

You've been nothing but kind to me since the moment we met, even when it hurt you to do so. Even when you knew nothing about me. You've sacrificed and died for me...and in return, I haven't been able to give you much of anything. [Ion hesitates.] At the end of the month, you tried to get me to understand that...that my life amounts to more than the things I've been conditioned to see. I...I couldn't give you a response then that you deserved.

[What are you talking about? In the end, you're just a replica. You're not human at all. You're not the real Ion. You're a cheap imitation.]

But please listen now when I tell you that nobody has ever made me feel like I have an identity--a real, unique one. How can you call yourself a bad friend when you've done something so great for me?

[Ion shakes his head, and pulls back so he can try to look Jonouchi in the eyes.]

[It was hard to believe that Ion had persistented with him as much as he has now. Jonouchi, a worthless punk who only ever voided himself of anything until sometime recently, and now throughout his stay in the tower. He hadn't connected with anyone else in the tower like he had with Ion. Something about Ion just felt so natural and so real to him. Like their friendship had always been there and he just didn't get the chance to learn it until now.

"Jonouchi-kun, I regret ever meeting you."]

I'm...not sure anymore...

[The blonde leaned over into the other, his body almost deadweight as he pressed against Ion, burying his face in the crook of the other's neck and began to cry outwardly, in a way he had never ever done in front of others.]

Edited 2013-08-14 09:51 (UTC)

[Ion let's his friend fall into him, holding him gently but firmly, almost like one might do to a child.]

If you can't believe yourself, then believe in me.

[He won't let go of the blonde. Won't let him fade away. Not when Jonouchi meant so much to him.]

Please believe me, Jonouchi. [His voice gets quieter as he whispers fiercely, thinking out loud.] I don't want to lose you again.

[These feelings that flustered him with mixed signals, and the voices of his friends. It was all so much. He would never admit how lonely he felt being the only one from his world, he missed them so much and it hurt. It hurt even more that he doesn't feel like he can save them.

The blonde didn't have the strength to do anything. He was so dependent on Ion to keep him up, and worse he was tired, but he could afford to sleep now?]

Do you...mean that?

[Again with his voice sounding monotone and light.]

Of course I do. [Although he doesn't say it sharply, Ion's voice is firm. The reply came immediately, without hesitation.] I consider myself blessed to have met you.

[Jonouchi is heavy in his weak arms, but he only holds on more tightly to the blonde.] If it hadn't been for you...I probably would have given up months ago.

[It was true that Anise had always been there for him as well...but it was different with Anise. He didn't have to worry about being the Fon Master around Jonouchi. To him, Ion was just a boy.]

You are irreplaceable to me, too. And no matter how bad things get here, I will always cherish the memories I've been allowed to create with you.

[She isn't in the classroom with them - not yet. But she is looking for them. Too many shadows sparking too many thoughts, so she's taking the stairs at a jog to try and lose them while simultaneously trying to find her friends. She sees a flash of green as she mounts the stairs for the eighteenth floor and stops dead in her tracks.

Green and then blond - her heart nearly stops. Jonouchi's not in good shape at all. He was older than her - but that didn't mean she couldn't be worried over his well-being, especially when he had no artes or magic or anything to keep him safe. She ducks into the classroom and darts towards him.]

J-Jonouchi! [She's interrupting - and she'd apologize later, really, she would. But he looks almost like he might die, and Ion looks like he's having trouble holding him, so she runs to their side and wraps an arm around the older boy's shoulders to help Ion support him.] Ion - what happened? Jonouchi, say something!

[Really Jonouchi was glad to have Ion around, he along with Anise were truly the most important people to him here. At least now, the voices didn't seem so apparent, or perhaps that was just because he was drifting in and out of sleep and was unable to focus on much.]

Thank you.

[Good! Just the other person he wanted to see, his mood was significantly lighter than when he first came here. Despite all of the knocking and scratching that came from the floor, he paid no mind to it.

He didn't have much to work with, but he lightly clasped onto Anise's arm. Though it wasn't a verbal response she was looking for.]

Oh, Anise, thank goodness!

[She isn't your Anise! Ion!

Ion looks up at her desperately, more than grateful for the added support of his Guardian. Jonouchi was getting heavier and heavier the further he slipped, and it was all Ion could do not to give out beneath the weight of his friend.]

It's the shadows--they're hitting him really hard!

[Or maybe he's just a better friend. He cares that he let the people he cares about, die. Unlike you.]

We have to help him! I don't know what to do... [He looks from Anise down to Jonouchi again.] Please, hold on! Don't give up!

Don't just squeeze my arm, say something!

[If her voice is a little shrill, it's just because she's worried. It's not easy to see a friend in this kind of condition, especially because she doesn't have the slightest clue how she's supposed to fix it. She doesn't know enough about the collars - about anything in the Tower, really - to know what to do other than just being here.]

You're not allowed to just give up and go to sleep, Jonouchi! There's still a lot we have to do. [Her voice is loud and insistent - like she thinks that by getting his attention and holding it, she can keep him distracted from the horrors following him around. She glances at Ion and it's not possible for her to keep the worry off her face.] Right, Ion? All kinds of things! Come on, get up and I'll carry you all the way up to that floor you like, okay? The one with those video game things? I think we need a rematch, but we can't do that if you fall asleep on us!

[Jonouchi wasn't strong enough to combat against these things. His collar was practically clear and he could barely remain conscious.

Just as easily as it was to doze, and fall asleep, it was to stop breathing altogether. The blonde probably didn't even knew he let go, it was quiet.]

[ He sure isn't the only one with his kind of problems. There surely are actually two of the shadows following Asahi around as well - it's probably why her look is a lot more heavy and dark than usually, like she's being pretty grumpy. She was about to play a game on the field, even if it was by herself, to get her mind over it, but.. instead she finds something entirely else with the boy that's lying there. It's impossible to ignoring him when he's calling out like that either way, so she walks up to him, looking down at him with her eyes squinted a little. ]

.. Hey, who are you calling out to?

Edited 2013-08-14 12:27 (UTC)

[Surprise, surprise, when he turned he found he wasn't alone, but Asahi was here as well.] Asahi?!

No one. [A lie.

But that was a touchy subject.]

What're you doing here?

[ .. Heh. She can see it's a lie. It's an obvious lie either way since there's no way he would be calling out like that and then have it be to normal, she doesn't even need to see the tail to know he's lying. But considering she has a faint idea of the situation, she doesn't question it.

"Just like you're not doing anything for us."

She ignores the voice in her head from the shadows, and instead shrugs at him. ]

I was planning on playing a game. Want to join me? [ There's nothing of her usual energy in her tone though as she says it. She's not even yelling at him, especially for lying. ]

Heh, sure, but you're not gonna win! [And he wasn't about to go easy on her because she was a girl too.

He left momentarily to go get a ball for them to use.

"You'll make effort for that girl, but not you're own sister?"

The blonde briefly glanced around again, tightening his grip on the ball before turning to Asahi and tossing the ball to her.]

You start!

If you can take losing from a girl, that is!

[ She jokes, but it almost hurts to do so in this mood, after everything and with the shadows guilt tripping her constantly. But she still tries, she even manages a half-grin before she turns to walk away a little, getting some space for the game.

Making her best attempt to completely ignore whatever the shadows are telling her this time, she just frowns and focuses on the ball, giving it a hard kick - and it is pretty hard, Asahi might not have any special powers but she's pretty strong for a girl. Come on. Just focus on the game. Forget everything else.. ]

[The blonde blocked the ball using his torso as a means to redirect the line of direction. After that, seizing the ball was no problem, and if Asahi wished to protect her goal, she would need to snake the ball from him.]

PE was always my best subject!

[So bring it on!]

[ She lets out a breath. Yeah, this is it. Just focus on this. Nothing else right now matters, just pretend the shadows aren't here.. ]

I'll make you regret those words..!

[ She storms towards him, not really elegantly in any way but honestly more like a bull in a china shop than anything else, as if she's going to downright tackle him to get the ball. Asahi, this isn't american football.. ]

[One thing he did pick up, was that she didn't beat around the bush. It was clear her intention was to apprehend the ball from him. He'll do his best to evade her so that he can make a goal. Since his time here in the tower. his stamina had nearly doubled what it use to be.]

I'd like to see you try!

[He's going in for the goal! WHAT DO?!]

[ G.. gah, he's way too good! That means there's only one solution here, right? It's not entirely fair, but drastic times call for drastic measures..

So she downright flings herself at him until she's grabbed him around the waist, falling down with him. BEST PLAN, CLEARLY. She shrieks as she actually falls with him though, falling on the ground. ]

[jsakdhjsadgd What was she doing?! No one tackles in football...well their football, this wasn't the American version!]

ACK! [The blonde was taken down to the ground with the force of her impact. That fall itself wasn't damaging but it did surprise him. Jonouchi flustered due to the fact that there was a cute girl kind of you know....lying on him!!]

Why'd you do that?!

Hey, all's fair in sports and war! [ Normally it's love and war, but apparently Asahi - being the tsundere she is - puts a special take on it.. thank god she's not thinking of the flustered part about this, since to her it's still all a competition and then it doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl.. ]

Which means that I win now!

[ It's why she grins widely, feeling like she's in a much better mood by now. ]

OI! You didn't anything!

[He's trying his best to keep himself composed, okay. Never mind that his face is burning red.]

Nope! I won, I woooo--

[ She stops mid-gloat to stare at him instead. Only now she's starting to realise that his face is starting to turn so red.. why..? She doesn't get it, but on the other hand, she doesn't trust it since guys blushing usually doesn't mean good news..

Which is why she talks a little louder than intended, still not getting off him. ] H-hey, what's that face for?!

W-what do you think?!

[He doesn't hit, shove, or push girls. So he wasn't about to move Asahi off of him.]

If I knew, I wouldn't ask you!

[ At least she's probably taking some of the embarassing mood away by being so oblivious that she's just getting mad at him instead because she's so confused, right.. she's grabbing the fabric of his shirt with one hand. ]

Come on, tell me already!

[Ahhhh she was getting aggressive!] G-get off me!

You tell me first or I'll beat it out of you..!

[ Is she really going to live up to that threat? Who knows, but she does look angry enough for it, especially now her face is getting closer and closer.. ]

I-I think you're cute, o-okay!! And you're on top of me!

[He's about to lose his cool entirely.]

[ .. Cute?! Her face grows bright red and it's like that one word is the magic word that gets her to immediately get off him, almost looking like she's just seen the face of horror. ]

W.. why didn't you tell that earlier, moron?! Don't take advantage of me..!

[ Not like he was doing that to begin with.

But she's still pointing and yelling at him, even though she's sitting on the floor next to him now. ]

[His tone hinted frustration.] That's not something you just say to someone!

[SWEOIWHKNDSM!] Why would I take advantage of you?!

Edited 2013-09-26 08:07 (UTC)

[ Tear ventured into the media room not too long after Jounouchi did. She was still familiarizing herself with her current surroundings, but concentration seemed futile as Van's voice continued to sink into her mind.

"You failed to stop me Mystearica and you've gained nothing since you entered. Is this your way of saving Auldrant? It is foolish now isn't it?"

"Tear, you told me you'd watch me, but you left."

Luke's voice pained her more. The Luke she met in the Tower was not the Luke she knew. The one that spoke to her was the Luke she knew, yet she was being blamed for leaving him. Tear placed a hand to her head as she spotted Jounouchi.

She took a few careful steps towards him as she heard his incoherent mumblings. ]

Jounouchi?

[The voices were droning, there was no doubt about that. He did his best to ignore them, and sometimes he could. It was lucky for him he was greeted by another person, a girl he had met previously. She said her name was]

Tear!

[She didn't look like herself. Or at least the self he was familiar with the first time they met.]

You okay?

[ Tear's trying her best to ignore that. She didn't want to have those endless ranting weaken her. Tear saw him coming towards her and she offered a small smile. ]

As well as I can be, I suppose. Is this part of the events that have been mentioned regarding the Tower?

[ First order of business, get answers, but after a moment she added. ]

Yes, I am, and what about you Jounouchi? Are you uninjured?

[Jonouchi let out some breath.] Yeah, they usually go a little something like this.

I'm fine. [Physically.] These ...things though.

I see, so they're exposing us to something we can't fight off.

[ or at least trying to break everyone. Tear's trying to push everything to the back of her mind. ]

They're rather ... persistent aren't they?

It doesn't seem like it. They're not normal.

[He hated this tower.] They are.

I agree. Those who are normal, are not capable of such feats.

[ Tear was already disliking it by the day. ]

It doesn't seem like they're going to go away if they've stuck around for this long.

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Game 04 | Life is Ours, We Live it Our way

Saturday - Floor 18

Re: Saturday - Floor 18

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one threadjack, as requested!

Yay Anise! /less than three

THE FUN HAS ARRIIIIIVED

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THIS ISN'T VERY FUN!

tuesday, floor 57

1/2

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Media Room; Wednesday

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