towerofanimus | the distance seems so small

Entry tags:

the distance seems so small

Characters: Asako (

repeatingsun), and anybody who chooses to deal with them.
Setting: Various spots in the tower
Format: I'll be starting with action, but I'll match you!
Summary: A catch-all event post, yay!
Warnings: For Solas: No saving. She isn't going to survive this event under any circumstances. She has a world's worth of shadow children zerg rushing her, and she was VERY strongly connected to her home city, having been its earth spirit/administrator before her demise. It ain't gonna work.
For Asako: Some of what she says/what the brackets say indicate a desire to self-terminate, so be careful on that score.
For Robin: Fire Emblem: Awakening spoilers. Yep. That's about it.
In general: Robin's the only one who might survive until the weekend, retroactively.

[Between the bugs that arrived in the mail (worst. mail. ever.) and...the voices-
("It's your fault we died it's your fault we died YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT US YOU FAILED")
- Well, Solas' collar has already paled considerably. She can be found on floor 26 mostly, just... lying there, not really able to move all that much, curled into a little ball with her hands over her face.

("It's your fault it's your fault it's your fault")]

...I know...I know it was my fault...I'm sorry...

[And anyone who comes across her can probably hear the apologies continue.]

[("You're a monster! It's your fault we lost the Fire Emblem!" "Why didn't I just run you through when I had the chance...?!")

Robin's rubbing at her marked hand - hard enough that there's probably a bruise beneath the glove - as she stumbles around the Tower.

("I wonder, perhaps you truly were with Plegia before you so conveniently lost your memory!")

It'd be so easy to give up. So easy to give in- But. She's not the only one from her world here, now, is she? So she can't give up. She won't. That's why - while her collar has paled a little - it's not as bad as either Solas or Asako. Giving up? Not an option right now.

And if she happens to stumble across others along the way, well - right now, being alone with reminders of her sordid origins....that was the worst thing, right now. And along her way she will be calling out for the one person she knows to still be here:] Henry? - You're still here, right?

[It's a soft call, shaky, but it's there. All she can do is hope, now.]

[It should surprise no one that Asako is taking this very, very poorly - as much because of how much she actually cared for the world, as... well, the Tower's done some bad things to her head.

("Your fault, YOUR fault" "You couldn't have saved anyone if you tried" "Why did you let that armored woman talk you out of bringing Abel back? He's the important one, not you")

So her collar's already pretty pale. Not as bad as Solas, mind, but...the shadow children have definitely messed her up. She's halfway tempted to just -- run. Run and not stop running. End it. Why DID she let Shepard talk her down, anyway? Between this and earlier and now and-

("YOUR FAULT" "Loser" "I trusted you! I trusted you and you betrayed us all" "Go ahead, keep running. It's all you CAN do in the end, coward" "You should NEVER have become Overlord")

She's mostly on the floors nearest the elevators - the easier to get away when she needs a change of venue, or some quiet, especially since the headphones do nothing right now. How the mighty fall, or something like that.]

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[While going from floor to floor, Sephiran encounters Robin, though he hears her calling out for Henry first. He approaches her, hobbling a little due to the effects of a somewhat lightened collar. Two shadow children follow him.]

Robin? Are you looking for someone?

[Robin's collar is also lightened - unfortunately. Having shadows needling at your personal issues all day everyday will get to you sooner or later, and when you're a ~~protag~~ bundle of issues already... Yeah.

Even so, she manages to acknowledge Sephiran, nodding at him vaguely.] Yes, I am. Henry - he's from my world. A user of dark magic. White hair. Laughs - all the time. Doesn't get that zombies aren't cute. [There's a pause, and - she manages a slight, tired smile.]

He's from my world.

[Right now, that means more than she can say.]

Ah... he sounds like a very... interesting fellow. [Thinks zombies are cute? What?] Unfortunately, I haven't seen him. But it is good to hear that someone has joined you from your world.

He is. He's just...a bit out of step. [Smile.] Thank you for that. He's been here for a while, actually...

[She would ask if anyone from Sephiran's world is here, but that - YEAH. She's sleep-deprived but not that out of it. So instead she asks:] Are you looking for anyone, yourself?

No. The people I would be looking for... they're behind me. They've become shadows. I am glad to hear their voices again, though I wish it wasn't like this.

[Sanaki's voice comes from behind Sephiran. "If you wanted to hear our voices again, why did you destroy our world?" He mumbles:]

Why did I, indeed...

[Okay, talking to someone Robin can't see? Not good!]

It's easier said than done I know, but do not listen to them, please.

Yes, much easier said than done. The two who have appeared are very precious to me. With them here, in this form... I have been beside myself with sorrow.

[Clearly, Sanaki is the more talkative shadow. "Again, if we were so precious to you, why did you use us to destroy the world?"]

...That, I can understand.

[She saw Emmeryn die, after all. She saw and all of her tactics were useless and

"You failed us all" "You failed"

... She shakes her head, attempting and failing a wry half-grin. Not enough energy for that right now.]

...It really is easier said than done, when it's the ones who meant the most speaking to us.

Indeed. The only way this could be worse is if my beloved or my goddess were here, too. Thankfully, they are not.

[Zelgius finally speaks. "You meant very much to me as well... was I really just a tool for you?" Sephiran's face twists in concern as he seriously contemplates the question.]

Beloved, huh...

["That's right, that's right, you never got married, did you!" "I always thought it was strange" "Because you can't love anyone, can you?!"]

...that...probably is best, that they aren't here, then.

Yes... I'm sure that, had I made it to my world's afterlife, she would have quite a few choice words for me.

["You tried to destroy the world that she worked to save! How can you say you loved her?"]

[It's quiet. It's so quiet, he can hear the blood in his ears, can feel his own pulse twitching. They've been dogging him for days, and as much as he's tried to pretend he doesn't care - he does.]

[Wives, husbands, children, parents, friends, enemies - they've all tormented him, ripped his emotional capacity to further shreds. He's just so tired now - he just wants to sleep.]

[He knows he shouldn't. He knows sleep means death. But death matters even less in this place than at home. Right now he just has one shadow hanging near him - and he's well aware of who he is. He's not saying anything at the moment, though - his presence is guilt enough.]

[Asako will find him sitting in one of the chairs with his knees up to his chest, hair matted and tangled and dirty, skin pale, and body swaying a bit in an attempt to stay awake.]

[("Pathetic" "You shouldn't have won the War" "You can't save anyone" "Worthless" "Look, watch. All you'll be able to do, all you can ever do")

Asako is no better, raw scratches everywhere and bags under her eyes. From the looks of it, she's been trying to keep herself awake by force as of late. Two - three - four days in? She doesn't know anymore.

It doesn't matter anymore.

When she stumbles in and sees Naoya curled up like that, though- Well. All she can do is drift over and apply a hug from behind.

(Because this way they can't sneak up behind you.)

("But nobody's going to protect YOU" "You don't deserve it" "You can't save anyone")]

s- ok. m' - gonna keep watch. ...s' okay.

[She's not going to make it, but maybe she can prove at least one of the voices wrong.

("You can't save anyone")

Maybe, but I can at least help them survive a bit longer. Right?]

[Naoya doesn't respond verbally, just gently tugs her around so he can hold onto her properly. His eyes are a little puffy, as if he's been crying, but he tries to pull on a brave face. He touches her arm and casts Mediarahan, not caring if it'll drain him faster.]

[He tugs her so she can sit, and he leans against her, suddenly seeming very small. He's always been the older one, the wiser one, but wasting away like this... he doesn't have the energy to be larger than life. He doesn't have the energy to play the role of the older brother, the one with all of the knowledge. He doesn't know how to react to this, and the way it's making him feel scares him.]

Can't... protect you... sorry...

[His voice is rough and cracked, and barely audible. It's all right, though. He can just close his eyes and lean against her.]

S' okay. I didn't - come here - to ask to be protected.

[Shh, Naoya. She's going to pull him so his head's resting on her shoulder.]

I wanted - to return - the favor. ... You need to sleep - right? [There's something like humor in that cracked, broken croak of a voice as she adds:] Pulling all-nighters...is fine when you're still in college, but...

It's okay...It's okay, now. You've already done enough...Okay? It's okay to rest - I'll keep watch - s' what I was trying to say.

[She tilts her head so she can look up at the ceiling. With the scratches gone, the pain won't keep her awake or alert anymore. ...That's fine. She's going to die anyway - though with her turtleneck over her collar, that's not too obvious. She's being very careful with that.]

And just...so you know...I'm not saying that because - because our worlds are similar. ...Probably dumb of me...but...you're two different people, I know that...and I ended up giving a damn anyway...

[She closes her eyes.]

...it's okay...to rest, okay?

I never wanted to hurt you. I never... never wanted to put you through anything that would hurt you. Even... even without being part of him... never wanted to...

[He shakes his head and nestles against her, shaking. He's cold, everything is cold, but he's sure that just going to sleep isn't going to fix it for long.]

Don't blame you if you hate me...

[He struggles to stay awake, to keep himself floating above the sea of darkness.]

You can blame me for everything... I just want you to be all right...please... don't do anything stupid... just to try to save me. I'm not worth it.

[The glamour glitches for a moment, and Naoya's body seems almost entirely clear. There's just a bit of color clinging to him, but it's not enough to last long. After another moment, it switches back on.]

... Sorry. I can't... save you. Can't... save myself. I... I shouldn't be... so...

[He reaches to take her hand and press it against his cheek. It feels nice on his skin, which is cold and clammy. He can feel Abel still staring at him, not saying a word. He doesn't have to. He can feel the anger coming off of him.]

Can't...

[He falls silent, but he's still breathing, albeit not well. His shivering slows, and his tears drop onto her shirt.]

[Hairpets, Naoya. Hairpets. She reopens her eyes and looks back at him as she speaks.]

That's what...I was trying to say, Naoya. I know - I know you're not my cousin, from my world - but I care anyway, and I don't hate you, even after your Shadow s - stopped having any tact. That will never be a lie, okay? You've already...done enough. You might...be a lot older than me...but you're human, still. And I...want to be able to help you, after everything you've done for me...even though I'm not the one from your world, you still...

[By the time she's done speaking, the shivering has slowed - is he asleep now? Good. She'll keep watch for as long as she can.

("You can't save anyone" "He's going to die anyway and you're going to die sooner" "You say a pretty speech but that's IT") ...She closes her eyes and tilts her head back up.]

Hey, Naoya? ... I don't...know if you can hear me now... ... But don't forget that... [Yawn.] ...that you're only human, too. Neither of us a-are perfect...You're you, I'm me. And...That's...okay. That's okay...

...I wanted...to be able to help you too. ... I wanted to help...that's all I wanted. So if...it's just this...that's okay too.

[Because the shadow children with their quieting cries are still wrong, and she can go without regrets this once.

So in a way, you did help, you see? We helped each other-

When Naoya wakes up, Asako's collar will have cleared completely no matter what. Even so, she's got a faint smile on her face, almost like she was having a nice dream while sleeping. The cold tears at the corners of her closed eyes will give the lie to that, of course - but that smile's no less real for it.]

[When he does wake up, it's only briefly - and it's only enough for him to pull her into his arms and cling to her for a moment before sitting her up again.]

[When the retrieval units come, they'll find him dead, with his head on Asako's lap.]

[Seems like a good time to be looking for each other, and better yet that they were so close! When Henry hears his name being called by a familiar voice, he nearly sprints toward it despite how tired he had become—his collar is rather pale, no biggie.]

Hey, Robin! Man am I glad to hear from you, I was starting to worry I'd never find you and I took the elevators a few times! Ahaha... [... Actually she doesn't look so good.]

Hey, are you feeling okay?

[Oh thank Naga. Yes. Yes good the only person still alive from her world is still here and--

When he gets closer, though, she sees how pale his collar's become, and so her reply is a slightly sad one:]

It doesn't look like either of us are, right now.

Really? I have been feeling kinda tired lately, but hey let's focus on you first huh? [Because he does like you a lot Robin, and if there's something he can do so that you don't feel bad anymore he'll be on it in a jiffy!]

I don't want you to disappear.

*If Enoch doesn't drive away any of Sola's shadows, he won't be surprised. She only drives off shadow-Zeph anyway. The Archangels and her counterpart linger some ways away, not totally repelled, and of course Armaros and Lucifel are totally unaffected by her presence and remain close to Enoch.

He kneels down to hold her as if picking her up, but does not stand.*

If having company will help...

((did you mean floor 25 or did she curl up in the morgue?))

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the distance seems so small

Robin- Is the stairwell okay?

A stairwell is fine too!

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Asako - Floor 81

wweh

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Robin - Another stairwell!

YAY STAIRWELLS

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Still going to come bother Solas even if it won't save her.