towerofanimus | add yet another dazed and confused girl to the mix

Entry tags:

add yet another dazed and confused girl to the mix

Characters: Aqua! and whoever you deign to throw at her!
Setting: Floors 99, Cafeteria, and anywhere you like!
Format: whichever!
Summary: oh look it's another newbie LET'S GET HER
Warnings: no warnings for now; will edit as needed

[she might have kept sleeping, but Aqua is being reluctantly pulled to consciousness because something feels...off. different. wrong also springs to mind, but that's a relative thing, really. it was wrong for her to be stuck where she was, but ten years being stuck has a funny way of making you adapt and accept.

when she opens her eyes, the starkness of the room is almost blinding, in a way - not to mention REALLY STARTLING.

a room.

and a bed. she's in a bed.

when did that happen.

something's heavy on her throat when she turns her head to look around; she reaches up and feels the collar, and is understandably startled. there are, unfortunately, no mirrors to investigate.

so she gets out of bed. all of Aqua's movements are slow, deliberate, and quiet. she looks around for any sign of life...or, almost preferably, any answers.]

[wow. a whole garden.

getting there with the step teleportation wasn't that alarming, but a whole garden after the bare minimalism of the dorms is, a bit.

Aqua walks around slowly, staring in wonder at each and every plant and touching every one in turn, confirming for herself the reality of them. living things are a wonder to her after such a long time.]

[oh, this is more...immediately familiar. the gentle glow of the crystals is similar enough to the Realm of Darkness, anyway.

it's beautiful, if quietly unsettling. she can't quite put her finger on why until she tries looking into the crystals to see their colors, and just gets a dull headache from the endless fractals.

she may squat down to touch one of the small pools of water, before settling herself as comfortably as possible next to it in order to take another moment to take in what's going on.

this place is crazy. first a garden, now a crystal cave.]

[...okay, this place is nuts.

Aqua stares in awe and confusion at the intricate ball pits, with trampolines and pipes and all sorts of crazy fun.

unfortunately, she's not much in a fun mood, but that doesn't mean the existence of the place isn't fascinating on some weird level. she steps into the first pit carefully, just looking around and peering through the mesh to pits above and below.]

(basically, feel free to choose any floor! one a little safer where conversation is possible, or a more dangerous one you potentially warn her to leave - she's very very warily poking her head into each floor for a second or two at least until she gets tired and just rides the elevator to the cafeteria, so - go for it!

she will also be mostly travelling by the stairs until she goes to the cafeteria.)

[well. it probably only makes sense that after ten years, she'd be hungry.

so. hungry.

thankfully, it's not hard to find the cafeteria. after one look at the layout, Aqua runs over to the NPCs running the place, doling out food, begging them for answers - and getting nothing. frustrated, she takes the oatmeal she's been given and gives up, moving to sit down alone at one of the tables.

...eating is weird. as hungry as she is, she keeps holding a full spoon in her hand and staring at it like she doesn't know what to do, before eating it.]

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[if it turns out that this world isn't hostile, she might like this floor. of course, it remains to be seen - she still doesn't know how she got here, or why. but taking a moment here before really looking for answers shouldn't make a difference.

she was enjoying the aimless wandering until she gets the feeling someone is looking at her. when she turns to look, the color drains from her face and she suddenly feels cold.

it's been ten years, but looking into that face, that hair, those eyes - she remembers the struggle as if that time had only just passed. she's afraid and angry all over again; how could this still be, after all this time...?

but he's only watching, making no move.

maybe... maybe...

Aqua closes the gap between them, frowning deeply and hands clasped to her chest. she stops at a respectable distance, but she can't resist reaching out hesitantly towards him, her guarded expression slipping into something sad and afraid--]

...Terra?

[He's not sure why she's acting the way she is... as though she's afraid. He looks up at her, confusion written on his face. He doesn't know her. Does she know him?

The name she says means nothing at all, falling into the void of his mind with no response. That's not him. He cocks his head slightly, thinking quickly, before responding.

There's no echo to his voice, the duality with which he had spoken to her during their conflict is no longer present. His voice is neutral, with his own timbre and quality now.]

I'm sorry, miss... do you know me?

[oh--

between what she feared and what she had hoped for, this is a very unexpected middle ground. her heart sinks.

this...should be a good thing. right? it's not Xehanort.

but it doesn't feel like Terra, either.

there's a brief flare of intense emotion; wanting to insist or shake him or something. but what would that accomplish?

it's...odd. she can feel herself smiling, even though it's the farthest thing she feels like doing at the moment.]

--No. I'm sorry. My mistake.

[she pulls her hand back, and she clenches it for a moment.]

I'm Aqua. I only just got here, and I'm...a bit confused.

[He doesn't believe her entirely. Why would she have reacted that way? Clearly he resembles someone that she may have known before. He doesn't press the point, though. There's no reason to. She'll just backpedal further.]

It's nice to meet you, Aqua.

[At least he smiles back.]

I think that's par for the course. I've only just arrived a while ago myself. I don't even know if it's possible to have one's bearings here, based on what people have been saying.

[she swallows thickly, trying to bury the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, and nods]

I'm starting to get that impression, too. ...How long have you been here?

A couple days, really. Mostly what I've heard is doomsayers, but given how long some people have been here I'm inclined to think they know what they're speaking of. [He shrugs languidly.] There's never nothing to learn though. It could be any of the new people who find something or think of something no one else has in regards to this situation.

[After a moment of consideration he starts to his feet.]

Do you wish for someone to show you around? I know of a few places, though I don't know if they all will be of interest.

At least we're not alone to being new to this place.

[it's not really a comforting thing, but there's strength in camaraderie.]

At least no one has really given up. That would... [she trails off, and doesn't finish, preferring not to continue. so she mentally shakes herself a little, and tries to smile again.]

...If it wouldn't be too much trouble.

There's a few new people from what I understand, though I haven't run into any others outside of you...

[He doesn't respond to that statement, giving her that. There's little reason for them to give up, and those who have given up have no doubt already been ground underfoot in the tower's games.]

It's no trouble. I was merely taking some time to enjoy the feel out outside. Being inside so much feels stifling, though I'm not sure why.

It's not exactly a warm, welcoming place. A stifling feeling seems natural, oddly enough.

[touching another plant softly, she says quietly:]

I think I like this floor, too.

[mentally shaking herself, she looks back at him and smiles - a brave effort, as she's still not used to...this person.]

Are there lots of other safe floors?

[He watches her for a moment quietly. She seems like a kind, gentle soul... though of course that's just the surface impression.

He makes sure to return the smile reassuringly.]

I wouldn't know for sure myself, though I do plan to find out. Even if it means visiting each of the floors myself. Though most I've spoken with mentioned that this was a place of horror, where even death has no meaning.

...I've heard that, too.

[a nagging thought has been buzzing around in her head for a moment or two by now, and she almost blurts it out in an odd desperation to keep silence from falling between them:]

--I'm sorry for mistaking you before. I still don't even know your name.

Oh, it's no problem. It's odd that someone might mistake me, I figured this sort of look was a bit... unique.

[After all, how many people have yellow eyes, silver hair, and pointed ears? It doesn't seems all that common a thing. Then again, if she is from another world, maybe it is common there...]

Call me Xehanort.

[It is all he can remember, after all...]

[for the first time, she nearly laughs.]

'Unique' is certainly one way to put it. But-- [she adds quickly] --it's not strange! Or, um. Bad. I mean.

[and the words tumble out before she can stop herself:] I had a friend who looks like you.

[as embarrassed as she is, she almost feels it's better to focus on that than the hollow feeling that comes with that name.]

So, I just. [she waves vaguely] Got ahead of myself.

Looks like me? [that piques his interest] In what way? I found my brother here, and he said there was another in our family... do you know them, perhaps?

There's no harm done, miss. I'm sorry I'm not who you thought I was. [He manages a bit of a rueful smile. It's strange to be mistaken for someone else when he has little idea of who it could be or how.]

No, it's-- Don't worry about it. It was an honest mistake.

[his question, though. there's a brief moment where Aqua almost says something, then changes her mind and shuts her mouth again, frowning and trying to think. thankfully, something else about what he said gives her a good segue to change the subject.]

...Brother? I'm not sure. I haven't been here long, after all. [smiling kindly] It's good that you have family here. It's...terrible to be stuck in an awful place like this, but having close support must make it bearable in some way.

[He shrugs nonchalantly.] I wouldn't say that we're particularly close. I just know he's looking out for me, and helping me to try to recover my lost memories and abilities.

[Ah, he probably shouldn't have mentioned that so casually. Then again, it wasn't really an issue anymore. He didn't need pity or platitudes. It was simply an aspect of himself that he would overcome one day. Until then, there was little reason to dwell on it.

There was something to how she said that, though...]

Are you missing someone, miss? A friend who isn't here?

Oh, well-- [she fumbles her confidence, but recovers quickly:] At the very least, you have someone looking out for you.

[she falls silent again and stares at the floor, painfully aware of the words "lost memories". she clasps her hands in front of her and squeezes her fingers, tightly.]

I'm...very sorry. About your memories. I hope there's a way to recover them soon. [she looks back at him and tries to smile.] If...there's anything I can do, I would like to help. If I can. As for me...

[with a faraway look, she reaches to her waist and leaves her hand there, as if seeking comfort from something. but nothing is immediately visible beyond her skirts?] ...No. Not really. I miss them, but. I'd rather they stay far away from here. They don't deserve it.

I don't think it's a big stumbling block, really. [He gazes off, distantly.] Not knowing is something that bothers me, but it's not consuming me. I'll find out one way or another... but it shouldn't hold me back from doing things.

[And he flashes her a grin.]

If you want to help, that's fine. I'm not sure how to go about it, but more people helping seems better, don't you think? I'm sure with two people it won't take any time at all!

... that's highly altruistic. Most people would selfishly wish for their close friends out of a need for comfort. Very few are strong enough to go on their own.

[Aqua doesn't say anything for a long minute. she just stares at him with an odd expression and a weak smile.]

...Well. Let's just say I've had a lot of practice, then.

Practice? In what way? Being alone?

... that's rather sad.

[after a moment's consideration with the look of a lost child, Aqua smiles and waves a hand vaguely.]

It was a bit complicated. That's in the past now, anyway.

[subject change!]

Do you...not remember anything at all? No hints or clues?

[He sees what you did thar Aqua. But he's no stranger to keeping the past in the past, even if he really wants to know about it.]

The only thing that I seem to have consciously remembered is my name... at least that's the only thing that has come forth from the void of my mind. I have intact knowledge of basic things too, it seems... for which I am thankful. I doubt I would find a patient teacher to re-teach such things in a place like this. Writing too, it seems, is not a problem, though I have no idea the name of the language that I would consider my mother tongue. Occasionally I feel certain things in certain ways but I have little understanding of why, just that they are. Those are perhaps the only hints I've had about my past self.

[she tries to smile encouragingly]

That's a lot better than nothing at all. Maybe writing and describing those thoughts and feelings will help in a more concrete way.

[He mimes writing in the air.]

Today... I felt... hungry. I wanted... fish... but there... was none.

[Then he can't help but crack up right after.]

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add yet another dazed and confused girl to the mix

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