Wouldn't it be nice to get away

[icebutnice]

Characters: Simon and everyone!
Setting: Room 2-18, Floor 92, 73, and cafeteria.
Format: Starting with action brackets
Summary: A new face in the tower quickly adapts.
Warnings: Usual tower warnings. Possible danger from floors 92and 73.

Room 2-18

[Waking up in a bed was probably the first shock. It was an actual bed; with real bedding, and it was clean. The room he was in was also quite surprising, not at all like the forest he had been in before. Getting into a sitting position, and noting that someone changed his clothes, Simon looked around his new setting, confused and a little disoriented.

It occurred to him rather quickly that things were wrong.]

Marceline? Where are you?

Floor 86

[Eventually discovering his trunk, Simon set out into the tower, his usual attire on once again, and the magic crown hanging around his waist. The crown being here was a very unfortunate thing to Simon. Not only was it taking his mind, but it was following him around as well.

Wandering onto this floor, Simon was struck by how different this place was. The floor was comprised of what looked to be a meadow. He wasn't outside though, at least he didn't think. Still he made his way into the floor, almost instantly stepping in one of the mushroom circles.]

Hehehehehe.... [Tiny voices filled the air with laughter. Simon spun around at the sound, but it was coming from all directions. Just when he thought something was about to happen a bright light came from his crown. The strange laughter turned to screams as the light intensified.

When it finally cleared, Simon opened his eyes to a startling sight. The grass around him was dead, the cold air around him quickly telling him why. The mushroom circle he had stepped into was under a sheet of ice.]

Floor 73

[Well this was one floor that Simon didn't like being on at all. With snow falling all around him, Simon made his way to the crumbling castle in the middle of the floor. The snow and cold not affecting him in the slightest, the snow piles did impede his movement a little.]

Cafeteria

[And now he finally found something good. For once in a long while, Simon was having a good meal.

Though, did they really have to give him oatmeal? Oh well, it's still something to eat.]

Comments

Floor 86

[wrigurun]

[It was taking her a while to get used to the tower after suddenly finding herself back in her ruined home world for a few weeks. She couldn't help but feel lonely for the old Gensokyo after so long. Wriggle had heard that there were fairies on this floor, even though she knew she would never run into any of the ones she knew she couldn't help but wonder.

What she saw wasn't what she expected though and at the flash of light immediately she sprung up, tense and ready to go on the offensive. A number of lights surrounded her as she regarded Simon with caution]

Don't move! If you do I'll shoot!

Floor 86

[icebutnice]

[The light cleared, leaving behind a confused Simon standing atop a large patch of ice that hadn't been there before.

At the sound of a voice, he turned and regarded Wriggle with even more confusion. He lifted his hands into the air to be on the safe side.]

Uh, h-hello there. It's okay, I'm not a threat.

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle narrows her eyes, still hanging in the air with the lights surrounding her]

What was that, just now? Are you some kind of ice youkai?

[icebutnice]

[Youkai. Japanese. Mischievous spirits that do either great good or great evil.

...This kid was calling him a spirit?]

Youkai? N-no, not at all. That magic was just...[He glances down at his crown.]...Uh...

[wrigurun]

[Little by little she seems to lower her guard. The lights still remain but her stance isn't as defensive as before]

So you're a magician then?

[icebutnice]

[Simon shakes his head, slowly bringing his hands down as well.]

No, not that either. I'm an antiquarian.

[wrigurun]

A what now?

[Finally the lights start to fade away and Wriggle hangs there with a confused expression]

[icebutnice]

It's a uh...

[He lets out a little laugh. The little girl certainly seemed to be confused.]

H-how about we start over then? My name is Simon.

[wrigurun]

Simon, huh? And you're sure you're not a magician?

[He certainly seems like a magician]

So what's the deal with all that ice?

[icebutnice]

I'm fairly sure. My magic tricks aren't very good.

[His eyes drift down to the ice at his feet. A hand subconsciously goes to the crown hanging on his pants loop.]

I uh... I'm not sure to be completely honest. Sometimes it just happens. An accident I guess.

[wrigurun]

And you're sure it's an accident...?

[Wriggle was never too strong against the cold, even from up here she can still feel the chills but it really doesn't look like he has any more idea of what's going on that she does]

My name's Wriggle.

Wriggle Nightbug.

[icebutnice]

Wriggle eh? Well, I'm very pleased to meet you.

[Contrary to Wriggle, Simon could barely feel the cold. Half the time he didn't even notice it.]

And yeah. I'm sure it was an accident. You weren't hurt by it, were you?

[wrigurun]

Uh... well no but-

You should be more careful! Insects are very sensitive to the cold you know!

[icebutnice]

Insects?

Do they mean a lot to you?

[wrigurun]

[She just gives him an unamused look and points to her antennae]

[icebutnice]

...

[He takes a moment to adjust his spectacles.]

A-are those part of a costume or something? They look very realistic.

[wrigurun]

Because they are realistic!

I'm a firefly, and as far as I know I'm the only real insect here.

[icebutnice]

Really?

[He takes a closer look at the kid, his curiosity taking over.]

You're an insect then? How interesting. Well, I guess I have no reason to not believe you, given what I've been through.

[wrigurun]

[She tilts her head to the side curiously. While Wriggle doesn't risk getting closer her posture is now significantly more relaxed]

I guess you're new here then, huh? If you think stuff like this is weird...

[icebutnice]

[He gives a little shrug.]

Not really. There's been some weirder things I've seen.

This place? You're not from here either?

[wrigurun]

Nope!

I'm from Gensokyo, have you heard of it?

[icebutnice]

"Genosokyo".

[He thinks about it briefly.]

N-no, can't say that I have. Sounds interesting though.

[wrigurun]

You haven't? But I thought you were a magician!

[No Wriggle, he never said that]

But it's definitely better than here that's for sure. Even if there are a lot of annoying people back there, I'd take it over this place any day...

[icebutnice]

No, no, I'm a museum curator mostly. But I guess I'm a bit of an adventurer on the side.

Yeah? Well let me tell you, this place is a lot better than were I currently am.

Cafeteria

[provenworth]

[Elena lived on coffee. Needed it. Craved it. And so she often found herself having to go and visit the cafeteria to refill her meter when it ran low. Like it had this morning.

She'd only moved about 100 yards closer to the coffee machine when she saw him, eyes blinking. If Shiva had been a male hippie, she might have looked like him. When she spots the oatmeal, she's quick to assess his situation and, stopping at a nearby table, turns towards him.]

New here?

[icebutnice]

[Simon looks up from his meal of bland oatmeal. Elena gets a small nod.]

Yeah, just "arrived" as it were.

[He lazily poked the slop with a spoon, said utensil quickly becoming stuck.]

I tell you, this stuff is pretty jank.

[provenworth]

I guess its only appropriate that I say Welcome to the Tower, though I think an apology would be more appropriate.

[Leaning against the table, she lets both hands rest against the front of her skirt, fingers interlocked in a loose hold. She's not sure which makes her laugh, the fact that his spoon got stuck in the oatmeal or his turn of phrase, but she does give a little chuckle.]

It is rather revolting, isn't it. But after that you can enjoy all the pumpkin your heart desires.

I'm Elena, by the way. And you are?

[icebutnice]

Pumpkin eh? I do enjoy a pie once in a while. Haven't had one since....

[He trailed off, his conversation, his meal, and his current status briefly forgotten. He came back to reality with a start, shaking his head.]

Er, sorry. My name's Simon. Pleased to meet you.

[provenworth]

....Since?

[Eyes narrow curiously at the blue man, his sudden silence unusual but hinting at signs of being pulled back into memory. When he returns, head tilting just slightly to the left.]

Its all right. The pleasure is mine, Mr. Simon.

[Pause]

Are you all right?

[icebutnice]

All right?

[Simon laughs. It's a small, sort of hollow laugh meant to make others feel better.]

Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just getting forgetful in my old age is all.

[provenworth]

......

[Oh, Simon. Elena has been thoroughly trained to pick up on little behavioral ticks and nuances and that laugh, that's beginner level stuff. But, given the fact that they'd only just met, she's not comfortable pushing the issue.]

Old is a four letter word, Simon. [There's a little teasing grin.] If I may ask, just how old are you?

[icebutnice]

Heh, no it's not.

[Simon stops and thinks for a moment. He's still keeping a nice demeanor around him. Don't want to be suspicious, or raise alarm now.]

Oh, last time I checked I was forty seven.

[But that was the last time he had a birthday party, or seen an actual calendar. It's basically true though.]

[provenworth]

.....Forty-seven?!

[The instant she all but screamed his age in total surprise, hands move to clasp over her mouth. It was rude, how she had reacted, and she's hoping he would take her uniform at face value. When she feels comfortable to speak again, hands lower from her face, pressing into her skirt as she gives a very deep bow, bending at the waist.]

I am so sorry, that was very rude of me. I just...you look a lot older than your age. Do people age quicker on your world?

[icebutnice]

[Simon did jump a little at the shout, but he quickly noticed how embarrassed she seemed. It wasn't any skin off his nose, he knew that he looked old; his age was more than likely over 47 by now.

Simon stood up from the table and faced Elena, giving a kind smile and a nod.]

Eh, that's quite alright. Most people say that when they see me.

N-no, we don't. At least, other people don't. I was... changed you could say.

[provenworth]

....Thank you.

[Really, Elena was much more polite than this, Simon. Promise.

Lifting from her bow, she picks a chair at a nearby table and sits, giving the man her full attention.]

Oh yeah? What do you mean by changed? What's your world like?