towerofanimus | In which the entire tower collectively goes OH SHIT

Entry tags:

In which the entire tower collectively goes OH SHIT

Characters: The entire tower. PARTY POST.
Setting: Take a wild guess.
Format: Either or.
Summary: The tower has been reduced to one room, and it's chock full of monsters. Who you gonna call?
Warnings: Lots, the least of which being language...

[Well, ladies and gentlemen, shit dun hit the fan.]

[The tower has been condensed to one room with pretty much nothing in it. This post? Do whatever in it. General reactions. Go. ...As for Ienzo, he's just kind of sitting in the corner, head in his hands.]

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I've had to do it for years with my friends, but we can't fight anything for this long, so it was never really an issue like it is now. There's only a few of us-- we'd have to retreat and come with a new plan.

[The longer she sits and has a casual discussion like they aren't hiding from a massive group of deformed demons, the calmer Willow gets. It makes her so nostalgic for the rest of her group: they were extremely insular and unconditional with each other that it feels like she's missing part of herself not to have Buffy, Xander, and even Giles right along with her. It was part of the reason she'd been so desperate to bring Buffy back to life, those couple years back.]

[Nods slightly, taking a second to lksjdf remember what she said. A sweep is two years. Right]

Everything, has to be done. So much quicker, in a fight... like this. You have to, pace yourself. It's uh... a hard skill to, learn sometimes. [Says this like it's something he's said a hundred times before. Which... he has lkasdj And truth be told, the longer he sits here the more he wants to get up and join in for real. He's not used to having to stand back to be able to control anything. But he's also... not stupid. He knows eight monsters will do more damage then his one troll self. It's frustrating but... necessary. He's glad he has her company now anyway. Takes his mind off how... kind of useless he feels over here]

[She notices the rote way he says that, and is reminded of something. It's dangerous for her to go out there into the fray, because she's so physically weak and so dependent on her powers; one misstep and she gets too close, and she's a goner. But maybe...]

It's easier when you aren't on your lonesome in something this big. Which reminds me-- I had an idea earlier.

Remember how when I healed you, I gave you some of my strength? What if I did that now? Would that help with controlling the baddies?

[lksjdf well that's not really what he's trying to say. He hardly thinks she's weak, just that she's inexperienced with this kind of thing...! Still that... definitely catches his attention, and for a moment he looks pretty damn enthusiastic. Except that... well two things actually: ]

I don't, know. If that would... help? Uh... I am not, really tired, even now. I think, possibly... something is uh. Blocking me. [Frowns] Also, if... you make yourself, tired. You won't be able to, continue, fighting will you...?

[Willow doesn't mind being called weak when it comes to physical combat, and all that pertains to it; it's just the truth, and she's always accepted it. In fact, she volunteered herself for that status. She was strong enough magically that it didn't bother her, and she made her offer to help and do what she could readily as a consequence.]

I don't have to go as far as I did the day in the forest-- I didn't need to save my energy for anything else then. But I could... give you a little boost? See if you can get past the block, or at least find where it is? [Slightly hopeful expression, scooting subtly over closer to him along the floor.]

[Oh my god, Willow. Gives her this... weird... confused but grateful look. He just can't understand how willing she is to help him oh no]

If. I mean... if you, think you can, manage without it. Then it is uh, worth a... try. [Nods faintly]

[She defines her self-worth based on what other people think of her, okay?? It means that she likes being nice to her friends, gosh!]

It's safer for me than trying to take them on on my own, if that persuades you any. It's energy put to good use. [She gives him a reassuring smile, reading his confusion, and holds out her hand for him to take.]

[Little pause... not as long as it was that first time, but still there, before he takes her hand. Smiles back just slightly]

Uh... thank you. [lksjdf the words are terribly unfamiliar to him, but... he is not sure what else is appropriate to say in this situation. Gosh, Willow, you're just so nice wow]

Any time, [she answers cheerily, holding his hand loosely and settling in more comfortably beside him against the wall.]

You ready? I'm gonna tag along and see if I can't figure out what the block is myself.

Uh. [Almost jerks his hand away because... welp someone tagging along in his head makes him KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE??? Though this is Willow who... has been nothing if not well-intentioned and kind so far]

Do I, have to do... anything differently...? If you're there...?

No, no, [she rushes to explain,] I'll just be following you. Um, like... walking behind you?

I won't hear your thoughts or anything. I'm not that good at that to start with.

[...then this is probably going to be really confusing for you, brosis. But okay. If she can't read his thoughts, he mostly figures this can't backfire too hard]

[Nods slightly] Alright... Then I guess, if... you are ready...?

[Nahhhh she's done weirder mental magic things, seriously. This won't even make her metaphorically break step.]

Whenever you are, go ahead. You won't even notice me except for the boost, [she promises.] Like a step stool.

[...well okay. Nods slightly, takes her hand a little tighter in his own because no matter what she says, being sure of their physical connection is reassuring to him since... he doesn't really know how this is gonna go... and a second later he's... left his body. Mostly. There are only the most peripheral of thoughts rolling around in his head, and he slides away down the links he has to each of his monsters]

[For a second, right as he enters this psychic world, every monster in the room has a voice to him. And it's loud as hell, honestly. Maybe... voice isn't really the right word though. Cause see, there is nothing sentient outside of the Summoner's head. These links are created through sense and instinct, so even if Willow could hear his thoughts they probably wouldn't make any sense to her since he's been stripped of anything like verbal communication or language. It's all visceral sensory impressions, and adrenalin and movement]

[After that first second of everything at once though, it all narrows down to eight links established around the room, and a couple that are trying, reaching, and failing, apparently because they are too weak. He can feel the boost, sure, but it's not quite enough to overcome both the beginnings of his own exhaustion and whatever it is the tower's done. Have fun, Willow lskdjf]

[Physical connection is helpful, and truthfully Willow is all about reassurance in whatever form, so she tightens her grip when he does. She's there; she's got this.

Ordinarily an odd mix of self-doubt and confidence about magic, this bit at least is something she's sure she can do without losing herself, so she throws herself into it. She's just following, not leading; she doesn't have to make real decisions, only minor ones. Some of her old attitude from before Tara's death is evident here, in her unreserved willingness and finesse when handling anything remotely magical. She really is a prodigy in this area, and Willow follows after him in the mental plane easily.

She has a moment where has to decide what she wants to do. Boost more, look for the block, try to smooth over the monsters' wills more? She ends up doing her strength-sharing trick more extensively, shaving off the Summoner's exhaustion to merely tired levels. Less like the end of a marathon, and more like the middle.

That done, she takes a closer look at the minds of their enemies, and is taken aback at what she finds now that she's looking for it.] This is... weird, [she says, the words coming as if from a great distance.] They're all-- muddled inside. They're not usually like that.

Edited 2012-01-15 02:26 (UTC)

[Well he definitely appreciates the further the boost, taking advantage of it to kick down one of the monsters who was starting to get especially prickly with him]

[And yeah, no kidding about the distance. It's hard to bring himself back around, return enough to... not only process the words but come up with some kind of response. A minute passes, two, and then he frowns deeply]

Muddled...? [What does that mean... What are they usually like then]

Like... they're foggy. Are they usually like this for you? Maybe I've just only mind controlled real people before, so it feels different, but this is all--

... It's like something is making them think about attacking, and nothing else.

[...hm]

Is it uh... all of them...? Because, the ones that I am... controlling are, supposed to be. Only thinking about, attacking.

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In which the entire tower collectively goes OH SHIT

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holy crap I totally lost this tag ;;;

lkjasdf tis okay <3 <3

<3<33!!!!

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