towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Grainne, and you
Setting: Dorm 1, Floor 100, Floor 25, Cafeteria (and if there's a floor mentioned you want to encounter her on just toss up a new prompt!)
Format: Either or
Summary: Getting acquainted with the Tower!
Warnings: TBA

Dorm Floor 1, outside the elevator

Grainne couldn't shake off the unsettled feeling she had since waking up here. There was a constant undercurrent of fear that she wasn't used to, and it kept her on guard and ready for anything. It hadn't taken her long to find the outfit she'd worn wandering around Fuyuki in the trunk at the end of the bed she woke up in, along with... several other more nostalgic items. That didn't stop her from shifting to her robes almost immediately upon stepping out into the hallway. White dress covered by a green cloak, and a veil over her face that she pulled down to see better. Her identity isn't nearly as important now that she's... lost.

Looking up and down, she saw rows of doors, each with nameplates next to them, and the one by hers had her name on it. Frowning, she looked at the letter in her hands again, before slipping it into her pouch. This is some sort of dorm, but where, and how did she end up here? What sort of joke is this?

Maybe it's where defeated Servants go when they died...

Well, it may be and it may be not, but she took a deep breath and started walking, looking at the names along one side but not really reading them; they were unfamiliar to her, except for one. She hesitated when she caught sight of "Assassin" clearly labeled on one. Was that a coincidence, or could it actually be? Up ahead she saw what looked like an elevator, and the beginning of a staircase. She stopped there, trying to decide which way to take.

Floor 100: Holodeck

More floors, more dorms, but these ones all seemed to be empty. Grainne kept on, wondering if there was an end, but after the fifth floor of dorms that she counted, she came into... well, simply one of the most bizarre rooms she'd ever been in. Some sort of hanging garden in the middle of space. The unease she'd been feeling started to grow, and she walked on, looking for the next set of staircase which she found by literally walking into without realizing.

When she made it to the next floor and stepped into it, her heart stopped. It was home. Not Fuyuki, or the place she stayed at while fighting in the war, or even the house where she lived at the end of her life. The place she had raised her children and lived happily with her family before events worked to ruin everything they had. Intact and as if she had never left...

Moving farther into the scene, she placed a hand against a tree only to go right through it, and bitter disappointment met the realization it wasn't really real. It's just some illusion made up to look like a memory. Grainne turned then to leave, heading for the staircase.

Floor 1: Cafeteria

After that one floor, Grainne headed up again to where she saw the elevator, and this time got on. If she had more of that to expect from going down the staircase, she'd try the elevator and hope there were answers somewhere, but she paused when she saw only certain floors were marked. Every twenty floors... and she could expect walking into random orbital hanging gardens and illusion based scenery. What kind of building was this?!

Fighting down her rising irritation, fear and helplessness, she pushed the button for Floor One. After a ride that seemed entirely too long, even for a place with over a hundred floors, she stepped out into a Cafeteria. Now this, at least, made sense...

At least until she was handed a bowl of what looked like oat porridge left a little too long in the pot by a very odd person with a blank expression and a collar.

Actually, now that she thought about it, everyone had a collar...

Squeaking, her hand flew up to her own neck and felt the collar there, unnoticed until now. She made a face and rubbed her hands over her face, shaking her head.

Floor 25: Meadow

After gathering herself, she set out once again, this time going up since there seemed to be no other way but that. Everything she saw and heard and felt only made her more determined to keep on. Floors passed by; a library, then another, what looked like a clinic, a place filled with televisions and video game consoles, a workshop, a maze, a forest, and then finally a meadow...

The magus that created this place definitely had a weird sense of humor. Still, she stepped off on this one, curious if it really was just a meadow. She would have investigated the forest, except she saw animals in there that looked uncanny and she didn't particularly feel it necessary to find out if it was real. The meadow seemed real, though...

Sitting down in the grass, she plucked a few flowers and held them. she had to admit that having a meadow in the middle of such strangeness was calming, and probably the break she needed.

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I'll teach you. It's pretty relaxing, even if you don't catch anything.

But if you don't catch anything... seems a strange way to relax.

It's more about the atmosphere than anything else. The sound of the water, the cool wind on your face, the soft feel of sand or grass. It's all really relaxing. And if you also have a good friend next to you so you guys can talk while waiting for fish to bite, it's even better.

[Wink wink nudge nudge.]

[Grainne looks around at the meadow.]

I could do that here, if there's no fish to catch.

There's fish to catch on other floors.

[Not even the courtesy of a jaws theme song this time.

Asagi slips up beside Cu Chulainn, leaning her head against his arm.

...and she's smiling again.]

Haven't seen you around before. [A slight inclination of her head toward Grainne.] Asagi- and you are?

[Lancer almost jumps when he sees Asagi popping up next to him.]

H-hey, Asagi.

[And he turns back to his new acquaintance.]

This is Asagi. She's a very special friend of mine.

[He looks back to Asagi again and reaches to pat her head.]

Now that you're here, we can all sit and relax together. Help the new little lady get over the shock of just getting here.

[Hey, he's got a lady on either side. It seems like a good deal for him.]

Nice to meet you, Asagi.

[Sigh. Grainne knows men couldn't think straight if it'd save their lives, and in this case it might just if she's any judge of character. This woman seems smarter than that. Of course she would be, because she's a woman.

Asagi obviously has claim on him. Which is fine, because Grainne wasn't out for him at all, but she'd better watch what she says or it may get... awkward.]

Oh, don't worry about it, I'm not really a fisher. My husband used to take care of that kind of thing. I'm all right otherwise. I take care of myself these days.

[There's enough Grainnes in the world that she might, just might get mistaken for another, but in the event... it's better not to lie when Waver will be letting Diarmuid know she's here anyway.]

Caster... or Grainne if you prefer.

Likewise.

[She completely ignores Cu Chulainn for a moment, instead staring sharply at Grainne as if trying to figure something out.]

Don't listen to him too much anyway- his head's emptier than most, so it's hard for him to get that not everyone can clear their minds quite as easily as he can.

[She inclines her head, and pats Lancer's arm somewhat patronizingly.]

But another Servant, huh? This place sure does like you guys.

Edited 2014-03-14 03:08 (UTC)

[He almost jumps at the sound of Grainne's name. His first thought at a hero name Grainne is his brother's wife. He's so freaked out by the thought that he might have been flirting with his sister-in-law that he more or less ignores Asagi's comments.]

[Though...from what she said, she seems to be from after Diarmuid's time. And if he remembers the information from the Grail correctly, there's at least one other hero named Grainne. A woman who was some sort of pirate queen.]

[With that thought in mind, he visibly relaxes, though he still leans a little closer to Asagi for support.]

Grainne, huh? It's a beautiful name.

...And the more Servants the merrier. Maybe we can all spar together someday.

[Grainne laughs softly.]

Men do have the habit of not using their heads often enough. Or the wrong ones. [She gestures at the lancer.] This one is notorious in my homeland.

Yes, a Servant, but maybe not from the same war as the others... I've been told Second Magic is part of this place. I'm afraid I'm not much of a physical fighter, though. I seem to be weak even amongst Casters...

The latter with this one. You'd think he'd learn by now, but I guess not.

[She slides Lancer a rather unamused look, lips pursing, before turning back to Grainne.]

You'd be that Grainne, right?

[She's not going to tell Cu Chulainn if he doesn't get it, but considering he's still hitting on her, she doubts he does. Hopefully, the meaningful look she's leveling at the other woman will get her point across to her at least.]

[He looks from Grainne to Asagi and then back to Grainne.]

Hey, what's that supposed to mean?

[He pouts, but leans toward Grainne when he hears her next comment.]

That's a shame. If you ever wanna learn anything, though, you can just come ask me.

I'm afraid I wouldn't do well at- I'm sorry? Which Grainne?

[She's putting on her most innocent look. And it's very good. Confusion and just a slight hint of suspicion...]

Diarmuid's girl.

[Sorry, was that supposed to be a secret, cause...]

And it's supposed to mean that you're an idiot and I'm mad at you.

[Lancer feels a chill run up his spine at those words.]

...Are you...really mad at me?

[Considering how she had choked him for making her worry just a few days before...]

I am not.

[Grainne shakes her head. This is definitely getting awkward after all.]

I must apologize for him. It seems the men of my country rarely care if the cow belongs to someone else.

Could you not compare me to livestock? Don't really appreciate it.

[She gives Grainne another slow, thoughtful once-over and then shrugs.]

Whatever I guess.

[Then her eyes slide to Cu Chulainn again, and there is the very obvious flash of ire as the whites of her eyes turn black and she cocks her head at him.]

Well I have reason to be, unless the word 'girlfriend' only matters when it's convenient to you.

Hey, if you've got the power to take it and keep it, then it's your cow.

[Way to completely miss the point.]

...Oh yeah, you're my...girlfriend.

[Even after all this time, he's still a little reluctant to outright commit. Especially when he just remembered Emer again.]

You're my only actual girlfriend.

[Grainne's about done now. She never wanted this... Being hit on by Cu Chulainn is awkward enough and now she's getting involved in one of his silly love affairs straight out of legend.]

I wish you luck, but I really have to be going.

[Asagi tilts her head in a nod, eyes still fixed on Cu Chulainn.]

Sure thing. See you around, Caster.

[It's probably a good thing, honestly- this is going to get ugly.]

Where are you trying to go? I can give you some directions?

[And yep, Cu Chulainn is digging himself into a deeper hole.]

[Grainne stares at him for a second before shaking her head. He... is definitely not the brightest of knights she's met.]

I think I shall go to the library... but thank you for the offer. Goodbye.

[And then she nods her head to Asagi and starts walking, none too slowly.]

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