XVIII ❝Must we suffer...❞

[pitiedthefool]

Characters: P4Protag and you
Setting: Dormitory Floors, Hidden Floor, or pick your poison.
Format: Starting in prose, but I will follow you!
Summary: After almost a year of traversing the wastelands, a protagonist reappears...
Warnings: Possibility of slowness due to company. Otherwise will update this for later.

Dormitory Floors
There was no telling how long he had been there in the wastes, because he hadn't kept track of the days as well as he'd hoped as he wandered the shell of what had been his world. Only the hundreds upon hundreds of paper cranes that littered the Dojima residence would have given a clue. Yet when he awoke to the stark white walls and the inability to move for a brief time (though it seemed much longer than that), he couldn't help but be relieved. However long the time had been (weeks? months?), the power had not depleted. They still had time.

However little time that may be, considering the counter on the terminals as he walked past them as he went in search of anyone familiar or unfamiliar.

He needed to know what had happened, what was in motion, and what he could do to help them succeed. Too much time had been depleted; too much spent wandering the wastes. There were less than sixty days, and despite the overwhelming loneliness that had nearly crippled him back home... he had to hold on to hope.

(Even when it likely seemed futile to most.)


Hidden Floor
One of his first stops (well, after discussing things with those be bumps into upstairs and others who stop him otherwise) is this floor. Or at least it was on accident. When you aren't at a certain place for many key changes, you tend to explore what you can... and finding a random teleporter on the 101st floor? Suspiiiiiciooooouuuus...

The sight of the metal lounge wasn't something he really took too much note of, but the idea of so much information likely being placed in the terminals was tempting enough. He needed to know what happened, and if he didn't run into his friends yet, this was likely going to be the second-best place to find some of it.

(ooc: If there is another floor you want your character to run into him on, feel free to start something as he is likely to wander the entire tower trying to find everyone he knew/other faces/must obtain all the social links before the final month go go. Also known as "Twi cannot brain other prompts without morning coffee why did the coffee maker die. ;A;")

Comments

Screw sleep, Hidden floor

[attheclocktower]

[Xion was already on the hidden floor, sitting at one of the terminals, doing some work of her own but also just trying to visit with the AI they'd rescued. Upon hearing someone arrive at the hidden floor she turned, briefly, with the intention of seeing who it was before returning to her work.

And then she did a double-take, staring straight at Yu with huge eyes, both terrified and hopeful at the same time. She doesn't move otherwise move, not really sure how to react yet.

... she can hardly believe it. It can't... Gandalf remembered, but would he too? Was Zo really bringing all the others back?]

Get your sleep this will be here after I mean gosh :C

[pitiedthefool]

[He looks around, a little surprised - though his facial expressions don't give it away - at the surroundings. He almost missed teleporters. Almost. Yet when he saw a familiar face suddenly turn towards him.

Wait how did he words again shit-]

Xi...on...?

[Nailed it.]

[attheclocktower]

[There's a split second where she just stares. Then, without a word, she gets to her feet so fast, her legs get tangled up and she stumbles, though not enough to fall. She pays no heed, continuing to stumble forward as she regains her footing, scampering across the room until she can fling her arms around him in a tight hug.

On the downside, her unsteady balance means she'll end up putting more weight on him than normal. Thankfully, Xion has never been particularly heavy and the stumbling means Yu should have adequate amount of time to brace himself.]

hovertext go go

[pitiedthefool]

[For a brief moment he is grateful for that, because otherwise they would likely be on the floor. A brief moment, because the next there is a black haired koala clinging to him.

He blinks, not used to it anymore after what feels like an eternity alone in the wastes, but slowly wraps his arms around her.]

I'm back.

Dormitory Floors

[evokingfool]

Another day in the Tower, another day closer to the ever present deadline hanging over their heads.

Minato knew they're slowly running out of time, yet he still maintain hope. That things will be alright, no matter how bleak they look or how much suffering they went through.

Dressed in his winter clothes, in order to deal with the cooler temperature, Minato left his dorm room and walked. With just him and Richtofen in that room, he needed to see other people in the morning, even if they just exchange greetings and walk on.

Only...he stopped and stared in surprised. Surprise and then a sense of growing relief.

"...Yu."

And old friend, a special Social Link and bond, returned. He knew very well that means Yu was back in the tower and will definitely aid them in this race against time.

But selfishly, he's glad to see him again and no longer wandering the dead wastelands their home worlds have became.

"Welcome back."

'sup bro

[pitiedthefool]

At first he was just looking at the names by the doors, catching the timer on the terminals and doing his best not to run into anyone. Yet that voice... he stops. He'd be even bigger of a fool if he didn't recognize it. At least, that's what he'd feel like he was.

"...Minato."

For the longest time, he didn't think he likely would see any of them again. Though part of him, the selfish part of him, is glad that he was. It meant now that there was an even better chance for the others not to become soulbatteries.

Yu moved to bridge a bit more of that gap.

"Good to be back. What have I missed?"

He didn't need to go into everything right away. After all, he likely got an explanation from one of his new roommates, too after Ken let go.

doing well, you?

[evokingfool]

Minato, too, moved closer so they can talk. There's a fair number of things they can talk about, the majority of which was related to this tower and the administrators. Anything more personal can wait for a little longer.

"Other than the timer growing shorter? The most important thing would be Jason's death."

Given that it should be Jason's turn, but the nutrition bars on the menu was now misleading.

pretty good, aside from the whole wastelands thing.

[pitiedthefool]

He nodded slightly, stopping just outside of arms length. The timer was definitely something he noticed, and figured as much with how many origami cranes he'd made in an effort to stay sane.

"Ken-kun and Naoya-san mentioned that..."

He still couldn't quite believe it, or maybe it was just the dread of knowing Ruana was that much stronger mixing in with the notion of the bastard deserving it. Though did anyone really deserve to be eaten?

That much was still up for debate.

Dorm floors!

[slightlyoblivious]

[Another day in the Tower. It had almost been too quiet so far that month - almost like the calm before the storm, but given the chaos since she herself had gone back, Yukiko almost welcomed it.

She turns a corner, and then sees a familiar face, one she hasn't seen in months. Zo had said 'I'm bringing people in, but I won't do it anymore after this. Yukiko had expected a last round of new faces, not old friends. She manages a smile.]

...I don't want to say 'welcome back', but it's good to see you again, Yu-kun.

Re: Dorm floors!

[pitiedthefool]

Yukiko-san.

[There's a bit of relief in his voice, strained as it might be from him not being used to speaking much again.]

Despite not wanting to say I'm glad to be back, it's good to see you too.

[Beats a dead body any day.]

[slightlyoblivious]

I know that feeling. You don't exactly want to say you're glad to be back, but being on a dead world is so much worse than that...

[She breathes a bit of a sigh of relief, herself. Seeing Yu is good, but seeing that he remembers this place is better.]

It really is good to see you, though. Have you had the chance to catch up on things yet?

Dormitiories

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[Everything was ending, Veronica could tell from the countdown on the terminals. The numbers had been so numerous when she first got here... not anymore.

Still, she had to do a job, several actually. She'd decided to do some patrolling, make sure there was no one doing anything bad. It was the least she could do, after Sephiroth nearly destroyed the tower.

Her patrolling is stopped when she sees a new face though, wandering the floor. Was he searching for something?]

Something... wrong?

[pitiedthefool]

[He was going to simply continue on his way when he heard someone say something.

Oh, it was to him. He was being addressed.]

Just... making sure if some people are still here.

[It's an honest answer, as he hadn't expected to be back here. Ever.]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[She looks at him quizzically.]

What's that supposed to mean? Of course we're still here....

[It's at that point that realization finally hits her and she gives him a more understanding look.]

Wait, you mean you came back here, didn't you?

Room 1-08

[miseris_socios]

[Ken spent a good deal of time in his room recently. He was just so tired, with everything that had been going on recently. So it was surprising when he looked up and suddenly there was another person in the room.]

[Wait... not just 'another person'. Yu. There was no telling if it was the same person, but he called out anyway.]

... Yu?

Re: Room 1-08

[pitiedthefool]

[Luckily Ken waited until Yu was already out of the white jumpsuit and just shrugging into his usual garments, otherwise he likely would have been fairly awkward at being in that outfit again and hearing that sound.

Wait, that was his name wasn't it.

It was one of his new roommates, too - and someone he knew.

He turned around, nodding slightly. That key he found in his chest felt a little more...warm. for some reason. Probably his imagination.]

Ken?

[miseris_socios]

[He didn't say anything, he just practically leaped across the room to tackle his friend in a hug. His chest felt like it was twisting and suddenly he was crying, pressing his face into the other's chest and shaking.]

You're back...

Hidden Floor

[heavenscorpse]

[V/V recognizes Yu when she sees him on this floor. She tries to remember everyone she meets, in case they disappear - and Yosuke's friend was certainly important enough.]

It's Yu, right? You've been gone a long time.

[She approaches him with a soft smile.]

[pitiedthefool]

[He pauses, turning toward her with a nod.]

So I noticed... V/V, right?

[heavenscorpse]

I'm glad you remember. [She smiles, but it quickly fades.] Yosuke's not here.

Hidden floor

[sageprincess]

[There's a familiar face holed up in the hidden floor, pouring over a small pile of notes with a lowered brow and a tight-lipped frown suggesting intense concentration. Zelda is as hard-working as ever, it seems. In fact, she only briefly glances up when she hears someone enter, quickly returning to whatever thought she was contemplating.

... At least until her mind catches up with reality and she does a double-take. Yu has probably see the look of disbelief that follows several times already today.]

Yu...?

[pitiedthefool]

[...Lot of people on this floor he didn't even know existed.

He almost smirked at the double-take. Almost, because it turns into more of a faint-yet-warm smile as she calls his name and he nods in turn. Yes, Princess... it's really him and he recognizes you. Though forgive him from going sliiightly silent protagonist. He's still not used to speaking much again.]

Hello, Princess.

[sageprincess]

[Hey, it's better than when they had to use the bathrooms as their makeshift war rooms. That was just silly.

The faint smile gets one that's slightly more awed and still a touch disbelieving in return, and thankfully she's rather accustomed to silent protagonists.]

I suppose I should not be surprised yours is among the cavalcade of old faces Zo has returned to us.

[Yu was always one of the more popular Tower residents, even when she herself was not much of a fan. She tilts her head, a certain amount of worry entering her eyes. As good as it is to see all these old faces, she knows not a one is coming back emotionally unscathed.]

How are you faring?

dorms

[prayed]

[At first she thinks she knows him. He looks so familiar. His face is definitely one she's seen before, enough to warrant pausing to study him. He can't be anyone important if she doesn't even remember him, but something about that seems wrong.

Then she finally remembers. That's right. This guy was one of Yosuke's friends. When she was stuck with that annoying guy's body, all sorts of memories got pumped into her head. She can't remember anything clearly anymore, there's nothing more than vague images to tell her how to approach him.

It's better than nothing. She slips her hands behind her head as she approaches.]

Oi. You. Whoever the Hell you're looking for's probably not here, y'know. Well, unless you've made that many friends, then you might get lucky and find one or two of 'em.

[She wants to tell him not to bother looking for those two in particular, not when she wasted so much time on that endeavor, but that's a sore point that she doesn't feel like touching just yet.]

i am so sorry for the late orz

[pitiedthefool]

[There's a sudden stop when she begins speaking, and a lot of gears turning at once. He knows, he knows... but that little paranoid voice in his head isn't going to stop until he sees it with his own eyes.]

...Certainly been here long enough, before.

[Thirty five, give or take ten more. About as many enemies, too.]