Sleepover before the storm

[attheclocktower]

Characters: [OU] Xion, Excalibur, and whoever comes
Setting: Floor 101
Format: Whatever floats your boat
Summary: It's the night before the infiltration. People are plotting, discussing, and Xion has brought a Dream Eater so those who want to try to get a good night's sleep have a marginally higher chance of doing so. So in short it's a Tower-flavored sleepover. Bring your own pillows.
Warnings: Nothing in the top level. Will try to edit if anything changes but if something comes up in one of your threads make sure to add a warning in the subject line

======================

[Standard mingle post procedure. Make your top levels. Tag around. Have fun. Or not, this is Animus after all.

Notes will have been passed out and quiet discussion gone around by word of mouth, just saying that several people were spending the night in the hidden floor. Anybody who spoke to Xion would have been told that she's trying to figure out a way everybody can get a good night's sleep. You'll need to supply your own blankets and pillows but... hey, at least if you have trouble sleeping, you'll have company?

Note that any characters who sleep on the Hidden Floor, if they normally suffer from nightmares will likely have notably lessened or absent nightmares (up to your discretion) owing to the Dream Eater that Xion has brought with.]

Comments

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne is taken by surprise at the reversal of her question, and she has to think about it.

Looking into the garden, she wonders what would be accomplished by not returning where she rightfully belongs. She is a part of her universe as much as anything is, and to not go back and face her fate seems like a cheat, leaving the universe with a missing piece.

She would live, but what happens then? Does she even want to live, now knowing the reasons she was called into the world again are gone?

In the end, her choice is no choice.]

I plan on returning to my home. There is no other place I would rather be.

[lorule]

Oh.

[ With how Grainne had lowered her voice, Hilda had expected the contrary situation so obviously she's a bit embarrassed. ]

I- Sorry, you seemed intent on secrecy, so I thought...

[ Not that she'd blame anyone not wanting to go to their homeworld. Part of her had considered not returning to Lorule, but there were too many people needing her there. ]

[athousandcurses]

No, I was just...

[The words trail off, ending with a shrug.]

I was wondering, would you return even if you knew your fate?

[lorule]

[ That question hit home. Her own fate, she knew it (or so she thought at least). But she wouldn't wish for anyone to accept going back to such a horrible fate. ]

If there were people depending on my return? Yes. But if I could go elsewhere and change my fate without anyone being affected? I do not know, but the thought would be very tempting.

[athousandcurses]

I see...

[Grainne falls quiet and thoughtful for a few minutes, and she settles her arms together at her waist.]

[lorule]

May I ask what fate it is that awaits you home...?

[ Given her question and reaction, there were little doubt in her mind it was bad. ]

[athousandcurses]

What comes for us all in the end. It may be that I will get another chance in the future.

[lorule]

You do not have to accept it.

[ She shook her head. ]

You already have another chance before you. Why not take it?

[athousandcurses]

A chance for what, Lady Hilda? I do not see it. People keep telling me I have a chance, yet they fail to say a chance for what.

To live? I have already lived my life... I lost my chance to set things right when I came here, and since coming here I found I have come too late for a chance to help someone that meant everything to me, and maybe have something new and untainted.

[Pressing a hand to her forehead, she lets out a slow sigh.]

I am so tired of discussing it with no idea what to do... I am no closer to an answer than I was when I arrived here.

[lorule]

You spoke of fate, didn't you? And you indirectly questioned whether going home or not was the best thing to do.

[ She stepped closer to Grainne and paused. ]

I do not know a chance for what. And I will not insult you by pretending I understand what you have been through when you came here. But I do know you are not happy with the fate that awaits you, nor are you with your past. If you have already lived your life, maybe it is a chance to live another life.

[ Finally she looked away and threw on a lower tone. ]

If I had the slightest chance to change my fate and live a happy ending, I would take it without any hesitations.

[athousandcurses]

If I could change my fate, to live a happy ending, I am not sure I would.

[Grainne's voice is just a whisper now.]

No, I am sure I cannot live the happy ending even if I tried now. My doubts and fears are... but the reason is even more basic than that.

[She does not go into the reason, not yet. It's not something she is ready to talk about.]

I... have no options that will not end in... they said it is like being between Charybdis and Scylla...

[lorule]

It is not true.

[ She sounds clearly more passionate when speaking, as if speaking from experience. ]

La- Grainne. I once believed like you that I had no option left aside from a pre-determined path. What I did then-- It will haunt me till the end of my life.

[ She's not going to question the reason-- She probably wouldn't share them herself anyway. ]

I do not know your reason to think like that. I know barely anything. But I know you deserve your happy ending. Maybe you are right and you will not be able to live it even if you try. But I would rather die having tried till my very last breath, than having given in to despair before the end.

[athousandcurses]

I do not know if I could live with myself trying to tear two lovers apart simply so I can have an happy ending, even if it worked and he returned my feelings.

[Grainne shakes her head. Maybe it is better to tell Hilda than to leave it blank...]

And to go home and try for my chance again... even should I succeed, despite what he said I will find no happiness. Here, he has changed. I... think he understands, to a degree. In my home, he would find me changed and he would not be. He would not understand. Those feelings are foreign to him.

If none of this [She gestures at their surroundings] had happened, and I managed to get my happy end, I am not sure it would be what I wanted. I have discovered truths here that I never knew before...

[She scoffs lightly, folding her hands together and looking into the garden.]

This is assuming I was ever strong enough to defeat the other Servants and have my wish granted. I failed the first time, there would be no guarantee I would have any better chance a second.

[lorule]

...

[ That- She didn't really have anything to reply to that. She was right; trying to tear two lover apart to be happy yourself? It would be horrible. Though, Hilda admittedly did worst to try and get her happy ending, and still regrets it today. ]

I'm sorry. Ah, it's so hypocritical of me. Trying to convince you to believe in a happy ending when I have nearly lost all hope myself.

[ She doesn't say a word for a minute or so. ]

Go to another world. I do not see any hope in what you depict me. Yet, I cannot - and will not - simply acknowledge that you will not find happiness. If there is no hope of happiness for you where you come from, go elsewhere. Do not go back to a world that holds for you a fate lesser than anything you deserve.

[athousandcurses]

[The idea, when she really thinks about it, disturbs her on a deep level. The stories of being taken to strange lands, different worlds were wide and varied when she was growing. In fact, she remembers a time where she, her siblings, and her mother had been kidnapped. She had been so small then... but the impressions stayed with her a long time.

She suppresses a shudder. It had been strange and interesting at first, but soon fear had set in before her father had managed to win his family back.]

Lady Hilda... this Tower is not the first time I have been kidnapped and taken to a strange place. I would be a stranger in not just a very different land, but completely foreign to that universe. Even if it was a world as close to my own as you can get, there would be differences.

[Grainne isn't sure what her point is anymore, though, she's lost it somewhere in all of that.]

I... What would I do? Do you think I could? I would know nobody and I may not ever have a chance to return if I wished... [she may be getting slightly flustered.] It... it isn't a decision made lightly.

[lorule]

Better being foreign to an universe than the fate you depicted me.

[ Hilda isn't sure what choice there is there. She doesn't see one herself. ]

You would have plenty of opportunities and you need not be alone. You could chose to go in the world of another resident. You are right, it is not a decision taken lightly. But after everything I have heard? I believe this to be the best decision you could take.

[athousandcurses]

I do not have to decide now, do I? [There's a slight hopeful note in her voice.] I don't even know where I could go.

I... I will think on it. There is much to be done yet...

[Grainne looks to the spot where the transporter is, burying her hands into the sides of her dress.]

For all of us that have been trapped here. Will you talk with me then, when this is over?

[lorule]

Yes, you have time. [She looked down.] I would offer you to come to my Lorule, but-- [Who would want to live in the Dark World 2.0? No one, that was who.] I'm sure you will find much better.

[ Like Hyrule. She had little doubts she could make a happy life for herself in Zelda's land. But she wouldn't speak of this now. ]

Of course I will [She grabs Grainne's hand from the side of her dress and tries to smile.] And I shall help you if you have not taken a decision then.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne is too surprised to take her hand back, and it does a fairly good job and a long way to steady her. Blinking away tears for an entirely different reason, she smiles back at the girl.]

Thank you... I think I may have needed to hear that.

[lorule]

I pray you find your answer soon. [She nodded and let go of her hand.] Should you need to find me before then, you know how to contact me.

[athousandcurses]

I do... You're not leaving already though, are you? [She looks slightly disappointed.] It has been a little bit boring out here...

[lorule]

[ She had actually planned to go to her room, but-- ]

Ah, no of course. I can stay a bit longer, if so you wish.

[athousandcurses]

Thank you.

[She may barely know Hilda, but her presence has quickly become something of a... comfort. There's something of a kindred soul in her, if Grainne was to put the feeling into words.]

I wanted to ask you how you have been faring here. Are you going downstairs with the others?

[lorule]

Ah.

[ Slightly embarrassing question. ]

I have been doing... 'well.' [As well as one could do in the tower of animus, which didn't mean much.] I don't speak much with the others, however.

[ Not really any point. Sides, half of the time either they thought she was Zelda's evil sister, the other half they spent it laughing at her kingdom's name. ]

[athousandcurses]

[This time, it's Grainne who reaches out to place a hand on her shoulder.]

Are they mistreating you?