towerofanimus | Awakening

Entry tags:

Awakening

Characters: Sora and YOU.
Setting: His dorm room (1-06), the dorm floors, and then wandering. Feel free to choose whatever floor you want to run into him on!
Format: Starting with action, but I'm fine with either that or prose.
Summary: Sora wakes up in a world that isn't his own, and decides to so search for his friends. Maybe he'll find some answers, too.
Warnings: None initially. Will be updated as needed!

[This was all a dream, wasn't it?

That's what Sora had wondered when he first woke up. His head had been foggy, and for a moment he couldn't figure out where he was, or why he was so tired. But it wasn't long at all before everything came rushing back to him. Everything that had happened the night before...no, that definitely hadn't been a dream.

So where was he now, he wondered? And where were Kairi and Riku? He almost panicked when he realized that he couldn't move, but thankfully it was only about fifteen more seconds before he had been on his feet, looking around the room. He notices the collar on his neck, but hasn't quite decided what to make of it by the time he spots the letter.

"Your world has been destroyed."

So...the islands really were gone. He could have stood there staring at the letter in disbelief for a good long while, but that wouldn't have helped him answer the main question...]

So...what is this place, anyway?

[Well, there was only one way to find out, and it wasn't by sitting around all day. If he was here, his friends had to be close by, too, and he would never find them if he didn't get moving. Sora got on his feet and decided to head for the door, not taking the time to read the second letter through carefully. He could do that later - right now, he couldn't focus on anything but the idea that, first and foremost, he needed to find his friends.]

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Yeah, okay.

[It felt a little weird to just stop and read while they were standing around in the hallway like this, but there was no one else around for him to be in the way of. Couldn't hurt to give it a look, right?

So Sora tries to read over the letter carefully, his face occasionally revealing confusion at what it said. Not that it was that complicated - all it talked about where there was food in the tower, where people slept, and some things about a network that he really quite get. Nothing at all like what the first letter said. But that wasn't the strange part. There was something weird about the way it was written.

Maybe he was just imagining it, but...]

You know, this letter makes it sound like we're stuck here or something.

[Weird or not, it's probably for the best that he get that out of the way. She finds it best to direct newcomers (special newcomers or not) to find out as much as they can from the letters; that way, at least they have a grasp of the general idea and can tailor their questions appropriately. Naminé stands patiently as he reads, silent but watching his face carefully. It's because of that attention that she knows before he even says anything that there's something he's not getting. Her expression grows slightly more serious, but she manages to maintain the smile, apologetic though it becomes. She'd been hoping he'd already come to that realization before they found each other, but no such luck. Well, maybe it's better that someone be there to assist him with the fallout from the discovery of such a jarring reality.]

[Deciding it's best to say it plainly,]

That's because we are.

What? How come?

[He sounds more curious then anything, as if the idea that he could really be stuck somewhere hasn't quite sunk in yet. Truth be told, though he doesn't think about it, part of him probably doesn't want it too just yet. He already feels out of place and a little lost, after everything that's happened. Being trapped in a place he's never seen before on top of all that...well, it's a lot to take in.

Still, Sora doesn't let himself go over all of that in his head; he just waits for an answer. Whatever is going on - well, he'll figure all of it out as he goes. That's all he can do, right?]

No one's been able to find a way out, yet.

[It's a simple enough answer, but perhaps not such an easy one to accept.] Whoever's controlling the tower... won't let us leave. [Her mouth slips into a frown without her notice, but she's quick to discover it and urge the edges of her mouth to at least maintain a neutral position instead.]

But...there's gotta be some way out.

[This was the last thing Sora had expected out of going to another world. But...then again, the going to another world part didn't really happen the way he expected it to, either.

And how are they going to figure out how to fix whatever happened and get home if they're stuck in one place?]

What a mess, huh?

--... Right. [But not any way available to them at the moment. Not when the tower won't let them leave, not even via portal.]

[She offers a faint smile and a nod in response to his comment. It really is a mess - and it's about to become more of one. She knows she needs to explain this to him, but she's not looking forward to it.]

... There are... some other things you should know.

Other things? Like what?

[Sora listens, patiently waiting to hear the rest - what else can he do? As much as he wants to run off and find Riku, he needs to hear more first. Besides, this girl really was trying to help...and the least he could do was listen.

Besides, it can't be any worse then finding out he's stuck here. Right?]

[Oh, you'd think so. She appreciates his patience, especially since she knows how much he probably wants to find Riku. Detaining him is not something she's happy to have to do, but she still finds herself hesitating. It's not easy to tell anyone this kind of thing, and it's even more difficult to tell someone like him.]

The tower... can take people from different points in time. People you know from home might not be-- the way you remember them. [And maybe it's wrong to be so vague, to not tell him outright that she knows him, but that's too dangerous a move to make; if he goes running off now, who knows if she'll be able to help him?]

Different points in time? You mean like...from the past and future?

[The way he says that, it's as if he isn't quite sure he gets it. Surely, Sora thinks, he's just misunderstanding. It doesn't make any sense.

...then again, not much does right now.]

Yes. [Her response is firm, and she nods to emphasize the point. He has it exactly right. She fully understands his doubt, since, really, it's a perfectly normal reaction to that kind of information, but it does make her wonder to herself just how early a point in the timeline he's from.] That's right.

So the Riku that you'll meet here... probably isn't the way you remember him. [If Sora's apparent age is any indication. She says it carefully, making sure to keep it as gentle as possible in the hopes of easing the discomfort it's likely to cause.]

Seriously? I didn't even know something like that was possible.

[It is a little alarming - Sora thought that he and Riku would be on the same page when they met up, and now Riku's probably going to be two or three or ten steps ahead of him. Not that that's anything new, but...

Well, that didn't matter. At least he was there.]

...aw, but I'm sure Riku can't be that different. [He smiles, as if the idea of meeting a Riku from the future isn't a big deal at all - as if he couldn't have possibly changed as much as this girl was worried he had - and that alone probably says a lot about how much he doesn't know.] Bet I'll never hear the end of it if he's gotten even taller, though.

Seriously. [And then she shuts her mouth and watches his face carefully. He seems to be taking it well, at least, which is definitely a relief. That comment about Riku not being much different, though, quickly makes her expression into a slightly guilty one. Her hesitation is obvious; she doesn't want to disagree with him, but wouldn't it be cruel to let him keep thinking that? Won't he be disappointed?]

He... has. [Gotten taller, she means, since that's a much easier topic to address, and it also makes a nice segue.] A lot can change in that much time.

A lot, huh? [He thinks about it for a second, but he still doesn't understand what she might be talking about. No matter how long it might have been for him, Riku is still Riku, right?]

Well, how long has it been for him? Did he say whether or not he knew what happened to our islands?

[That's a big question, and Sora wouldn't be surprised if she didn't even know what he was talking about. But it can't hurt to ask.]

[She's well aware how vain a hope it would be to pretend he'd be able to guess at how big a change it really was, so she doesn't even try to fool herself. Keeping a smile on her face is done for his sake, but that smile grows sad and even a little surprised as he asks that particular question. That's a pretty good indication of how early a time he comes from. Perhaps the hope that he might be a little further along was a silly one, too.]

... He does. [It can't hurt to ask, indeed. Fortunately(?) for him, she knows a lot more than anyone would expect. It's a hard thing to say, but she knows it needs to be said.] Because... for him, it's probably been... a little more than a year.

A whole year?

[THAT is enough to catch Sora by surprise, and it shows very clearly on his face. That's...a lot of difference.]

Well, maybe that's a good thing. At least it won't be all that hard to find some answers.

[He pauses, realizing that he's forgotten something - something important.]

...you know, we've been talking all this time, and I haven't even told you my name. [He smiles, relaxing a little.] I'm Sora!

[After all, she's really helping him a lot! The least he can do is introduce himself...though, since she knows so much, he wouldn't be surprised if Riku had mentioned him to her or something.]

[Surprise is better than distress, anyway. She nods firmly, expression serious for an instant until she remember to smile. It gets easier after that comment.]

That's-- a good way to think of it.

[The pause causes her to tilt her head slightly, obviously curious, but she doesn't speak up. Oh-- introductions? She straightens again, mouth threatening to form an 'o' for a moment before easing back into a smile. ~~It's easier to re-introduce herself when she knows that at this point, Sora's neither met nor forgotten her.~~]

My name is Naminé. [There's a pause, but her expression changes only slightly as she considers the next part; at least in this case, it's likely true that they've never met before, so,] ... It's nice to meet you, Sora. [It's not quite an easy thing to say, but it would likely be a much harder one in a lot of other situations.]

Naminé, thanks for all the help.

[Sora's still smiling, completely oblivious to everything going through Naminé's mind. He's just happy that he had been able to make a new friend, even in a weird place like this.]

I'll be able to find you again, right?

[Even though he needs to find Riku right now, he really hopes that he'll have another chance to talk to Naminé sometime.]

[Her eyes widen a little at his thanks and she quickly turns them away, reminding herself pointedly that he was not referring to what it felt like he was. He doesn't know anything about that. Still, there's something very... poignant about it, for her, finally being thanked. It's easy to smile and she finds her eyes drawn back to him anyway as she responds with a quiet,] You're welcome...!

[That other comment also gives her pause. It's funny, but this time around, she can be pretty close to certain that it's possible.] ... Sure. If-- you want to. [Does he want to? --Oh, she should probably tell him where she's staying, then.] I'm in Room 1-15.

[Sora couldn't even begin to understand where her reaction was coming from, or how much more complicated this really was on her end. But it looked like it had made her happy, and Sora was glad for that.]

Room 1-15, got it.

[He nods, as if to confirm that he meant what he said - he definitely wants to see her again.]

See you soon!

[And, after one last smile, he finally turns to leave...and, hopefully, find Riku on the next floor.]

[Her own nod is meant to confirm that he has the number right, and the smile on her face is one that requires no effort.]

--Right. See you soon...!

[She looks after him as he goes, watching for a few moments before returning to her own business ~~a little happier than before~~.]

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