[video/txt]

[flarefor_beauty]

[Lysandre found the whole concept the the video network to be rather interesting, as the technology was very similar to the Holocaster. Something he had developed himself within Lysandre labs. Right now, he was facing the screen, whilst running his hand through Pyroar's mane. If anyone catches a glimpse of the Pokémon, he comes across as a large lion, with a similar mane of hair to his master. Lysandre values freedom and had allowed his Pokémon free, after finding his Pokeball within a case close to his bed, on arrival. Lysandre never liked keeping his Pokémon within Pokeballs for too long. He had questions and wondered who else dwelled within the prison.]

Can anyone answer me some questions, for I am new to this tower. My name is Lysandre and I come from a world known as Kalos, where people and Pokémon exist with one another. [He pauses, thinking on his next question.]

The collar around our necks; what is the function for these devices? Is there any way to remove them? If so, are there consequences? [He turns to Pyroar to see the Pokémon's concerned face. He could tell that Pyroar didn't like being within the Tower, just as his master didn't.]

Also, does anyone else know why we are here and if there is any way to escape from this place? Escape might be a rather strong word, but this whole tower feels to me as if were are prisoners here. I have not been long but I have made several studies of this tower. If anyone can help me out, it will be most welcome to me.

Comments

[Video]

[alephbet]

[Aleph is also having a moment of wanting to let his demons out, though that's because he hadn't been able to summon them at all after taking the better collar fluid. So when he answers, there's a Lilim floating behind him.]

If they're removed, you'll die. Think of it as keeping our heads attached to our necks. [Explaining the glamour is way more complicated than that.]

We're here because something destroyed our worlds and we were 'rescued' from it. There is no way we know to leave, either to return to them by our own choice or to exit the tower and explore the world around. There is a way that one of the administrators can lose his grip on us and send us back to our destroyed world - but that's more unpleasant than being here.

[flarefor_beauty]

Die? Has anyone been seen removing their collar and was death witnessed? [Lysandre narrowed his eyes. He wasn't quite believing that things could go that far. Could they? What kind of person would install such a device? He frowned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.]

How do I know this isn't some brainwashing by our captors to make us think our worlds have been destroyed?

[alephbet]

Death's not permanent here. The testimony of the person who had their collar removed should be good enough.

You could argue that. But there's much less evidence supporting it. Even if it was a lie, what would you do? You still don't know how to go back.

[flarefor_beauty]

Has anyone ever met our captors? What do they look like? [He wanted to know if there was any way of meeting these people who did this. Lysandre was less impressed with the methods they forces upon people.]

[alephbet]

Yes. There are two adult men, a girl who appears something like a teenager, and a young boy - Riki and Jason, Ruana, and Zo respectively. They're the only ones of us who aren't visibly monsters who don't have collars, as one identifying mark.

[flarefor_beauty]

Has anyone tried to speak with these captors and ask them why they brought us here against our own will? Has anyone ever challenged them? [Because he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life within this tower.]

[alephbet]

Yes and yes. According to them, there's a virus that destroys worlds and they can only manage to pull one person intact from each to 'save' them.

Fighting them goes badly.

[flarefor_beauty]

A virus? [He furrowed his brows. He wasn't believing much of this, if at all.]

If there any proof of this so called virus destroying our worlds? I doubt this story very much.

[alephbet]

If you choose to believe that the people who go home and return with stories of dead worlds are brainwashed, and that the viewfinders on the fifth floor are similar illusions, then no. No proof.

[It's at this point that the Lilim speaks.] What about the shadow children? The ones that-

It's probably better not to bring them up if I don't have to.

[flarefor_beauty]

Shadow children? Who are they? [Yes, he is listening and he wants to know all he can. This place both fascinates and annoys him. A strange mix.]

[alephbet]

Supposedly... the spirits of those who were killed when our worlds were destroyed now inhabit the tower as dark, humanoid beings. You'll know if one latches onto you - they speak with the voices of people you knew, and too much time with them will kill you.

[Video]

[roses_remembered]

[The video's at an odd ankle, zoomed in on a blouse and fabric tie.]

What's a Pokemon...?

[flarefor_beauty]

Pokémon are creatures who live with humans within my world. This is Pyroar, my loyal Pokémon from my world.

[Lysandre moves out of the picture to allow Pyror to show his large mane of hair. He could just about reach the terminal screen.]

video;

[chainsawn]

Oh, you're one of those Pokémon people too? [ Yes, she's completely ignoring his questions in favor of noticing that instead and bringing it up. It's more interesting, after all. ]

It's been a while since there was anyone like that here. I think.

[ It's difficult to tell any particular emotion from her blank tone. ]

[flarefor_beauty]

I am Lysandre of Kalos. [He nodded.] Leader of Team Flare. You mean there are others from my world here?

[chainsawn]

[ Urotsuki slowly shakes her head. ]

I think you're the only one now. It's been a while since I saw the boy with the cap. But he was talking about those things too, so I bet you must be from the same world. [ Although it makes her think, humming to herself-- ] Unless there's more than one world with Pokémon.

[flarefor_beauty]

Boy with a cap you say? He sounds like a Pokémon trainer.

[He nodded.] Was there a girl with a pink bag with him too? [He wondered if she had seen the trainer's friends too.] There are many worlds where Pokémon exist. I live in the world known as Kalos.

[chainsawn]

... Hmm, I don't think I've seen another one of them. Just the boy. [ And apparently she either never heard his name or she forgot it already. Urotsuki's pretty honest when it comes to these kind of things, after all. ]

And he didn't talk much about his world either, so I didn't even know the name. I just remember that name.. "Pokémon".

[flarefor_beauty]

Hm. So, there is another from my world who exists here? Interesting. I shall have to try and contact this trainer and find out more about him. Is there any easy way to try and find people within this tower?

[chainsawn]

[ Unfortunately Urotsuki is not exactly the ideal person to ask about stuff like this. After all, if anyone here is out of touch with reality and completely lacking in common sense, it's this girl. ]

You could try going past all the doors in the dorms and knocking on all of them until the person you're looking for opens the door. [ Not really efficient, huh.. ]

[Video] Late tag, hope that's okay

[sarcasmancer]

[Lysandre might recognize Jade; though they've never spoken before now, they share a room assignment, specifically 1-06.]

Lysandre of Kalos, hm? Since we share a room, I suppose I ought to introduce myself properly. I'm Jade of Auldrant. I myself am a recent arrival, so you'd be better served having someone else answer your questions.

[Lies. Jade just hates explaining things, and there are so many people here who can and will do it for him.]

Have you had any luck on that matter?

Re: sure!

[flarefor_beauty]

Jade. [Wasn't that a girl's name? He shrugged the strange thoughts from his head and nodded to his room mate.]

Not yet. I have been asking around to see if I can understand some more about why we are here against our will. Did you also have a trunk at the foot of your bed with some belongings of yours inside?

[sarcasmancer]

I did, yes. It seems that's normal for everyone who is brought here. I understand the contents typically include a change of clothing and a scattering of meaningful objects and personal affects. I haven't interviewed extensively on the topic, though.

[flarefor_beauty]

Why would someone or somebodys bring us to a place like this? For amusement? [What sort of deluded person would do something like this?] They cannot imprison us forever.

[sarcasmancer]

For science, it appears. There are four charming administrators who are involved, but you'll have to get more detailed descriptions from someone else.

Mmm. I'm afraid 'forever' might end sooner than you expect. You've likely seen that countdown on the terminals; it signifies the termination of all power in the Tower of Animus. When that happens, all of us will die permanently. ...Or so I've been told.

[keybearer]

Actually, you can remove the collars, but I can't say much more than that on this network. It's too risky.

[He shakes his head and leans back in his seat. Pokémon, huh? Well, he met someone from a similar world before, and after exploring the jungle with talking animals, the Pyroar's appearance barely phases him.]

They're kind of a big deal, though. If you don't get your fluids changed every two weeks, you'll collapse on the floor, and they'll have to haul you in for a checkup whether you like it or not.

[flarefor_beauty]

Risky as in you'll die immediately? Or is there a delay? [He wanted to know more about the environment he was dealing with.]

Fluids? Are you saying that we have to go for check-ups every week because of these collars?

[keybearer]

More like I've gotta keep quiet about it because the admins keep close tabs on this network.

[Big Brother is watching, and he'd rather not let him in on his secrets, so to speak.]

And it's every two weeks, but ever since people staged a rebellion, we have to go, no matter what. The worst part's that the collar fluid's been suppressing everyone's real powers this whole time.

[flarefor_beauty]

So I have heard. [Reno told him about that a few days ago.] A rebellion? At least there are those willing to defend themselves against this evil. The fluid suppresses powers? What sort of powers?

[keybearer]

Anything superhuman, and that goes for your buddies as well.

[Riku raises one of his hands, slowly curling his fingers towards his palm.]

It might look like they've still got power, but that's because of the glamour system. It's just one big illusion to make us feel secure.