[Video]

[colorfulbrilliance]

[It takes a moment for Meiling to realize that the video was on but she doesn't look like she's all there right now. Both the video and someone going missing just hit her hard and she looks quite lost.]

What...What was...

I don't understand why.....Never mind. I'll just go to think.

[She then shakes her head and turns it off. She's going to stick around the terminal for a bit and then take off to the Graveyard floor to sit quietly]

Comments

permavid;

[red_tea]

[ ... ] Meiling?

[colorfulbrilliance]

Yes?

[No real change in her expression. Except maybe the small bit of fighting over wanting to just cry or just tear everything apart in her eyes...and a bit or fear. Because who's next?]

[red_tea]

...You shouldn't be alone.

[colorfulbrilliance]

I...I'm okay...really...I'm not going anywhere..

[She's not looking at the camera, not wanting her lie to be seen through.]

[red_tea]

[ Don't do that. She's known you too well when you're trying to hide something. She speaks again, with a little bit more force this time: ] Meiling!

[colorfulbrilliance]

[She startles, looking up and almost curling in on herself]

What? I...I...

[red_tea]

[ She doesn't want to discuss anything over the network. Doesn't want to draw attention. It's not proper. ] Tell me where you are.

[colorfulbrilliance]

Second floor dorms...But I'm heading to 48...Just to be sure.

[red_tea]

[ This definitely confirms what she believes this to be about. ] ...I'm going, too. [ Although truth be told, she already checked. ]

[colorfulbrilliance]

I guess we can meet up there then.

[She tries to look calm. She really does!]

action!

[red_tea]

[ A nod, and she cuts the feed to make her way there. ]

[colorfulbrilliance]

[She'll do the same, Although if she gets there first might be another story. She's going between walking and then running on the stairs. But she will get there and wait.]

[red_tea]

[ They'll probably run into each other, more than likely... ]

[colorfulbrilliance]

[When she spots Sakuya, she is half tempted to stop but she ignores that and walks up to her.]

...Have you seen already?

[She's just getting to the point. Her hopes are not ever high at this point but..if there was a chance..she was willing to take it]

[red_tea]

[ She's silent and reserved for a few moments more as they continue on their way. ] I think that... you should just see for yourself.

[colorfulbrilliance]

[That at least kept her hopes back where they were in the beginning. She looks away again and her hands tighten into fists, a good indicator on what she is getting close to doing.]

..If so..What then...Do we fight or just survive this place?

[red_tea]

We fight. [ She looks at her determinedly. ] We survive.

[colorfulbrilliance]

Right..Just like before...

[She'll stop talking at this point, just keeping her focus to climbing the tower. She wants to know if it's true. She speaks again, although it's clear she does not quite believe what she is saying.]

If so..Maybe she's back home..waiting for us to return..

[red_tea]

[ That reminds her-- ] ...Do you remember anything from when we all believed a lot of time had passed here, and... [ And they even got fake memories? Well. There's one thing they didn't account for in the tower. ] People came and left often. Sometimes with returns were of the same person, even after they got a grave. Perhaps the same will happen with our Lady.

[colorfulbrilliance]

I do....But I'm not sure if I fully want that. If that means she's escaped the things we go through here...Maybe...

[She shakes her head. Again, she does not sound like she believe what she is saying. Although there is a bit of anger, aimed mostly at herself.]

As long as they don't use this against us..Ruana is in charge this month...I guess I should be thankful that if this is true she can't force me to do that to the Mistress again...

[red_tea]

[ She pauses. ]


...Pardon?

[colorfulbrilliance]

....

[Meiling stops dead in her tracks and refuses to even look at Sakuya at this point. This was something she wished she culd keep quiet about but her words betrayed her]

This place can make you do un-speakable acts against people you care about...Please...don't make me say it...I know I failed but please...

[red_tea]

[ Her gaze is now cold. Sakuya hasn't been susceptible to having her will be taken over yet, but it's not as if she can't somewhat understand. ] You couldn't do anything at all against it?

[Video - a few hours late]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch had spent quite a bit of time dazed and worried. What if he ruined everything? What if he was responsible for ending an innocent man's life?

Eventually, he sat down to look at the responses to the transmission.*

Did you have their rotation wrong, as well?

*He doesn't think very hard before he responds. He just wants to talk.*

[colorfulbrilliance]

[All that she does is shake her head no and wrap her arms around herself and try to start heading up the stairs again. Anything to try and bring her thoughts away from that night. After a moment she will speak though]

Nothing. I was angry but fine next thing I know...I...I...and then I could control myself after it was over...Please...Be careful because if she wants, you won't have a choice. I just wish they would have killed me as well.

[colorfulbrilliance]

[It takes a while because, She did not want to leave the gravestones. But she would be back later on. She responds back, still looking lost but more depressed then anything]

I never knew the rotation...Have not been here that long

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch doesn't think of actually giving her the rotation he'd thought was true. The look on her face is enough to completely derail that.*

...Are you all right?

*It was lucky that she happened to catch him at a spot where he was near a terminal.*

[colorfulbrilliance]

[She actually looks about ready to lie about it but then thinks better of it.]

Not really...But when is anyone alright here? Except those who are gone we hope.

[red_tea]

[ What Meiling is suggesting is outrageous-- to even think about harming Remilia! Her next words would be harsh but...

they're here at the grave now. Instead, she continues to speak coldly. ] You won't have to worry about harming her any more.

[colorfulbrilliance]

[Still has the same effect on her right now as she at least looks to Sakuya. She looks away sharply, as if she had been slapped but keeps anything she was about to stay silent. She just kneels at the grave and bows her head, hands folded in her lap.]

I will never forgive myself for that night, In control or not.

[In a quieter voice, she speaks to the headstone]

I know I've failed once more...I told you I'd protect you here and anywhere else...Forgive me Mistress...Remilia

[red_tea]

[ Sakuya tries to understand. Tries to put herself in Meiling's shoes. But it's all for naught, because harming her mistress in such a way is something she'd only dream about in years past, back when she was still hunting vampires. ] We must not let this happen again.

[colorfulbrilliance]

I understand Sakuya-san...

[She isn't expecting anything at the moment, if at all. She's just going to be silent, staring at the grave. Not planning on leaving until her Security shift and even then, returning just to sit and guard.]

[red_tea]

[ It's a bit easier for Sakuya; she only has maid work to do, and that can be completed whenever. She'll be staying here for a little bit longer, of course, and then she'll leave. It's not Meiling, it just that... well, she can't think of her Mistress as dead. Doesn't want to. ]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch lets out a soft little sigh at that. He can't lie and say those who are gone aren't all right. They're on their ruined worlds, completely and utterly alone... But he doesn't want to cause her pain. So he decides not to bring it up at all.*

You...lost someone here, I take it?

Graveyard

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle hadn't seen Meiling's message but she had become somewhat over excited since discovering the network and seeing the video post. She was on her way back to floor 41 to tell all the insects when she noticed Meiling among the gravestones]

Hey! Meiling!

[She floats over, sensing something a little off but she carries on in the same manner regardless, eager to share her thoughts]

Did you see that thing on the screens? Who do you think those people are? I wanted to watch more but Equius says I can't. Who do you think's getting married? I bet the quiet one is!

[colorfulbrilliance]

Yes...Someone who I promised to protect with my life. Here and hundreds of years ago.

[She's used to pain..but this and not knowing what was to come next just has her floored.]

Some of us are still here but..

[colorfulbrilliance]

[It takes a moment for her to register that Wriggle was there but when she does, Meiling listens. She caught about half of what Wriggle said and tries to push her grief aside. She's already worried one person with it.]

I'm not sure who is getting married. Maybe they couple will tell us at some point. Although I hope they are careful with the person in charge next.

[wrigurun]

The person in charge next?

[Wriggle cocks her head to the side slightly]

What do you mean by that?

[warriorscribe]

...I know.

*A promise made that was meant to be forever. He knows it too well.*

It's...difficult, when nothing is stable.

[colorfulbrilliance]

[A simple nod. Meiling really isn't one for words right now. She'd rather be sitting at the grave]

I won't let it happen again...I...I can't.

[She pauses for a moment]

I'm guessing that this is a common occurrence for others?

[colorfulbrilliance]

[Meiling frowns. She wasn't sure how much Wriggle knew or not but this had her worried.]

Promise me you will be careful. That woman is not to be trusted nor messed with.

[She actually looks worried and slightly frightened.]

[wrigurun]

[Normally she'd brush it off, say it was okay and that she had nothing to worry abut but Wriggle couldn't help but take Meiling's words to heart. There was something in the back of her mind, some kind of vague memory that told her she was right]

Alright, I will...

Who is she anyway?

[warriorscribe]

To lose people? Yes. But losing someone you were never meant to lose...not so much.

[colorfulbrilliance]

I figured as such...And I'm sure it never gets any easier.

[colorfulbrilliance]

Ruana is dangerous as far as I can tell. She can force you to do things without any way of fighting it.

I don't know what's going to happen this month, but I just want to be sure everyone is safe.

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle nods slowly, taking in each word as best she can]

Okay, I'll be careful. Will I know her when I see her?

[warriorscribe]

No... I, for one, haven't missed the two I've lost any less...

*He sighs.* I'm sorry you've had to endure the same. Nobody should.