animus_network | 3rd Invocation; legatto, through and through; Video; to Sheba and Naoya

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3rd Invocation; legatto, through and through; Video; to Sheba and Naoya

[The young man on the screen has seen better days. Other than looking like he ended up on the wrong side of a curb stomp, that's more believable than what actually happened. It was his "first", after all. Sweat slowly beads down his face. The normally pristine, stark white hair of his was little more than an orderly mess. While this didn't make him unattractive, it nonetheless signaled that something was off. Very off.]

[His voice, unmoved by his current state, is a far departure from expectation.]

My name...Is Allen Walker. I know you've already met me, but it was under the worst possible circumstance.

I'm willing to explain what happened. Right now. It's not a long story.

Two of you. I can barely remember, but...one of you was a young girl, somewhere around my age, who wielded a staff. Her hair was short and that's all I can remember. Other than she wore a lot of purple as well. The other was an older man. I don't know how old, but he was dressed a little more modern and had kind of a rough attitude. *Soft laugh* I don't find that to be a bad thing, actually. We're all different, after all.

It's been a fairly recent thing for me, too. But the very gist of it is...[He adopts a sad expression, like he was weeping for someone else's loss.]...well, I'm not "all myself" anymore. It's like I'm "me", but there's another "me" as well. It's called "The 14th". Supposedly the 14th Descendant of Noah. The one we all know about from way back then. That Noah, or so I come to understand. Hardly a human itself, I've been chosen as its next host. "Host" is a scarier thought than I could've imagined.

[He looks back up, more determined yet still sad, into the viewer's eyes.]

I'm sorry. With every fiber of my being. It's bad enough this curse affects me, but others?...I'll carry this burden with me until the very end. I am not blaming others for what happened. I should've went somewhere far away the instant I knew what was happening to me. [Now he just looks like he's begging.] This is something I will carry with me so no one else will have to. If I could just leave and never come back, I would. If I could end it dying, than I would...

[Allen doesn't quit finish that sentence. That's a bit hard of a punch for others to take, after all.]

...but even if I could, dying wouldn't solve it. Because dying can't kill The 14th. And until then, I'll have to beg for forgiveness to everyone I hurt, try to make it right. That's the path I picked and I would choose it all over again if I could. Even if I never could.

So to you two that I met before, without knowing your names, I am sorry. For everything and anything I was forced to do. Hate me all you want, you don't have to give me any forgiveness. You can even go ahead and forget I ever existed. It'd be better that way, actually. I'll not blame you or hate you for it.

[Given the circumstance, he looks lower than low. Broken and beaten, by himself and others.]

So that's my "curse", my real one. A prisoner in his own body. And I didn't even know if it could get this bad and paid for it with what would normally just be my life. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! [As Allen's hand clasps onto his face, obscuring any details save his eyes, which show sadness but no signs of tears.] I could never have made up for it if something were to have happened...!

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[Allen didn't get a response right away - by the time Sheba had not only managed to access the network, but also view the video and remember how to start her own video feed, a good amount of time had passed. But it wasn't too long before a video window would pop up to reply, and the girl who "wore a lot of purple" appeared on the screen.

Her expression was a little bit guarded, but also sympathetic. Some things couldn't be helped and this was one of them. Allen didn't seem like a bad person - and she wanted to help him - but with the "14th Noah" hanging about...

At least now she had some answers as to what exactly had gone down.]

Nothing did happen to us, though. The other guy and I are just fine - see? [She stepped back and spread her arms so that he could see that there really wasn't any lasting damage.] And I've been back to that floor since then. It looks like it's been... fixed up.

[And now, more to the point--]

If there's an apology to be had it shouldn't have to come from you. It wasn't you doing those things.

But now that you're more aware of it, and what it can do... is it at all possible that there are any measures you - or anyone else here - can take to keep it from getting like that again? [There's just the smallest hint of a frown, now.] It doesn't seem like there's any real way for us to leave the Tower, so going far away isn't an option. But we're all in this together now that we're stuck here... you don't have to bear this on your own.

[Precautions?....Yeah, there was a precaution or two taken. And it wasn't a pretty one. It ranked up there amongst the most painful things Allen has subjected himself to.]

[He looks to her almost like he'd just met someone he once knew. Technically correct, actually.]

Sorry, I guess I am a little more worked up than usual...[The switch from lack of hope to a little more brimming optimism was a little helpful.] I tried already to do something and I guess it worked in the end...mostly...

You guys were kinda tough, you know?

[A trained mind could see that Allen is still clearly shook up, just only highlighted a bit by comforted words.]

It's understandable. I think anyone would be, after all that. [And she'd definitely have to question the sanity of someone who wasn't.]

Well... that's good. The more prepared you are for it, the better, right? This way he can't catch you by surprise again. [Actually, she did have an idea about that, but it was something that probably would be better to be discussed somewhere other than the Network... She fell silent for a moment.

Then she reached up and scratched at her cheek, looking a little sheepish.]

Sorry about that. I can't speak for Naoya but... I wasn't really sure what else to do at that point. You were pretty tough yourself.

[So that was "Naoya", huh?]

I don't know about exactly prepared, but at least you will be if there's a "next time". [He damn well hopes there isn't. With nowhere to run, it's inevitable.] Normally, I would've abandoned this place so it couldn't.

Anyway, my name is Allen Walker. Pleased to meet you, despite the circumstance. [He tries, and greatly succeeds, in giving a winning smile.]

I think I might have an idea about what to do if there is a next time... I'm not sure it will work, though. There's some stuff I'll need to look into first. [And by that? She means there's a lot of people whose privacy she needs to invade by reading their minds. Sigh.]

If anything, you should just try letting the 14th loose on the people who brought us here.

[She's kidding... or is she?

Anyway, she returned Allen's smile with one of her own.] My name is Sheba. It's nice to meet you, too... all in all, it's not the worst circumstance I've met someone under. Everything worked out okay, in the end, right?

I guess it did all work out...[He's certainly now a happier person in a rather disjointedly depressed person's body.] I shouldn't be distracted by this. In a way, I think that's right.

So--Sheba--you think you know something? I'd take any suggestion, but it'd be too dangerous to try it. This is my problem, after all.

Well, I don't know if it would solve the problem, really. But it could buy a little more time until something could be worked out.

[She leaned forward a little, propping her chin up with her hands.]

Do you think maybe we could meet up sometime to talk about this in more depth? I don't feel completely comfortable talking about it on the network. [She didn't want everyone and their mother knowing she could read minds, and that ability was a pretty big part of what she was considering.] There's another floor I'd like to take a look at, too, and I'd feel better if I wasn't investigating it alone.

But for right now... [Caaasually shifting the topic to things she was okay having recorded.] ...are you doing alright? I heard from Naoya that it's possible to come back from the dead here - and it looks like that's true... [How else would Allen have been able to make this post, after all?] But I can't imagine it's a very pleasant experience. Is there anything you need?

I'm fine, really...and yes, I guess I really did come back to life. [The thought doesn't seem to bother him much, considering he was, ya know, about ready to die himself right there.] I hope up the next morning, paralyzed, in my own bed. Scary, huh? [He smiles, all carefree while adjusting his hair a little.]

Where did you have in mind? I certainly haven't been able to explore much the months I've been here.

[He might have been carefree, but Sheba? Not so much. She nodded slowly, her brows knitted together.] Really scary, actually... [How did they get him out from under there? Why couldn't he move? ...it might not be permanent, but Sheba would rather avoid death if she can in this place.]

I was thinking some of the higher floors. [She began to relax a little.] It's hazy, but I can sort of remember passing through a floor that might be useful if the 14th starts to get riled up again. I want to see if it's actually there... but no matter which direction we come from, there's some pretty freaky things we'll have to pass through before we get there.

Oh really? Well, if you think so, I'm willing to give it a try at least.

[Honestly, he's a tad sketchy about this young lady, but who's he to judge? She sounds willing to help someone, after all.]

[A golden orb, roughly the size of a walnut, flew around Allen a few times before landing on his shoulder, seemingly staring at Sheba with...no eyes.]

Great! Then we'll--

[But she cut herself off when the golden orb came into view. She blinked once, then twice, before bringing a hand up to point at it - though, really, considering they were communicating over a screen, the pointing probably didn't do a whole lot to indicate what she was actually looking at.]

What is that thing?

Oh, this? [A quadruped, it seemed. With golden wings and a matching, wirey tail.] This is Timcanpy, my golem. You can just call it "Tim" if you want.

You know what golems are? I can explain later.

[She eyed Timcanpy a little quizzically.]

Where I come from, golems are a lot bigger than that. They stand on two legs, and they have really big fists that ... hurt a lot when they hit you.

[She supposed she wasn't really surprised that their ideas of golems differed. They were clearly from different worlds, after all.]

Where did you get it? Was it here with you when you arrived?

I got it from my master a few years ago. And though I haven't seen a classic golem before, I know there are much larger ones that exist. There's some human sized, too, and even bigger. Don't know how they're made, but my guess is magic.

Definitely not robots, thankfully. [Those tend to break.]

Magic would make sense.

[It was so useful for explaining things away! "Why are the rats big enough to attack us?" "Magic." "How are you making this ship move without oars or a sail?" "Magic." "What happened to my dessert?!" "...magic."

She blinked again at the word "robots," though.]

This might sound like a silly question, but what is a robot?

[His depression returned a bit at this posited question.] A robot?...

Well, er, they're "like" golems, but they're just not made with magic and they...tend to not work sometimes....

[Komulin comes to mind. Oh, the stories he could tell.]

[Well, if they weren't made with Psynergy-- er, sorry, magic, then of course they wouldn't work! Sheba didn't say that aloud, though... she just nodded thoughtfully.]

I see. I've never heard of anything like that being possible to make without magic before. These robots must be very impressive.

[He seemed a bit down, though - so she didn't dwell on the topic of robots for too long.]

Actually, your entire world must be very impressive! What was it like there, if you don't mind my asking?

[He pulls his collar a little bit and his eyes grow a little beady as he is still dwelling on the "robot" thing.]

I'll tell you when we meet in person. I really need to uh...fix myself up. [He doesn't sound nervous, although it may be implied as such.] Although it's not more or less impressive than any other world.

Oh - alright, then...

[She was about to back off and cut the video feed, but then she paused.]

Where should I meet you? And when?

Oh, right--

The library floor. The first one, I mean. Easy to find anyone in there. Tomorrow, just after noon. I'll really need to eat first before doing anything major. [He inspects his own state--quite dreary, actually. There was a need for some fixing. BIG fixing.]

In that case, I'll see you then.

Be sure you get enough to eat - I don't know for sure what's going to happen, but it's better to be safe than sorry in this place!

[A moment's fumbling with the terminal, and then--

Bzzt. The feed cut to black.]

"Enough to eat", huh? [The feed's already cut out at this point.]

Huh....better said then done.

[He hangs his head low to that one. The food here was....well...]

[... Naoya listens to this story rather impassively, no real expression on his face - until Allen says the name 'Noah'. There's a flash of anger, and then he regains his composure.]

[His voice is still very cold when he speaks, however.]

Explain further this connection with Noah.

[Was it....it was. It was the man he "met" that day. Allen is shocked at first, but remains somber.]

I really don't believe it, but according to...a certain someone, the Noah are all descended from the Biblical Noah. Whether or not it's true really doesn't affect me at all, though. They're nothing like saints, as you've already seen.

Noah himself was no saint, actually. Far less than is reported.

*sighs* That may be. Hardly anything goes as planned anymore, or has never. [He looks up, more neutral than before.] My name is Allen Walker. I know asking for your name is the last thing I'm allowed, but I felt like asking anyway.

I happen to know that for a fact, actually.

[He shrugs. He's not really bothered.]

My name is Naoya.

Naoya...I'll remember it.

[He hesitates a moment. But his demeanor brightens greatly.]

It's a start, I guess. That was some magic back there.

Magic is one of the things I'm particularly good with. I've come up with a way to make it accessible to people even without training for it.

[Granted, they have to survive a demon attack, but shh.]

[Sounded nice. Allen seems to wonder, inwardly, if his power is magic in origin or if....]

So I...kinda felt. But that doesn't just apply to you if what you're saying is true. Dangerous.

Mm, well. There were demons appearing in my city and angels appearing to threaten humanity. Either I could let the two factions fight it out - likely to the dissatisfaction of the angels over humanity's performance, and thus triggering the results of their threats, which would be horrific for humanity - or I could give people the power to fight back. Especially the one human who actually had a chance of resolving the conflict in the correct manner.

The people who didn't make it through the ordeal were a necessary sacrifice in order to give humanity a chance of actually not getting screwed over by the angels or the demons.

Huh?...

[Demons AND angels? That's something even he hasn't seen. Both were threatening? Actually, he could give the benefit of the doubt to the angels wanting humanity destroyed thing....he believes in God, not the angels.]

[His world was strange. No different than his, though.] Yeah...

Just how exactly would you give this power to people?

Hehe. I don't suppose you're familiar with handheld videogame systems, are you?

"Video game", huh?....

[An earlier memory reawakens--meeting Sion and being introduced to entertainment a century ahead of his own time. And then getting thrashed. And the fighting...between the two other friends which included Sion and that brownheaded girl and not himself. He just had fun with it. Whatever it was.]

I've, uh, gotten a little familiar with them. Fun, actually. [He smiles, finally having remembered something not painful.]

I came up with a way to summon demons using the technology available on them. The coding is quite complex, but for the person using it, it's very simple. Provided the initial encounter is survived... well. Magic can be learned from fighting demons.

[He recalls the scene again--Sion hitting Satsuki so hard, she spat blood and saliva that flew what must've been several feet. He thought of making an allegory out of this, but decided against it.]

Demons, huh?

The unpleasant kind. I don't know what to make of demons anymore. Did you get your powers from making a pact with a demon? It sounds as though they're not so black and white in your world. [Or so he thinks.] And it's funny you're telling 'me' this...

The preferred term is 'contract', actually. No one loses their souls in the bargain. The demons are fed with emotions and they're bound to be loyal to their summoners. Whether their summoners use them for good or ill is up to them.

As for myself - I can cast magic without the aid of the system, but it's much more exhausting and not worth it. I did have an... associate help me when I was first learning, but I gained it through trial and error, not using his powers for myself.

Though technically he falls under the classification of demon. Angels do too, actually, though they hold themselves apart. Any supernatural being technically is. Largely it refers both to smaller spirits and gods that were cast down once Yehowah took over. He fits in the latter category.

[... And he misses him, honestly.]

So it refers to the old term, "daemon"...spirits that are otherworldy. Goblins and fairies are demons, in that case.

But you're a regular old mage, then? I knew a few who could use it. Although it was hardly a far spread secret. [His right arm aches. Getting up and out of bed was not easy.]

*genuine laugh* Heh...so that's how it works where you come from...then what sorts of "demons" have you met here?

Good. You know what I mean. Most don't, which is a shame.

As for calling myself a 'mage'... I suppose I am. I've had a lot of titles - whichever one you use doesn't matter.

Demons here... well. There are a number of people from other worlds that might fit the classification. It'd be hard to say for sure without... well. Careful study. Most don't want that sort of thing. My cousin might count, but she's from the same world as me and her circumstance is a bit unique.

...

So I thought.

[The fox eared one was suspicious enough.] So what does that make you? You've really put more than a lot of thought onto demons.

Edited 2013-02-01 04:27 (UTC)

[Don't let her titles fool you, catphones cousin is secretly adorable.]

Me? I'm a human. Not a typical one I suppose, but I'm a human nevertheless.

Same here. More or less....heh. I guess you've seen me at my worst, right?

I don't think you're like me, though.

No, I'm not. But other humans aren't like me, either.

Hahah. [Allen attempts a smile, but it looks even more out of place with the rest of his complexion.]

Welcome to Animus, I guess.

[man, can Terra relate.]

Look- Maybe it won't mean much right now, but things can get better. There's no way to make up for what happened, but...you can move forward, stronger. Getting stronger every day so it doesn't happen again.

[maybe he should take his own advice but ssssshhhh]

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3rd Invocation; legatto, through and through; Video; to Sheba and Naoya

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