animus_network | ➻ 01 [video/action on the second floor] (Spring)

[Well, if this isn't the most pathetic sight you've seen on this network.]

[There's something on the screen looks like an extremely dirty mop of a person...before you realize that oh, wait, that isn't a mop, that's his hair. Sam Erstwhile seems soaked to the bone, wet hair plastered to his face as he gazes in utter misery at the camera. And when he begins speaking, his voice shakes and shudders, as if ready to crack any moment.]

H-honestly, I do like the rain, I really do. It's nice, after a period of warmth and all, and water is good in general, for plants and things, but...

[He holds up what looks like a couple of seriously waterlogged books- if you can make out the titles on the damp covers, they say "Children's and Household Tales" and "D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths".]

[Sam, in the meantime, looks like he's on the verge of crying and adding to the water already dripping down his face.]

Please, I don't know if there's anyone out there, but the rain..it's getting to my books! My books started getting water on them in the chest I had them in and...oh god, oh god, I don't want to lose them...

Somebody, please help me save them, I really don't want to throw them away! But I don't know what to do, I've never had this happen before...

[He seems oddly unconcerned to the fact that he's a lot more soaked than his fairy tales are, but at the moment he just hugs the books to his chest, as if that will protect them from the pouring rain.]

Why did this have to happen...?

[And anyone on the second floor will see him shuffling around in a slight panic, unsure what to do about this whole situation. Sure, he would take rain any day, he loved water, but when it ruined the things he owned? There would be no love to be found in that case.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh-okay! Yeah, that's what I was thinking and all, um...

[And he falls silent and nods, looking pathetically happy as he walks closer to the other man to be covered by the umbrella.]

Waver. My name's Waver Velvet.

[He turned and walked out, the mercury sliding right along at his side to keep them both relatively dry.]

I don't think I got yours.

Waver Velvet...? [What an odd name. He follows dutifully, before giving a little shrug.]

Sam. Sam Erstwhile...A pleasure.

Yes, it's my real name and no, pushing the matter is not a good idea. Thank you very much.

[Wow, someone's touchy.]

It's nice to meet you.

Oh, well, I-I'm sorry, I wasn't going to ask! Really!

[His voice wavering, he shakes his head and holds up a hand apologetically.]

I mean, I've heard stranger, there's no need to get upset...

...Relax, it's fine.

[Waver rather suddenly felt like he was dealing with a new student of the Clock Tower. Most of the ones who didn't know any better were either scared out of their minds of him or simply didn't dare cross his path.]

[A good reputation was a wonderful thing.]

I didn't mean to scare you. Guess I'm just a little on edge here.

[He nods, stammering slightly under his breath, before looking somewhat embarrassed by his own reaction.]

Okay. Yeah. Um...god, I'm sorry. [A pause.] If you don't mind me asking, though, why are you on edge? Because of the rain?

The whole damn tower's got me just waiting for the other shoe to drop. First rain, then who the hell knows what'll happen; a giant squid attack or something equally ridiculous?

Oh, s-so you think that something really bad might happen?

[He almost wants to burst out laughing at the giant squid thing, because a) it would never survive unless completely submerged and b) like he would be terrified of something like that, being what he actually is. But all he does instead is look incredibly nervous, as if the mental image is enough to give him nightmares.]

Giant squids...I mean, I really would hope not. I've had enough of the rain, I don't want my life to be put in danger as well...

In a place like this? Who knows? Maybe that's a little far on the extreme end of possibilities, but I can't say for sure. Just try to be careful until this whole thing dies down and you might be fine.

Okay. I mean, I'm still new and all, so I'm frankly unsure of what sort of things people have gone through here...from what I've heard, not good things at all.

So...I'll definitely keep that in mind, thanks.

I'm still fairly new myself, so there's only so much that I know. But it goes without saying by now that this place is dangerous at best.

Oh, oh definitely! Like, some of the floors just seem to be like they're there only to hurt you. Or kill you. Either way, this place isn't very safe at all.

➻ 01 [video/action on the second floor] (Spring)

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