animus_network | ( level 1 ; text )

Thanks, I mean it. [Same here, Raven. Same here. She's not going to pursue the topic further as well.]

You knows this place better than me. Anywhere safe from intrusions.

that's unfortunately somewhat difficult to come by in the tower, but we can get a measure of privacy on the thirteenth floor. there aren't any units there, and sound carries extremely poorly, for some reason. it's unlikely we'd be overheard by a casual observer, at least. [It's the same place he brought Eve up to date at, and as far as he can tell it's relatively eavesdropper-proof.

You know, barring stealth or invisible ghosts or spirits or something, but.]

I suppose that will do. It's safe from monsters, right?

[Aisha being Aisha, of course, already measures the possibility about monsters lurking around this place. NO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GHOST BY THE WAY. NO SUCH THINGS AS GHOST. NOPE.]

relatively during the day. it's a different story at night, or when the power's out. when that happens, the dormitory rooms seem to be the only place they won't go.

[Probably not a good idea to go looking for him after dark then, because he kind of frequents the floor full of phantoms.

Anyway, that's the last message she'll receive from him in this conversation, as he closes the windows he had up and logs off his terminal in the library floor to leave for the thirteenth. Considering how relatively close it is, it doesn't take him long to get there.]

[On Aisha's end, she's going to take some time for her travel because of the obvious reason: She's still getting used to this place.

After some durations though, Raven will find an Aisha on the same floor with him, still looking rather uncomfortable at her environment. Still, She's not going to say much, only waving slightly at the blade master, her cheerfulness showing, as she approaches him.]

[And in return all he does is incline his head slightly in acknowledgement of the elemental master's presence, but it's a relatively relaxed motion all the same, the greeting rather relieved if one knows what to look for. He indicates her with a wave of his hand to take a seat somewhere nearby, on one of the pews near the center of the room.

When they're settled, he starts in on business.]

How much do you know about the Tower so far? If you start with that, I can fill in the blanks.

[He's assuming Els would've told her something, at least, but then again, maybe... this is Els. As soon as the thought crosses his mind he resists the urge to sigh.]

[Aisha does obey his indication without further ado. She quickly takes her seat just near Raven.]

What I've found by myself? Not much. ['By myself', yes. She's not going to emphasize it. You get the general idea, Raven. Els was being Els and you know what to expect.] One-hundred floors with variety on each floor, those terminals used as a device to communicate, where to eat and sleep... Basically what's explained on one of the letter in my room.

[Yeah, no Els is even involved in this.]

Please... do explain the accuracy of the other letter, Raven.

[In case you're wondering, her words are shaky and she looks like she's going to cry even. Els told her already, but she still cannot believe it. Is... Elrios really just a history now?]

... I can't confirm its accuracy myself, personally. I've never been sent back yet. [There's a subtly weary air about him, but his tone is cold and clipped.]

But Eve and Rena have, and they both confirm it... or at least, they believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. They both say the same thing: no traces of life, no trace of the El, either pure or tainted, nothing.

[Raven'll give her a moment to let it sink in before continuing:] As for the Tower itself... you already know that it's not exactly safe here, so I won't bother with that. It gets a lot more dangerous at night, though, like I've said.

[Now, where does he start...]

The people responsible for pulling us here are known collectively as the Administrators. There are five that I've heard mention of, though only four of them are left, apparently. Ruana's the one in charge of them all; she's said to enjoy games, and is the most powerful of the four. Jason is a scientist- he enjoys experiments. [You can hear the acrid disdain and only thinly veiled anger practically dripping from the word, quietly said as it is.]

Zo's a child who's said to be the one who brings us here. There's then Riki, who no one seems to know much about. They all rotate which months they're in charge of the Tower for.

Dax was the fifth, who apparently was the most humane of them all, judging by what I've been told. If you go back far enough on the network, you'll see what happened to him. It's... not a pleasant sight.

[He'll stop here for now, to let Aisha ask any questions if need be, and to give her a breather before dropping any more bombshells.]

...So, it's true.

[Well, two persons confirmed it; Eve and Rena, even. Two persons that she could trust the most. It's bitter, but let's be real, Aisha's talking to Raven here. He wouldn't never lie. Not to his friends.

Give her time, Raven. Luckily, being the smartball she is, Aisha doesn't say any words as she listens and absorbs those information, including Raven's tone, in which turns into one of the most venomous tone she had ever heard coming from him. Again, she doesn't say anything much about it. She only gives a tiny nod before she makes her conclusion regarding those tl;dr.]

...Five people called the Administrators...

[While at it, she pronounces the name of the members; Ruana, Jason, Zo, Riki, and Zo in mumble.]

...And they're the one who's responsible for... [Aisha's tone is starting to get filled with anger as well.] ...This.

[Actually, screw it. She's going to BAM-! slaps the surface of her seat in anger.]

Where- [She can't contain it anymore.] -And how can we find them!? They need to be taught a lesson or two!

[...Maybe she's being too loud for this place, but do excuse her. She's still in her puberty B|]

[He doesn't fault her for her reaction; there's a reason he chose this particular floor, after all. The oppressive silence of the cathedral swallows up her exclamation before it even reaches the other end of the pew they're on.

He doesn't even make an attempt to veil his scorn anymore.]

There are two elevator systems here. We're only allowed into one of them; the other's closed to us. That one's apparently reserved for their use.

In my experience, they rarely come up here, even if only to observe all of those they rescue. [If a word could be scoffed out, that's how the delivery of that rescue would be described.] By this point, I highly suspect they have other ways of monitoring us. [read: he's pretty damn sure of it, and that was only understatement.]

Don't draw too much attention to yourself needlessly. I strongly suggest you look up Dax's demise on the network- it'll give you an idea of what we'd be up against. Like I said, it's not a pleasant sight, so if you do so, steel yourself beforehand.

[Two can play the same game >:c]

That elevator's the only path they use? Or we have other routes for that?

[Now that the room's helping, she's not going to hold herself yeah.]

It's not a rescue! They're kidnapping us! [Another tantrum over here.] E-Elrios... Right! Which one of them destroyed Elrios!?

[Aisha's not Rena, but to have your world destroyed... This is just sensible.]

I'll... try to. I'll look it up later.

[She's going to endure it. Or at least she's going to try to endure it.]

[Raven's well-used to Aisha's temper by now, so waits out the tantrum quietly and seamlessly picks up the conversation after she's done.] Should be about two and a half months ago now, by this place's calendar. [Moving on:]

As far as I know, the elevator's the only route. People apparently have managed to break in before, though I'm wondering about what they managed to accomplish beyond information... [He trails off, looking distracted for a moment before he forces himself back on topic.]

Information's better than nothing, I suppose. Though while we're on that subject, no one seems to know exactly how or why the worlds are being destroyed, let alone who's doing it. The Administrators probably do, but they haven't exactly been forthcoming with the details, considering. The floor just below this one contains projections of what apparently happens, but... [He shrugs. Whether or not it could really be believed is an issue that goes without saying, considering the people responsible for constructing it.]

[Well, aren't you calm, Raven? Oh wait, you are always calm.]

I... see. That's a progress, at the very least. Have there been found any way to contact, or negotiate with those Administrators?

[Though she's still frowning. This place is moooore than brainbreaking.]

So it's not only Elrios? [Disbelief is clearly written all over her face now. Wow, those administrators are the real deal. Not even admirable, of course.] Projections are projections, there's still the possibility that they're merely playing with that, right?

[YOU KILLED MY ELRIOS. Not that she's been on floor 12 yet.]

[Kind of have to be, you know.]

It's certainly possible, yes. After all, we might not want to go home if we knew it was destroyed. They're fairly obvious with their agenda of keeping us here. It's not only Elrios, at any rate.

I... don't know if negotiation is at all a viable prospect. They're not an entirely united front, so it's possible one or two of them might be more amenable to it, but Ruana seems to truly believe that whatever they're doing is saving us. There's talk on the network of Dax having tried to work on a way to fix the worlds, but Ruana killed him. [Bluntly.]

And unlike the rest of us here, he apparently didn't revive.

[Tsukkomi's life.]

I don't know about you, but I'm going to think that they're playing mind games on us. [If there's anything good that she got from all that traveling with Elsword, it's that optimism of the redhead is getting to her. Positively.] Have you ever encountered any of them personally, Raven?

[...DERP you just have to say that out loud, don't you? Aisha's looking a bit disgusted by the sudden fact.]

That's just... sad. This Dax that tried to work on things got killed by his comrade, who said that she was trying to save us?

[If there was ever any thought of diplomatic approach to those administrators by her for even a second, that thought is certainly gone by now. Still, Raven's last sentence...]

Revive? Are you trying to say we can't die here?

[It's hard and no one understands.]

Can't say I have, personally. Like I said, they rarely come up here; I only know that they've actually done so because of previous accounts from others. As for the mind games, I'll act according to the situation. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's a loss to us if it's true he was trying to fix things, but... I can't help but think he should have better known the risks of what he was doing. [It can't have just ended like that, can it? Looking back at the network entries, for something to have been compromised, it had to have existed in the first place.

...hm.] That said, yes, which only speaks of how... volatile, our hosts can be.

I suppose the one good thing to be said about them is that they'll bring us back if we damage these bodies we're in. [It's utterly deadpan, the way he says that. Difficult as it is to fathom, it can't be denied the dead come back to life in the tower.] I don't need to tell you not to be reckless about this, however. There's talk enough on the network of whatever process they use possibly being flawed.

[He's had enough of people operating on him against his will for a lifetime, anyway, even if the events of last month make it obvious he wouldn't have much of a choice if it happened.]

[Suck it up, you're a big guy.]

Exactly the best countermeasure, Raven. [Aisha nods a bit at his statement. Indeed, there's no telling what's the true deal of those Administrators from merely that. They might- No, they definitely still had a lot of plans beyond their palms.]

...It's a plus, I suppose. I'm going to guess that there are a lot of people here abused that new capability, no?

[Not that Aisha would do that, definitely. Still, there's a certain redhead that would join the bandwagon of it if he were to be told, definitely.]

Don't worry, I know my things, Raven. I'll try to do things as harmless as I could. [Which is not promising much. We're talking about Aisha here.] Talk? ...Elaborate further, if you don't mind?

[Three years. Three years and counting.]

For there to be knowledge of the fact that one apparently receives repercussions for too many deaths, someone has to have died that many times. [He can't remember the specifics of that network post at the moment, but he vaguely remembers something about indigo text and the seventh death. Convenient what showed up on the network the day after this, isn't it?

...This is also part of the reason he hasn't told Els much about this particular aspect of the Tower. Part of meaning 'mostly.'] You found yourself unable to move for a short period of time after waking up here, right? Apparently that period grows longer for each death you experience. Then there's something about the seventh death...

[...Ugh, what was it. It wasn't even that long ago, really- a month, but he's been distracted by matters since then. He probably should have taken notes for better organization.]

[...Shut up. Three years are a huge difference, yeah.]

That's what I thought. [Aisha taps her forehead thoughtfully as she speaks, frowning a bit.] They won't be that nice to us. We're practically their chess pieces here.

[...Hmm...]

Oh, that. [She nods once. Yes, she still remembers clearly how it felt when she woke up just earlier.] Yes, I did.

[...Also.]

...No, I think that's enough clarification already, Raven. At the worst, the seventh is the maximum time people is allowed to live here. [Just an assumption, but let's stay safe.] ...I hope you have told this to the others, Els in particular.

[We both know how Leeroy Jenkins the Rune Slayer could be.]

[#ravenproblems.]

In truth, I was hoping he would keep assuming death is permanent, and that that would stop him from doing anything overly... thoughtless.

[... Yeah, it sounds pretty terrible when it's said out loud like that, even sugarcoated as it is.]

Of course, I suppose that as a measure is already horribly ineffective, considering he went looking for trouble his first night here, and nearly got himself killed on my behalf during a later incident. [If Raven kept close tabs on his party mates before, then it's ridiculous how much he's hovering now.] Chess pieces indeed.

[This is 100% not ironic considering how four of us are running a chess theme here.

Also shh, he sort of assumed they knew, since Eve. ...Okay, maybe not Chung, but the prince spends so much time in the library anyway... And Rena was absent.]

[...Point taken. Yeah, their 'leader' definitely would do something extremely horrendous if it was put into his account.

However, Raven just pushed the exact button. Aisha's eyes are quickly dilating at his confession. She's going to drop other question for this one.]

Explain that, Raven. [Her tone, if any, have a slight disgust and disdain.] What happened to him, and what did he do. [A pause.] Both of you.

[Yeah, chess theme. Except a buttmonkey should be a pawn instead L O L.

Don't worry, she's not going to be all that different to Chung, anyway. You can go on FEVER with Els-kun.]

[Raven's own eyes narrow into thin slits at her prompting, the gold in them gleaming dangerously.]

It's nothing, he simply put himself in the middle of a situation he had no business getting involved in. [wow look at them hackles raise] He's fine, even if it was a close call. It could've gone much worse than it did. As for his first night, he went looking for things to fight while without a sword.

[Talking only about Elsword and deflecting things about himself? Sure is a thing that happens. He doesn't even mind the fact that she's tacked him on almost like an afterthought; it makes dismissing it that much easier.

And naaah, a certain brat's plot-ordained special potential definitely makes him the pawn.

...Are we just going to leave Chung out of the loop, is that what you're saying?]

[At first, she's still standing her ground, but gradually, as Raven's tone get more and more ferocious, the elemental master can't help but chokes on her words. Her legs are shaking a little, even. She can't definitely ask further about what have Raven actually done now.]

S-Sorry, I didn't mean to make you... angry. [Help you're going to make her cry, Raven.

...Well, indeed. A pawn that always goes pulling the worse situation for the rest of the pieces. What an useful pawn.

Ssssh. Not like that. Not directly.]

[He actually hadn't considered himself that worked up- until he notices Aisha's reaction. Was he really being so...?

...In any case, he stops himself from going any further down whatever track he was and abruptly deflates, inwardly cursing his lapse of control.]

... no. No, it's not your fault. I should be the one apologizing. Sorry. [A weary sigh, harsh in how ragged it is, and his expression closes itself off in a practiced manner.

He's slipping. A hand comes up to rub at his temple at the thought.]

All you need to take away from that is that he's fine, at least so far. [He murmurs mutedly. It's testament to his control that what he says next comes out as steadily as it does, no inflections or emphases whatsoever:] I suppose... it would also be prudent to know that the possibility you'll be forced to do things you wouldn't want to in any normal circumstance is a very... present one.

[If she's talking to someone else (Els in particular), she would probably return the negative fever with one of her own. But this? She can already tell how much Raven keep things inside, especially with the particular flash of berserk just now.]

No, it's okay. I understand.

[Aisha? She lets out a sigh as well.]

I'm grateful for that. I'll be sure to discipline Els as necessary. [Read: She's going to share the burden that go by 'Elsword' with you. Much to her dismay.

Regardless, Aisha does take it rather well. To be honest, it's not surprising her further. Everything was already surprising enough here.] Good grief. [She lifts her head to stare at the ceiling for a while to sigh, blankly. Before she returns her gaze at her companion.] I might sound a little hopeful, but I hope nothing had happened to everyone aside the one that you've just said.

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action; blah blah infodump it's about time he told someone all this

action; good god vent your frustrations on her won't you

action; not quite so much frustration as it is wow why is he just sitting on this information

action; you need to stop being so secretive or you'll get more wrinkles

action; . . . god it's no wonder you're shipped with els

action; oh shuush you jelly?

action; as a matter of fact yes go away he was here for els first!!!!

action; n-no way!! els belongs to her and only her!!

action; keep telling yourself that

action; d-did you do something to him already??

action; what, are you accusing him of something

action; kyaah-! my els-kun and raven-senpai can't be this affectionate toward each other!

action; it's not like you haven't read this stuff in that book of yours.

action; in her book, els is the one topping

action; ...... goddammit can't even be surprised by that

action; ....so you do love getting topped by e-els?

action; .....we're not talking about this.

action; .........so it's a yes?

action; what kind of maiden are you that you pull yes out of that ...

action; let's casually change the subject line about how late I am

action; tbh I've been later. ...late-er. late-r? ...you know what I mean 1/2

action; in which Raven is really dumb