Counter Guardian Arturia @ Tower of Animus (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
no_longer_a_king) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
behappyhere2014-09-13 07:45 pm
no_longer_a_king) wrote in behappyhere2014-09-13 07:45 pm
ITP: Freedom
Yet again, a door opened somewhere. Yet again, a person who once called the Tower of Animus home stepped through.
There was something different about this one, at least at first. She was dressed in white, but it was dirtied, torn in places, and stained in blood. In her hand was a very fine sword that looked as if it were meant to be more ornamental, but was dripping with fresh blood. Her expression was calm, too calm, her posture straight, perhaps too straight.
But her eyes were practically screaming.
The young woman took three steps into the tower, her boots clacking against the floor before her posture suddenly went stiff. She nearly dropped that fine sword.
Arturia stared at her hands in shock, then glanced at the door behind her. What was going on? Where was she? And why did she have her will back all of a sudden? She approached the door again, but only to close it. She didn't even look at the carnage on the other side. That done, she turned back to the hall she was in and stepped forward, scarcely daring to believe what had transpired.
Was she truly free once more?
There was something different about this one, at least at first. She was dressed in white, but it was dirtied, torn in places, and stained in blood. In her hand was a very fine sword that looked as if it were meant to be more ornamental, but was dripping with fresh blood. Her expression was calm, too calm, her posture straight, perhaps too straight.
But her eyes were practically screaming.
The young woman took three steps into the tower, her boots clacking against the floor before her posture suddenly went stiff. She nearly dropped that fine sword.
Arturia stared at her hands in shock, then glanced at the door behind her. What was going on? Where was she? And why did she have her will back all of a sudden? She approached the door again, but only to close it. She didn't even look at the carnage on the other side. That done, she turned back to the hall she was in and stepped forward, scarcely daring to believe what had transpired.
Was she truly free once more?
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Is probably a bit shocking to take for now. Because um. Bloodied woman carrying a sword yeah. ]
...Um... hello?
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Hello?
[She recognizes this boy from the Tower. They hadn't spoken much, but she remembers running him through with a sword that was not her own.
If that's the case, her current appearance must be very startling to him.]
Would you happen to know where we are?
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[ Considering how many times he's ended up here, yeah, it's a no-brainer.
The boy also seems to be wearing a snazzy outfit too, but yeah. ]
It's a gift from Zo. His final one, apparently.
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[A waypoint between worlds, perhaps? If so, this place might be small, but Arturia is perfectly content with staying here.]
That explains why this place is so reminiscent of the Tower we were in. I had almost feared I'd been drawn back to it somehow.
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[ he's just trying to reassure her that everything is A-OK, alright? ]
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[But it is reassuring nevertheless. Arturia manages a smile.]
Thank you.
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[ She seems nice despite her bloodied garment, so she couldn't be that bad of a person... Actually, most people from the Tower tends to be quite nice by themselves so... ]
Um, I'm Makoto Naegi, and you are...?
[ Her face was muddled in her memories, and remembering that is good enough already considering the long time he spent in his dead world... ]
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But not entirely like those times, either; for one thing, he's attired in what are fairly clearly hospital clothes, even if they're not quite the same as what would be found on other worlds (far too modest, for a start). Secondly, there's an IV drip standing over his shoulder, and he's clearly, pointedly ignoring the way it's attached to his wrist.
The last is that he's not actually reading - instead, he has a lap desk piled with papers, a pen, and a sour expression at the lot of it, which only lessens when he looks up, sharply, at the sound of Arturia's footsteps. The surprised expression soon shifts to one that's at least somewhat closer to a smile, as he slides some of the papers off his lap and onto the empty shelf next to him.]
You look like you've had a hell of a day.
[Bloodstained, torn dress? Eh, just another day for the residents of Animus. Not even worth commentary.]
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[Despite the state he's in, she is very very grateful to find a familiar face here. It makes this seem more real in its own way and less like she may have snapped while performing her duties.
Despite the IV and everything else, she finds herself sitting on the floor near him, adrenaline and uncertainty giving way to contentment and tiredness.]
How have you fared?
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I've been better, but I'm also not dead. Given that that's where I would be otherwise, I can live with the difference.
[Living just tends to bring with it all sorts of messy things like politics, paperwork, and hospital stays.]
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Why would you be dead?
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[Sorry, Arturia, there is not actually a way to say that gently. Asch, for his part, seems shockingly cheerful about the whole thing. ]
Most relevantly - [And here he lifts a hand to shake gently at the IV drop hanging over him.] - terminal fonon separation, which would in fact have done me in if I didn't choose to... reapply some of the things about our existences in the Tower to my universe. Still not very pleasant, but this should be the end of it, with any luck.
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I suppose some good came out of our time in the Tower then if it is saving your life somehow.
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[Thank you Zelda for the assistance in kicking Van's butt. The IV tube shifts as he settles back into his beanbag. Comfy seat.]
Although I'm fairly sure that I'm one of the only people who has been honest about the whole thing, to the people I went back to. I'm actually here on doctor's orders while they work on Luke, not that it's helped me in escaping this.
[And he gestures a little helplessly at the paperwork.]
I think the court is trying to make up for all seven years I was missing in the space of one.
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I can. The person I was before would have tried.
[Self-contained and self-sufficient and not even realizing how much he was hurting himself.]
For those who didn't change much, it wouldn't be so difficult. Just a few more nightmares for the tally. And what happened... isn't exactly easy to share.
[He knows that one all too well, and even then it's only Luke that has gotten the details, sworn into secrecy until the pain is far enough away that looking back at it isn't burns on his hands and a sword through his throat. He sinks a little further into the beanbag as he rubs at his throat - it's quickly developing into a nervous tick.]
It was the decision between explaining and allowing myself to die. Not everyone has it so clear-cut, and not everyone even has someone who would care.
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But as these things tend to go, a moment of quiet led to a moment of resting her eyes, and a moment of resting her eyes led to falling right asleep in her chair, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. She has been working very hard to be the sovereign Arturia believed her capable of being, at least, even if it leads to less than dignified moments like this.
She'd definitely be thrilled to see her newly-freed friend again upon waking, though!]
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Zelda will also find she now has a blanket Arturia snagged somewhere draped over her, but it matters not. Arturia knew how much of a toll ruling can take on a person and so she had let Zelda sleep. Lord knew she of all people probably needed it.
But when Zelda awakens, Arturia will look up from her book and smile softly. A genuine almost carefree smile.]
Good morning.
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But, oh, when she does...]
A... Arturia?!
[Definitely awake now! Hopefully. Please don't let this be a dream...]
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[That's all she says right then, a soft smile on her face as she watches the Princess--no, Queen--wake up. She stands from her chair to help tuck the blanket back in around her.]
I did not leave you waiting too long, did I?
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But eventually it sinks in that this is real, this is truly happening, and she laughs as her eyes begin to water.]
No... No, you did not. I would have searched for you sooner, but...
[Responsibilities and all that.]
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[And Zelda, she knows, would not have the heart to set into motion the conditions that would have drawn Arturia to her. Counter Guardians are failsafes, only brought forth by the world when conditions arise where humanity could meet its irreversible end. Arturia would be shocked if Zelda even attempted it.]
But I am here now, have had time to rest, and I have every intention of keeping my promise to you now that I am free.
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[Her jest is weak with hints of guilt (and maybe a bit of leftover sleepiness), but it's a jest all the same. Indeed, she wouldn't have had a clue as to how to find Arturia, and the most obvious method would have repulsed her into searching for another, however, fruitless that search might have been.
It's fortunate none of that will be necessary. Her gratitude to Zo spans beyond her own imaginings, it seems.]
I am so very glad. [And then, more softly:] ... I know what I swore to you the day that it all ended, but... I also know that I will be all the stronger and better a ruler for my people with you at my side.