driftfleet | ...And also these.

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...And also these.

[ Calibration Rooms ]
( for N-Z characters )

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - Q

Nami

Nux

One

Phèdre nó Delaunay
de Montrève

R - U

R. Daneel Olivaw

Rapunzel

Remy LeBeau

Riku

Robin Redbreast

Rogue

Santanico Pandemonium

Shawn Hunter

Stefan (Alesci) Salvatore

Steve "Orion" Rogers

Steven Quartz Universe

Souji Seta

Stiles Stilinski

Syeira

Tadashi Hamada

Tekhetsio

V - Z

Wrath

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[...yes, it is easy to see. he looks over at Wanda, the vacant look on her face, even more unsettled by the room they're in. he was a child like that, once, and he wound up in the room filled with red, which wasn't all that different than this one.

the rest of the items on the shelves get a look-over. he's not entirely sure what he wants out of this, or even if he wants to leave... but the strange looking contraption, the metallic orb, keeps his attention for long enough that he decides to reach over and touch that one too.

it seems like a terrible idea. it's not exactly a friendly-looking object... but here he is, doing it anyway.]

[Well. Her attention to it certainly snapped him back to reality. Shawn sobers up, folding his arms as he follows her gaze back towards the door.]

Okay. Lead the way.

[And, right as he walks with her to the camp, he adds--] Sorry. I wasn't trying to drudge up old memories.

[He catches his breath, presses his lips together. Mm. What do you do with an answer like that? People trusting him, it never goes well.]

Then . . .

[Trust your instincts, right?]

Then tears. I'm not afraid of anything you have to show me.

[His expression softens significantly at the sight of little Nami and the girl with her - so this was Nami's home? Those orchards could've stretched for miles, it feels like.

Since the orchard isn't fading, and the ship seems to be no longer in sight, he takes a few steps forward. It feels odd, to call out for his friend again - but what else is he supposed to do? That cottage feels as good of a place to try and visit as any.]

[Fair, pointy-eared bro. Cosplay is not exactly mainstream in 1998.]

I guess so, yeah. I had a part-time job in high school, but when you're a kid, you don't really do much besides school and homework.

Anything and everything. My favorite's this series about teenage demigods - half god, half human - but if it's written well, I'll give it a shot.

[So, the box feels a little lighter, but most of the items still remain: there's the old flannel shirt, a diary, and an Italian cookbook. If nothing here appeals to her, there's a couple more items that might've appeared when she peers in again - namely, a suit and a pamphlet for a 60's themed school dance.]

[the bartender laughs--almost a scoff, really--but he doesn't elaborate beyond that short sound. as he fills a drink for another faceless patron, he nods toward the dark, yawning halls that branch away from the main room.]

You could try that way, if you really want...

[but the implication is clearly that Felix should just stay at the bar. why would anyone want to leave the place where they could just sit still and have whatever sin they wanted?

the corridors aren't exactly inviting, either. they all have glowing signs above them in the same style as exit signs, but they each read FLEE, RELEASE, and GOODBYE, respectively. not quite the correct word, but the sentiment is maybe similar.]

Hm.

[Caesar purses his lips for a moment, then shakes his head.]

I don't think that that's a wish that will ever come true.

[ Easy enough! And once he's decided on it, the flower will reach to touch a finger, so the memory will begin to play.

The flower shop around him fades away, the sunlight seeping away to make way for a huge, beautiful night sky. The stars -- notably different than those on Earth -- twinkle brightly, and if it were any other occasion, it might actually be romantic.

But in this memory, Ino isn't looking at the stars. She's focusing on a person, standing on the rooftop across from her. Her heartbeat quickens when she sees him, and there's an inexplicable mix of anxiety, of sadness, of love when she looks at his back.

The white-haired man doesn't even turn to look at her when she approaches, his tone cold as he acknowledges her presence.

"You came."

Ino tries to relax. Something about the memory indicates that once upon a time, she could relax around this man. If nothing else, she seems to be doing a good job of acting nonchalant, approaching his side with a hand on her hip. ]

Of course I did.

[ He doesn't turn to look at her, just watching her from the corner of his eye. He doesn't waste time getting right down to why he called her here:

"The last time I was here, you did something to unlock a new potential in me."

Ino's stomach drops in disappointment. Of course that's what he'd want to talk about. Her tone is irritated when she responds. ]

Yeah?

[ "I seek the same potential now," he adds.

She's regretting meeting him here like he asked, now, but there's something keeping her from just walking away. Hope, maybe, that she can talk some sense into him. ]

And what are you going to do if I say no?

[ He still doesn't even look her way.

"There is only one way you will find out."

Ah. A good old-fashioned threat. It's not smart of her, but she's frustrated, and sad, and she misses the man that this man used to be, before he left her behind -- so she starts getting bolder. ]

Your threats don't scare me, Vergil. And I don't feel like teaching you something now that I taught you before because I trusted you to use it in the right way.

[ He smirks, as though he expected that response.

"Providing me with that very potential will keep me occupied for a due period of time while I master it. Is that not preferable as opposed to my directly harming someone and taking their potential in stead?

You could very well prevent pain and misery. And if you claim to know anything about me, you can trust that I mean what I say now."

Ino isn't buying it, though, and she sighs in frustration. ]

If you harm pretty much anyone, more people will come after you and it'd be a setback for you. I'd hope you aren't that stupid.

[ He twitches, almost, when she says the word "stupid" -- and there's a small part of her that's relieved to see she still has some type of effect on him, before he responds.

"Mind your words," he says, his tone taking a turn from composed to irritated. "I am willing to incur the anger of the scum within these halls should I gain something significant from it. And I should hope you know such opportunities are in fine supply here."

Ino rolls her eyes. She can't help it. She knows her reactions are probably going to anger him further, but she's starting to run out of patience for dealing with the way he's treating her. ]

Hurting people won't get you anything significant. You'll make an enemy of everyone here, but you won't get the power you want.

[ "Is that what you think? Foolish girl."

There's a pang of hurt when he says that. Maybe she is foolish. But ...

"There are seven individuals of whom I know I can obtain power from. It would take no effort to obtain what I need from most of them before the lot of you can assemble even the smallest strike against me. And by then, I would have everything I need to do away with those who try.

But if that is what you want, then so be it."

The words barely even register, because she knows what this is. She's known this man too long to believe that what he says is truly all there is to it. ]

You're wrong. What you're doing is wrong. Hurting other people so you can hurt yourself. Why can't you see that?

[ She reaches out to put a hand on his arm, the way she would for a friend who's hurting -- but the comfort isn't welcomed, and he turns sharply to grab her wrist, hard.

"What did you say?"

He's giving her a chance to take it back, to apologize, but she doesn't care. He can be angry all he likes, she thinks, but it doesn't change the truth. And he needs to hear that truth.

She doesn't flinch, or cower under his icy stare. ]

If you need someone to take out your aggression on, then go ahead, you can hit me and stab me all you want. I know you're probably frustrated, because of everything you have to deal with.

But you have to stop this. Your life is worth much more than you think.

[ All traces of his calm and collected demeanor are gone now, and he grows visibly angry as she speaks.

"Don't you dare talk to me as if you know a THING!"

He releases her wrist, and in a movement almost too fast to catch, he brings a katana from its sheath to run her through at the stomach.

She's quick enough to move out of the way, fortunately -- but she's not done here, so she doesn't go far, just far enough to keep from being stabbed. ]

You aren't the only one who's had to lose a loved one, Vergil. I know very well what I'm talking about.

[ He growls, and around him appear what look to be transparent spectres of swords, ready to move at his command -- which they do, flying towards her at an inhuman speed.

"You know NOTHING!"

She can't move out of the way fast enough, and the swords leave cuts on her arms and face. But she's still not done, and she ignores the stinging pain to continue: ]

Don't you get it? This Vergil is the weak one. You could have all the power in the world, but look at you. You're throwing a tantrum, like a little kid!

Things like love and trust are much more powerful than anything you can ever gain by force. And I know that you're capable of feeling both.

[ She knows, because she remembers it. He loved her, once. He said so himself, though he didn't think himself capable of it.

That Vergil is nowhere to be found now, though, and the man in front of her continues to direct the swords to rain down on her.

"I will not be talked to like some lost child by a miserable fool that FORGETS HERSELF!"

She can't keep dodging like this without putting her life at risk, and she knows it. Besides, there's nothing more left to say. What she said got to him, and that's what matters. So she finally uses her ninja powers to teleport safely away from the scene, into a nearby forest. Once she's satisfied she's alone and hasn't been followed, she stumbles a little, moving to sit down against a tree.

She's dizzy from blood loss now, and the gashes on her arms and legs are nothing to be reckoned with. She can't find the energy to heal herself, though -- all she can seem to find the strength for is to cry, until the world goes dark around her.

The darkness fades away as quickly as it came, though, and Caesar is back in the flower shop once more.

Well. She did warn him. ]

[Allen... knows Arabic? Forget the heavy accent, the words are enough to snap Stefan back to reality. He stops and stares at his friend with a furrowed brow.

Of course. There is no God but Allah, and God wouldn't have given him such a difficult choice if He didn't think Stefan could handle it. A path with both of them? A shared, merged identity that could possibly take the best of both men - wouldn't that be the ideal?

He's not sure if he can live up to that expectation, especially now, when Elena and Alex and a whole bunch of people are expecting one or the other. So when he sees that cookbook, Stefan knows that he should logically take it.

It takes him a second, but he nods, accepting the cookbook. It's gone in a burst of light, re-appearing on the bookshelf against the wall of the room.

> We'll keep this memory.]

You've got too much faith in me, Allen, you know that?

[He laughs, clearly teasing as he focuses his attention to the rest of the box.] But... thank you. If I can walk the straight path with both of them, then I'll try my best to make that happen.

I am a robot. It is not always appropriate for me to describe myself in human terms. There are times I'm forced to, as there aren't words specific to my own circumstance, though it... disturbs some people. I don't wish to disturb people.

Friend Giskard had the mental abilities I now have for over twenty decades before he passed them to me. He understood very well some of the subtleties of the human mind, better than many humans do. Partner Elijah possessed no such power, but he too had a deep understanding that I admired greatly.

[Daneel falls silent a moment, thinking on hard on both of them, fellow robot and long-dead human.]

It is a skill. It is one I aspire to.

[that's probably a good idea. this way, the images can just hit him without blame, instead of him seeking out and falling into a trap that would be no one's fault but his own.

he throws back the shot, and he can't feel the burn anymore. it is far too late in the night for that. the club lights have all come and gone, and there were passing street lights for a brief bit. and now he's here--somewhere dark and close, in a small, hot room that feels more comfortable than it really is. someone has their music blasting too loud from shitty speakers, but no one is going to complain against this group. they've probably rented out half of the whole floor of this hotel.

and it's good that you've been dragged along this far; only the prettiest ones get this far. the best rewards come after this kind of thing, but there's always a steep price.

so, that's why you're taking the shot. you can't taste it, it hits your throat like water, but someone's got a blindfold and you can't afford to get nervous now. if anything, it hurries the pills dissolving under your tongue.

soon, it's almost like dancing at the club. you can't see now, but you can focus on the music, moving in that sort of rhythm, while there's touching on all sides. it's mercifully hard to keep track of as you're moved around through the dark room, guided to wherever you're supposed to be. it only hurts a little bit.

and when it's all over... once they're all quiet and half of them have all gone home, you can scavenge over the wreckage of the room for whatever you want. whatever is left. maybe you can take some little numbing treasures home with you, along with the claim to a little bit more status, and this whole mess will be worth it.]

[it's much like acclimating to the rocking of a ship, but the waves are far faster here. and soon, he's there in the crowd before her, detaching from one dance partner so he doesn't get too penned in one place. he needs to keep moving.

and she happens to be the next pretty face that he spots and targets in his drifting. he's determined to stay lost in this current, so he hones in on her and is immediately getting up in her space without a single complicated thought behind it.]

[He grabs one of her bracelets and it's enough to send them into another memory.

They're in a car. He's in the driver's seat. Technically, it's Richie's seat, but that's a minor detail at the moment. Santanico smiles because she's out of that place. She's free.

(she'll never be truly free until Malvado is dead but that's another story)]

You did it. You found a way out. [She grabs his hand, giving it a small squeeze.

And they're out.]

[She did warn him.]

[And for someone who doesn't know him, it might not seem like he's reacted at all, really. He's just standing there still, his expression closed and shuttered, mouth a thin line. He doesn't look angry. Just blank.]

[But his left hand is clenched into a tight fist, so tight it makes his knuckles go white. When he turns and looks at her, there's something dark in his eyes, too, a look that she's seen once before, in the waking world.]

What do you need from me now, Ino?

[ A shrug. ]

Aren't we all?

"I didn't move." Just a fair point there and all. She eyes his glasses quizzically-- in fog? really?-- and then shakes her head.

"Where are we?"

[ She's come out from behind the counter in the time it took the memory to play. She was expecting something sad, but not ... that bad. Still, she's not ashamed or embarrassed by it -- it is what it is.

She seems surprised when he turns to look at her, though, and as soon as he speaks she's coming over to his side, to put that same reassuring hand on his arm. ]

--Hey, it's okay. These are memories, not current events. That guy is long gone.

[ Ino Yamanaka: Comforting other people about her own memories in her own headspace. Welp. ]

[He gives her a sharp look. For one thing, he's not stupid. For another--]

Ino. You're getting this incredibly backwards right now, I hope you know that.

[ Look, she knows it can be overwhelming to be thrown headfirst into something like that, so ...

In any case, she's had time to process all of that, given that it was years ago, so she's not entirely covering up her own feelings on the matter in the process of making sure he's alright. ]

Like I said ... he's long gone. It was several years ago, and I've had plenty of time to come to terms with how stupid I was.

[Literally the flattest look.]

How stupid you were.

I mean, I dated that guy. Willingly.

[ THAT WAS PRETTY DUMB ]

Yes. But he was the asshole.

[Ino, why are you blaming yourself for somebody else being an asshole?]

Yeah, he was. That's why it was stupid.

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...And also these.

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