Personification Life - Part Deux

[Cerillium]

"Hello Branson Nikanor."

Ceril was aware of Bran's entry. His systems identified the man as Swith's roommate. He wasn't overly concerned.

"I am Ceril. I am in Swith's employ. I wish to locate her."

[The BranRiech]

"Hello Branson Nikanor."

Ceril was aware of Bran's entry. His systems identified the man as Swith's roommate. He wasn't overly concerned.

"I am Ceril. I am in Swith's employ. I wish to locate her."

Bran stepped back a little bit, confused.

"Swith? I haven't seen her for a while . . . Is that my console?"

[Giovenith]

"And do what with it? We already have Chaos..."

I don't even know where the cash we get from that place goes. Someone's probably hoarding it somewhere."

Ceril sat on the couch. A collection of games was piled in front of him. He'd played through them all. He'd organized them in stacks alphabetically. He'd taken apart the consul and cleaned it before reassembling it. The TV displayed a blue screen now and he shut it off.

"This is..."

He struggled to find the appropriate word. He let the feeling go.

"Swith, I want my payment! I know you can hear me. Damn the gods, and may they damn you, but I want my payment first!" His mechanical voice conveyed deeply cast frustration. "Fuck it all! I want my payment!"

Ceril sat on the couch. He grumbled and shut down extraneous systems, dropping into a state that would refresh his mind.

"Someone's upstairs . . . In my home." Said Bran as he got up from the table to go investigate.

"Sorry Gio, that Raven story'll have to wait"

Bran walked back to the fallout shelter and began to look around.

'Damn the gods, and may they damn you...' she had heard.

'Oh great, now he's fucking with the gods. Swith and all. That can't be good,' thought Giovenith, grimacing. Some powers were more lenient than others, but each had it's own individual limits, and to be safe... she ran after him and saw Ceril.

"Approach with caution Bran, I sense someone is playing with fire," she said. She then realized it had been one of the few riddle-sentences she'd spoken in a long, long time. "Divine fire. And you don't want to caught up in a firestorm."

[The BranRiech]

"Approach with caution Bran, I sense someone is playing with fire," she said. She then realized it had been one of the few riddle-sentences she'd spoken in a long, long time. "Divine fire. And you don't want to caught up in a firestorm."

Before Bran was completely out the door, he looked back and gestured for her to come along if she wished.

[Cerillium]

"Yes," Ceril replied. "It is now operating at 100% efficiency."

Ceril rose from the couch and faced the man. "I will remain here until I am paid. As I explained to the girl, Naomi, I can not afford an apartment until that time. I do not eat much nor do I intrude."

He relaxed his voice and adopted a more friendly tone. "I don't have any other choice. I apologize for the intrusion."

[The BranRiech]

"Yes," Ceril replied. "It is now operating at 100% efficiency."

Ceril rose from the couch and faced the man. "I will remain here until I am paid. As I explained to the girl, Naomi, I can not afford an apartment until that time. I do not eat much nor do I intrude."

He relaxed his voice and adopted a more friendly tone. "I don't have any other choice. I apologize for the intrusion."

"I don't spend much time down here anyways, there are a few extra rooms if you haven't taken one yet."

Bran walked over and examined his console, admiring the new work.

"Thanks, I thought I made it better too."

[Giovenith]

"Approach with caution Bran, I sense someone is playing with fire," she said. She then realized it had been one of the few riddle-sentences she'd spoken in a long, long time. "Divine fire. And you don't want to caught up in a firestorm."

Before Bran was completely out the door, he looked back and gestured for her to come along if she wished.

She quickly ran along after him.

"Yes," Ceril replied. "It is now operating at 100% efficiency."

Ceril rose from the couch and faced the man. "I will remain here until I am paid. As I explained to the girl, Naomi, I can not afford an apartment until that time. I do not eat much nor do I intrude."

He relaxed his voice and adopted a more friendly tone. "I don't have any other choice. I apologize for the intrusion."

"Hmf," sniffed Giovenith. "I sense... understandable, intentions from him."

[Cerillium]

Ceril looked between the new girl and Bran. He was confused. Hers was not the voice he heard last night.

"You do not live here?"

[Swith Witherward]

Naomi left User to her thoughts. She really didn't understand what the girl was going through, and User hadn't bothered to tell her. She felt badly for her, though, and wished she could offer better advice. Then again, her knowledge on these matters was so limited. All she could do was share her ideology and hope for the best.

"C'mon, Scarface. You were a saint for waiting for me," she patted his arm and smiled at him. "I don't know about this new look... I sort of like it!"

She hummed to herself and walked down the hall, playfully running her fingers along the patterns in the wallpaper. It was the only hall Tsu and Dab hadn't f*cked up yet, and she thought the walls looked pretty.

[Giovenith]

Ceril looked between the new girl and Bran. He was confused. Hers was not the voice he heard last night.

"You do not live here?"

She gave him a suspicious look. "I am a resident here, yes."

[The BranRiech]

Ceril looked between the new girl and Bran. He was confused. Hers was not the voice he heard last night.

"You do not live here?"

"She's fine, I trust her enough for her to be in here."

Bran seemed thrown off by his new bunker-mate as he seemed like a confusing person.

[Cerillium]

"Allow me to clarify. This bomb shelter is the apartment inhabited by Swith and by this man," he gestured to Bran. "You are Branson Nikanor."

He sighed. "This building is not logical. Nothing about it." It was the first time human emotion had crept into his voice.

"There are portals behind doors. There are insane people running the halls. Something called a Fortu operates using a car battery. Understanding is beyond me."

[Swith Witherward]

The door opened and Naomi grinned. "OH!"

She hurled herself at Bran, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his face. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you! Bran!"

She smiled and grabbed Giovenith into the hug. "I've really missed you! Gio! And Bran!"

[Giovenith]

"You'll get used to it... maybe," she said. "Well... maybe not used to it, but you'll figure out how to either conform or tune it out. Fifty-fifty chance. And if you are going to be rooming with Bran here, you get a slightly less chance of being mindfucked everyday... usually. Pretty much. Maybe."

The door opened and Naomi grinned. "OH!"

She hurled herself at Bran, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his face. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you! Bran!"

She smiled and grabbed Giovenith into the hug. "I've really missed you! Gio! And Bran!"

"Oh, Naomi!" she hugged the girl back. "There you are, I was wondering you had gone. I thought you may have been with Swith, where ever she had gone."

[Cerillium]

Ceril the display of affection between the three brought a smile to his face although it was hidden by his mask.

"Naomi, my work is complete for the night. You may utilize the room for your purposes."

He sat on the couch again and allowed unnecessary subroutines to click off.

((ooc goodnight))

[The BranRiech]

The door opened and Naomi grinned. "OH!"

She hurled herself at Bran, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his face. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you! Bran!"

She smiled and grabbed Giovenith into the hug. "I've really missed you! Gio! And Bran!"

"Gah! I missed you too Naomi, have you seen Rylli around?"

[Swith Witherward]

"You'll get used to it... maybe," she said. "Well... maybe not used to it, but you'll figure out how to either conform or tune it out. Fifty-fifty chance. And if you are going to be rooming with Bran here, you get a slightly less chance of being mindfucked everyday... usually. Pretty much. Maybe."

The door opened and Naomi grinned. "OH!"

She hurled herself at Bran, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his face. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you! Bran!"

She smiled and grabbed Giovenith into the hug. "I've really missed you! Gio! And Bran!"

"Oh, Naomi!" she hugged the girl back. "There you are, I was wondering you had gone. I thought you may have been with Swith, where ever she had gone."

Naomi looked at Gio. "You're different," she said, touching her straight hair. "You seem harsher. Oh no, Gio, not you too." She closed her eyes and tried not to cry.

"No Bran, I haven't seen her. I've been with Fortu and Mon all day."

ooc: g'night Ceril.

[The BranRiech]

"No Bran, I haven't seen her. I've been with Fortu and Mon all day."

"Oh . . . Ok then, well I better hit the hay."

Bran kissed Naomi on the cheek as he made his way to his room.

OOC: going to bed, goodnight guys

[Giovenith]

OOC: Night Ceril and Bran!

"Good-night Bra- ah! Naomi, what's wrong? You seem sad. Did someone hurt you?"

[Swith Witherward]

OOC: Night Ceril and Bran!

"Good-night Bra- ah! Naomi, what's wrong? You seem sad. Did someone hurt you?"

"I've had a lot of hurts today," Naomi said gently, "but nothing lasting. I grieved for a dead friend, and righted a misunderstood rejection, and then helped someone... I hope.. see themselves as a thing of perfection."

She put on water for tea then turned back to Giovenith. "I've been through a lot, and in my travels, things have changed. People changed. Even you changed. How come you don't speak in riddles anymore? Why is your voice more serious?"

ooc: G'night Bran!

[Giovenith]

OOC: Night Ceril and Bran!

"Good-night Bra- ah! Naomi, what's wrong? You seem sad. Did someone hurt you?"

"I've had a lot of hurts today," Naomi said gently, "but nothing lasting. I grieved for a dead friend, and righted a misunderstood rejection, and then helped someone... I hope.. see themselves as a thing of perfection."

She put on water for tea then turned back to Giovenith. "I've been through a lot, and in my travels, things have changed. People changed. Even you changed. How come you don't speak in riddles anymore? Why is your voice more serious?"

ooc: G'night Bran!

"Oh, you mean this," she somewhat sadly looked herself up and down. "Well... things, had just become so hard, Naomi. People became divided after NVE and Gretta killed Bran, and NVE's death didn't help either, not with the emotion and not with the finances. I... I had to clean the mess myself after Bran's slaughter. Everyone either didn't want to, was too angry, or too sad for various reasons. Then the money started to really go down the drain, everyone was struggling so much, I could not just stand by and be a child while other slaved away."

She took a breath, trying to keep a calm voice.

"So, it was time to stop being a child... it was time to make my mother take back the Fog, the spell she used to keep my mind scrambled and more difficult to read for the enemies. No one would hire a little mad girl. No one would trust her to take a head charge into the preservation of the apartment. I like to think that before, some of the residents here almost functioned, like... like parents, and the rest of us were children. Well... many of those parents had dropped their duties, and it was time for the kids to grow up and learn to take care of themselves."

[Swith Witherward]

"Oh, you mean this," she somewhat sadly looked herself up and down. "Well... things, had just become so hard, Naomi. People became divided after NVE and Gretta killed Bran, and NVE's death didn't help either, not with the emotion and not with the finances. I... I had to clean the mess myself after Bran's slaughter. Everyone either didn't want to, was too angry, or too sad for various reasons. Then the money started to really go down the drain, everyone was struggling so much, I could not just stand by and be a child while other slaved away."

She took a breath, trying to keep a calm voice.

"So, it was time to stop being a child... it was time to make my mother take back the Fog, the spell she used to keep my mind scrambled and more difficult to read for the enemies. No one would hire a little mad girl. No one would trust her to take a head charge into the preservation of the apartment. I like to think that before, some of the residents here almost functioned, like... like parents, and the rest of us were children. Well... many of those parents had dropped their duties, and it was time for the kids to grow up and learn to take care of themselves."

Naomi chewed on her knuckles. "See, I don't have memory of that. Time was altered, and I was dead. I don't know why Swith wouldn't have helped during that crisis. Where was she? And I would have helped... where have I been? Why didn't people apply at Chaos? I would have hired them. It's doing so well... we could afford to pay people good wages. And your sister... the older one... where is she?"

[Monfrox]

The User thought for a moment. Her name in the Zone was Scar, given to her by the other Stalkers. She thought it would fit, but there was already Scarface in the apartment. She looked up and knew instantly what her name should be. Naomi, bless her, had tried to help her. But like she had said, she was damaged beyond repair. She told Lidev that she had come to accept this emotional scarring that she had endured and just went on as best she could, but she didn't tell that to Naomi. She would tell her next time they talked. For now, she opened her door, took out a surprisingly military-grade combat knife and etched her name into the outside of the door. Those who would look at her door would see a single word carved into the wood: 'SNAG'.

She sighed to herself, because in the back of her mind she knew that she may just end up in a fight with someone soon. She hoped that she would be able to prepare herself better now that she knew what was coming. Duffel bags and military cases came into existence before she stopped and looked. She didn't have much, but it was hers. Enough for a full combat-ready outfit and a few weapons. She would show them that she was still able to fight and operate, even with her distress. Maybe then they could see her for what she was and not try to mend what couldn't be.

[Giovenith]

"Oh, you mean this," she somewhat sadly looked herself up and down. "Well... things, had just become so hard, Naomi. People became divided after NVE and Gretta killed Bran, and NVE's death didn't help either, not with the emotion and not with the finances. I... I had to clean the mess myself after Bran's slaughter. Everyone either didn't want to, was too angry, or too sad for various reasons. Then the money started to really go down the drain, everyone was struggling so much, I could not just stand by and be a child while other slaved away."

She took a breath, trying to keep a calm voice.

"So, it was time to stop being a child... it was time to make my mother take back the Fog, the spell she used to keep my mind scrambled and more difficult to read for the enemies. No one would hire a little mad girl. No one would trust her to take a head charge into the preservation of the apartment. I like to think that before, some of the residents here almost functioned, like... like parents, and the rest of us were children. Well... many of those parents had dropped their duties, and it was time for the kids to grow up and learn to take care of themselves."

Naomi chewed on her knuckles. "See, I don't have memory of that. Time was altered, and I was dead. I don't know why Swith wouldn't have helped during that crisis. Where was she? And I would have helped... where have I been? Why didn't people apply at Chaos? I would have hired them. It's doing so well... we could afford to pay people good wages. And your sister... the older one... where is she?"

"Well I don't know about those other questions, everyone had their own reasons that not everyone cared to fully explain. My sister, Aeritha? She has never come to this place, I imagine it would just be exchanging one workload for another... now what's all this talk about "time altering"?

[Swith Witherward]

"Well I don't know about those other questions, everyone had their own reasons that not everyone cared to fully explain. My sister, Aeritha? She has never come to this place, I imagine it would just be exchanging one workload for another... now what's all this talk about "time altering"?

"Aeritha never arrived?" Naomi's jaw dropped. She stopped chewing her hand and looked at Gio in horror. "But... she came and was here... just a few days ago. Swith was going to make a feast for her. And she told us Mother would come... but in the guise of Christina Jerid! She said Pearlelei might visit!"

Naomi felt twinges of anger creep into her being. "This isn't right. You're the after-party. You're the joy and music and creativity that comes after the struggle. You're... you're you! But you're toiling away like you were Aeritha. Oh, Giovenith, this is terrible. This is all because the world was about to end."