Mangrale

The 20th Floor ~ Sword Art Online

@Noodles

I will stop my wait for the other Player and be progressing the plot right again ~

Noodles

That does sound like what will have to happen if we are to go forward.

I'm still interested if you're willing to continue. I mean, you're even controlling 3, possibly 4 other characters aside from your own. So if you're up for doing all that, I think I can see this arc to the end. I'll see to making something this week.

Edit: Sorry about the double notifications. Forgot about those.

Camp Castaway

@The1Rolling1Boy
Cecilia felt as though she had only a hint there was a pitfall trap in front of her and so tried to carefully maneuver around it, only to realize it was far larger than she could have possibly anticipated and therefore fell into it anyway, her face showing it to a large extent amidst a shocked yet low gasp. If she wasn't so busy attempting to contemplate the gravity of what Spirit revealed to her, she would have mentioned something along the lines of how it's possible to be the unwilling cause to an effect and to not deserve blame because of circumstances beyond their control. That might just apply to all of them, except for of course, the guy that abused Spirit. Upsetting her was the last thing Cecilia wanted to do, so she began to furiously apologize until noticing she was apparently back in good spirits and asking for her name. "Uh um... My name is Cecilia, Cecilia Curtis..." she answered, trying to be sunny about it, but sounding more awkward than she would have liked. She tensely rubbed the back of her neck, momentarily at a loss for words, perhaps justifiably so.

Camp Castaway

@The1Rolling1Boy
Cecilia wasn't sure what to expect from the peculiar silver-haired girl. While she followed behind, she couldn't help but notice her white rabbit ears and fluffy tail. She didn't want to seem rude by staring, so she tried to instead look directly at Spirit, her bubbly attitude cheering her up a little. "Th-thanks, Spirit. But you don't have to apologize... You woke up not knowing where you were and with strangers around you... I can imagine it can get frightening sometimes," Cecilia carefully offered, knowing that chances were very good that she's "out of her depth" when it came to Spirit's own hardships, but hoped she wouldn't think she was too out of line.

One Punch Team

@Pirouette
That's quite alright. If you're still up for continuing, I don't think I could really ask for more than that. Don't worry about it too much.

---

I take it your not up for continuing... How about some music instead. :)

Hehe, I'm just having some fun with ya! XD

See ya around. :)

Camp Castaway

@Vampy@LiegeLord@The1Rolling1Boy
Despite whatever she may have been thinking at the time, hearing Spirit say she wanted to talk to her alone surprised Cecilia, her voice expressing a delicate sense of surprise. It was also the girl's noticeably cheery nature that stuck out to her, the accompanying playful giggling and nose poke that made Cecilia raise her head further, wipe a few lingering tears away and actually look at Spirit, albeit kinda bewilderingly. She wasn't sure if her demeanor came from a natural liveliness or from lots of experience or from somewhere else. At any rate, Cecilia didn't feel like she was in any position to refuse. She looked away, but nodded her head anemically.

It might not have been plainly obvious, but Cecilia did feel a sense of calm and indeed safety when James spoke and rubbed her shoulder. He of course had a point. Their concern was very much evidence of their kindness and good nature. She however, wasn't feeling very worthy of it right now. James' apology hurt in a profound yet mostly imperceptible way. She rose silently, afraid to see him directly, but not willing to leave on that note. "Don't be... It's not your fault..." she stated placidly enough that even she was surprised and subtly proud of herself.

Before following Spirit wherever she wanted to go, Cecilia looked up at Valencia, a very thin smile on her most collected face thus far. She nodded again, acknowledging what she said. Inwardly however, she knew her friends deserved at least some kind of explanation, and she intended to give it to them, hopefully soon. Cecilia turned a final time to Spirit. "I'm ready..." she said simply, uneasy about what would happen next, but willing to accept it.

Camp Castaway

Yeah, I believe I'm keeping track of everything. I'm afraid I'll be a little while longer. Sorry for the wait.

Camp Castaway

@The1Rolling1Boy@Vampy@LiegeLord
Cecilia admitted to herself that her words earlier to Spirit were on the cryptic or oversimplified side. Yet at the moment, she doubted that saying anything would make any difference. Would she understand? Could anyone? Perhaps, to some extent. Valencia and James soon came to her; she recognized their voices. It wasn't as though she abhorred their concern, but she felt as though she couldn't have been more embarrassed. Now aside from being useless, she was causing them to worry.

She might have been relieved that Helena and Neric didn't come over if it wasn't for her reasoning that perhaps the reason for them staying away was that they didn't want to upset her. This is it... Whenever they look at me, they'll just see another person who couldn't handle the sight of what makes them special... This thought she entertained could easily be attributed to nearly everyone. Would they treat her differently from now on? Careful to not be themselves, lest she cower and cry again? Is that what lied in store for her? To continue being sheltered? Cecilia gritted her teeth. Never again. She'd sooner leave this camp and everyone in it behind, than ever allow that to be the case anymore.

But did that really mean that she couldn't stay here. It certainly felt like her time in this camp was over. Her mind considered the option of leaving at night when everyone else would be asleep. However, doing something like that felt like admitting defeat. She might not be able to live with herself if she did that. "I'll be fine soon..." she finally said weakly, lifting her head partially, though not making eye contact with either of the three, not feeling up to it quite yet. "I'm... s-sorry... for making everyone worry so much..." Her words were still a little broken up as she fought to say that much. Her left hand gripped her other arm as she held both over her chest. She wasn't sure what else she could say, and although she appreciated their sympathy, she would understand if they decided to leave her.

Camp Castaway

@The1Rolling1BoyCecilia could hear Spirit and felt herself being nudged. However, she wasn't up for responding for a minute or so, her own state of well being not her foremost concern at the moment. Yet she knew she had to say something. The struggle came in deciding the earliest possible moment to respond. The voice was less than familiar, but she still felt as though she would need to check, so she tilted her head and peered up through a opening in her hair. "Yo-..." she managed before deciding to breathe in and try again. "You're Mystery's sister...?" Cecilia's face fell short of direct eye contact, but wasn't quite towards the ground either. "I don't know... I just realized... (panged gasp) that I'm afraid...! and I don't know what to do...!" she revealed miserably before returning her gaze to the grass, admittance sending her to another quiet fit.

@LiegeLord
She could hear James. She wasn't interested in any apology on his part. If anything, sentiments of guilt towards her condition would only aggravate her disparity. As far as she's concerned, this was bound to happen. Just an eventuality of her willing obliviousness to the real world and her cowardice when it shows itself.

Camp Castaway

Cecilia could only watch helplessly as her friends, if she even had the right to call them that after this was over, nearly came to blows. Soon the world around her faded into obscurity, nothing registering as perceptible except for the all consuming void. The darkness and its otherworldly current and flow seemed to beckon in a way that seemed to hypnotize her, taunting her though fully knowing that she couldn't move out of fear.

-----
Cecilia? [relieved sigh] There you are. You've had me worried... Hm? Asleep?... [chuckles] Alright then, up we go.

[sleepy moans] Uh... Daddy?

Hey sweetheart. Back at it again, eh?

Mmhm

Can you tell me what's so amazing that keeps you stargazing? [soft laughter]

What?

Just an old song... Cece, I'm not going to tell you to stop this, but can you at least pick a spot nearby? You scared me half to death earlier.

I'm sorry... This was the best spot. So I could hear them.

Hear what? The night sky? There's nothing out there.

Yes there is daddy. The stars. They're my friends.

But sweetheart. Stars are just inanimate gaseous objects. They can't do or say anything.

Yes they can. They told me not to be afraid, that mommy is safe... and that one day she'll return to me.

[sigh] Cecilia... You can't honestly believe that, can you?
-----

The conflict, for now, had subsided. But Cecilia felt numb, hearing nothing. It took all her strength just to keep standing, and now that was gone. She fell to her knees, her legs sprawling to the sides as she realized what had happened and how powerless she felt to do anything about it. She had failed. Of what did everything she said and did amount to. The unknown. When it truly mattered, when faced with it and all its dark uncertainty, she froze. Her hands fell flat on the midday grass, her head sunk low, facing the ground. A familiar sting wore away at her eyes until she honestly couldn't take it anymore. Tears accumulated on her cheek until they gained enough volume to drop to the ground. She was silent, plenty of practice. No one was hurt in the traditional sense. But could she genuinely expect to look anyone in the eyes after this. Yes, someone didn't belong in this camp. Cecilia knew the answer and the truth broke her heart.

Camp Castaway

@1Hawkeyes@LiegeLord
Cecilia gave a sigh of relief, her eyes closing before opening to better appreciate the tender moment between the two siblings. She never had a brother or sister growing up, so she was a little less quick to excuse herself. She nodded appreciatively to Helena, believing her own inside voice wasn't what it could be at the moment and didn't want to disturb the mysterious brother and sister. Cecilia was still concerned. What could have happened to Spirit to have provoked a reaction like this for simply not having her brother there. This just wasn't a thing that came naturally... Was it? Not thinking it appropriate to inquire about the matter at the moment, Cecilia deemed the matter closed, and after giving Helena a final contented look, she turned to immediately hear James shouting at Neric, the upsetting pleas accompanied by an ever growing, foreboding gloom just outside.

From the porch, Cecilia gasped as she jerked her head over her shoulder to spectate in horror as Helena partially transmogrified into a vicious tiger. Cecilia began to back away from her, away from the cabin, as though she were seeing a monster, a primal instinct inside her convincing her that unless she did something quickly, she would surely die. She regained enough of her senses to know that Helena had complete control of her own actions. But that still meant that she was possibly intending to fight Neric. "Wait! Helena please! It's Neric...!"she earnestly appealed, realizing that since she couldn't advocate aggressive action, she would have to spearhead another recourse.

Cecilia sprinted to James, narrowly preventing herself from tripping in the process. "James!... James!... What's happening!?" she called to him, the worry on her face clearly evident.