#perfektionists

[So far you haven’t gotten too deep into the tower, and you haven’t really tried.  The place is a maze and most the monsters at the beginning aren’t nearly as hard as you expect them to get later.  You’ve had to protect your friend a lot even still, but you’re surprised at how well she’s doing for a non-combative human.

The rare monsters that are much higher in strength prove to be more of a problem, but as you get used to working with each other you’ve been able to scrape out of those situations.]

[Currently, though,you sit in the dark; not fighting monsters, not even wandering.  When you originally planned to come to this place alone, you had no delusions that you wouldn’t spend the entire time awake.  You’re a troll, you can go extended periods without sleep, and the monsters and traps aren’t ideal for resting your head.

Franziska, however, has to rest.  As much as she tries to push herself not to, it would only be of more deficit to both of you if she doesn’t.  So you stay up and keep guard, playing with the fabric of Kouha’s hat or staring at your still-alive-but-not-for-long phone to play candy crush (since there’s no service anyways).]

               –Saturday, December 12th, 6:22AM–

[Four days into the tower and it’s actually getting pretty fun.  You and Fran have mastered this “working as a team” thing and even the stronger monsters are falling at your collective wit.  You don’t know where you are or where you can go, but you didn’t come here to make it to the top, so it doesn’t matter very much.  More concerning is that you don’t know how to get out; but if nothing else, there’s always one sure fire exit in the end.]

W4K3Y W4K3Y, K4RM4L

1F 1 H4V3 TO ST4RT 3XPLOR1NG ON MY OWN 4G41N 1 TH1NK 1D 4CTU4LLY G3T C4UGHT BY TH3 GLOR1F13D B34R TR4P

[You giggle as she rises and gather all of your stuff to keep going.  Despite not having any direction, you can tell you’re at least a decent ways into the maze just by the strength of the monsters and the annoyance level of the traps.  Each room you enter is different, and even if you go in the wrong direction they still get tougher. You’ve come to appreciate your friend’s company though, even if you were against her joining you at first.  The journey’s still fulfilling, since you can’t entirely lean on her, but it’s more fun being able to share your experiences and joke with someone.  She also notices things that you might not have, and she helps you piece together traps or puzzles or monsters’ weaknesses faster than you could on your own.]

[It doesn’t take long after you’ve started moving for a monster to sniff you out and attack.  It takes much longer for you to get rid of it.]

                          –Saturday, December 12th, 8:52AM–

[You’re panting.]

M4YB3 W3 SHOULD ST4RT H34D1NG TOW4RDS TH3 D1R3CT1ON OF TH3 3X1T NOW

1T W1LL PROB4BLY T4K3 4 WH1L3

[You say it like that, but it’s more-so that the monsters are above your level now.  You’ve brought your godtier items--Apollo’s Brace and Selene’s Orb--but they only have a limited amount of uses a day.  You already had to use the former in that last battle and you had only just started walking.  The monsters are starting to display more tricky powers and abilities, and on top of all of that, your own performance is deteriorating the more injuries you sustain.]

SORRY--

1 N33D 4

S3COND

[You mean to sit, but instead you tumble.  The injury itself isn’t that bad (relatively). It’s only a few gashes across the stomach and a good konk to the head.  But it’s piling up on the others and between that, your lack of sleep, and what you think is some toxin from that monster, you feel woozy enough that you black out.]

              –Sunday, December 13th, 11:15AM–

[When you awaken you can smell Fran right next to you.  You didn’t hear her yelling, nor did you notice being carried away.

It hurts to sit up, but you manage it.]

1M OK4Y

SORRY

1 TH1NK TH3R3 W4S PO1SON?

BUT 1T D1D NOT L4ST LONG

1TS--SH1T

K4RM4L!!!

[The monster dropped from the ceiling as you yelled.  You barely smelled it--only as it moved.  By then it was too late, though. your friend was knocked aside and you had to jump to your feet to avoid getting hit too.

Your dodges are a little delayed as the fight commences, but not enough to effect much.  The monster is strong, and while your friend got up and rejoined the fight, it has you both out-strengthed.

When you hear the sounds of another monster heading towards you, you falter.  For a split second you freeze and turn, knowing this wasn’t a fight you could win.  In that moment you knew; it was time to run.

But in that second, in that fleeting moment, in your hesitation, the monster sunk its sharp teeth into your leg.  You couldn’t hear the crunch through the pained scream that filled the air.  You didn’t notice that you were off the ground until the wind got knocked out of you through contact with a wall.]

                          –Sunday, December 13th, 11:22AM–

K4RM4L?

[It took you a moment to drag yourself back to your feet--your leg is broken, crushed--it feels like death trying to put weight on it.  You manage, though.  You get up and run (as quickly as you can) towards the direction that your friend lead the creature in.  You hear her scream.  You trip.  You smell the red filling the corridor.  You force yourself back up.  Her scream stops.  Your swords flash.

When you're flung back down the hallway, you know you could escape.  You could find a place to hide until they pass.  You could search for the exit on your own.

But you don't.  You force yourself back up and head towards the creatures again.  You should leave, but you can't.  You can't leave Franziska.]

                          –Sunday, December 13th, 11:24AM–

[It's hopeless.  Karmal's dead.

You tried to get close. To find out she was alive.  To fulfil the hope you had.  But there was no sound from her, no motion other than the monsters tearing her apart and occasionally flinging you, the pest, away.  When a chunk of pale flesh flew with you; you knew.

You could've both escaped.  If you hadn't have gotten distracted, you could both have made it away.]