🔒 Locke Windsor - Floor of Inhumanities

;; Thank you!!

a cartoon girl with blue hair and orange eyes ALT: a cartoon girl with blue hair and orange eyes

;;I didn't even realize it until today so I'm a bit late, but happy anniversary to when I first made this acc

I'm a bit tired mentally and physically so no milestone drawing for now, but thank you everyone for the fun and memories I've made here :]

I have heard that there are... I don't know if they are Aberrations or just a similar case to the Magical Girls and the set Road Home is tied with-

...I think someone just ran onto the floor, shouted something like "ban ban" and then "zumbo saws"...

I feel like I'm being pranked...

You look like... A cherry jolly rancher... I think.

...You have got to be kidding me-

Hah- I read about this Abnormality... Least I still have Iori's keypage...

My head still hurts, but looking at the two... Bright stars in the sky is comforting.

...Speaking of which, where the heck did the doodle me go...?

Fortunately, no... As far as I recall, at least...

...That duck do be swimming, though-

...I'm fine.

I... I smell like quarters, but...

I'm fine. The hell just happened... Where did the rain go?

. . .

[Fuck I'm exhausted... feels gross too, lotta blood on me. How many times have I died now? Heh, can't remember...

The rain subsides and a beacon shines in the distance.

My agent... how brilliant you've become...

A grin forms on my face once more, wider than ever, and I begin to laugh. I

Had they not fallen into the arms of the floor’s quietest member, perhaps they would’ve completely passed out or became a book once more just from the distance they fell. Down the pole fell as well, turning back into a simple baton that nearly sliced at the front of a kimono almost dyed entirely red from the rain as Grave stepped back from the falling weapon. While the cape around Locke soon vanished into a bunch of shimmering stars, it would appear the effects from whatever Locke had manifested lingered for no clouds dared to approach the lighthouse any longer. The stars themselves became a beacon of both solace and perhaps hope as they sat there, watching over everything and everyone. “...Ugh… P… Phillip? Thank… Thank you…”

The Colors of Heroes (2/2)

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At the top of the lighthouse, the rain still poured down. Sand and oceans bleached red by the falling droplets of crimson could be seen for miles. Tree branches swayed in the violent wind, whereas others would simply snap off unable to push back against the incredible force. Green eyes look out to where the darkest clouds hung in the sky, trying to find the source of everything. While Olive had caused such vicious shifts in the floor’s weather, they were nowhere near like this in terms of the rain… Soon, Locke managed to find the source of it all. Nearly slipping off of the roof as they had to stop themselves from taking a step backwards. Between the blood dripping down off of it and their own shaking form, Locke had to quickly steady themselves. “...She’s still here? But… Did the others… Fail?” They spoke to no one but themselves, speaking their thoughts out loud. Perhaps doing so would allow them to realize that this wasn’t a nightmare. “Then, is this rain-” It was difficult to clearly see, but Locke recognized the two figures in the distance standing off against the Distortion. The streaks of cyan with the flickers of red gave it away the identity of one… As for the other, they needed no fancy colors or tricks for Locke to tell that it was their own brother. “This could’ve been prevented, you know.” That voice. They hated how sweet it sounded. How intoxicating it was. It was so warm, welcoming, but all it did was send a shiver down Locke’s spine. Had they not locked up the Abnormality cabinet properly again? They knew the voices from within, even under containment, could become invasive. The worst part was they knew, deep in their heart, the voice was correct.

If Locke had access to the Abnormality pages… If they were willing to truly stand up to Olive and properly use their keypage to its highest potential… If they were any stronger… Perhaps not physically, but mentally. Perhaps then they could’ve done something proper rather than make things become far worse. “Ah, but you don’t want to become that reflection of yourself in the past again.” That horrid reflection. A horrible reflection of which Locke became a traitor and somewhat quietly lashed against the very same facility that was to blame for their unbecoming. A weapon slicing the hands that had sharpened them by allowing the same monsters they were meant to slay roam about. Perhaps not even that far back into the past, but back when the Library was at its prime. A place where the corpses of others became not just books, but stepping stones for the future of the director. When people would quite literally sign lives away, sometimes not even their own. It was because of all of this did Locke become adverse to fighting others. Enough blood stained their hands, at least they thought so. Yet, it seemed like the world was pushing for them to become violent more and more… Citing it was necessary for survival, for conflict will and always be unavoidable. Either Locke would remain a coward and lock themselves up in the Library, refusing freedom even if it finally arrived for they were fated to always be a spineless coward… Or, they’d become part of the endless cycle of violence in the City with dried blood between their nails and nothing but a soon forgotten name and a rotten heap of meat that will be cleansed by the Sweepers soon enough. “What will you do, then? Which part of your past will you relive?”

Locke could hear the voices of those they once knew. The voice of a Disciplinary Captain who held nothing but ire in his eyes, citing Locke to be nothing more than a waste of space. Murmurs of assistant librarians who claimed Locke had no right breathing once again for their actions in the past. It felt like truly the past was coming back, once again. They had a choice. Either to rejoin the fight once more and be nothing more than an obstacle with a weak heart not strong enough to lay waste upon their foe… Or to run away, turning a blind eye to the suffering of not just Cheshyre and Kenneth, but Olive as well to an extent. They could feel their face, their body becoming glass. Locke’s movements became slow, as if afraid of shattering their body. The amount of pressure was dizzying. Guilt wanted to bubble over. It caused Locke to falter, almost sliding off of the roof entirely. “The form you’ll take to deal with this ordeal… How strong will it be? How weak will it be?” Yet- They remembered the moments that truly did matter. Their superior in the Safety Team, a man who helped Locke find their footing alongside Alice. Relief that while the main branch’s Disciplinary Captain spooked Locke, she was far much more competent at her job and far more inspiring than the last one Locke had dealt with. The kind smile Kenneth wore when he got to see Locke was still alive even after all of these years. Joy shared between Locke and their old friends when they finally were able to be reunited… If they just hid away in the Library, such warmth couldn’t reach them… If they allow their heart to become cold, then they lose their way entirely…

Down their baton would slam, right into the roof of the lighthouse. Light would kick up, as if a match was lit. Groaning, Locke heaved their body back up, hands gripping now what seemed to be a flagpole. Blood trickled down their face, yet it soon vanished with a wave of light. “...I am not a weapon. Those terms… I won’t let them define me. I have to keep going. If not for myself… For those that believe in me, both back then and now. Being in Disciplinary and Safety has taught me one thing… Be there for those that need it. To protect as many people as you can.” Red. The color of heroes. Green. The color of peace. It felt… Incomplete, yet even so… The same lights that once danced in the skies of the Inhumanities floor swathed themselves around Locke like a cape. “Even if my voice can’t reach them… Even if this is all just in vain…!” They called out, gripping the flagpole tighter even in the pouring rain. “Stars still shine, bright in the sky… Even with clouds as horrible as these… I’ll make them see-!” Locke would pull out the pole before slamming it back down. Then… There was light. An almost blinding light. The clouds above the lighthouse gave way to two bright, shimmering stars in the sky. One green and another red. While it did not end the rain on the floor, the sky above the lighthouse no longer was plagued by blood raining down forth. Instead, a night sky full of shimmering lights blessed the building and its surroundings. Perhaps it was the surrounding rain or the dark of the night, but the stars seemed to shine even brighter than it had prior to the floor’s changes. Locke looked upward at the stars, trying to reach out to them. Fatigue seemed to finally catch up, or perhaps their footing finally gave way, however. Soon the Librarian felt themselves fall off of the roof, falling back down to the ground.

The Colors of Heroes (1/2)

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;; I am so sorry I've been quiet on this front, I've been focused on doing egotober on my main 😭

🔏

🕯❓️📁❓️
...🔒❓️

🌧🩸🟰🔏😰
🌸🌳⛱️❓️

;; Hey there's no need to apologize :o Life happens, and sometimes not in ways that we expect or are easy to deal with. I just hope things are treating you kinder now 🫂

...Hah- somehow it resonates with me. I like this song.

...I-I'm sorry but, I've... Had enough of troupes and... circuses for that matter...

Eugh, if I think about it, I can hear the screeching of those monkeys again...

-The Librarian begins to follow behind Judgment Bird, summoning their baton to better scale the trees. While their footwork is amateurish, they soon manage to get higher ground.-

🌸 ...Quite faster than anticipated.

🔒 Sounds like they've been practicing... You staying here?

🌸 In case any of the trees falter, yes. I can rejoin you both when you're at the top.

🔒Got it. Thank you, Grave!

🔒Please, can you at least try?

🌸...Very well. Since you asked so nicely.

-The Abnormality soon held onto a fan, similar to the E.G.O. weapon affiliated with himself. With a singular motion, cherry blossom trees of varying heights soon sprouted forth. All leading to the Lighthouse.-

🔒I should be fine... I'm not as experienced with climbing, but I might be... Grave, do you mind?

🌸...Rain'll make it easier, but the sand will make it harder. I can do what you wish, but... The trees will sink with any additional weight.

🔒But, Olive-

...She can be helped, I know it. It has to be possible. As for the Lighthouse... I know you, uh, can't see, but... How good are your tree climbing skills...? If any?

...Hog Earmuffs...?

...Know what, fuck it- If they drown those out...

🔒Olive is... Still in there. I believe it. She... Isn't the type to just fade away like that.

As for Kenneth he's my older brother-! He has no reason to go against us. I feel bad he had to come by this way again, but-

...Maybe I can prove to him I can handle this. Somehow.

🔒S-sorry I just... Ugh- There's just a lot happening and I'm... Frantic, OK?

🌸...Now I worry why you need to get on top of the Lighthouse.

🔒I just want to see if Olive's still here! I guess... If Boss and... Kenneth are too.

...File mentioned those two were here...

🔒 Wait, don't hurt him! He's one of my assistants!

🌸 What a warm welcome.

🔒 This isn't the time for sarcasm, please–! I... I need to see if... If Olive is still here.

🌸...Well isn't this a sight for sore eyes. Didn't know your guest was Judgment Bird themselves.

Guess this only proves File's not around, seeing as their little lock down isn't in effect. That or... We've still got a hole in the floor.

-They took to rifling through the books, trying to find something. Eyes kept going between the books and the tall building.-

...Grave! There you are!

Hah- right... Sorry...

...No. I... I need to do something so that I don't have to worry about a brutal aftermath...

-Their eyes then widened, looking up at the lighthouse behind them.-

...I need to get up there. Up to the top.

You're not! It's... It's honestly a relief to have a visitor who uh...

Doesn't want to kill me. Or anyone.

...Bird, did you see anyone else on the floor? Or am I the first you've met up with?

I... I heard you the first time-!

Augh... Keep it down...