Daemon Sadi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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damned_institute2012-02-03 09:53 am
thesadist) wrote in damned_institute2012-02-03 09:53 am
Night 61: M21-M30
Daemon was a few minutes later slipping out of his room, having waited around to do something once he was alone. Slipping the folded page torn from his journal into one of his pockets, he retrieved the makeshift weapons from the night before and set out, heading up the long hall to meet Renji at the other end.
[Going to here.]
[Going to here.]
M25
Since his return to power, Landel had shown a proclivity for making ominous suggestions just as the lights went out. Last night, it was vague, sinister rumblings about incipient "changes," and tonight it was discussion of one of Aguilar's programs that would remain in effect, but would only involve four people... at least this time. That didn't sound like it could refer to the "sleep studies" or to Special Counseling, which both pre-dated Landel. It might refer to pharmaceutical experiments, or to the way patients like Ilia Silvestri and Rose Lalonde had been sent out with special orders to accomplish specific tasks... Landel's injunction against mistakes suggested the latter. Some of L's usual anger flared at the idea that he might once again be punished, in some uncomfortable way, for someone else's mistakes.
At the same time, any opportunity to meet Landel in person would always be of great interest.
He pocketed the keys and began to move towards the door when a thought stopped him. If the ring worked as it should, the three of them would find themselves in a cold room that led to a part of the building that was entirely underground. They might wind up trapped in the artificial chill, where his thin white tee wouldn't be warm enough. Even if that didn't happen, the temperature in the basement itself might not be comfortable.
He decided to retrieve one of the Institute-issued sweatshirts. Tying the garment around his waist seemed like a bad idea, though; it would make it easier to catch him from behind. He put it on over his white shirt instead.
He'd wait for the other men in the hall, hoping neither would forget to bring the miniature weapons in their care. Along with more obviously useful ones.
no subject
Meanwhile, there was his conversation with Dent to consider as he walked. It had been a surprisingly fruitful one, and Lunge realised he hadn't ever heard Dent speak so much and so freely; with another nudge or two, he could maybe begin to suggest that the man actually trusted him, and vice versa. Not that the opposite mattered as much, when Dent had been the one to be as solidly stoic and suspicious as he'd been since they moved in together. It could only be taken as a good sign that he'd been so freely willing to share his information.
Then there was that information. Caverns below the basement... Lunge wished he could say that he was surprised, but along with the figure of Charon it seemed about on par with what he'd come to expect from Landel- and the lake was most certainly Landel's territory, given the way he'd announced it in the way of a proud sponsor unveiling his latest architectural project.
He'd discuss it with L in greater depth when they found a moment: until then, they needed to focus on action rather than words.
As if he'd read his thoughts, L was already waiting outside of his room for him in his usual indoor clothes with a sweater thrown over the top, presumably for the walk-in refrigerator or even padding.
"I have the shield, the ring and a radio," Lunge explained succinctly as he approached the man, bypassing the greeting. "You're ready to leave?"
no subject
While unsure of exactly what might confront them in the areas below the institute, Edgar tried to come prepared: he held his shovel as a physical weapon, his magic still more or less unreliable. He was sure he could cast, but knowing it would drain him so badly, leaving his companions to fend for themselves, didn't sit well with him. Emergencies only, then. If only he could get a greater control over his abilities by the time they actually needed them...
He ran his hand through his hair as he approached the two waiting men, overhearing what Lunge was saying as he brought himself closer.
"And I have my glorified letter-opener," Edgar said with a crooked smile, the air of confidence around him as any insecurities he may have had on display were masked again. "I trust the two of you are ready?"
no subject
L paused, then added, frowning, "It's possible that we'll all have to be touching for it to work. It would be unfortunate if you and I were left behind, Edgar." His hands were full, so he extended his elbows until they were touching both of the other men, then nodded at Lunge. "I think you can break the stone now."
He sounded nonchalant, to himself, but he felt his pulse quickening. What will we find tonight?
His curiosity tended to override his anxiety in most cases where satisfying it wasn't inexcusably stupid, anyway, but in this case it was necessary to press ahead, and he knew they were on the edge of a discovery that could go either way. Given the inability of those who had experienced it to talk about it, it seemed almost certain to have some unpleasant aspects.
He hoped they wouldn't be forced to spend the night shivering in the freezer... if that happened, though, it wouldn't be the worst possible scenario. They could die any night, but an activity like this, intentionally pursuing a course that they had been told was dangerous even when considered with the Institute's other hazards, made death seem closer and more palpable than ever. He tried not to think about how he'd felt in the Arts and Crafts room, or when he'd heard about what had happened to Jones and to Javert. Dwelling on those things right now would only distract him, and he needed all his faculties to survive this, and to help keep his companions alive, too.
no subject
"Of course." The chain of contact ran from himself to L and then from L to Edgar, but as a precaution he reached out with the hand his knife was in and pressed the back of his wrist to Edgar's shoulder, keeping the folding knife turned away from the man. It wasn't a comfortable position to be in by any stretch, but they would only be standing for a couple of seconds while the ring worked its magic.
Lunge raised the ring on his finger to the wall. In the back of his mind, his database flagged several warnings: these rings came from Landel, they can't be trusted, what sort of side-effect are you signing up for? There had been no reports to that effect, of course, but...
Breathing shallowly, he braced himself and smashed the gem against the wall. All three men vanished.
no subject
M30
Even now that he'd calmed down somewhat, he was still shaking with anger, and it felt like the rage was ready to burst out of him again at any minute.
But pretty soon after hearing the news, he couldn't help thinking how helpless they all were. The truth had been staring him in the face for too long. Dr. Landel was picking and choosing now, wasn't he? He wasn't making a secret of it anymore. He'd see to it he got rid of anyone who stood in his way! You saw a lot of recurring themes in here, but Gumshoe thought this was one of the worst by far. Obviously Dr. Landel wanted to pluck every single investigator out of the "patient" body until there was nobody left to challenge him. It made sense, didn't it? And that was only if they actually found a way out of here.
...It was times like these that made Gumshoe wonder when that day would come, if at all.
Silently scolding himself for daring to think like that, he scooped up his notebook and flicked through it to that one page with room numbers on it, looking grim. F21. That was where he was meant to go tonight. He dropped the journal in the drawer and clenched his fists. If Mr. Edgeworth had known how negative he was being...
He straightened again and gave the door a hard look. Yeah. But don't mind him. He was just mulling over things. There were too many people here worth fighting for to consider giving up, right? He knew they'd escape someday soon. They had to pull through this, after all. They had to show this guy what happened when you messed with people like this!
Gumshoe, for one, wasn't gonna let that lunatic get the upper hand on him. Dr. Landel would have to try a lot harder to get this old Gumshoe to back down!
"Come on, Gumshoe," he urged under his breath, stepping into the hallway and exiting the block on swift steps. "Shake it off."
no subject
From M25
He'd considered it seriously, and he'd almost done it. But in the end, he'd changed his mind. Things were happening out there, outside the room, and even if he was tempted to wait until morning... Even if they weren't gathered together in one place, there were still so many people he could observe at night as well as during the day! And information, too—there was the added bonus of perhaps procuring something that could prove useful.
And so, well after his roommate's departure, Izaya took up his flashlight and makeshift lockpicks and headed out into the halls.
[Skipping to here]