damned_institute | NIGHT 64: M1-M10 HALLWAY

Scar had intended on staying in for the night. He was tired and frustrated and needed a break. But the disturbing announcement chased away all of the Ishbalan's thoughts of waiting things out tonight. Something was happening with the man on the intercom. Something he didn't like. It was the first time Scar had heard Landel's facade break. Something wasn't going his way.

The threat of transformation remained just as real. But now, whatever this insurrection was, there was a way to stop it. Something swelled in Scar's chest. Something that he had lacked since he had woken up in this hell. Somebody was fighting, and succeeding, and he'd be damned before he would sit down and not take his chance while he had it. Scar actually knew where the X-Ray room was. He was bigger, faster, and stronger than many of the people here. He knew that there would be a crowd making its way to the Medical Wing. He would just have to get there first.

Opening his closet, Scar was relieved to find the scalpels he had collected two nights ago. For all he knew, this was just another trap; a setup to make the pawns let their guards down. But when faced with the prospect of transformation, he was willing to take the risk. He had nothing to lose, anyway.

Something made Scar feel like this was real, though. He had known bastards like Landel. And they weren't the type to make themselves appear to be in a state of weakness, even if only to draw their prey in.

The Ishbalan hesitated a moment before once again taking the photograph of his brother and putting it in his pocket. He wasn't letting go of that one scrap of something that he had to fight for.

Determined scowl set firmly in place, the scarred man marched from his room, ignoring his roommate.

_{[To here]}

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[From dinner.]

When Landel mentioned that he was going to look into the incident with the bus crash, Sora found himself worrying for Snow. He had just been trying to help the rest of them, after all -- and while that had more or less backfired, Sora didn't think Snow should suffer for it.

His attention was quickly redirected when night officially started and Landel changed his persona as a result. The moment that Landel revealed that someone would be changing into a monster tonight, Sora felt his heart jump into his throat. While he didn't feel anything right now, what if he started changing once the announcement was over? He hadn't even warned Link!

Before Landel could finish his speech, though, something really weird happened. It was like someone else was hacking in, and soon afterward IRIS started to talk, delivering a message to them. The moment that the word "cure" was offered, Sora practically jumped out of his bed. "Really?!"

He made sure to quiet down so he could hear the rest, though. The X-Ray room. That was where he needed to go! While he realized that Tsubaki was probably going to be headed that way, this wasn't something that he could leave to chance.

The announcement ended and Sora turned toward Link, his relief managing to shine through more than the exhaustion of his illness. "I need to go check that out! Did you want to come with me?" Link didn't really have any stake in this, seeing how he was brand new, but Sora still didn't like the idea of his roommate heading out all on his own. At least this way he'd be able to keep an eye on him.

The intercom startled Link. His head snapped up toward the strange device as it began to speak. Sora had explained it to him, but... he didn't know what to expect. Then something seemed to go wrong with the message. He turned his gaze back to Sora, waiting for some sort of response from the younger boy. Was this normal? This strange, emotionless female voice?

Sora clearly had a good idea as to what was going on, though. Link stood, nodding in response to his roommate's question.

"Of course." He wasn't sure what sort of preparations were to be made before striking out for the night, so Link waited for Sora to make a move. He would just have to follow along to the best of his knowledge and hope that he didn't way his companion down.

"What sort of cure was that... woman referring to?" he asked as he briefly stretched out his arms and legs. Sora quite frankly didn't look healthy, but Link didn't want to jump to a foolish conclusion, either. Was there something more sinister about this illness? Based on what he had heard so far, the Hylian was certain that it was in the realm of possibility.

Just like that, Link agreed to come with. Sora was surprised that it had been so easy, although he also realized that with the position Link was in, having just woken up in some strange place and knowing next to nothing, it wasn't like he had many other options. In the end, it was probably the best decision for both of them.

"Let me just get changed and then we can go. There's, uhh, a flashlight under your pillow you should grab," Sora explained as he turned toward his closet and pulled the doors open. As always, his outfit from home was hanging there, and he pulled it off the hanger so he could start the complicated process of putting it on. Hopefully Link would know not to watch.

He couldn't exactly wriggle out of explaining the sickness now, though, and it was only right that Link know when there was a risk that Sora might turn. He figured he was in the clear now that it was night and nothing had happened, but he couldn't be sure.

"There's an infection that's affecting some of the patients. We aren't the only ones here, but you probably guessed that by now." There wouldn't have been much point in having an intercom system just to talk to two people, after all. "The Head Doctor has threatened that eventually the people who are sick will start turning into monsters, so it's really important that we cure it before that happens." He'd gotten the clothing on his lower body taken care of, and moved to pulling his shirt on next.

Link frowned curiously, lifting his pillow to find the "flash light" Sora had mentioned. With a moment of inspection, he found a switch and flipped it on for a moment. It seemed to be some kind of magic torch. He frowned appreciatively. It would be much more useful than an oil lantern.

The young Hylian's eyes widened slightly when Sora explained the disease. So far, this "institute" seemed very powerful, and very dangerous.

"Yes, I would agree that that's the highest priority," he said, waiting for Sora to finish putting on his... very elaborate and brightly colored outfit.

"How did you get your clothing?" Link frowned curiously. Having his tunic back would be much better than wearing this silly outfit.

So Link was on board even though he wasn't directly involved. That definitely added to Sora's overall opinion of him, but it wasn't as if he'd had many roommates who he'd clashed with. He was glad that that pattern was continuing now, even though he missed the others who had shared this space with him.

Once he finally got every last clasp and buckle in place, Sora turned himself around to face Link and grinned. "I thought I mentioned it? There's no real explanation -- sometimes your clothes just show up, and once they do the first time, they'll always be there for you in your closet."

He had no idea what triggered it, if it had something to do with the length of time spent here or if it was after a certain task was accomplished, but he hoped that Link got his outfit back someday.

Now that he was dressed, Sora grabbed for his own flashlight and his radio. "Anyway, ready to go? It's not too far, but stay close to me, okay?" And with that, Sora headed for the door and led them out and then down the hall.

[To here.]

NIGHT 64: M1-M10 HALLWAY

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