damned_institute | Night Shift 23: First Floor Cafeteria

((From here.))

Closer and closer still, and all the while without creatures to deal with. Homura knew that sort of luck would only last for so long, and it was best to make as much progress as possible while it lingered.

But Landel's certainly wasn't built to encourage easy traveling, especially for the mind. Only darkness and a memory of the day's layout greeted the group once they opened the cafeteria doors, so effectively hiding whatever might be waiting for them.

"Ootori Kyouya." Homura's voice was firm despite being quiet, leaving little question that Homura's words were to be taken as an order. "Turn on your flashlight. We'll need the light in here."

But Homura's own flashlight remained off as he stepped into the room, despite the observation. While he didn't have any desire to expose the weakest member of the group, Homura's light would have to be used as a weapon should they fall under attack. Better that Kyouya's already be on, and lessen the chance of accidental blinding.

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A small flinch was the only visible reaction Kadaj had to that reminder, but his big brother's aim had at least been partially accomplished in that he didn't really feel like taunting him again just yet. He didn't think he'd be able to avoid it entirely, really, especially since he was sure Mother knew it wasn't her he was taunting at all. She wouldn't take offense at that, right? ... Right?

That was going to be bothering him the rest of the night, he just knew it.

Turning his attention away from his brother, he peered further into the cafeteria and struck out in a direction that would lead them more-or-less straight to the kitchen. Those tables and things in their way really weren't helping them progress any faster, were they? Nothing to do but go around them...

"The kitchen should be through here," he replied, sounding distracted. "Everyone else seems headed for it, don't they? Convenient of them, as long as they leave some things we-- or rather you-- can use too." They'd better. Kadaj didn't think he'd be able to stand another wasted night in this place.

The flinch might have one that was barely there, but it was enough for Sephiroth. Whether or not he even saw it was debatable. Maybe he merely knew himself well enough to know it would be there. Maybe he took it for granted.

What did concern him was that he had to check the reaction to try to pat Kadaj's shoulder. That disturbed him. Why did he care if that part of himself was hurt? It was a weaker part of himself that needed to learn better.

Scowling in the darkness, he kept pace with Kadaj, squaring his shoulders and straightening his back. If they chose not to leave him anything, well then, Sephiroth would merely have to take something from them. He was not walking around another night without the comforting weight of some sort of blade in his hands.

"I believe they will. If not, they are only mortals."

That brought a near smile out as he began to walk faster with Kadaj.

Through the tables, then around the long counter where food was usually served. Simple, but ultimately boring. If it hadn't been for the strange noises and that burst of light that had come from the partially open door to the kitchen, Kadaj might have interjected with some comment about how boring this trip was. Not anymore, apparently.

"That's true," he murmured in agreement, his head cocked to one side as he listened intently for any more sounds from the room. "Then again, maybe something else will kill them and take care of the matter for us. That would be even better, don't you think?"

He crept closer, quiet now both because he didn't want to draw the attention of whatever-it-was the people inside were fighting and so that he could hear their movements all the more clearly. Sneaking another glance at his brother, he asked, "Which would you prefer?" He couldn't guarantee he'd actually listen to what Sephiroth had to say, much less follow it, but it was polite to ask, wasn't it?

"We would be best merely going around them or letting what is attacking them kill them."

Close behind Kadaj, he tried to avoid touching the remnant as he peered around him to see what it was within the kitchen. He still hadn't gotten past the disconcerting feeling that he coming apart whenever he was in too close of quarters to Kadaj, although he would have been willing to bet it would have extended to any of the remnants.

"What are those things attacking them?"

It was either the darkness or the alienness of the creatures from what he knew of animals of Gaia. Sephiroth's teeth grit against each other as he found himself forced to reply on Kadaj's knowledge yet again.

It was becoming an uncomfortable habit.

Kadaj weighed their options for a moment, peering into the room along with his brother and finding himself similarly at a loss for what they might be. Sure he'd been here longer, but he had told Sephiroth that he hadn't encountered many monsters, hadn't he? He wished he did know what they were just so that he could rub it in his brother's face, but that honor was one he'd have to do without at the moment.

Instead, he said, "How about both? We're not obligated to help them after all. Besides, if they do manage to defeat those creatures, we can simply say that it looked like they had things under control anyway." Having others do the dirty work for him was his style, wasn't it? If it wasn't Yazoo or Loz doing that work, it didn't matter to him one jot who won or lost.

Almost as an afterthought, he he added, "And I'm not familiar with 'those things,' but we can examine them after you've been armed." All these delays were getting to him. It was time to finish this.

With a slight jerk of his head to indicate Sephiroth should follow, he slipped inside.

[To here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/106545.html?thread=6347825#t6347825)]

Night Shift 23: First Floor Cafeteria

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