Day 55: Intercom, Evening

[damned-intercom.livejournal.com]

Snow doubled in number as the day transitioned into the evening hours. Unfortunately, none of the patients were allowed the time to enjoy the weather changes. They were instead greeted by the telltale jingle of the intercom, signaling their cue to return indoors.

Once again, they heard the voice of a familiar female. She sounded unchanged from her previous announcements, her intonation as clear and as flat as ever.

"Attention all subjects and personnel. All subjects are to return to their assigned rooms for their evening meal. Lights Out will commence shortly after."

The woman paused, seemingly for effect.

"All personnel: you are to report to your stations. Thank you."

The intercom clicked off.

[ All room threads go in response to this post; please post your character's room number as the subject line of the initial post. ANY NEWLY ACCEPTED CHARACTERS MAY POST TO THIS SHIFT (but are not obligated to if you would like to wait for Nightshift or Dayshift); please refer to the new room assignments before posting. Thank you! ]

Comments

[avengingfists.livejournal.com]

Ilia was brought in a little later than usual, having taken her time in the showers up until the last minute. She had no qualms about communal showers, and the heat from the water had felt good on her strained muscles. By the time she was toweled and dressed again she felt completely at ease.

She wasn't so happy to see that gruel was still their main course but she knew better than to complain. She nodded to Lana, a smile coming to her face as she sat at her own desk. Ignoring the bowl, she though pleasantries would serve as better sustenance. "Evening, Lana. Did you have a good day?"

It felt nice to sit and relax, but she was actually feeling a little energized from the shower. Last night's rest had been nice, but some exercise would definitely be in order tonight.

[fourstonewalls]

"You know, I think I did?" It had started out awful, and while some people could claim that meant it could only improve, Lana wasn't one of them. But it had, and while attempting to eat pink oatmeal without tasting it wasn't precisely how she wanted to cap any day, it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

"You?" Ilia looked well; she hadn't touched her food, but she hadn't been injured, either. The cuts were healing clean, but it did take a little out of her.

[avengingfists.livejournal.com]

"That's great to hear!" Ilia was happy to see her rather somber roommate smiling more. She seemed more at ease nowadays. It helped to relax Ilia's own tension too, coming back to the room to find a warm reception and easy conversation before the darkness of night set in.

Ilia nodded at Lana's turnabout, though her smile was quirked wryly at the corner. "Not too bad. I was a little surprised when I saw the punishments they dealt out during breakfast, though."

Ilia finally reached for her bowl and took a quick bite. Horrible, but surely it wouldn't kill her. She'd eaten enough at lunch to know it wasn't lethal. "Physically, I feel better. I think tonight I can go out and be at one-hundred percent again!" She wasn't sure what she planned to accomplish, but at least she knew she could tackle whatever beast they decided to throw her way this time.

[fourstonewalls]

"Really? It seemed very typical of the military mindset to me."

She shot a mirror image of Ilia's wry smile back at her. "Or what passes for the popular perception of the military mind." She pulled her beret off and smoothed it out. It would be more trouble than it was worth, at night, and she had no need of presenting a perfect front.

"Did you have anywhere in mind?" Ema wasn't ever going to be up for the kind of fight Ilia was potentially implying, but if Ilia was headed somewhere interesting, maybe she wouldn't mind playing escort. That was, of course, provided Ema was willing to try going out again after what had happened last night.

[avengingfists.livejournal.com]

Ilia chuckled, forcing down another bite of porridge. Good conversation could always make the worst food go down easier.

"Well, maybe 'surprised' is a bit vague. More than anything, it was the, hmm... preferential treatment of some patients over others that kind of took me off guard. I thought we were all on the same level, but it there are pets of the institute after all." Claude hadn't asked for it but the soldier had gone beyond what was necessary to make sure he was comfortable only to turn around and give Ilia the cold shoulder. It might have been different if she had been an attacker during the food fight but as it stood the ranking didn't make much sense to her. Not yet anyway.

"Oh, uh, not really." Ilia's eyes became thoughtful. "I just need to stretch my legs. I haven't given location much thought."

She shrugged. "Know of any places worth seeking out?"

[fourstonewalls]

It seemed an elementary diversionary tactic to Lana, but there was the possibility that her judgment had been clouded. She'd spent too long in a system where the truth was paid only lip service.

She put down her mostly-empty bowl and opened the box. On top was her notebook; she pulled it out, and it fell open to the maps.

"I'm going to go check on Ema, but after that, I'm not sure. She'd like to see the chemistry lab, I'm sure, and I was curious about the staff offices." Now, with the changeover, there might be even more to find; things left behind, and things not yet settled in. Had the doctors managed to remain employed, and if so, how were they taking the transition? All questions that likely had no easy answer, but that was no reason not to look.

The intercom clicked on; Lana stopped fussing with her notebook and listened.

[and moving into NS]