damned_institute | Day 56: Intercom, Late Evening

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Day 56: Intercom, Late Evening

Despite the rough start and the heavier snowfall, the buses managed to stay on route and on schedule. With minutes to spare, they arrived at the gates of Landel's Institute, back to the waiting arms of the military. All pretenses seemed to drop at this point, and the soldiers again took on their patented gruff exteriors. Patients were filed out of the buses in an orderly manner, eventually being escorted to their rooms for dinner in much the same. There, as promised by the personnel, well-behaved patients found their purchases among their returned possessions. A few even found new faces, though whether they brought as much joy as bought goods remained unseen.

The woman manning the intercom seemed to have missed the notice about the day's trip as her announcement remained no different from the usual. "Attention all subjects and personnel," she said. "Lights Out will commence within the hour."

A pause.

"I repeat, Lights Out will commence within the hour. All personnel: please report to your stations. The General will begin his address once preparations are underway. Thank you."

The intercom clicked off.

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She had been wearing her costume.

That was the first thing she noticed when she stirred awake, eyes blinking blearily at the dim, yellow light. She had been wearing her costume and now, she was in some sort of military-esque uniform. Not similar to her SHIELD uniform, but something different. More traditional. The second thing she noticed was that she didn't remember falling asleep. No, she definitely hadn't gone to bed. And the third thing?

She didn't know where she was. Alarms were going off at this note in her head and she was scrambling up, eyes darting around wildly, panic immediately setting in. There was a woman speaking over an intercom, saying something about "lights out", but the last time she had woken up in some unknown place, some strange room, was when she was created and it was rather hard to think of anything once those thoughts were settled in her head. How did she get captured again? Was she here for some sort of experimentation? That -- that had to be it. There was no other reasons. But it was becoming more and more difficult to even consider the possibilities when the only thing screaming at her was she had woken up in some foreign place.

Jessica had to get out of here. Words were escaping her lips before she could help it: "No, no, no..." and she knew it was a bad idea to speak, in case her voice or tone could be used against her.

Was she taken again? These -- the beds were hospital beds. Notice the details, take in her surroundings, remember her training. She had to be -- Doc Ock or Ben Reilly or someone, Roxxon, was she in their possession again? She was finding it hard to be even remotely rational as she got out of the bed, gaze moving at the bed across from hers. For someone else, but it was empty. Either they hadn't arrived yet, or she was staying in a two-person room solo.

Not staying, she reminded herself. But she was finding it really hard to be optimistic right now.

Today was such a good day that Erika was entertaining the notion of bullying Yukari, although she wasn't sure what ammunition she had against her roommate. Maybe she could beat her to the room and hide the contents of her box or something. After all, going back into the room meant she had to go back to looking at that disgusting slop again...Could she last a whole week without any food? It was supposed to be possible, but Erika knew it was dangerous to try it, especially when she had plans.

But it wasn't like that slop was going to help her either. It'd be more or less like starving... Maybe. She attempted to ask if the slop was edible, only to receive a curt reply that it had everything "necessary to function." Well, that was helpful. Maybe it would be best to try and eat it when she was in a good mood.

That was her original idea, but the detective paused when she entered the room and found that she was already beaten to her room. And the girl who was already here was not Yukari. Erika's brow immediately quirked - Yukari hadn't shown any signs of psychosis, but perhaps things worked out differently under military rule. Whereas Nunnally might have broken, Yukari might have just been unfit.

Erika pondered for a moment, and then she spoke up.

"Who are you?"

Jessica was spending her time examining the room at this point, trying to find anything that could give her an idea of where she was or the way out of here or something. This meant rifling through everything that she could find and unfortunately, the door was opening just as she was looking through the closet, jerking out and back and staring wide-eyed at the small girl who just walked in. Long, blue-hair (was that even real) and staring right back.

This was someone else trapped here. But she didn't seem bothered, in fact, she seemed settled by everything. She must have been here longer than Jessica. That was the immediate conclusion.

However, the answer to the question was an immediate, "Who are you?" There was no way she was giving out her real name, especially in case the people who took her didn't know yet or weren't exactly sure who she was like when the brain trust grabbed her. She could come up with a fake alias on the spot if it was necessary, but for now, she would avoid it. It was easier that way.

"Furudo Erika." Most people should have been more understanding - this girl was obviously new, she most likely just woke up, and she had no idea where she was or who she was going to be talking to for the next hour or so. But this was Erika, who was more concerned over whether this new girl had touched her things or not. If the new girl was anywhere near competent, she probably searched this room, and that meant things might be missing. The detective wasn't going to tolerate that.

Instead of asking any further questions, she made her way to the metal box that was on her side of the bed, flipping it open to examine its contents. Thankfully, everything was there, including her weapon, the chopsticks, and her secret weapon. After verifying that everything was where it should be, Erika shut the box once more and sat down on the bed, watching the girl with a hint of amusement.

This probably was the time where she should have explained things, but instead, Erika just watched her. She didn't feel like dealing with hysterical newcomers right now, so she'd be glad to wait until the girl had calmed down and started asking questions. She thought it was the right thing to do, anyway. Who wanted to be bombarded with information when they weren't in a state to process it? She was being awfully generous tonight!

Edited 2011-05-25 05:30 (UTC)

Furudo -- was that even a first name? Erika sounded better though, more appropriate and it took her a second to realize that Erika was her first name. Granted, she should've been able to assume based off of the girl's looks, but she was never very good with those sorts of pre-conceived notions. She just let her gaze (narrowed and steady) follow Erika as she moved across the room, looking inside some sort of box. Jessica hadn't gotten to rummaging through that yet, and based by the fact that that was immediately where the other went, it must be something important.

Her mind was still on edge and she was finding it very hard to think at the moment, being barraged with bad flashbacks and memories of her times in her own hospital room and labs and it was easy enough to just watch the girl sit down on her own bed, trying her best to stay calm and not start freaking out. Spazzing would be more appropriate.

She could do this. She could deal with this situation. She was Spider-Woman. SHIELD. This was something she's dealt with before and getting hysterical would help no one. Especially not her. The girl was expectant, waiting. So Jessica took a moment before speaking up again, not bothering with her own name and instead going straight to the questions.

"Where am I?"

Erika actually had low expectations for this new girl (hm, she needed a temporary name. Perhaps she should ask for the name on her dog tags), so she was a little surprised when the new girl got straight to the point. Well, it was good to see someone calming down quickly and being proactive. Being the only source of accurate information for this girl before she was thrown to the wolves tonight was a sort of empowering feeling... So, she wouldn't be cruel and feed her any fake information. It wasn't like she wanted to get her brand new roommate killed or anything.

"You are in Landel's Institute, which used to front itself as a hospital for the mentally ill. However, you have the privilege of arriving when the military has taken over, so you are seeing this place for what it truly is: a military training facility. Now, before I continue, I'd like to ask you an important question."

It was very important, and she would have to explain it eventually regardless of the answer, but Erika figured it was best to ask now and see what Fragment this girl was pulled from.

"Are you from Earth?"

She was quiet during Erika's explanation, the only change in her expression to show that she was registering it being the tightening of her lips and the way her fists clenched at her sides. Military training facility. Yes, just like the CIA had done to her. The FBI. She was right in assuming that this was no different. So the most important point of the matter would be getting out of here. Somehow. She'd have to find out how long this girl was here, what's the likelihood of escape, something. She could try breaking through the walls when her "roommate" left, or using her powers to get out of here. That would be her best bet.

However, she was snapped out of her thoughts at Erika's question. It was strange, and almost irrelevant to her if she wasn't aware of the participation of aliens with SHIELD. But what did that have to do with anything?

"Yes, I am. Why?"

Her tone was serious, almost angry, but not quite.

Erika could catch how strained the new girl's tone sounded, a little impressed that she hadn't flown off the handle at the news that she was kidnapped. The detective had mistakenly pegged her as someone who looked like she angered easily, but she was reconsidering that impression now. Really, she was actually having a pleasant time, especially when this gave her a chance to brag about all of the information and theories that she had gathered. Especially since most of it was right.

"You will find others who will claim to be from different time periods, or even different worlds. For example, I'm from the year 1986. My former roommate was from the future. The roommate before that was from an alternate Earth." She paused again, hoping that the new girl would catch both of her drifts. She supposed now was a good time to move onto warning her about what happened during the night, and probably warning her about the daytime now that the military had taken over, but before that...

It was getting tiring thinking of her as "the new girl". Her real name wasn't necessary, but Erika wanted to have something to call her by and she didn't feel like making anything up.

"Are you wearing your dog tags? They assigned you a false name when you came here, and I'd like to call you something."

The first thing Jessica noted was that the girl had been here for a very, very long time, or she went through roommates very quickly. Neither was a very appealing thought and she chewed her lower lip instinctively, mulling over the thought that people could come from different times and places. This was... this was ridiculous. Crazy. She immediately wanted to write this off as a dream, but she couldn't do that. No, this was no dream. No delusion, as much as she wished it was.

The normally chatterbox just replied with an, "Ah", unsure of what else to say. She had a million questions, waiting to be asked and yet, she found herself unable to voice any of them, no matter how much the scientist inside her was stirring. How was this even possible? And did that mean she was still on Earth? Her own world?

Jessica paused, looking around at her person and patting herself down before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a chain with dog tags on them.

"Julia Carpenter."

Oh, that was real funny. If this wasn't an elaborate setup by Roxxon or Doc Ock, she didn't know what is. (Despite the fact that Roxxon was destroyed, but... Why else would they put Julia?)

Even with the short response, Erika was hoping that 'Julia' was considering her words carefully. If she had asked, then Erika would have clarified that she simply went through roommates quickly: Two in a week and a half. This place certainly went through people a lot, and it made her feel all the more superior for lasting that long, when she had seen other people go through less. Hopefully, this roommate wouldn't fail to disappoint, as Erika didn't feel like giving this speech again. Maybe. It depended on how amusing the new new roommate would be. Oh, it was a bit impolite to assume that Julia wouldn't make it, was it?

"Julia, then. It's nice to meet you."

... Normally, Erika would have continued on her little lecture, but she was eyeing that plate of slop. It wasn't that the slop was more interesting, but she was wondering if it would be better to let Julia find out about the trials of the night herself. Maybe that in itself would prove to her that this roommate might actually stay around long enough to get to know her. Or maybe she was just subtly toying with the other girl for her own amusement, waiting for her to ask the right questions if she wanted the right answers. After all, Erika had worked hard to get the information that she had now, so it seemed a little unfair to expect her to ruin the surprises for her roommate.

She said nothing else, finally reaching forward to take the plate of slop. Well, this, she might as well explain this.

"Oh, this is what we're supposed to eat. Before, we were given real food... But it seems like the privilege has to be earned now." Exactly how, Erika hadn't figured out yet, and that frustrated her just a bit. Hadn't she proven herself worth it by now?

Jessica's own gaze turned to the plate of slop and there was a moment where she wondered what exactly that was and what was in it. It looked like something they used on prison shows and even when she was training with the CIA, she had better meals than that. So what kind of military training base was this then, that they just gave whatever to their soldiers?

"A privilege?"

It was an idle question, one that didn't have a lot of commitment behind it. That made sense, but it seemed relatively ridiculous to her so she just sat down on her own bed, finding that she wasn't very hungry anyways. She was silent again, thinking of what could be said or asked, before deciding to just generalize it and take whatever Erika gave her, before she went out to find her own answers. By no means did she trust this girl, but it was easier than just guessing wildly.

"Is there anything else you can tell me?"

That was good enough for now.

Perhaps Erika should have clarified that they were test subjects, not soldiers, but that would require her to be psychic and she didn't quite reach that level of perception yet. Either way, she only nodded when Julia echoed her own words back at her. It was probably terrible news to receive, and Erika was decent enough to let Julia collect her thoughts on not being able to eat real food every day. That truly was the worst of the news that Erika could deliver...

That was also all she felt like delivering, since Julia asked such a crappy question. Well, with a lazy question like that, Erika didn't feel like filling in any more blanks. She thought for a moment, wondering if she should even grace that question with an answer, but in the end, the detective shrugged. Perhaps now was the time to at least give her a fair warning before she went running out into the unknown, but that would ruin the surprise and fun, wouldn't it?

"The doors will unlock soon. Then you'll be free to go." She left it at that, finally prodding her fork into the slop and hesitantly raising it up to her mouth. She was still feeling ... not full, but content from her meals at Doyleton, but it was best to get to know her dinner for the next week sooner than later. Finally, after some nose wrinkling and a mental promise to never soil her chopsticks with this filth, she put the fork in her mouth.

... Hmm. Tasted like oatmeal. Really stale oatmeal. Perhaps a trip to the kitchen was in order, and she could grab some sugar to make it halfway edible.

Unlock soon? But when? When was the exact time and how long was that from now? But no matter. Once the doors unlocked, she could escape and get out of here. She didn't plan on sticking around forever, eating this crappy food and being a little plaything for the bigwigs. No, she was done with the men in white coats and the shady rooms.

However, she figured her question wasn't satisfactory and honestly, she didn't blame Erika, but as curious as she was of what's going on, she wasn't in the mood to contemplate or analyze things. She just wanted information and then spend the rest of her time trying to figure out how to get out. For now, she just settled back on her bed, trying to keep her anxiety on low. She was freaking out bad, the longer she stayed here. Even if it wasn't showing, in her head, she was irrational and antsy and crazy. It had been a long while since she was like this and she was jittery.

She just stayed quiet, watching Erika eat the slop, frowning at the girl's rather dissatisfied expression. Gross.

Julia said nothing more after that, and Erika wasn't the kind who tried of person who couldn't handle awkward silence. Rather, she should have been concentrating on what was going to happen tonight. She trusted that Sync would have a third person available, but if not... She would have liked to think that she had a suitable person right here in this room, but there was no point asking someone who just woke up. Erika could already tell that this girl didn't trust her and while that was fine with her, it also limited this girl's usefulness for now. Oh well, they would just have to figure something out.

The detective was also very aware that she was being observed, but all she did was shrug when she saw Julia frown at her frowning. There really was nothing she had to say about the state of this terrible food. Poor Julia, they were practically pampered before the military came. Now, she couldn't even have the luxury of real food. Ah well, that was the new way this place worked.

"It could use some sugar. Or any kind of flavor," Erika noted, finally deciding to eat all of it anyway. She would have preferred if her roommate had touched it so that she could observe any ill effects, but with there being no one else, she'd have to try it herself. Hopefully, there wouldn't be any interference, like last... time. Ah.

"I'd get used to it, if I were you. It's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

Oh, Erika was speaking up again. Jessica was quite fine with just sitting in silence, but apparently she wasn't allowed that. Not that she minded, she was just feeling rather touchy since, hello, she'd just been kidnapped and taken to a military training facility against her will. She was letting her gaze travel the room again though, taking in any details that she missed when Erika did speak up, chewing on her lower lip once more.

"It's fine."

A pause as she contemplated why normally, she would be a chatterbox, even when she was stressed, but here, she didn't really feel like talking. It was probably because escape was still on her mind and she was still feeling rather alarmed and of course, completely irrational and prone to freaking out. She hesitated before continuing.

"It's not like I expect anything better."

Yeah, that was good. But there was a lack of quips and she just really wasn't in the mood. The longer she was in here, the more paranoid she felt she was getting. And the angrier.

"That's good, because it's not going to get better."

Erika had been through the same thing herself, so it's not like she couldn't make a guess as to what Julia was thinking. It probably was some grand plan for escape once the doors unlocked, because any reasonable person would probably think along those lines. Well, there was no harm in asking, she supposed. After shoveling down a few more gulps of the stale pink oatmeal (why pink? Erika had enough sense to realize this wasn't supposed to be oatmeal, so what exactly was it?), she stopped and stared at her roommate again.

"What are you going to do?"

It was an innocent enough question, phrased hopefully in a way that wouldn't offend or make her roommate suspicious. Not that Erika could blame her for thinking such things, but unfortunately, the girl was more interested in how she could exploit that for her own gain then feeling sympathetic.

Despite how innocent the question may have been, Jessica wasn't a trusting type and had never been that way. She was used to darting and avoiding questions, making up lies and stories to get where she wanted, and just generally never being honest. Even when she was Peter, that was how it was so she could hide her identity. Nonetheless, she turned her gaze towards her "roommate", lips moving to a thin line and eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"Take a nap."

She responded immediately, despite the fact that she wasn't moving. She could feel the quip and sarcasm bubbling back up, even if she wasn't really in the mood for it. It was like second nature, at this point.

"Maybe play a game of cards afterwards. You know, I really need to get some more practice in poker. Tired of losing my underwear all the time."

Her reply didn't have much emotion behind it, and she was immediately moving her gaze away. She could be friendlier because she would be here for the long run, but she didn't want to think that was true. She refused to believe it. So whatever mood she was in, Erika would have to deal with.

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Day 56: Intercom, Late Evening

F23

Re: F23

no subject

i'm sorry that erika is such a jerk. 8(

LMFAO NO I LOVE IT

YOU SAY THAT NOW....!

ALREADY BEST FRANS

BEST FRANS FOREVER AND EVER

AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER...............

NOW YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET RID OF HER......

JUSTASKEIKAKU.PNG

O-OH I DIDN'T KNOW YOU FELT THAT WAY.... o////o

/TOUCHES....................

/TOUCHES BACK.......... ;u;

U-UGU..................

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