damned_institute | Day 57: Cafeteria

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Day 57: Cafeteria

Edgar's charming company had raised Anise's spirits enough that not even the Head Doctor's voice could bring them back down. Besides, she was feeling pretty sure that Landel wasn't actually around. To begin with, it wouldn't make sense, and secondly, his announcements sounded suspiciously like ones she'd already heard before. While Anise wasn't very familiar with Earth technology, she'd seen the little devices in the Music Room that could play recordings of people's voices. This had to be something like that.

It wasn't long before Anise was escorted to the Cafeteria, and then to the section where edible food was being served. As she filled her plate with waffles, fruit, and sausages, she looked to the other side of the counter with a look of sympathy. It was hard to enjoy her own meals while knowing what the other patients had to suffer through.

She wasn't about to refuse her meals just out of guilt, though. Anise needed her strength for tonight. There was still a bit of a nervous twist in her stomach whenever she thought about what could happen down in the basement... but she wasn't going to back down. Not after promising her friends they'd go together.

With her tray in hand, Anise seated herself at an empty table in the middle of the room. She preferred to have company while eating, but it looked like she was one of the first patients there, so there was no one to sit with. Maybe if she minded her manners and tried to look her cutest, she'd attract someone handsome! Holding her utensils delicately, she began to cut her waffles into smaller pieces.

[For Battler.]

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[Tolten!]

All of the foods that the man over the loud speaker mentioned sounded so good. The ones that the young girl seated nearby had on her plate looked really good, too. If only Meekins were allowed to eat during this meal. But he had a punishment to fulfill. Besides, the one other person in here had a bowl of that pink goo. Even if the hospital allowed Meekins to eat during this shift, they'd probably serve him that anyway.

Being forced to watch people eat and sit down while barred from doing the same. There was a name for that, wasn't there? "Cruel and unusual punishment" or something? Not even the Academy was this cruel and unusual!

A dismal look on his face, Meekins just stood at an empty section of the table that had the chair removed from it. A nurse stood by to make sure that he wouldn't try to sit down or steal someone's food. Not that Meekins would have done any such thing; theft was a crime!

At least, despite the...er...interesting conversation that Tolten had found himself engaging in with Rose, he'd found a moment to speak to his ancestors and his gods. He couldn't say he felt any better about his current situation, but he at least felt slightly more grounded.

And now he at least knew how to uncover more information, which was key. Knowledge was power, and he needed to glean all that he could. Whether he were a prisoner or a king, he needed information.

At least food sounded amazing. Until he was informed in no uncertain terms that the tantalizingly smelling spread was not at all for him. He got more gruel. Why was he considered a less worthy prisoner than the others? He was a king, for goodness' sake! Even Sed's cooking had looked more appealing than the watered-down-blood colored porridge.

He was being treated like nothing and no-one. And he was beginning to realize that despite longing for that treatment as a teenager, he hated it. He knew he had no ability or right to cry rank here - in a world with no Uhra, what did it matter if he was her king? - but this was infuriating. And they wouldn't let him put clothing on! At most, his escort had mentioned perhaps allowing him an over-shirt from his room if he were too cold. He wanted a damn pair of pants!

Though...it looked as though he wasn't the only one being given the sort end of the stick. As his escort told him to find a seat and 'make some friends', he noted a man standing at a table rather than sitting. With an escort standing near. Curious - and feeling a pang of empathy - Tolten found a seat across from where the man was standing. Now Tolten could see that he didn't even have a bowl of gruel.

"Are you...alright?" he asked, cautiously. So far everyone had been friendly enough to him, but how long would his luck hold?

His head down and a glum look on his face, Meekins almost didn't notice the young man addressing him from across the table. Though Meekins didn't have the best memory for even people he'd already met, he was certain that this one was a stranger. Though the man was blond and blue-eyed, he didn't wear glasses and had a much stronger build than his own roommate, so it couldn't be Mr. Williams. At least he seemed sympathetic to his plight.

Remembering the nurse standing nearby, Meekins kept the volume of his voice down as he answered. "I will be as soon as I fulfill my punishment, Sir! My first day here, which was yesterday, I was already put on notice for 'insolence,' Sir. All I did was answer the soldier's question..." His face contorted into a self-effacing grimace as he remembered the events from last evening.

"But enough self-pity from me, Sir!" he continued, forcing himself to brighten up in front of this kindly stranger. Right now, he could use all the nice people he could find; he couldn't afford to scare any of them away. "Where's my professional decorum, Sir? I am Officer Mike Meekins!" He thrust his hand up against his forehead in a salute. "And who might I have the pleasure of speaking to, Sir?"

The address of 'sir' made Tolten's rather lonely heart rise for a moment. Automatically, he assumed it due to being recognized! He had hoped that in this strange, indecipherable place he'd run into someone from his own world. It was certainly easy to tell!

But then he found himself asked his name and he face fell some before he could compose it into a polite mask. No, simply a lawman or soldier who was terribly well trained. Though he had to wonder what question it was that was asked to warrant the punishment. It wasn't an unfamiliar one, but it was a bit harsh...

Well, assuming the officer wasn't being fed gruel.

"A pleasure to meet you," Tolten responded, offering up a small smile. He kept his voice low, as well, not unawares of how they were being watched. It made his skin prickle and he found he couldn't even think of eating. "I am Tolten. And you, too, arrived here just yesterday?" So far, the young king hadn't met anyone who had been here longer. How many people had they taken? And for what?

Uh oh. As Meekins saw the man's face fall, he wondered if he'd said something wrong. Was this someone important he was supposed to know? Perhaps in his line of duty at the Police Department? He had been sure he'd never met him before, but now Meekins had his doubts. It would have been far from the first time that he had forgotten someone he was supposed to remember.

But then the young man introduced himself and smiled, which reassured Meekins a little. The name still didn't sound like anything he'd heard before, which probably didn't mean a whole lot, but still reassuring that Meekins might not have, in fact, met this man before and forgotten about him. How embarrassing that would have been!

"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Tolten, Sir!" He saluted Tolten again. "My apologies if it turned out that you were someone I was supposed to know, Sir." He cringed. "I've already run into a few people from my own Police Department here... including my very own boss. I'm not so good with remembering faces... or names."

He brightened up a little at the man's next question. "That's right, Sir! I've only been here since yesterday, just before dinner, Sir! How long have you been here, Sir?"

"It's alright," Tolten assured Meekins, holding up his hand. "I thought perhaps you knew me, but I was mistaken. Though...you said you've met people you know? From your own prefecture? Other policer officers?" All of the capital was patrolled by guards and soldiers, but in the smaller towns and cities the magistrates had policers.

The 'Mr' was odd. "Oh, please. Just Tolten." It was pleasant being called 'sir', even if it was simply out of politeness. He hadn't let slip who or what he was as of yet, but...

Well, this was an officer of the law. A soldier, a man (presumably) devoted to justice and the law and valid systems of government. "I...well, right now I'm no one, but in my own home I hold....a governmental position. When you called me 'sir'...." Vague, but he doubted that at least alluding to the fact that he was someone within the system could do him any harm.

Unless Officer Meekins - like so many others - held a prejudice towards the wealthy and influential. "And I've been here since dinner last night as well. I've only so far met anyone who awoke here last night, though the woman I spoke to in church said others have been here longer." He shrugged and poked at his gruel with his fork, frowning slightly.

"May I ask you where you're from?" Tolten mentally cursed himself for the jumble of information and questions, offered up without much fluid coherence.

"Yes, Sir, I have." Meekins didn't know what a "prefecture" was but had a hunch that now was not the time to ask. He scratched his chin in thought. "But only my boss, Police Chief Gant, is another police officer besides me. The rest are either lawyers or detectives who are involved with the Police Department. All of them have been here longer than me. Oh, and we're all from Los Angeles, California, Tolten... er, Sir!"

It felt unnatural for Meekins to force himself not to call the man "mister," especially after he'd been put on notice so many times for "insolence" from not adding "mister" in front of someone's last name... but maybe Tolten wasn't the man's last name. Rarely did anyone ask Meekins to call them by their first name, so whoever this young man was, he was really, really nice and friendly! Meekins smiled at him, hoping to show that he was the same, even if he was a patrolman who had the power to fight crime and arrest people for doing bad things!

Still, when Tolten said he was a government official, it was that much more important that Meekins show him the respect he commanded. Another swift salute. "I wouldn't say you're 'no one,' Sir! I hold all men in government positions in high esteem, Sir! You do many important things for your citizens!" Then something occurred to him. "I haven't seen you anywhere or heard of you in Los Angeles... you're not from there, are you, Sir? Perhaps," he grinned, his innocent eyes growing wider with excitement, "from Washington, D.C., Sir?"

Lawyers? What would this place want with lawyers? Of all the strange things Tolten had heard so far, that one struck him as oddest. He was a king, Ted was the subject of great prophecy, Meekins was a civil soldier...well, he didn't know what the woman from church was, but he doubted she was a lawyer. Or any other useless and pointless profession.

And besides that, he had no grasp of what this place was! Perhaps lawyers served a vital role! Maybe their blood was needed to keep the monsters at bay in the daytime....

"How very strange..." Well, they were all tied to the legal system, at least. Or the judicial system? Those were one and the same, weren't they? He couldn't quite remember. And perhaps in Meekins world - as it was growing obvious the man wasn't from Plank - lawyers were different. Perhaps they served a purpose. At any rate, Tolten leaned forward, eager to carry on the conversation.

"Loss...Angels?" He repeated, carefully, aware that this was an entirely new word. Yes, he had said that was where they all hailed from. A place in...what had he said? "I'm sorry, I'm not from...Califera. Is that your world? I hail from Plank. Uhra, to be specific." It hardly mattered if he admitted that now. And honestly, it was very nice to be deferred to with some respect. "And please, I am no one right now. A ki...an official is only an official when he sits upon his...official seat. Here and now I can do nothing for my people. I'm simply another prisoner, like yourself, confused and far from home and wishing to return there."

"Yes indeed, Sir," Meekins agreed, unaware of the thoughts running through Tolten's mind (though even if he did know, it would have served as good an explanation as any for him). "Very strange that so many people from my own precinct are here. And it sounds like you haven't met anyone you know yet. Maybe you could ask on the bulletin board, Sir? That's how I found out some of them are here before running into them!" He was so proud of that suggestion that it didn't occur to him of how much danger it could pose.

"Los Angeles, California, Sir!" He saluted the man. "It's in the United States of America... My apologies for not realizing you were from another country, Sir! And also for not having heard of Uhra, Plank, Sir, but there are a lot of countries around the world I haven't heard of yet." He looked down at the table in remorse for not having paid enough attention during Geography class in school. Here was someone who came from another country -- a fascinating sounding country at that! -- and yet how disrespectful it must seem to this nice man Tolten that Meekins' studies had barely gone beyond his own hometown. "I promise I will get back on my studies as soon as I get out of this place, Sir!"

The hesitation in Tolten's next statement was completely lost on Meekins, though again, it would have made little difference had Meekins realized he was covering up for the words "king" and "throne." However, now that the blond mentioned it, he did have a point about being unable to fulfill his official duties while imprisoned here. "I-- I guess you're right, Sir. I can't even arrest any criminals without my handcuffs or nightstick, so I'm not much of a patrolman here either." Dismayed at this thought, Meekins looked down at his feet.

"But..." He looked back up at Tolten, a little hope in his eyes as something occurred to him. "My boss did get some of his authority back. He found a candlestick somewhere, which is as good as a nightstick. And he was just as commanding and smart as ever." And just as scary, too... "Even if you're not at home, maybe you can still be an official of sorts here, Sir! And you can still help the people here until you can get back home!"

Realizing that he was getting overexcited about the prospect of playing morale officer, Meekins added in a smaller voice, "If... if that's what you want to do, of course, Sir."

"Oh, no, it's quite alright." Tolten held up a hand, and he found he had to smile at the other man's enthusiasm. And manners. Wherever this California place was, they clearly knew what they were doing in regards to their officers of law! "I doubt, even were you familiar with every country in your world, you would know Uhra. Wherever California is, it isn't Plank. I have found the board - a woman in church told me about it - and received no word from anyone from my own home."

But that was alright. Really. In fact, he should be happy that no one he cared about was here as well. It was unpleasant. And there was still time.

Well, it didn't dwell to think upon it.

"Well, I can't deny it seems those of us kept here as prisoners need help." Tolten leaned his chin on his hand and tapped his spoon against the bowl of gruel, still not particularly interested. "Though I've no idea what I could do. I haven't a sword or even a dagger. I'm not a mage, I was never able to manage even beginner level spells.... And my political clout means nothing here. They want me to think I'm some man named Arthur!"

Meekins did have a point, though. Tolten had made a vow to serve all peoples, not just his own. He had stood before God and his ancestors and the world and promised so.

"I wonder..." There was another point that Tolten was trying to wrap his mind around. He was beginning to understand that a great many prisoners had been here for some time. They lived lives separate from society and the reality that this place offered. "There must be some sort of power system among the prisoners."

"Ahh, I see, Sir." That Tolten hadn't heard from anyone from where he lived, even after asking over the board, made Meekins feel kind of sad. The poor man must be feeling alone. Unseated from his chair of authority and without a familiar face around here. That had to feel miserable! Meekins himself would have felt utterly lost had he not run into his Police Chief and then found out that there were others from his own town here. "I'm very sorry you haven't found anyone you know here, Sir. Well, er... sorry that you don't have them here to keep you company, not sorry that they're not in a gloomy place like this." His eyes genuinely somber, Meekins continued in a quieter tone. "I'm sure they miss you as much as you miss them, Tolten."

Then he instantly cheered up at Tolten's mention of swords... and daggers... and magic! His eyes filled with wonder. "There's magic in Uhra? I am intrigued, Sir! All my life, everyone told me that there was no such thing, but I've always held fast to the idea that it does exist! I want to hear more about your country, Sir! When there's more time, of course, Sir!" he added. "And, when I'm allowed to take a seat."

"For now, though, yes, we must help our fellow prisoners, Sir!" His optimism was in full force now. It did help for him to keep the Blue Badger in mind for inspiration. "You're smart and respectable, Sir! I'm sure there's something that you can do to help. I mean... if I was able to help my boss on a mission last night, you surely have some talents and skills that will come to use for one of the clubs I've seen on the board. There's the History Club and then there's the Arts and Crafts club, which I plan to join with my boss's leave, Sir!" Meekins didn't notice that he was rambling nor that his voice was getting gradually louder; he was just basking in the pride of being able to help his fellow public servant -- and an important one at that!

"Yes...well...."

Tolten didn't quite know how to respond to the assurance that he was missed. If only for the simple reason that the few people he considered 'friends' were so far away from Uhra as to probably not even be aware he was missing.

"Oh? Really? Well, technically we didn't have magic until about thirty years ago ourselves. Not in any practical application, just naturally. And apparently there were a race of people who could access the natural magical energy inherent in...er...nature." At least he could speak freely on the theory of magic! "But of course, another time I'd be happy to tell you all about. Despite my lack of ability, I did train for a very long time." And under what was arguably the most brilliant sorcerer to ever grace Tolten's world.

And once it again it looked as though Tolten had little choice but to return to his role as a follower. Naturally, this was where he was inclined. He knew this full well. Despite being born to an ancient and royal line, he was hardly a leader. And certainly he had learned how to step up and how to take command, but only in his own country. Here he may as well be back in the sewers with the Balmores. But a part of him resented and hated that. He should be able to take command, take a stand, do something!

"Ah, we're garnering looks...." Tolten warned, making a gentle quieting motion with his hand. The military nurses were watching. "I'll have to read the missives on the board more closely. I'm still trying to grasp just what precisely is going on! But I'm glad to see there is organization." And he did have skills, as long as someone could put a weapon in his hand. And needed a knight. Perhaps for those supposed creatures that came out at night....

"And lending strength to those who have founded resistance pockets is far better than sitting about bemoaning our fate!"

Tolten's hesitation to Meekins' naive assurance was lost on the former patrolman. No matter how many people in school and at the Academy and at the Police Department were mean to him, he always had his mother and father to look out for him. He was pretty certain that they missed him at least. And Tolten didn't look much older than Meekins, so his parents were likely still around, too. The thought that the blond man might possibly have no one in his life to care about him didn't even cross Meekins' mind. Thus, he just gave an innocent smile and nod to Tolten's response.

That smile got even brighter as Tolten started relating how magic came to be in his country. A race of people who could use magic! "Wow! Yes, I would definitely like to hear more about it, Sir!" And then Meekins realized something, thanks to Tolten's explanation of how he was unable to use magic even after training for it. "You know..." he set his hand under his chin, "come to think of it, that sounds like how only the women who live in Kurain Village -- er, it's a little village near Los Angeles, where I'm from, Sir. But they can channel ghosts, and men cannot. And in fact, only a few of the women from there can do it. Maybe it's kind of the same for you with magic, Sir? At least you studied it and know--"

He trailed off just as Tolten held up his hand. Uh oh... he knew what that meant: he was rambling too much again and talking too loud. Meekins looked down at his feet and said in a lower voice, "Sorry, Sir. I'll try to be quieter, Sir." He also didn't know what a "missive" was... but he was sure it didn't have anything to do with the resident police dog at the precinct. So many big words from this man! It was clear that he had already grasped far more than Meekins did about this place.

Even though Meekins didn't quite understand everything Tolten said, the tone of his voice explained it well enough for him. Trying his best to keep his voice down, he chirped, "Yes, indeed, Sir! Lending strength to these... organizations here will help everyone a lot, Sir! I've always been a man of action, Sir! When there's a job to be done, no matter how small, I'm always up for it, Sir!" He gave a salute to Tolten. "And if there's anything I can do to help you here, I'm your man, Sir! ...Er... within reason and within my ability, of course, Sir."

"I'd be happy to tell you all about Uhra under more comfortable circumstances," Tolten agreed with an honest smile. "And I imagine you'd like to hear about Gohtza and Numara, as well, though I know less about them, and how magic became commonplace in Plank." Mostly he would tell Meekins about Uhra, the Golden Kingdom, and now the seat of magical advancement in Plank. Numara had her tropical climates and her bone white filigree architecture, but Uhra was more beautiful. Uhra was real, in a sense that Tolten had never been certain Numara was....

"They truly are hard on us here, aren't they?" Tolten had only heard stories, and a few at that, but everything he saw made him uncomfortable with the level of scrutiny placed on them. He didn't even like it when his own servants and bodyguards paid close attention. And surely simply disagreeing with a guard - in Tolten's experience, that was usually what 'mouthing off' boiled down to - was hardly worth this!

"I greatly thank you for that," he went on, nodding at Meekins' offer of 'anything he could do'. "I think...I need to think. But I assure you, I will not hesitate to take you up on that offer."

It felt good, to hear the words 'I'm your man'. Even if Meekins really wasn't, it was nice to at least have a potential stand in!

[OOC: Sorry for the lateness! But this seems like a good place to wrap this up for now, yes? Let me know if not, though. <3 ]

Gohtza and Numara? Wow! Those sounded like very mystical, fascinating places, too! The names harkened to a few other countries that Meekins had only heard a little of, Borginia to name one. "Indeed, I would, Sir!" he smiled back, his eyes filled with innocent delight at the prospect of hearing more about them. "But yes, under more comfortable circumstances... and when we have more time, too, Sir," he agreed, as the population of the cafeteria started busing their trays.

"Well... it's not too much different from when I was in the Police Academy, Sir. Although the punishments there are less severe than forcing you to stand up all day and to miss one meal. Backtalk of any kind will earn you a penalty, especially if you're a new recruit. Even if you hadn't meant to backtalk to them." Meekins cringed at a rather distant memory of the Academy for a moment. "Orders are orders, Sir!"

Then he cheered up at Tolten's response to his offer. "If you choose to take me on, it will be an honor to serve at your duty, Sir!" He saluted the young man for what must have been the tenth time today already. "My offer is a standing one, Sir! ...Well, not literally, of course, Sir," he grinned sheepishly as he looked down at his feet momentarily. "Just let me know and I'll be at your service, Sir!"

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Day 57: Cafeteria

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