Day 57: Cafeteria

[gald_digger]

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.]

Comments

[revolutionise]

Utena had no idea what Miss Chere would have been like before her arrival, but it wasn't hard to imagine her being more lively than the one time Utena had seen her. She could see see the woman's smile of relief at finding Hughes safe and sound, clear as day in dark hall. Maybe she wouldn't have been the world's most outgoing person, still, but she could at least see why Edgar would find her distance strange.

And then there was the matter of the Cooking Club. "Ahh. Yeah, I was sorry to see it go too. I was the most active member left after a while, so I maybe should've picked it up? But I don't really have the kind of organizational skills that she or Mr. Hughes had," Utena explained after another few unappetizing mouthfuls of goop. "I'm better at rushing in to attack a problem head on. Planning's never really been my thing," she admitted, letting out a small, self-deprecating laugh.

[girlsandgadgets]

Edgar couldn't help but chuckle at Utena's response, a smile crossing his face. In spite of the topic, his illness, and the vile food being served, he found his mood improving. Rushing in, attacking without a plan- it reminded him of a few people he knew, his brother included.

There were points were Edgar was more than a little grateful that the institute somehow existed apart from history- or at least that was what he'd conjectured, given the impossible situation with Celes having been brought from an earlier time, but having still been with them on the Floating Continent. He was sure Sabin would be finding his way into trouble without him. Sabin wasn't a trouble-maker (usually), but he was one to go looking for his brother when he went missing. The king still had concerns for his people, especially if the castle was trapped under the sand... Edgar didn't like the prospect that he might be trapped for several months or longer, but it was one he had to keep in mind.

"Trust me, it's better not to dive into trying to lead when you're not prepared for it," Edgar noted. "To have the wisdom to know when it's better to not pursue it is admirable. There are still a few of the clubs running: History, Arts and Crafts, Search and Rescue... I'm positive one has mostly filled the void left by the loss of the Cooking Club."

[revolutionise]

"Yeah, I think the only thing the Cooking Club did that no one else really does much is weapon-making. And there isn't really much of anyone who does that sort of thing anymore period, clubs or not," said Utena, leaning her head in one hand as she thought of the alchemist Skuld with the same dulled pain that sprang up whenever she thought about patients she knew had been "released". It was just so hard to get as incensed about the disappearances as she had a few weeks ago. There were too many of them; it was exhausting to think about too much. She could only afford to get really fired up about the people closest to her now, unfair though that was.

After a little while longer, Utena heard the recycled intercom message overhead and tensed up, expecting to see a staff member coming to fetch her for a visitor at any moment. To her relief, no one came after a little while, and she was able to relax. Relatively speaking.

"Well it was good to meet you, Edgar," she said, pushing herself out of her seat and leaving her bowl with a small portion of gruel still at the bottom of it. "I'm gonna go outside for a bit this shift and clear my head, I think. Here's hoping we can talk again, though! It really is good to know someone else who knew Miss Chere."

With parting pleasantries exchanged, Utena waved at the man, then headed out to grab a coat from her room. Her head was still heavy with thoughts and worries, but maybe just slightly less so than it had been at the start of the shift.