Day 57: Waiting Room / Lobby 2

[gald_digger]

Anise wasn't sure what to think when she was escorted to the waiting room. It was disturbing enough that Landel mixed up her family - and Ion! - in his stupid schemes, but the military was going to do it too? While it looked like they were pretending to follow the Head Doctor's schedule, she still felt uneasy, like they might do something unexpected and horrible to her loved ones.

Well, more horrible than what was already done to them, that was...

Despite that uneasiness, though, Anise really wanted to see Ion or her parents, even if they'd still be brainwashed. After getting no visitors the previous week, she was worried about how they were doing. Even if it hurt to hear them say all those crazy things, it meant a lot just to see their faces.

She wished they would at least tell her who was coming beforehand, so she didn't have to get all anxious while wondering... Anise didn't even have Tokunaga to comfort herself right now. All she could do was clench and tug at the gray fabric at her knees as she sat waiting in a chair, her feet dangling just above the floor.

Comments

[sortaheadstrong.livejournal.com]

When Celty had been told that she was having a visitor, she hadn't just gone along at first or stood there stunned for the announcement. Instead she had asked what questions she could with what had likely been the largest amount of words she'd ever used since getting her head. Who was it? How had they found her? Would she be able to leave with them? So many questions had come and yet not a one had been answered. The best she'd gotten in response was the nurse's short reply of, "You'll see."

When will I see?! Celty thought to herself as she waited anxiously in the room, watching the doors for anyone who looked familiar. She knew it wouldn't be Izaya or Shizuo - both were already there - so for the others that she knew... there were a few, but who would have been able to find her? Izaya had his ways and the ones in Kadota's group might have employed some more extreme measures if they'd put their mind to it, but really? The best person outside of them to have found her was someone she did not want to see. If that masked idiot came through the doors she would get him. Choke him powers or not and make him explain why she was there! And if his son had tagged along...! No, Shinra wouldn't have been involved. Not like that and definitely not with him.

Her clenched fists relaxed a bit as she thought on Shinra. She knew he could talk a whole lot about things, but acting was different. What would he have done if she'd suddenly turned up missing? Better yet, what had he done, or was he doing? And why did she have to be in love with such a complicated man in the first place?

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

He'd been nervous about seeing her again. It hadn't even been a full week since he'd last seen her face-to-face and it felt like it had been even longer since they'd been able to see eye-to-eye, and already he was nervous about facing her. What if Fiona was mad at him for being put in here? What if she'd forgotten him as her condition worsened? What if—worst yet—she'd been assigned to some handsome doctor who'd swept her off her feet? He might have been wrong, but he was pretty sure she'd developed a thing for doctors before her illness had gotten bad enough to merit sending her here.

He had dressed in his best shirt and tie this morning (an attempt to one-up his potential rivals), and had arrived as soon as Landel's Institute had opened its front doors. That had led to a lot of waiting—it wasn't time for visitors for a few more hours, they'd said—and his nerves hadn't calmed down at all. When they finally called his name early in the afternoon and said that he could see Fiona now, he was practically shaking. He needed to know that she was doing alright; until he did, he simply couldn't relax.

A nurse showed him in, and he paused in the doorway, seeking out Fiona's face.

There.

His nerves seemed to disappear the moment he saw her face, and he couldn't help but smile. So what if she was mad at him, or had forgotten him, or had fallen for a dashing doctor? Even if any of that had happened, he still loved her.

"Honey!" he called out with a wave, starting to cross the room to where Fiona sat, looking beautiful as ever.

[sortaheadstrong.livejournal.com]

She shouldn't have thought of him, she really shouldn't have, because doing so had taken her attention from the door exactly the wrong time. She'd been staring at her fists in thought when the voice had sounded out clear as day across the room. Most people would have just looked up, maybe jumped a bit in their chair, but not Celty. She bolted straight to her feet from surprise and looked around frantically despite there being really only one place that any non-patient would be entering from.

She spotted him quickly, coming for her with that stupid face and waving like absolutely nothing was wrong or had changed. And calling her honey of all things!

Part of her really wanted to run up and hit him, to smack the cheer right off his face and start making some demands, but the other part held her back. She stood frozen a moment, hesitating, before that latter part won out and had her starting to move for him as well. Only at a faster pace, a run really, and one that gave her the most force when she threw her arms around him and held tight.

Where the hell have you been, you idiot!?

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

When she had stood up, he'd worried for half a heartbeat that maybe she wasn't happy to see him. She looked so surprised, but Fiona—the Fiona he'd fallen in love with, before all of this—should have known that he wouldn't leave her alone without a word.

But then she started towards him, and he stopped with arms outstretched to welcome her.

The next thing he knew, his back hit painfully against the floor thanks to lost balance—but it was worth it, because Fiona was wrapped in his arms. He laughed, not bothering to try getting up just yet. What had he been worried about? Evidently Fiona was pleased to see him, so now everything he'd been working himself up over seemed pointless.

Reluctantly, he removed one arm from around Fiona to adjust the glasses which had been knocked askew in their collision. "Sorry I couldn't come to see you sooner," he offered, beaming at her.

[no-dont-go.livejournal.com]

Aigis was led into the waiting room, lost and disturbed by the news she had caught up on the bulletin board. Sleeping in this morning had not been the plan, but apparently her captors had not been able to rouse her until after brunch had already been served and cleaned up. She was a bit hungry, but that hunger had dissipated rapidly after her short visit to the board.

Minato was gone. Utena had returned. What was she supposed to feel after having reached both ends of the emotional spectrum in a matter of minutes after just waking up from a stressful night out? She had no precedence to fall back on and her biggest influence left in the institute, the boy who was her anchor also from back at home, was gone. Gone.

Minato was gone. Minato was gone.

Minato was gone.

Aigis felt the uncomfortable sensation of tears threatening behind her eyes. She fought them with all her might, standing near the edge of the waiting room, away from the other patients. She didn't know why she was here, and frankly, she didn't care. She wanted time to sort out her feelings. Whatever the institute had in store for her here, she didn't want to deal with it.

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

It hadn't been that long since Heath had last walked these halls as a patient, but it felt like it had been. Just being back with Sam, knowing who he really was for a change, made everything else seem to fade into the background.

But he still owed this place something for giving him his life back, and he owed it to this friends he'd had there to try and help them through the same way he'd been helped. So when given the opportunity to visit one of them this weekend, he hadn't been able to get himself to pass up the opportunity no matter how difficult he thought the reunion might be. If they could just see that even someone as messed up as him could make it through...

He arrived in a dress shirt and and pants, and perhaps that was to make himself feel better as much as it was to show off to others how well adjusted he was now. Look at me, it said. I'm part of a normal society with a job and a wonderful significant other waiting at home.

Aigis - no, Angela - was waiting for him in the lobby already. The red-head remembered when he'd been in the same position. Sam had come to him then and he hadn't even been willing to believe it, thinking of someone else entirely with the same face. It was disturbing to recall, but he could only imagine what Angela was thinking now.

"Hey," he greeted gently after making his way through the crowd to her side.

[no-dont-go.livejournal.com]

A soft greeting from that voice was enough to make her snap to attention. Aigis could only stare for a long moment. That face and that red, red hair, there was no denying it.

"Heat." His name came easily and clearly, but she couldn't say any more immediately. It was too painful, but also a blessing. The same as hearing Minato was gone and Utena was back all at once; she couldn't grasp what emotion she was supposed to express.

In the end, it wasn't her decision to make. Her body just reacted on its own. The tears started to pour out, but her lips twitched painfully up into a smile. Hands clenched around the hem of her shirt, she choked back a sob. "Heat." She managed another shaky breath. "... I'm so happy to see you!"

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

And then that name. It was so close to his real one, yet the way she cut it off at the end made him certain she was still referring to him as the demon he'd believed himself to be. He kept himself from flinching with some difficulty. Poor Angela was such a sweet girl. He didn't want to cause her too much grief, even though he knew that was going to be unavoidable.

"Heath," he corrected gently instead. Then he walked over to sit beside her. He wished he could say he was just as glad to see her. He was glad to see her, just not here. Not still in this place where she believed herself to be little more than a doll. A robot. Even when he'd been out of his mind himself he'd been able to see how human she was.

She was acknowledging happiness now, though. That was a good thing. "I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye before I left. Luckily they let me come visit you." Heath was trying so very hard to be casual. A smile should be easier to keep up. "How have you been?"

[ninelivesonce]

Taura was all set to go outside -- sitting around in the dark didn't appeal nearly as much as some fresh air -- when one of the soldiers in an ill-fitting medical tunic stepped into her path.  He stood firm, even as his gaze traveled up to find her face.

"I don't care," he said, in a lazy drawl, " but you might.  Got yerself a visitor, sweetheart.  Or maybe you don' care.  'E's not much of a looker."  

Taura froze.  A visitor?  Was it Bel again, back down to plead its case for her return to the team?  The guard had said he, but people here had such odd ideas about gender.  And Bel delighted in showing people different faces, just to see their reactions.  That was unlikely to change even if they'd changed its body and its memories.

The more likely answer was too horrible to contemplate.  Miles, here?  As a visitor?  That would be a bigger atrocity than anything they could do to Bel or Taura herself, even with their seemingly magical surgical strikes.

She swallowed, and then summoned the presence of mind to glare when the bored soldier's eyes wandered back to they way her chest moved.  "I hope you're telling the truth.  For your sake."

It could be their shot.  A chance to get information out.  Mad Miles in the insane asylum pulls off another miracle.

But when she got to the waiting room, no one was there except some fellow prisoners.  She sat down quietly near Aigis, her hands folded in her lap.  If he were here, really truly here, he'd already be in the room, using all his will to avoid the walls, since bouncing off more than a couple would blow his cover.    

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Only four days ago, Professor Karl Fuchs had thought he'd seen the last of this hellhole. As he expected, his loyal star student, Wilhelmina von Richter, followed suit just three days later and like him was now making preparations for her full return to Ivy University. The Dean of Students was already taking steps to quell any rumors as to their brief disappearance. If there was one thing that Dr. Kant had a knack for besides making himself look like an utter buffoon, it was concealing scandals.

But now there was one more person he needed to compel to leave this asylum. Like him, she had made a breakthrough in her recovery on one fateful day nearly two weeks ago. Though it felt like it happened more than a year ago, he remembered that day far more clearly than any of the days thereafter. Furthermore, this young woman seemed to hold promise for the university, through her athletic skills and intellectual potential. The question was, how strong was her resolve to get well and to resume her path to success?

Resplendent in his tweed suit, Fuchs was a stark contrast amidst the sea of patients in those drab gray sweats sporting that hideous yellow "smiley face." Glad to never have to wear one of those again, he glared at one of those appliques, as though he were daring it to frown back at him. Whether the hapless patient under the shirt thought that the glare was directed at him was none of Fuchs' concern.

Then just as he spotted Ms. Jackson, he noticed one more vaguely familiar face (http://damned.livejournal.com/1125826.html?thread=78533314#t78533314). The girl who called herself "Aigis." So she was still here, too. He recalled distantly that he had ordered her to meet with him on the day that he was released. Before leaving this place, he would have to ask the staff what her true name was so that he could leave her a note explaining what had happened. For now, he tilted his head in Aigis' direction in a solemn nod of recognition.

He then leaned his cane, a long black staff topped by a silver knob (http://damned.livejournal.com/799105.html?thread=65149313#t65149313), against the table before seating himself across from the one he was here to visit. "Ms. Jackson." He inclined his head towards her, no emotion on his face save for the determined look in his eyes. "Considering the circumstances, you seem to be well. You've been taking good care of your health, as we discussed?"

[ninelivesonce]

It wasn't Miles. It was a jolt of relief, and a stab in the gut at the same time. Relief that she wouldn't have to see him twisted by this place; fear that she would rot here without his help. Relief that he was still free; guilt that she wanted to see him more than anyone else in the world. And more guilt, that Manfred von Karma being here meant no one else could be, no messenger from the Dendarii.

She swallowed all of this, and met his determined look with one of her own.

"I am." She knew what he meant; why Katherine was here, which was an ugly parody of the truth under this new regime. She could ask him to put in a word for her with the cafeteria, but would they listen past the point all the visitors had been safely escorted to the front door? Perhaps.

She was saved from trying to construct such an awkward request by a soft thump of someone hitting the floor across the room; her reflexes might be softened by this body, but they were still some of the sharpest around. A patient and her visitor were kissing on the middle of the floor, oblivious to the room around them. "Oh." The tips of her ears went pink, and she looked away from what was so obviously a private moment. "I'm glad to see you looking well too, sir."

"Did you come here just to see me?" His daughter had left a few days later; had he come back for her, only to miss her by a few days?

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Fuchs studied Ms. Jackson's face as she greeted him. Hmm. Her face was a melange of relief and disappointment. Had she been anticipating someone else?

But before he had a chance to ponder on this, he, too, heard the crash of people falling to the floor that interrupted Ms. Jackson from what she was about to continue saying. His narrowed gaze turned towards the direction of the source of the noise, only to discover a shameless public display of affection on the floor. Shaking his head in disapproval, Fuchs grunted, "Hmph," and turned back to Ms. Jackson. Had he less important matters to attend to, he would have marched over to the immodest couple and lectured them on the spot on proper conduct. Even the instinct to make a chiding gesture at them was evident in the noticeable twitch in his left index finger.

"Indeed, I have," he replied, his voice nonchalant. "Who else would I have come to visit?" His left hand swept to the left in a dismissive wave. "Besides..." the determined gleam returned to his eyes as he leaned forward, "we never did get to finish our prior discussion from several days ago. You do remember what we talked about, no? About your possible career path?" The corner of Fuchs' mouth turned upward. "I've come here to resume that discussion, Ms. Jackson."

[hiddenbadass]

A visitor? Who in the hell would visit him? He knew no one in this place, and there was no way that his brothers would know where he was, or even that he had been turned human. There were no clues, and as far as he could tell, there was no way to try to get into contact with them.

It wasn't like they had a mailing address or something, even if this was in his past. No access to email. And the last thing he needed was to tip off the Foot to his whereabouts by trying to mail a letter to April.

But despite everything, he couldn't help but be curious even as he grew apprehensive. Who were they bringing to see him? Who would actually know he was here? Were they bringing someone "related" to this body? Or had one of the others managed to find him and convince them to see him?

No. It wasn't that last option. That was impossible. If he was in the past, they didn't know he existed in it, and if he was in his present, they had seen him die.

He still remembered Donatello's scream...

No.

He wasn't going to go down that path. Mike shut down that train of thought, looking slowly through the room to see who was there. No one that he was close with. Briefly, he wondered if Niikura or Wally had visitors themselves. He hadn't seen Wally in a bit, actually. Not since yesterday. Maybe when he had a chance, he'd be able to post a message for him on the board to see if everything was all right... And then there was Niikura, whom he had managed to miss entirely last night.

Damn, he really had to check up on them both.

Mike let out a sigh, looking around, pretending as if he wasn't trying to anxiously catch sight of his visitor.

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Roy's fingers twitched, the only sign of nervousness he gave when he finally spotted Michael being led into the waiting room. His brother looked equally cautious and he wasn't certain how to react to that. It was hard to tell how well the treatment was working when it looked like Michael had barely changed at all.

Which was why he was here to actually talk to his kid brother, Roy reminded himself. See how well things were going or if this place was just gonna be a waste of their damn time, try and see if he could find something to show that his brother was actually getting it together or not.

He would've thought of adding 'offering support during this difficult time' like the nurses had mentioned when he'd rung about details to that list, but they both knew how bad he was at that stuff. Better to leave it to someone else anyway.

...hell, he was pretty much putting off saying anything at this point, so Roy rubbed his fingers absently over the patch worn over his left eye then made his way over to Michael.

"...hey, Mike. You ain't been causin' any trouble, right?"

[hiddenbadass]

Michelangelo turned when he sensed someone approaching him. So that was his visitor, huh? He had no clue who the hell he was and why--

Raph?

The scars were there. The missing eye wasn't there. The way he walked, something about it was off, but it was still him. Just as a human. With hair and skin that wasn't like leather. Mike couldn't help but stare, even as he knew his walls should be going up.

This wasn't right. Raph wasn't human, and neither was he. Did Donatello figure out some way to turn Raph human? Did he steal whatever technology the Institute had? Was he hear to save him?

... Shit. They were doomed. Raph was about as subtle as a brick, and his head was twice as hard. He was the worst choice for any sort of cover mission, especially a deep one. It'd take a heartbeat for the soldiers to figure out that he was a danger, and the last thing they needed was to have two of them as patients.

"What are you doing here?" Mike urgently closed the distance between them, hissing at Raphael instead of answering his question. "You know it ain't safe here!"

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

"Geez, simmer down, Mike," Roy answered, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder and giving him a gentle nudge to remind him that they were in a public place and all. But while he was keeping a pretty good lid on everything, his heart sunk at that reaction. It didn't exactly make him confident that this dumb therapy stick was actually doing anything, if his brother was this paranoid just over a visit.

Still, he promised the others that he'd stay the full time and talk, so he would. Spying a couple of chairs nearby, Roy pointed them out with a jerk of his chin before he headed over there himself and sat down.

"I came to visit you," he said once he had Mike's attention again. "See how you were doin' in this place. Nurses'll tell me some, but it ain't the same as hearin' it from you, you know."

[ippo]

After the surreal brunch he had just finished, Ippo felt a bit brow-beaten and numb. A movie seemed like the best course of action to distract himself from thinking too hard and inevitably making himself depressed. He was rarely sad for more than a few hours; Those who held grudges for any longer must get really draining. Ippo had only been moping since this morning and already he was tired of this feeling.

He made to sit in one of the chairs set out for the movie, but a nurse told him otherwise. "Nope, not this time. You have a visitor in the waiting room."

Ippo's heart beat a little bit faster. He couldn't even conceive of who it could be. His mind had gone blank. The only thing that helped him put one foot in front of the other was the strength of the nurse dragging him like a mannequin to the institute's entrance.

The woman motioned for Ippo to take a seat and wait. His visitor would appear shortly. He had hunches and hopes, but this was completely out of his control. All Ippo could do was tap his foot restlessly on the floor.

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Kevin may have made Hiro wait a bit longer than the other patients in the room, but he had doubt that his biggest fan would mind a small wait. After all, any wait was worth it when the great Kevin Miles, also known as Takamura in the ring, deigned to allow anyone to bask in his presence. Seriously, the kid was lucky he was getting a visitor period. Hiro had lost a lot of his rapport back at the gym. He may have been a decent enough Featherweight fighter, but his obsessive behavior had worn on several of his friendships. But really, Hiro didn't have any reason to care about those dipshits. He had Kevin in his corner, and that's all that mattered. Though even he thought Hiro was a few colors short of a flaming rainbow.

Kevin made his appearance known by whistling rather wolfishly as one of the particularly curvy nurses passed him by. The woman gave him a stern glare but continued on her way. Oh yeah, she was definitely into him. Just couldn't let herself swoon in front of the loons here. He would need to drop her his phone number later. But for now, had to deal with his nutcase of a kouhai.

"Yo! What's up, Hiro?" Kevin didn't care if his loudness disturbed any of the other patients in the room or their visitors. It looked like someone was getting pretty lucky today (http://damned.livejournal.com/1125826.html?thread=78577602#t78577602). Hot damn, some of the female patients were pretty smokin' too, despite the lame smiley face garb. Hiro's elephant dong must have been pretty happy since coming here... well, assuming even the male staff and patients were just as good-looking. Sometimes it was difficult to remember he had to think gay if he wanted to empathize with the kid. Thank god it wasn't that often that he tried.

He grinned widely, giving Hiro a manly pat on the shoulder. "Man, where do I sign up for this place? There is fine ass everywhere!" This was definitely the best way to start a conversation with his crazy, homo friend. Definitely.

[ippo]

His pity party of one was cut mercifully short with that whistle. Recognition drained the color from his cheeks momentarily as Ippo looked up in awe of his friend swaggering through the small room like there was a party in progress and it couldn't start without the man himself.

"Ta-Takamura-san!" Ippo jumped to his feet, but that was as far as his brain would function willingly. It was all so overwhelming he hadn't heard any of his greeting over the roar of joy in his mind. Despite his obscene behavior, the middleweight champion always knew how to inspire him. Yes, there was no way this visit could go wrong! Ippo just couldn't understand why Claude had seemed so reticent this morning. Friends and family came here because they loved the patient and wanted them to get better!

He appreciated the hard pat and returned it with a gleaming smile. Of course it didn't last long; his smile twisted at the edges after hearing Takamura's remark. If only you knew, Ippo thought. Those "fine ass" women could probably take Takamura down to the floor if so needed. Knowing what he did, the featherweight kept it in the realm of definite possibility.

"I-I'm not sure," he began, completely missing the humor as he earnestly considered the older man's question. The boxer supposed that would be the head doctor's choice, but that wasn't very likely at this moment in time. "It's kind of been crazy around here the last few days..." What with the military mutiny and all.

"B-But I'm so glad to see you! How is everyone? Have you talked to my mom? Is she okay? Did she have to close shop without me?" It was Ippo's biggest fear right now. Without his prize money coming in, his mom would have to work extra hard to pull in clientele, and if that was the case, the overwork could send her back to the hospital again! Of all the times to jump in front of a bus and get sent to a mental institute!

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Most would find the reality of this depressing, but excessiveness always seemed to be the safe bet when dealing with the mentally unstable.

He supposed there was a point to all this, though whether or not this could trigger any sort of familiarity was dependent on the mind of a teenage girl. They were certainly the tenacious sort, but only when it pertained to predictable interests. It'd only be right to assume that previous attempts had passed without their desired effects, giving him the impression that he was saved as a 'last resort'. Really, his excitement was so profound that he could hear his own bones rattling.

While he was usually dressed professionally, his choice of outfit today was mainly to accommodate to the climate. As soon as the man stepped inside the doors he brushed off any traces of snow from his scarf, doing the same to his tanned long coat while a nurse escorted him to the waiting room. There he caught sight of the girl in question, making his way to her without any additional assistance.

"I have to say I'm rather surprised," The visitor began as he stopped and offered her a bouquet of flowers, the petals themselves stiff from the cold. "Call it the delusions of an old man, but I'd lost all hope that you would ever grow."

[gald_digger]

As time passed, Anise nervously watched the other patients in the room, some of which already had their visitors... and one of which was in the process of making out with hers on the floor. Wow. But just as Anise was beginning to think that maybe no one was coming after all, a familiar face emerged from the doorway.

"Colonel!" she blurted out before she could consider the possibility that this Colonel might not be a Colonel at all. But even so... Anise couldn't help but think there was a chance that he was still himself, and that he was just going along with the institute's lies in order to move freely... That was the kind of thing that the super genius Colonel would do, right?

It was because she couldn't shake that feeling that there was a mixture of happiness in that look of surprise on her face. Well, that and the fact that he brought her a present. When she was handed the bouquet of flowers, Anise was speechless for a moment as she held them.

"I guess I should leave it to you to greet a poor, suffering girl with such a backhanded compliment, boooo." She managed a little pout, but after being presented with flowers, it was hard to act like she was genuinely mad at him. A backhanded compliment from the Colonel was still about as close as he ever got to a real compliment, after all. And, really... she was kind of glad to see him.

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Oh, what was this? If he hadn't known better it almost sounded as if Dolores was happy to see him. Ah, but that couldn't have been it, though he wouldn't have been surprised if she was simply mistaking him for someone else. After all, that was what got her here in the first place, wasn't it?

Still, it wasn't hard at all to decipher that the girl's reaction truly was genuine, even if the flaws were as obvious as the snot that always ran down Timothy's nose.

"My apologies. The mere presence of someone as youthful as you had me thinking fondly of my own Golden Days." As he spoke this he took a seat across from her, as if giving the impression of resting his creaky joints. If anything, the weather outside was meant to be fondly regarded, though he doubted the staff would allow them to spend their time outdoors.

"Nephry was the one who suggested it," He began, knowing there was no need to point out what he was referring to. "She said it may help, as she felt that this environment was hardly suitable for a girl like you."

Though he seemed at ease for the moment, the man's focus was completely on the teen before him. 'Nephry' was not the name of his sister; not even close, though it was certainly a nice enough choice. The truth was that he was curious to see how she would react; if she was even making progress in this type of situation.

[escapedpandora.livejournal.com]

He didn't know what was going on anymore, but then, he hadn't really known the past two days. Or four, really. Even back home he had resigned himself to following along. Numb and unsure of what was going on, but willing to keep going as long as there was someone to follow.

So he was perfectly fine with following the staff to the waiting room, where the nurse sat him down and told him to wait there. Fine. That would just give him time to think, although thinking hadn't really gotten him anywhere.

Thinking about where this was, and how he could get out. Staying around the last day had been alright, but time was still ticking and he didn't want to stay here for long when there was still a very real chance of turning Cie'th. Not that he knew enough about the process.

He looked up around the room curiously, though. If anything, the idea that the nurse had implanted-- that he had a visitor, boggled him more than anything else. People had told him this was a different world. A different universe, even. Who would be able to visit him here?

The list was short enough that he tensed. Was it Lightning? If she had been out in the town...

[damned-visitors.livejournal.com]

Although it had only been a few days since Angel had been admitted, to his mother Eleanor, already it seemed like far too long. As harrowing the last few months had been, already she missed her only son dearly... his absence from their home felt like an eternity.

Of course, no mother wanted their child to suffer like Angel was, to be ill to the point of hospitalizing them-- institutionalization, as horrible and unwieldy as the word was. Everything she'd read and been told assured her that it wasn't her or her husband's fault and that it was necessary that the teen received the help he required before he ended up hurting himself or others any further... but it was still hard. As strong as Eleanor tried to be in the face of it, it still hurt.

However, if nothing else, the success rate of this particular institution was said to be phenomenal - the highest in the nation. If she couldn't have faith in that, what hope was there?

As she waited, she still couldn't help but think that the orderlies and nurses seemed a bit gruffer than she remembered from the beginning, but she told herself that it had to be her imagination. In any case, the moment she was allowed to enter the room and saw Angel sitting there, looking tired and confused but well, all of that soon melted away. Putting on a warm smile for the boy, she approached him slowly, willfully loosening the grip on the purse slung over her should.

"Hey there," she said softly, as soon as she was near enough.

[escapedpandora.livejournal.com]

Never on his list could he have imagined who was actually going to be visiting him. Not when he had been working so hard on just-- just trying to figure out a way to avenge her, or to do something for her because he thought he would never see her again and everything just felt like it was-- going to hell in a handbasket, if that was the term for it. Going to Pulse on the Purge-train, more like.

Just the sight of her was enough to freeze him on the spot, having looked up the moment he heard someone approaching, not sure if he was hearing things again. If he had just been imagining it, too willful and too hopeful that the previous days had just been a really bad dream. It anything, it was a common dream-- one that was all too cruel as it convinced him things were normal and good all the way up until he opened his eyes and realized that the real nightmare was waking up.

"...Mom?"

He didn't even care about the crack in his voice, the shock apparent even as he had to fight back the oncoming waves of emotion. He couldn't seem to bring himself to move, wanting nothing more than to go to her and cling and say he was sorry and that he should never have let her just go like that or he should have insisted that going to Bodhum had been a terrible idea and not let go-- but it was a dream, right? It had to be, and if he got up-- if he went to her, then she would disappear and he would wake up again. Maybe this time back in the Vile Peaks, alone and with no way of ever fulfilling the Focus given to him.