Day 24: Intercom, Evening

[damned-intercom.livejournal.com]

And once again the intercom's jingle rang out through the rooms and halls as the Head Doctor took a breath and repeated what by now must have been a fairly tedious endeavor.

"And I believe it's time for another activity period! Now that you've gotten some sun in the courtyard, perhaps it's time to take in more fresh air with a trip to the recreational field! After all, I believe tomorrow is the day when all of you will have structured activities in the greenhouse and courtyard, so now would be a good time for you to familiarize yourselves with at least one of those areas!"

The Head Doctor clearly wasn't taking into account any midnight explorations that his patients might had made. He continued, just as cheerily:

"As for nurses, please make sure to introduce Group 4's members to our current patients? I hope they all find a pleasant time here at Landel's, and I hope you all have a fun time on the field! If you want any balls or equipment, you may ask nurses for them--but nurses, I believe you know which items would be safe for patients and which wouldn't be, hmm?

"In any case, I believe that's all for today. Farewell for now!"

The intercom clicked off and the routine ended, just the same as always.

Comments

[queenpeacecraft.livejournal.com]

Fighting through the haze towards consciousness was something with which Relena was, sadly, familiar, if a single previous kidnapping could constitute as familiarity. Though the last thing she really remembered was falling asleep on the flight home, she had a bit of a headache still. Perehaps it was from an adrenaline crash? Several questions ran through her mind, most importantly being - what had happened to the other pilots and Mariemeia? Where were they if she was here?

She rubbed her head, sitting up to take in her little prison this time. White walls, minimal furniture. Awful new clothes, she thought as she looked down to check her state of dress - which, thankfully, included the 'dressed' part - but apparently they were happy kidnappers, to leave her with a garish smiley face on the drab shirt. Definitely not her clothes, which got her to worrying about just who took her and which pervert got to change her clothes. A shiver ran up her spine. Hopefully it as a woman, but she currently had no way of knowing.

An even more attractive wish was that this was some sort of prank Duo had thought up. Or a training exercise for the other pilots, though why they would need a training exercise right after having to rescue her yet again escaped her. Dear God, she might even forgive them for the headache-inducing drugs if only it meant that she hadn't been kidnapped for the second time in a week.

Setting that thought aside, Relena started looking around the room, thankful that the headache seemed to fade a bit on its own. She didn't find much, just a notebook, some pens, a few other doodads, and more grey clothes with smiley faces on them. If this was some sort of joke, Duo - or Dorothy, now that she thought about it; she would be one for thinking of odd little details like this - was going to pay. Maybe she can get out of here before Duo destroyed Deathscythe so she could paint it the same shade of pink as her old limousine.

She was startled out of her search by the door opening, and an overly cheery nurse scuttled in. "Now Miss Brontë, you should be taking it easy still. You had a nasty fall when you got here, but we'll take good care of you."

The nurse's smile would have been infectious if this were a different situation. As it was, Relena was just confused. "I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. My name is Relena Darlian, not 'Miss Brontë.'"

Tsking at the baffled blond girl, the nurse gently, but firmly, steered Relena back to the bed for a quick check of her eyes. "You're in no danger of concussion now, but you really must be more careful, Anne. You won't always have big strong quarterbacks to pick you up when you fall here."

Raising an eyebrow at that insinuation, Relena fixed her imposing 'I'm the Queen, dammit' - named courtesy of Duo, thanks - look on the nurse. "First of all, I have never depended on anyone, let alone a 'big strong quarterback,'" ignoring the fact that she really didn't know what a quarterback was, "and second, my name is not Anne." This joke was going just a little too far for Relena's taste.

"Anne, you should get some rest. It looks like you need a bit more time here at Landel's to get your memories back in order." Scuttling about some more to get Relena settled in the bed once more. "You've slept through lunch, but you'll get to have some fun out on the recreational field! Maybe you'll even meet your roommate there." She took Relena's arm gently, then guided the blond through the maze of halls to said field.

[flash-of-blue.livejournal.com]

< Take the Andalite. Hold him for me. > The Abomination said in open thought-speak. Hork Bajir came to Elfangor and held him with their blades to his skin. They did not kill him though, because the Visser would be angry if they did. That was his pleasure.

Then the Visser began morph. His beautiful and powerful Andalite body, tainted by the Yeerk inside of its mind, changed into a hideous creature with tentacles and a huge mouth with sharp, wide teeth; an Antarean Bogg morph. His tentacles reached out and grabbed Elfangor. Revulsion overcame the prince, not only at the current morph of the Visser but also at the fact that the Abomination was touching him. One of the human children hiding in the rubble around them tried to protest.

< No! > Elfangor warned in thought-speak. More than anything those children had to survive. They had to live, especially the one. The boy had to live. Tobias.

It was the last thing that Elfangor said that was coherent enough to be called a word. The Visser’s morph lifted the Andalite to its mouth. Elfangor lashed out with his tailblade, but it didn’t affect the body the Visser had taken on. The tentacles kept hold of Elfangor’s body and then dropped him into the mouth. The teeth tore his body apart.

The pain of being ripped apart was unbearable.

Elfangor screamed.




He woke up screaming. The sound started in his head, spreading out throughout the rooms around him. Terrified and filled with pain. His body jerked up and the sound left his head and came out of his mouth. The shock of the sound threw him from the bed. He fell on the ground. His back hit the ground with a loud sound, shocking him again. There were no hind legs. There was no tail.

Elfangor was shaking because at first he thought that somehow he had survived what the Visser had done to him and his body was disfigured. It took his a moment to realize that his skin was not even blue… it was….

Breathing deep Elfangor examined his hands quickly and then his legs. His hands reached up to touch his head, his face, nose, mouth, two eyes, hair. Human.

He was human.

He remembered the first time he saw humans he wondered how it was possible for them to stand on two feet. How could they possibly run and walk without falling over? He stood shakily on the two legs, but it wasn’t because the legs couldn’t support him, it was because he was still a little disoriented. He sat down on the bed and put his hands on his face, fingers pressing against the angles of his nose. He took several deep breaths.

Despite his confusion there were a few important facts he had to accept. For some reason, he was alive and he was human. The question was… was he also a nothlit? Elfangor stood up and looked around. He was in a small room with two beds. It seemed almost like a human hospital to him. It had that feel. He frowned slightly with his eyes, though his mouth remained slack and unmoved.

[flash-of-blue.livejournal.com]

No one else was around so Elfangor stripped of the clothes he was wearing and carefully set them on the bed. The last thing he wanted was to get his real legs tangled into the tattered remains of the clothing. He noticed the strange yellow face, but it didn’t matter as much as getting back into his proper body did.

He sighed, making sure that his body was as calm as he could make it and closed his two eyes. He thought of his Andalite body. He focused on the blue fur, the proper four legs, the two sets of eyes, the tail. He wanted his tail the most.

Nothing happened. He opened his eyes and looked down at his hands. It was still the pale human flesh color. There was not even a spot of blue. Elfangor felt panic start to rise in his chest. He touched his body carefully, searching for something, anything, that was even a little bit Andalite. There was nothing.

He tried to morph two more times but nothing happened. He felt defeated. He was nothlit again. He would never have his tail again. He would never run in the grass the same way again. He would never… be Andalite again.

He was upset, but it didn’t show on his face. He might not be in an Andalite body, but that did not stop him from being an Andalite.

He remembered that humans were modest creatures and he reached out for the clothes and started to put them back on. His hands shook slightly and he paused after the pants had been pulled up to recollect himself.

It was true that he was an Andalite, but he was also a human. This was not the first time he had been stuck in this morph. The difference was, the first time had been at his own will. Loren…

Loren!



< Your mother… tell me about your mother, Tobias. Your family. >

“She… disappeared. When I was just little. I don’t know what happened. I guess she died. People say she just left because she was messed up. They said she never got over my father. I don’t know. But I know she has to be dead because she would never have just left me. No matter what. But maybe that’s what I told myself. I don’t exactly have a family.”



When the boy--Tobias--his son--had said those words, Elfangor had felt a stab of pain in all of his hearts, his human heart and Andalite hearts, but there had been no time to mourn. He had to be focused on the only hope he had given his people, both of his people. As he stood half-dressed in the hospital room the pain overtook him. He fell back to the bed, sitting again. Tears came to his eyes. He couldn’t stop them. All his training, discipline and years being a war prince … gone. She was dead. He couldn’t even bring himself to recite the Andalite mourning ritual, though he could cry like a human.

The only woman he had ever been willing to give everything up for. Dead. He thought of his memory of her, the golden hair that caught sunlight so beautifully, the smile that had had just a bit of a smirk every time it came to her lips, the hips that fit into jeans so perfectly. He had left Earth to protect her and it had been so that she could die?

The tears fell. He couldn’t stop them. He tried. His hands moved to shove them back to his eyes but it didn’t stop them. He made no sounds from his mouth; it remained closed and slack beneath his nose, but the tears still came.

Then the door opened and woman in uniform appeared.

[flash-of-blue.livejournal.com]

She stopped. “Oh, Mr. Applegate,” she said a tad impatiently. “Please do get your shirt on, the last thing we need is for you to be wandering around half-naked.”

When Elfangor only stared at her mutely with the tears still falling down his face she made a slight ‘tsk tsk’ sound and moved to put the shirt on him as if he were a child.

“Tsk. Tsk.” Elfangor tried out the sounds as the tears slowly stopped. He allowed her to pull the shirt over his head and move his arms into it. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and despite himself smiled with his eyes, his lips were still emotionless. He had forgotten how much he loved that feeling.

She pulled back and gave him a disapproving look. “It’s your first day here and you’re already mocking me?” she asked with a scowl.

Elfangor’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn’t meant it like that. “I am sorry, ma’am,” he said carefully. “I did not intend to sound as if I were mocking you. I am merely confused. Please, would you mind informing me where I am?” The ‘s’ and vowel sounds in his words were dragged on just a little longer than it should have been, making him sound as if he might be trying to hide an accent. Using his mouth-speak and getting back into human language wasn’t so difficult for him. He just had to remember human names for human objects.

The nurse nodded slightly, accepting the apology. “You are in Landel’s Institute. Your family brought you here when your delusions got too severe. You’ve just come out of a series of intense hallucinations.” She frowned slightly. “Though I suppose you’ll have to wait for your doctor to explain everything to you.”

“Doc…tor?” Elfangor asked unsure what to think about what she was saying.

The woman smiled. “Yes, your doctor. Come on then, it’s time for you to meet some of the other patients.” She moved to help him stand. He flinched away from her touch. He had to test things.

He should be dead and this woman was saying things that made no sense.

“Keep your hands away from me, Yeerk,” he accused, with the tone of hatred that only an Andalite could muster for a Yeerk (or a Yeerk for an Andalite).

The nurse didn’t seem surprised. There was no hint of the parasite being scared that the Andalite prince had seen through her game. There was only disappointment and sadness. “Dear,” she said, shaking her head and feeling sorry for the man sitting on the bed before her. He still wasn’t completely out of his delusion. It was so sad. “Your family is worried about you Mr. Applegate. Please, will you try to cooperate for them. For your son.”

Elfangor froze. For his son? “My son?” he repeated, staring at the woman hard. “I don’t have a son.” His voice was flat even as he felt his heart racing. While the nurse had meant it as a serious, heart-felt plea, Elfangor thought she was issuing a threat. The Yeerks had Tobias?? What of his friends?? Was the last hope that he had given his people destroyed?? How could this be? Elfangor felt completely defeated, though he didn’t show it in his face.

The woman’s expression got sadder. “Then will you at least come with me to socialize. It might do you some good.”

Elfangor weighed his options. If the Yeerks had the boy then the war had to have been lost. Somehow they had brought him back to life and forced him to morph human. There was no sense in trying to fight when he didn’t know what the situation was. Besides, if they did have Tobias he needed to find the boy and save him, starve whatever parasite had forced its way into his head and protect him. The war might be lost, but Elfangor was alive and there was no way he would give the slugs the satisfaction of killing his son.

[flash-of-blue.livejournal.com]

“Very well, I will accompany you.” He stood carefully. “Lead the way.”

When the woman turned all Elfangor could do was stare at the back of her head with intense hatred. It was strange because even while fighting the war there had always been a bit of doubt in his mind if the Yeerks were truly a great evil. They had done horrible things, of course, and that needed to be stopped. Yeerks like Visser Three were extremely evil, but they couldn’t all be that way. However, with the threat of hurting Tobias hanging in the air, all that Elfangor could feel was hatred.

He wouldn’t let the filthy slugs hurt Tobias. They would not have that satisfaction. No matter what, he would find a way to stop them.

[radiant-howl.livejournal.com]

"AUGH!"

That was how Luke awoke: loud, covered in sweat, and gripping on a hand that wasn't there. He felt around. A... bed? So it was a dream? No way, it felt way too real to be a dream. He remembered it... he remembered everything. But why wasn't he at the Tower of Rem? Did he black out?

Luke blinked, almost hopeful. Did he live?

"Mr. Spencer! You're awake!"

"Huh?!" Luke looked over to the voice, frowning as he tried to understand what was happening. Who was 'Mr. Spencer'? The nurse seemed to think it was him, since she was staring directly at him and smiling a cheesy smile. God, he didn't need this right now.

"Who's Mr. Spencer... whatever, hey, what happened? Is the miasma gone?" Luke asked, deciding to just get to what was important. He could worry about where he was later, as soon as he found out where everyone else was. This room sort of reminded him of Belkend. So he must have blacked out after all.

The nurse didn't reply though, just shaking her head and sighing.

"It's alright, Mr. Spencer, you're at Landels. There is no miasma or anything of the sort here. I think someone has been playing one too many video games, young man," The nurse chided him, beckoning Luke to get up. Luke obeyed, only because he was really wondering what the hell had happened to him.

He almost walked out of the room, still in a daze, when he shrugged the nurse's arm off of him. What was he doing?

"Hey, my name isn't Spencer! I'm Luke! Luke fon Fabre!" Luke declared, though his face fell afterwards. Right... right, he was Luke. He thought he had gotten over that, but...

The nurse, once again, didn't seem to take him seriously at all. It was actually starting to piss Luke off, with the cheesy smile and all. Where did he see that kind of condenscending smug look before? Oh yeah, it sort of reminded him of Jade...

"Now, now, Mr. Spencer, we will have none of those stories. You're here to get better and remember who you are."

"I know who I am!" Luke snapped back, far more harshly than he intended, but hell, he didn't care anymore. This stupid nurse wasn't getting a clue! "I'm Luke, damnit!"

"Now, now, Ashley, that isn't language befitting Landels. We will have to work on your vocabulary too!"

"... Wait, what did you call me?!"

"Come on, Ashley, let's get a move on!" The nurse ignored him, now pushing a disgruntled and now extremely offended Luke out of the door. "It's time to meet the other patients!"

"MY NAME ISN'T ASHLEY!!! IT'S LUUUKE!"

[untime.livejournal.com]

[untime.livejournal.com]

[cynical-peanut.livejournal.com]

Something was wrong here.

For one thing, no one usually sat next to her bed and constantly repeated her name over and over and over again, or at least, not her fake name (there had been some instances of Daisy annoying her awake before). A second thing was how bright the room was - it was really pissing off her retinas, even behind her eyelids, and the thick hum of what she could guess mighta been some electronic thing in the room going off was probably just the lights.

George sure as shit knew her room didn't have florescent lights.

"Mildred? Mildred!"

"…Mildred Hagen? Who's Mildred Hagen?" The plastic clicked on her fingernails and there was this brand new face staring back at her in that tiny little picture on the corner of the card. A face she knew wasn't hers. Rube just kept walking away, probably to lead her out of the DMV.

"You."

"Mildred? Mildred, sweetie, come on. Time to wake up!" To throw the pillow or not to throw the pillow at…? Wait a second

Off came the blanket from over her head and George finally took the time to look around. This was not her beautiful home. This was not her precious room. These were not her wonderful clothes. And that was not Daisy Adair standing next to the bed that was not hers either.

"Wha…?" An understandable reaction.

Nurse woman just smiled kindly like some maid in a movie and tapped her little pen to the clipboard. She reminded George way too much like Deloris to be a good thing. "Good morning, Millie!" Way too much like Deloris… "We're going out to the Recreational Field today and thought maybe you'd like to join us?"

It was sad that the first thought to come to mind was "I…don't like recreation." Even more sad was that she said it. But alas, one thought lead to another and then it dawned on her like a piano falling on her head. "…where am I?" Nurse-Lady only smiled.

"You're at Landel's, Mildred. You've been having some hard psychological problems for the past few months - your family thought that we could help."

…Family? But she didn't… I mean, she was dead…

As George stared open-mouthed in confusion, the weirdo nurse thought it was apparently enough. So, with no further delay, George found herself being dragged by the arm out of the bed, into the hallway like a crazy person.

What the fuck?

[notahangedman.livejournal.com]

Irony. Such a small word, such a perfect parody. The world fading into the open wounds of blood red, ripples of ash and tears, just behind his lids was waiting what he had delivered to so many. Death. A smile on his lips, vision of gentle violet - he didn't want to die, nor did he want to live. It didn't matter.

When the darkness came, he could still feel Subaru's hands around him and he smiled wider.

Irony. What a huge word after all.

He gasped when he woke up, eyes blinking open slowly, curiously. No pain, white walls, clean sheets and no blood at all.

This must be death.

He had expected a little more from Yomi, 'the shadowy land of the dead'. A light chuckle slipped from his lips as he sat up, throwing legs over the edge of the bed and studied the room where he was in. Two beds, simple floors, some drawers and a closet. The air so clean the sterilized scent of antiseptic practically tasted on his tongue. Hospital, his first impression.

While he contemplated if there was any possibility he could have been saved and healed by some magic he didn't know, he noticed there was someone in the other bed. Standing up, he smirked at the grey uniform, nudging the hem of his shirt, and then laughed aloud. He must have looked ridiculous.

"Excuse me," he started, taking few steps towards the other bed. However, before the habitant of the other bed had time to answer him, or react any other way in fact, the door opened and a smiling woman walked in.

"Good day, Mr. Gray. I hope you feel well today." She obviously was talking to him, looking at him with those blue eyes and smiling still, her nurse outfit just as white as the room. He felt a bit uneasy, but just slightly.

"Good day," he answered politely. "Is it common to change your name after dying? I would have suspected a person's name would be important enough not to be changed."

She laughed a bit, warmly. He smiled at her, thinking she had a nice set of teeth even if she wasn't too attractive otherwise. "You're not dead, Mr. Gray. This is the Landel's institute. We're treating you here and I'll assure you we'll take a good care of you."

"Aah, well that makes perfect sense then," he answered with a nod and a light chuckle. "You treated my wounds then?"

"This is a mental institute. You're here to get well again. Your friends or family sent you here. I'm sure you'll enjoy your time." She really did have a nice smile, Seishirou decided. He didn't believe one word she was saying though, nice smile or not.

"My friends and family, yes?" He briefly wondered who she might be referring to, but didn't bother questioning her about it. Maybe this all was just a big illusion? Created by who? He'd find out if he'd play along probably, if not, he could always break though...

No, he realized that he couldn't feel the world quite like he had before.

Well this was unnerving. He didn't have his ofuda, and he wasn't sure how much his incantations would have strength without them, but he had to find out. Creating a seal with his hands, he purred out few words, again and again.

And nothing happened. Nothing at all. Not even a glimmer of magic where there should have been a whole series of effects.

"Hmm..." He arched his brows, looking down at his fingers with a hint of puzzlement within his one golden eye.

"Yes, your family." She repeated with a disappointed shook of her head, obviously not appreciating his choice of actions. "Please, follow me. You slept over lunch but there's an activity period going on as we speak and you could use some exercise after your long sleep." She smiled again and gestured him to follow her.

"...right," he muttered, finding his slim smile again and starting after her. It must have been an illusion. He'd just have to find out the person behind it.

[tsunagari.livejournal.com]

Sai woke up at the end of what must have been a scream - a very loud and unpleasant scream that wasn't his. He sat up, immediately on edge and looking for the source of the noise but seeing nothing. Was there an attack? His hand slipped under his pillow, aiming to grab the hilt of his tontou, but his searching fingers found nothing but sheet and pillowcase. Missing?

He began to twist around to check for where it might have fallen. That was unacceptable, misplacing his short sword like that. And this sluggish feeling... something was wrong. And where was -

The room wasn't his. It was sparce and gray, no windows to be seen. There was also another bed beside his own. Another occupied bed. Was he at a hospital? This wasn't the Konoha hospital, that much was certain. He was drawing a blank in his memory. Hadn't he fallen asleep in his own bed the night before? He had no mission scheduled yet, from what he could recall.

His eyes traveled downwards, taking in the odd clothing. Gray. He never wore gray. Dark colors went better with his skin tone. He didn't miss the symbol, either. A smiling face? Even he didn't miss the irony of that, leading him to consider whether or not this wasn't some sort of prank Naruto had pulled. He'd read about that - friends occasionally pulling some sort of initiation stunt with new acquaintances before allowing them to be part of the group. Was that what this was? It didn't seem right, somehow.

Just then the door opened. It wasn't Naruto that entered, nor anyone else he recognized, but a middle-aged woman in white. She offered him a smile as he stared back at her blankly. "Ah, you're awake, Mr. Pastello."

Mr. what? He thought for a moment that she might have him confused with the room's other occupant. "Sai," he corrected.

The woman simply nodded. "Yes, Simon Pastello. I've got your name right here on the chart, dearie, don't worry."

Simon Pastello? What type of name was Pastello? A new code name, perhaps? If that was the case, then things made a bit more sense. ROOT must have given him a new assignment, and Danzo must have had him forcefully removed in his sleep so that he wouldn't have the chance to protest. This had him a bit... miffed. He had asked to remain with Naruto's group, after all. Hadn't Danzo agreed with that?

The woman went on. "Now you've slept a good portion of the day away already, young man! It's mid-afternoon! Why don't you get up and join the others outside, mm?"

Already mid-afternoon? Perhaps he had been drugged, then. It would explain the somewhat sluggish feeling he had, the dulled senses and the feeling that he was out of sync with his chakra streams. In any case, this woman was the only one who might know what his current mission was. He should follow her. Most likely she would lead him to someone who would explain his duties, or at least his situation. The woman was no one from ROOT that he was aware of, and thus was not one to be asking questions to.

He stood up wordlessly, only a slight frown on his face displaying his displeasure at this whole mess, and exited as she gestured for him to. She smiled again, and there was something like relief in her expression as well. "That's right. This way. So good to have patients willing to follow directions for a change..."

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

He awoke with a scream.

That was the first thing that surprised Roland. The last thing he remembered was being blown apart, which would render screaming... just a little difficult. And before that he had been torn apart, his flesh going into Indrajit... and that irony, too, had amused him. In between the agony, of course. The 'Conqueror of Indra' had completely defeated him, its many mouths consuming his body no matter his attempts to defeat it... and then, in a flash, the tables had turned. In a flash, the Conqueror had been conquered.

And then there was the scream. Roland had bolted upright, a cold sweat on his brow as he tried to get his bearings. He swore that, to his dying day, he'd remember that scream, how it had pierced right through him...

That was the reason he didn't notice anything else until a nurse came in, all smiles and sunshine. "Mr. Dupont? You're finally awake?"

"Du... pont?" Roland tried that name on his tongue, found it quite disagreeable... then again, having a tongue to try words with was still quite the relief for him. "Where am I? And who screamed?"

"...screamed?" That smile faltered just a little, just for a moment, but then that gentle face shifted into a look of comprehension. "Oh, that's right, I'd forgotten. Mr. Dupont, this is Landel's Institute, we treat people who are 'unstable'. Nobody screamed."

That statement made the pale man frown, the words not syncing with his experiences in the least. "But I just heard-"

"It's all in your mind, Mr. Dupont. Come on, let's go outside; some nice healthy activity should do you good. Or you can write one of those little stories you're so fond of!"

Once more, that made Roland frown. Outside? A quick glance at the back of his left hand comforted him with the familiar atma of the Lightning Bolt, so it would be fine, but... still. "But... God is still-"

"Oh, come on, no need to get worked up over this 'god' business. No arguments, Mr. Dupont; you're here to get well!"

And with that, the poor leader of the Lokapala was dragged out into the new world of Landel's, leaving him to wonder what exactly had happened after the old world had gone white...

[entropy-effect.livejournal.com]

Naoya snapped back to reality with a gasp, a horrible scream piercing through his muddled thoughts as he shot up in bed. What was happening?! Who was hurt?! The young man looked around the room frantically, his heart beating abnormally fast. Yet regardless of his attempts, the only thing Naoya found himself with was an unfamiliar room.

Where was he? What was this place?

The room looked nothing like any hotel room Naoya had ever been in before. The walls were too bare, the light too artificial from the lack of windows and--

Where was his brother?!

Panic seeped into the young man's mind as he scrambled out of bed and hurried to the door. It was locked. Was this something Ark had done? Because they refused to have anything to do with the tainted corporation? Naoya felt like crying. What was his brother doing now? Was he even okay? The last time he could remember seeing his brother was just before Futami had spoke to him, before Futami had asked him to save Sakie from Ark.

Was his brother going to be alright without him?

He didn't even want to think of it. His brother would be fine, he was stronger than Naoya could ever be, his brother would find him and get him out of here. Where ever here was.

Before Naoya could contemplate it further the doorknob turned and the young man carefully backed away as a cheerful woman stepped inside.

"Ah! Mr. Patterson, good to see you awake!"

This was nothing what he expected. Mr. Patterson? Naoya could feel nothing from the other woman and, if anything about this strange place, that unnerved him the most. What was she?

"Please! Where is my brother?!" Naoya begged. He would have thrown himself at her feet if he believed it would do any good. Yet his plea was only rewarded with a sympathetic expression that was odd to look at.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Your brother isn't here right now, I'm sure you'll get to see him on Sunday, though."

Naoya felt his chest constrict. He wasn't here? That had to be a lie! His brother wouldn't have let anyone separate them! Unless... Naoya felt sick. No...

"Now let's get you outside!" The cheerful smile was back in place, but all Naoya could think was how horribly fake it looked to him at that moment. Before he could ask anymore questions-- or hope to gain the truth about what really happened to his brother-- the nurse gestured him to follow and, rather than have to have her touch him, Naoya followed after reluctantly.

M72

[proud-king.livejournal.com]

Waking up was unexpected.

Mustang was a fool for many reasons, but Bradley knew he was no idiot. Once the impudent colonel had the upper hand, he would have finished the job. Bradley had lost. Bradley shouldn't be alive.

But that wasn't the only inconsistency.

Hard-bred to act in accordance with every social rule to cross his life's path, Bradley did not express his confusion or irritation at the woman seated beside his bed, gently calling what she used as his name as though he were a child again. Instead, he slowly sat himself up, feeling no injuries as he did, and smiled humbly at her.

"Good morning, miss," he greeted her pleasantly. "Have I overslept?"

She responded with that same pleasance, looking relieved. It was so easy to manipulate most humans. Whatever response he wanted, he could get.

"Good afternoon, George. We're usually up and out of bed a lot earlier, but we thought you'd like to rest after your late arrival. Do you know where you are?"

George. If Dante had somehow succeeded in pulling him into a second life with which to do her work, he would hope she wouldn't have chosen a name like that. But if she had had anything to do with this, why did he have the same body as before? Or if he were supposed to continue on as Fuhrer, why didn't this woman know him?

And he'd grown so accustomed to holding such a high position that he wasn't taking kindly to the idea of holding anything less. The reality--if that was what this was--seemed to be somewhere in between.

"I'm afraid I don't," he answered apologetically. He didn't mention the name. Questioning it would only reveal his disadvantage, and she didn't seem to expect him to be surprised by it.

"This is Landel's Institution, George." She was trying to break it to him as sweetly as possible. "Landel's is a mental hospital. Your family brought you to us to help you. How are you feeling?"

His family. But was it the same family? Could his wife ever have decided to do this without his approval? And Salim--Salim. Salim should have done as he was told.

"Just a little hungry," he replied with a chuckle. She was easy to keep at ease. Maybe if he could get out of this room, he'd learn more about why he was here, and why he was alive in the first place.

"Well," she answered, "we've just finished lunch, so our next meal isn't until dinner. But--" she paused as her voice fell a few decibels in youthful secrecy, "I brought you some crackers just in case."

Humans. Always so eager to please. It was what made the entire structure of the military possible.

He laughed to show his due surprise. "That was thoughtful of you, my dear."

She smiled as she stood up, motioning to him that he should do the same. "Before dinner, we'll be spending some time in the fresh air!" She checked a chart she had held in her lap until now. "And--oh, well, your doctor won't be able to speak with you until next week. But we firmly believe in community support here at Landel's, so your fellow patients, as well as any of the nurses you see, will be able to help you get settled here."

He found the slippers on the floor before straightening, easily towering over her slight frame though his attitude remained harmless. He let her lead him to the door, feeling oddly weak, and followed her out, noting the large male standing just outside the door in the hall, listening, no doubt, for any trouble she may have had with him.

But his assistance hadn't been needed, and would never be. Bradley was too careful for that. He merely offered the man a large, good-natured smile as he passed, feeling satisfied that the orderly nearly smiled back before his expression resumed its subtle threat.

[blazingsword.livejournal.com]

Jean's eyes snapped open as she woke up, gasping. Did the song work? she thought. Sitting up, she took in her surroundings, looking for any sign of Lady Achea...who was hopefully alive. But there was none. It didn't even look like the open desert where they'd been fighting moments ago.

No Lady Achea. No Puufe. No Mel. She was in a white room, practically bare except for a desk and closet. Jean looked down at her clothes, grimacing a little at the yellow smiling face on her shirt. There was another bed, with another woman fast asleep in it.

Am I in the Adil Garden prison?

Jean cursed herself for getting herself in this mess. Not only was she in the hands of the enemy, Lady Achea was now left open and vulnerable without her there. Admittedly, for a twelve-year-old girl, the princess could defend herself well, but Jean had promised His Majesty that she'd protect Lady Achea, and she'd failed him.

The door opened, and Jean immediately stiffened. It wouldn't do to assume a defensive position immediately--she had to assess her situation before an escape would be possible.

A smiling woman entered, a clipboard in her round arms. "I see you're awake, Miss Spencer," she said, walking smoothly to Jean's bedside. "It's really too bad you've missed lunch, but the extra rest should have done some good."

"I..." Jean blinked. Her last name was Velsown. Everyone knew that. It was one of the drawbacks of being one of the Seven Glittering Branches; the Velsown clan was a legend among adilraids. This couldn't be Adil Garden. If it was, they'd be exploiting how they'd gotten her and using her name whenever they could.

The woman's smile showed a hint of pity. "You must be feeling disoriented, dear," she said. "That's all right. You're safe here at Landel's, and you'll get the help you need."

"Landel's?" Jean asked dumbly. That didn't sound like Adil Garden at all. Was this a shelter or something?

The woman nodded, reaching over and taking her right hand. "Well, even if you missed lunch, you can still get some much-needed sunlight!" she said, pulling Jean up before she had time to cover the erementar gerad gleaming on the underside of her wrist.

At the mention of sunlight, Jean's eyes narrowed. Maybe this was a false lull--they knew she needed sunlight to recharge and function as a weapon. There was no way she'd be used like that against her own will.

"Oh," the woman said, letting go of Jean's hand. "I forgot about that thing in your wrist. Well, we'll take of that too, in time." With that, she motioned for Jean to follow her.

Reluctantly, warily, Jean left the bed, slid her bare feet into the slippers provided and followed the woman. If it was a trap, she could rely on her own strength, hopefully, to get through this and return to Lady Achea. In the meantime, if the promise of sunlight was real, she was feeling weak, and needed some exposure.

[hotlittledragon.livejournal.com]

"Do you see him?" Kijin asked, turning.

Kurikara smirked, but only to irritate his companion. "He got knocked pretty far, eh?"

Kijin just snorted.

There was something off about the brat. For the life of him, Kurikara could not think of a better way to describe it - he was the arrogant, headstrong, splitting image of his father but the familiarity of his Ki did not come from his kinship to Sohryuu. Kijin was entirely of that Ki and, even as he skillfully concealed it, Kurikara felt the presence of the Golden Emperor right down to the marrow of his bones.

But now was not the time to confront Kijin on the matter. He could see a clearing not far below them.

Kurikara opened his mouth, but what came out was a half-strangled cry. Screaming, someone.. The sound was like all of Gensoukai burning in one clear, painful expression. Kurikara felt his world go white with the fading traces of what must have been a dream. He grasped at the covers and flung himself up, arm outstretched, eyes wide.

He could not feel his home. He could not feel his swords.

"Futsu -- Murkumo!?" They did not come. Kurikara stared at his hand for several more moments before lowering it. It was not that they were broken or dead - he could not sense them at all. He felt weak when he tried.

The dragon attempted to untangle himself with the frenzied hatred of a hornet nest in the summer. His head hit the ground first. The rest of him followed in a less than graceful manner.

What was all of this? Beds? Electric lights? Is this...the human world? He had not been back here in centuries. He frowned from his miniature cocoon. These were hard, heavy walls devoid of life and...and his nose was itchy.

He rolled back onto his stomach and rubbed it against the floor, quite unable to extricate himself from the blankets. They must have been made of something remarkably strong.

"Kasei Ryuu, it's time for you to..." The woman managed to choke back her laughter admirably while Kurikara wiggled his way up into a passable sitting position. "Let me help you with that."

Any other time, he would have found this fairly amusing himself. Kurikara barred his teeth. "Do not make the mistake of thinking I will not kill you for your master's foolishness, human."

"Kasei, death threats are not tolerated here. You're in Landel's Institute and we're here to help you."

"Oh, you're going to tear out your own throat? Good, cuz I'm a little tied up." Kurikara smirked. The woman was not amused. Or impressed. Neither was the man that followed her in.

"If you're going to continue with this kind of behavior, we will have to sedate you Kasei."

I've got no time for that guy's bullshit. Kurikara thought to himself. Another prison. There was too much trouble in Gensoukai for him to stay. "Lady, I haven't even started yet."

The male stepped toward him. Kurikara launched himself forward and sank his teeth into the man's arm. He learned several things in the moments that followed, the most important being that small, pointy packages carried bad, bad things.