Barnaby Brooks Jr. [Bunny] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
baniichan) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
damned_institute2012-02-28 09:56 pm
baniichan) wrote in damned_institute2012-02-28 09:56 pm
Day 62: Breakfast
A misplaced sense of familiarity met Barnaby the moment he opened his eyes, and the sight of the blank, white ceiling from yesterday morning greeted him. After rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands, Barnaby sat up and felt around for his glasses. Had he blacked out again and wasted an entire night? Where was Kotetsu? And what had become of the man who had seemingly vanished before his very eyes at the end of dinner?
Once Barnaby slipped his frames onto his face, the world came into clearer focus, even if he didn’t get any answers out of it. He was in his room, and someone had apparently stripped him out of his street clothes in favor of the hideous hospital pajamas. Barnaby wasn't sure what he found more offensive -- that someone here had once again touched his things without his permission, or that he’d been undressed while unconscious for the second time since his arrival.
The thought made his skin crawl.
Just as he looked over to find a lump in the bed next to him, though, his assigned nurse came to retrieve him. He would have to confirm Klavier Gavin's whereabouts later. For now, he had no choice but to allow the nurse to escort him into the cafeteria. Strangely, she seemed to be under the impression that he and the other patients had slept soundly the whole night. While he might have assumed it was an act, Barnaby got the feeling that she genuinely believed what she was saying.
Regardless of her intentions, he knew she wasn't going to be any help. Instead of trying to ask her anymore questions, Barnaby left a note on the bulletin board concerning his roommate. If his observations from yesterday were any indication, he'd get some responses, at least. While he could have taken the time to leave something for Kotetsu, Barnaby didn't feel inclined to do so, especially when he knew he probably wouldn't check the board anyway.
He had no appetite this morning, but his nurse wouldn't leave him alone until she'd assembled a tray of fresh, fluffy pancakes for him. Honestly, Barnaby didn't see why some people felt the need to butt into his personal choices like this. At least there wasn't anyone forcing him to eat -- for now, at any rate. He sat down at an empty table close to the wall after setting his food down, privately hoping that she wouldn't try to find a "friend" for him to eat with this morning. He was tucked out of the way, so maybe she would forget about him for a few minutes as long as he didn't draw any unnecessary attention to himself.
Hands neatly clasped on the table, Barnaby didn't look at anyone in particular as patients filtered into the cafeteria for their morning meal. There were too many questions buzzing in his mind for him to focus on the names and faces of people he didn't care about. If Kotetsu wanted to find him, he could. It wasn't like Barnaby was going anywhere.
[For Kotetsu.]
Once Barnaby slipped his frames onto his face, the world came into clearer focus, even if he didn’t get any answers out of it. He was in his room, and someone had apparently stripped him out of his street clothes in favor of the hideous hospital pajamas. Barnaby wasn't sure what he found more offensive -- that someone here had once again touched his things without his permission, or that he’d been undressed while unconscious for the second time since his arrival.
The thought made his skin crawl.
Just as he looked over to find a lump in the bed next to him, though, his assigned nurse came to retrieve him. He would have to confirm Klavier Gavin's whereabouts later. For now, he had no choice but to allow the nurse to escort him into the cafeteria. Strangely, she seemed to be under the impression that he and the other patients had slept soundly the whole night. While he might have assumed it was an act, Barnaby got the feeling that she genuinely believed what she was saying.
Regardless of her intentions, he knew she wasn't going to be any help. Instead of trying to ask her anymore questions, Barnaby left a note on the bulletin board concerning his roommate. If his observations from yesterday were any indication, he'd get some responses, at least. While he could have taken the time to leave something for Kotetsu, Barnaby didn't feel inclined to do so, especially when he knew he probably wouldn't check the board anyway.
He had no appetite this morning, but his nurse wouldn't leave him alone until she'd assembled a tray of fresh, fluffy pancakes for him. Honestly, Barnaby didn't see why some people felt the need to butt into his personal choices like this. At least there wasn't anyone forcing him to eat -- for now, at any rate. He sat down at an empty table close to the wall after setting his food down, privately hoping that she wouldn't try to find a "friend" for him to eat with this morning. He was tucked out of the way, so maybe she would forget about him for a few minutes as long as he didn't draw any unnecessary attention to himself.
Hands neatly clasped on the table, Barnaby didn't look at anyone in particular as patients filtered into the cafeteria for their morning meal. There were too many questions buzzing in his mind for him to focus on the names and faces of people he didn't care about. If Kotetsu wanted to find him, he could. It wasn't like Barnaby was going anywhere.
[For Kotetsu.]
no subject
Soma rolled into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. No progress on the basement front. No progress on figuring out what kind of person Riku was, either, which was somehow more frustrating. At least they wouldn't have to lie to Sora when they told him they hadn't gotten anywhere.
She followed her nurse to breakfast, Landel's last message buzzing unpleasantly in her mind. She couldn't help but think of what had happened to Utena that night. Was this the same thing, but on a larger scale? Was that what he was doing--turning everyone into creatures for his own sick amusement?
She pushed the thought aside, frowning slightly, and pulled a plate of pancakes and some fruit onto her tray. Sitting down at an empty table, she began to eat, scanning the crowds for a familiar face or two.
[free!]
no subject
When she got to the cafeteria, she looked around. Ema was nowhere in sight, which wasn't terribly surprising. If there was anything teenagers were good at, it was sleeping in. She kept looking, though, as she put together a tray. Still no Ema. But the smile on Lana's face was fond, as she slipped into a seat opposite a young woman with long, white hair and a searching expression that was all too familiar.
"Looking for someone?"
[an unfamiliar (to her) face OK?]
no subject
Soma turned back to the table as a woman sat down across from her--vaguely familiar, in the way that most of the patients here were. She was smiling, and Soma returned the smile with a small one of her own.
"Just making sure my friends are all right," she said. Lingormr was already deep in conversation with a girl, but there was still no sign of Rapunzel or anyone else she knew well. That was all right, though. It was still early.
"I've seen you around before," she added. "You've been here for a while, haven't you?"
no subject
She didn't recognize the young woman, but her hair was distinctive, and Lana was pretty sure she'd been around for a while as well. "I'm Lana," she said, holding out a hand. "Chief Prosecutor for the Los Angeles Central Court District, if they haven't fired me for this little unannounced vacation." For another few months, at least, and trying to figure out how time worked at the Institute was crazier than any alibi she'd ever seen a defendant attempt, let alone successfully pull off, so she didn't try. Much. It mostly made her head hurt.
Ema seemed to find it entertaining. When they weren't talking about their own personal futures, that was. Ah, well.
no subject
She returned Lana's handshake firmly, nodding. "Second Lieutenant Soma Peries, lately of the Earth Sphere Federation Mobile Suit Forces." The rank rolled a little awkwardly off her tongue. It had been a while since she'd gone by anything other than just Soma. But Lana had introduced herself pretty formally, so she guessed she should do the same. "Los Angeles...that's in the United States, isn't it?"
"I can only hope my commanding officers are looking for me. Though how much success they'll have is debatable, given the circumstances."
no subject
The fact that she could say that without the slightest trace of irony still surprised her. But it was either believe, or think Ilia was lying, and Lana had to trust her own abilities to read people. She'd made mistakes, but if she couldn't learn from them, she might as well give up now.
She didn't want to give up. Hope was one of the few gifts this place had given her, and she was going to hang on. For both her sake, and Ema's.
She shook herself, mentally, out of the future and back to breakfast. The closest thing Lana had to a commanding officer was Damon, and, well, she didn't need a debate to know what would happen if he came here. But Soma didn't need to know that, nor did she need Lana's more cynical opinion that the only way anyone either of them knew was coming here was in the same way they had. Helpless, or nearly so, and without backup.
no subject
Mr. Conklin had, anyway, and he was from the late twentieth century or thereabouts. That was a start.
no subject
"This must all be remarkably strange to you." She hadn't really thought about it -- Ilia seemed so comfortable here, but Lana should have known better than to take that at face value. Damn. She'd been so caught up in her own reaction to think analytically about how Ilia was treating all of this.
The corner of her mouth quirked up. "I mean, more so than this place already is. I'd be worried if anyone found it normal, here."
no subject
"Everything does seem a little backwards to me," she admitted. "For one, almost everything runs on solar power in my time, aside from a few ancient mobile suit models. But I guess the culture shock isn't as big as it probably should be, since Landel does such a good job of keeping us separated from the outside world."
Doyleton was one of the sleepiest, quietest places she'd ever been to, though. When it wasn't being attacked by zombies, anyway.
no subject
"I'm not sure whether that's for our benefit or theirs. If you've been here that long -- you were there the night patients were stranded, right? I don't know exactly what is out there, but I have a feeling it's important." And that that wasn't just wistful thinking -- her hunches were usually right; it had made her an excellent detective, and it was, if anything, even more of an asset in court.
no subject
She nodded. That was something she could make sense of--a question she could answer, if only partially. "There is something important out there. Someone in the institute--I can't say whom--stole some data from Landel when they were on a mission. I can't tell you much right now, but I can tell you there's a reason they brought us here, and we may be close to figuring it out."
[augh, I caught a cold, sorry this is late]
"It would be nice to know what they want," she added, a little emotion creeping in. "They've acquired more legal representation than the Kitaki family." Though the Cadaverini's probably still had Landel beat. "I'd just about given up on his strategy having any sense to begin with." That was an outright lie, though it didn't show. He had a plan, and her gut instinct had known it all along. She just hadn't had the faintest idea where to start on finding it.
[no worries! hope you feel better D:]
"I can't say it all makes sense yet, and there's a lot about this place we don't know. But I can say this planet was attacked and devastated by something big some time ago, and this place was set up in case something like it happened again." Soma frowned a little at the memory. The rebels could at least have been a little more specific about that. "It's not exactly my idea of a model barracks, but until we find out what exactly attacked this world, we won't be able to say for sure."
no subject
Actually, there was very little about the idea that wasn't terrible, starting with the fact that there were children here and that they were being tortured while waiting around for whatever contingency Landel was guarding against, and working their way right up to the part where she'd heard better plans on sitcoms. If Landel thought he was outsmarting anyone, he was starting with himself, there. Though it came down to that with most criminals, really.
So, instead of raising any more ridiculous objections, she just went for the biggest question of them all. "Is this Earth?"
no subject
And there was the question of why they hadn't just asked to begin with. Soma would have considered it, at the very least, provided they'd thrown a suitable mobile suit in with the bargain. Unless there were some reason for all of this subterfuge--something tied in with the brainwashing, perhaps?
"I...I don't know. I wish I did. The data called this place Planet 48-71, but that could just be a codename for Earth." She shook her head. "It's infuriating, but I can't tell you anything more about that--unless you recognize the name, that is."
no subject
The intercom rattled on, then, the words all sounding ominous, against the conversation they'd just had. The pit of Lana's stomach seemed to drop -- more pancakes suddenly went from unnecessary to outright revolting, but she merely wiped her lips and set her napkin down as she stood up. "I'll keep looking, though, as long as it takes. If the answer is anywhere in the Institute's paperwork, I'll get there eventually." She was aiming for ironic; it came out a little more resigned than that, but it was true. "It was good meeting you."
So far, she'd found two separate copies of the patient records, but she hadn't been able to go through either set of filing in enough detail to put together a profile. But maybe there was something in there, after all.