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
"I am glad to hear your night was fine." Little could be counted as a blessing around here. A night without grief was like a miracle in broad daylight.
His other question left her perplexed. Tilting her head, she considered what he could possible have meant. "I believe that normal is 'subjective,' as they say. Unfortunately, I am not certain what you could mean. I have returned to full working order since my operation last night. I seem to have achieved emotional stasis since our last encounter. Would you please offer a clarification?"
Still confused and eager to know his thoughts, Aigis took a bite of pancake and chewed thoroughly. Food was always refreshing to her.
no subject
Though that didn’t mean his nights couldn’t be as hard or harder as everyone else’s, but it seemed pointless to mention that. It was obvious. Landel’s nightly tricks and trials were a burden for everyone.
At any rate, Aigis was more hung up over his subtext, which wasn’t surprising given that she was, well… whatever she was. A robot girl. Besides her weird powers, the bad thing about having all the human emotion of a computer was that it made it very difficult to avoid giving straight answers. He would have liked not to be direct; hedging around the issue made talking about it easier. She might not have had any lingering reservations over the fact that he had bit her, but he still did.
It was almost exactly like taking candy from a baby. Aigis was proving herself to be just as oblivious and trusting as any infant.
Perhaps that should’ve eased his conscience rather than nettled it. “Never mind, that’s all I wanted to know. I wouldn’t want you complaining about losing blood to me after I went to the trouble of warning you.”
no subject
"True. However, I still wish to extend the sentiment." It was only polite, after all.
For someone who was often all about the details, Aidou could certainly be blunt when it suited him. "I see. Then rest assured, I have no reason or will to complain on that end."
Aigis was starting to gather solid data on his personality. He did not like the way she communicated, or at least he was not comfortable with her phrasing. She knew her speech patterns needed some work.
"Aidou-san, may I ask you a favor?" She said after another bite of pancake. And just in case he was inclined to balk on principle, she added, "It has nothing to do with our previous engagements, I assure you."
no subject
Maybe he should have been worried about what kind of impression she was gleaning about vampires from him. Like most people in the Institute, she wasn’t a normal person, easily awestruck by his appearance and demeanor; people here gauged each other on other qualities, like strength and authority. Aidou still had those things, of course, but certainly not to the degree he was used to. Aristocracy was only a concept here, not something half so meaningful as it was in the real world.
She had no way of knowing his status, which made him worry that… ugh, she considered him a commonplace vampire was basing her assumptions on that. That all vampires were like him, and he like them. People here just didn’t know.
It would be a humiliation to end all humiliations to have to explain that he was special, that he was supposed to be setting an example for his fellows. But the discomfort didn’t come from threat of a bruised ego: no, more like from shame that he was not setting a good enough example for the nobility. Although Aigis herself said she didn’t mind, Aidou had essentially bit someone who’d given themselves over as a pity-gift. It wasn’t proper behavior at all. Even if it had been practical…
He wanted to tell her that not all nobles were so… were so… so--!
The vampire was still trying to think of an appropriate enough word when she spoke again. His eyebrows lowered. A favor? “Hmm?”
no subject
She supposed at least his oddness led more fully into her request. Still, she took a moment to eat another bite of her breakfast and collect her thoughts. There really was no way to ask this without it sounding strange, but Aidou was not human. Perhaps he would not find it so strange, especially after getting to know her as much as he did.
"I was wondering..." She tilted her head, her brows drawing together in an almost apologetic way. "... Could you teach me? About human behaviors? Or at least how to understand conversation at a more advanced level? I seem to... 'miss the point' quite a bit, from what I have gleaned."
She bit her lip. That had sounded like quite a lot, now that she thought of it. It wasn't so much of a favor as much as it was a hefty request. But she honestly wanted help in this area. If he could offer her any tips or tricks, any help at all, she would be grateful.
no subject
More odd than that, however, was her so-called ‘favor’. It seemed to take her a moment to collect her thoughts on the matter; Aidou wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. Certainly, she was due a favor, but what kind of request could someone like her make of someone like him?
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting to hear, but it wasn’t to be a tutor in the art of humanity. Had he misheard her?
“I did explain that part, right? About my not being human?” His expression was close to a deadpan. Then again, despite being a non-human for more years than Aigis had probably been alive, there was no denying that he had better conversational skills. No contest there. In fact, an infant likely had more skill in that arena than Aigis did. ‘Miss the point’, that was an understatement…
One eyebrow lifted. “Why are you asking me, exactly? Given everything we’ve been through, I’d hardly think I’d be your first choice.”
no subject
"Yes, you made it quite clear that you are not human. But that is the point." This certainly was difficult. Aigis had reasons for her choice in Aidou for this task, but would he understand? Maybe, maybe not. He was an enigma. Still, she would try to make him understand.
"True, we may not necessarily be friends, and I would not wish to burden anyone with the task of teaching me, least of all an acquaintance, but..." She took a deep breath. "To be quite honest, I do not think most humans would understand what it means to 'act human.' They are born that way. You and I, however, were not. Therefore, I would think an education from someone fluid in the art of side-stepping human attention would understand better."
Besides, asking her human friends would likely result in their insistence that she needn't change herself. They did not often complain of her habits, but Aigis did not enjoy losing meaning in translation.
no subject
Yes, he could definitely see why she might be worried about missing the point of things, since it appeared to be happening right at that very moment…
On the other hand, once he took a moment to consider her words, her request made a little more sense in comparison. Side-stepping human attention? That was fairly true; for as long as there’d been peace between their two species, vampires had always had to utilize a variety of ways to keep their existence secret. As society was now, vampires were like a mirror for humans, reflecting back on them the ideal versions of themselves. A part of their world but yet above it.
But were they better at replicating humanity than the humans themselves? Unexpectedly, Aidou wasn’t quite sure about the answer. Could he teach someone to act human or was that more like… teaching someone to be a more humanlike vampire? It was a deep well, one cast in shades of grey, and not at all what he had anticipated stumbling into when he’d sat down in the cafeteria that morning. The dividing line between human and vampire was something better suited for the Academy, for the philosophers and elders. For… well, not him. He wasn’t even eighteen yet! How was he supposed to define what ‘acting human’ meant?
The weird thing was, he couldn’t help turning Aigis’ words on himself. How did he even know how to act or not act like a vampire? He just was. He’d been born one. Like a human, he couldn’t detach himself from his own nature; he’d come into the world with his own feelings and impulses, having never needed to be taught them. The same as a human. Exactly the same as a human.
But a human was still different, and to be one meant… what?
Aigis’ request sounded simple, but in reality it made his mind do some increasingly complex gymnastics. What she was all saying was true: he hadn’t been born human, and he did have to act human. So shouldn’t he have the answers? “Uhh… mmm. I guess, yes. Sort of. If psychopaths can learn how to blend in, you should be able to…”
no subject
Aidou seemed too proud to drop into acting like a feral beast, no matter what the situation. Or else Aigis had been duped by a very, very good acting performance. It would not be the first time.
Backhanded comment aside, Aigis found herself grateful he was even considering her request. She nodded. "I have been integrated into society for several months now, but there are some aspects that I cannot easily emulate even with all the hours of personal study. I need a teacher."
no subject
Aidou shook his head as if to ward away further hair-splitting.
“Hmph, I might not be a drooling monster, but I’m definitely not a Human Relations professor! Ha, though you’d probably need a long-lived teacher in your state. It’d take at least a hundred years to make you normal.” He sighed then. “What exactly would I teach you first? Reading between the lines? Sarcasm? Or maybe how to talk in something other than a monotone? No, no, how to appreciate vampiric greatness, maybe…”
no subject
If Aigis were to be honest, she agreed. It would probably take even more than one lifetime's worth of teachers to get her through all the subtleties of humanity. Since culture was also a living thing, she could hardly hope to keep up with the changes on her own. She wasn't programmed for that.
"That is..." She stopped. Considered. Nodded once.
"I suppose it is a rather large topic and should be broken down into sub-categories before continuing further. Regardless of professional qualifications, you were my first choice because of reasons I've already stated." She took another bite of her meal. As serious as their conversation was, she still needed to eat. "Androids have no culture to speak of and attempting to learn from observance has failed. If it is beyond your abilities to explain conversational complexity..." Then she would have to ask someone else.
no subject
“My abilities are beyond question,” he countered. “I have a genius IQ, you know, and if Landel hadn’t weighted the scales in his advantage so utterly, I would have sent him to a screaming death already. There’s very little I can’t do. But teaching you anything would take time and energy away from our little living situation here. Exactly when do you expect me to de-robotize you?”