damned_institute | Day 62: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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Day 62: Sun Room (4th Shift)

What an unproductive day this was so far. Doing nothing but sitting on a couch, watching the bulletin board and thinking too much about things...if only his injuries weren't keeping him from getting some decent exercise. (If only he hadn't let himself get injured, period, but...)

This shift, Zero was left with nothing to do but sit around, without the promise of a useful conversation like last shift with Nigredo. It wasn't like his other option was any better, though. Showers, already being a waste of time as they were, just sounded very uncomfortable, if not impossible, to do while wearing a sling and a cast. So when his chatty nurse came up to him at shift change and tried to get him to follow her to the showers, the once-Reploid refused to budge. She seemed surprised at his refusal, tossed a few 'why not's and 'we can do this and this to protect your bandages so they won't get wet's at him, but he stubbornly shook his head at everything she said. There was no way he was going in there in this condition. Too much effort for no gain. Why did getting clean matter so much, anyway? It had only been a few days since the last time he'd bathed. It didn't matter.

Thankfully, the nurse took pity on him (only because of his injuries, he was guessing) and gave up trying to persuade him to move. She left him alone with his thoughts, and the once-Reploid carefully reclined on the couch and lay his uninjured arm across his stomach, staring up at the ceiling.

... He supposed some quiet time to think wasn't all bad. He was feeling much better emotionally than he was this morning, mainly because he'd had time to let recent events sink in. Zex and Ema's fates had hurt at first, but by now he'd managed to channel most of that hurt into more resolve to fight. His conversation with Nigredo had helped keep his mind off of things and was enough to leave him wondering for awhile, even though figuring out what to do about Landel was more important than that right now. And, he had a new self-assigned mission for tomorrow via the bulletin board - to assist Ema's sister Lana in any way he could. Not to mention he'd learned about the existence of a town outside of this place....

...Alright. On second thought, the day was not as unproductive as he'd been thinking it was. Didn't mean Zero wanted to spend the rest of this shift just lying here, but at least he could say the times he was doing so earlier in the day weren't a total waste.

[free!]

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[from here]

He walked out into the Sun Room quickly, scanning the room for familiar faces. If he couldn't find them here, he'd look elsewhere, nurses and security be damned. He'd use the bulletin if he had to.

...The bulletin. He was going to have to inform everyone, wasn't he? That Yomi was dead. It wasn't a duty he was all too eager to carry out, but it was one he would perform nonetheless. Because someone had to inform those close to her. He glanced around the room again, still not seeing any familiar faces, then quickly headed to the bulletin board as a slight detour. He really didn't want to discuss the particulars to be honest, so he'd just...

And then he saw it. Another post on the board: simple and short. Or more, he saw the name on it first. Ema Skye. He stared at the message, reading that single sentence over and over before he allowed it to sink in. Slowly. ...Then it dropped like a brick into the pit of his stomach. Ema. Ema Skye... was gone. Another lost, another gone, another day in Landel's. It was part of the routine by now. But it never stopped hurting to see names appearing on the board. And it hit especially hard when it was that name.

So many people gone. People he knew from here, people he knew from home, people he might have called friends. And his brother. Now Ema was another to add to the tally, and it just suddenly felt like too much. Far, far too much. Too much loss and pain in a short period of time. He didn't think he could... No, he couldn't handle it. Not anymore. Not one more. If he had to see one more name he knew, he might just scream.

He never did end up making that announcement. He pulled away from the bulletin board, suddenly even more desperate to find the others from last night. No, that wasn't really it. Because he was frantic and selfish. So he was only really looking for one particular individual. One he hoped to whatever powers might be listening that he managed to find him in person. And not as another name.

[Nigredoooo]

His heart thrummed, lifeblood pumping merrily through his veins as the body continued its existence. Nigredo would have been grateful if not for the circumstances, if not for owing his life to kin and stranger alike. Without doubt, he understood, as he perhaps would not on another day. Yomi would have lived longer than he if she had been so inclined. There was no question, especially if Dr. Landel (Martin without his Alec) gave his assertion as truth.

The death had been a forfeit, and it was likely for that reason that Albedo was hiding.

But that was neither here nor there. Until night, Nigredo could not relay the single potential to the one who deserved to hear it. For now, he would have to wait and suffer through the day with his mild fever.

It was here, while crossing through the Sun Room, that he saw Klavier.

The man seemed wretched. In the days they had not spoken, Klavier appeared worse for wear. For good reason, Nigredo supposed. This place had its methods in cruelty. It was here, while watching the man move, that he supposed the potential could go to this one first. That perhaps news of a revival might do him well. Nigredo walked over and with a hesitant hand, grasped the hem of the other's shirt.

"Klavier."

At the tug of resistance and that voice, Klavier stopped in his tracks. He turned his attenion down to the child quickly and, for the life of him, could not keep the surprise from crossing his face.

"Nigredo." His voice was nothing short of astonishment. Then surprise turned to relief. Overwhelming relief. If he he didn't have to foresight to consider the boy's injuries, he almost could have hugged him right there. That's how absolutely happy he was to see him there. "Nigredo. Are you alright?! How is--?"

The fact that Nigredo was alive was a miracle all by itself, and it was one he wasn't planning on questioning at this point. But how in blazes was the child managing to stand on his own two legs? With the amount of damage he had sustained the night before, he should have at best been in a wheelchair if not completely bedridden. Right now, looking at him, Nigredo didn't even look like he was in pain.

Surprise initially graced Klavier's expression, before it elevated to relief, overwhelming and complete. Nigredo was taken aback by the reaction, though perhaps the fault of that lay within himself. He could never expect others to be so concerned for his welfare. It was enough to bring an apology to his lips--

But that would only infuriate this man, no? Besides, that was not the question he had rambled off. Nigredo tightened his grip and stared at Klavier. "I'm fine," he said gently. "I'm fine because Landel--they undid the injuries." How was up for debate, but that was not important at the moment.

"Klavier, listen to me. Yomi--" That girl. "--is probably still alive."

Indeed, Nigredo looked absolutely fine. Not even a slight indication of hidden injury or pain about him. It made absolutely no sense, but Klavier had no choice but to accept it. Because, well... just look at him. It was unfortunate, really, that this boggling miracle was made somewhat bittersweet given the loose explanation. Klavier would rather not hold any sense of gratitude for anything done by them. But that was a moot point right then.

The odd assertion was unexpected and surprising. Klavier only blinked his surprise before frowning slightly in both confusion and wariness. "Nigredo... I would like to think that may be possible myself, yes, but... I don't think that whatever was done for you will..." The frown faded and his face straightened completely, blank. "...I don't believe Yomi's injuries will be so easily 'undone,' I'm afraid."

It was kind of cruel, but it had to be said, sorry. True, he didn't understand the logic of what happened with Nigredo, but he knew one thing for a fact: an injury was an injury, and death was death. Mending a body and restoring life were two entirely different matters. It was nice that Nigredo's circumstance had given him some bit of optimism, but... Klavier couldn't play along with that. He wasn't going to lead someone on into believing someone could come back when they couldn't. False hope was more damaging than helpful in the long run.

The first thought that sparked in his head proved unpleasant, touching close to fury. In a manner uncharacteristic for the U.R.T.V., Nigredo released the hold on Klavier's shirt and proceeded to grab for both forearms. "Klavier," he repeated. "Do I look like the optimist to you? I've seen more deaths than you have. I am not telling you this to appease some wishful thinking."

Nigredo wanted dearly to shake the man, make him realize how idiotic the assumption had been. Klavier, however, was a friend, and he deserved the proper explanation. "Listen to me. Seriously, this time." He managed a staggered exhale. "I've been to the Coliseum once before."

There was no saying what kind of reaction Klavier had been expecting of the child, but this certainly hadn't been it. Nigredo suddenly grabbed both his forearms in a firm grip. Which, in and of itself, was rather alarming and out of character for one so normally calm. But then he spoke with a sternness to his voice that seemed to cut deep into the elder man. It was difficult to tell if that was truly a result of the boy's tone or simply the state Klavier found himself in today, but it affected all the same.

The motion had caused mild surprise to show, but the words made him frown. Regardless of who it was, it was quite a claim for a child to make. Especially when he was comparing himself to a prosecutor who dealt with homicides every day (though Nigredo wouldn't know that). But even still, it was true that beyond the scope of last night's events, Klavier had no experience with live death. And Nigredo had been to that place more than once, then his claim was more than valid. Sadly, so.

He did nothing to push Nigredo away or otherwise break his grip. But he was silent for several long beats after Nigredo had spoken, frown now nothing but a sharp focus. If he wanted Klavier's undying attention, he certainly got it.

After those few beats, Klavier didn't contest anything said or question the boy's words. He simply urged him to continue with a level voice. "Yes...?"

Nigredo had won Klavier and his undivided attention, regardless of its nature or the threads of logic weaving inside the man's head. It was enough to loosen his grip, to allow inches of space between them. An acquiesce was not to be taken lightly. Nigredo still really liked Klavier to not lose his favor.

So he would give him what was required, what the man needed to hear. "It was with another group, shortly before Dr. Landel regained control," Nigredo began, the words spilling fast and light against his lips. "The battle played out similarly, and one of the combatants was killed. She was literally in pieces at the end." In a most horrifically wonderful way, a detail that must not be shared.

Nigredo exhaled. "The next day, I found her in the Sun Room--injured but alive." And equally confused by the fact. "They had revived her, or the developments in the basement were not permanent. I don't know."

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Day 62: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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