Day 63: Bus 2 (morning)

[complicatedliar]

The night hadn't been nearly as productive as Loki would have liked, though he didn't feel all that upset about it. He had all the time in the world, as far as he was concerned.

He would have to keep an eye out for those showing very visible signs of infection. It seemed to be a very rapidly progressing disease, which was interesting, but not necessarily all that helpful. Of course, the question of humanity was cute in terms of philosophy, but considering that Loki had never been human and had no desire to lower himself to that level, he found it amusing more than threatening. It would probably set the mortals into mental paroxysms, though.

The prospect of visiting the town Soma had told him about, that was certainly more interesting, and possibly useful. Particularly considering they were apparently to be given some money to spend. There had to be a book store in the town at the very least, an possibly something more useful. He had serious doubts that he'd be allowed to purchase anything overtly useful like specialized tools, but the knowledge was far more important and books were the best place to focus.

Loki smiled prettily enough for the nurse when she showed up and took the clothing offered. It was slightly less painful to look at than the normal horrible uniform - jeans and a green flannel shirt, though he wasn't enamored of the plaid pattern. The outfit also included a black jacket and gloves, necessary since the weather was still cold. He made certain to tuck his notebook and a few pens into the jacket, since even if he wasn't allowed to purchase useful books, there would no doubt be an opportunity to take notes.

And he had a message he wished to pass around as well. Hopefully there would be some sort of bulletin board in the town. If not, it could always wait another day he supposed. That didn't tend to make people less dead.

Loki went quietly to the bus, accepting the sack of food and the little booklet of coupons. He examined the card that came with it for a moment - apparently that was the money equivalent - then looked through the coupons. Really, of the choices the massage and the manicure sounded the nicest. He was particularly wary of the 'tasty meal' since in his experience, anything with 'tasty' actually in the name was destined to be anything but.

With his normal air of amusement mixed with despair at the general state of food in this place, he started picking through what passed for breakfast.

[Send me an angel!]

Comments

[diamondstorm]

The way the other acted, calmly eating while another rested on him, made her think more of an accessory than another human, and if he was treating the darker-haired man that way, perhaps she should as well for now. Barnaby started speaking, and she found herself half-surprised, half-quietly relieved. If he had started to believe her, then hopefully, at least, he would not be taking undue risks more than was necessary.

The wording, precise and nearly blunt, made the Digimon give a rare small smile. "I'm glad you found some of it useful," she gave in return, tone even and quiet. "Even if you pick and choose what information you take as truth, the more that you have, the better prepared you are in all circumstances."

A trip to a town, for example. She moved to look out her own window, then added carefully, "Do you know about these trips?"

[baniichan]

He supposed it probably should have occurred to him that she might find his skepticism a little offensive before he'd vocalized any of it, but Renamon didn't seem bothered. That was honestly for the best, since Barnaby still felt uncertain about how he ought to interact with these people if they really weren't well. He didn't want to coddle them or enable any delusions, but there was no use getting irritated over things other patients genuinely couldn't help, either.

At the very least, though, he could agree that information was the best thing he could arm himself with. That was why he couldn't help but become interested when she hinted that she could tell him more about where they were going.

"No," he admitted as he lowered his granola bar. "I take it this isn't the first time they've loaded everyone onto these buses, then?"

[diamondstorm]

If nothing else, the man was polite; detached enough that trading information that may or may not be true to him was taken quietly. For his admission of lack of knowledge, she only inclined her head in acknowledgement. Luckily, this town, even the eccentricities, was easier than speaking about the institute. "It's a weekly outing that started roughly a month and a half ago to the town nearby. It's a very small town, but has some shops of interest. They let us move as we wish, as long as we don't cause trouble, and we're given tickets and credits for items and food."

A reasonable explanation. She attempted to continue with that same matter-of-fact tone. "There's been two instances where there were problems returning; once where we were trapped within the town. Both were dangerous circumstances, so I would at least advise you to be on guard, even if something happening is a low probability."

[baniichan]

As Barnaby listened to her explanation, the bus's engine rumbled to life, and his seat began to gently shake beneath him from the force. He'd half-expected the extra noise to jostle Kotetsu awake, but the man barely stirred against Barnaby's shoulder. It didn't matter, though. He could fill Kotetsu in on whatever he learned from Renamon later.

The coupons and card indicated that they'd be allowed to make purchases, but it was good to get some confirmation from someone who had supposedly gone through this before. While he was tempted to ask about what kind of shops they'd find, or if she had any idea why their captors went through the trouble of organizing such an outing, something else she'd said caught his attention.

"Dangerous in what way?" he asked, his eyebrows faintly furrowing. "Are you saying the staff has sabotaged these trips before?"

[diamondstorm]

Ah, wording. It would forever be a foot-hurdle with those she needed to explain things to. She glanced upward for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Whether or not you believe me on other things, this is guaranteed. The staff," she gestured to the front of the bus where the few nurses watching them sat. "Are civilians. And things that have happened--" For example, the nurses turning into monsters. "--Have led us to the conclusion that they're simply doing what their job entails. Whatever happens, it's Landel, his personal associates, and his superiors that are behind it, not simply the staff at large."

A digression, but one she felt that she had to make. As obnoxious as the staff could be, offering hate and resentment to them was a folly, and a waste of one's energy. But she still had a question to answer. "...To answer you, though, it's half-likely. I wasn't here for the first incident, but the buses broke down before reaching the institute, and the people on them were attacked. The second time, when we were trapped in town, was of another's design." Alec Doyle, the dead man walking, if things on the bulletin were to be believed. Having the patient body trapped in town would certainly make Landel let down his guard enough to be attacked, she supposed.

"Basically," she finished. "If we leave by day's end, things should be fine, if patterns are to be held." She did not know if Barnaby had encountered any of the monsters yet, and saying that nighttime was their time would be seen as insane more than likely at this point in transition.

[baniichan]

Barnaby's calm, green-eyed gaze shifted over toward one of the nurses for a moment. He had to admit that he'd wondered if their incompetence was merely a facade, or if they were really that unaware of what was truly happening. They couldn't really believe they were all crazy, could they? Or had something happened to them to make them forget about things like basic geography and current events?

He hadn't thought to consider them victims. And though he wasn't entirely convinced, it was something to keep in mind during future observations. Maybe he'd pick up on something he might not have thought to look for earlier.

While he could have asked about what, exactly, "attacked" patients, he had a feeling he knew the answer. Barnaby had already read about some of the accounts of "monsters" on the bulletin board. The virgin-eating ones in particular were more creative than he would have expected. On the other hand, if they really were a figment of the patients' imaginations, he wasn't sure if he wanted to think too hard about the implications, and whether people were just projecting their sexual frustrations onto some of the wildlife here. Quite frankly, it was a little creepy.

"I'll keep all of that in mind," he answered after letting Renamon's explanation sink in, and he took another careful bite of his granola bar.

There were a lot of other things he knew he ought to try to find out -- the population of the town, the general layout, what places would be of interest to patients like themselves, just to name a few.

But something else he'd seen on the board uncomfortably pressed against the back of his mind, like a jagged rock wedged at the bottom of his shoe. "By the way," he softly added just when it looked like he might let the conversation drop altogether, "I've read messages about people dying at night. Do you know anything about that, or where I could go to confirm someone's death?"

Given the subject matter, his voice was quite composed, almost inappropriately so, but Barnaby was quick to clarify why he was interested. "If patients are getting killed, I need to look into that as soon as possible." It didn't matter whether Renamon wanted to call it a duty, or a moral obligation, or something else entirely. However, loss of life was one of the things a Hero was supposed to prevent, and Barnaby didn't want to treat possible causalities lightly.

[diamondstorm]

He accepted the words without again reiterating his doubt, and for that, she saw the progress as positive. She inclined her head to him politely, and allowed the conversation to fall to silence as well. Therefore, when he spoke up, she was almost surprised.

The Digimon tilted her head at his word use. Needing to look into it. That also seemed as if he thought there was something he could do about it-- But hers was not to question at this point, but to offer information to hopefully advise. She watched him for a beat, then nodded. "If you wish to confirm someone's death, there's a morgue on the west side of the second floor. However, not all corpses are always there." The simplest of answers of the things mentioned, and perhaps he would question why there was a morgue in an asylum.

"For the rest..." she continued softly. This was again, likely something he would not want to hear, but he would learn eventually. At least with warning, even from one he didn't trust, he might acclimate better in time. "In the time I've been here, deaths have not been common, but they have not been rare either. Even last night, the message given over the intercom--" Renamon's eyes slanted, nearly against her will, remembering Badou's response to the fact of one of his friend's deaths. It wasn't as easy, when it affected others like this. Would it have been different? If Nataku, Jiraiya, Yukari... If any of them had been killed instead of just vanishing? She couldn't say. She didn't want to contemplate it.

"The message read that two patients were dead. Someone I was with last night was close to one of them. He said they were children." As if that meant anything anymore. "...Nothing's safe here," she added, almost too soft to hear. She regretted speaking it instantly; it was too personal, too opinionated, but it was there as much as anything. The thought of those lost, and those taken away.

[baniichan]

The morgue hadn't been labeled on the map he received yesterday, but that wasn't so surprising. The staff, after all, probably wouldn't want to see the patients openly discussing such a morbid place on a public forum. He would need to find out the precise location soon, though at least he had a starting point in case he decided to investigate the area with Kotetsu.

Not that he was on the clock as a Hero right now, of course. In fact, given his current mental condition, that was probably for the best. But it was in his better interests to look into any unusual incidents within the institute for possible clues about what was happening. They could also try to prevent more civilian deaths if they found out what caused them (assuming those deaths were real in the first place). Barnaby didn't like the idea of being even partially responsible for casualties he may have had the power to prevent, but didn't, whether out of ignorance or negligence. Neither of those were acceptable excuses, as far as he was concerned.

When Renamon informed him that the latest victims were supposedly children, Barnaby didn't give much of an outward reaction. If Kotetsu had been awake, he likely would have had a strong enough response for the both of them. Perhaps he would have even been a little disappointed by Barnaby's own detached attitude right now. The thought made him ache, but between everything else that happened to him over the past several days, he didn't think he had the emotional capacity to get upset over a stranger's death, particularly if it might not have happened at all.

However, that didn't mean he was okay that the possibility existed, or that it needed to be swept under the rug.

"My condolences to your friend," he quietly said, his expression remaining neutral regardless. Even if Barnaby wasn't sure whether those deaths were a figment of her friend's imagination, that seemed to be the most appropriate response for now. He could at least understand the depth of loss and grief, and how maddening it was to feel helpless in the wake of a love one's death. "You mentioned a message that said those children died. Are you referring to the binary code everyone heard last night?"

He couldn't think of what else it would have been, since he didn't recall hearing anything about it until now.

[diamondstorm]

The condolences were nodded away--they were not hers to accept, and she would likely not be passing on that message. It seemed more disrespectful to allow that she had spoken of another, than to withhold it. Either way, it was just a nicety in the end, human decorum further at work, and she passed it to consider the other thing Barnaby had said. Something she hadn't thought too much on, and now that she had time to consider, she wondered.

Was it only Digital life, and those immersed in computers that could read that as easily as anything spoken? Was it actually seen as strange? "Yes," she responded nonetheless. "The binary code translated to a repeated message over and over. Two names, and the statement that both were dead."

[baniichan]

Barnaby didn't bat an eye, but instead carefully studied the girl for a moment.

"You're saying you can translate binary the moment you hear it, then."

It was more of a statement than a question, and mostly his way to confirm that he'd understood. Not many people could make that kind of claim, after all. But Renamon hadn't outright said she was the one who had interpreted for her friend, which was why he didn't want to just continue the conversation under that assumption.

[diamondstorm]

She returned the look, then inclined her head. "I can," she answered. It was only another language, in the end, and in all technicalities, what could be considered her original language. It had wrote her into being, after all, and was embedded in her existence, as a Digimon or a makeshift human.

Perhaps it was for that reason, that she didn't leave it at that, and only lifted her chin slightly, watching the man. "You can test me if you like."