damned_institute | Day 63: Bus 2 (Evening)

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Day 63: Bus 2 (Evening)

After finishing up his purchase and parting ways with Klavier, Harvey quickly realized that the wind was even worse now than it had been earlier in the day. The nurses even seemed hurried by it this time, probably because they were trying to make sure that every last patient was rounded up. The thought had never occurred to him, but had anyone ever tried to stay behind by hiding somewhere? Would that actually work? And would it be of any benefit? In the end, it would just get you stuck in a town filled with hungry zombies, so... maybe that was why he'd never heard of someone trying it before.

He headed back to the bus at a quick pace, his batteries in one hand and the other shielding his face from the wind as much as possible. While going back to that institute was depressing for any number of reasons, the thought of being able to sit in that warm bus, protected from the wind, didn't seem so bad.

The headlights made it easy to find the vehicles and Harvey let the nurses search him before quickly jumping on. So, his trip had earned him beer and batteries. What else could a guy really ask for? Except for maybe some more ammo for his gun, but he knew that was a pipe dream. Breaking into the sheriff's office during the day was probably impossible, and it would just land him into a world of trouble he he didn't want to deal with.

Harvey settled back into a seat, his gaze fixing on the sky as he watched the sun dip further and further down. He was hoping they made it back to the institute without any trouble this time. The last trip had been fine, but he wouldn't be surprised if Landel made a point to switch it up just to mess with them.

[For Allelujah.]

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All there had been for L to do after lunch was to head back to Callahan's and spend the small sum he had been given.

He had become used to the town not telling him much--although that in itself seemed significant in certain ways--and that, combined with his general malaise, made the rest of the day uninteresting. There didn't appear to be any major changes in the town to notice. In the meantime, the idea that it might be the last time he would be able to walk around freely anywhere, something he hadn't done often as a matter of course, seemed to be growing in significance, like his other troubles and setbacks.

When the nurses began to round patients up, he made it easy, heading for the buses without being prompted, boarding one, and taking a seat near the back. It was good to be out of the wind. He felt the cool metal wall against his shoulder, and kept his eyes on the door.

[Lust]

So that had been the town. Not very exciting or useful, but Lust supposed it had been nice to stretch her legs and see the sights. And she'd managed a whole day without running into the stubborn beast known as Scar. It was...relaxing, she supposed. Perhaps her luck would hold until tomorrow. She did need to get the medical information from Lingormr this evening.

And hopefully more than simply that.

And maybe the next trip to town would prove more fruitful for her. She wasn't foolish enough to think she could escape in a week. She hadn't bothered to buy anything - what did she need - and so she was empty handed when she climbed aboard one of the buses and sought an empty seat.

Which she found, as well as a rather chuckle-bringing sight. She hadn't spoken to the clever-seeming young man in a few days....

"How many blind women's knitting projects died to make that?" she asked from the aisle, her voice amused and an eyebrow raised.

Lust, the woman from... Amestris? Amestris. The hint of dullness in his own wits, the extra fractions of a second it had taken for him to recall the name of the place she'd come from, irritated him. He wanted to swat it away like a fly--to be sharp again.

He stared back at her and replied, deadpan, "Around eight, I believe." He glanced down at the sweater, then added, "No. Ten. No fewer than ten. Have a seat."

She was pretty, and she carried herself like she was aware of it ("Lust"!), but for the time being, he found her conversation more interesting than her appearance. Not many people he'd met around the Institute regarded their situation with the same hint of sardonic humor that he'd observed in her even in their brief first meeting. But why? The easiest way to decide would be to talk to her more.

"Did they take away what you bought?" The curiosity in his tone was gentle, impersonal, even though two questions were folded into the one he had asked.

"I didn't buy anything," Lust admitted as she slid into the seat beside him. "I don't need anything and they don't let us keep anything useful. What's the point?"

She supposed she could have tried to find something that would be hers, but that wasn't something she wished to take lightly. Humans were defined by their things, after all. The items she had found in that box weren't hers, even though she'd taken some. They were curiosities.

"I suppose I could have bought fleeting frivolities, but...that doesn't hold any appeal." She offered a small smile. "I'm more interested in returning to the Institute. Any important information is going to be there, not here."

Lana had finally given up and tucked her hair into the collar of her jacket, which she then tugged tightly around her. She was ready for the day to be over; Ilia had said that last night would be long, but today had been far longer.

Then again, she was in no hurry to find out precisely what awaited her tonight. Landel's latest torment was clearly going to be strung out over several days; he was being remarkably patient, compared to his usual modus operandi, but Lana was ready for this trial to be over. No matter what it meant for her.

None of this, except for the part where the wind was playing merry havoc with her hair, was visible as she stepped onto the bus, nodded politely to the driver and Dent, and found an unoccupied seat. She was tempted to admit to Harvey what was going on, but she didn't need to dump that on him, not when they still didn't know the whole story. Instead, she slid down into her seat and closed her eyes. At least the bus was warmer than the outdoors had been.
[Gumshoe]

'Significant rash on back of one hand.'

'I've got a weird rash on my hand.'

'Also have a large rash on one hand. Judging from the other responses here, it sounds like a common symptom between those who are sick.'

He knew he could jump to the wrong conclusions sometimes. But when he read about weird rashes on the back of people's hands... and he found out they were a common symptom of the infection... Who did you expect him to think of? The last person he saw with a rash like that, of course!

He walked back to the buses with his head lowered in thought. He didn't know how he was supposed to bring this up with her, whether it was a good idea to try, or if it was even his place to comment. It was a good enough reason to be concerned, so he had a right to ask her about it, he supposed. And while he might not know Ms. Skye very well, he cared enough to want to check whether she was alright. He didn't like to think of anyone going through something like that alone.

Gumshoe was glad to get away from the cold gusts of wind. They really cut through you after a while. What he wasn't glad about was the fact he and Ms. Skye were on the same bus. What was he going to do now? He had no idea what he was going to say to her yet! ...Then again, maybe he wouldn't have to say anything.

...

The detective paused in the aisle beside her seat and gulped. She hadn't seemed angry last night, but he knew she had every right to be mad at him after what'd happened to Ema. She'd asked him to keep an eye on her...!

Don't blame yourself, Mr. Edgeworth had said to him. That was one order he'd never know how to follow.

"M-Ms. Skye?" he said, sounding hesitant. He hoped she wasn't asleep.

She had been asleep, but only lightly; she was used to catching catnaps where she could, and looking just as alert when woken abruptly as if she'd merely had her eyes shut to avoid distraction.

"Detective." She looked up at him. It was impressive how small such a large man could make himself look by fidgeting. "Please, sit down. Is something the matter?"

The number of things that could be wrong were unlimited; their circumstances lent them to an even wider array than was normal back home, and while she hadn't worked with Gumshoe before, the expression on his face was familiar. Just usually pointed at Edgeworth's closed door, not her.

It's a good thing no one has ever framed you for murder, Detective; you seem to have mastered the art of looking guilty for other people's crimes. She let a faint smile touch her lips at that, and patted the seat beside her to emphasize that sit down was less of an invitation and more of an order.

Gumshoe shifted his weight from foot to foot when she opened her eyes and told him to sit down. She seemed nice enough to him, but that didn't make him feel any less nervous around her. She hadn't just been a prosecutor. She had been Chief Prosecutor! THE Chief Prosecutor!

"Um... Y-Yeah," he replied. He hadn't really expected her to smile at him, but he knew better than to let that lighten his mood. If anything, it sort of made him feel guilty. As soon as he'd started explaining to her what was wrong, he didn't think he'd be seeing another smile from her in a while.

Gumshoe looked away briefly to regain his composure, then let out a shaky sigh. Finally, he turned and maneuvered himself into the seat beside her, quickly deciding that he'd sit on the edge of the chair. One of his legs ended up blocking the aisle, but it didn't matter. Everyone was sitting down.

"Er... Ms. Skye, I've gotta ask you something." He hunched over a little and looked down at his hands, which were clasped together tightly. He didn't have the heart to look at her, but when he finally spoke again, he turned his head slightly toward her. His voice was quiet; he couldn't have people overhearing them.

"D-Do you still have that rash on your hand?"

The town got smaller with each passing week. Or Taura's horizons got larger. They curved up, on a space station, usually, even if there wasn't any reason for them to do so any more. Artificial gravity meant that rings were an aesthetic choice, not a practical one, but people were stubborn.

She had thought about running. It had been a long time since she'd tried, during the day, but she'd been close. They'd played by the rules, and nothing had gone right. Taura hadn't expected anything less -- the basement was laid out like a diversion, and the subsequent deaths an even better one. But it had been the only logical option, as well. They'd been outmaneuvered from the beginning.

And now she was trapped on a big groundbus, internal combustion engine roaring to life as the last few prisoners climbed aboard.

[free!]

Kotetsu's precious bottle of wine had been confiscated before he set foot on the bus, and that royally pissed him off. What did they think he was going to do with it? It wasn't a very lethal weapon and, even if it was, the older man wasn't going to waste hard-earned alcohol by splitting it over someone's head. That was what his fists were for.

Grumbling like a bratty child, the former Hero stormed up into the second bus to find a vacant row. At least he was allowed to keep his mask. It was pretty much the only silver lining to this bizarre spectacle--Well, besides Barnaby of course. If that man wasn't here with him, Kotetsu was sure he wouldn't stand a chance getting out of here, as much as that stung to admit.

There were plenty of vacant seats open, but Kotetsu decided to continue being the petulant child and sit all the way in the back by the emergency exit. Maybe they could open it once they were in motion and tumble out to freedom. Maybe.

[Bunny]

Fighting back insecurities had been an all-day affair, but Aigis had managed to not be so glum around the latter half of the afternoon. Still, she was not up to her full, energetic self by the time the buses were expected to load. Not that she was particularly energetic on the best of days, but her reserves of energy were still low. That may have also been part of her symptoms, but luckily the yellow work gloves she had bought covered up most of that nicely.

Now if only she could--A shiver set in, and Aigis squirmed as she attempted to get comfortable in her seat. Hunching a bit, she attempted to keep as small as possible even though there was no real place to hide among the patients here.

[Sechs-niisan!]

The sun was slowly falling, and Sechs had no choice but to drag himself away from the park he spent all day sleeping and sulking to himself. That talk with Ritsuka did help Sechs to feel less alone about his loss, but his laden spirit still felt just as heavy as ever as he shuffled his way to towards where the rest of the patient population waited for the buses.

The despondent Replica was just as fatigued as ever, and it didn't help that he had nothing to eat for the entire day; he had no appetite to stomach anything, and the memories he had of the Tasty Burger restaurant were too painful for him to approach. Not even a single growl or grumble was made by him as the nurses gave him the usual pat down before he was allowed to step up into the bus. He didn't care, he just wanted to get back to his room and rest his achy head...

The bus was already filling up quickly and Sechs wanted nothing more than to keep to himself without having to talk to anyone. Near the back appeared to be a single seat, and he shuffled down the aisle with his shoulders slumped forward and his eyes gazing down at his shoes. He didn't bother to look where he was going, but instead just threw his weight into his chosen spot, only to feel himself bump into something that sure didn't feel like the window he was planning to lean against for the trip--

"Uh-- Aigis!" Sechs yelped, jumping back a little as he quickly pulled down his coat sleeve to hide his marked hand. Crap! He didn't see her sitting there! Which was no surprise to him now, what with how she was bowed over and folded into herself. She didn't look very good...

"Sorry... Didn't see ya there..." he grumbled as he settled into the cushioned seat, his shoulders remained hunched over. "You uh... you ok?"

Aigis was jostled by a sudden shove of a body thrown against hers. She glanced to the side, but upon recognizing the person beside her she eased back into her previous position. There was nothing to fear with Sechs at her side. She could simply use his large frame to hide her all the more.

"Mn." A slight hum met his apology. A very human response, she thought. Not one she typically employed. Perhaps she didn't need behavioral coaching after all.

As for being "okay" Aigis didn't know how to respond. Aidou's words resurfaced in her mind. She should warn her friends. Instead, she only tightened her gloved fingers on her knees. "I am well, physically. Perhaps mentally."

She couldn't guarantee emotionally.

Whew. Sechs hadn't accidentally squashed Aigis to death there then! Still, her response was disheartening to him. She was always the articulate one while he was the one who usually responded with wordless grunts. When she did speak, her answer was didn't help much either.

"Uh..." Sechs' role to be the grunter of the conversation kicked in as he slumped into his seat. He was at a loss over what to say and nearly fell into an unreachable silence. Yet the movement of Aigis' gloved hands gripping into her knees caught his attention. She wasn't hiding something like he was too, was she...? Oh no...

"You.. You sure...?"

Aigis kept silent for a moment, unsure if she could confide in her friend. She had kept mostly quiet about her infection in order not to startle anyone. And also to keep anyone who might feel particularly strong about the subject from overreacting to it. But she could trust Sechs, if no one else. Rei and Utena were one matter. But Sechs was different. Like Aidou, Aigis had a special relationship with him, though in a completely different way. He really was like a brother, being both an android and a battle droid like herself.

She sighed, pulling back and setting her gaze on the trees starting to slowly inch by as the bus started up. ".... No."

Aigis knew she could just show Sechs, but she didn't want to take off her gloves. They were just a pseudo-barrier, but that was enough to make her situation less depressing. "I have been infected, it seems."

Even with the weather being brutal as it was, Brook didn't allow the gusts to bother him on his field trip. After his lovely conversation with Renamon, he'd wanted to spend the rest of the day strolling about, but had been forced inside a store by a concerned nurse. He'd felt right at home in the antique store, and that feeling carried with him on his way back to the buses.

He hadn't thought about it before, but he had to wonder what Yorki and the rest would have thought of the buses. Brook would have never wished them there, but he could just picture an adventure on an island that used the big yellow things as transport. What a ride they would have had with their instruments blaring out music out of the windows!

Taking a seat close to the window, Brook took to humming along with his imagination while reflex once again had him scratching at his arm.

[free]

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Day 63: Bus 2 (Evening)

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