Day 63: Bus 2 (Evening)

[dualistic]

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.]

Comments

[no_dont_go]

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!]

[sixth_attack]

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?"

[no_dont_go]

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.

[sixth_attack]

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...?"

[no_dont_go]

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."