Night 64: F-A Block Hallway

[ninelivesonce]

[from here]

She wasn't planning to go looking for the cure. She wasn't ill, and she was no expert. All she'd do is get in the way -- if there was anything in the medical wing other than trouble, which she doubted.

But, for all that she'd been built to deal death, she could heal a few things. Or, at least, carry around a pocket-sized universal first-aid kit. It was better than synergine for propping someone up long enough to get them somewhere else, since it could actually slow blood loss, though it hadn't been able to stop Rita from dying in the first place. Still, she was curious to see how much it could do, in a less-urgent setting.

[Rita]

Comments

[no_dont_go]

"Ah, I see." That Sasuke had no care whether she was infected or not was in some part a relief and a worry. Perhaps he was simply too bold for his own good, but a little caution was always preferable to foolhardy courage. Still, Aigis would not be rude in assuming anything.

She offered a quick bow to the other man, though the gesture was probably lost in the darkness. "Pleased to meet you, Sasuke-san. I thank you for accompanying Aidou-san in his endeavors tonight."

She didn't know quite the relationship between the vampire and the dark-haired man, but it was clear that they were comfortable around one another. Aigis didn't sense the least bit of hostility, or at least, not the same that she had once experienced with the blond. It was interesting to see Aidou with another. And a male at that. At least Aigis didn't have to worry about the noble attempting to drain his guest after they left.

Though maybe it would be best to stick around. Aigis paused, contemplating sending them on their way with a swift farewell, but then decided against it. "... I appreciate your coming this way to check on my condition, Aidou-san. However, if you have other plans, I would not mind accompanying you for the night. I can provide backup, and emergency healing if necessary."

He was free to deny her request, but she was even contemplating following them if he did so. The android had little else to do that night.

[firewhichrefines]

Not care was perhaps taking it a little lightly, as Sasuke would likely be forced to care should this Aigis decide to change from somewhat reticent female patient to ravenous flesh-eating monster, but since that didn't seem likely he decided to let the description go. More important was making note that Aidou could detect it, just with less ease than last time.

And more important than that, the knowledge that Aigis was a healer. Sakura had tried to look at the infection last time, but there had been matters at hand that ... and he hadn't heard from her lately, nor had his nurse found any notes marked with the Leaf. For all that Sasuke didn't miss her and only cared on a practical level what might become of the Konoha-nin that had vanished from the Institute (and they had all gone by now, unless Sai was embarking on a mission to outsleep Sasuke), she had been -- useful.

He nodded once to acknowledge Aigis' formal greeting, brusque and unwilling to waste time with formalities.

"A healer could be of use." If Aidou had any particular reason of his own to not include her, the vampire could speak for himself. "You should be able to track the progress of the disease in yourself, correct?"

If she couldn't, Sasuke could to at least some degree; if nothing else, it would be information worth noting.

[idolism]

"You don't have to thank him..." Aidou muttered under his breath, expression flat.

The girl's choice of words made it sound like Sasuke was some kind of babysitter or dog watcher, keeping Aidou in line on the off-chance he started to run amok and bite everyone he met. Or a bodyguard that was helping to keep Aidou alive, which was most certainly not the case! And why was she thanking people at all? It wasn't like Aigis was his personal keeper, either! If anything, it was the other way around--wasn't he the one checking up on her as he had promised? Not to mention Sasuke would probably still be slumbering in his bed if Aidou hadn't resolved to wake him up!

That was right, Aidou was the one who was watching out for everyone else! As a responsible adult should. Which he was, technically, in human years.

Thankfully Sasuke didn't pain Aidou further by offering a "you're welcome" or something equally phony. It was official--Sasuke had more social skills than a girl who claimed to be an android in her real life. But only just. He was, after all, jumping on Aigis' attempt to invite herself along, making the vampire switch his deadpan to the boy. What was with that? Hadn't any one heard of muddying the waters? Aigis was better off dealing with Aigis-related business, and he and Sasuke were better off dealing with... productive business, or something like.

Having the two start to work together... Why did that make him start to fear for the worst?

"It was my obligation to come," he corrected, turning to Aigis. "Shouldn't you be more interested in the medical wing, anyway? If there's indeed a clue there, it could improve your situation. Why aren't you going?"

Although Aigis had found a place within his circle of acquaintances, Aidou wasn't her doctor or her guardian--decisions about what to do about her health belonged to her. But still, focusing on a cure seemed like the obvious thing to do for someone who was infected.

[no_dont_go]

"I was only being polite." There was no excuse for rudeness.

"My skills are not as they are back home, but they are adequate," she conceded. She couldn't promise a full recovery for anyone's injuries, but she wasn't going to downplay what she could offer either. She looked down at her rash-covered wrist. "I cannot judge beyond whether it has worsened or lessened. At the moment, I feel much the same as before. No worse."

She tilted her head to the side, gazing earnestly at her almost-friend. "I considered it, but I am certain I am not going to transform tonight. We will likely hear from others tomorrow over the bulletin what they have found as well." She had faith in the other patients to share their knowledge, anyway.

The android shrugged a shoulder. It looks just as unnatural as the movement was to her. "I would rather be of use than idle."

[firewhichrefines]

It appeared the relationship between Aidou and Aigis wasn't quite the same as how Aidou chose to interact with Sasuke, as Sasuke had initially assumed. Given that the vampire had been talking about the taste of the illness earler, Sasuke rather dryly shifted his assumption towards a link that was more like those on the food chain.

That evidently meant that Aidou had qualms about bringing her to the basement -- to protect her, or to prevent her from learning what meagre information that might be available? Sasuke himself had no particular interest in keeping anything about the Institute secret nor in not securing someone with the ability to heal when travelling into new territory. Not least because he could distinctly recall the last time someone had gotten hurt when he'd worked with Aidou and what had followed.

Though this time there would be no Naruto to talk too much. That was hardly a loss, and given that this Aigis seemed more shy than liable to blab, Aidou had better have a decent reason to reject her company.

"Decide between you whether she comes or not," he said shortly, what little social grace he'd been showing wearing away to imaptience. "We need to move soon."

Preferably before the night ended for once.

[idolism]

"You hardly need to tell me that," said the vampire in response to Sasuke’s restlessness. On the surface, time was a luxury for a long-lived creature like himself who could live for hundreds and hundreds of years, but if anything his longevity just made the cost of wasted time even more pronounced.

His time was important; spending it on petty feuds and Landel’s equally petty illusions of grandeur was rather insulting.

Besides, it wasn’t as if Aidou was overflowing with patience. As far as he saw it, there were two options: let Aigis tag along, or freeze her feet to the floor and run for it. Trying to understand why she’d rather follow him like a puppy instead of investigate a potential cure for herself would probably take all night with the way Aigis’ mind seemed to work.

Turning to speak to Aigis over his shoulder, he said, "I’m not even going to pretend to understand why you deem latching onto us to be more important than the alternatives. Whatever, you can do what you want. You’re still interested in the basement, aren’t you, Sasuke? If we head there, we might require another body, anyway. But that means mouth closed. And no crazy antics! You might not transform, but the infection’s still made you weak. If you keel over from fatigue, neither Sasuke nor I will carry you out."

Aigis did have some use, he had seen that himself. So long as they made some progress, any warm body that could be trusted to follow orders was fine, right?

"Speaking of, I suppose we'll be shortening the journey by using that damn ring, won't we?" He made an unhappy noise in the back of his throat. "Since I used up some of our time on this little detour, I guess that's to be expected. It's not like we have to worry about it turning us into monsters."

[no_dont_go]

"I do not require any special treatment." She was determined to say on her own two feet. Aigis could be of use, she knew it! If only she could fight through the heart murmurs and shivers, then she would feel she had beaten the institute at it's game for one more day.

The possibility of change was still there, but she wouldn't let it hold her back from being productive.

Aigis moved to stand with the other two, feeling no need to keep space. She had not been forbidden to join them, at least. "You can rely on me to be discreet."

She was curious what their agenda in the basement would be. She had been there, but little had been accomplished in her short visit.

[firewhichrefines]

Sasuke was already curling the hand with the ring on it into a fist as Aidou and Aigis sorted out whether the latter was coming or not, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as Aidou stipulated that there would be no special care taken for injuries. If any of that genuinely bear saying aloud in this place, then Aidou really didn't have much of an alliance with this patient -- whether that was due to incompetence or otherwise would be seen tonight.

Hopefully, anyway, assuming they got anywhere and that Aigis didn't shift into a threat herself ... or to herself. Sasuke lifted the ring with its small, crucial jewel as soon as the decision seemed to be made.

"If you transform, we'll take you out," he said, as long as they were making the conditions clear. Then, voice flat enough that the sarcasm was barely detectable, "... and if the ring turns us all into monsters, we'll have nothing to worry about after all."

With that, he grabbed out for Aidou's wrist and dropped it onto Aigis' shoulder, smashing the ring into the wall as soon as they were all in contact.

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