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damned_institute2012-07-23 08:48 am
- aidou,
- albedo,
- byrne,
- claude,
- doctor facilier,
- edgar,
- gabriel,
- guy,
- klavier,
- l,
- nina,
- rock lee,
- scar,
- scott pilgrim,
- seishin,
- skulduggery,
- the doctor,
- the once-ler,
- the scarecrow,
- tolten,
- tsurugi,
- two-face,
- zero
Day 65: Sun Room
His nurse had whisked him away from breakfast as soon as the intercom’s voice faded. Surprisingly, she didn’t take him to the shower rooms, instead bringing him to the Sun Room (as she called it), explaining that since this was his first day he would be allowed to skip the showers. Besides, it would be good to let his injuries heal a little more.
He’d passed through this room on the way to breakfast, but hadn’t really paid much attention to it the first time. Now that he was standing here, the Once-ler understood why it was called the Sun Room.
Despite the fact that it was cloudy outside, there was still far more natural light coming in through the ceiling windows than he had seen in a long time. The Once-ler stood still for a few moments, simply staring up. It seemed almost like a dream, really. The valley never got brighter than twilight, even at noon. There was too much smog in the air to let any more light through.
After a few minutes, he shook his head. Anybody who saw him just standing in the middle of the room would probably have questions about it, and he did not relish the thought of explaining himself to a stranger. He glanced around the room itself, spotting the bulletin board Soma had talked about during breakfast. The Once-ler decided that was a good place to start, and hobbled on over to get a closer look.
[For Nina, I believe?]
no subject
No Locke in the Sun Room, either. That wasn't a good sign- a patient seemingly missing never was. Edgar ran a hand through his hair in quiet frustration. Normally, he would have been just fine to let Locke handle himself— because if there was anyone who could, it would be him— but given the infection, the warnings both from Landel and the contacts on the radio, the worsening condition of some of the patients...
He sighed, heading for the bulletin board, idly braiding his long hair over his shoulder. No use over-thinking it just yet. It'd be just his luck to rile himself up, only to find Locke was fine. He was not about to be the subject of the teasing he'd deserve from that.
[For Tolten. Sorry this is late!]
no subject
Which was why he found himself seeking out Edgar. They barely knew one another, but this man was Locke's closest friend. If there was anyone in this place Tolten could speak to on the subject...
He approached, his expression uncharacteristically hard. There was a sad tiredness in his eyes, though, beneath the fire and steel. He could only be fueled by his righteous anger for so long. His own illness was wearing at him as well as his worry.
"I'd like to speak with you," he said, simply. His voice was ragged.
no subject
And given his apparent closeness to Locke, Edgar already got the feeling what he had to say was not going to be good.
"You have impeccable timing," he noted. With a wave of his hand for Tolten to follow, he headed away from the board and the ears of anyone nearby who may have been listening to their conversation. He already knew Locke was sick, and given his poor condition in comparison to two days prior, Edgar didn't have to guess that Tolten was, as well. If he had any news related to the infection, chances were it was something neither of them wanted overheard, especially when Landel was trying to instigate a witch hunt among the patients. Not everyone would fall for such an obvious ploy, but there were doubtless some who would.
He stopped at an empty spot along the far wall, leaning against it. "I'm hoping this is about our mutual ally," he admitted right out of the gate.
no subject
"We made it to the X-ray room last night."
And then everything had fallen apart. Tolten didn't regret the things he'd said, but...well, he could have said them far better. But fear was worming through him, great threatening fear that stood to swallow him whole if he allowed it. He couldn't allow it.
"We're both infected, as I'm sure you know by now."
He looked at his hands, focusing on them, holding on to his control.
no subject
Despite that, he kept his calm by all appearances, reaching for what information he could. It was so scant at times that he had to take it when able. "And what did you find there?"
no subject
Tolten took a deep breath. His chest hurt. The fever was burning in him again, like the desert fevers he'd had as a small child.
"The only cure may well be as deadly as allowing the...disease to simply run its course." Disease. It was hardly a disease, not even one made by magic but a curse all the same. And his anger burned at those that had done this. To countless innocents, himself, Locke...
His life had been one marked by loss and tragedy, though he hadn't seen it that way as he grew up. He had no basis for comparison, loss simply became perfectly normal to him. But then his world view had been shattered and he'd been shown what life could be like. What it could mean to hold someone close in your heart, to love and be loved in return. But still he had thought those things out of his reach - he would marry some far flung cousin and keep the Uhran line pure.
Now everything was different and he couldn't fathom the idea of losing Locke. Not when the other man had become his single joy and light and reason to fight.
All these thoughts only reminded him that much as he would like to throw himself into a corner and wail at the four winds, they had to do all they possibly could.
"There's something inside of us, that's causing it. A device."
no subject
Celes had vanished, he'd been the subject of experimentation, Terra had been taken from an unstable time in her life, and now Locke was poisoned somehow, possibly going to befall the same fate as the nurses if what they were being told held truth. There was no telling if that would come to pass or not, but Edgar didn't like to bet on chances. Not on this.
This wasn't like the sleep studies. This was Landel trying to turn patients on one another: if they turned into monsters, Edgar was willing to assume they'd maintain as much of their humanity as the nurses. The bump on his head from the rough night told him there wasn't much to that, if any. As for those who didn't change and were seemingly unaffected, some were bound to bite to the suspicion and distrust Landel's seemed to breed, tearing out one another's throats in some vain hope of salvation.
His eyes held a grim quality. "There's no chance to remove this device? Surgically, if necessary." That was a route he did not want to pursue, but at the risk of transforming into a nightmare and slaughtering patients, it was an unfortunate option that needed to be considered, if possible. He knew the choice Locke would make if he were given it.
He was not entirely willing to believe that was the only choice yet, though. There had to be another way.