Day 65: Arts & Crafts Room (Fourth Shift)

[unpriest]

Seishin didn't have the opportunity to visit the arts and crafts room before, but handicraft wasn't something the former priest had ever been particularly skilled at. He would have been content with remaining in the library, but the nurse insisted that he'd pursue a more social activity than something so isolating as reading a book. Pushing one's own ideas of what was good for them onto others was not something limited to just Sotoba, he guessed, and in the end Seishin had little choice but to quietly follow along.

The room was still empty when Seishin entered, leaving him with little else to do but eying the materials with relative uncertainty.

[Dr. Facilier]

Comments

[complicatedliar]

Loki slowly walked back, then sat on one of the chairs, just at the very edge of it, notebook held flat on his knees. He gave the impression of complete wariness, as if he expected an attack for knowing something he shouldn't.

"I don't understand," he said, allowing more confusion to creep into his tone. "I haven't heard of... Enochian. Your writing didn't look at all different when I read it. Are you mocking me?" The question was one of bewilderment rather than anger. He shook his head. "I know nothing of the angels of the Christian god, outside of what you've told me and the bits from the missionaries that I ran across in my travels. You know that."

The confusion was quite genuine. Loki hadn't been aware of such a language, hadn't in truth noticed anything at all different in the writing on the board. Though the real question was why would that be?

Oh! The all tongue. He knew that it meant mortals could understand him, but he'd never realized the implication, that all languages effectively looked the same. Tricky indeed. He could hardly just out and admit that, since it would require saying he was Aesir and that was something in his best interest to keep under wraps.

Loki's eyes widened slightly. "Oh... Oh!" He said, frowning. "Ever have I been able to read any language I came across, and speak them, and understand them, without study or practice. I... have never really understood why, or beem able to turn up a good explanation in my research. It has always been that way, so I did not question it more ferociously. But could it be possible that I would understand your angelic language in the same way I do Latin? That seems far too strange."

[freewill]

It soon became clear that Lingormr was just as confused about this as Castiel was, which was strange to say the least. While he couldn't always read people as easily here, he was fairly certain that the man wasn't simply playing dumb. It would have been idiotic to try that now, when he'd already given himself away.

Which meant that Lingormr had somehow read the Enochian without realizing that he was doing so in the first place. It didn't take long for the man to also come to that conclusion and try to cover himself with another explanation, but Castiel wasn't going to accept that excuse so readily.

"It does seem strange," he admitted. "I suppose that's something I'll have to keep in mind for the future." Castiel felt it was far more likely that Lingormr had some ability or sense that allowed him to understand even those languages that he hadn't studied. Humans weren't born with gifts like that, after all, which meant he was right to suspect he was something else entirely.

It wasn't the sort of information he was bound to get out of Lingormr now, but this was one more reason to treat him warily. Castiel made sure to keep it civil, though, nodding to the man. "Thank you for explaining and making me aware of that." Regardless of the reason, it was true that he could no longer rely on Enochian to communicate privately.

[complicatedliar]

"Strange indeed," Loki agreed. He leaned back in the chair, to look at the ceiling, tapping a distracted little rhythm on the cover of his notebook. "The rest of my... so-called family," here there was a definite spasm of pain and anger that interrupted his expression for a brief flash, "were never terribly interested in scholarly pursuits, so I know not if they similarly could have read my books had they bothered to try." He snorted humorlessly. "Perhaps it is something that comes with being a magician. Or perhaps I am truly more monstrous than even that."

Loki closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead with one hand for a moment. "I have had enough unpleasant surprises to fill many lifetimes. I don't really want another one."

He sighed. "I am sorry. It seems I've cocked this up all over again. But truly, it all looks the same to me when I see it written down. I suppose if you spoke it aloud, it'd sound the same as well."

[freewill]

The mention of a family grabbed Castiel's interest for obvious reasons. Was it really possible that Lingormr had stumbled across this skill without realizing it? And if that was the case, then what did that mean about his ancestors? There were times when creatures or deities forgot their own background, or were cast off without memories to live as humans, unaware of their capabilities. It had happened to Anna, even.

The word "monstrous" made it clear that Lingormr had considered that train of thought in some capacity before now, and while Castiel might have wanted to look into it more under other circumstances, the fact of the matter was that Kratos had been sitting there for a while now and they still had a conversation to finish.

"So I would assume," he said in Enochian, if only to test that theory. When Lingormr didn't react strangely to it, he switched back to English. "Maybe we'll get to the bottom of it at some point. But for now, there's something I need to discuss with Kratos regarding my... current state." That would probably make it clear that this was not something he wanted spread around.

[complicatedliar]

Indeed, there was absolutely no reaction from Loki when Castiel switched languages. He rose to his feet. "I hadn't realized I was intruding so badly. My apologies."

He hesitated, then added, "Soma has asked me to... see to her problem tonight." He made no effort to hide his concern as he said that. "She'll be making a run to the medical wing to get the last few necessary supplies whilst I finish preparations. I can ask if she would be willing to pick up a few extra things if there is a need on your part."

[freewill]

It was good to hear that Soma, at least, was taking all of this seriously. It sounded as if she was leaving her fate in Lingormr's hands. If it all went well, then Castiel would at least know that the man was trustworthy in some way. It was something to keep in mind.

When the offer was made, he shook his head. "I'm planning to take care of this problem tonight as well, so I shouldn't need anything." He wasn't going to go into any further details, but Kratos would know exactly what he was talking about.

"It might be advisable for her to gather supplies for other patients, though," he added, thinking of his conversation with Aigis. If certain patients weren't going to take this seriously, then the rest of them might have to make up the work for them.

[complicatedliar]

Loki nodded. "Best of luck to you, then. Both of you." He bowed, then walked away.

Well, that certainly could have gone more poorly, though it could have gone far better as well, he thought. It was a shame; he'd found he rather liked Castiel, for all that the angel was odd. That was what made him interesting, though.

A shame indeed.

[freewill]

With Lingormr handled, Castiel could finally return his attention to Kratos. The man had waited patiently while he sorted that out, and while Castiel could have explained, he imagined the nature of the conversation had been clear enough just from listening.

He glanced over at what Kratos was drawing before he spoke up again. "As I was saying before, I was planning to have this all take place in my room." He doubted that Kobayashi would be around, but he could double-check that this evening. "Though Rapunzel might need us to meet her at her room instead. We'll have to play that by ear, as they say."

In the end, it depended on how long things took with "Gabriel," and Castiel realized that he should probably mention that as well. "In regards to that conversation... someone else will be coming to meet me as well tonight, and may also end up offering his help." The fact that some manner of family drama was involved would probably become evident tonight, and he didn't need to get into the details now.

[forsworn]

Kratos put the finishing touches on the sector sketch just as Lingormr and Castiel were finishing up. He gave a curt nod to Lingormr as the other man departed before turning back to Castiel.

"I see." He made a note to check the bulletin board before heading back to his room for dinner. Castiel would probably do the same, but it wouldn't do any harm to have two sets of eyes looking for any last notes from Rapunzel. "Do you two need to speak privately first? I can delay my arrival."

This potential third helper was probably the "brother" that Lingormr had mentioned, in which case, there were probably a few things they wanted to discuss that Kratos had no business hearing. He couldn't be totally sure, though, and Castiel didn't seem to want to say anything more.

[freewill]

The question Kratos asked was a fair one, and Castiel took a moment to think it over. On one hand, it was probably better to have a few moments alone with whoever the stranger was, but it might also be a situation where it would be advisable to have a third party present. He had no idea who this mysterious person was, and while they seemed benevolent enough, there was a small possibility that it was all a trap of some sort. Seeing how he'd given out his room number, that was an even larger risk.

"There's no need to delay too much," he said eventually, "but you can take your time on your way over." That seemed like a fair compromise, and that way Kratos would show up in time provided that something went wrong. Not that Castiel didn't believe in his own ability to defend himself, but he was sick and injured at the moment. This wasn't as simple as it had once been.

After a slight pause, Castiel cleared his throat and spoke up again. "And Kratos, thank you for your willingness to help. I realize it's no small favor I'm asking for." He hoped that the man knew that if something did go wrong, the fault would not be his. But he could make that clear tonight as well.

[forsworn]

"Very well." It was good to know that he wasn't required immediately. Kratos didn't want to waste time, but he also needed to be sure that all of his equipment was thoroughly cleaned before attempting the operation. It didn't matter as much when he was simply slicing through monsters, but with someone's life seemingly hanging in the balance, he didn't want to take any chances.

As Castiel thanked him again, Kratos smiled tightly, looking away to cap the marker he'd used. "What you've asked of me is not beyond my ability. Refusing would be...I have no reason to reject your request." He couldn't quite get the word "friend" out, but he'd said as much, even if he hadn't expressed it outright.

By this time, the nurses were already coming around to escort them all back to their rooms for dinner. "Anyway, I'll see you later tonight." His sketch from earlier was neatly folded into fours and then tucked away under an arm as he gave Castiel a rough pat on the shoulder. "Take care."