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The main hallway was significantly emptier than Scar was used to seeing, only confirming what he had realized earlier. At the very least, it also meant the area appeared to be free of Landel's fine abominations, former patient or not.
He turned his head at the question. Ah, they had skipped the pleasantries entirely, hadn't they? The corner of his mouth curled up in an amused grin. "Hnn. I suppose we did get a little carried away with our little discussion, in order for us to skip such basic facets of social interaction like that," he remarked dryly, "My name is Scar."
The origin of his name was rather obvious, but if there was anything that this place had taught him, it was that not everyone was able to connect such dots. This boy hadn't proven to be as dimwitted as the next hyena, however, which was both a relief and a reason to be a little cautious.
"Might I have the pleasure of learning yours, as well?"
With that, he gestured into the direction of the stairwell. The gesture might have been considered slightly awkward in the eyes of a human, but it conveyed its meaning well enough and the former lion couldn't quite care any less. He headed into the direction of the stairs. They could certainly continue to speak while walking.
[To here]
He turned his head at the question. Ah, they had skipped the pleasantries entirely, hadn't they? The corner of his mouth curled up in an amused grin. "Hnn. I suppose we did get a little carried away with our little discussion, in order for us to skip such basic facets of social interaction like that," he remarked dryly, "My name is Scar."
The origin of his name was rather obvious, but if there was anything that this place had taught him, it was that not everyone was able to connect such dots. This boy hadn't proven to be as dimwitted as the next hyena, however, which was both a relief and a reason to be a little cautious.
"Might I have the pleasure of learning yours, as well?"
With that, he gestured into the direction of the stairwell. The gesture might have been considered slightly awkward in the eyes of a human, but it conveyed its meaning well enough and the former lion couldn't quite care any less. He headed into the direction of the stairs. They could certainly continue to speak while walking.
[To here]
Edited 2012-09-04 22:13 (UTC)
The change in Aidou was anything but instant, but perhaps that was why even one as socially dense as Aigis was able to pick up on the change in him. She watched, mildly intrigued, as he went from spouting his own opinion with little care for her comfort to almost humbly telling her to do whatever she thought best for herself.
She blinked. And then an emotion that was almost fully foreign to her whenever the vampire was concerned came over her; true warmth. She studied his face a moment longer, taking in the lowering of his eyes, such a contrast to the proud creature she knew him to be. She had the unmistakable urge to reach out to him, but she knew she should not, so she didn't.
"You surprise me, Aidou-san," she said softly. The barest hint of a smile reached her lips. "And I must say, you are wrong. On two counts even. One in that you assume I would die so long before you when my existence can be prolonged for however long my parts are kept in sustainability. And two, for considering my existence a true 'life' at all."
If one did not live, one could not truly die. She had probably said this to him dozens of times over by now, but he still found it so hard to accept. She did not suppose she could blame him. Even sometimes she forgot when she was in this body.
He had offered her a small kindness just now. One that he never had before, and one that she would treasure.
This time, when the urge to touch him came to her she did not fight it. Very lightly, she moved to touch his arm with just the barest glance of her fingertips, doing what she could to draw him along with her.
"Let us look for Sasuke-san. He is surely much too late to have not run into trouble." She said the words in order to give them both an easy escape from this; a moment that was so small but held too much meaning to comprehend in such a short amount of time. Perhaps he would deny her, turn away, flee to be on his own, but she would not stop him if he chose that either. It was his right to choose. She would just rather he took her with him this time, no questions asked.
She blinked. And then an emotion that was almost fully foreign to her whenever the vampire was concerned came over her; true warmth. She studied his face a moment longer, taking in the lowering of his eyes, such a contrast to the proud creature she knew him to be. She had the unmistakable urge to reach out to him, but she knew she should not, so she didn't.
"You surprise me, Aidou-san," she said softly. The barest hint of a smile reached her lips. "And I must say, you are wrong. On two counts even. One in that you assume I would die so long before you when my existence can be prolonged for however long my parts are kept in sustainability. And two, for considering my existence a true 'life' at all."
If one did not live, one could not truly die. She had probably said this to him dozens of times over by now, but he still found it so hard to accept. She did not suppose she could blame him. Even sometimes she forgot when she was in this body.
He had offered her a small kindness just now. One that he never had before, and one that she would treasure.
This time, when the urge to touch him came to her she did not fight it. Very lightly, she moved to touch his arm with just the barest glance of her fingertips, doing what she could to draw him along with her.
"Let us look for Sasuke-san. He is surely much too late to have not run into trouble." She said the words in order to give them both an easy escape from this; a moment that was so small but held too much meaning to comprehend in such a short amount of time. Perhaps he would deny her, turn away, flee to be on his own, but she would not stop him if he chose that either. It was his right to choose. She would just rather he took her with him this time, no questions asked.
[from here]
For a time after he'd arrived, he'd kept himself against a wall, watching the other patients that came and went while keeping a calming tune in his head. He hadn't intended to observe for so long after arriving, thinking that everyone heading for the mentioned X-Ray room would have done so as soon as possible, but the time between passages was slow, and his mind was also on other things.
His hand was still rubbing at his numb arm as he waited, tune in mind, for some clear clue as to where he should go. The tingling had already spread well beyond the inflamed limb, but he couldn't very well poke at the other areas while still keeping his guard. That, and the rubbing was only helping insofar as keeping him a little calmer. Every now and then he thought he could feel something from the rub, though by this point he knew that kind of thinking was only wishful.
I cannot just stand here and wait! he told himself, frowning at his indecision and the lacking time he had. The night was never long, and he knew he had to get something done about this quickly before he got any worse.
Enough time had gone and though the patients had been few in number, he had seen most of them head well down the main hallway for the night. I suppose that'll be my course, he picked before finally leaving the wall and going on his way.
For a time after he'd arrived, he'd kept himself against a wall, watching the other patients that came and went while keeping a calming tune in his head. He hadn't intended to observe for so long after arriving, thinking that everyone heading for the mentioned X-Ray room would have done so as soon as possible, but the time between passages was slow, and his mind was also on other things.
His hand was still rubbing at his numb arm as he waited, tune in mind, for some clear clue as to where he should go. The tingling had already spread well beyond the inflamed limb, but he couldn't very well poke at the other areas while still keeping his guard. That, and the rubbing was only helping insofar as keeping him a little calmer. Every now and then he thought he could feel something from the rub, though by this point he knew that kind of thinking was only wishful.
I cannot just stand here and wait! he told himself, frowning at his indecision and the lacking time he had. The night was never long, and he knew he had to get something done about this quickly before he got any worse.
Enough time had gone and though the patients had been few in number, he had seen most of them head well down the main hallway for the night. I suppose that'll be my course, he picked before finally leaving the wall and going on his way.
[from here]
The hallways passed as they always had, quickly and quietly, without much interest from the ninja. Few were out, and none were his concern unless headed a way he needed. By the time he came to the larger hallway area, one group's conversation had caught his attention, as had the direction they were heading. He knew this side of the Institute fairly well, but the other side he had no map for and little experience in. The group may not have been heading where needed to get, but there was no better lead.
He kept his distance from the four and to the shadows.
The hallways passed as they always had, quickly and quietly, without much interest from the ninja. Few were out, and none were his concern unless headed a way he needed. By the time he came to the larger hallway area, one group's conversation had caught his attention, as had the direction they were heading. He knew this side of the Institute fairly well, but the other side he had no map for and little experience in. The group may not have been heading where needed to get, but there was no better lead.
He kept his distance from the four and to the shadows.
"How so? Were you expecting me to be a gentle person?"
He assumed she meant his admittance that he had no great interest in whether she lived or died. If Landel's experiment resulted in her demise, he wouldn't cry for her, and that made it easy to look at her position objectively. Only natural if that coldness surprised her.
But as he looked at her from beneath his lashes, he thought perhaps he had surprised her in a different way. Aigis seemed almost... reassured by his actions.
Why? His brow furrowed faintly.
She was a strange person. To feel so strongly over the existences of others but doubting the value of her own. A being that felt fear, that felt pain, that could shed tears... that was life, surely, no matter what the body was made out of. But then that was the same sort of existential argument that plagued vampires and humans, for if a vampire could feel then he was certainly just as alive as any human. The same had to apply to Aigis.
"We could harp on those topics for a long while yet," he observed aloud. It steadied him, letting his feelings settle back down and reason take their place. "Though I dare say someone that has as much to fear as you is alive."
Maybe it comforted her to think otherwise, during this uncertain period. He couldn't say. She seemed to worry about strange things and take comfort in even stranger--which, at the moment, appeared to be his poor choice of words. If it had been Aidou in her place, he didn't think his first response would be to reach out to the other person, but he didn't try to stop her. He'd done it first, after all, and she allowed his touch readily enough.
After a beat, he retracted a hand in order to snag her wrist before she could move away. Even as he turned her hand over so that it was facing palm up, he was considering her suggestion. Yes, Sasuke was running late if he hadn't arrived in the hallway yet; a glance at the corridor told him as much. That was Aidou's problem to figure out, however, not Aigis'. Hadn't she already implied as much?
"What happened to searching for a cure?" he asked, looking up from her hand. "Up until now, you gave the impression you had plans."
He assumed she meant his admittance that he had no great interest in whether she lived or died. If Landel's experiment resulted in her demise, he wouldn't cry for her, and that made it easy to look at her position objectively. Only natural if that coldness surprised her.
But as he looked at her from beneath his lashes, he thought perhaps he had surprised her in a different way. Aigis seemed almost... reassured by his actions.
Why? His brow furrowed faintly.
She was a strange person. To feel so strongly over the existences of others but doubting the value of her own. A being that felt fear, that felt pain, that could shed tears... that was life, surely, no matter what the body was made out of. But then that was the same sort of existential argument that plagued vampires and humans, for if a vampire could feel then he was certainly just as alive as any human. The same had to apply to Aigis.
"We could harp on those topics for a long while yet," he observed aloud. It steadied him, letting his feelings settle back down and reason take their place. "Though I dare say someone that has as much to fear as you is alive."
Maybe it comforted her to think otherwise, during this uncertain period. He couldn't say. She seemed to worry about strange things and take comfort in even stranger--which, at the moment, appeared to be his poor choice of words. If it had been Aidou in her place, he didn't think his first response would be to reach out to the other person, but he didn't try to stop her. He'd done it first, after all, and she allowed his touch readily enough.
After a beat, he retracted a hand in order to snag her wrist before she could move away. Even as he turned her hand over so that it was facing palm up, he was considering her suggestion. Yes, Sasuke was running late if he hadn't arrived in the hallway yet; a glance at the corridor told him as much. That was Aidou's problem to figure out, however, not Aigis'. Hadn't she already implied as much?
"What happened to searching for a cure?" he asked, looking up from her hand. "Up until now, you gave the impression you had plans."
Edited 2012-09-06 01:29 (UTC)
Aigis couldn't help the smile that played on her lips. She didn't elaborate any further, unsure if she could quite fully understand the reasoning herself. He was Aidou. She expected him to be himself; no more and no less. Which route he had taken to surprise her... now, that was something left up to one's personal perception of the matter.
"Indeed, we could perhaps spend several lifetimes in discussion over what makes one a living being if we were given the freedom." She shook her head, unable to fight against his logic, though she knew better. She was not alive back home. And she never would be living there. Here, however.... "Now is not the time."
Aigis didn't pull away when he grabbed her wrist. This kind of handling was familiar. She had a feeling Aidou was returning to himself again. She found she did not mind that, even if the softer side to the vampire had been interesting to view.
"I have no plans currently. I was waiting to hear what you had to say first before I sought out a surgeon or other means of stopping this illness." And what he said tonight had given her some calm; better than her talk with Castiel, that was certain. Ironic. "Sasuke-san's safety is of higher importance. I do not like the idea of him running so late, despite what disorientation his blindness might cause him."
"Indeed, we could perhaps spend several lifetimes in discussion over what makes one a living being if we were given the freedom." She shook her head, unable to fight against his logic, though she knew better. She was not alive back home. And she never would be living there. Here, however.... "Now is not the time."
Aigis didn't pull away when he grabbed her wrist. This kind of handling was familiar. She had a feeling Aidou was returning to himself again. She found she did not mind that, even if the softer side to the vampire had been interesting to view.
"I have no plans currently. I was waiting to hear what you had to say first before I sought out a surgeon or other means of stopping this illness." And what he said tonight had given her some calm; better than her talk with Castiel, that was certain. Ironic. "Sasuke-san's safety is of higher importance. I do not like the idea of him running so late, despite what disorientation his blindness might cause him."
Anyone else throwing themselves at it recklessly...ouch. If Zero's words had points at the end, X would have felt them lodge in his stomach and maybe twist a little bit.
...Well. It wasn't as though he didn't deserve it. He'd been more than a little reckless, and...well...
"All right."
X's eyes flicked down to the piece of glass still in his hand, clutched like a lifeline in a vice-grip. He was lucky he didn't cut himself, in hindsight. It glittered dimly in the light, but bits of it had chipped off in the fall, leaving part of it almost serrated in appearance.
It didn't have much use now, but until he found something better, he didn't have much of a choice. Maybe when they reached the closet, he could find something decent to replace it.
Who knew? Maybe along the way, they could find some medical supplies, a lone first aid kit, perhaps.
Glancing at both Zero and Harpuia, he moved away from his guardian, to at least stand up straight on his own. He had a limp and his leg burned, but he could at least try to move. Besides, it was starting to feel a little better, now...
...Well. It wasn't as though he didn't deserve it. He'd been more than a little reckless, and...well...
"All right."
X's eyes flicked down to the piece of glass still in his hand, clutched like a lifeline in a vice-grip. He was lucky he didn't cut himself, in hindsight. It glittered dimly in the light, but bits of it had chipped off in the fall, leaving part of it almost serrated in appearance.
It didn't have much use now, but until he found something better, he didn't have much of a choice. Maybe when they reached the closet, he could find something decent to replace it.
Who knew? Maybe along the way, they could find some medical supplies, a lone first aid kit, perhaps.
Glancing at both Zero and Harpuia, he moved away from his guardian, to at least stand up straight on his own. He had a limp and his leg burned, but he could at least try to move. Besides, it was starting to feel a little better, now...
Zero knew the way, then? Harpuia wasn't exactly eager to follow Zero's lead anytime soon, but this was hardly a situation where he could afford to be choosy. This place was big enough that he would likely just end up lost if he tried to find the closet on his own. With that monster out there (and the distinct possibility that there might be even more patients like that roaming the Institute), it made far more sense to shelve his pride.
Harpuia spared a quick, concerned look X's way. He wasn't sure X should be standing on his own, since he seemed to have aggravated his leg injury, but it wasn't like he still needed dragging anywhere. Harpuia decided to let it be, instead cradling his bleeding arm in his free hand.
"Let's go, then. You can lead the way once we're on the second floor," he told Zero, ushering them all onward and upward.
[to here]
Harpuia spared a quick, concerned look X's way. He wasn't sure X should be standing on his own, since he seemed to have aggravated his leg injury, but it wasn't like he still needed dragging anywhere. Harpuia decided to let it be, instead cradling his bleeding arm in his free hand.
"Let's go, then. You can lead the way once we're on the second floor," he told Zero, ushering them all onward and upward.
[to here]
Edited 2012-09-11 04:23 (UTC)
He snorted, but it was so faint it could have easily gone undetected. Landel’s was not a place where he had met many individuals who valued his thoughts. “Although I have many things I could still say, what you choose to do is up to you. I can handle Sasuke.” You should stay out of trouble was the unspoken implication.
Funny, that even after everything said and done Aigis continued to blaze ahead without paying mind to her weakened state. Seeking out someone willing to cut her open and fish around in her stomach almost made more sense than spending her time on a manhunt for Sasuke. But yet she was choosing someone else’s problems over her own.
He’d never understand people who thought like her. That made it easier to ignore her inscrutable little smile.
“But first, something I was intending to from the beginning,” he cut in, turning his attention back to her hand. Yes. First things first. Then everything else. When he could settle everything into priorities and lists, things seemed clearer to his mind. “I’ll check your blood while we’re able.” And just like that, he pricked her index finger, quick as a flash. The tiny bead of blood that followed was all he really needed.
Blood scents only revealed so much, but…
“Well, there is some good news in all of this mess. I don’t detect any significant changes from the last time I checked. Nothing to suggest a full-on transformation. That, besides sharing with you my opinion, was what I wanted to see you for.”
Funny, that even after everything said and done Aigis continued to blaze ahead without paying mind to her weakened state. Seeking out someone willing to cut her open and fish around in her stomach almost made more sense than spending her time on a manhunt for Sasuke. But yet she was choosing someone else’s problems over her own.
He’d never understand people who thought like her. That made it easier to ignore her inscrutable little smile.
“But first, something I was intending to from the beginning,” he cut in, turning his attention back to her hand. Yes. First things first. Then everything else. When he could settle everything into priorities and lists, things seemed clearer to his mind. “I’ll check your blood while we’re able.” And just like that, he pricked her index finger, quick as a flash. The tiny bead of blood that followed was all he really needed.
Blood scents only revealed so much, but…
“Well, there is some good news in all of this mess. I don’t detect any significant changes from the last time I checked. Nothing to suggest a full-on transformation. That, besides sharing with you my opinion, was what I wanted to see you for.”
[From here]
As they continued down the hallway, Ippo had his own questions. He had slept the day away, and from the way his roommate had been talking, it sounded like today hadn't been the only one he had missed. A lot had happened and he was absolutely clueless.
"Uhm, so... This illness that's going around. How many people have it? Has anyone t-turned yet?" It was hard to even speak the word. What the boxer remembered of his time as a giant sheep, Ippo really hadn't liked it. He was sure his gymmates would have found it hilarious, but there was nothing funny about being ripped from your own body and put into a decaying monster.
As they continued down the hallway, Ippo had his own questions. He had slept the day away, and from the way his roommate had been talking, it sounded like today hadn't been the only one he had missed. A lot had happened and he was absolutely clueless.
"Uhm, so... This illness that's going around. How many people have it? Has anyone t-turned yet?" It was hard to even speak the word. What the boxer remembered of his time as a giant sheep, Ippo really hadn't liked it. He was sure his gymmates would have found it hilarious, but there was nothing funny about being ripped from your own body and put into a decaying monster.
She considered his words and nodded. "As you wish." It would probably be best if she returned to her room for the night after this anyway. "Please do let me know of Sasuke-san's condition tomorrow, if you would."
Her altruism was often also seated in selfishness. Perhaps if Aidou could see the truth in that, he would not find her behavior so perplexing.
Aigis didn't pull away when he moved to prick her finger. She was interested to know what he had to say on her blood. He seemed certain of his diagnosis and that gave Aigis immense relief. She even allowed herself a long exhalation as her eyes fluttered shut. "Thank you for checking on it. I greatly appreciate it."
Her altruism was often also seated in selfishness. Perhaps if Aidou could see the truth in that, he would not find her behavior so perplexing.
Aigis didn't pull away when he moved to prick her finger. She was interested to know what he had to say on her blood. He seemed certain of his diagnosis and that gave Aigis immense relief. She even allowed herself a long exhalation as her eyes fluttered shut. "Thank you for checking on it. I greatly appreciate it."
Carefully, the vampire released her hand, avoiding having her blood touch him. Blood of any kind was challenging on his nerves; he didn't want to have to carry the scent on his skin.
"Yes, well. It was on my mind as well. Although Landel seems determined to push his experiment into the next stage, once again I think your infection has yet to reach that point."
And that was really all he'd come to do, wasn't it? Determine her status and give her a piece of his mind. With that done... yes, it was time to part and get on with his original plan.
Aidou tilted his head. "You should probably... rest. Conserve your energy."
"Yes, well. It was on my mind as well. Although Landel seems determined to push his experiment into the next stage, once again I think your infection has yet to reach that point."
And that was really all he'd come to do, wasn't it? Determine her status and give her a piece of his mind. With that done... yes, it was time to part and get on with his original plan.
Aidou tilted his head. "You should probably... rest. Conserve your energy."
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