Grencia Mars Elijah Guo Eckener (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stellarregions) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
damned_institute2012-08-16 09:57 pm
stellarregions) wrote in damned_institute2012-08-16 09:57 pm
Night 65: M11-M20 Hallway
[M16]
As wretched as he was already feeling, the taunting intercom messages did nothing to improve Gren's mood. What it did do was inspire enough anger to rouse him from the corner he'd huddled in and force him to collect his things and get moving.
He was really in no shape to be out and about. He felt shaky and lightheaded, hardly able to keep himself moving, let alone fight. But he also knew that it was his own fault, and that absolutely nothing good would come of hiding in his room waiting for his own thoughts to consume him whole. Going out wasn't going to do a damned thing for his physical condition, but it just might be enough to distract him from the chaos in his head for a little while longer. And maybe if he could find Hakkai, he might have a chance of working out just how much of this was really the fault of whatever that thing was they'd encountered the night before.
Maybe it wasn't his fault. Maybe it was just the drugs and the ghost and this place. Maybe he really wasn't losing his mind all over again.
It was the only thing he had to cling to. That, and the thought that maybe, somewhere, there was a way out of this hell. He had to try.
It took too long to get his things sorted, too long to get out the door and stop there, leaning against the wall while he tried to keep focused. No one was around, now. There was nothing but darkness and silence to welcome him.
As wretched as he was already feeling, the taunting intercom messages did nothing to improve Gren's mood. What it did do was inspire enough anger to rouse him from the corner he'd huddled in and force him to collect his things and get moving.
He was really in no shape to be out and about. He felt shaky and lightheaded, hardly able to keep himself moving, let alone fight. But he also knew that it was his own fault, and that absolutely nothing good would come of hiding in his room waiting for his own thoughts to consume him whole. Going out wasn't going to do a damned thing for his physical condition, but it just might be enough to distract him from the chaos in his head for a little while longer. And maybe if he could find Hakkai, he might have a chance of working out just how much of this was really the fault of whatever that thing was they'd encountered the night before.
Maybe it wasn't his fault. Maybe it was just the drugs and the ghost and this place. Maybe he really wasn't losing his mind all over again.
It was the only thing he had to cling to. That, and the thought that maybe, somewhere, there was a way out of this hell. He had to try.
It took too long to get his things sorted, too long to get out the door and stop there, leaning against the wall while he tried to keep focused. No one was around, now. There was nothing but darkness and silence to welcome him.
[M13]
So. Outside it was, then. Maybe he'd try for the basement by himself tonight - he didn't know where the room that held the supposed cure was, or if it was a trap. Better to stick to known dangers.
He took his flashlight and headed out into the hallway. A quick glance around didn't reveal any monsters - but the beam of his flashlight did catch Gren. The other man looked, simply put, like hell. He knew he should leave, that he was a potential danger - but he couldn't just leave his friend like that. His only friend, right now.
"Gren! Are you alright?" The question was more for politeness's sake - it was clear that Gren was very much not alright right now.
no subject
"Yeah," he replied, "Just fine." But he knew he didn't sound it, and there was no way he looked it. The lie was for the sake of politeness, and the hope that maybe Hakkai wouldn't ask what was going on. He wasn't sure he could find a way to explain that wouldn't end with Hakkai knowing far more than he needed to.
Not that he wasn't already privy to some pretty big secrets.
no subject
A little voice in the back of his head reminded him that he should leave - that this was dangerous, he was dangerous. But for the moment, concern overrode it.
no subject
Not that better choices were abundantly available, but even he had to admit he'd made an impulsive decision based on fear and paranoia, and more than a little petty spite. It sure as hell wasn't doing him any favors, now.
no subject
"I think I have too much energy, right now - I tried to sleep some, but I couldn't. It won't be any trouble."
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"If you're sure..." He was a little uncertain, himself, though he did trust Hakkai. "I don't really know how any of that stuff works." There were always 'alternative treatments' floating around on offer, but somehow, he got a feeling that wasn't the sort of thing Hakkai meant.
no subject
He reached out and gently placed hand on one of Gren's shoulders. He'd never really tried healing this way, before, but it wasn't as if anyone had taught him any other qi skills. He closed his eyes, and focused inwards, pulling at that energy at the core of himself and carefully willing it into the other man.
The flow wasn't much, shouldn't have been a problem - but he realized a second too late that it was, and he clamped down, cut off the flow as he swayed on his feet a little bit. Passing out was one way to get sleep, but not one he'd prefer to take.
no subject
He didn't really understand what was happening now either, except that he felt less like falling over. But Hakkai looked like he was, and that was not what Gren had wanted out of this deal. He reached out a hand to steady him until he was sure he was going to stay on his feet. "Hey. You okay?"
He had the sudden, depressing thought that maybe he was just too messed up for Hakkai to really help, and that he should have warned him before he'd agreed to this.
no subject
He glanced over Gren, looking for improvement, some sign he'd succeeded. He was standing a bit straighter now - that was good. "Did it help...?"
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"I don't think I'll be running a marathon, but I'm not going to fall over." And in feeling a little less miserable, he felt he had a little more control over himself. How long that would last, if the institute got up to his usual tricks, he didn't know, but it was something, anyway.
no subject
He wasn't entirely sure how to continue - to just leave without explanation would both be rude and prompt questions he wasn't sure he felt like dealing with. So he had to say something. After a moment of awkward silence, he continued, "I was going to see about getting down to the basement again. That last announcement left me a little on edge, I'm afraid."
Though now that he had bled off some of his power, perhaps he would be less of a danger. His other side... it gave him more strength, certainly, but even then if he pushed too hard, he'd just collapse. And that was safer, really.
no subject
He should have just stayed in his room, but every time he thought about it, he remembered the night before, and the idea of being alone lost all its appeal. Of course, the alternatives weren't much better, but he felt like if he kept moving, maybe he could somehow escape it. And now that he felt a little better, walking around out here was a less daunting prospect.
no subject
"Is there any way over to the cafeteria or kitchen that doesn't involve going through the Sun Room? I know how to pick locks, so those won't be a problem, I'd just rather not... risk that again."
Twice through it during a fight, and they'd gotten lucky the first time, but not last night. Hakkai didn't particularly feel like chancing it a third time.
no subject
He'd managed to do it his second night out, with considerable injury to his arm. Despite his lingering fatigue, he was still in better shape now than either he or Edgar had been that night. "There might be less trouble that way." And they had the advantage of skipping a lot of the main halls where trouble might be lurking.
no subject
Though the announcement still left him nervous. Particularly about himself - but in either scenario, there would be space to run, outside. Harder to trap them - and harder to trap them together, if it came to it.
"We should probably get moving before it gets too late, too," he added, starting down the hallway.
[To here]
Re: [M13]
The only thing to cheer up Facilier was his Shadow, which sprung to life against the wall with a curled smile. It happily adjusted its master's hat with no trouble or consequence. The Bokor grinned at his Shadow, feeling his confidence return with the restoration of his shadow power. It felt so good to manipulate his Shadow again with no strenuous mental effort on his part! At least that was one thing Landel got right so far!
With mood uplifted, Facilier grasped for his flashlight and cane, along with his copied maps of the institute and a pillow case to stow any goods. He would have to deal with Mr. Hakkai later. For now, he would have to get his hands dirty once again and go out into the night. Knowing that his Shadow was no longer restrained, Facilier felt better prepared and protected from such a nightly trek.
What motivated the Bokor further was the announcement he heard over the intercom. Both he and his Shadow frowned at the strange female voice and scowled even more to hear that a clue to a cure had been mentioned. A clue in the X-Ray Room... That couldn't be good for his deal with Landel! It would seem he had two forces against him now; both patients and outside groups were getting in on his business! This just wouldn't do!
So with no time to waste, Facilier and his empowered Shadow went out into the darkened hallway, intent on finding more tools for his deadly craft.
[To here.]