Day 68: Recreational Field (Second Shift)

[dividedby]

Despite Zero's earlier fit of (mostly internal) anger, it felt good to get some food in his stomach after going without since yesterday's lunch. He felt even better about how he had managed to avoid a certain former blue robot's attention for an entire shift - though he figured his luck was bound to run out very quickly as far as that was concerned. There were only so many people in this place and it wasn't like he was allowed to roam anywhere he wanted. Still, he would continue trying to awkwardly avoid his friend for as long as possible. Maybe he wasn't ill anymore and maybe it wasn't the right thing to do, but...until he figured out how to start a conversation with someone he'd literally taken a chunk out of the night before... How to apologize, and how to scold him for blatantly ignoring Zero's warnings...

(Either way, he wouldn't let it keep him from checking the bulletin board...even if there didn't seem to be much on there this morning. Hmm. Unusual.)

Otherwise... It seemed he was expected to go outside today. 'Vent some frustrations', the head lunatic said. Hmph. Good job being completely unsubtle. There was that flash of anger again - but by now, his ability to control said anger was becoming strong enough to prevent it from bothering him for more than a few minutes. That was good; he didn't need to waste his energy being too easily upset over words. Words couldn't make him bleed like half of the things that happened at night did. What he should be doing was taking advantage of the situation he had. The field would give him space to flex his muscles, help him train himself physically, prepare for whatever tonight might throw at him... Yes, that was what he needed to do. Train. And all he truly needed to worry about while doing that was not stressing his bandaged right arm, which needed to heal quickly more than anything.

Right. Once he managed to separate himself from his nurse (who was still worrying and fussing over his continued silence toward her) and once he'd scanned his surroundings to make sure that one particular face was nowhere to be seen, Zero began to wander across the grass, contemplating how he should go about this training. Maybe start with a light run around the field, to test his stamina....that sounded good.

[Harpuia and X!]

Comments

[doctor_voodoo]

The very moment Doctor Facilier jolted awake out of his bed, he knew something catastrophically wrong had happened. The panic he felt was all too familiar, far too akin to the moment when he had been so close to killing off La Bouff but was thwarted by Naveen's second escape. Even though he did not instantly recall what the problem was, he knew full well that his plans had hit a very big bump on the road, and he sure as hell was feeling it through his entire being. Something was terrible wrong, but what?

As he emerged from his bed and got to his feet, Facilier remembered: word of a second cure to Landel's virus had begun to spread. Something about Saint John's Wart, a plant that was sure to be available within the institute grounds. Facilier's bargain with the Head Doctor was now in jeopardy! Yet...

Why was he just in bed a moment ago? Being the professional schemer and business man that he was, Facilier would never be caught sleeping in a situation as this! He had started the effort to pluck out the rumors that had sprouted on the bulletin like weeds, but he was also on his way to the greenhouse to intersect any patients in search of the cure. Surely he would have succeeded in convincing others that eating Saint John's Wart raw would just make them sicker! ...Right?

It was then as a nurse arrived to escort Facilier out of the room that he recalled the rest of the day... or at least, the day before. He immediately recognized the nurse to be the same one who stopped him halfway in his tirade towards the greenhouse. She had been a no-good busybody who harassed him with her concerns for his "welfare". Apparently, she thought Facilier was "a little stressed" (which to him was a monumental understatement!) and insisted on having him return to the Sun Room to calm down. Unable to break his good image upon the nurse's impressions of him, Facilier had no choice but to follow her and it was then that his memory turned blank. Had he blacked out after? Was he sedated? He couldn't recall..

As he was taken out to the Recreational Field, his nurse explained to him that he had "fainted" from stress. The Bokor reeled from this unbelievable revelation. Witch Doctors like him do not faint! The nerve of these people! Facilier was a man who had been shaped and sharpened by the terrors of dark shadow magic, nightmares which would bring even the bravest of people to their knees crying! How dare they slander him like this! He did not faint!

Yet the nurse insisted on her story and Facilier had no choice but to keep up his pleasant appearance and thank the kind 'ol bat for her interference. Behind his amiable smile, Facilier refused to take the nurse's explanations. There had to be another reason for this terrible loss of valuable time...

Once left to his own devices, the disgruntled Bokor skulked off towards the far corner of the field. By the time he reached a solitary spot, Facilier was already in the midst of furious pondering. Grumbling curses beneath his breath, Facilier angrily wringed his hands behind his back and hatefully glowered at his feet, his shoulders hunched forward as he sulked. How could this have happened?

"Damnit, Landel!" Facilier thought furiously to himself as he paced on the spot through the grass, "First you put me in the same room with an infected prisoner who nearly killed me, and now this?! You want me to slaughter your precious little sheep, don't you?! Why put me through this dangerous maze with the rest of them rats of yours?"

Facilier realized that his plot to fulfill his deed with Landel had taken substantial damage. If he had missed a whole day and night while word of this herbal cure made the rounds, this could spell disaster for his mission. He had to relay the information to that unpleasant Lingormr fellow, something which made Facilier cringe with disgust and dread. Last thing he needed was to be humiliated even further in front of that loathsome grease-head! The Bokor had to think of a pretty good back-story to explain to his partner (or more like rival) in crime...

[For the beautiful beast Rock Lee! xD]

[awokentospring]

Lee was horrified. How had he ever managed to sleep the whole night through? He had just climbed into bed for a small power nap before nightfall and it seemed not a moment later that the good morning message was waking him up. Lee's immediate thoughts were of his new friends here. Lloyd, Orihime, Flora, and Facilier. Lee was particularly worried about the older man since the two of them were kind of a team the past few nights. He had failed to meet up with him, or even check in with him before the day ended.

Feeling contrite, the first thing Lee set out to do that morning was wash the witch doctor's handkerchief, a task Lee had planned to do first thing last night. He kept the small square cloth hidden discreetly within his clothing when the nurse came to get him for breakfast and Lee quietly broke away for a quick bathroom trip to clean it. It wasn't the best job, since he could only use hand soap and warm tap water, but it would suffice.

His injured arm was doing better, but it was still in a temporary sling so the washing itself took a little time. It took several minutes under the hand-drier before the handkerchief was nice and dry, so by the time Lee exited breakfast was nearly over. He had to scarf down some cooled eggs and toast, which was disappointing. One should always chew their food thoroughly while eating. It seemed like today was just going to be full of personal disappointments for Rock Lee.

He did brighten a bit at the mention of the recreational field being opened. That meant he could go outside and play train! With a cheerful grin, Lee headed out, only to find there was no sun to greet him. That did not matter, he decided. He was going to make the best of his day, even if very angry dark clouds were hanging overhead.

Lee had started into a run, expecting to loop the whole field as much as possible before the shift changed to force him inside. Then Lee caught sight of a welcome and familiar face in the furthest corner of the field. Changing his course, Lee waved his good arm as he jogged over. "Facilier-sensei!"

[doctor_voodoo]

"Perhaps if I sweet-talked a nurse into letting me speak with Landel himself again..." Facilier pondered to himself as he made the umpteenth round in his flattened circle of pacing, "Get a couple bones to pick with 'em and settle some matters..."

"Facilier-sensei!"

The Bokor stopped dead in his agitated pacing, head snapping up from his brooding slouch as he glared towards the source of the voice. It was that Lee lad running towards him who called out his name. Yet with the mood that Facilier was in, even the sight of his prodigy minion wasn't enough to calm his festering gloom. Last thing the witch doctor needed was that ninja's irritating cheerfulness to further rub in his troubling lack of success in his face!

"Not now, boy! Can't y'all see I'm busy here?" Facilier growled as he turned away to continue his fevered pacing, "I've got too much on my plate right now! Go do some of them shinobi training routines of yours or something!"

[awokentospring]

Lee slowed, his expression losing some of its luster at such a cold reception. Well, being busy happened, and Lee was constantly bothering the good doctor. He finally managed to stop a few paces away from Facilier, lips moving into a pout that was characteristic of his slight under-bite.

Rubbing at the back of his neck, Lee gave a little bow of his head. "I understand, Facilier-sensei. Oh, but!" Lee reached into his pocket and drew forth the handkerchief he had recently washed and dried. Having carefully folded it, Lee offered it with both hands in his typical respectful way.

"Here you are, Facilier-sensei! I can at least return this to you, and I thank you for allowing me its use the other night." Lee bowed his head, trying to fully express his gratefulness.

[ever_loyal_dog]

Soushi hadn't managed to make much of a dent in his breakfast. It was hard not to keep glancing at the door, idly hoping that someone he knew might walk through it. It wasn't that he couldn't get along by himself. He was familiar with being alone and the cold empty loneliness that accompanied it. But knowing how it felt to be loved and cared for and wanted made things all the more difficult to accept.

He gave his nurse a polite smile and a nod and followed her to the next room. His expression became puzzled, however, when they began to divide the patients into girl and boy factions before leading them outside.

The field was still fairly empty when he reached it, and the nurse offered him a variety of activities to fill the time. The shed full of sports equipment was familiar enough, though as he went in to pick up a ball, the doorway did nothing so interesting as before. It worked just as it ought to have.

He tossed the battered hide of the baseball up and down a few times as he walked back; at the very least it gave his hands something to do. Any sort of distraction was welcome to keep him from thinking of his master or the walls that closed them in on every side.

[Free!]

[freewill]

There was very little point in Castiel going out onto the recreational field, seeing how the Head Doctor's suggestion that the patients get exercise was lost on him. There wasn't much he could do when he was forced to use crutches, and he wasn't interested in hobbling his way around the field either.

Now that he'd been cured and also knew how to cure others, if it was needed, Castiel realized that he needed a new direction, another purpose to define him, at least for the moment. Escape was the ultimate goal, but it was going to take time. So where did he go from here? That's what he needed to work out, and the soccer field wouldn't help him do that.

"Mr. Collins, would you mind speaking with Mr. Fox for the shift? He's fairly new, so I'm sure he still needs to make some friends."

Castiel stared into the earnest face of his nurse for a few seconds, wondering how she could still fool herself into believing that he was any good at "making friends." Of course, trying to argue with her would be pointless, so he only nodded in reply. The nurse smiled and led him to the patient in question, walking slowly so that he could keep up with her on his crutches.

Once they reached the stranger, the nurse looked between them and smiled. "You two get along, okay?" She didn't wait for a reply before wandering off, leaving the two of them to fill the silence.

"Hello," Castiel greeted awkwardly. "I'm Castiel." The sooner he could sit down and put aside these crutches, the better.

[ever_loyal_dog]

Soushi caught the ball once more as he watched the nurse and patient approach. Were they coming for him? Neither looked familiar, but that seemed to be a running theme here. He watched them draw nearer, a faint smile on his face, friendly, if not a bit curious.

"Miketsukami Soushi," he replied, once the nurse had left the two of them. He nodded and gave a slight bow. He would've offered a hand to shake as well if not for the man's crutches.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Castiel-san. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you."

[freewill]

The bow and the name all made it clear that this Soushi was from Japan, just like Orihara. Castiel knew that there was no reason to suspect him just because another Japanese patient had turned out to be more than what he seemed, but it was worth noting nonetheless. Then again, most of the people here were out of the ordinary in some way, so that was truly no surprise.

"It's fine," Castiel said, already starting to hobble his way to the side of the field so that he could sit down. Staying on his feet for too long wouldn't do him any good right now. "The nurses don't approve of any sort of solitary behavior." Castiel felt that even the mentally ill would need time on their own, but that was neither here nor there.

Once he reached the edge of the field, Castiel pulled his crutches out from under his arms and set them aside. He eased down onto the grass and then peered up at Soushi. "She mentioned you're new here."

[stop_the_rain]

It was easier to believe that last night had been vivid hallucinations during the day. Everything was fine. 'Cal' decided not to mention anything to his nurse. He didn't want any setbacks or anything like that, and he had probably imagined it all anyway. Dreamed it, really vividly, and gotten confused...

But the memories kept creeping back into his mind. They made him twitch.

"I'm not crazy," he muttered under his breath as he was hustled out into the field. Maybe a few laps around it would do him good. Drive away the last of the funny feelings from last night.

But he couldn't drive away one thing, one thing that had been said last night. "They gave you something, didn't they?

Of course they did. They were doctors and he was a sick man so they gave him what he needed to get better. Right? Why didn't everything quite right today? Like he was experiencing the world through glass, or some haze?

I'm not crazy, I'm just sick.

[Free!]

[ryuuzaki]

L didn't particularly like to run, but there weren't many opportunities for any kind of private physical activity at Landel's unless he wanted to duck into an empty room at night, which in itself seemed like a waste of time. Now that he was feeling better, it seemed like a good idea to at least try to stay limber. He tried to avoid conflict after hours, but he never knew when his lucky streak would end; the gun wouldn't work on everything, and bullets were in short supply. He didn't want to practice any kind of fighting in front of the other men, either, didn't want to go through moves and forms... while he had abilities, they weren't top-tier, and he wanted them to be a surprise if he needed to use them against another patient. And with his shoulder so newly healed, he was probably less likely to hurt himself running than kicking a ball around.

It was a frustrating compromise, like everything else here. He moved towards the edge of the field. Someone else was preparing to go for a run--that friend of Nina's. As they moved, L heard him mutter something.

"I don't think most of the people here are crazy, but that doesn't preclude that someone might be."

[stop_the_rain]

Cal glanced over at the guy who had come up by him. Now there was the kind of guy you expected to see in an asylum. He probably twitched.

"Yeah. Sure." He nodded, vaguely, hoping this guy wouldn't try and strike up conversation. He didn't want to hear any crazy rambling or nonsense warnings about 'monsters' and 'evil doctors'. Or maybe he'd get some tirade on aliens ruling the world from their top secret KKK staffed base at the center of the earth. Whatever it was, he was in no mood to hear it.

Not after last night. He hadn't said anything to the nurse this morning, because he felt fine now. But...what if he was having some sort of relapse?

What had they given him?

[redcladidealist]

It was chilly outside when Lloyd's nurse led him out, and the clouds overhead seemed to promise that it would stay that way even as the day progressed. Grateful for the sweatshirt the nurse had made him wear when he got up, Lloyd stood at the edge of the recreational field just taking the new area in. Two white frames with netting stood at opposite ends of the lush, green lawn, which he could guess had something to do with the "soccer" ball that Landel had mentioned - maybe someone kicking a ball was supposed to kick them into the nets? - but he had no idea what the rules were supposed to be.

"Why don't you go play?" his nurse suggested with a smile. "You used to love soccer."

Lloyd shot a look at her, brows furrowing in frustration and denial. "No, I didn't," he said. "I don't even know what soccer is."

The nurse just patted his shoulder in response, half sympathetically, half with pity. "I know it seems that way to you right now, but the memories are there, deep down." She left her hand there for only a moment before she nudged him forward. "At least give it a try. Even if you've forgotten, fun is still fun, right? Besides, your body might remember even if your mind's misplaced some things. Isn't it worth a shot?"

The teen made a sound deep in the back of his throat, and he barely, just barely, resisted pushing her hand away. She was nice, and it was hard to really get angry with her when it seemed like she just meant well, but she kept getting everything wrong. "I keep telling you, I haven't forgotten anything! I'm not who you think I am!"

"Isn't it possible," the nurse responded gently, "that maybe you're not who you think you are? Memories are funny things, Mr. Clarke. I know you're telling me what your memories say is true, but if your memories were changed, how would you know?"

That... Lloyd's mouth opened, then closed again, the question striking a disturbing cord. How would he know? If Colette had lots her memories for good, how would she have known? He would have done everything he could to tell her what she'd lost, to help her regain her identity. He would have told her over and over her name, her past, what she'd liked, things they'd done...

You used to love soccer.

...just like what his nurse was doing right now. His breath caught in his throat. NO. He shoved the thought back. I haven't forgotten. I haven't. His gut told him he had every memory he'd earned - but how could he prove that? How could he prove that to her...

...and to himself?

Something twisted in his stomach when he realized he'd even entertained that doubt. He shook his head harshly, alarmed and disturbed. "I'm Lloyd," he insisted. "I'm Lloyd, and you're wrong! I know who I am!" He pulled away, not giving her a chance to argue back.

Thankfully, she let him go with little more than a sigh.

[For Guy.]

[nobleman]

While Guy didn't know if his information had really gotten through to the patient he'd met at breakfast, he could only hope for the best. The fact was that he'd seen two people recover from the cure with his own eyes, and for someone sick that had to be a pretty big deal. At this point, didn't it make more sense to take a shot, rather than letting things get worse? Well, in the end, that was up to the patient himself, and so Guy tried to let it go for now.

Granted, there was also Leanne to think about. He hadn't seen her around yet today, and being split by gender meant that he might not at all. It might be best if he put a note up for her later, just to make sure that she was all right.

For now, though, Guy was escorted out onto the recreational field. The weather wasn't great for physical activity, although Guy usually didn't let that sort of thing stop him, and it would be nice to warm his muscles up a little. He was about to run a few laps to get that started, but was distracted when he heard a familiar voice.

"I know who I am!"

Guy turned to watch Lloyd stalk away from one of the nurses, and frowned to himself. Compared to how Lloyd had been in their conversations before, things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. Guy stepped over, catching up with him after a few long strides.

"Lloyd?" he asked, mainly to grab his attention. "Is everything all right?" Clearly not, but this was the most polite way to ask about it.

[redcladidealist]

Somehow or other, Lloyd's fuming steps had taken him within range of an abandoned black and white ball. Maybe it was a soccer ball, maybe it wasn't. He didn't care or bother to ask before he kicked it toward one of the goals. It rolled, and stopped, not even making it halfway. His moody kick hadn't been powerful enough. Proof of a lack of any soccer talent? Or just that the attempt had been halfhearted?

Either way, it didn't make him feel any better. It just made him want to kick it again, venting frustration. Instead, though, he looked up at Guy, mustering an attempt at a wave. It probably wasn't any more convincing than the kick had been. "Yeah- No. I don't know." He let out a frustrated breath. "I just... It'd be easier if the nurses weren't so nice!" Easier to disregard anything they said, easier to reject their advice, easier to resist, easier to fight back. What was he supposed to do when the nurse seemed like she just wanted the best for him?

[nobleman]

Guy watched with a raised eyebrow as Lloyd kicked at the ball, but it was something clearly done in frustration, so it didn't do much. It was the sort of thing that made him wonder if he should feel bad for Lloyd or laugh, but in such a situation it was better to keep his face completely neutral. He didn't want to make Lloyd's mood any worse, after all.

At the mention of the nurse, Guy glanced toward the one who Lloyd had been speaking with. She was watching the two of them with a worried frown on her face. Just that image gave Guy an idea of what Lloyd meant. While the nurses were their enemies in a practical sense (and in a literal sense at night), the fact was that they really thought they were doing a good thing. Since the nurses didn't know the truth of what was going on, they couldn't exactly blame them.

"I know what you mean," Guy said after a pause, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Most of the time, it's probably easier to just ignore them." But that wasn't going to help Lloyd vent out some of his frustration now, so...

Guy eyed the soccer ball. "Kicking that around might help you to calm down, if you want to try it." He had to admit that he'd never really tried, though he'd watched plenty of other patients play in the past. It might be a good way to get some exercise and help Lloyd out at the same time.

[his_legacy]

Link shuffled out to the recreational field with drooping shoulders and a dejected look on his face. He hadn't wanted to have to do that. To post on the message board about someone's death. It had been a decision between leaving someone worrying and letting them know the truth, and Link had just chosen the lesser of two evils.

But now it felt so much more real. He had never had the best sense of togetherness with others, wasn't used to working in a group, so to speak. But people were dying. And he wasn't the only one hurt because of it. Sora's friends, that man Scar's friends... There was another death mentioned, too. A person called the Scarecrow.

He certainly didn't feel much like... What had Tsurugi called it? Socker? Whatever. Link sat by the edge of the field and picked at the grass. Perhaps there was a sort of temple nearby. Even a small forest shrine would do. The least he could do was pray for them.

[Mopey hero is mopey, but he's free if somebody feels like cheering him up!]

[sixth_attack]

[Let me know if this is ok or not!]

The only way breakfast helped with Sechs' boiling mood was the relief it gave to him from his hunger. He may have felt physically better with his illness gone and his stomach full, but his frustration over missing so much valuable time remained heavy on the Replica's mind. It left him feeling antsy and irritated, yet he could barely do anything worthwhile without getting in trouble with the staff. What to do...

He knew that he could at least try to find everyone he knew to make sure they were fine (or at least still alive) and catch up with what had happened with them so far. He would have remained in the Sun Room to keep an eye out for allies, but he was itching for some fresh air outside. The Replica figured he could work on venting out his smothered energy and find familiar faces at the same time.

Making his way out onto the field, it didn't take long for Sechs to accomplish one part of his plan, as he was quick to spot out a gloomy-looking Link sitting by himself. Sechs frowned warily to himself at the sight. During the times Sechs had been with Link so far, he had always been so steady and sure of himself. Now he resembled a broken down cyborg entrenched in a trash pile back at the Scrapyard. Sechs could have cared less to see this; after all, if it hadn't been for Link's help, he may never have reached that cure the other night. He had to do something...

Bracing himself for bad news, Sechs jogged across the field, shuffling through the grass to a stop once he reached Link. With his frown remaining on his face, Sechs tilted his head slightly like a worried canine. "...Hey Link! Uh, you alright there?"

[his_legacy]

[It's fine!]

Link's ears twitched up upon hearing his name. He looked up from the ground to see Sechs, who still appeared to be in good health. That was good. He had told X at breakfast that the alleged cure was the real thing, and he hardly wanted that to be proven false.

"Tired," he said, managing a half-hearted smile. A weight had settled on his chest that seemed to keep everything down. The smile faded within a moment, and he looked out to the wall surrounding the field.

"Everything happens too quickly, here. People are dying and there's nothing I can do about it." The days were becoming especially infuriating. Of course he needed rest, but wasting daylight was foolish. Yet there was no way around it. If you went against the nurses, you got... stabbed with some strange sort of needle. And it made you dizzy and pass out. Being unconscious was even more useless than at least being able to talk to people.

[asteroidbelt]

He had the chance to pick up his journal when the nurse brought him back to the room for coat and shoes, but what with the intercom instructions, he didn't want her suspecting that he didn't intend to 'engage with' anyone. He wasn't sure she even cared about that, but he didn't think it was prudent to try her.

Out at the recreational field, Ryusei glanced around once before deciding he didn't want to move today. Maybe oversleeping this morning was what was throwing him off; he felt tired and lethargic today for some reason. Maybe it was the staying up last night; he certainly didn't remember going back to his room, much less back to his bed. It was consistent with what Ryuugamine had said about getting them back to their rooms every morning, but Ryusei always stopped before he could follow that line of reasoning anywhere—he didn't want to think too hard about things he couldn't quite remember.

Even so, even after he'd strolled to a spot against the wall where he could sit, he found his gaze straying to the walls every few seconds. He could maybe scale them if— No, he couldn't try that in the daytime. He'd be stopped and more importantly, it'd delay his release. His thoughts kept coming back to the idea that getting released might not be possible (the doctors liked to experiment, Ryuugamine had said), but he was aware that he just making excuses; even if it was true, he couldn't proceed without confirming it first. He had to be patient. Even if he had to sit quietly and stare at the walls and clutch his hands with the effort the entire time he was out here.

[free]

[seekingmystrength]

How being shoved out into the cold was supposed to help him being sick was beyond him, but again his nurse was forcing her own beliefs onto him. He scowled after her as she left him in the frigid air, considering finding another staff member to persuade to take him in as he looked around. A lot of patients were out, few of which he knew and none that he was looking for.

One face was familiar enough however, as he'd saw him every morning and night if only in passing at times. Despite being roommates, they'd said little to one another since that night Kurogane had been taken. He still didn't know if the kid had been taken, and with how rough his past evenings had been, trying to speak in the room might not happen for some time.

He headed for the wall.

"Nice shot on the nurse this morning," he commented once close enough, coming into Ryusei's view, "Shouldn't have apologized though."

[asteroidbelt]

"It really wasn't intentional," Ryusei answered without looking. What was he going to do about this? There were too many things he wanted to stop thinking about; among them whether or not Kurogane's injuries were Ryusei's fault. Asking around about what went on once someone had been taken hadn't produced any real answers; there was only so much Ryusei could do with 'experimentation,' since as far as he knew it was a malicious euphemism.

He couldn't put it off. He'd wanted to wait until he had more information before asking directly, but he may as well get it over with now; the alternative was to continue staring at the walls without making any sort of progress at all.

"What...happened?" It came out more uncertain than he'd wanted it to. Damn it. Concentrate. "I didn't see you again until the morning." Too obvious. But he couldn't add any more now without seeming hasty or defensive. Best to leave it at that for now.

[fullmetalheart]

Due to the fight Ed put up when a nurse arrived to collect him from his room that morning, Ed had missed breakfast and had been sedated to keep him quiet and out of trouble. He also missed part of the current shift but once he was functional again, he was escorted out by the nurse and a new orderly to replace the first one to make sure he continued to behave once the sedative completely wore off.

When the nurse encouraged him to go talk to some of the other patients, he just gave her an apathetic stare and wandered off to an area away from the main group. He knew that he should talk to others to find out what was going on along with looking for a way out, but he couldn't bring himself to care right now. He couldn't even make himself resent being sedated in the first place.

When he found a spot he considered suitable, he sat on the cold ground to watch the other patients with detached curiosity, ignoring the nurse's commands of 'Get off the ground David, it's too cold' and the like.

[Baby brother!]

[armoredsoul]

Alphonse, having relented to the nurse's demands this morning, had kept mostly to himself during breakfast and spent all of the second shift thus far running laps. The whole time doing his best to resolutely ignore his nurse's urgings to interact with the others--he intended to, later, but right now he needed to burn off some steam.

Every sensation was still a thrill, if only from the sheer marvel of feeling it after so long without. Weariness, however, was not quite as welcome of the others; eventually Al slowed down, deciding he needed a rest before he pushed himself too far. Looking around as he cooled off, his eyes cast over, then snapped back as he actually registered the familiar shock of blonde hair.

"Brother!" Al dashed over toward him, hope tightening his throat even as he dashed across the field towards him.

[fullmetalheart]

Ed blinked and looked over at his brother, surprise at seeing him human making it past his calm apathy to show on his face. "Al."

Muted relief that his brother was safe and here like he had been told washed through him along with wonder at seeing him in his own body.

[behind_my_smile]

Fai had a little trouble waking up that morning but the nurse had been pretty adamant about shooing her new charge out to the eating area and then to the recreational field. He had tried to engage her in cheerful banter but she seemed preoccupied with other things to really respond much.

Fai had hoped to get a little more information out of her but she didn't seem like budging. He did learn what his new name apparently was and that was interesting enough. He smiled and waved her off as he entered the recreational area, intent on exploring a little bit since it was actually daytime now.

Strolling through the area, Fai put his hands behind his head as he walked, humming softly as he wandered around and looked at all the faces that were entering the space. He really had no plans to engage in anything too physical.

[Free!]