Day 69: Courtyard

[his_legacy]

Link was feeling overall good as he was escorted outside after breakfast. The food had been good, and the weather was nice. It wasn't so cold anymore, but still comfortable. He much preferred coming outside to being cooped up in that stuffy, dull building. The Hylian was trying to remain positive. They had the cure now, did they not? People were getting better.

The death toll was impossible to ignore, though.

He sighed, hands in his pockets as he shuffled through the grass and settled himself on the lawn. This was nice. At least, it was as nice as things could get around here. Link's mind drifted back home, back to Ordon and Hyrule and Midna and Zelda. Everything was okay there, now. And he couldn't even see it for himself.

[Free!]

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[ever_loyal_dog]

No, he was sure now, he could definitely hear it. The sound was getting louder, more distinct, and he narrowed his eyes a moment, as if trying to trace it. The woman they'd run into last night was still near, or at the very least, the remnants of her power lingered, even in the day. He turned his head, but the courtyard was just as it had always been.

"Forgive me, I thought I heard something," he shook his head once, attempting to clear that awful noise as he did so.

"I..."

It took him a moment to recover his train of thought. Castiel wanted him to decide where to go?

"I had heard there was a room with our things in it. From before we were brought here. I'd hoped to find it, but I haven't had much luck. But if you would be so kind as to allow me to follow, I would defer to your experience and judgement in choosing our destination."

[freewill]

Soushi thought he'd heard something? Whatever it was, he looked distressed about it, and that was enough to set off warning bells for Castiel. But whatever Soushi might be hearing, Castiel definitely couldn't make it out. That didn't necessarily mean much, though, as mind tricks were common in this place. He narrowed his eyes, curious to know more, but left that alone for now.

It seemed that Soushi was serious about wanting to travel with him tonight. Castiel was of two minds about it, but in the end he realized this would be the best way to keep an eye on the half-demon. And it was possible Soushi would be able to gain his trust eventually as well. Since Soushi was supposedly some kind of guardian, that likely also meant he had experience with fighting, so he'd be a helpful traveling partner.

"If you want to search for that room, we can do so. Escape is my top priority as well, so we can explore ways to do that together." Tonight, at least. Castiel wasn't going to sign himself up for any more than that, not yet.

This room that might contain some of their possessions wasn't one Castiel had been to, but he had a vague idea of where it was from the maps that were posted up periodically. He was confident he could find it, if his healing body would allow.

[ever_loyal_dog]

As suddenly as it had come on, the sound diminished and was gone. It didn't make him any less anxious, but he was able to focus a bit more on the conversation at hand. His guilt or innocence in Castiel's eyes didn't matter to him as much as the man's influence, information, and connections. A favorable impression would yield favorable results, but if he continued to think Soushi was a troublemaker or out for human souls, it would be decidedly more difficult to acquire more allies.

Though, Castiel didn't know of the room Soushi was seeking either? He was beginning to doubt if it existed at all, but escape was as fine a goal as any.

"Thank you for your assistance. Please let me know if there is any way I can return the favor."

[freewill]

If Soushi was nothing else, he was polite. Castiel had to concede that. Even when he'd become accusatory, Soushi had still managed to keep his composure. While that didn't necessarily mean he was trustworthy, it was more than Castiel could expect from the average demon. No, Soushi clearly was of a different breed.

He nodded in reply, and while it seemed that they had a plan for the night, there was one thing they still needed to determine. "I'll let you know if something presents itself, but for now, where would you prefer to meet?" Heading up to the second floor didn't sound like a particularly strenuous mission, so it was a decent way to spend a night when he was still healing. It was getting better each day, but Castiel still found himself wishing that it went faster. Then again, he was used to healing instantaneously.

[ever_loyal_dog]

At least that gave him a bit of direction, if only for one evening. It was only his third night, but he could already tell the difference between heading out with a seasoned veteran of this institution or going with others as new as he was. If he wanted to get to the bottom of this and get back to Ririchiyo, this seemed a good start.

"I'm afraid my knowledge of the facilities is limited," he admitted, looking a bit ashamed. If it were Ririchiyo he were speaking to, such a thing might be unforgivable. Three days and he ought to know every corner of the building. It was almost the same size as Ayakashi-kan.

"I am familiar with most rooms on the ground level, so that would be preferable. If Castiel-san would not find it too much of an imposition, I would be happy to meet at his room or the nearest hallway. However, if that is not acceptable, the end of the hall near our rooms and the stairs seems to be a common meeting place for most patients."

[freewill]

Still an overwhelming level of politeness, the sort that Castiel usually didn't see from angels, demons, or humans. Then again, maybe that all depended on those who he spent time with. Though he had to admit, that opinion hadn't exactly changed during his time here while meeting a wider variety of people. Soushi definitely stood out on that point.

"Do you know your room number? If our rooms are close, then we can meet around them. If not, then the main hallway by the stairs should be fine." Seeing how they would be heading up those stairs, that might make the most sense. But if Castiel could learn Soushi's room number, it might be a good piece of knowledge to keep on hand.

He realized now that trying to actually climb those stairs while still injured might be a problem. Castiel was beyond the point where he was going to let his injuries limit him too much, though.

[ever_loyal_dog]

It seemed Castiel didn't quite trust him enough to disclose his own room number, but had no trouble in asking for Soushi's. The question then, was did he trust Castiel enough himself to give away that information? And by extension, Lingormr. He could almost be certain it would find its way to that man eventually.

"I believe it was M6," he answered, making what he hoped was not a hasty decision. He waited for the assessment from Castiel. Was he close to the other man's room?

[freewill]

Something Castiel understood perfectly well was the concept of "eye for an eye." This wasn't quite the same principle, but if Soushi was willing to give out his room number, then he was as well. Even if it turned out that Soushi did have some cunning scheme hidden away behind those polite words, Castiel felt that he would be able to handle whatever came his way. Weakened or not, he could take care of himself.

"My room is M39, so we're in the same patient block. If you want, we can meet in the perpendicular hallway within the block, or in the hallway right outside it." It didn't matter to Castiel as he was comfortable with getting around that area. Soushi, on the other hand, was still new and had a larger chance of getting lost.