damned_institute | Day 70: T&M Electronics (Evening)

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Day 70: T&M Electronics (Evening)

With his radio stored safely in the pocket of his borrowed jacket, Castiel realized that there was one use he could find for the credit card he'd been given, and that was to buy batteries. He didn't know for certain if batteries were sold in an electronics store, but he was willing to spend the time to find out. Polarities, conduction of energy, that he all understood... But things like battery sizes were unknown to him.

But he wasn't deficient. He could look at the spaces meant for the batteries in the radio and then compare them to whatever was on offer. He had no idea how expensive batteries were, admittedly, but hopefully twenty-five dollars was enough to cover it.

Despite all his confidence, though, Castiel looked out of place in the electronics store. He wasn't used to these modern inventions. His gaze hadn't been turned to Earth when they'd been conceived of and created. They were as unknown to him as the cell phone Dean and Sam had insisted he buy.

In other words, finding the batteries in this store would be the same as finding a needle in a haystack, particularly because he didn't even know if they sold them here. He doubted that the batteries he had in his other radio back at the institute would last for much longer, though, and so he started to wander through the store in search of some.

[For Kratos.]

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Kratos had parted ways with Lloyd shortly after they'd both received their "free gifts", and was now back to walking idly through Doyleton, except this time fiddling with the radio. Unfortunately, he couldn't confirm its capabilities since it lacked a power source, but he recalled that the last time he'd come, he'd spotted a store that might be able to solve that problem - an electronics store.

Technology was not a foreign concept to Kratos: Cruxis had made extensive use of computers and the like, and even before that, he'd been exposed to electronics during his time in the Tethe'allan military thanks to all of the magitechnology they'd incorporated. He had never been an expert at handling it all, but he at least knew his way around devices.

Things were different here, though. There was no magic to speak of, no mana to harness, and as a result, everything was foreign and beyond him, including the power cells. Hopefully, though, the store owner would be helpful and not too suspicious.

He walked in tentatively and, halfway down one of the aisles, spotted Castiel looking very intently at the shelves, apparently searching for something himself. "Castiel." Kratos picked up his pace just a bit, walking over to join the other man. "Looking for something?"

While Castiel sensed someone wandering the store, he assumed it was another patient and didn't think much of it until he heard a familiar voice call out his name. He turned himself toward Kratos and nodded. There was no reason to hide his intentions from Kratos -- in fact, of everyone he'd met here, Castiel felt Kratos to be the one he could trust most. He wouldn't have placed his life in his hands otherwise.

"I received this at the toy store," he said, pulling the radio out of his pocket to show it to Kratos. The construction of it and colors made it legitimately look like a toy, but there was clearly more to it than that. Castiel wasn't one to let something's appearance set him off from it, either. "It doesn't have any batteries to run on, so I was hoping to find some here."

Radios aside, though, there was something else that Castiel wanted to discuss with Kratos, which was the information he'd learned from Skulduggery about the hidden passage in the library. He could get to that once he'd finished his search, however.

As soon as Castiel pulled out his radio, Kratos realized that they had both walked into the electronics store with the same thing in mind. That was convenient: Castiel was far more familiar with this world than he was, so perhaps he could ask him for help instead of bothering with the store owner. It would certainly be more comfortable.

"Mm, I was thinking of doing the same, actually." He glanced around helplessly. "I'm afraid I don't know anything about what kind we'd need, though." The only batteries he'd ever seen were the ones in his flashlight, and, if the variety of batteries lining the shelves were any indication, they apparently came in all sorts of shapes and sizes, presumably to match specific purposes. "Would you happen to know?"

"It should be the same kind of battery as the ones in the flashlights, though most likely a different size." The ones meant for the flashlights were definitely much larger than the space in the back of this radio could hold. Which meant that they'd need to eyeball it, since Castiel didn't know much beyond that. He'd never had to worry about it, not when he could light his own way. Or rather, he had been able to, before all this.

It was good to see that they were on the same path, though, and Castiel felt that Kratos would be a much more credible person to test the radios with. Not that he hadn't already made arrangements with Orihara -- and depending on how things panned out, he might be traveling with Kratos tonight, which would render the radios useless.

As he continued to search the shelves for the right kind of batteries, he glanced back at the fellow soldier. "I found out some information this morning, something about a possible path to the third floor. I think it's a lead you mentioned to me before, about a secret passage in the library." Castiel was feeling well enough by now to take a risk, but he couldn't handle it on his own, judging by what Skulduggery had said.

Kratos eyed the rows of batteries dubiously. That hadn't exactly been helpful. He didn't even know what kind of battery was in the flashlight, let alone remember what size they were. He could approximate, but something told him that this was a task where a certain degree of precision and accuracy was required.

Of course, they could always just buy a pack of every kind that looked right to be thorough, but Kratos liked to retain some kind of dignity if he could, and walking around with six or so packs of batteries sounded like a recipe for disaster.

"Perhaps...we should ask the owner," he said slowly. "Just to be sure."

Then, Castiel brought up something definitely more interesting (and less complex) than batteries. "So that's where it leads." The third floor: he had never heard very many rumors about it, but just thinking about the words alone brought up a host of possibilities. "And I suppose people have already made their way up there." It couldn't be too many, though... "Do you want to see it for yourself?"

He wondered if this had been Castiel's roundabout way of asking him to come along, but he would find out soon enough.

Checking with the person working at the store would be the most prudent way to handle their dilemma, and so Castiel nodded, even as he came up to a shelf that was dedicated to batteries. As he'd feared, there were a number of different kinds to choose from. He grabbed for one, a set of AAAs, and flipped the package around, trying to determine if they were the right size for the radio in his other hand.

Kratos' remarks about the secret passage made it clear that he was in fact familiar with it, but Castiel had to clarify a few things. He turned toward him, still clutching onto the package of batteries. "There's no guarantee that that's where it leads, but seeing how it's a hidden stairwell, there's good reason to assume it."

Castiel didn't like acting on conjecture, but he'd done so before. It hadn't always worked out, either, considering how the attempt to kill Lucifer with the Colt had gone, for instance. But here at the institute they essentially had nothing but conjecture to work with.

"As far as I know, no one has actually made it up the stairs. There are a number of obstacles set in the way." That, at least, was something he would expect, so it was more a matter of fighting their way through whatever guards were set up to oppose them. "I wanted to look for myself tonight, but I don't think I'll do much good alone." That was as close to an invitation as he was willing to get.

"Hm." At one time, Kratos might have accepted Castiel's "invitation" without hesitation, but now, for some reason, his thoughts strayed to what he'd told Lloyd earlier: I just need to be more careful now. The words had been a bit hollow when he'd said them, but some sincerity had lain behind them: he did not want to deprive Lloyd of his father, not when there was still so much unknown between them, and that meant treating his life with a little more care than he normally would.

At the same time, though, he'd also resolved to let the whole ordeal with his Exsphere affect him as little as possible, and to die in a fight if he had to die - his personal rebellion against Landel. And he did want to see what was on the other side of this secret passage.

He followed Castiel's lead and took one of the AAA battery packs. "It isn't safe to go alone. You should take company." And that was about as close to a "yes" as Castiel would get.

Kratos wasn't making this easy on him, but Castiel should have expected that, because the two seemed to have a similar nature. He was going to have to be more direct, then. At this point, having breached the subject, he didn't mind. "Would you be available tonight?" A simple question, but hopefully the answer would be in the affirmative. Otherwise, Castiel would need to find someone else.

As for the batteries, he would have preferred to simply open up the package and slot them into the radio to make certain they were the right size, but he realized that was technically not allowed. As if an angel should be bound by such considerations. But he didn't want to attract attention to himself or end up flagged by the nurses as problematic.

Which meant they'd need to ask. Castiel also grabbed for another size, the next largest, which was AA, and with both of those in hand he was prepared to go question the clerk. Only after he heard Kratos' answer, though.

Kratos smiled inwardly. "I am." And then, since they weren't beating around the bush anymore: "Where do you want to meet later?"

This settled things, presumably. He had committed to assisting Castiel, regardless of the potential dangers, and now he just had to hope that he would manage to come out of it relatively intact, or risk a massive lecture from his son the following day about how dying didn't solve anything--not that he was purposefully trying to get himself killed this time around.

In the mean time, he considered grabbing another pack of batteries himself, but decided it would be better to wait and see what the clerk said: regardless of his answer, he'd have to come back to the aisle anyway.

That settled that. Castiel didn't know if the two of them would have enough combined skill and strength to handle whatever the institute threw at them, but he didn't know if recruiting a third person would be possible when the day had already come to an end. Both of them were armed and experienced, so Castiel could only hope that they would be successful where others had failed.

As for a meeting spot, he was tempted to suggest meeting right outside of the Sun Room in order to be efficient, but that would be a risk. He had encountered that vengeful spirit in that hallway, and the two of them could end up never meeting if they were targeted by that ghost or something similar.

"The main hall near the patient rooms should be fine," he said after a pause. "And if there's anyone else you wish to bring who's experienced in combat, feel free to." Castiel was willing to work with a stranger if it meant that their chances of progress were increased.

Kratos nodded. "Alright." That was simple enough to remember.

He paused when Castiel mentioned the possibility of inviting others. Lloyd was the first person that came to mind, but with that the stern reminder that they would be facing all sorts of unknown dangers, and that, when it came to his son, his first and foremost priority was keeping him alive and as close to well as he could. It was thus without a doubt hypocritical for him to go, but Kratos could live with being a hypocrite for a while longer if it meant that Lloyd was spared--although, he had a penchant for getting into trouble despite his father's best efforts...

"We'll see," he said. "It's difficult to coordinate on days like today." He wasn't sure if he'd be able to find anyone by the time night rolled around, but he would try, since two people against everything that secret passage had to offer sounded a little hopeless indeed.

Kratos was right about the coordination. While Castiel didn't make much use of the bulletin board most of the time, he had to admit that there were times when it made things convenient. If he didn't come across someone promising on the bus ride home, then the only person he would be able to ask along would be his roommate -- and he didn't know if Kobayashi was skilled or competent enough for a mission like this.

"We'll see," he echoed, and that was all he had to say on that subject. Either they'd find a third person or they wouldn't. It wasn't going to influence whether or not he investigated the passage.

Castiel moved back to the counter and approached the young man working there. He explained that he wasn't certain which kind of battery would be needed to power the radio, and the clerk collected both packages and the device from him, looking them over.

"Should be this one," he said, holding up the AAs. "But, uhh, what do you need a toy like this for?"

Castiel blinked, not having expected the question. "It was... a gift," he said lamely.

The man shrugged. "Whatever. Want to buy these, then?"

Castiel went digging into his coat for the card he'd been given that morning and handed it over. He glanced back to Kratos as the man processed the purchase.

Kratos had stood back to watch Castiel's exchange with the man at the register from a distance, and, once he had seen him hold up the AAs instead of the AAAs, had quietly slunk back into the aisle to grab the right kind and put back the ones he'd taken before.

He walked back up behind Castiel just as the other man turned around to glance at him, and then let a thin, awkward smile come to his face as the cashier abruptly turned his attention on him while he printed out a receipt and asked, "You got one of those little radios too?"

"Sure," Kratos said, slightly unwilling to admit that he also had a "toy like this" in his possession.

The cashier nodded as he bagged Castiel's batteries and slid them across the counter. "I saw you heading back over there. Picked the AAAs at first, huh?"

"Something like that." He felt a prickle of irritation. Why did people always have to try to strike up conversations at all the wrong times?

While the clerk might think that it was strange for two grown men to have bought batteries for toy radios, it seemed that he was willing to let it go, perhaps because he assumed it had something to do with their illnesses. At least it worked in their favor for once.

Castiel could see that Kratos was getting frustrated with the exchange, and so he led him away from the counter now that both of them had paid, stopping closer to the store's exit. He peered down into the bag holding the pack of batteries. There was a decent amount of them in that package, so it should last him for a while.

"We'll need to test these when we get the opportunity," he said, though his gaze drifted out the window to where some nurses were wandering down the street in search of patients. "But I think they'll be taking us back to the buses soon." It was probably for the best that they tested the radios when there weren't as many sets of eyes on them, anyway. Even though they were masked as toys, the nurses might catch on if they were too obvious about it. Castiel would rather try out the batteries once he was back in his room.

"Sounds reasonable," Kratos said as he joined Castiel in looking out the window toward the street. "We should have a good chance tonight." It made more sense anyway: it seemed wrong to try out something "hidden" out in the open where the nurses could potentially see or hear.

He looked back at Castiel. "I'll see you later, then." It was time to see if he could perhaps catch someone he knew and potentially persuade them to join their little expedition at the last minute. With a nod, he walked out of the store briskly and began heading back toward the buses.

Al walked into the store with Scar and Edward, looking around for some sign of where the batteries might be stocked. "I really hope we can figure out what sort of batteries we'll need. At least we can compare for the radios right now."

[For Scar and Ed.]

"We could always ask. And Guy said he thinks the flashlights take batteries sized C," Ed said, also looking around, trying to not get distracted by the bits of unfamiliar technology.

"Yes, the devices have labels on the battery cases. They seem to be based on a letter system, with more 'A's indicating smaller sizes." Scar inspected his own radio's battery case, looking up at the various aisles of the electronics store. It was not like any place he had ever seen in Amestris, that was for certain.

"Are they? Well, that should make things a bit easier." He spotted a promising aisle and pointed it out, heading toward it. "I think they're over here? Looks like it, anyway."

Ed heads over to look without a word to either of the others, taking out his radio and eyeballing sizes.

Scar followed the boys into the aisle, keeping his eyes peeled for anything else that could end up being potentially useful. It was pointless; he didn't know what any of the equipment in this store was even used for.

Funny, how Amestris bragged about its superior technology. Yet here they were in a world without so much as a drop of alchemy and the devices were advanced far beyond anything alchemists had ever conjured up.

"These match." He picked the cheapest of the brands off the shelf, frowning critically at the package.

Al looked over from a pack of C sizes, nodding after a moment. "Looks like those do. The radios only need two a piece, right?"

"We should probably get some that aren't the cheapest we can find. Better quality and should last longer," Ed said absently as he looked through them a bit more.

Scar glanced sideways at Edward, silently agreeing and putting the cheap brand back. He was naturally frugal, but in this case it wasn't like there was anything else to be spending their allowance on.

"Yes, I believe the radios take two. Are there any coupons in that booklet for this store?"

Al pulled his out and flipped through it, then shook his head. "No, there aren't. Just a couple for free meals and one for a spa and manicure."

"Not that any of us have any use for that," Ed grumbled as he grabbed a pack of the right sized batteries that were a reasonable price.

"Wastes of our time," Scar grumbled under his breath. It could easily be argued that the Ishbalan was in desperate need of a relaxing day at the spa, but hell if he was ever going to admit to it.

He nodded toward the checkout counter, already making his way back to the front of the store.

Al doesn't bother pointing out that others might appreciate a chance to relax and forget about their troubles for a while, just following them both with his batteries in hand. It would clean him out of his last few dollars, but there wasn't much else he needed.

Ed bought his batteries without any fuss and waited on the other two to finish.

Scar crossed his arms, waiting for the cashier to ring up the items and scan his money card. He frowned, watching the strange technology with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

"Is there anything else either of you needs?" He looked from one Elric to the other.

Al shook his head, wrapping up his transaction just as easily. "I don't have any more money anyway. The tool belt took a good chunk from my spending money."

Ed shrugs. "I've still got some, but don't know what I want to do with it."

"Perhaps we will find something." Unceremoniously, Scar marched out the door of the electronics store, batteries in hand.

[To here]

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Day 70: T&M Electronics (Evening)

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