damned_institute | Day 25: Intercom, Evening

The intercom clicked on with its usual jingle, the Head Doctor's voice carrying with a bit more authoritative ease than it had earlier.

"Good evening, patients, and I'm pleased to announce that we've finally finished organizing when our new batch of patients will be introduced, and unfortunately, it'll have to be tonight while you're all in bed. Truly sad, that, as I'm sure all of you are eager to see our new faces as soon as possible!

"In any case, the dinner that will be brought to you tonight will be herb-marinated pork roast with buttery corn-on-the-cob and fluffy mashed potatoes. Of course, we have our usual vegetarian salad available to those who request it, along with our regular assortment of drinks."

He paused and sighed. After all, it had been a long day.

"Oh, of course--Some of you may be unhappy to hear that Dr. Crane and Dr. Jiyani will no longer be serving us here at Landel's Institute. For those of you who were scheduled to have sessions with them, we'll be providing a substitute group therapy session in upcoming days. More details on that tomorrow.

"I believe that's all for now. Enjoy your dinner!"

The intercom clicked off.

[ As always, post to this entry with separate threads for each set of roommates. Thanks! ]

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"...you may call it what you wish," Adelheid answered, just a little bit awkwardly. His crimson eyes weren't glancing at Larsa any longer; instead, he was glancing at the senbon needles, pondering how he could handle everything all in one night. But the more he could get done, the better for all concerned. Hopefully. It would just be a matter of timing and organization.

Then he realized that could be construed as tremendously rude, and he hastened to amend himself. "That is to say, I'm... very bad with friendship. Nor do I think that your guardian would approve of friendship with someone like me in the first place. So I wouldn't want to presume on any terms... if that makes any sense?"

"You need not explain yourself, Adelheid." Larsa remarked with a light laugh. "As I doubt that Gabranth would disapprove of this, I am simply humbled to know that you offer your own bit of kindness despite our paths. I know not of your desires, but it would be a dreadful thing to room with someone I was not comfortable with."

He gave a soft sigh, setting his plate on his desk.

"Though this may very well be the ramblings of an ignorant child Emperor, only fate truly knows." Surprisingly enough, Larsa's mood had lightened in the course of a mere minute. The Night was still young and he knew he had much to do once the doors unlocked, but he remained hopeful that some good would come by the end of this evening. The child crossed his legs and let his elbows rest on top of the bed, leaning his head into his palm as he continued to watch Adelheid busy himself with his work.

It would be a bad thing, to be forced into proximity with someone he wasn't comfortable with. And while Adelheid still believed that their paths were never going to cross in a more friendly manner than they were at the moment, at the same time, the course of the day had sharply reminded him that he was not nearly so wise and powerful as he might wish to be. With that, it was hard to keep his mind in the way it should be.

"My desires? To be free from this place and return to my dear sister; that's my first concern. If I can return everyone else to their homes in the process, so much the better." He twirled one of the needles in his fingers, idly checking the weight and at the same time trying to remember Rose. Her voice, her drive, her ambition... living without her made life a very terrifying prospect, indeed.

It was because of that line of thought that Adelheid finally glanced at Larsa again. "Prayte- pardon, what do you think about that? If we do succeed and everyone is returned to their proper worlds and times, what would you think? When you're not running your empire, naturally."

Larsa sighed quietly to himself for what felt like the umpteenth time that day, blowing a stray strand of hair from his face while he listened intently to Adelheid's words.

"I would like to think that desire is more or less the universal standard, to return home to their loved ones." The child found himself answering. But he had to refrain himself from weakening at the thought of returning to his beloved country of Archadia. Larsa knew that he must prevail from this obstacle if he were ever to rule successfully, and bouts of homesickness would only continue to bog him down.

"There ought be no doubt that I want everyone to return safely…" Larsa stopped, thinking deeply about his answer before continuing. "There will be sacrifices, yes. As the technology of Ivalice is not refined enough to travel across different worlds I will lose contact of all my friends. And if I were to return to my own time then some of those whom I care for will forever be swallowed up by the clutches of death once more."

He drew a shaky breath.

"But these sacrifices are expendable, as I must care more for the future of my people as any ruler should. Selfishness is a weakness I cannot afford to gamble."

Day 25: Intercom, Evening

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