Day 73: Library (2nd shift)

[redcladidealist]

Don't let them snoop? If Lloyd didn't already know the secret the library held, that would have practically been asking him to poke around as much as his nurse would let him. But since he did know about the trick to the secret door, he settled instead for searching for Kratos or Castiel. If he didn't find one of them this shift, he'd have to think about putting up a note on the bulletin, but considering what he wanted to talk to them about, it would probably be better if he kept it off the board and spoke to them in person.

"Here, why don't you settle down with a nice book, Nigel?" his nurse encouraged him as she guided him toward a chair. "Poor dear. I noticed you didn't eat anything for breakfast. Maybe you just need to get your mind off of whatever's tying your stomach in knots."

Lloyd made a face at that comment, unable to hold himself in check. "Maybe if the doctors gave me my Key Crest back it wouldn't be a problem."

His nurse sighed, shaking her head. "I thought you were making more progress than that, Nigel. Here," she said, handing him a book. "I'm sure a good book will help."

Lloyd grumbled, but accepted the book anyway, albeit reluctantly. He should have known better than to expect anything from his nurse. Rather than cracking the book open, though, Lloyd set it in his lap and watched the room. Surely one of his companions would come in soon...

[For Castiel.]

Comments

[his_legacy]

Another bust. Link felt badly for Alphonse, who had gotten stuck with nowhere to go without his brother. Where was he? The Hylian had heard whispers that somebody else had been brainwashed, but beyond that...

Scowling with vain frustration, Link followed his nurse into the library. Here, at least, he could take a look around for the supposed book of verse that they needed to find. His nurse had other plans.

"Why don't you settle down with a novel, Mr. Miyamoto?"

"I would prefer not to." Link's voice was tense. He continued to inspect along the back wall, ignoring the gentle urgings of his nurse. His patience was wearing dangerously low. He knew it would be unwise to cause a scene, but...

It was beginning to seem like a perfectly reasonable course of action.

[Soushi!]

[ever_loyal_dog]

Soushi was still feeling a bit groggy after breakfast and whatever medication they'd given him to ward off the pain of last night's injuries had faded with the dim light of morning. It left his shoulder feeling achey and his head throbbing, but at least it seemed to be healing. The bandages, he felt, seemed to make it look worse than it was.

As his nurse escorted him from the cafeteria, asking which room he might like to visit, the library seemed the most quiet, and therefore soothing, on his aches and pains. After following her for a few moments, she seemed intent on making sure he had a friend to spend his time with as well. It was too familiar, being looked after so closely, so cautiously, reminding him of his time with the Miketsukami family, an uncomfortable memory. He looked aside, catching sight of a couple familiar faces. It didn't take his nurse long to nod her approval and usher him toward wayward patient, who seemed to be fully ignoring his own nurse.

"Is everything alright?" Soushi asked quietly, hoping to avoid what seemed to be rising tension with the staff.

[his_legacy]

Link looked up suddenly, upon hearing Soushi's voice. His ears drooped, and he was silent for a moment.

"Yes." He sent another glare at his nurse, though his voice had calmed down.

"Simply frustrated."

[ever_loyal_dog]

Whatever had been happening, his speaking up seemed to have diffused it, at least a bit. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but Link certainly had looked more cheerful last he had seen the man.

Soushi followed his glare, feeling similar toward his own hovering nurse, but he kept his expression carefully neutral, his usual faint smile coloring it to appear friendly.

"Understandably so," he agreed readily, putting his back between Link and the nosy nurse. If he didn't get the man far enough away from the staff, he couldn't hope to think the tension would ebb and that would make for poor conversation indeed.

"Would you mind if I showed you some of the titles I've been reading?" he offered, gesturing toward another aisle of books, far enough that they might hope to have even a hushed conversation without being watched too closely by the nurses.

[his_legacy]

Link paused, eyebrows raised and slightly taken aback. He had not taken any time to actually sit and read, had never even considered it.

But perhaps it would do him a bit of good, to properly unwind and distract his swirling thoughts.

"All right." The tension in his brow eased. Soushi was a nice young man. 'Nice' was hardly an exciting word, or a word that did any justice to a truly nice person, but... Soushi was nice. Link was grateful for him.

[ever_loyal_dog]

Link hadn't seemed to have caught his meaning, but Soushi's expression never slipped. As soon as Link agreed, he ushered the other toward the nearest empty aisle, at least far enough from the nurses to be out of direct ear-shot. It wasn't a lot to offer, but at least the library here didn't have quite the strict rules and enforced silence of others he'd visited.

"Forgive me," he began, lowering his head just a fraction., "T thought more than the books, you might like a place to speak more candidly, or perhaps just to enjoy a bit of time away from those hovering nurses."

[his_legacy]

Link realized in hind sight that he should have realized what Soushi was getting at, but he was distracted.

"Yes." He pulled a chair closer behind him, flopping into it and letting his shoulders droop. He rubbed at his eyes, reddened and sore from exhaustion.

"You have been all right, then?" Link lifted his head, trying to give Soushi something like a pleasant look.

[ever_loyal_dog]

It was a bit worrying, seeing the poor young man's condition as he sank into the chair. He'd seen his own master in such a state before, and just knowing she was that exhausted was enough to leave him awake at all hours of the night worrying, or unable to eat for days for lack of appetite. His brows knit together for a moment as he took his seat, not wishing to cause the other discomfort with his fretting.

"Ah, yes, more or less. Last night was a bit trying," he gave a slight shrug with his good shoulder, making a slight gesture toward the one he'd injured.

"But nothing worth getting upset over. It'll heal quickly enough. And you? If you'll excuse my saying so, you seem... burdened, ah- troubled. Moreso than last I saw you. Is everything truly alright?" he added, repeating his question now that they were away from prying ears and eyes.

[his_legacy]

"Yes, everything is fine." He managed a more pleasant expression. "My patience is simply wearing thin with the nurses and their nonsense. I wish I could be allowed a moment to at least look at the book of verse, but they will not allow me anywhere near it." He hadn't expected anything better, but it would have been nice to at least have been able to sneak over there. But this place was too crawling with nurses for him to manage anything.

[ever_loyal_dog]

Soushi smiled a bit more genuinely at Link's answer. He, at least, seemed honest enough. A refreshing change from the usual. At the odd notion of letting a patient into a library, only to refuse them the opportunity to read-

"It wouldn't be the Oxford Book of English Verse, would it?" he asked carefully, making sure the nurses hadn't overheard the title in particular. While he was sure there were others, that was the one Castiel had mentioned before, that led to the upper rooms. It made sense then, that the staff would watch to keep patients from it, but all the same, wasn't that a bit obvious?

[his_legacy]

"Yes," Link murmured, dropping his own voice as well. "I assume you know what it does?" He would hope that all the patients knew of it at this point, but he also couldn't assume. Information was their greatest weapon, and the more everyone knew, the better of a chance they all had.

The nurses just made it so damn hard to communicate during the day.

[ever_loyal_dog]

"I've not had the opportunity to test it," he nodded again, "but if what I've been told is true, yes."

Castiel had supposedly been to the third floor on more than one occasion. The man didn't seem to have a sense of humor, nor did he seem the type to make things up, so Soushi had come by no reason to distrust what he said.

"It seems to be the best lead so far. Some have mentioned the basement, though I've not had a chance to see that for myself either."

[his_legacy]

"I have yet to make it upstairs," Link admitted, that flair of anger rising up again. With the growing obviousness of the rebel efforts, how long did they have until Landel grew tired of their attempts? Not long, he could imagine.

"However, I have been to the basement. It is... a strange and dangerous place. Not unlike a maze of sorts. Different rooms, each more outlandish than the last. I think our best bet is to explore the upstairs first."

[ever_loyal_dog]

It was a pity there weren't more maps available of the building. He'd seen a few on the bulletin, but they were taken down or gone so quickly he hardly had a chance to properly memorize anything. He wasn't even sure how to reach the basement, though that room he'd been in last night... he was certain it had been underground.

"Is the entrance to the basement a secret as well? I'll admit, I've had little time to explore when the doors haven't been hurling us in all sorts of directions. It makes it difficult to remember where everything is."

[his_legacy]

"The basement's entrance is in the kitchens. There is a cold room in the back for storing food." What was it called, again? Something that began with an 'R'... Link couldn't remember.

"It is best to take a party with you."

[ever_loyal_dog]

Another secret entrance? Soushi couldn't help a smile, though he nodded his thanks for the advice. It seemed so like a game, these twists and turns and mazes. It was little wonder patients felt as though they made no progress.

"And both require one to go through the Sun Room. I can see they do not plan to make anything easy here," he commented. Castiel had mentioned having trouble with a patient there just last night, and he'd heard enough from others to confirm it was a dangerous route.

[his_legacy]

Link nodded. The Sun Room served as a central area without a doubt. He had been in dungeons and temples that were much the same, but the main room had never been so dangerous.

"I have yet to even find a purpose for some of the other branching rooms, though. The Game Room doesn't seem to have any importance at all."