damned_institute | Day 75: DAWN, MORNING, NOON, AND AFTERNOON

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Day 75: DAWN, MORNING, NOON, AND AFTERNOON

As the day started, the weather only seemed to be improving, and some patients might even call it warm. Granted, the climate control in the building meant it wouldn't make a difference until someone chose to venture outside.

For now, though, it was time for breakfast, and the intercom came on to wake up all of the patients from their enforced slumber.

"Breakfast sandwiches... how could you not look forward to something like that, dear patients?" Even as Landel spoke, the nurses started peeking into rooms and rousing people from their beds.

"There's plenty to look forward to today, from the recreational field to the greenhouse. I hope that you all enjoy your days and your lunches."

As usual, lunch would be handed out in a paper bag, offering some fruit and vegetables to snack on, along with a sandwich as the main course and pudding for dessert.

"That's all for now!" Though the Head Doctor would be announcing the different shift changes throughout the day, as usual.

--

Mingle log guidelines:

1. All Day Shift 75 threads will take place in the comments to this post.
2. PROSE!
3. Tag under the proper time of day for the thread. You do not have to stick to one thread per shift, as long as you don't try to do a large total number of threads (4 or less is best, but a fifth won't get you in trouble).
4. Subject line of your opening tag: Location (required), shift (optional), OPEN (if appropriate). Putting "OPEN" in the subject line should make it easier for other players to find open threads, and the nature of this log means that you should be able to pick up an open thread that interests you even if you already have something scheduled for that shift. Threads which are not open can be marked the way they always are, with the names of the other characters in small text after the opening post.
5. Each thread should have its own separate starter, just like on any other DS. The format of threads is not changing, only the format of the log post itself, and the fact that you don't have to strictly stick to one thread per shift.

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Getting the coordinates for Auldrant and for Claude's version of Earth meant that the night hadn't been a complete waste, but Guy found he was still frustrated when he blacked out and woke up in his bed. They'd wanted to put out the word about the device that the rebels had given them, but they weren't given the chance.

The bulletin board wasn't a viable option, which meant that all Guy could rely on now was word of mouth. He didn't know how they were even going to find Landel, but chances were that others had figured that part out already. The only way he'd know for certain is if he started talking to people.

He still had to put up an act for the nurses, though, but that was something Guy could do without even thinking about it. Mainly, all it took was smiling and nodding, and so before long he made it to the cafeteria.

With his plate full, he scanned the mess hall, searching out someone who might be interested in an exchange of information.

Last night hadn't been their most productive night, all things considered, and yet Claude felt like they'd made huge strides in their quest to get out of this place. Truth be told, he couldn't help but wonder if the abrupt end to the night wasn't Landel's way of throwing a wrench in their plans. In all probability, they'd have to fight that much harder to get anything done if they wanted out.

After everything that had happened the past few nights, it almost felt surreal having the nurse escort him to the cafeteria. He kept reminding himself that, if they played their cards right, they'd be out of here soon enough. That was the main thought that kept him going as he loaded his tray up with a healthy portion of food.

Claude didn't really have to inwardly debate over where to sit. Although part of him realized that he probably needed to be talking to other patients and spreading the word, he couldn't help but gravitate toward where Guy was sitting.

"Hey," he greeted, though by this point he felt like he was hardly necessary. "Um, mind if I join you?"

Before Guy was able to pinpoint anyone in particular to speak to, Claude made it to the cafeteria and headed over. Guy would never turn down an offer to spend some time with Claude, of course, but he reminded himself that he was going to need to work on spreading information after their morning chat.

"Not at all," he said with a smile, motioning for Claude to take a seat. Honestly, he was relieved to see him here, seeing how both he and Anise had slept through the previous day. If all of them could just stay here long enough to finish their mission, then they could find their way home together.

Except that their homes differed from each other's, that was the only problem. Guy was confident that he would find a way to locate Claude (or vice versa) despite that, though.

"The journal with all the coordinates is safe in my room," he said. "I guess the next step is figuring out how to use them."

Edited 2014-02-07 00:53 (UTC)

"Thanks for keeping the coordinates safe," Claude said, rubbing the back of his neck a little sheepishly. Considering how he slept all through yesterday, he felt like Guy was picking up a lot of his slack lately.

"Sounds like the device will play a key role in making sure we get out of here," he admitted. "So I guess the more people know about it, the better." Well, sort of. Claude guessed he didn't want the staff to know about it, but it was at least easy to mask their discussions as products of their own delusions or something.

"And while we're on that topic, um, do you mind if I talk to you about something for a minute?" Claude picked up his fork, fidgeting with it a little, but didn't seem like he was about to dig into his food anytime soon.

"No problem." Guy didn't feel that there was an imbalance between them at all. It wasn't Claude's fault that he'd slept all day. The institute was probably to blame for that, seeing how common that kind of oversleeping was here.

"Yeah, I was planning to tell as many people about it as I can today," he agreed with a nod. "We can't really use the bulletin, so I guess it's back to the old-fashioned way." They still had three more shifts to do that, so Guy wasn't too worried.

The way that Claude led them into another topic was a little bit out of the ordinary, causing Guy to pause and put his food down instead of taking a bite. "Sure thing." It sounded ominous, there was no denying that, but Guy wasn't too worried. This was Claude, after all.

He would probably need to get on board with that, too, especially since there was no telling whether Anise would wind up sleeping all day or not. But for now, Claude had decided to talk to Guy, so he tried not to feel too bad about spending this first shift with him.

When Guy gave the go-ahead, Claude took a small breath and willed himself not to beat around the bush too much, although he couldn't make any promises.

"So, you know, we've got the coordinates for both Earth and Auldrant, right?" Of course Guy knew that, but it was the best way he knew how to broach the subject. As he spoke, Claude couldn't stop playing with his fork, so he ultimately had to force himself to put it down and look Guy in the eye.

"But...well, I've been thinking," he carefully added. "About going back to Auldrant. With you."

Guy focused on his food while he waited for Claude to get to the point, not wanting to rush him but also feeling slightly anxious about what serious topic might be brought up.

He wasn't really expecting Claude to go back to the coordinates, though. Guy glanced over, waiting as patiently as he could.

It took a moment for Claude's words, once they came, to actually sink in. "You..." Guy blinked, staring at Claude for a few more seconds.

"You don't want to go back to your own home? Why not?" Guy was touched that Claude wanted to stick with him and Anise, but he still wouldn't have predicted that Claude would be willing to give up everything he knew for them simply because of the time they'd spent in this institute.

"Of course I want to go back," he hastily answered. "Earth is my home, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my mom. But I..."

Claude floundered for a moment, wondering where he should even begin.

"Well, I don't think it's a good idea for me to go home," he added, his voice growing quieter. "The doctors did something to me here, and people on Earth are going to figure it out once I undergo a mandatory physical. Scientists in my mom's field are going to get ideas, and I don't want anyone to even think about doing this to someone else."

The situation wasn't so cut-and-dry, but these were Claude's personal feelings on the subject. Even after everything he'd been through, he still had a right to make his own judgments, didn't he?

It was the fact that Claude's mother was waiting for him back home that made it so difficult for Guy to understand how he'd be okay with never going back there. Would it be that easy for him to cut ties and leave her behind?

He remained quiet and didn't even take any bites of his food as Claude gave his explanation. Guy could understand being scared of what might happen if he returned, especially if that could impact other people. But it was still such a huge decision.

"You'd never see your mom again, though... there has to be a way to see that all of that doesn't happen, right? Ilia is a scientist herself. Couldn't she protect you?" There had to be a way around all of this.

"If you came to Auldrant, you might never be able to make your way back home. Your mom would never know what happened to you..." It was so final. Guy didn't want Claude making a choice like that unless he thought it through completely.

"Even if that's true, she won't be able to protect me forever," Claude pointed out. The admission made his stomach turn, but he honestly believed it.

"Something you have to remember is that I'd already decided to give up my life on Earth before I even came here," he added. "It's not like I'm saying all of this on a whim." And it was true. He'd technically been down this path before, even if the circumstances had changed.

"I've thought long and hard about the consequences, but I mean...everyone back home already thinks I'm dead." He stared down at the table, a frown creasing his features. "Considering everything that's happened, maybe that's for the best."

It had to be difficult losing faith in someone's parent like that. Guy had lost his at such a young age that he couldn't really imagine what it felt like, but having anyone pulled down off a pedestal was a difficult thing.

Claude made a good point about the fact that he'd chosen to stay in Excel, but seeing how that had also been the result of an accident, Guy would have thought he'd finally want to take his chance to get home. That wasn't the case, though, and maybe the core of this issue was that Claude had never felt like he belonged on Earth in the first place.

Guy still worried about what would happen if Claude made it to Auldrant and hated it there, but realistically, he knew that probably wouldn't happen. They'd both spoken to each other plenty about their worlds, after all.

"Well, maybe we can work on some communication technology, and you could try to send a message back home somehow. I don't know if that would really be possible, but between the two of us and Jade, you never know." Guy managed a small smile and took a bite of his food. "If your mind's already made up, then I know I'm not going to be able to change it."

And maybe there was a part of Guy that was relieved that he wouldn't have to say goodbye to Claude for good.

A communication device would be all well and good, but Claude wasn't going to hold his breath. He knew it wouldn't be really appropriate for him to help introduce technology that could revolutionize Auldrant's society, at any rate, but...

Looking up from his tray, Claude tried to read Guy's expression to better gauge his reaction. It sounded like, outside of worrying about what was best for Claude, Guy didn't have any huge objections, but he still wanted to make certain.

"So, it wouldn't bother you, then?" he asked. "My coming with you, I mean. If you think you've got too much on your plate back home, I don't want to add to any of your problems somehow."

The fact that Claude was actually worried about something like that, after everything they'd been through, was enough to cause Guy to let out a small scoff of a laugh and shake his head.

"Of course it wouldn't, Claude. We'd all be happy to have you come with us, if that's what you really want." Judging from this conversation, it sounded like that truly was the case, and Guy felt pretty honored to hear that.

"I can almost guarantee you that Anise will be excited about it, too," he added with a small smile. He hadn't spotted their third member so far, but he could almost picture her reaction now. "It's going to be a relief, not having to say goodbye."

Then again, something could still go wrong. What if people were only allowed to return to their own worlds? That could throw a wrench in all these plans, but Guy kept that thought to himself.

If the conversation hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped, Claude had intended on returning to Expel despite the revelation that the person he'd wanted to stay for had decided it would be better to part ways. He felt like he'd made peace with that fact well enough to build a new life for himself if necessary.

But Guy, at least, was pretty pleased with the idea of taking Claude along, and he sounded like he believed Anise would feel the same way.

The knot in his stomach loosened a bit, and Claude had to admit he felt pretty relieved himself.

"I just didn't want you and Anise to feel obligated to agree to it, that's all," Claude added with a small smile of his own. "But I'm...really glad to hear you say that, Guy."

"There's no obligation at all. Everyone's going to love you, I promise."

Some of them might show love in strange ways -- like Jade, for instance -- but Guy still thought that Claude would be a good addition to their so-called team.

There was no telling if Luke would be around, that was still one big mystery, but Guy had to admit that it would be comforting to have Claude with him if it turned out that Luke was never coming back.

Guy took another bite of his breakfast and then smiled. "And with any luck, we'll be getting there soon."

Would Guy's friends really like him? Claude hoped so. Granted, he felt like he'd already met most of them in the institute, and they'd gotten along really well during those times. But the circumstances here were different, since people had to bind together during tough times like these.

Of course, Guy knew them all much better than Claude did. He'd have to trust that his friend knew what he was talking about.

Returning the smile, he took a sip of his juice. "Thanks. And I hope -- no, I'm sure it'll be soon too. We just have a little further to go, right?"

The fact was that Claude was extremely easy to get along with, which was why he'd be able to handle even the stranger friends that Guy had back home.

If they were even back home, anyway. Chances were that most of them were still brainwashed out there, and they'd have to solve that problem before they could go anywhere.

"Guess it depends on how easily we can find and save our friends..." That would probably require stopping Landel entirely, maybe even killing him, and while they had a way to do that now, getting to him was another story. "We'll have to try and get some more information today, while we have the chance."

"That's true," Claude said, eyebrows faintly furrowing in thought. "I'll try to talk to talk to some people before the day's over."

It was frustrating to know that they were so close, and yet they were still stuck here for awhile yet. Of course, that may have been his impatience talking. He'd never been good at the waiting game, but he also knew they couldn't exactly try to take Landel head-on.

Luckily, he wasn't in this alone.

"I feel like I can't thank you enough," he admitted, seemingly unaware of the sudden subject change. "A lot can happen between now and later, so...now is probably a good time to say it, you know? So, um, thanks for sticking with me this whole time. I'm really happy I met you, Guy."

It was probably a lame way to say it, all things considered, but it was the best he could do right then.

"I'll do the same," Guy agreed. It wasn't that hard to find someone to talk to, even if it was at random, seeing how they were all shoved into the same rooms.

It was pretty sudden, the way that Claude suddenly started thanking him for being his friend. The silly part being that no one had to thank Guy for something like that, and so he raised an eyebrow before shaking his head.

"I was happy to stick with you, Claude," he said. "I'm just glad we're both still here, and we can see this out together." Guy wouldn't really want it any other way, to be honest. He would have preferred if all of his friends were here with him, but at least he had Claude and Anise.

"If everything goes right, soon enough you'll get to see Auldrant for yourself," he finished with a warm smile.

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Day 75: DAWN, MORNING, NOON, AND AFTERNOON

Cafeteria, 1st Shift [Open]

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