damned_institute | DAY 26: Men's Showers (Second Shift)

Gluttony didn't want to leave his Lust, not after he'd just found her! But the mean tasty nurses said he had to. "You can't join her in the women's showers" was a bad excuse. He didn't like the mean tasty nurses. Maybe Lust would let him eat them later. Still, he knew he would see his Lust again, and that was good. He liked Lust. She was good and beautiful and smart and kind. Why did they have to take him away from his Lust?

Still, he would see her again. And she would tell him it was okay to eat the tasty nurses, and that would be good. His new friend liked eating people, too. That made him happy to find a friend who shared a love for eating people. Today was a very good day.

As he entered the showers, he stood under a shower head and opened his mouth wide to drink up the water. It wasn't as good as eating people, or eating waffles that didn't scream when he bit into them so weren't nearly as good as eating people, but it was still swallowing something, and that made him feel better.

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"Alchemists." He repeated, testing the word on his tongue. They would be important if they could forge weaponry in a place like this, and Hijikata would be sure to remember. If Homura could introduce him to these alchemists, there would be another important bond for him to make. He began working his fingers through his hair, dispatching of knots and tangles almost absently.

He wasn't surprised by Homura's motives at all. He would have guessed as much, and this was only confirmation. Hijikata had no problems with this. The situation would benefit them both, and the information he gained would be vital come nightshift. It didn't escape Hijikata's notice that Homura had not named the place they would be visiting.

"The same can be said for anyone here, or they would be gone by now." He replied calmly. His eyes half-lidded and on Homura alone. "The two of us tonight, then. Understand that unless it is a sword, I have no interest in dead weight, and if this is a trick I will break your neck with my bare hands." His words, like Homura's, were nothing more or less than the truth. This was not so much a threat as far as Hijikata was concerned - he doubted if such things would do more than amuse the man in front of him.

"Have they begun to organize, and if so who is in charge?"

"Yes." Homura took the time Hijikata spent in thought to run his hands over his body. He had a new bruise already forming where Sanzo's strike had landed in his stomach. A mark he'd wear in pride, at least until the time came for it, along with his other wounds, to vanish. But that wouldn't be for hours yet.

He wasn't stunned by the lack of shock at the selfish request. Quite to the contrary, he appreciated it. People who helped simply for the sake of helping were troublesome, and not honest with themselves. And of course, the other man caught on to the hint, which was good, since it had been rather obvious. Giving a nod to the arrangement--and yes, an amused grin to the attached promise--Homura agreed. "Very well. The specific weapon will be made by the alchemists, though I'll warn you against dealing with one who has golden eyes. He's a boy of fiery temper, and prone to making mistakes." Homura thought again of the sword he had received, feeling a tinge of anger, but only a spec, the fury quelled by the prospects that a child's judgment had opened for him. "Bring something you can carry objects in. Your pillow case will suffice for the task."

And a question that Homura wasn't fully expecting, that drew a sharper smirk onto his lips. This one was clever, likely a leader himself, and it would be interesting to see how he reacted to the Arts and Crafts group. "There is one that seems to be fairly together. They post on the common board as Arts and Crafts. I was in contact with one named Abarai Renji." Another who had been in the room when Homura spoke to Ed. Doubtless he'd felt the same sense of coldness towards the demi-god that Artemis had seemed to.

Foolish.

"You're used to being in command in your own world, correct?" It was easy enough for Homura to pick up. "Be warned that your dealings with them will likely be frustrating if that's the case."

Hijikata nodded at the advice, perhaps a little wearily. The last thing he needed was a hasty hand and a weapon that would become a hindrance when lives were at stake. Still, he had hardly put all of his faith in the night's excursion. His room was full of helpful objects that he'd discovered during the bug search, and he would be sure to make them ready before he moved tonight.

He could see that Homura was perceptive, and Hijikata was smirking slightly as he turned back to the shower. It looked like he would be contacting this Arts and Crafts group for the next shift. He didn't try to confirm or deny anything Homura had already guessed; the other man hadn't asked him any questions about it, and such would have become apparent soon enough.

"If they're as unreasonable as you imply, our dealings won't escalate to that level. My priority is returning home. I won't allow foolishness to stand in the way of that." It was almost a bark, but Hijikata hardly noticed. He meant every word of what he said. As strange as this place was, he had business to attend to. It came above and before everything.

He continued without prompting. "We'll meet just outside the cell block tonight. I haven't seen much of this place yet, but it should be simple for both of us to reach." There was no mistaking the derisive mocking in his tone when he said 'cell'. If they couldn't even be straightforward about their intentions, then this place hardly deserved more than scorn for the sad game it was.

"Then we'll hunt." His smirk was sharp. "Any objections?"

Homura closed his eyes, not finding the word unreasonable entirely appropriate for his dealings with the group. It was more of a conflict of arrogance; healthy egos had their places, but Homura didn't take well to being looked down upon by those he, well...looked down upon.

But something about Hijikata told Homura that he didn't need to voice this, and that the man would do perfectly well for himself. "A wise choice." It was the only comment he made on the other man's declaration, but his smirk told enough to fill the silence.

Homura had been about to suggest something similar when Hijikata declared a meeting place. With a grin to match the other man's, Homura shook his head. "None at all. I'm looking forward to it." And he honestly was, suspecting that Hijikata would be a good man to work with, and one to have on his side.

"As am I." Hijikata agreed. There were a few things that remained unanswered, but for now Hijikata was content to leave them that way. He knew a seasoned fighter when he saw one, and Homura was no exception; he was well built, his smirks and mismatched eyes belonged to a demon not unlike Hijikata.

He began turning off the water. It would take him some time to dry his hair and he suspected that the next shift would be a busy one. For that, he was pleased.

The vice-chief inclined his head. "I'll see you then, Homura-san."

DAY 26: Men's Showers (Second Shift)

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