damned_institute | Day 26: Cafeteria, Lunch

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Day 26: Cafeteria, Lunch

Scar felt cold and sick, though more the latter than the former. As he rose from his bed, he didn't quite know which way was up, and the artificial light coming from overhead seemed as hot and as blinding as the Ishbal sun.

His head hurt, but that was nothing new. After all, the last thing he remembered from the night before was fighting a homunculus off of Lust and then having a conversation about events best left forgotten. The man hadn't been his brother. He just hadn't. And if what Lust had said they'd done to her was true...

Scar stood with shakiness that he wanted to attribute more to a bizarrely weakened physical state than a mental one. Had he been knocked out by some kind of lurking monster before the morning had come? He felt as if he had been out for days, being a veteran of such circumstances, though as he took the practiced role of being an obedient follower behind the nurse and orderlies that came for him, it didn't seem as if much had changed.

This place was probably just playing tricks on him again, and he was tired of being the man left out of the loop. He grabbed some food he didn't really care for and sat down, not seeing anyone he knew already seated. On one hand, he wished he had someone to talk to, and on the other, it scared him that he was no longer used to being alone.

He dug his fork into his food and tried to block out any related thought.

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"I imagine you're quite good at findin' such things out," Gin's smile never wavered, "you seem to have heard several stories and opinions already. Must be your natural wit n' charm."

He managed a few bites of the foreign food. It wasn't rice, but it wasn't awful. "I've found most people are pretty selfish creatures, whether they realize it or not. Everyone wants something, ne?"

Homura grinned yet again, enjoying each new twist and turn. This latest one, for example. On his surface a call to the ego, yet Homura had no doubt that it was sarcasm at it's finest, along with an obvious ploy. A rather bad attempt, if the man actually expected it to work at this point. Obviously he hadn't made a suitable enough impression. "Many tend to share their opinions more freely when confronted with a conflicting point of view. Typically, it's that simple."

Because Homura was not one to hide his own opinion about things. Ever.

"They do. Especially those who won't admit it. They're the ones who tend to want things like world peace and happiness, which are really much larger than individual yearnings." Of course, many of the ones who did admit their own selfishness also wanted to change the world; Homura himself had wanted to destroy it, to replace it with a more perfect paradise.

Ah, dreams. It had felt rather good to execute that plan, even when he lost in the end. But then, perhaps that had been the point after all.

"Are willing to admit that you are a selfish person, Ichimaru Gin?"

More freely? Well, those 'many people' were also likely to be complete idiots. People rarely realized how valuable information could be and those that did... "That a fact?" he asked, taking another bite of his lunch.

He was getting pushy. The obvious implication that he wanted to know Gin's opinion on something before the conversation ended was almost smothering. Gin was a practiced hand though, and didn't let his irritation show. What did he want? Maybe there was a time long ago when he had wanted to change the world. Or at least the world he was residing in at the time. The afterlife was really no different from life on earth, especially if you were a being with any kind of spirit power. You were just as hungry, just as cold at night, just as...

"I am a very selfish person Homura-kun," he replied, giving the man the answer he was likely craving. He'd shown enough evidence already just by evading questions while drinking in Homura's answers. It was better to have the man form generalizations anyway. "Satisfied?"

Homura didn't reply to Gin's most recent evasion, only finishing off his lunch. And then a surprise, or perhaps not, as Gin actually did answer one of his questions. Did that mean he felt it was safe to give that information? Or was he frustrated that Homura wasn't relenting?

Was the answer true, or was Gin lying?

In the end, it seemed Homura had learned very little, but he knew the most important answer of all. The answer that mattered only to the demi-god, and that was Gin's potential, if the man could be used for Homura's own purposes.

A definite maybe.

Oh, Gin was talented no doubt, and Homura loved skill. But Gin was crafty, perhaps too sly to be kept under the war prince's cover. Still, with time, the concept that Homura so very rarely worried about...

"Not at all." Homura's smirk was only visible for a moment before Homura sipped his water, a low laugh echoing against the walls of the cup. "I too am a very selfish person."

That much Gin had known already. It seemed to be a trait that commonly went with people who shared the same confidence that Homura possessed.

Though, since there were no questions to dodge or answer at his leisure, perhaps it was his turn to ask. Or his turn to point out an observation. The idea felt childish, but wasn't that how boys were? "Then I guess we best be careful we don't want th' same things. Two selfish fellas like us. Hate t'see things get messy, ne? Though I s'pose if we worked together, both wantin' somethin'... it'd get done a lot quicker..."

Thankfully, Homura had lived a very long time; otherwise, the shock might have shown on his face just then at Gin's suggestion. Homura had expected to be used, no doubt, but Gin had seemed steadfastly determined to give no benefit in return.

But then, the suggestion didn't eliminate the goal, did it?

"It quite possibly would." Homura considered the idea, which certainly had it's appeal, both for the possible benefits, and for the risks. It'd be an exciting game, wouldn't it?

"But in order to agree, I'd need to know what you want, Ichimaru Gin." Homura again met the man's gaze, blue and gold eyes relaxed, revealing nothing. Oh, but Homura was excited, his mind already working over the possibilities. "Freedom, or perhaps revenge...or something more from this place?"

So his suspicions had been correct. No sooner had he laid the bait than Homura was taking nips at it. Either he was desperate for backers, or he simply knew good help when he found it. Apparently he found Gin to be no threat, however, since he'd taken it for the benefit and not the other.

"What I want..." Gin mused aloud. As though he'd give something so valuable away so easily. That was the key and cornerstone to manipulating a person, knowing what they wanted and what they would do to obtain it.

"Those all sound wonderful, don't they?" He flashed his own blue eyes only briefly before they once again became slanted and fox-like. "My goal," he said, emphasizing that word, rather than his 'want.' "at the moment is to gather information. Without that, how can anyone hope to get far?" The head doctor was well-prepared and had planned everything in advance. Really, it was just as his nightly radio broadcasts suggested. They were little more than his toys... for the moment.

Fox-like, or snake-like? The question danced in the back of Homura's mind as Gin spoke of his immediate goal; no, Homura had not missed the emphasis. Perhaps qualities of the two animals weren't so different in this case.

Information was valuable, no doubt. The war prince let out a slow breath, then shook his head. "You won't get much for free. Certainly not my assistance." Homura would use, and Homura would partner, yes. But Homura was undoubtedly a proud man, and he would not be used again, neither by god or mortal.

He'd had enough of that during his tenure as Toushin Taishi of Heaven. It was one of the most infuriating aspects of his imprisonment here.

"What information are you seeking?"

"Of course not," Gin replied easily. My, so touchy. Perhaps it was something to do with the ego. "Though I'd have t'know what kind of payments you'd find acceptable. Magic blood n' the like I've not much of." He was, however, skilled in many other ways that he, at least, thought of as more valuable.

"An accurate map would be a good start," he answered. There had been bits and pieces posted to the boards, but not enough to get a complete picture. "Really any scrap of information would do. One can't always see th' value in what he possesses after all. The night. The things that lurk about. The doctor. I think we're all wanting to know 'bout him."

The words confirmed something Homura had suspected: Gin most likely couldn't get the information from the Arts and Crafts group directly. Strange, since the group seemed so willing to hand out maps to anyone that asked. By far the majority of the patients had decided information was something deserved by all, as Homura had seen many of the recent posts on the bulletin concerning monsters and maps.

Just what had Gin done that was so horrible in their eyes?

"We'll begin with something simple." Homura wasn't willing to give up everything at once, not without knowing Gin's integrity when it came to paying his debts. "I'll get you a map, and you will give me information about your past, including honest answers to whatever questions I might ask?"

Homura smiled to the man. "A simple enough exchange, I think."

The price was much higher than he was comfortable paying. Not when he could likely get that same information from some unwitting dupe that didn't know anything about him, nor knew what questions to ask. There was always a chance he'd ask the wrong question.

On the other hand, there wasn't a whole lot of point to keeping his past secret. The others were going to find out sooner or later. Likely sooner if he was going to have anything to do with them in the near future. That and it was probably about as difficult to find information on the maps as it was to find out from the others about him. Decisions, decisions.

"Simple 'nough," he answered, "but seems a mite steep." He leaned back a little, as though thinking it all through. He likely wouldn't have to go into detail. "Share a bit of that magic potion you got last night and I could probably answer... three questions? Mm, that seems fair, doesn't it?"

Homura raised an eyebrow as Gin tried to negociate, holding in a laugh at the terms. The blood Homura had worked hard for, and had no intent of sharing, certainly not for three questions.

"I don't need you for the answers." Homura shrugged slightly as he pointed out the simple facts of the matter. "But I did think you'd want the opportunity to explain things without the Arts and Crafts' slant on it." More importantly, Homura wanted to better understand Gin himself. But not if the man was going to be unreasonable about the matter.

"Five questions, and I'll tell you the kind of monster we fought...and more importantly, how to kill it." Homura smiled, holding up his bandaged left arm. "Information that will save you a great deal of time and pain in the end."

Again, Gin showed no reaction to Homura's amusement, his smile fixed like plastic to his face. Homura could think what he liked and take the 'arts and crafts slant' or not. People would believe the others simply because they had numbers and had the appearance of good, upstanding people. He, on the other hand, did not.

"That an' the map for five questions?" he gave a short, dry laugh. He had to be sure to clarify. It was always important in deals like these. Kept things from getting messy. "S'pose I'll settle for that much."

Ah, Homura had gotten caught, as Gin readded the map to the deal. Oh well. The trick had never been very likely to work in the first place, and it was no major loss.

"Done." And from a practical viewpoint, Gin had goten the better of the deal. Homura would have to pick his questions carefully. But for now, Homura kept the first part of his word, relaxing in his seat. "The creatures were the size of a man, an had a strange sort of glow about them. Three came at once, all with long claws extending from their fingers. That appeared to be their only weapons."

Pausing, he sipped his water casually. "They have a single spot near the base of their spines. It appears to be the only weak point on their bodies. A weapon can be thrust there to kill them." Of course the frenzy of the creatures was likely important to mention...but why give away something for free when Gin had made him work so hard?

"I have decided on the first question."

Gin was no fool. Just as he was keeping things from Homura, he was sure there was more to these creatures than he was letting on. But he made mental note of their descriptions, and more importantly, their weak points. No doubt if that was the only spot they could damage the creatures, taking them down would be no simple task.

Everything was theatrics with this man. He couldn't just ask the question. Gin simply leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand, "and that would be?"

Certain things simply called for theatrics, like the very clever question Homura had thought up to be his first. Really, it was the most important thing that he could find out about Gin, at least as far as using the man for his own purposes went.

"What, in detail, are your physical, mental, and emotional weaknesses?"

No point in wasting time, was there?

Couldn't trust the man to stick to his words, could he? The question was really three in one and had nothing at all to do with his past. Though upon mention of the deal last, Homura had conveniently left that out.

He would let Homura push this first question, but he wouldn't be slighted again. "My weapon is a short sword," he said quietly, but loud enough for Homura to hear. "The weakness is in the design itself. One has to be close to use it."

His mental weakness was a bit more difficult, "You will not understand, but Kyoka Suigetsu is what I give my fear as well as my respect. I trust that a name is specific enough?" All things were secondary after that. Any other fear was almost certainly caused by it.

At the last one, his mouth rose in something of a smirk. He knew better than to mention Rangiku. Homura hadn't asked for a person. "You could say I'm a sucker for a hard-luck case," he said finally. Others might laugh to hear it, but it did ring true. When Abarai's captain was too irritated by his Vice's actions to even see to his wounds, Gin had been the one to contact the medic squad. When he knew what waited for Hinamori, he'd offered ample warning to Toushirou. And even if it was only for a moment, he'd offered deliverance to Kuchiki Rukia. It ought to count for something. Then there was that day he'd taken Ran in... "Kicked puppies," brought Izuru to mind. "Cats left in the rain," Rangiku... "That sort of thing."

He finished his glass of water and focused his gaze on Homura, the mirth gone from his smile, "I trust you won't push your luck so hard with the next question?" He'd never said a word about letting Homura live long enough to pass on his information to the proper buyer.

In Homura's mind, he hadn't gone against his word at all. Weaknesses were born from the past, as much a part of one's history as a person's strengths. Homura had simply skipped over the part where there'd be storytelling, something akin to turning to the last chapter of a novel.

"That will suffice." Of course, skipping so much often left a person missing vital details to give a clear understanding, but there were more than enough ways to fill in the blanks. More importantly, Gin's expression made it clear that he understood that Homura wasn't going to sit back and make things easy for the other man. No, the demi-god intended to use Gin just as he would any other, and if this was the best way to go about it, then so be it.

"Push my luck?" Homura looked quietly to Gin as the man all but threatened him. "You were the one who failed to put limitations on what I could ask...or what I could do with this information. But you can relax." Homura smirked, all the confidence he had shown multiplied from before. "I have no reason to share these secrets, or any others I might learn. So long as you remain useful to me, of course."

Cards on the table. "Then there is the chance you might try to kill me in order to assure my silence. In fact, you're probably already plotting how you'll do it. I'll simply warn you that such a task won't be easily accomplished...and would be fruitless in the end."

Homura simply wasn't afraid of death. Of course, it helped that he knew where he would end up. After all, the last time he died, he'd woken up in this place.

He gave another short laugh, "Fair enough Homura-kun. You've caught me. You c'n ask one more now if y'like. The rest after you d'liver the map. Sound fair?"

It wasn't the questions he minded, it was the way he stayed so smug. Useful. As though it was Gin who would have to work to keep his favor. He already knew he'd have to be careful not to let the man lose too much interest, nor to let him know too much.

Gin gave a shrug, easy smile returning. "I'm only saying that there's some information that's dangerous t'have. It's not me you could worry 'bout. 'Sides, you know all my weaknesses now, ne? I should be th' one 'fraid of you."

"That sounds perfectly fair." Homura had actually been willing to settle for the single question, but there was something else he was curious about. Well, many things, but one came to the front of his mind.

"Perhaps you should, but I somehow suspect you aren't." Homura chuckled, then motioned towards Rangiku, who was still in view of the pair. "That woman. She waved to you when she came in, I believe. What's your history with her?"

The more he talked to Gin, the more it seemed odd that he'd have any allies who'd greet him so readily. Homura looked forward to learning the connection between the two, and perhaps even more, the potential reaction Gin might have.

"A man without much t'lose has little t'fear," Gin said simply. His gaze followed Homura's gesture, though he didn't have to look to see who he was referring to. It had to be more than coincidence. He cursed himself for letting the gesture slip and this man's damned memory.

He could easily lie. He'd done it before. Say she was an unwitting mark of his, something. It wasn't as though most of the patients here would think less of him. The ones that knew him, already thought little. Not that he much cared about their opinions. Some things were worth selling your soul for. But he wasn't going to sell her out with him.

Luckily, his expression didn't reveal any of his inner turmoil. He only had to tell their history, not their relationship. This and that were separate matters. "Childhood playmates," he said cooly, "saved her when we were younger. Went to th' same school. Worked in th' same field for a time."

Gin watched the man's expression, trying to read his reaction, "even creatures like me were cute lil' kids once upon a time. Don't think I was always so jaded, do ya Homura-kun?"

Homura waited as Gin looked to Rangiku, and made his choice. His words were as casual as any of the others he had spoken, a simple statement of fact, and yet...and yet.

He closed his eyes, thinking once again of Rinrei for a moment, and of Shien and Zenon. "A man without much to lose still has something that can be lost." Another statement of fact? Yes, but perhaps something in the quiet way Homura said it, in the momentary distance in his eyes gave away hints about his own past.

Or at least, about all the demi-god himself had lost.

Not the reaction he'd expected. Homura seemed almost... nostalgic? Much as he disliked the idea of drawing comparisons, maybe he and Homura had more in common than he'd first thought. He'd hit upon something, of that much he was certain. What it was exactly, he had yet to uncover.

He waited for a moment, as though Homura might say something more, then leaned back in his chair. "Somethin' else on your mind?"

"There's always something more on the mind than what's spoken. Things that can't be forgotten." Homura grinned. Unable to forget, but he could hide well enough, and the sense of nostalgia about him was already fading. "But I'm hardly the only one who suffers from that trait, I'd think."

Normally, Homura wouldn't hesitate to tell stories of his own past: about the gods who had condemned him for being a heresy, and who had taken the woman who loved him in spite of it. But Gin had made him work for the answers he had gotten, and Homura was in a mood to return the favor, and the frustration.

Aw, and now he was trying to be all spiteful. For a man who had been so free with his answers earlier, now he was being terribly stingy. It was almost amusing. Unfortunately, the nurses were already coming to pick up their patients for the next shift.

Gin smiled and nodded once more to Homura, "Be seein' ya."

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Day 26: Cafeteria, Lunch

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