http://right-handed.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] right-handed.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] damned_institute2007-08-14 12:56 am

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.

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Excel grinned. "So you've noticed it too? Well of course you did. I knew there was something about you I liked. You're very observant. That's an excellent quality that we look for in our newest recruits. And YOU um, erm, what was your name again?"

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
Phibrizzo glanced around, looking for any sort of escape he could make. However, he didn't see any feasible route, unless he decided to off this girl. But then he would have a lot of explaining to do and all his plans would go to waste before they were made.

Damn it.

Sighing, he offered her his name. "Phibrizzo."

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Phib- Phibrr- I'll just call you Phibby-kun, how about that? Phibby-kun, YOU are just the sort of person ACROSS needs to take over the city! How would you like to help your Senior Officer with conquering the ignorant masses?" Excel beamed at the boy, looking only a tad less insane as she had before.

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
WHAT?

What the hell was this fruitcake playing at? Was she honestly so STUPID and INSANE that she didn't realize how extremely hopeless, pointless, and downright ridiculous she sounded.

...the perfect cover.

He mulled this over. What was a better front than running around as the child playmate of an obviously delusional girl? If he pretended he thought he was playing a great game with her, well, first off, it wouldn't appear to anyone else that he was any great threat. He'd have a "big sister" figure to manipulate and any decision he made or action he took could be blamed upon this...lunatic.

Which was a mark against this whole plan. If he used this one as his cover, he would have to-shudder-spend time with her. That was not something he wanted, not in the least.

Still, after much thought, he decided it would be better in the long run to be thought of as "crazy Excel's playmate" than "that suspicious kid".

"I can join ACROSS?!" He cried, looking as excited as he could force himself. "But I'm just a kid! Surely only adults get to have important jobs in ACROSS!"

He beamed up at Excel. "What do I get to do in ACROSS?"

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
"There are lots of jobs at ACROSS that I'm sure you can do. Like, Official Toliet Cleaner or Food Getter or Official Emergency Food Supply Caretaker. See? Loads and loads to do. But first, to join ACROSS we have to put you through the initiation process."

Excel grinned wickedly and stood up, walking next to Phibrizzo and indicating that he should stand too. "Now, put your hand straight up into the air, click your heels together and repeat after me, alright?"

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Phibrizzo looked up at her. "Eh? O-Ok."

He crawled out of his seat and faced her, mimicing her actions. "What now, Miss Excel?"

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
"I, insert name here, do solemnly swear to devote my life to ACROSS and the wonderful LORD ILPALAZZO! If he demands that I strip down, I will strip down. If he demands that I fall down a hole and encounter lots of sharp pointy objects, ravenous creatures, perilous puuchuus and strange afro haired men who claim to be directors then I will do so without fail! For the GLORY of ACROSS and the LOVE of my dear sweet LORD ILPALAZZO! HAIL ILPALAZZO!!"

Excel finished off her speech with a bright and cheerful belt, her hand high in the air in an eager salute.

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Phibrizzo's jaw dropped and he just stared at her. What was THAT? And how was he supposed to be expected to remember it all?

He began, "I, Phibrizzo, do promise..." Well, that was the extent of what he remembered, up to that last part. "..to do all that stuff Miss Excel mentioned. HAIL ILPALAZZO."

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Yay!" Excel shouted, jumping up and down. "Phibby-kun, you're now Third Officer beneath Ha-chan. Your objective is to help Lord IlPalazzo and ACROSS take over this building."

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
"This building," he repeated back, not really trying to hide his feelings. "Your goal is to take over this building. Are you serious?"

He forced himself to reign in the attitude. No, if his "big sister" wanted to take over the building, then of course he was MORE than game. He was the third officer of ACROSS, afterall.

"That's a big task! Do you think we can handle it, Miss Excel?"

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course we can," Excel said, patting Phibrizzo on the shoulder. "With our powers combine we will rule the IGNORANT MASSES within a week! Soon they will all know the power of the Great Lord IlPalazzo! AHAHAHA!"

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmm?" Phibrizzo turned his head up and looked Excel in the eyes. "What powers do you have, Miss Excel?"

Maybe she wasn't as useless as she appeared.

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
"LOVE! JUSTICE! AND THE POWER OF THE GREAT WILL-CHAN!" Excel exclaimed with a maniacal cry. "That is all the power Excel needs. Plus an Uzi, mwahaha!"

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Love and Justice. UGH.

"What's an Uzi?" Phibrizzo ventured, attempting to change the topic. Was it slang for something? Or a magical artifact from this realm?

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
"It's a submachine gun," she said with a mad glint to her eye. "My Uzi is my best friend next to my very large, very pointy sword."

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
Phibrizzo blinked. "Who lets you handle such weapons?"

So an "Uzi" was type of gun. Phibrizzo was aware of what guns were, but they didn't seem particularly effective in the presence of magic. It didn't appear as if anyone here was familiar in the ways of any magic, though, so maybe guns were the best they could manage.

"And how do you propose we conquer the 'ignorant masses' and take over this building, Miss Excel?"

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh. Well... um..." Excel looked sheepish and scratched the back of her head. "Excel really hasn't gotten that far in her plans. There must be some clue that Lord IlPalazzo left me. All I have to do is find it."

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Hellmaster sweatdropped and put a palm to his face. No plan?! The Mazoku pragmatist couldn't stop himself. It wasn't as if plans were THAT hard to come up with. "Miss Excel, may I make a suggestion, then?"

Ok, he'd only try and dictate this ONE tiny part of the situation. After that, he was doing exactly as she said and playing the part of the innocent and unknowing child. Really, he was. He would NOT let his desire to control overpower his plans for outwardly relying on Excel.

[identity profile] bulletofjustice.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure, go ahead third officer! Say what you're thinking. Of course if it has anything to do with Lord IlPalazzo I will have to pull rank on you." She smiled at him and put her hands on her hips, looking at him expectantly.

[identity profile] hellmunchkin.livejournal.com 2007-08-20 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
He put on his innocent face. "Well, it seems to me that ACROSS is severely lacking in numbers right now. Maybe we should get some more members, to start with? There's a bulletin board in the other room and I'm sure we could find other, willing members to join our cause and serve IlPalazzo."

The boy put a hand to his mouth, as if debating. "And, I mean, they would all serve you and answer to you, since you are the highest ranking and all that. Wouldn't our leader be impressed to see you commanding not one, but several agents?"