Day 27: Breakfast

[lighthearted]

Day came too soon.

Sora hadn't been able to find Rena, had instead been forced to crumple onto the grass of the recreational field and bleed all over himself, and hadn't even accomplished what he'd been sent out to do. What he'd been entrusted to do. He didn't know how he was going to be able to face Renji and the others, but he also knew he wasn't going to hide from them, either. That would just be low, after all, and he was ready to face up to the consequences.

He didn't try to make excuses for himself. Even though there had been a Special Counseling patient, they had managed to take her down by sheer numbers. The fact that he hadn't seen any sign of Rena was what had him the most worried. He hoped he could find her today.

The boy laid in his bed for a good while that morning before his nurse finally came in to collect him. She clucked over the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest and leg, and asked him if he was okay to walk.

Once Sora assured her he was fine (he didn't really want to use crutches, as that would just attract attention to himself, and he didn't need others worrying over him), they made their way to the cafeteria. Sora yawned and winced against the bright light of morning - it seemed even earlier than usual, and he realized why when they entered the cafeteria and found it empty.

The boy shuffled over to grab a chocolate chip pancake, a bowl of cereal, and a glass of milk (good for the bones, or so his mom had always told him) before settling at a table. He kept an eye on the door, hoping he would see Rena walking in soon.

Comments

M86

[for-marian.livejournal.com]

The last thing Leon remembered was Gremio going for water. Then, that annoying voice was ringing through the air again and he was in his own bed. Sitting up wrung a surprised cry of pain out of him, and he instinctively clutched his maimed right hand to his chest; the hand was swathed in bandages, but clearly misshapen even through the padding. Not a nightmare... that thing really did... fuck.

There were pills of some sort on the bedside table along with a cup of water, but Leon didn't trust anything these people gave him unless he absolutely had to, like with food. With an angry, pained sob, Leon swept the pills and the cup off the nightstand with his good hand.

... And then he remembered his roommate, and his heart dropped into his stomach. Caught behaving this way... this place is endlessly humiliating!

Re: M86

[son-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

Clark didn't remember falling asleep. There was Usopp and the others, and the threat of something in the fridge, and then...nothing. Day light streamed through the windows. It took a moment to register the fact that his eyes were open. Another to realize that there was someone else in the room with him, and that the sound they were making was...a sob?

Sitting up, Clark looked around, for a second confused. This was the second time he'd blanked out, with no memory of how he'd gotten back or how to account for the missing hours, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't starting to get a little freaked out. Getting freaked out's gonna have to wait, Clark thought, just noticing the state of his roommate. Leon's face was ghostly white, which would've been a big heads-up even if Clark hadn't then noticed the hand.

Leon's hand was bandaged. But he didn't need x-ray vision to see that he was missing fingers.

Clark jumped to his feet. "What happened?" he demanded.

[muted-flame.livejournal.com]

Before they even got up the stairs, they were cut off. Roy found himself irritated as he 'woke up' in his bed, and some might have even considered it getting up on the wrong side of it, but he hadn't actually slept, had he? He liked to trick himself into thinking that they all did somehow get some sleep in that odd space between morning and night (that didn't even seem to really be there), but that was only so he wouldn't consider just how little rest he was getting.

At this point, he didn't think too much over it. He had become so used to getting out of bed, mumbling a few things to appease his nurse, and then being led off for the first meal of the day. The lack of productivity was of course bothersome, but he had at least squared things away with Adelheid, so there would be nothing (other than the usual weapon-making) to stop him from getting down to business next time.

Speaking of weapons, he had to get that organized first and foremost, so he scribbled a quick message for his next customer on the bulletin board on his way to the cafeteria.

Once in the mess hall, he got his breakfast (one pancake with syrup, along with some bacon and sausage) and seated himself at one of the many empty tables. Before he got to eating, he grabbed the paper Adelheid had given him the night before out of his pocket. It was more information about weapons, which was the last thing he needed, though he was glad to see that most of these he had already made note of himself. It was what was added at the bottom that interested him most. It was all rather mysterious, and he was going to need to find Fullmetal soon to discuss the details.

For now, though, he would eat his breakfast and wait for a certain Integra Hellsing to find him - incidentally, that name was also on the list Adelheid had given him. He would have to see what this patient wanted... And he had to admit he was a little curious.

[steel-maiden.livejournal.com]

The sense of being caught in an absurd dream was made even worse with the repetitive nature of it all. Every morning things began again, a gigantic loop with next to zero progress. At least she’d acquired a map from last night, but that was about all. Her frustration never waned, but she could conceal it well enough as she looked across the room for a man who may help her with something else she wanted. Though it was still curious to her how Momo had felt the need to give her a vague warning about this Colonel, even if the girl could explain no further of why she should be cautious with him.

And there, she saw the one in question, or at least she believed so. Integra crossed the room, setting down her tray but pausing to confirm his name before she sat as well. “Colonel Mustang?” It was doubtful too many black haired men would have eyes of two different colors here.

[screwthegods]

[Waiting for Grumpypants-kun. ♥]

And so the day began, after a rush to grab the pillowcase of metal with a warning to Hijikata to do the same. It turned out to work, as Homura found his gathered material in his closet, along with Hijikata's case. A rather welcome start, all things considered.

Ken was sleeping soundly in his bed, and Homura debated for a moment bringing him to breakfast. But the questions weren't urgent, and dinner would leave the pair trapped together. Why take away the topic of conversation? Besides, Homura had an appointment to keep, and there was the chance that Hitsugaya wouldn't be comfortable answering them at all, much less with someone besides Homura present.

So he headed to the cafeteria with his nurse, rather pleased to find himself clean. The odor from the bathroom water could hardly be called appetizing, and he didn't need to give Hitsugaya any reason to run. He filled out a tray of the food, taking a pancake of each kind, and covering them with syrup and whipped cream.

Such interesting food they served.

His meal complete, Homura found an empty spot in view of the entrance, and waited for the short captain to arrive. He also watched out for Hijikata and Okita, both of whom were supposed to draw maps for him that day.

[whiteychan.livejournal.com]

The sensation of Hinamori's head against his shoulder as she held onto him gave way as morning came. He sat up in bed abruptly, his eyes in a panic. Momo...

No, morning came. He could just barely sense her reiatsu. Everything was going to be ok. When day came, people were patched up. Even his burns seemed less severe. They stung slightly, and his entire body was sore, but the memories stung more than the actual wounds. Momo in trouble, again. Omi's childishness and games. The truth about Dr. Lecter...

No. He wasn't going to think about that. But breakfast was coming, and the thought of pancakes, or any other food, made him nauseous. He might have refused to go to breakfast altogether if he hadn't made an appointment with Homura. He was a man of his word.

He allowed the nurse to lead him into the Cafeteria, but didn't bother going through the food line. Instead he sought out Momo, but found that she wasn't here yet. You'd better come to breakfast, dummy he thought to himself. He needed to be sure she was alright.

Although Momo was missing, Homura was there. Hitsugaya walked over to the table and sat down across from him. He felt like shit, but he wasn't about to show it. "Good morning," he said politely. "You wanted to speak with me?"

[a-spider-can.livejournal.com]

This place was pretty brutal about the switch from night to day. The downright unsettling feeling that time had passed and yet not knowing how much, or what had happened during it, was bad enough, but Peter had hardly gotten a chance to look over the letter (fake though it might be) before he was right back in bed again.

The first thing he did once he sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes (not that he had slept, as far as he could tell) was check on Logan. It was good to see that his roommate was there, at the very least - it seemed he had survived the night, which was relieving. With the covers pulled up over the man, Peter couldn't tell if he had gotten any injuries, but he could always keep an eye out for him in the cafeteria, he figured.

All in all, the night had been pretty productive. He'd seen a good amount of the institute (unless it was bigger than he thought) and he hadn't run into any of the monsters that were apparently running around. He also knew that Eddie was all right, if probably sore from all of his injuries.

As for this upcoming day, his plan was to be better organized for the night - figure out who he was going to spend it with, and what they would be specifically be doing.

Though it was too early in the day to be quite so social, so once he got to the cafeteria and grabbed a bowl of cereal, he sat at a table on his own. He didn't really care if someone joined him, but he wasn't going to go searching out others until he had woken up a bit more.

[kingofknights.livejournal.com]

The "buttermilk pancakes" seemed to be quite appropriately named, Saber thought dryly as she stepped into line to receive her food. The set-up was not unlike meal time at war camps for her soldiers, though it was admittedly a step up from the nutritious but unpleasant meals served to men ready for war. As the cafeteria workers looked on, eyes wide and eyebrows arched, the small woman piled her plate up with a stack of pancakes topped with fruit and whipped cream as well as a variety of other dishes offered. This cuisine was very different than that which she'd grown accustomed to while under Shirou's command, but it seemed above par, and thus suited to her tastes.

Which her tray piled high with food, a blank, serious expression on her face, the Servant surveyed her surroundings. A gathering of people dressed in the same uniform she sported, all gathered around tables with food as they ate and conversed. Saber's brow furrowed slightly; if this were another War for the Holy Grail, its overseer was certainly going about it in the oddest of fashions. The sheer number of people present at that... The rules clearly stated that there were only to be seven, and then seven Masters. Clearly something was amiss.

Picking a random, young man out of the crowd, Saber marched over, tray still in hand as she stood on the opposite side of the table from him, serious expression never faltering as she looked him directly in the eye. She would have taken a seat, but it was hardly proper etiquette when she hadn't been invited.

"Are you here to participate in the War?" the small, blond woman asked abruptly. Simply because she possessed some manner of etiquette didn't mean she was less inclined to be as blunt and to the point as possible.

[blacksustenance.livejournal.com]

The last thing Brock remembered was trying not to doze off, sitting as he was slumped in a chair and overall feeling pretty crappy. Parker had been dicking around with the file cabinets and checking out the fake letters, the flickering lights giving the other man this weird, washed out look, like some kind of freaky-ass dream.

The next thing he remembered was feeling still pretty damn crappy. No change there.

Groaning, Brock sat up, movements stiff and sluggish. Jesus H Christ, he felt like shit: his back was killing him, it still hurt to take deep breaths, and his face - he didn't want to think about his face, because he was sure it looked as shitty as he felt, no thanks to Kasady. That fucking brat. Thinking he could get away with intruding on his territory, his property! He was the reason they were like this...and that brought Brock to the second problem. For almost two months he'd been used to feeling a part of something bigger, something so much smarter and just better, that to think to himself and realize he suddenly felt alone...well, it felt pretty weird to think me instead of us.

Brock felt dirty.

Like wake up in a church and find yourself naked for no goddamn reason dirty.

Not that that hadn't happened before, but that was besides the point.

As far as he could tell, he was still infected (gifted, linked, diseased, whatever you called it), but there was no Other voice, just a deafening silence inside his skull. All the heightened senses he'd taken for granted by now were almost entirely gone. How Parker ever got used to being like this, being normal, was beyond him. It left him with the feeling like something was just out of his range of vision, like something - or someone - was behind him, just waiting for him to turn around and find that there was no one else and that maybe he was crazy after all even though he was pretty sure he wasn't. It was as close to being human as Brock had been for a long time and he didn't like it.

The blond was withdrawn as he was led to the cafeteria. Throwing himself into a good sulk looked fun, but it wasn't helped by the fact that he was starving - it made sense, seeing as he had to eat for two, maybe three (Christ, he didn't even want to think about that now), but when he actually looked at food on his plate, he had to fight the urge not to hurl. Not that there was anything to hurl in the first place, but he definitely felt nauseous as he sat down and stared at the mountain of pancakes.

His stomach was growling, but after his injuries from last night, Brock wasn't sure how much he could even swallow down. Eventually he'd be forced to try, but right now all he could do was poke at the syrup-drenched pancakes and try not to gag on it.

Yeah, he was definitely going to kill Kasady.

If there was anything worse than playing at being his Spider's buddy, it was that asshole making him this almost-human freak.

[theycutitout.livejournal.com]

"Not smart if you don't try to eat."

A small voice piped up behind Brock as he sat there, obviously confined and cut and bruised and all manners of broken. They hadn't spoken in some time, and the broken flocked to the broken. It was the way of it.

River, moving more slowly than usual herself, took a seat next to the man, a small bowl of cereal and milk the only she would be attempting to consume and convert into even some minor reserve of energy due to the chest wound she'd received last night. But she didn't begin to eat yet herself and only mimicked the manner in which Eddie Brock picked absently at his own food.

"It's been too long. She's been a bad companion, a bad something in a world of somethings." And then, abruptly. "You're not happy with him. Made you feel like you lost yourself. But at least your friend is here." River had to giggle a little bit at that, much as it hurt her chest.

[heraldric.livejournal.com]

Leon had been about to bring himself to his fee next to Lust when suddenly he was in his bed again. He sat up with a start, looking about as though Ashton might still be on the floor beside him, but there was no one else but his roommate.

At least he felt better. The weariness from his pitiful spell was gone, as though he'd gotten the rest he knew he hadn't, and as he moved his hand came in contact with something solid near his waste. It was the tool kit, and he was grateful that he'd gone through the effort of keeping it so close to him. He had just enough time to stash it in one of the drawers before the nurse came to get him.

Breakfast wasn't much different than it had been the previous day. Slightly different main course, but that was all. He took his pancakes plain and grabbed a glass of orange juice. Right color, but a poor substitute.

It seemed he was early, so he took his place at am empty table and kept his eyes on the door. If Ashton had still been alive when they'd been brought back to their rooms, then he was hopefully still alive now. He couldn't be completely reassured until he saw him.

[a_sin_for_him]

A dining hall full of people and the only familiar faces were the colonel and that damn brat from last night. And the colonel had the air of a man waiting, she'd give him her report later.

She wasn't altogether too concerned for Ashton. She'd been in his position before and she was still there. He would be fine. Clearly in a less than pleasant mood, Lust took her tray and sat across from the irritating boy.

She supposed she should offer him some form of gratitude.

"I appreciate your aide last night," she told him, taking up a plastic utensil. "You weren't useless as I'd feared."

[tsunagari.livejournal.com]

And another night had ended. Waking up with a bag of flour in his lap was an odd experience, but Sai took it in stride. At least he'd given Usopp the fruit. He could run the rest to the pirates room that coming night.

The frying pans laid at his side. He picked both up and turned them around in his hands a few times. They could do for blunt weaponry, he supposed. He'd have to make sure to return them as well. All the items could be stashed away in the closet for now. The nurses didn't seem to be interested in thorough checks of their patients' rooms.

When his nurse arrived, he found himself under her gentle scrutiny. The bandages for his bites, he noticed, had been removed. She commented on how well he was healing up before leading him out.

As he took a seat at one of the tables, plate forcefully piled with more than he cared for by his nurse, he began to wonder what role the day staff actually played in the grand scheme of this place. It was such an unusual predicament for everyone involved. ROOT would have taken great interest.

[icy-demise.livejournal.com]

[[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/210032.html?thread=13994864#t13994864)]]

Well, since Haku had been taken away, SubZero decided to find somewhere else to sit. So far, the kids had been the sanest, most normal people he'd found in this place, so he went for another young person sitting alone.

"Morning," He wasn't in a very good mood. That was nothing unusual, though.

[black-ageha.livejournal.com]

It was a moment's peace, warmth, tenderness. Under his fingertips, silken soft strands of endless red. The boy stirred no more, curled into his lap to keep still from the pain.

A voice come on over the intercom. It had been so silent for so long he'd forgotten where he was. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he remembered that with this voice, the morning would come.

He fingered the locks under his touch, willing for the night to stretch on, to no avail. Kikyo came to in his room, like he did the day before. A blinding light that seemed to suck all memories away. He sat up, turning his gaze across the room.

Kougaiji slept, still. Kikyo rose to his feet, walking to his roommate's bedside and setting his cool touch upon his forehead. This was how the nurse found him when she finally came to escort 'Mr. Ōhara' to breakfast. His fingertips lingered on Kougaiji's skin.

He turned and left, passing through his door behind the woman.

Not hungry, again, but today perhaps he'll have more than just water. He took a seat at an empty table with a glass of water and a small bowl filled with fruit.

The bruise on his face was still there. A lasting reminder upon his pale skin.

[cobalt-soldier.livejournal.com]

Heero ate his breakfast quietly and perfunctorily, not really tasting it, his mind abuzz with a seemingly endless stream of questions.

He still had no clue as to where this institute was located, if it was even on Earth in the first place. And several things didn't sit quite right with him: he couldn't recollect hearing about a place in which people of such different appearances and backgrounds mingled -men, women, children even-, and at least a fair portion of them seemed to be sporting some sort of injury, if the amount of bandages was any indication.

Hm. He definitely needed to reassess the danger level of this place, but he couldn't very well do that without acquiring more information.. which meant he had to go and.. what was the word the nurse had used? "mingle with the others" or some similar bullshit. Because he was such a social type to begin with.

Stifling a frown, he walked over to the next table, figuring the dark-haired man sitting there was as good a place to start as any. He nodded slightly:

"Hello."

[floraltempest.livejournal.com]

MOMO awoke with a gasp, clutching tightly to the sheets. A dream... yes, that's all it was. She had fallen asleep as soon as she was lead back to her room for dinner, and she had slept through the nightshift. It was just a very, very horrible nightmare, and--

"Oww..!" The intense throbbing in her head interrupted her thoughts, causing her to press a hand to her forehead. It was just a coincidence... right? Yes, yes, of course it was! She was just worrying too much over a dream. Nothing had happened after dinner. She hadn't been woken up at all. She had slept through the night, and--

Again, her thoughts were cut short; this time as she drew in a sharp breath as an aching pain shot through her once she managed to sit up. That was only because... It wasn't... The realian's eyes widened. She couldn't think of an excuse, and there was no reason for her to be that sore! Unless... Had that really happened? Had she really attacked those people..? By all accounts she had, but she wanted to hold onto that last bit of hope even as she closed her eyes and felt underneath the collar of her shirt.

That hope, however, was shattered once she discovered a bandage covering the area where the scalpel had cut into her.

She was so absorbed in trying to figure out a reasonable explantion for the injury (though it was much too clear what had really happened) that she didn't even hear her nurse enter the room. Only when the woman laid a hand on her shoulder (effectively causing the pink-haired girl to jump and let out a startled cry) did she realize that. The nurse quickly gestured for her to be quiet, motioning to her still sleeping roommate in the process, before helping the younger-looking girl out into the hallway.

The trek to the cafeteria was silent for the most part. The nurse asked a few times if she was feeling all right, and though it wasn't the least bit true, MOMO had managed a slight nod each time. Though the woman frowned, she let the conversation drop until they reached the doors to the cafeteria. There, she turned to the girl and said, "Now, you be sure to eat a good breakfast, okay?"

Again, the Prototype merely nodded, despite knowing full well that she wasn't going to eat anything. Once the nurse had gone off to see to other patients, she took a quick look around the room. It didn't take her long to spot one of the people she had... seen during the night but she immediately ducked her head and retreated to a table near the back of the room.

She wanted to go home. Now more then ever. But that, unfortunately, wasn't an option, so MOMO merely laid her head on the table and closed her eyes.

[reanalyze.livejournal.com]

Citan woke up in his bed. It was quite a marvelous thing, as he hadn't been certain he'd be waking up at all. He was still in worlds of pain, but he could tell already he was properly stitched and bandaged and put to rights.

Wonderful.

Even better, when his nurse came to wake him, she brought him a wheeled chair and helped him into it. He wouldn't even have to worry about pulling open his abdomen by walking. His nurse chattered on, got him a tray full of food - he couldn't hurt himself after his nasty fall yesterday - and offered to wheel him where-ever he'd like.

Fall. Of course. He didn't argue with the nurse's lie, simply accepted it and chattered back as mindlessly.

He saw the young girl from the other night, one of the ones who had mistaken him for 'Jin'. She looked a bit miserable, if Citan was any judge.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, wheeling up with his usual pleasant expression and absent-minded tone.

[lady-general.livejournal.com]

Oh, that twice blasted, infernal machine! Celes frowned as she was herded like a chocobo led to the cafeteria. It hardly seemed fair to awaken Mion after such an unproductive night.

If the girl accompanied her again, Celes would be sure to find an appropriate weapon; holding and delighting in Noah's had quite simply whetted her appetite. The fare was plebeian, she'd expected so, though it did not stop her from partaking of a light meal. The young general sat down by herself, in an area where she could easily be noticed by the flow of people coming in.

Celes didn't feel a particular need to discuss last night's spectacular failure of an excursion, but perhaps she'd find someone to politely while away the time with her.

[tenchou.livejournal.com]

It was a good thing that Urahara's middle name was "polite," right after "bargain" and "opportunity." The shopkeeper's muted senses were on red alert after he'd been unceremoniously dropped off in what was obviously a cafeteria, and though the food on his plate looked delicious, he found himself decidedly less interested in it than he was in his fellow prisoners.

"Ah, excuse me, miss," he asked the patient closest to him, gesturing towards the chair opposite her. If he was lucky, she wouldn't be part of the emerging conspiracy. "Would you mind if I joined you? I'm a bit lost..."

[bond-off-lame.livejournal.com]

(God Court, not online when I need you. >:( SO USELESS I hope you don't mind if I step in since you didn't say anyone was joining Sora in advance.)

Sleep clung to him like a poor woman on the streets when his nurse escorted him into the Cafeteria, coaxing him into the line so he could gather his food. At the moment Axel didn't care much about organization, throwing a chocolate chip pancake on his plate before laying some tater tots on top, repeating the process two more times before he was satisfied with the size.

As usual, the Cafeteria was nearly empty at this time in the morning, but he was used to it by now. Instead, he occupied himself by glancing around for a place to sit. Green eyes meandered about for a minute before the redhead caught sight of that familiar shade of brunet sitting not so far away.

"Hey you, it's been a while." For a moment it almost sounded as if he was being sincere, but Axel would later blame it on exhaustion. "Mind if I sit here?"

[lighthearted]

[ Pfft, nah, I don't mind - Sora didn't have any set plans. ]

Still no sign of Rena, but Sora had noticed Axel and therefore wasn't surprised when the redhead dropped by to join him. He did notice how the man's tone was friendlier than usual, but Axel always had been the Organization member (or ex-member, whatever) who seemed the least like a Nobody.

Maybe he was just a better actor than the others. Sora didn't want to think about it.

The boy eyed Axel's plate first - it looked like a pancake and tater tot sandwich, which was just a little weird. Maybe he was wrong, but those things didn't mix very well together, did they? Still, that was the wrong thing to be focusing on right now.

"Yeah!" he affirmed. "Err, I mean, no, I don't mind!" He was about to fall quiet then, until he remembered what Axel had supposedly been up to the night before. "Hey!" he continued. "Is Kairi okay? What did you guys do last night?"

[itneverwas.livejournal.com]

Xemnas considered the previous nightshift a rather unproductive one. He hadn't gone much further than 'investigating' two rooms in total, which would be a disappointing result if only the Nobody could feel disappointed. At least he had learned to avoid children that lacked any sort of corporeal form, but he would make sure the next nightshift would yield more useful results.

He hardly listened to the rather cheery announcement of the head doctor, not interested in his little facade during the day. The nurse that escorted him to the cafeteria was disregarded all the same.

Upon entering the cafeteria, he noticed not many patients had arrived thus far. He spotted both the Keyblade Master and the traitor among them, but chose to disregard them for now. Instead, he took a seat at a random table and began to eat his meal in silence.

[dawning-dreams.livejournal.com]

Cid's night had been decidedly less productive than his roommate's, having slept through the whole thing like some anemic loser. He wasn't sure why he'd been so damn tired lately, though he had enough presence of mind to finally lock onto the figure of his roommate as he exited the room and follow him into the cafeteria. He'd been seeing bits and pieces of the guy for days now, and though by now the pilot's life had taught him that silver hair spelled trouble, he couldn't help being really fucking curious about who the hell he was bunking with.

The pilot grabbed a plate of food and unceremoniously dropped it down at the same table as the weirdo.

"Yo," he said, not really making eye contact as he shoved a fork into his pancakes. "'Bout time we introduced our damn selves."

[transgenix.livejournal.com]

Max cursed under her breath all the way to the cafeteria. She was not amused. Her injuries from the cat the night before were bandaged - Keman's makeshift ones were gone - although she still felt grimy from the fight, both the one with the cat and the one to save Valyn later.

Was he alright? Was he still alive? And Keman?

Feeling frustrated and worried, she glanced around the cafeteria intently but spotted neither of them. That doing nothing to improve her mood, she shook of her nurse and headed for the food bar, mindlessly filling her plate with breakfast before finding an empty spot at a table and sinking down to watch the door.

[adorkabledragon.livejournal.com]

Max didn't have long to wait, though Keman was almost unrecognizable from the chipper, happy person he'd been twenty-four hours earlier. His face was pale and drawn and his eyes were rimmed with red. He'd been crying again.

The nurse had been extremely unhelpful. She had just kept going on and on about how he'd tripped and chipped his tooth on the desk on the way down, but hadn't the dentist on call done a wonderful job fixing it up? There was, indeed, an artificially white patch on his tooth now (and his mouth was a little numb from something the nurse had called "Novocain") but she refused to give him any news about Valyn. Was he all right? Would he ever be able to speak again? Had Keman's magic done anything?

Had he even survived the night?

Oh, there was Max, at least. The young dragon set his try down (and then promptly forgot about it) and buried his face in his arms. It had been a long night.

"I take it you haven't seen him," Keman said in a dead voice.

[0bnoxious.livejournal.com]

Albel felt a shock go through his body for the second time since his stay here, and could only he glare daggers at the stupid maggot as he was once again paralyzed. If looks could kill, there would be nothing left of that worm.

By the time he could move, he was back in his room. Albel immediately reached for his throat. He realized Yuber was no longer in sight, meaning he couldn't slam his head into the closest wall. Instead, he slammed his only fist against the wall to unleash his frustration. That stupid maggot with his stupid thunder spells...how could he have let it happen?! How could he have been so weak?! As if on cue, his eyes caught the tattoos still on his arm, inflicted by that ghostly wench. They only served as a reminder, a reminder of his own weakness.

Someone was going to pay dearly for this!!

With a growl, he tossed his blanket from his body and stomped off to the closet to store his items away before another wench came and bothered him. He had barely closed the door and an incredibly cheerful nurse came in, her smile clashing horribly with the warrior's foul mood. He resisted the urge to smack it from her face, as such a foolish action would only result in sedatives. No, he'd save the smacking for some other maggot.

It was only after he had entered the cafeteria, retrieved his meal that and took a seat he noticed the tattoo had disappeared.

[nobleman]

Worrying about trying to carry Jade back from the activities shed to the patient rooms no longer became a concern when Guy found himself back in his bed. He was still concerned for Jade's well-being, but he also knew that the colonel wasn't someone he had to be too worried over. That man came off as indestructible sometimes, and while that had obviously been disproved last night, Guy knew that the man would be back on his feet today.

As for Luke, he was going to have a weapon, even if it wouldn't be a very good one. With both of them armed with bats, maybe they could try heading out together this upcoming night. While he wanted to talk to his friend about it, once he had been escorted to the cafeteria he saw that he was speaking with a girl. That was quite the rarity (Tear and Natalia being exceptions), so Guy figured he'd leave Luke be for now.

Peony was also tied up with yet another girl, but he at least didn't look like he had been hurt too badly the night before. Good, Anise had probably taken care of him.

So Guy figured he would just find another patient to chat over breakfast with. Peony and Jade wanted him to discuss the technology of other worlds with the other patients, and now was as good of a time to start that as any. So after getting some pancakes and water, the servant headed over to the first (male) patient he found who wasn't already engaged in conversation.

"Mind if I sit here?"

[mercilessly.livejournal.com]

[grabby-hands.livejournal.com]

Greed woke up in a pretty bad mood, considering the group he'd picked to forage with the night before hadn't achieved much of anything. As such, he shuffled over to the cafeteria with his hands in his pockets, not paying much attention to where he sat or who was nearby him.

The homunculus took a bite of his pancakes and glanced around the room. If Roy hadn't had those issues, Greed would've have started his own gang long ago, but as things stood now, he was between a rock and a hard place.

He sat his tray down near some long-haired kid and dug in.

[sugarsweetblood.livejournal.com]

Rhode was a little more than irked when the scent of disinfectant replaced the much more pleasant smell of blood. At least it meant no questioning of what room she'd found herself in. No Emily to be seen, and the twisted aura was sadly missing as well. Awww, she'd wanted to play! No fair! And why did it always have to be this room every single time?! Just how did she keep ending up in it anyway?!

She nearly tantrumed at the nurse who came to get her, but recalled her previous attempts at resisting and accepted this escort to breakfast without much fuss. Her attention span may not allow for much focus, but Rhode was at least a quick learner. This around here were beginning to make sense in some twisted way. Annoyingly bland during the daytime, dark and bloody at night. That's what she'd seen. So then, she had to put up with the "human" daytime in order to have some fun during the "Noah" night, was it? She could deal with that.

She wondered if Allen Walker had. Something would pay if he had been killed. Oh, but it was Allen. Those emotions last night hadn't let her pause and realize that little fact. Now that she could think clearly, Allen had probably wiped the floor with that ghost woman. Anyone who could fight against Tyki and live to tell could get out of that kind of position. Right, no way he was dead. Maybe battle-worn, but most certainly not dead.

Maybe she could find him at breakfast, half-broken and so vulnerable. He'd be so cute like that! She looked around the room, but found no one in particular that she recognized. Just as well, she had another thought on her mind.

There had better be something sweet for breakfast! Dinner had been practically sugar-less, and Rhode needed her sugar rush! Did Catherine Grace need a sugar rush though? Ah, she could think about that later. There were pancakes! Syrup!! Almost as sweet as blood. Almost.

[the-clown-king.livejournal.com]

Tamaki was in a rather good mood come morning. He felt productive - even if that woman had sort of tried to take over once she came back. But before that, everyone had been doing wonderfully! He was feeling very good about the Saint Francis Aide Club!

Humming under his breath, he got his breakfast and looked for his friends. A good number were accounted for, wonderful! And all already being social! He nodded to himself and found an empty seat - there weren't too many left - next to... a young woman?

"Ah! Fair maiden! Please forgive me, but may I join you for breakfast?"

Always the Host, Tamaki flashed a dazzling smile.

[never-learns.livejournal.com]

Yohji woke with a rather thumping headache to show for all the drinking which he'd done last night. The gin had been finished off and he'd started on a bottle of scotch almost immediately after. Yeah, mixing drinks and all that, but he'd been drinking long enough that hangovers didn't affect him as badly as most, but the headache he could still live without.

He slipped the knife and bottle and pack of cigarettes under his duvet carefully. He doubted they'd last as long as he'd like, but at least it was something.

He winced when the nurse came, her voice ringing in his ears rather painfully, but he followed her into the cafeteria anyway. He should go check on Ken or apologise to Omi, but he wasn't entirely sure if he'd be welcome. Cliff maybe? He really hadn't talked to many other people when he thought about it. Odd.

The scent of food turned his stomach, but he forced himself to eat some of the sweet pancake, knowing that the sugar would help clear his mind and get rid of the after effects.

[longlivetheking]

As if falling face-flat on the floor hadn't been quite embarrassing enough, the nurses had to nearly drag him to their destination while Scar tried to somehow find his balance on these strange legs. He was quick to see that walking on four legs -- as he was used to -- wasn't quite an option, as his hind-legs were too long for such a thing (he'd look even more ridiculous than a hyena, anyway). So two legs it had to be, but that still left the problem of finding the proper balance without immediately falling.

Scar didn't consider it amusing.

The alien surroundings didn't help matters either. As he was ushered through the hallway and eventually through the double doors, Scar couldn't help but look at the alien objects everywhere. He had no idea what they were for, as a Savannah hardly held any of those objects. It did nothing more but to puzzle him further.

After a while -- which had surely taken longer than should -- they arrived at their destination, which seemed to be some kind of location to devour meals. There were other...creatures...in here as well. After being told to 'take a seat' while gesturing to the odd object in front of him, the nurse left to acquire his meal.

Thus, Scar was left alone to stare at the alien object while heavily leaning on another to prevent him from falling. He looked around at the other creatures, and understood he was to bend his knees in some manner and 'sit' on this item.

Such an awkward way of sitting. Couldn't they just sit on the floor? He gave the object another glance, only to follow the example that the other patients had given. Even despite the awkwardness, he managed.

Scar longed to be back to his lion form already.

[ex-northswai344.livejournal.com]

And of course the night would've proved uneventful. The irrational side of the young princess could easily blame her decidedly unstable companion, but inwardly she knew that the fault was also to placed squarely on her shoulders for dawdling in a manner so unbefitting one of her station. It was hard to refrain from upholding a sour expression in light of the past evenings failures, but there would be more days to come and more alliances to be made.

With her head held high and her shoulders thrust back, Ashe refused to let her failings reflect in her eyes. Lamenting failure was useless, especially when their simply wasn't time for such things.

As she helped herself to a light breakfast, plain pancakes with a bit of what they called 'cereal' on the side, the princess took a moment to scan the cafeteria, blue eyes instantly being drawn to a rather unique individual. There was something about his posture that seemed all wrong, and it didn't take a royal dignitary to presume that he had little to no experience with a proper meal. Ashe had seen now patients, and she still could be considered one herself. But this one... This was almost seemed to be new to his own skin.

Carefully, the princess approached, standing before the newcomer wearing a trained, neutral expression.

"Good morning to you," she said simply, though there was a hint of sarcasm carried in the tone. As if a morning in this strange place could be considered at all good. "Might I share this table with you?"

[rubbermancan.livejournal.com]

Luffy woke up in pretty good spirits. It had taken them a long time, but they'd finally made it to the kitchen! Better yet, they'd gotten some awesome goodies from it, properly stolen like the pirates they were (well, not counting Sai and Clark anyway).

He wasn't sure if anything else could really beat that, even the treasure they'd found a couple of nights ago in that death slug-infested bathroom. And that was something.

Breakfast only served to heighten his excitement, a large smile practically splitting his face in two as he went through the line and got as many pancakes as the Cat Ladies allowed. It didn't take him long to find a seat and start chowing down. Even though he hadn't sought out company right away, a dining companion was more than welcome.

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

He'd been used. Used and he hadn't even made it a single step closer to understanding the people behind this place. They'd yanked him from his room last night and... he couldn't remember the details. He couldn't even remember where it was they'd taken him. His memory had always been strong and sharp. They must have used some kind of drug.

But Shinsou was still here. He'd held the sword in his hands. Though he couldn't sense him now, he was still whole, still out there somewhere. That thought, at least, was small comfort. He pulled himself from bed and followed his nurse. His plans were likely as good as gone. Any tenuous truce or alliance had to have been destroyed. Afterall, it wasn't as though they would doubt that he would turn his sword on them. To them it would seem something terribly natural.

There were many familiar faces as he entered and picked up his breakfast. He found a table further from the white-haired captain and the newly arrived shopkeeper and his puppet. Though he wouldn't mind having a few words with them later, now wasn't the time. He found an empty seat and took it, making sure to watch his back. His smile still remained, but he'd made too many new friends last night not to be at least a little wary.

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

"Why, hello there!"

Setting down a tray of mostly pancakes with some bacon on the side, Xelloss didn't wait for permission before he sat down across from Gin. "What a pleasant surprise. You seem to be feeling more like yourself now." And weaker. Much weaker. No matter, if he had such powers unleashed he should at least have retained some of them while under this institute's control, and that made him a potentially valuable contact. "Let's reintroduce ourselves, shall we? I am Xelloss, nice to meet you! And you are?"

[loyal-soldier.livejournal.com]

TK took what the nurse thought was a lot of food. He thought it was a fairly modest amount. The nurse seemed to find this amusing, which only made him more confused and irritated at her lack of response to his questions about where this facility was, and how he could get out.

Last he remembered, he had missed two meals. Eating eventually won out over trying to get the nurse to make sense. He sat, eating (Pancakes, these things are called? Too sugary. Probably not very nutritious.), and looking around him. No faces he recognized as from the standard clone lines. Most of these people just looked like civilians. Why had he been placed here? Was this a rebel facility of some type? Were they trying to extract information from him? It didn't seem likely. He was just a Sergeant. He hadn't been keeping track of anything but the most basic wide broadcast updates within the station. He had been too focused on finding the spy. He didn't have any classified information that they couldn't have acquired already.

None of this made sense. He just wanted to report in and get back to work.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

Well, last night had been a waste of time.

It hadn't even been mildly amusing, sans some brief moments of fun (capturing the fat man, tearing up that cursed winged bloodsucker...). He wondered if Xelloss had encountered similiar frustration or if "Seishirou" had been worth something.

Helping himself to chocolate chip pancakes and lots of toppings, the Mazoku lord sidled up next to his newest unsuspecting victim and smiled. "Hey, Mister!" He almost sang, "Can I sit here?"

[wantsyourzex.livejournal.com]

ZEX woke after a night of fairly fruitless exploration... but at least he had a bit more of a sense of the size and scope of the place. Not very productive though, really, and he felt mildly disappointed in his lack of progress. If he didn't want to be here, he should have found a way out already.

Well, he'd find one eventually. He was Admiral ZEX after all, and when he wanted something, he'd get it... one way or another.

While he was beginning to get a sense of balance, he still walked with a strange, hesitant gait. It helped keep the vertigo from hitting him so quickly... gave his mind time to adjust. Disappointing. He had hoped that he'd be more comfortable in his body by now, and he found that was not the case. Still as foreign and unnatural as ever. At least he wasn't tripping over himself all the time, that was something, but still... he missed having a head the right size and weight.

More human food... ZEX eyed the utensils nearby, odd things that they were, but this seemed simple enough to eat without them. He grabbed the pancake clumsily with his hands, unprepared for how it fell apart in his harsh grip. ZEX sighed, and began to pick through the remnants for more managable pieces. Maybe if he found ones that were small enough he wouldn't have to chew... he had yet to get used to it, and it took concentrated effort that he'd rather avoid this early in the day.

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

His lungs weren't fully healed by morning. He couldn't give the nurse a full-force rant before he started coughing again. Damn you, lungs! He took whatever food products the female meatbag chose for him, and sat down at a table.

Oh, the non-human meatbag. "Greeting: Good morning, meatbag. Well, not really good, but humans always seem to try and pretend that it is." His voice sounded strange. Hoarse. But he did like the fact that it sounded slightly like he was using his vocabulator again. "Observation: You have survived longer than I expected, with your lack of full functionality." Turning his head to talk stretched the burns on his neck. From what he had seen on his arms, they were arranged in the geometric branching pattern that was unique to damage from lightning or other electrical discharge. It made him almost look like a Sith.

[small-fortune.livejournal.com]

What would Simon Illyan do? Well, at least the Illyan Mark had known, before the accident.

Check for Cetagandans. Mark peered about the room blearily, then gave a suitably suspicious look at each pancake before piling them on his plate anyway. Deadly Cetagandan pancakes. Probably poisoned and then they explode, too.

If whoever'd kidnapped him wanted him dead, he'd be dead by now. Which shouldn't have been an invite for Gorge to step forward and help Mark's confusion, but he did anyway. Life was a lot simpler to handle when one focused very thoroughly on eating.

Finding a table, he set to work on the pancakes, as many as the nurses would let him have. Shouldn't get too heavy. I might have to fight my way out of here.

Out onto what? He wasn't even on Beta Colony anymore--those trees outside and the blue sky shining down from above were proof enough of that. It looked kind of like Barrayar or Earth.

[secret-orchard.livejournal.com]

Carrying only his notebook and not feeling at all hungry anymore, Armand hurried across the cafeteria, which was much more crowded now, looking for an empty chair. This time he saw more familiar faces, but they seemed occupied. Eventually he dropped into a chair beside a rotund young man who was concentrating on his breakfast with an intensity that, after his recent encounter, worried Armand. Had he just traded dangers?

He set his notebook down carefully, trying to make up for the suddeness of his claiming the chair. "My apologies, monsieur. There do not seem to be many other places to sit this late in the meal." Then hoping to make a joke of it, but wanting as much warning as he could get just in case, he leaned a little nearer, lowered his voice nearly to a whisper, and asked, "You don't eat people, do you?"

[broken-exorcist.livejournal.com]

Allen was used to rising early. But what could only be some kind of drug-induced sleep kept him from his morning exercises. Even without that, he didn't want to move. Rukia was probably going to kill him. There was still that strange tattoo, the holly and snakes that now covered his neck, cheek, shoulder, and ran partway down his chest. He pulled the neck of his t-shirt aside, only to watch the design fade into nothing. What was going on?

When the nurse came, he tugged weakly away from her grasp, but couldn't didn't stop her from dragging him into the cafeteria. She filled the tray for him when he made no motion to do so, and let her walk him to an empty seat. He hardly saw the familiar faces of his ally and his enemy. Even though the tattoos were gone, the memories still plagued him. Hers... his... he wasn't sure where the line was to be drawn. He'd been left alive even though Mana had died. He should've been the one to die that night when Mana's akuma attacked him. He'd been born to destroy the Akuma and he couldn't even do that much.

He folded his arms and let his head sink down into them. He had no appetite for the food in front of him, nor for company. He just wanted to be left alone. Maybe the nurse would let him go back to sleep after this shift.

[roger-hug.livejournal.com]

((OOC: If you are waiting for someone, honestly don't want to be bugged, or just don't want Bridget around, let me know and I'll delete. ^^))

Bridget blinked and, before he was even totally awake, clutched Roger tightly to his chest. He jumped when the same white-clad woman from the day before bustled into his room and he smiled up at her.

Once more, there was the dance of her trying to get him to leave the bear behind and the blond boy refusing no matter what argument was given. Even the dreaded 'You don't want people to think poorly of you? You're fifteen, for heaven's sake' proved to have no response.

So, Bridget and Roger were escorted to the cafeteria and Bridget grabbed as many pancakes as he could and piled fruit on top. A glass of juice and he was set, tray balanced on one hand, the other arm cradling the stuffed bear.

Still... he didn't know anyone here so where to sit....

Oh! He knew Allen from the other day and he looked, well, he looked bad. So, hesitantly, he approached the other boy and offered a smile. "Can... Can I sit here Allen?"

[tartaros-avatar.livejournal.com]

He had a few kilos of thermite hidden in his room. Finally, something had actually gotten accomplished last night. It had been far too much trouble to get to that point. I am not going to waste time traveling with others tonight.

And it was so painfully bright again. His daily headache had returned, more painful and irritating in the morning, when he was still adapted to near-total darkness. He just wanted find someplace pitch black and quiet to think.

[Waiting for Gabranth!]

[tartaros-avatar.livejournal.com]

Looking over the crowd, he saw a face. For a moment, he tried to deny it. Pretend he hadn't seen it. But his eyes were drawn back again. Oh gods, not him!

Breakfast forgotten, he strode across the room towards what he hoped was not the man he thought it was.

[Poor little evil overlord is off to make his day worse over here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/210032.html?thread=13980272#t13980272)]