Fresh off the somewhat-success of the night before and the conversation with Mysterious Boy X, Scott was actually feeling better than he had in days, possibly weeks. His energy was coming back; he had an appetite again; he didn't feel the urge to sink into his mattress and never come out again — all in all, it was a good day.

There was only thing that had him worried: no Ramona.

He had asked his nurse about her. The woman had scolded him for trying to "crowd" Sandra and monopolize her time, and refused to give him any updates. At least that told him there was a chance she was still around. He would have to check her room tonight, if he had time. What was her room number again? ...Maybe he would have to ask someone.

A few minutes later, he was done with the bulletin. Now: game time.

"Oh NES, my secret lover, how unbearable the time we have spent apart has been," Scott practically purred as he glided into the Game Room, taking up his usual spot by the TV. "Have you been missing me?"

No answer.

"..." Scott grinned ear to ear. "Yeeeeee Mario times!" The twenty-four-year-old manchild jammed the cartridge into the console slot with girlish glee and switched everything on.

[Ilia]

He must have been reading the bulletin board for longer than he thought, because it seemed like he had barely started conversing with the woman before the intercom crackled to life again to announce the beginning of a new shift.  The Once-ler settled on a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, and asked his nurse about the Music Room that had been mentioned.

A part of him had been hoping for a chance to relax by having a good old guitar session; such hopes were quickly dashed as it became apparent that the Music Room lacked the necessary instrument.  And based on the posters that decorated the walls, he assumed that the CDs provided would not fit his more contemporary tastes.  Rather than bothering to search the collection while supporting himself on his crutch (he was starting to really grow tired of it), the Once-ler settled down into a comfortable chair in the center of the room.

Having a bagged lunch, combined with the presence of recorders in the room, made the whole setting take on a school-like vibe.  Still, any food was better than nothing, and his appetite was reasserting itself again after a fairly unsatisfying breakfast.

[awaiting Skulduggery]