Feeling much more hopeful about the coming night, Lloyd spun ideas in his mind for how to get enough scrap metal for a sword as his nurse led him out of the cafeteria. He almost didn't even pay attention to what Landel said on the intercom. Most of what he said during the day wasn't usually all that important. Why would today be any different? Visitors were coming, but everyone he knew was in another world, or here in the Institute. Nobody would be visiting him. He could use the time to scope out some of the rooms and see what he could pilfer tonight.

Apparently, though, his nurse had other ideas.

"It's visitors day!" she said brightly. "Now, I know your mother couldn't make it today, but that's no reason why you can't have a visitor. I'm sure your father would love to spend some time with you, Nigel!"

All thoughts of scrap metal flew from Lloyd's head as his nurse ushered him into a room. "Wait, what do you mean, my mother couldn't make it today?" Even the mild shock of someone outright calling Kratos his father couldn't keep his mind from jerking to a halt at those words. "My mom's dead! Don't talk about her like she's alive!"

Surprise, then pity melted the nurse's cheerfulness from her eyes. "Oh Nigel," she said sympathetically.

"Don't call me that!" Lloyd cut her off, anger bubbling up. "My name's Lloyd! Now what did you mean about my mom? She's been dead since I was three!"

The nurse's eyes flickered over to a table across the room, then back to Lloyd's face before she sighed. Seeming to gather herself, she put a smile back on her face before putting a hand on Lloyd's shoulder to nudge him forward. "She's not dead, Nigel. That's just the sickness speaking. You really should go talk to your father. You and your mother visited him just a few weeks ago. He can tell you that she's still alive."

For the second time in the space of five minutes, Lloyd's mind ground to a halt, but before he could recover, to protest, to argue, to demand more answers, his nurse had him planted in a seat at a table that was covered with bottles of glue and popsicle sticks, paper and pencils and a whole classroom's assortment of various craft supplies.

[For Kratos.]

It wasn't often that Castiel was left to his own devices here, but during the meal shift he actually sat alone for the entirety of it. He didn't necessarily enjoy the solitude, but this place had forced him into more interaction with strangers and more specifically with humans than he had ever been prepared for. He had been managing because there were at least a few others here like him -- not angels (save for one), but other non-humans who struggled to understand the strange species. People like Lust, for instance.

Given a choice of where to go, the library was almost always Castiel's choice, but in this case he had even more reason for it. He and Kratos had gone there last night and found the switch to the hidden passage with little trouble, but he would still be interested to see it all by the light of day -- and also to see what would happen if that book was grabbed for when it wasn't nightshift.

His nurse sighed at his decision, but didn't argue with him beyond that, allowing him to step into the quiet space of the library. "Well, go ahead," she said, waving him off even as her sharp eyes watched his back retreat into the aisles.

It had been the middle one, and a quick glance around proved that there was no sign of the creature they'd pinned under the shelves. Like always, any sign of their nighttime activities was gone by morning. Castiel started down the middle aisle, keeping a lookout for The Oxford Book of English Verse.

[For Soushi.]

With each person that Sora met and either explained things to or apologized to, he felt a little better. In some ways, though, it was bittersweet, because he was also going through this so that he could leave again. It wasn't that he wanted to leave them behind like this, but Sora was used to having to part with his friends in order to take care of things. He'd done that with Riku and Kairi a number of times already, and he still hadn't found his way back to them.

But that was why he was working so hard at this now. So that he could find the way home for both himself and everyone else here. He was going to miss all of the people he'd come to know at Landel's, no doubt about that, but he had faith that he'd meet them again, and under better circumstances.

He hadn't done all of his work here yet, though. There were still a few people who he needed to talk to, which was why he left a message for Tsubaki asking if she would meet him in the Game Room. Sora couldn't deny to himself the reason that he'd picked that room. It was one of the places here he had the most fun with, so he wanted a chance to see it before he had to leave.

It was silly, of course, to even get attached to that degree, but that was simply how Sora handled things. He would never miss Landel's once he was gone, not with all of the horrible things that he'd been through here, but the people were another story.

And, well, there were the Game Boys.

Since the room was mainly empty and Tsubaki wasn't here yet, Sora went to find one, wondering to himself if it would be possible to take one along with him to Farwell. But that wouldn't be very responsible, would it? He needed to be working to help the rebels, not sitting around playing games!

[For Tsubaki.]

Aigis was contemplative. After managing to swallow down some of the brunch offered she decided her human body was simply in needed of fresh air to sort out her thoughts. Rita had given her much to think about and so far the interior of the institute held no inspiration.

Heading out into the courtyard, Aigis noted that the weather looked heavy despite the Head Doctor allowing them outside. Rain was a very likely forecast but so far no water had started coming down. It could be any minute, but for now Aigis was glad to feel the wind on her skin.

How long had it been since she had taken a moment to walk outside? When was the last time she had tried to break free and run from Landel's in the most straightforward way possible? She couldn't remember.

Aigis had been here too long.

After a certain conversation on the bulletin, Kyousuke jotted a note down to be passed around so everyone could have a way of contacting each other, but being exempted from the shift's activities meant that he wouldn't be able to ensure it got around properly. Instead, he made a quick trip the bulletin board and handed it to the first patient he saw, not paying much attention as to who they were or whether he knew them. It wasn't exactly an ideal way of doing it, but hopefully they realized it was important, or at least still passed it on even if they didn't. As long as it got around somehow.

For now, though, he had to worry more about himself.Visitors they'd said. He doubted it could be anyone he actually knew—not really—but considering what he'd seen last night, he didn't think they were just wasting time for no reason, either. They probably had something up their sleeves, just like that picture he'd found, and whatever it was, he doubted it was good. ... Not that anything here ever was.

Apart from some staff members, the room he was led to was still completely empty, and Kyousuke settled into a chair, resting his elbows on knees in resignation. He didn't know what was about to come, but hopefully he could just get it over with.

None of the nurses approached her; Lana glanced around to see if anyone was looking at her (they weren't) and let out the breath she'd been holding. There wasn't anyone she wanted to see; if Ema was on this world, brainwashed, rather than home, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. No, that wasn't quite true. She wanted to know, but if Ema was able, she'd want to see Lana; that she wasn't visiting, ergo, meant that she'd been sent home. Lana refused to contemplate the third alternative.

But no one else was here, either, which put her at loose ends. She replied to Ryuuzaki's comment on the bulletin; no one else had replied, which surprised her. Another departure didn't, though the circumstances did; what on Earth was Faraday playing at? Or not on Earth, as the case might be. She lingered around the board, in hopes of catching a chance to add her name to the list going around, or run into anyone willing to share more information than they could get away with posting.

[Free!]