Day 27: Lunch

[norainu]

Renji wasn't so certain what this grilled cheese thing was all about, but he liked the sound of some soup. Even if it was strange western soup, well... there wasn't anything bad people could do to soup, in his experience. His good mood was starting to fray at the edges, a little, from the strain of dealing with the Ichimaru issue, and even more from what had been on the bulletin board earlier.

He'd never had difficulty simply writing something before. But...

He shook his head as he entered the line. He didn't want to think about it. He wanted to hold on to the tenuous equilibrium he'd managed to find.

Renji got himself a large bowl of soup, water, and even one of those sandwiches, just to try it. Old habit, recently awakened, had him over to one side of the cafeteria, where the fewest people possible would have the chance to pass behind him. He sat there with his back toward the wall and started eating.

Comments

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

With a nod, Adelheid eased himself onto the chair; it seemed like there was a moment of disappointment in the other's eyes, but Adelheid couldn't really help that. At least no one had recently called him a monster? That was something.

"I'm glad that I'm not interrupting anything. I'm Adelheid Bernstein."

[pictorialise.livejournal.com]

"Oh, not at all. I was just admiring the view a little." Dark made a vague gesture at the rest of the cafeteria, then inclined his head slightly. "Dark."

There wasn't any point in keeping his name a secret; it didn't look like he'd be able to run far if the police showed up, and nobody had recognized him yet anyway.

"So, Adelheid," Dark rested an elbow on the table, cradling his head with one hand. "You don't seem like the crazy type. I can't say too many of these other people look that off either. I'm guessing this is a special kind of place, hm?"

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

'Dark'? Well, he'd heard stranger names than that. As for the question... well, it was rather loaded, wasn't it? The insane had no idea that they were so insane; their insanity was a part of the world around them. So trying to defend one's own sanity was a rather difficult proposition.

"I'm glad you think so," he said with a quiet chuckle, "and yes, this place could be considered 'special.' I assume, then, that you haven't been here for more than a day?"

[pictorialise.livejournal.com]

Adelheid at least appeared to be far saner than the last blond Dark had spent any time with. Then again, just about everyone else was saner by comparison, so Dark was content to continue simply leaning against his arm and talk.

"Well, I do try to avoid making conversation with crazy people," usually, anyway, "but you're actually the first person I've spoken to aside from the lovely nurse that brought me here. I only woke up this afternoon, apparently." Woke up was as good a term as any, considering he didn't exactly remember falling asleep or unconscious.

Dark wondered how long the other man had been here, considering he seemed comfortable enough with lunchtime in a room full of 'patients'. That kind of question was much easier to ponder than some of the other ones that were weighing on his mind.

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

A quiet chuckle at the first comment; Adelheid had gone out of his way to speak with the 'insane,' especially since his family could very easily qualify as such. But that was neither here nor there; seeing one member of his family who had given up his views due to the Institute's meddling had made his blood run cold. Even now, thinking of everything that had been done to him, Adelheid had to wonder whether his own sanity might have started slipping.

Ah well. The man was new, which meant that Adelheid was honor-bound to offer what aid he could. After taking a break to actually eat, as he was rather hungry. "That does explain it," he said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, "then, what I'm going to say might make you doubt my sanity, but if it does, then I ask only that you suspend your judgment until tomorrow morning, all right?"

"Firstly... the 'lovely' nurse. She called you by a name that wasn't yours, correct?"

[pictorialise.livejournal.com]

Taking his cue, Dark worked on eating his own lunch. It really was good, but when it seemed like the other man was ready to talk again, Dark was all ears.

He did have to raise an eyebrow, yet only shrugged and nodded. "Sounds alright to me. No doubts until tomorrow morning, if at all." His own mental state would be in question if he mentioned where he came from or shared some of his own experiences, so it was only fair to not discount whatever he was about to hear. Why though, was it important to wait until the morning to decide if Adelheid was really telling the truth?

"That's right," it had been such a Western sounding name too, which only made it odder, "Ryan Locksley, which I'm sure is a fine name, but certainly isn't mine."

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

At least he had the promise of suspended judgment until the following day; Dark seemed to have a relatively open mind, which would be helpful. And if he could be properly warned, then Adelheid would rest more easily. The German hated thinking of what would happen if he didn't discharge this important duty.

"It's the same with all of us, or at least everyone I've spoken of," Adelheid quietly stated, "I was called 'Franz Haushofer,' for example. The staff, from the head doctor down to the nurses, calls everyone by this 'real' name. However, at night..."

A quiet, yet almost harsh snort. For Adelheid, night time had now become associated with horror, with pain, with struggle; far moreso than he had faced even as the 'King of Fighters.' In times past, he spoke of it almost lightly, but not any longer. "...at night, this Institute changes. Every creature, again, from the Head Doctor down to the smallest animal, becomes... twisted. Vicious. It's difficult to describe in words, but it is imperative that you are forewarned so you can be prepared. No one is safe at night; that is a fact that must be understood."

[pictorialise.livejournal.com]

Well, that was interesting. Of all the things Dark had ever stolen, names hadn't ever been one of them. As odd as having new 'real' names was, Dark was far more concerned about the rest of what he heard.

He had never exactly been afraid of things that went bump in the night, but then, things that went bump in the night were usually what he was out to encounter anyway. Rarely had he encounter anything that was actually vicious or out to deliberately hurt people.

Twisted only made him think of Krad; his other half was the most twisted creature he had ever known. The thought that the very staff around them could become anywhere near as warped as he was caused Dark to shrug his shoulders slightly. Even if he was alone in his own body, Dark would be reluctant to try and use his own wings, and without With there to become wings, things would end up considerably more difficult than he would like.

"Well that does sound like a lot to believe," Dark smiled to show he wasn't trying to insult Adelheid, "but I suppose I'll have to wait until nightfall to see for myself."

[grosse-sklaven.livejournal.com]

Adelheid was fairly sure that Dark was just the easy-going type who preferred to see things with his own eyes; which, in all actuality, wasn't something to be blamed about. Just so long as Dark took care of himself, that was the important thing. After that, it was all up to him; Adelheid needed only to make sure he was forewarned.

And on that topic... "I should warn you, if you haven't noticed already, that whatever powers you might have are greatly reduced here. Even if you could handle yourself in your own world, it might be best to find someone to go with at night." Which had been a bitter pill for Adelheid to swallow, naturally; perhaps it would be easier for Dark.

[pictorialise.livejournal.com]

Oh, now that really was an unpleasant bit of information. Dark mulled it over for a moment; already, not being able to fly would present its own problems, and he was reluctant to use magic in any case. He didn't like considering that he would be even more limited in his abilities. He had absolute confidence in his skills, but the thought of being well, weakened by powers beyond his understand was frustrating, to say the least.

He also didn't like the idea of going around at night with anyone else, either. Other people were too often a hindrance.

"Is that so? I'll keep that in mind tonight then."