damned_institute | Day 28: Bus 2

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Day 28: Bus 2

Momo tugged on the collar of the light blue sweater she was wearing as she followed her nurse to wherever these buses were, winding her hair up into its customary bun as she went. It was an odd feeling, knowing she was about to go outside of the institute's borders. Maybe the Head Doctor was about to make an error and the shinigami, as well as everyone else, would no longer be limited and they could finish what they started several nights back.

That was probably too much to hope for. She was feeling better this morning, even with the blood moon, and was mildly looking forward to the bus ride. Captain Jack said he was going to be here this morning and even if it wasn't customary breakfast in the cafeteria, she's be satisfied with him sitting next to her on the bus.

The nurse handed her a muffin, some napkins, and a small box with a straw. She stared at this box for a moment before shaking it. From the sound it contained liquid. How odd... Momo wasn't sure why they would but liquid inside a small paper box - it didn't make any sense to her and she wasn't sure how one was supposed to get it out of the box.

Clambering onto an empty bus, Momo chose to sit in the very back near the emergency exit. Maybe she could force her way out of it as they were moving and escape the limiter enough to come back and level the institute, freeing everyone. Or maybe she just wanted to be able to see everyone that was on the same bus as her. Wishful thinking versus reality.

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"My pleasure, Momo-san." He smiled, she was cheered up again. That was good. As hellish as their situation was, it was always good to be happy while they could relax somewhat and not have to worry about a monster or other patient attacking them.

"Sure. Carnations aren't quite as symmetrical as something like a daisy. It's not origami or anything, but hey."

Ken smiled and moved himself across the aisle, gaining a glare from one of the nurses who were making sure everyone stayed seated. He just smiled back sweetly.

Momo rearranged the way she was sitting so there would be room for Ken when he moved. She glanced up at the nurses as they glared, giggling a little at the smile they received in return.

"I'm good at origami, but more traditional patterns. I only know th basic flower," Momo said once Ken was settled. She lightly touched his arm and smiled. "Will you show me sometime?"

"Alright. Next time we have arts and crafts?" Ken redirected his attention back to Momo, having completed his act of childishness for the hour. "It's likely to not be very impressive."

"Arts and crafts then," Momo replied with a bit of amusement. She was never going to think o that phrase the same way again. "I don't need impressive. Its the intention behind it that matters."

She tilted her head against the back of the seat. "I do have a very good imagination, remember?"

"Isn't that the name of one of the patient groups, too?" Ken wondered aloud--loud enough for Momo to hear at least, and no one else. He'd been keeping up with things on the message board somewhat, not enough to recall any names of people--but he did remember that much.

"That's good. Everyone needs a bit of fancy in a place like this."

Momo's lips turned up in a knowing smile as she caught Ken's muttered words about Arts & Crafts, but she kept her silence on the matter. She really didn't want to the whole shinigami thing to come up.

"And what do you daydream of, Ken-san?"

He was curious, really. Mostly as to which group Omi had been, or was, working with. He didn't like not knowing about it.

Ken shrugged. "Playing soccer and riding my motorcycle on wide-open roads. Maybe going to Australia. I'm not very interesting, I guess. What about you?"

"I've never been on a motorcycle. I can't decide if the danger overrides the excitement I've been told comes with riding one," Momo said.

"As for myself... I daydream about balance... forgiveness... and an exhilarating fight." She chuckled and her cheeks flushed again. "They're silly really."

"It's only dangerous if you crash." Ken smirked. "I've had more accidents in the flower shop than on my bike."

"Not really. Not if you want them. But I didn't peg you as the fighting type." Then again, anyone looking at Omi probably wouldn't peg him as the fighting type, either.

The shinigami chuckled. "Few do," she said with a light shake of her head. "And usually I only am when I have to be."

Momo tilted her head. "What kind of accidents do you get into in a flower shop beyond some accidental encounters with rose thorns?"

"What sort of style?" Ken asked, curious. It only made sense that there were a lot of fighters here--otherwise everyone would be dead--but definitely not everyone fit under that category. Artemis had jumped onto his back, for pity's sake.

"Dropping heavy terracotta pots on my toes is one. And you laugh, but those rose thorns are vicious."

"Katana, mostly," Momo replied. Her strength was in her kidou, but she didn't feel like having to explain what the demon arts were. She also really hoped Ken wouldn't press her to name the actual katana style she used given it wasn't found on Earth and that'd be an uncomfortable conversation right now.

"Ouch! Thos pots would have to hurt. Broken toes are not fun," she said, lightly rubbing Ken's arm. She grinned impishly, though. "You can't tell me a man such as yourself is afraid of a few rose thorns," she teased.

Momo was lucky, then. Ken didn't know any particular styles--he just knew that Aya used a katana and made people dead with it very effectively. "I have a friend here that fights with a katana. He doesn't have one, though. Apparently our hosts think it's not a good idea to give crazy people sharp objects." Ken frowned. He'd feel a lot better if Aya was properly armed. He'd have to ask Homura where he got that sword he'd seen him with the other night. But those were thoughts for another time.

"Afraid? Maybe not. But there's definitely healthy respect brought on by years and years of bleeding fingers."

"That's why the crazy people need to find their own sharp, pointy objects. I got mine from a monster the other night," Momo replied. "Sometimes the guy on the radio at night actually tells the truth if you can figure out what he's talking about."

Back to the wonderfully normal conversation about flowers. "Wouldn't years and years of bleeding fingers bring about an intimate knowledge of where not to place one's fingers?"

She chuckled. "In old movies, they always show the debonair gentleman dancing with his chosen lady while holding a rose between his teeth. Obviously the thorns would be removed, but if one takes away some thing's natural defenses, doesn't it detract from its beauty?"

"Should flowers be kept whole or manipulated for humans' aesthetic pleasure, my dear florist?"

"Riddles and circle-talk isn't exactly my strong point." Ken knew he wouldn't be able to find the radio man's hints even if the guy personally handed him a map.

"Rose thorns are sneaky. They're never on the same place on the stem."

"Isn't there also the question of whether we should be cultivating and breeding them or not, then? Which is more beautiful, a wild rose left to grow as it will, or one that has been tamed and kept captive?"

"Hm. I'm not usually this thoughtful. Apparently you bring out a better side of me."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Ken-san," Momo replied. "And if it is as rare as you imply, I am honored."

"Humans having such short lifespans feel the need to try and change everything around them, always with the thought that their actions make it all better," the shinigami continued. "To leave a legacy for those that come after to follow. I have yet to encounter someone at peace enough to just let nature and existence carry on without manipulation. I'm not entirely sure it's possible for such to exist."

"As for your question, both are beautiful in their own right depending on how one looks at them and what they want out of each flower." Momo's smile took on a slightly sad cast. "Even flowers bleed."

"And some legacy we're leaving," Ken said quietly. That was the sort of talk for another time, though.

"They do. But they also live and make things beautiful. I guess it's a trade. We just have to take what we can." Ken smiled. "After all, even when the flower dies, the plant lives."

She hadn't thought about the plant continuing to live once the flower was dead. Maybe there was hope for her after all.

The bus came to a stop and the shinigami looked out her window. So they had arrived. Momo hadn't though much about what she was planning on doing once in Doyleton, but the lack of Tobiume or any more access to her reiatsu told her whatever trap they were in was still active. Not that she'd expected their captors to suddenly forget they had gods in their possession.

She smiled at Ken. "Thank you for your pleasant company, Ken-san. Perhaps we'll see each other later on in the day."

It wasn't that she didn't want to be around Ken as much as she suddenly felt she had a lot she needed to think about. Such thinking was best done while walking alone.

The nurse ushered them out of the buses.

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Day 28: Bus 2

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