[Nightshift 28] M-A Block, 11-20 hallway

[face-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

[From here.]

There didn’t seem to be anyone else around the area, something he was rather pleased to se, as he sauntered down the hallway until he made it to the door to his room. He’d feel better himself having a weapon in his hand. While it was convenient being able to at least paralyse his prey, there was a sense of comfort felt within with having at least a makeshift weapon in his grasp.

Opening the door, Yuber held it out wide while he gestured for the other to move in ahead of him. “After you,” Yuber smoothly murmured to Cloud with a smile.

Comments

M18

[1mperturbable.livejournal.com]

[From Here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/254152.html)]

Walking casually, Cloud could make out Yuber's body in the darkness and kept it in his vision even as he looked around at the room numbers on the doors they passed by. He stopped at the almost pleasant offer before he shrugged and went inside the room.

He walked to the middle of the room and turned to regard Yuber. The room looked identical to his own, so it was probably safe to assume that all rooms looked like this. Two of everything, he thought.

"You have a roommate?"

Re: M18

[face-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

“I have one yes – one by the name of Dias.” He had hardly conversed with his roommate, but that notion neither bothered nor annoyed the knight in the slightest. Clicking the door shut behind him, Yuber’s movements didn’t pause as Cloud turned around to regard him. Instead he moved off towards his bed before sliding the mattress down further. Reaching down, he slid his hand into the hole he’d created at the head of the mattress. Grasping the handles for each blade, Yuber easily pulled them free from their hiding place.

“They’re both identically made.” Yuber muttered as he pushed the mattress back up until the head touched against the wall again. Taking the second weapon by the blade, he offered its handle over towards Cloud as he smoothly added. “The weight is slightly off, but it’s nothing an experienced swordsman wouldn’t be able to compensate for either.”

Re: M18

[1mperturbable.livejournal.com]

Cloud nodded simply, looking over to the other bed. He knew he had a room mate, but he had never seen the other man, whoever it was. He had been told he was assigned one when he had first woken up on the first morning. No words or even a sight had been garnered about the mysterious man that shared a room with him.

His eyes flicked to where Yuber was moving around the bed, tilting his head as he spied the two identical blades. He reached out and took the blade that was offered to him, the feel of the hilt foreign but much more comfortable then what he had been forced to use here. The hilt definitely did not match the thickness of the blade, and it was not properly balanced either.

He gave a small practice swing to see how it felt. He automatically corrected for the extra weight of the blade, swiveling the sword around his hand before passing it to the other. "It is much better than what I am currently using for weapons. The hilt is nicer to grasp... even if the weight is off."

How it would hold up in battle? He was not yet certain. "You intend to keep the other one then?" That had been their agreement.

Re: M18

[face-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

He watched the movements Cloud made with the weapon, but found himself not terribly surprised when he saw the way the other blonde handled the makeshift sword. It seemed that this one here not only had some skill with a weapon, but quite possibly had experienced with various blades at least. It was the mark of a true warrior if his theory was correct, but even if it was, it hardly changed his opinion on the human male.

“There is hardly much else out there that could compare other than true weapons.” Yuber added in a murmur after Cloud’s observation.

Dropping his attention down to the sword in his hand, he gazed thoughtfully at the weapon for a moment. It was impressive work by Usopp without a doubt, but he hardly knew if the weapons could withstand a proper battle – let alone remain strong while up against untold beasts.

“There is one final test that needs to be made before my decision will be.” The knight offered before his piercing gaze locked back onto Cloud. “The blades need to be properly tested… if you’re up for that task of course.”

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

[[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/254257.html?view=18945329#t18945329)]]

Gin was fairly relieved to see the room was just as he'd left it. He rummaged for his things, the flashlight in the drawer, the apron, then the closet for the knives he'd tucked away.

He stared for a moment at the sight that greeted him. His old shinigami uniform, complete with 3rd squad captain's jacket hung from one of the closet hangars. He laughed quietly to himself as he pulled it out and dressed himself in the familiar robes. He'd worn it only a couple of nights ago, but somehow, here it was again. It took a little of the grandeur away to tie on the kitchen knives, as Shinsou was nowhere to be found among the clothing. Still, it was much more convenient to keep his belongings in his sleeves and it certainly felt nice to be able to fold his arms into them, as he so often had before.

Next, he supposed, he just had to find Ran. Possibly Jack, if he had the time or inclination. But Ran was much easier to find than the other half of his makeshift team. Her spirit thread was as familiar to him as his own.

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

[[going here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/253623.html?thread=19201719#t19201719)]]

[part1of3.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/254152.html?thread=19116488#t19116488) ]

As Ashton rounded the corner, he took one of his hands right back out of his pockets and trailed it along the side of the wall, drawing it back for a second and rubbing his fingers together, as if there might be some powdery remnant on them. It was all part of his I'm totally, totally acting nonchalant act, which failed even more often than Claude did when he tried the same thing.

"I mean, even if we, um, did end up kissing or something like that, I mean, it probably would have been more out of sympathy than anything else. I was, um, pretty bad off last night anyway. And I wouldn't know how to act the next day, anyway."

In a way, he was asking his obviously more-experienced roommate for advice, but it was much harder than he had expected it to be.

[bond-off-lame.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, despite all of Ashton's efforts, he wasn't fooling anyone.

"Ah, so you guys did do something!" Axel responded, grin growing wider as he slammed his fist into his other hand in an 'A ha!' kind of motion. It made enough sense, especially when the sexual tension was so thick in the room last night that he thought he was swimming through quicksand. And Ashton was feeling sorry for it?

"Like I said, it's all a-ok with me. I mean, as long as you guys didn't do it on my bed anyway. Because if you did then that'd be infringement on another man's property, you know." The redhead rambled on until they reached the end of the hallway where their room stood.

As expected, the hall itself was pretty desolate considering that most of the patient body was still scrambling madly outside, so Axel made it there in no time and pushed the door open without much effort.

M12

[part1of3.livejournal.com]

"Well - ... yes," Ashton said worriedly. "I mean, okay, something did happen, but.. I knew whatever happened would be okay with you, I guess? I mean, you're the kind of guy who looks like he.. he.. I don't know, gets a lot o- um. Uh. Never mind. Yes. Not on your bed," Ashton murmured as he stepped into their room. But Axel really did look like that! Axel was good-looking and very cool, besides. And he had great hair. Ashton's hair was nice, too, but good-looking and cool, not so much. It was no wonder he hadn't gotten any 'action' before last night.

And here Ashton had confessed to first-basin' it with Claude's rival. Was he going to be heckled? Maybe. But at least Axel wasn't going to act all weird about it, like he was sure Claude would for one reason or another.

"It was good. No, great. I mean, I'd only been kissed by Xigbar and Luxord before." He paused. "But then night had to end, and I have no idea how I'm going to act when I see him, s-so, um." He swallowed, lifting up the mattress to retrieve his single sword. "I mean, uh. Do you have any tips?"

M12

[bond-off-lame.livejournal.com]

Now that was a new one. Axel knew that he wasn't hideous like Luxord or whatever, but the way Ashton said it made him glisten with pride. It was enough to put him in good spirits, despite the fact that his roommate was also indirectly calling him a slut.

Yeah whatever, it wasn't like he slept his way to the top like Saïx.

Still, it wasn't like the redhead had an easy time answering Ashton's question. He didn't seem to be the right person to ask since he'd only gotten a heart only recently, and even then it was just some sorry excuse for a replacement. So he was rather ignorant of the fluttering feelings of 'love', or at least the deeper meaning if one ignored all the science about hormones and the like.

"Well, since Dias wouldn't be the kind to braid flowers into your hair," Axel started as he stretched about in their room. "I suggest you confront him about it, but not in front of everyone else. Keep it to yourselves for a while."

Axel had kept his chakram underneath the mattress of his bed, so that was the first thing that he dived for. He spun it once before nodding in satisfaction, glancing over at his closet in thought. Since there was the possibility of them going outside at some point, it would've been smart to grab his coat just in case. However, just as he pulled open the closet door, he couldn't help but drop his weapon in surprise, too shocked with what he found to pay much mind to the loud clatter of metal on the hard floor.

Even if it was pretty dark Axel could still catch the dark mass of his Organization coat that hung there as if it'd been there the whole time. He made a quick swipe for the hanger that held it, pulling it out and gave it a thorough look through.

"... What the hell?!" Was his delayed reaction nearly ten seconds after he found it.

M18 [after Yuber's departure]

[heavens-too-far.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/252942.html?thread=19242254#t19242254).]

It was an unsettling thing, to think that returning to his room in this institute could ever be something that he was grateful for.

Dias moved over to his bed immediately, pulling his sword out from under the mattress and feeling immensely better once the solid weight of it was in his hands. Then, with little else to do, he sat down on his bed, resting the sword over his knees, and waited for Ashton. He'd have preferred to have gone out and looked for the man, but then they might easily miss each other...besides, although Dias was worried, he had to trust that Ashton was able to take care of himself(even injured), would make it here on his own.

M18

[part1of3.livejournal.com]

[from the thread above, yeah~]

Ashton was trying to take deep breaths. He hadn't expected those few steps down the hallway to be so momentous, but it really did seem so.

He'd just learned more about his new 'condition' that he didn't really understand, and he assumed he was going to think about it later. But how could Ashton think about last night's torture now, when his face was flushing and his palms were sweating? He wouldn't be surprised if he started shaking. Last night had seemed so right, but there was always the possibility that Dias didn't agree. And that possibility was making his stomach turn.

The younger swordsman stood outside the door for roughly ten seconds, composing himself as well as he could, before reaching up and giving a weak knock, coupled with a small voice that wasn't as loud and commanding as he had hoped it would be. "..Dias?"

Here goes nothing.

Re: M18

[heavens-too-far.livejournal.com]

Dias looked up as soon as the knock came, something in him (two separate things?) both tightening and relaxing when he heard Ashton's voice. On the one hand, Ashton had made it here...he was all right, then, and Dias hadn't made a mistake by staying put and waiting for him.

But on the other hand...things were almost certainly going to get painfully awkward now. And as much as he liked Ashton - well, actually it was probably more than 'like' now, but using a stronger word even within his own head made him uneasy - he didn't necessarily like the uncertainty he was feeling. Being sure of things...it had used to be so easy for him.

"Come in," he said, looking down at his sword and catching a brief glimpse of his own crimson eyes reflected on the blade.

Outside M18

[full-score.livejournal.com]

((From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/253623.html?thread=19239351#t19239351) ))

Flashlight lighting the way in front of them, Claude led the way towards M18. Fortunately, the flashlight beam was still pretty strong, but his trip to the electronics store with Guy only reminded him of how limited the technology from this period could be. He'd advised Guy to conserve his power, but Claude knew he'd been using his own every night since his arrival, and using it a lot.

I'll need to figure out where some spare batteries are soon, Claude thought with a frown. But I can't go on any battery hunts until I get a decent weapon...

It'd be nice if he could make a huge battery collection. Then he could share with all his friends, too.

When they arrived in front of the door, Claude thought it was kind of strange that it was closed. He was about to knock to make sure whether someone was inside or not, when he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Thank you, Dias!" It was definitely Ashton. The blond suddenly paused by the door and, after tucking his flashlight underneath his arm, he pressed his finger over his lips and glanced over at Leon. Hopefully his friend would get the signal and wouldn't do anything to blow their cover. "Oh, sweet barrel! It's so lovely, Dias, I...I...ohhh..."

Claude visibly stiffened and swallowed hard. Just what kind of conversation had he and Leon stumbled into? (And what had Dias given Ashton to make him react that way, anyway?!) The blond actually felt himself blush, and he was caught between the urge to shield the boy's ears and the horror that this was Ashton and Dias he was listening to. The two sharp reactions collided, paralyzing and pinning him in place as he held his breath and stared at the door with bug eyes.

"I know," he heard Dias reply, albeit a little awkwardly. "You like barrels." Which by itself wasn't such a shocking revelation, but what the hell kind of barrels were they talking about here? Claude had no idea, and that by itself was making him feel more uneasy than he wanted to admit. Last he checked, people used baseball metaphors when they talked about this sort of thing, but maybe Expel just did things differently. Or maybe Ashton just did things differently - that was a possibility too.

Okay, okay, get your mind out of the gutter, Claude, he told himself sharply, and he turned away from the door, finger still pressed tightly to his mouth, though at this point it was to keep himself from saying or doing anything stupid and blowing their cover. Besides, they were probably just talking about...regular old barrels, right?

Right?

Outside M18

[heraldric.livejournal.com]

Leon, standing just a bit further back from the door, couldn't hear what was going on inside nearly as well as Claude could. He watched the changes in his friend's facial expressions with innocent curiosity. Was Claude eavesdropping? ...And could he get close enough to join in?

"Claude?" he asked, just above a whisper. "What is it? Are they in there? Are we going to knock?" What if there was a monster in there with them or something? What if they weren't in there at all and evil dopplegangers had taken their place? Standing out in the hall in the institute like this was not conducive to optimistic thinking.

Or maybe they were discussing secrets they didn't want him and Claude to know. Wouldn't that just be the way it was? There was something going on between those two, that was for sure.

A romantic relationship between two men was just a little over poor Leon's head even if he had heard the conversation.

Outside M18

[full-score.livejournal.com]

"No, we can't knock now," Claude hissed, his voice barely a sharp whisper. "What if they're...what if...Ashton and Dias are--?!"

No no no no. He wasn't going to start thinking like that (even if he already had). After all, he'd been reasonably sure nothing like that was going on between those two just hours ago. (He'd seen Ashton holding hands with that cute girl, right?!)

But this conversation was sounding pretty fishy!

He fell quiet when the two started talking again, and he narrowed his eyes as he strained to listen. "Dias is asking Ashton if he's okay," he whispered, suddenly feeling like some sort of news reporter, kind of like Chisato.

"I'm...fine," Claude heard Ashton say. "There's been pain, but I'm quite all right. I should be fine to wander around tonight, if you'd...um, if you'd not mind. I mean, I don't think I'd slow you down?"

Claude frowned at this, and he physically pressed his ear against the door. He was glad to hear Ashton wasn't in pain at the moment and that he'd be well enough to fight. But then there was something else entirely that caught his attention...

"Sounds like Ashton wants to team up with Dias tonight," he said to Leon, his voice dropping even more in volume to where he was practically mouthing the words to his friend. Claude knew that shouldn't have been surprising. It was obvious Ashton placed a lot of trust in Dias. He'd gone as far as to kick him and Leon out of his room last night, but hadn't hesitated in silently asking Dias to stay.

Claude swallowed hard again, but for an entirely different reason this time.

Focusing on the matter at hand, he paused again. "...And I think they're sharing candy?" Maybe stuff Dias had stolen from Doyleton (dammit, Claude had wanted to swipe something too), but then again, maybe it was something he'd found in the institute itself.

Either way, all of this was really, really weird. Claude wasn't sure he liked it.

M13

[degozaruyo.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/254152.html?view=19459016#t19459016).]

Kenshin stopped in front of the door to Homura's room out of politeness. He didn't want to just barge in without the other man's permission, after all. He was a little surprised that Kenren and Okita hadn't arrived yet...but Okita had probably wanted to return to his room to collect his sword, he realized with a pang of guilt. Okita was probably expecting to fight the Battousai.

Re: M13

[screwthegods]

Homura moved past Kenshin once the man stopped, going into the room without knocking. He was a bit surprised to find it empty, but it only took a moment for the man to realize the same thing Kenshin had about Okita's likely actions.

Well, it certainly was a good idea, wasn't it?

"Rest until they get here." Homura motioned to Ken's bed, kneeling by his own long enough to get the sword from under his own. Merely taking hold of his weapon had a marvelous effect, giving a new layer of confidence and comfort to the man.

Hopefully, Kenshin would soon experience the same.

"We should have thought about changing your clothes while we were in your room." His own covered with blood from various donors, Homura moved to the closet to get a fresh outfit, and found a rather pleasant surprise waiting for him. "Well. It seems we have a benefactor of sorts."

Reaching inside, Homura pulled out the pieces of his normal outfit, complete but for the shackles. Of course, here there were unnecessary, nothing more than a reminder of his captivity.

No, Homura was quite pleased with what he had found.

Re: M13

[degozaruyo.livejournal.com]

Kenshin went over to the other bed as he was bidden and sat on it, leaning against the headboard with his knees to his chest. It was a familiar position, but it felt almost...wrong without the comforting weight of his sword.

He looked up at Homura and forced a smile. "We should have, shouldn't we? Maybe this one can borrow a shirt, if it isn't too much trouble?" It was kind of cold, and his chest was rather uncomfortably bare...

Then Homura pulled out his own clothes, and Kenshin couldn't help but stare. They were...kind of strange. Definitely Western-influenced. And yet...they suited him.

And now he had an answer for why the red-head from the hallway had been dressed like he was.

"Now this one really wishes he had thought about changing while we were in his room," he said, laughing a little.

[full-score.livejournal.com]

((From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/255622.html?thread=19398022). ))

Claude was practically grumbling under his breath when he stepped out into the hallway. "...painfully substandard...other plans with Ashton...give me a break..."

Well, excuse them for not getting captured by Martin Landel sooner! Maybe they'd have built up a more impressive arsenal by now, including a hijacked tank or a huge box filled with machine guns. Geez! Out of all of the rude and inconsiderate things to say! Claude was baffled. Not to mention his blood was practically boiling! He could barely think straight, he was so angry.

But Claude knew he could deal with it. He could deal with anything. After all, he still had Leon, and they didn't need some stuck-up swordsman helping them.

Even so, it genuinely stung to think that Ashton wasn't going with them tonight in favor of spending time with Dias, of all people.

Dias Flac. Why did Ashton suddenly spend all of his free time with him? What was so great about that guy, anyway? Aside from the fact he had a sword, and he was a better swordsman than Claude, and he was taller, and he practically embodied cool, calm and collected.

...Ashton probably would have hung out with Dias in Doyleton if he'd known where he was, Claude thought bitterly.

He took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down. It wouldn't do for him to go stomping through the institute while looking for supplies with poor Leon. Claude knew he needed to take his anger and channel it into something more productive. They'd show Dias they weren't just a couple of painfully substandard guys. Not that Claude even really cared what Dias thought by this point, that jerk!

Gritting his teeth, Claude turned on his flashlight again and shined it over the maps in his journal. "Looks like there's a shed out in the recreational field," he said out loud. Claude had never been there before, but that only made going now sound even better.

[heraldric.livejournal.com]

Leon was fidgeting. Even back when he was more arrogant than now, a situation like this would have left him trying to make himself as invisible as possible. He hadn't been there when Dias and Claude had been at odds at first. He'd seen them compete in the Lacour Tournament of Arms, certainly, but that wasn't the same. That had been a competition. This was a clashing of egos. Or something along those lines anyway.

He felt a bit out of place, and while he was glad Claude was willing to take him along he couldn't help but think he was more of a consolation prize. If given the choice, would the man have picked him over Ashton? He didn't want to think about it that way. Claude was his friend. It was just that ever since he'd come to this place...

When the blond stormed out of the room, Leon followed silently without so much as a farewell or a glance back at the other two men. He willed Claude's anger to abide some, so that he wouldn't fear being snapped out if he should speak up. He hated tension. He hated Landel's.

It wasn't until Claude finally mentioned the recreational field that he answered with a faint "Okay." It wasn't even the weapons that mattered - it was getting the blond's mind on something else constructive.

[full-score.livejournal.com]

Claude would have felt a little sad if he'd known Leon was wondering if he was some sort of consolation prize. After all, Leon was like a little brother to Claude. He wouldn't have traded him for anything in the world. It was just that when he saw Ashton and Dias together like that, it really, really rankled him. More than it probably should have.

It was just another reminder of while it was true Dias sometimes brought the best out of him, it was also true that he could bring out the worst in Claude too. He hated it, especially since he knew his rival was everything he wasn't. And the idea of being shunted aside in favor of Dias...

Well, it was like the Tournament of Arms all over again, except this time it felt even worse for some reason.

"We'll get something to fight with from the shed," Claude said firmly, "and then we'll find more metal than we know what to do with." He paused, thinking to himself for a moment. "Although we might have to put off the metal for a little bit. I'm not sure if we'll have time for it tonight or not. And I have a feeling I'll be spending next nightshift collecting general supplies like batteries, but we'll see."

Either way, they'd get something done tonight, without anyone's help. Claude gave Leon a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to walk down the hallway. "Come on, let's go."

((To here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/253623.html?thread=19506103#t19506103) ))

M11

[screwthegods]

[From here]

Homura came out of M13, and paused just long enough to let Kenren catch up. He did relish his time alone with the man, who was the only one who remembered clearly those terrible days in Heaven. But more than that, Kenren was simply an interesting person to be around.

"They're from the same world, swordsmen on opposite sides of a war." Homura offered what little he knew to help Kenren better understand the situation. "Himura, however, is from after the end of that war, while Okita was taken from the middle of it. It makes for a very interesting situation."

Interesting, or a nuisance. Homura's position on Okita's stance hadn't changed. He respected the quest for revenge, but there were greater enemies to worry about in this place. And now more than ever, it seemed that Himura Kenshin was in fact not the person Okita had fought during their war.

The room only two doors down from his own, Homura paused to knock at the door. "The pipes are for weapondry. Not a task a Taisho of the Western Heavenly Army is likely used to performing, but necessary to get a sword. If you'd care to join us."

Re: M11

[opposingheaven.livejournal.com]

Kenren nodded to the two other men and then followed Homura out into the corridor, taking up position at the other god's side.

"Awkward situation to be in, I can imagine," Kenren replied. "Seems they get off on bringing people from the most awkward times possible." Like pulling him from five hundred years before everyone else from his world. Oh yeah, that was such a blast. And now, ah now the Institute had crossed a line, going for one of his own like that. It wasn't a pass-time anymore, an enjoyable diversion. Now Kenren intended to make this war something personal.

He laughed softly at Homura's mention of what he shouldn't be used to. "A Taisho of the Western Heavenly Army shouldn't be used to spending hours cleaning up a library, but certain persons never listened to me. I'm sure I can take it," he said dryly. "I'll join you."

Re: M11

[screwthegods]

Homura nodded slightly, recognizing the reference to Kenren's own situation. What must it have felt like, to be surrounded by souls you knew so well, and yet who didn't recognize your own place among them? Homura could only understand to a degree, since he had never belonged with them.

"Anything to torture us, yes?" And so came the next occurrence, though Homura could hardly have been prepared for it. But perhaps he should have been, given Hijikata's recent disappearance. It didn't surprise the demi-god, as he opened the door and stepped inside, to see a rather pristine room. Kyouya certainly seemed the type for neatness. But there was a difference between clean and untouched, and the space that surrounded them now definitely fell to the latter.

He stepped forward, frowning as he moved one of the pillows. A flashlight, just as he had found under his own on first waking, and from the weight of it filled with something other than blood.

"I'm glad to hear you'll be joining us. Himura isn't in much condition for the labor." Homura's voice became distracted as he set his sword on the bed, freeing his hand to strip away a pillowcase. No one was living here, and that meant the items they all began with--flashlights, radios, pens--were all free to be taken.

But no one was living here. And this was Kyouya's room.

Anything to torture them, indeed.