damned_institute | Day 29: Cafeteria, Brunch

Hitsugaya left the chapel no less frustrated than before. The head doctor once again had chosen not to hide his face, yet promised he would be making an appearance at some time in the near future. He didn't like being patient, but there wasn't much choice. Either the head doctor would show his face, or he wouldn't. Renji had already seen him, and knew how to find him. That was enough.

The thought of eating made him slightly nauseous as usual, but he knew he needed to get his strength up. He could either be weak and try to force his way through brunch without eating anything, or he could be smart and actually give himself something to eat. And there was rice. Rice and fruit. He took a heaping pile of rice, and grabbed as much watermelon as he could fit on his plate, then proceeded to an empty table. He scanned the room, watching for Momo. He wasn't exactly looking forward to their conversation, knowing how she'd acted yesterday; however, he knew he had to speak to her, and there was a good chance that she would show more restraint now that the drugs were out of her system.

Thoughtfully he consumed his rice and waited.

[free at the moment, pester if you wish]

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Aya, huh? Well, there had to be one silent member in every group, didn't there? Duo had the luck to have two in his, so he was well trained to make up the lack of conversation. "Nice to meet ya. Sorry about getting your friend all roughed up last night. I'll be more careful with him next time, cross my heart." He made the accompanying childish motion over his chest before looking down to his food.

"So, how about this brunch? An all-you-can-eat meal doesn't sound half bad considering they tried to kill us last night. With nurse monsters and giant birds of death." Duo paused to shovel a piece of syrupy pancake into his mouth. "Does anyone else get the feeling we're extras in a low-budget horror movie?"

"Pretty much all the time," Ken agreed, reaching over to steal a carrot stick off of Aya's tray with a cheeky grin. "So nope, you're not alone. Comforting, ne?" He bit the carrot in half with an audible snap. "Woe is us. Least it's better than prison food."

"So what's up, kid?"

Aya was comfortable just sliding into his characteristic silence when the other two filled the space with unnecessary words so much better than he could ever manage. He nodded again at Duo, pondering for a moment what the boy meant, but mostly concentrating on his plate.

Or that was until there was an extra hand reaching toward Aya's plate.

He glanced up at Ken, snorting softly as the carrot ended up between Ken's teeth soon after. If Aya had not been nursing a fresh wound at his shoulder, he might have reached over the table to pay back somehow. As it was, he lowered his gaze back to his plate with a hint of curve upon his lips. Some things would never change, and he found himself grateful for that.

"Maybe they find it practical to feed us well so we can go on night after night," he also found himself saying as he stole a glance at Duo, surprising himself as well. However, it had been a good morning this far. And the hint of a smile upon usually grim line of lips when Aya shifted his gaze back at Ken seemed to say so as well.

"I suppose we offer better entertainment that way." Or there was something in the food what Landel's wanted them to eat. Aya had thought of that, but wouldn't bring it up now. It was a pointless topic after all.

Duo snorted to Ken's response. "Well, that's a relief. Here I was, thinking I'd gone crazy. You're right, though. This is way better than prison food."

And then Aya spoke up, and Duo smirked. So this guy wasn't mute after all. How fortunate for him. He could even smile! Well, he had one up on Heero and Trowa now. "Yeah, well I've got a pretty entertaining show for that guy if he wants to come down here and see it. I'll even give him a front row seat, since I'm so generous. It's call 'Kicking Landel's Ass'. Even the critics'll love it, trust me."

"I think y'might have to get in line. There's a lot of people wantin' that guy dead." Landel might even one up Takatori on the front of getting people to want to kill him. Ken would be content with just getting the fuck out of there, but really--he knew that leaving wasn't likely until the bastard was dead and gone and his institute torn down brick by brick. "Unless there's room for guest appearances in your show."

Ken grinned--if Duo had seen him two nights ago, the expression would be familiar. He was ready to go for blood.

Aya had seen that grin, two nights ago and many times before. And it was the sole reason why his smile faded away before it had time to bloom properly.

He slipped back into the silence that was much like an old friend now, and directed his narrowing gaze back at his plate. He had not forgotten what had been said few nights ago. And no amount of memories about what else had happened would make him forget.

Wonderful, he felt stiff as a board again, poking the rise around on his plate. Fortunately it'd probably go unnoticed, as it was rather characteristic for him to converse little with just about anyone.

He hadn't seen that specific look on Ken's face before, but he could certainly guess at the gist from the context; and no, that wasn't creepy at all, Ken. Unless you were a normal, upstanding citizen. Which Duo wasn't, so it was a moot point anyway.

"Hey, I'm always willing to invite guests into the act. The more the merrier, right? Anyone who wants a shot is more than welcome to join in."

Unfortunately for Aya, Duo didn't leave even characteristic silences alone. "What about you, Aya? You want a piece of the action, too? We could save you an arm or a leg or something."

Not many people did see that specific look and lived to talk about it--Aya, Yohji, and Omi being obvious exceptions. The expression faded as quickly as it came, Ken not even seeming to realize he slipped.

"You're too kind." Ken nabbed a chicken strip off his plate and took a bite.

Ken busied himself with his food, listening with half an ear for Aya's response.

"Hn." Normally Aya wouldn't have bothered to reply, as he was not ready to give into humor right now and that was the only way out of it. But the topic hit a bit too close to home, and his answer was voiced just as blankly as his expression indicated him feeling.

"I don't care. As long as he dies."

He wasn't blood thirsty, he was practical. He was good in killing, did not enjoy it, however.

Day 29: Cafeteria, Brunch

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