damned_institute | Nightshift 29: M31-M40 Hallway

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Nightshift 29: M31-M40 Hallway

Another unexciting dinner led into to another shot at busting out of the institution as Nightshift rolled around. Of course, Jack had other plans to attend to first. He had been rather interested in ~~crashing~~ paying a visit to M98 after the bulletin promised "cigarettes, booze, and sandwiches". The "manflesh" he could do without, but even if he wasn't welcome (last time he checked, he wasn't a hot lady, though the way things were going, who knew what tomorrow held?), he'd strong arm his way in and take what he wanted!

Sliding from his room into the hall with his maps and flashlight, the Fable set out to find his way to the party and may score some liquor and smokes.

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Usopp wasn't so sure of all that, even though it was partially the same reasoning he'd used to justify their run into the bathroom of deathslugs before. Maybe at least his nakama would meet with someone neat like Sai on their way in--er, or rather, maybe they would get to know someone totally unbrainwashed, but interesting. The more friends all of them had here, the better.

And the more weapons, in his case. Zoro needed real swords, Luffy didn't need much of anything (although heavy objects of any shape couldn't hurt), Nami already had a staff and there was no making a ClimaTact in here, and Sanji just needed shoes if anything. Maybe if I find something to reinforce the thin sandals...?

He turned back into the room, closing the door behind him this time and turning on his flashlight. The expression on Sai's face concerning the kitchen disturbed him, a little, but it was understandable, even if he couldn't pin down the emotion leaking out. Concern, anger, distress? All of them would fit for a guy who'd spent the previous evening in that kitchen, forced to fight to 'defend' its secrets.

"So! Let's get to work! I've been keeping the soldering iron under the bed instead of in the closet just in case, wrapped in a t-shirt," he explained, crawling under to reach it.

Something came to Sai's mind as he watched Usopp fumble around underneath his bed. (Sadly, he lacked the proper sense of humor to find it amusing.) Something he'd been discussing the night before, prior to being dragged off the bus too fast for him to even realize what was happening. He had been talking with Uchiha Sasuke...

"Usopp?" he addressed the pirate's backside. "I had," not a friend, really - not yet, "a fellow ninja, an acquaintance, that was interested in meeting with you." He hadn't met up with the other boy yet tonight. Perhaps he should have waited a bit outside his room first.

"If we're quick here, I may be able to find him."

"Oh, really?" Usopp answered from under the bed, before dragging the small soldering iron out and unwrapping it. "He wanted to meet with me?" What for? Maybe he had something he wanted attached to something else?

Because even if Usopp couldn't build communications devices out of the radio or create explosives (and he sure was going to try if they got some cleaning chemicals anyhow) he had the means to attach things together. He smiled at the iron for a moment with something nearing pride, before putting it down while the tip heated, and headed to the closet. "This should only take a few minutes. Do you think he'll still be around then? It's always better to travel in big groups anyway, just in case."

"Yes. He's interested in making alliances." As many as possible, it seemed, which didn't match with the Sasuke he remembered meeting back in Orochimaru's hideout. Then again, it was possible that the other ninja also had ulterior motives that Sai hadn't picked up on. It wouldn't surprise him if this was the case.

"I don't know how long he would remain near his hall, nor whether or not he has any other plans. But he's currently blind. He may strike out at a slower pace than he would have before." He stepped closer to Usopp as he spoke, ready to help the pirate with whatever needed to be done to get the slingshot put together.

"Really? I made an alliance today too. Some guy named Haseo, in exchange for a drawing." Usopp talked conversationally as he started to work. Cut up his underpants, double them over for extra strength, then the soldering. This was actually very simple, much easier than the sword-like objects. "But I don't know what he does, to be honest. He just came over and I felt like drawing something, and he wouldn't accept it for free, so now we're allies, even though I have no idea who he is. Funny, huh? Hold this end down for me while this part dries?"

Usopp did not think the least bit critical of Sai's friend for being a blind ninja. He'd read ninja adventure novels, well, a few, when he'd run out of pirate adventure novels. He knew darn well that if anything was more dangerous than a ninja, it'd be a blind ninja. Sort of in the same way that pirates who were missing body parts were a lot scarier than pirates who looked whole and healthy--well, such as himself.

That's not really reality, though, and from the way Sai talks, it sounds like he hasn't been blind long... But the alternative was horrible. Usopp decided to just not ask if the ninja had been blinded in the Institute.

Sai raised a mildly inquisitive eyebrow as Usopp mentioned exchanging a drawing for an alliance. He'd never done that before himself. Usually artists only exchanged their artwork for cash, if they gave it up at all. Though Sai had never sold any of his personally. In fact, many simply ended up getting thrown away.

He did as the pirate asked, holding the piece steady. Usopp seemed to have everything already planned out. This was good. Hopefully a simple helping hand here and there would be all that was necessary.

"Great, thanks." There was barely any need to wait for cooling in this case, as the connection was so small. He cut some extra strips from the rather bountiful pile of torn clothing at the bottom of his closet, then bound them to the center of the 'band,' and the slingshot, as it was, was complete.

Usopp grinned at it for just a moment, feeling rather more satisfied with this one than with the one he'd made before out of reed from baskets. If nothing else, he could turn it around and claw at somebody with it. Definitely a weapon.

Now to equip. He opened his bag and started filling it. Flour bombs, for now. Rocks would work well enough for ammunition otherwise, or anything small and sturdy if he got his hands on it. To go with those, a few of the homemade headbands that could also double as face masks. Just on a whim, he took a few of the game pieces he'd stolen his first night here. He hadn't had time to fill the little spheres he'd made in the arts and crafts room for tonight, so instead he closed his bag shut and stood, feeling accomplished.

"I'm ready. Let's head out and meet with your friend! What's his name?" Usopp expected Sai to lead the way, having no idea where this friend was.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Sai responded. He watched Usopp finish up the slingshot, paying close attention to how it was constructed just in case the pirate had issues with it in the future. "He's not always very friendly," he went on to add, blunt as always, "so be careful what you say."

He followed this up with a smile - that might not make the pirate worry too much - before heading for the door, ready to backtrack the way he came. If they were lucky, they'd still be able to catch him.

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Nightshift 29: M31-M40 Hallway

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