damned_institute | Day 30: Cafeteria, Breakfast

Entry tags:

Day 30: Cafeteria, Breakfast

Hitsugaya woke with a start.

His entire body ached, but the pain was nowhere near as bad as it had been the night before. His injuries had been tended two with clean gauze and bandages, and he found every movement wasn't agony. He wasn't in the best of shape, but thanks to the miracle of landel's strange time distortion, he had mostly recovered from the vile poison without having to waste anyone else's talents.

And in his hand, still...there was the key.

He dressed quickly, sliding the key onto the key ring from his desk drawer and stuck it into his pocket. Whether the key stood to gain them anything or not, it stood as a vital reminder that they could succeed in this place. There was hope, as insignificant as it often seemed. They could beat this place.

That small shred of hope made getting up worth it.

The nurse who escorted him to breakfast was cheerful, and commented idly about how wonderful it was to see young Tommy Winters up and about again after his unfortunate run-in with a bad case of food poisoning. He smirked slightly, knowing that any lies the institute forced into their heads were only that: lies. He wouldn't buy it for a second. And on top of that, the concept of muffins sounded almost appetizing. While he still preferred his authentic Japanese cuisine, the food here was slowly becoming more and more bearable. He would have preferred a warm bowl of sweet nattou over rice over the mufffins, but they would do. The plain yogurt and fruit, on the other hand, was excellent. He piled his plate high with fruit as usual, and got several small bowls of yogurt as well.

Finding the most convenient table to the end of the food line, he took a seat and scanned for the new arrivals. New arrivals meant people who would be lost and confused. Renji did a good job of making a bulliten post last time...he should recommend abarai-fukutaicho do the same again this time.

[Waiting for Angel]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kyon sighed, since it was about all he could do. No, Kyon was actually far over what had happened. He'd just felt it appropriate to bring it up. "I guess it was almost half a year ago."

He looked back up at her. Oh, well. Kyon guessed he needed to fill her in on what was going on. Great. Why did this have to be his problem?

" 'Here' is the Landel's Institute. It's an insane asylum, supposedly." Kyon eyed his breakfast and pinched off a piece of what seemed to be a cinnamon bun or something. It all tasted the same to Kyon now-a-days. He stuck it in his mouth and restrained the face he almost made.

"Here, you wake up and the nurses tell you everything you've ever believed was a delusion of the mind. Hence why you've probably been called by a different name, am I right?"

Kyon didn't wait for Asakura to answer. Instead he continued on, "At night, however, everything changes. The nurses turn into monsters, and the building erupts into chaos. Sadly, its the only time we're able to move around freely. Its just with every step you take from your room, you run the risk of being torn apart by whatever is lurking down that hall."

Kyon stopped, as if he were finished. He glanced to the side and said, "Its not enough that there's monsters, but the doctors here take patients at night and experiment on them as well."

Ryoko laced her fingers together and smiled, as a child might when being told a story. Despite her cheerful exterior, her mind was whirling with all the information Kyon was disclosing, and when he finally stopped his exposition she said nothing but simply hummed thoughtfully, a level look in her eyes.

From a perspective corrupted by terrestrial logic, the tale sounded like the premise of a horror movie, or maybe even a psychedelic video game. Nurses transforming into monsters? It'd take millions of Earth years for such an evolution to take place. And, judging by the caucasian staff as well as the overall developed country appearance to the place, Ryoko gathered her current location was probably within European or American territory, and with human rights laws being what they were, it would be impossible for doctors to 'experiment' on unconsenting customers without heavy retribution. Politics were ridiculously touchy about those sorts of things. Additionally, what self-respecting hospital would allow their patients to wander around the halls at night? Especially when said patients were supposed to be clinically insane?

From a perspective corrupted by terrestrial logic, this sort of situation was, simply put, impossible.

However...Ryoko pursed her lips. Humans were very unstable creatures, and it was certainly possible that they may have fallen into serious schizophrenia, therefore hallucinating monsters at night. 'Experiments' being conducted on them may simply be defensive or therapeutic measures carried out by the staff in order to restrain particularly out-of-control patients. Ryoko was a bit hesitant to dismiss Kyon's explanation as the ramblings of a madman, seeing how he was normally down-to-earth, as far as she could remember. Yet he could be, who knows?

She did notice how he averted his eyes upon his last sentence, about the 'experiments'. Perhaps his story did hold some truth? For now, Ryoko decided to withhold judgement until she acquired more data. Even though she was an Interface, and was definitely immune to psychological imbalance, seeing how she didn't really have anything close to a psychology in the first place. Ryoko was certain that her memories were true, so it must be her surroundings that were false. She was certain that Yuki Nagato and Kyon and--

--Haruhi Suzumiya. Ordinary humans couldn't control reality to such an extent, but an Absolute Data Entity would have enough power to create such an odd logic-defying place, if she felt like it. Besides, there was also her objective to keep in mind.

"And what about Suzumiya-san?" She asked finally. "Have you considered that your friend might have something to do with matters? After all, she does have the ability to alter data on such a large scale." Ryoko wasn't really sure why Haruhi Suzumiya would want to bring about such a strange facility in the first place, but, in the end, she wouldn't care. Secretly, she was hoping that her target was still nearby, somewhere. She still might be able to fulfill her mission.

Kyon couldn't read what was going through Ryoko's head while she seemed to think over his story. Was it acceptance? Or was she thinking he deserved to be in a loony bin. It was one of the two, he was sure.

On the subject of Haruhi, Kyon propped his chin up, looking at her. He knew she would come to that. He'd already prepared his answer. "I thought the same at first. Maybe something had happened again, and the reality was changed. However, once I found Haruhi here, she told me that the day shifts she found to be boring and she ...didn't like them."

Kyon gave Asakura a very serious look hinted with tiredness. "Haruhi would not create a place if she did not deem it fun. Haruhi also wouldn't have let the things that happen to people happen here. She's brash, and rude, and she doesn't get along well with others, but she isn't ...this messed up."

After a thought, he debated telling her this, but in the end figured it wouldn't hurt. "I haven't seen Haruhi in many days."

Well, this was definitely unexpected. The key to Haruhi Suzumiya's autoevolution hadn't kept in touch with her? Ryoko frowned, the stern look of a sensible student representative looking after an errant classmate. "You haven't seen her? Then we should seek her out. She is our friend, after all," she said, careful not to respond to the rest of the data Kyon provided her, even as she memorized each new piece of information about Haruhi Suzumiya's abilities.

If Haruhi Suzumiya wasn't the origin of this situation, what was? No terran organism could manipulate data to such an extent as to recreate Ryoko's interface as a human. It was so hard to think in this awkward form, but Ryoko forced herself to make do. There were several other alternative sources that may have put her here, she knew. Perhaps a rival Data Entity...

She gave a quick glance over her shoulder, but a quick scan of the cafeteria refused to yield Haruhi Suzumiya's presence, and she reluctantly turned back to look at Kyon again. He'd always been a deadpan sort of guy, but now he looked much wearier than normal, so she allowed her disapproving expression to soften into a sympathetic smile, as if she were merely a concerned friend instead of a homocidal alien. "If this place is really as bad as you say, why not just find a way out?" she suggested lightly, though she doubted that things would be that easy. However, any human in their right mind would be skeptical of Kyon's story, that was for sure--so she was just fitting in with her cover.

Kyon was kind of expecting that look. "We haven't kept in touch because we got into an argument a few days ago. Neither of us wanted to see eachother, I'm sure." He glanced away again. Keeping eye contact was beginning to get difficult. "I regret it, though, so don't rub it in my face. Now, I just want to make sure she's okay."

Kyon ran an uncertain hand through his hair. "You might not believe me right now, I can tell by the looks you're giving me, you think I'm going off the deep end."

A quick glance back to her and he said, "But you haven't been here as long as I have. And if it was that easy to leave, don't you think this place would be a lot less full?"

"Then our aims are mutual," Ryoko said happily, and for once she felt like she probably meant what she said. "There's no need to regret anything, as long as you'll make amends in the end." Optimistic, false words, but Ryoko kept up her bright grin, as if they were just back at school discussing Haruhi Suzumiya's first multiple-paragraph conversation.

She did take note of how often Kyon broke eye contact, however. That was uncommon. This place--perhaps there really was more to it than just its bizarre cover story. Of course, she would need to acquire more data to confirm Kyon's claims, and from different sources.

For Kyon's sake, she managed to look suitably hurt at his comment. "I don't believe any such thing. After all, I'm here as well, and this place is obviously far from ordinary." She hadn't been expecting the place to be easy to escape from, although it'd be a pleasant convenience if that turned out to be the case. But even normal asylums were forbidden from discharging still-stricken patients, so it'd be obvious that this would be the same. However, Ryoko knew that for her, escape was essential, if Haruhi Suzumiya was not present.

It'd be easy enough to simply break down the molecules of the facility's walls if she was still an interface. Ryoko glanced down at her lap, twisted her hands a bit, and heaved a sigh. But, no, she was still strangely, annoyingly, maddeningly human. She couldn't even remember the incantation to summon up her knife.

"In that case, exactly how long have you been here?"

Kyon gave a bit of a snort to her first comment. She acted like it was up to her to decide what 'making amends' was. No, she didn't know this place, she didn't know him. Haruhi being missing meant that this place had took her off to do god knows what. If he had kept her under watch, had just swallowed that stupid pride of his then maybe ...

God, they needed to find her. They needed to get home. They needed to ...do so many things. With Asakura here, he wasn't sure if this meant he could actually venture out and see, or if it meant his days were numbered a little less than before.

"I've been here for five days, I think. I'm not even sure anymore, it feels like its been forever." Here, Kyon again broke eye contact, looking more at the table with his chin propped up by his folded hands. "I don't even remember what home felt like."

Directly looking at her, Kyon said, "This place is Hell, Asakura."

Ryoko observed her classmate's reactions carefully. Typical Kyon skepticism, maybe? Or perhaps trauma from his current situation? Either way, he seemed quite distressed over his treatment of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Ryoko's lips twitched a bit, as if straining to hold in a smirk. In the same way Haruhi Suzumiya's data fluctuations depended on the performance of her lackey, Kyon's emotional data performance seemed quite reliant on the Absolute Data Entity's presence, as well.

A very intriguing observation.

This place is Hell. That statement made Ryoko hesitate, totally wiping off the half-smile on her face. Hell? A facility that unleashed monsters and conducted experiments on unwilling subjects was worrying, certainly, but Ryoko wasn't quite sure if she'd be so quick as to label such a place 'hell'. Although she was sure that her judgement was probably skewed in humanist standards, considering not only that she was a integrally ascetic interface, but also that there were a plethora of more traumatic situations people could otherwise be in.

In any case...Ryoko analyzed Kyon's expression--partly despairing, with just a hint of self-pity and a general air of solemnness--and quickly ran through all the possible ways she could respond. The option best suited to her crafted persona as Ryoko Asakura would be to reassure him.

But somehow she found herself ignoring her logical functions, found herself leaning forwards slightly, all traces of her perpetual smile gone. Trying to rationalize with herself all the way. He'd dropped hints all over the place, really. The way he looked away when mentioning the experiments, the bandages wrapped around his body, the slight but significant change in overall demeanor. "What exactly did they do to you?" she asked quietly.

Kyon's eyes widened. Was he really being so obvious about his own experiences? He was trying really, to be more subtle about it. Not just because of how Aidou threatened him with his life, but because he didn't want the wrong people to know about him.

Possibly it was because he was forced to keep such a secret that it had leaked out in the way he acted. If this was so, it was beyond Kyon's ability to help it. He really did want someone he could tell, someone he knew. Aidou was out of the question, he only looked down on him. Hisoka was a complete stranger and Hikaru was unreachable because of his brother.

And Haruhi.

"I don't want to talk about it." Kyon forced himself to say. Before Asakura had a chance to interject, he turned his attention to the sudden disturbance in the cafeteria. Was there a fight going on? Who the hell was doing that?

Kyon's reaction only confirmed her suspicion that something was off somehow, but she didn't have a change to inquire further into the topic when she was aware of a sudden increase in auditory disturbances. Loath as she was to break off what could be a change to obtain more data about Kyon's status, she reluctantly took a look back over her shoulder.

What she saw momentarily stunned her. There seemed to be people leaping onto tabletops, people attacking nurses, muscular orderlies restraining what patients they could while other staff members picked their way through the chaos to inject who they could with a long and unnervingly large syringe. Ryoko simply stared at the fray for several seconds. A nurse ran by suddenly to administer another sedative to the brawlers.

"I'm guessing this isn't an everyday sort of occurrence, is it?" she asked, rather dryly.

"Not really, no."

Kyon was watching rather agape. He'd seen some crazy things, but he didn't think any of the patients would be crazy enough to start some kind of riot. While, the idea was well in place, the means to back it up wasn't.

Kyon sighed. He wasn't getting involved in this. he wasn't any use in a fight and he did not like the idea of any staff putting anything into his veins. The last time that happened, Kyon would up with a bloodthirst and the ability to see in the dark.

Said bloodthirst was starting to react to the larger amount of blood in the room. With the fighting and brawling, it wasn't long before the scent became thicker and Kyon's senses started to reel. Trying to get a hold of himself, Kyon cradled his head in his hands, hoping that it would fade before Asakura turned back around.

She continued to observe the melee for a while, searching for any hint of Haruhi Suzumiya or even Yuki Nagato among the mobs of patients and staff members. It was a good thing Kyon had chosen to eat breakfast at such a secluded table, though--their position was far enough for them to feel relatively secure of their safety, unlike some less lucky people who had sat down square in the middle of the room, just unfortunates in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

After a moment, she turned back only to see Kyon sitting with his head in his hands, like he was struck with a migraine or some similar ailment. As far as she knew, Kyon had never been very susceptible to migraines, but Ryoko nevertheless ran through all the possible causes for headaches she knew--excessive heat, optical illusions, disturbing imagery, motion sickness.

Interfaces weren't built with intuition. That was a gift only lesser organisms possessed. But she was a human now, and the same gut feeling that made her initially wary of this whole place now gave a ping. She leaned forwards again, her face set in an expression of concern, her words anything but. "I wonder, if I ask you my previous question again, would you be able to give me an answer now?" Something was strange about him, she just knew. "Look at you now. What did they do to you."

Great. Asakura had seen him in his moment of weakness. Holding back the best he could, trying to keep the rising instincts at bay, Kyon looked Asakura directly in the eyes for the first time since they'd probably started talking.

He couldn't just shrug it off. The alien would be back over and over again until she got what she wanted. He knew this much from knowing her in the past. He didn't know what to make of the look on her face. It seemed concerned, but, with Asakura, authenticity was often in question. This was her act. He knew.

Yet, he still answered her. "I'm not who I used to be," He said, a bit vaguely. He couldn't speak much, for all he knew Aidou was right behind him, listening to every word. "I'm not ...human anymore, Asakura."

And that was all she was going to get from him right now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Day 30: Cafeteria, Breakfast

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject