Day 30: Patient Library (Fourth Shift)

[jei.livejournal.com]

While he waited for his bulletin board correspondant, Farfarello perused the library's offerings once more. There was no sign of any of the books he'd requested in the suggestion box but he wasn't very suprised that this was the case--even if, by some chance, the Head Doctor actually intended to grant any of the reasonable requests it still would probably take more than a day for anything to happen. The wheels turned slowly, in institutions, and there was no reason for a fake institution to be any speedier than a real one.

For lack of anything better, Farfarello pulled down the Histories volume of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. A little Richard III would keep him diverted for a short while, anyway.

Comments

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

The patient from the message board was easy enough to find. Not only was he the only one to fit the description, he was the only one in the library aside from the nurses. Gin had hoped for a bit more background noise, but as long as they kept their voices low, it shouldn't be a problem. He'd also brought the journal and a pen from his room. He had a sharp memory, but chemical names and other more complicated things, he might have to write down. Hopefully this one would actually be as good as his word an wouldn't charge too much for the information. Gin didn't have a whole lot to bargain with and he certainly wasn't going to sacrifice any of his own resources. Not when this was an 'assignment.'

"Afternoon," Gin smiled without even trying.

[jei.livejournal.com]

Putting the Shakespeare aside with no regret, Farfarello nodded in greeting. "Afternoon. Let's get to business." Pleasantries were really not Farfarello's thing, and he was here for information about a topic near and dear to his heart--volatile chemicals.

[traitors-smile.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately for his companion in conversation, Gin had a very roundabout way of speaking, which sometimes got to the point and sometimes did not. It was useful for many things, but acquiring information wasn't really one of them. He'd have to make an effort to stay on topic if he wanted to learn what this boy knew. Good thing he didn't plan on doing much of the talking.

The boy hadn't even asked his name, but perhaps that was for the best. He had no qualms about giving it, but maybe it was a subject best left untouched. "Happy to," he complied, taking a seat. "where should w'start?" he said with the same smile.

[jei.livejournal.com]

"Where did you find chemicals?" That's really all Farfarello wants from this conversation--knowing where to get his hands on what he wants. Technically, he could ask Schuldig to pick the information out of someone's head, but why bother the telepath if he didn't have to? "And what did you find?"

[blurred-divide.livejournal.com]

[free for pestering]

If Angel had known that the only way through to the library was by the Sun Room, he might've paid a little more attention to where his nurse was herding him. As it was, he didn't realize that there would be sunlight spilling throughout the entire place until his nurse opened the door and pushed him through.

He backpedaled so fast he stepped on her foot. She yelped.

"Sorry! Sorry." Oh no. This wasn't going well. He had to get—

Wait. Hang on. What?

Angel put his hand cautiously into the light, oblivious to the look his nurse was giving him. There was no doubt that he'd just proven to her that he was crazy, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. It technically hadn't been that long ago since he was able to walk in the sun—there'd been that brief time several months ago when he'd been human—but he'd forgotten what it felt like already. It hadn’t been real, anyway. Not really.

He followed the nurse to the library slowly, so awed by this sudden turn of events that he didn't notice Willow sitting not too far off. Only when he saw the actual bookshelves did he snap back to his senses.

Of course. Books. He'd been hoping the books here might be able to tell him something. There was no time to dawdle in the sunlight no matter how much he wanted to.

Angel took a quick peek over his shoulder at the Sun Room where it was warm and bright and sunny and...

No, right. No time.

[accursed-rock.livejournal.com]

[claimed!!! I've been waiting for Angel to be free... :-P]

"You going in?" Zelgadis asked the dark-haired man in a gruff manner.

The man in question seemed to be doing an odd dance-- putting his hand in and out of the doorway as though there was a force field inside the library.

Maybe there was a force field inside the library.

"Can you go in?" He rephrased.

[blurred-divide.livejournal.com]

Angel blinked and turned around. He quickly withdrew his hand.

"Oh, uh—yeah." He cleared his throat, awkward, and made for the bookshelves, hoping the other patient wouldn't actually question his odd behaviour.

There was no area for non-fiction, which was strange enough on its own, but what was even stranger was the entire selection on the occult.

The Lesser Key of Solomon. He pulled it off the shelf, curious. It wasn't one of the properly translated editions—not that he expected to find something like that—but still. What was a book on demonology doing in a mental institute? Weren't they supposed to encourage readings that advocated so-called normal behaviour?

[accursed-rock.livejournal.com]

Zelgadis followed the man in and walked towards a nearby bookshelf, still glancing at the person who had exhibited such odd behavior.

He glanced at the title the man was reading over the copy of a random book he had chosen off the shelf. It read The Lesser Key of Solomon, which meant nothing to Zelgadis. He hoped the odd man hadn't noticed him looking.

[idolism]

Aidou knew getting gloriously upset wouldn't do a damn thing (unlike home, where he could have anything he desired), but it still couldn't relieve his mounting exasperation. Today's little riot had ruined everything. Not only had he not spoken with Sasuke yet, but he hadn't gotten to the E class yet, either. The only productive thing had been a brief, cleansing shower at the end of third shift, a safeguard against being in the eye of the public.

Thinking 'at least I'm clean' was even more foolish, since the vampire knew better than to start becoming habituated. Once that happened, one was better off dead. And he deserved better. Having his freedom, having his powers, having his cousin. Better.

Picking a newer book that didn't smell like must, Aidou reclined back in a chair, legs crossed on the seat of another, and put the open novel over his face. The library was at least out of the sun, if not totally quiet--it would do for some much needed rest.

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Miku had emerged from her shower feeling more awake than she had before, and thank goodness. Still, there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, and sometimes, if she concentrated hard enough she could almost feel the tattoos crawling over her palms.

If the responses to her bulletin had any merit, she certainly would feel more pain tonight. And speaking of bulletins, it was time she spoke with Aidou.

"Oh, Alice, it's so nice to see you taking an interest in something again," her nurse babbled. Miku ignored her. "I'll just leave you to your thoughts, dear girl, be positive!"

Miku mumbled something like an assent and pulled a book on the occult from the shelves. It didn't look very interesting and would only serve as a rest for her journal. There were... a lot of men in this room, weren't there? One, that she recognized, even in repose. The medium swallowed. Things between the two hadn't been very smooth lately.

Why had he changed so much from the person she met? Was he really so petulant? Miku looked for another seat, suddenly unsure if she wanted to go through with what would surely become a fight.

[idolism]

Ugh, when one such as himself was too tense to sleep, even when he needed it, it was a deplorable thing. Though he couldn't blame himself. He could smell blood, made worse by that afternoon's riot, and unlike most days, his hunger begged him not to ignore it. Vampire's prerogative, unfortunately--one that was both soothingly familiar and mildly annoying, given he couldn't just take his pick anymore.

And speaking of girls, there was one in particular creeping around his table.

Sighing, he nudged the seat of the second chair with his heel. He didn't need to see to know who it was. "Take it if you don't mind my head in your lap. I'm getting a pain in my neck anyway." Even it wasn't Hinasaki Miku, no doubt Aidou would have made the same proposition to any other female, regardless of having a book over his face and being unable to gauge physical attractiveness.

[charredashes.livejournal.com]

To be perfectly honest, Asch had no interest in books. The only reason he chose the library was because he wanted to go somewhere quiet, and it was what the nurse suggested. Well, the library and the Sun Room, although more people seemed to be choosing the latter room.

Picking a book at random (something called Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), the redhead took a seat at one of the tables and set the open book in front of him. He had no real intention to read the book at all, but hopefully it'd be enough to look like he was. It kept the nurse off his back, at least, so maybe the same would be said about other patients.

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

This would've been a prime place to check for Hakkai. Books, quiet, relatively organized; more likely to appeal to him than the Arts and Crafts room.

Except for the fact that there was no Hakkai. Somehow it didn't surprise the monk. Unlike Kenren, Sanzo wasn't going to harbor any kind of optimism (or desperate hope) that Hakkai was still here, even as he kept an eye out for the man.

Sanzo sat down on one of the couches, absently picking up a random book.

But then again, he'd kept searching for Goku with the same stubborness, even when he wasn't certain what happened to the monkey. Goku had shown up in the end, but he hadn't had any proof if he was alive or dead while he'd been searching. Sanzo had just kept on going with the assumption that he was alive, and only backed by that slip of tongue from that doctor one night.

Kenren irritated him, but at least on this account, Sanzo couldn't argue with him. There could still be a remote chance to find Hakkai.

[qui-gonjinn.livejournal.com]

The act of cleansing himself had been refreshing, to say the least. His hair was still wet, but already on the way to drying. His connection the Force felt slightly stronger in response, as if reacting to the simple pleasure of cleaning the grime from his body, and his determination to know more about Earth stronger. There was still much research that had to be done on this unknown planet.

Rounding the corner of the shelves, a few books in his hands, Qui-Gon paused as he took in Sanzo. The young man sat on one of the couches, looking at a book but not very involved with it - he didn't seem to be reading, just looking at it. Qui-Gon approached the couch and sat down gently, keeping a respectful distance. Close enough to show that he was interested in talking, but not enough to invade whatever sense of personal space Earthians might have.

"I'm afraid our conversation in the cafeteria was interrupted," Qui-Gon said mildly.

[31st-of-china.livejournal.com]

A gift for understatement, yet it never seemed to come off as stupid or sarcastic. Qui-Gon would have been an interesting person to meet, on the journey West.

As it stood now, this was a conversation he did want to continue. This "Force" was intriguing enough, and there was that whole question how he could just influence a person like that. He hadn't even chanted a mantra or anything.

There was a lot to Qui-Gon, and somehow he got the feeling that he hadn't even scratched the surface.

Sanzo set the book aside.

"You wanted to know about that woman," hestarted. There wasn't that much to say about her: after that one hectic night in the medwing and the morning after, the priest hadn't seen her since.

[unmocked-lawr.livejournal.com]

Javert had decided to move into the library during the shift change. Hopefully he'd be able to collect his thoughts there. Choosing a book - Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, whoever that was - he opened it at random and let it fall open on his lap, closing his eyes.

Perhaps, if Mlle. Sohma required no assistance tonight, he would find Trevelyan (irritating as the man was, he did have his uses) and try to head down to the basement. Surely there had to be something of value there - otherwise, what was the use of guarding it?

Lost in his thoughts and calmed by the hushed silence of the library, he settled back in his seat and dozed lightly.

[no-side-effects.livejournal.com]

Wesker had quite a bit to think about, and the library offered a nice, quiet place for him to think, and perhaps talk with someone. His last conversation in here had been with a lunatic, but an intelligent one at that.

There was only one person who was not already in a conversation, and he had apparently discovered something fascinating beneath his eyelids. Wesker sat near him and turned his attention to the book he had pulled off the shelf, making a pretense of reading it though it was impossible to tell where his focus was behind the sunglasses.

[jei.livejournal.com]

[Checked with Wesker-mun, but didn't see Javert-mun on. Hope this is okay? Can delete if it's not.]

Once he was finished speaking with Gin, Farfarello had absolutely no interest in going back to reading Richard III, but neither did he feel like wandering back out into the noisy, crowded Sun Room. Fortunately, a likely source of distraction appeared just in time.

Wandering over towards the semi-familiar shock of blond hair, Farfarello smiled lazily. "Wesker. Fancy meeting you here. Where's the wife?" Yeah, he still thought Wesker and William acted like an old married couple, and the mental image amused him too much to let go.

[a-spider-can.livejournal.com]

While it was typical (some might say to a pathetic degree), there was only one place Peter would want to go if he was given the choice. They had chess boards in the Game Room, but he got the feeling he would be better at it than most of the other patients (which was more embarrassing for him than them, when it came down to it), which wouldn't make playing very fun.

He had to wonder if there would ever come a time when he could have a shower in peace, but considering he was in a fake mental institution, that was probably too much to hope for. He was starting to wonder if Eddie Brock actually did belong in the loony bin, but then realized he was probably being too harsh.

He really needed to ask the other man about his behavior, especially since he was almost sure he hadn't been like that before the symbiote had gotten a hold of him. Breaching a subject like that was no simple task, though.

Figuring he should just keep on trying to get through the same book he had picked last time he was in here, Peter searched for Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, except that it was apparently nowhere to be found. Had another patient beaten him to it? With a sigh, he picked something else at random (Moby Dick, because why not?) and found a seat where he could quietly read. He wasn't in the mood for being social after what he had just been through.

[sword-and-demon.livejournal.com]

[Time to bug a spider?]

Once again Sparda decided on some epic poetry, picking up the Divine Comedy and taking a seat near a young man who was already reading.

Sparda decided to be polite and not disturb him, though he did glance over to note his book selection.

Sitting around and just reading quietly was pleasant enough, and Sparda felt no desire to start holding a conversation just yet.

[a-spider-can.livejournal.com]

When someone came to sit down near him, Peter was expecting the man to start up a conversation. He had seen him around before, but knew nothing more about him than what he looked like.

He glanced over at what he was reading for a moment before glancing back down to Moby Dick. The reading was pretty dense and there was no way he was going to be able to get past the first few chapters, but he was surprised that he had never had it assigned to him in high school.

It looked like the other patient was content enough with reading, and considering that was what the library was for, Peter kept on with his book and chose not to speak up.

[godhood.livejournal.com]

[Waiting for Misa. ]

While Light wasn't particularly happy about the way he'd been treated in this very room just last night, he couldn't deny that a library had its benefits. For one, it was quiet, which was more than what could be said for the Sun Room, and although he was certain the shelves wouldn't hold any sort of information he could actually use, he was sure they'd at least answer one of his more idle questions.

That was why he immediately headed towards the poetry anthologies when he arrived and after taking a moment to mentally catalog them all, he picked the first likely-looking book off of the shelf-- a collection of Coleridge's work, to be more precise-- and found somewhere to sit. It would likely take him awhile to hunt down what he was looking for using this method, but he still preferred it over the other, more indiscreet ones available. It would just have to do.

[kirasonlyone.livejournal.com]

Feeling re-freshed after that shower, Misa quickly got to work on trying to find her Light. Out of all the choices, the most logical one seemed to be the library. Her Light was a really smart cookie and though she had no doubt that his many many many many talents could mean he was in one of the other rooms, she decided to try the library anyway.

It seemed to be her lucky room of sorts, because she managed to locate him immediately.

"Light!" She exclaimed before realizing that she was in a library and, thus, had to be quiet. Misa repeated the name, softer this time, and bounded over to him full of silent energy.

[godhood.livejournal.com]

So much for having a quiet moment to himself. Despite his distinct lack of enthusiasm, though, Light managed to conjure up a smile and turned in the direction of Misa's voice, looking for all the world like he was genuinely happy to see her. The act was more for the other patients' benefit than hers, true, but since it was in his best interests to keep her happy regardless, there was no real harm in it.

Also being quiet to avoid disturbing the other patients, he set down his book and said, "Hello, Misa. How have you been doing so far?" A silly sort of question to ask when he'd seen her not too long ago, but since it was her first day, it was still mostly relevant.

[navigating.livejournal.com]

Nami's shower had been nice and long, the way she was quickly beginning to prefer showers. Living on a ship, one had to conserve fresh water - steamers like the one she'd had with that unnaturally cheerful girl were rare. But not for long, if she could help it. It had been.. luxurious. And oh, did Nami love her luxury.

And while she was no researcher like Robin was, she could take refuge in a place like the library.

There weren't as many books as would satisfy someone like the crew's archaeologist, but there were enough for Nami. And they were surprisingly dilapidated!

Finally, she picked out Around the World in 80 Days. Eighty days... to go around the world? Nami couldn't hide her interest from something like that! She picked the book up off the shelf almost immediately, taking a seat at the first available table, and began to read with some interest. She was a fast reader - hopefully she could get through a good deal of it before she and her book were parted for dinner. ...Or before she was interrupted.