damned_institute | Nightshift 30: M31-M40 Hallway

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Nightshift 30: M31-M40 Hallway

[M39]

Being dragged away from ZEX mid-conversation was something of a mixed blessing. On the upside, it meant that Zelnick would have at least few minutes to regain emotional balance before spending the whole night with the guy....

Well, perhaps it was more of a mixed curse. Normally Zelnick didn't begrudge allies their oddities, but ZEX had this amazing ability to jump straight from normal conversation to oh-god-awkward innuendo-laden flirting, and Zelnick couldn't do much but hope that he'd keep away from the latter.

In any case, he paid closer attention to where they took him, this time, not just his room number, and he realized he was actually really close to Yuber's room. Wasn't that convenient?

Once he was in his room, he started to get ready for the night; skillet, knife, pestle, all loaded into the apple basket that had wound up in his closet, along with a couple pens and the radio (hadn't Yuber said it spilled hints at night?). This meant he couldn't take all the apples with him, so Zelnick wrapped them in one of the extra shirts and left them in the corner of the closet. All that was left was to get the flashlight, which he found under his pillow like he did last night.

Then the intercom clicked on.

So that was their lord and master, in this place? After spending the first night confused and the first day hearing the voice of the Head Nurse, he found that the guy sounded pretty sane, until he admitted to killing someone. "The man on the radio--" did he mean whoever was on the other side of the little antique, sending out hints? And the method of death sounded... frighteningly personal.

He unloaded the skillet from the basket and held on to it as the doors unlocked, and sat at his desk to wait for ZEX.

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Usopp didn't agree. Usopp didn't agree at all. He had nerves made of jelly and was probably weaker than even Nami but he still went out and did things sometimes, he didn't expect everybody else to bring him stuff. Heck, even Roy went out and did stuff sometimes, or Usopp thought so. Maybe not.

Well, anyway, if this guy was so great that he shouldn't go out at all, then he was too good and Usopp didn't like it. Usopp didn't like him. Maybe it was waking up so suddenly, and finding this guy here. Why would they give him something? He was probably going to rob them, or mug them, or whatever. They should take his stuff instead, except he didn't have anything.

Then again, if he really was bad at fighting, he probably needed help. Usopp sure needed help. And they did have things. But the things they had, he didn't want to give away. He didn't have spares tonight. Did he? There was the piping, the bleach, air freshener, the treasure, cans of juice, beautiful saltpeter...

"Right. What were you doing?" Just echoing Sai seemed like a safe bet for now.

Mello hesitated before answering. Claiming 'nothing' would be a mistake, since there was a chance they'd ask him to stay. He only had a few hours left to get tools and modify his radio, and although he was sure they were well-stocked, he couldn't ask to borrow anything. Knowing that he needed supplies would prove that he'd intended to rob them.

"I was looking for my room," he said. That part of his story had already been established, so he had to work with it. "In my notebook, I have a list of room numbers from people I talked to today, and-" Who would cover for him, aside from Misora and L? "I told Tamaki I would help at his clinic. I know a lot about medicine." Mello really needed to find more allies. "It's somewhere in this block, but I didn't want to knock on every loud door," he added, to justify passing it on the way here.

Tamaki had said that he needed to align himself with a group, but since there didn't seem to be much rivalry between the factions, it would be best to work with everyone he could. He wasn't worried about spreading himself thin; Mello knew he could do whatever he had to do. Once he developed a better understanding of the politics of this place, he could develop a more solid plan.

...for what? He frowned. Escape? Even if it were possible, and he was beginning to doubt it, what did he have on the outside? He'd finished with the Kira case. Although it was Near who would actually confront Yagami Light, Mello was confident that he'd done all of the important work himself. He could spend the rest of his outside life competing with Near for small scraps of victory, but now that he was dead, he'd had the final word and there was nothing his rival could do to change that. It was the best outcome he could have hoped for, and he didn't want to risk losing it.

Well, no matter what his end goal was (he had a feeling it would have something to do with that arrogant bastard Artemis) he'd need backing. Sai and Usopp would be important, especially since they didn't seem to be affiliated with one of the larger clubs. Although he'd only meant to use it as an excuse, it would be smart to work with Tamaki as well. Saving lives, or at least lessening pain, was a fast track to being appreciated by whoever you'd helped out. Plus, if Artemis publicly accused him of being a cold manipulator, he'd already have a reputation to the contrary.

"I want to work with you," Mello continued. "Obviously, I don't need anything in return. I just want to help this cause in whatever way I can. I've got a life to get back to, and I'd like to get back soon."

Speaking of which, he really needed to come up with a false life with siblings that died in a fire or something.

Sai narrowed his eyes, somewhat confused. He had come to this room trying to find his own and yet he was also looking for the clinic, which was two rooms over? It seemed odd that he would have missed it. Chances were this was a lie, but as long as Mello wasn't going to steal from them the reasons were none of his concern.

He also appeared to be trying to come across as a nice person now, when Sai hadn't gotten that from him originally. Then again, Shikamaru didn't come across all that friendly all the time either, but he'd stand by friends and village through anything. He wasn't any good at deciphering this sort of thing.

"The clinic is two rooms over in M35, if you intend to go there now," he supplied. They should be in no danger from Mello and could probably use an extra hand if offered. He didn't have any idea who this Tamaki person was, but he hadn't spent any time in the clinic yet himself. "If you do wish to go, I would speak with you again tomorrow."

Huh? Had he just said he was going to two rooms at the same time? That made absolutely no sense to Usopp, but tonight making sense out of things wasn't the easiest thing to do anyhow, and Usopp looked over at Sai desperately. Help! Sai wasn't really talking about it, was he wrong? Did he miss something where it made sense? Or was Sai pretending it made sense?

Was Mello drugged too? Or whatever it was? He didn't know, Mello seemed pretty smart. And he was offering to help. Help which of them? Usopp and Sai? But why? He hadn't just come in here to help, they didn't even know... uh, he didn't even know they were here!

Usopp's head hurt. And then Sai said something wonderful. "Tomorrow." Usopp nodded firmly. "We'll all talk tomorrow. Okay? Tonight's not a good night for it."

Perfect.

"I can do that," Mello said, assuming that they meant sometime during the day. He didn't know how long L intended to keep him busy, but he imagined that whatever he was eavesdropping on would be worth the time. "When?"

Hopefully, he still had enough time to finish what he needed to do. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to modify the radio once he had everything together, and if worst came to worst, he could alter his own, give it to L at some point during the day, then steal a new one the following night.

"Breakfast, if possible. Unless you had other plans, Usopp?" Sai glanced back to his friend again. The pirate was willing enough to meet with the man under better conditions, and this was promising. He didn't want to mess up any arrangements he'd already nade with others, however. The men who's been there earlier in the evening, for example.

It had been rather quickly set up, this alliance with Mello. But it might be preferable to be on the same side as an unsavory character in this sort of situation, if Mello was that, rather than otherwise. It could be he really was as innocent as he was making out, and all the better for them if that was the case.

Breakfast. Breakfast. Did he have plans for breakfast? He didn't think so, but he'd said a lot of stuff earlier on the board, and it was hard to remember some of it. Usopp hoped he'd at least remember next time he was sedated to find a buddy and then ask them to keep him off the board, no matter whether gunpowder was being discussed or not.

"I think breakfast's okay." Usopp nodded. What if this hadn't worn off by then, though? Well, at least Sai would be there. Sai seemed to be agreeing with this guy a whole lot, but Sai had also had the guy against the wall earlier with the trowel to his throat. Sai would make sure nothing too bad happened, or that Usopp didn't say the wrong thing. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, to have someone else working with them too. Only this wasn't one of the people on the board, he didn't think. How many people were going to be in this now? And would he remember by morning? "Sure."

If all of the patients were as easy as these two, Mello would have this place under his thumb in no time. The fact that he'd been held at knife-point (trowel-point?) less than fifteen minutes ago had apparently been forgotten.

"Breakfast, then," he said. He wasn't completely sold on Usopp's usefulness, but if his suspicions were right and the young man had been drugged, all of that would change. Sai was competent, and with a little effort, Mello could ignore the twinge of annoyance caused by the flat expression. He preferred the fake smile to the stoicism...at least it meant Sai was trying.

With another small nod, he moved to the door and exited, not bothering to offer an apology or thanks. Either one would sound suspicious, given what had just happened. Neither of them trusted him, but if they were willing to work with him anyways, he might as well be consistent.

Once he entered the hallway, Mello didn't waste any more time thinking. There wasn't time. His instincts had always been right in the past, and they wouldn't disappoint him now.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/308370.html?thread=25418898#t25418898).

Sai didn't stick his nose out into the hallway to watch and make sure Mello went where he said he would, but he listened with his back to the door. The footsteps reached an appropriate distance and there was the sound of the crowd within the clinic briefly as the door was open and shut. It appeared that in this case, at least, the blond had been honest. That was a good sign, though it still meant little.

Turning back to Usopp, the ninja smiled once more. "Sorry that your nap was interrupted. You can return to it if you want."

He felt too wound up, now. Too worried. The temptation to pace was strong, but instead he sat on the bed and swung his legs a little too violently.

"Sai." Usopp's voice was not quavery, exactly, but it was definitely unsure, testing. "I really didn't like that guy. How did he wind up in here? I was asleep. I didn't see it."

If he were ever in here alone, would someone just barge in like that? Well, maybe if he were thinking right he could find away to chase them off... but what if nobody was here? Would he have to make sure someone was in his room all the time? Mello sounded like he wanted to stay in a room all the time instead of explore, only Usopp thought if he left Mello here he'd wind up coming back to an empty room.

Usopp Factory had gone public so fast and he hadn't even meant to yet. He'd expected to have to post on the bulletin that... but he'd posted on the bulletin, and it didn't even take a "I have weapons" magic post, just blathering a little about explosive stuff.

People here were greedy. And scary. And he was a pirate; he knew from greedy and scary. "What'll we say tomorrow?"

"I heard him wondering around outside," Sai answered, still leaning casually on the door frame. "It sounded as though he was about to attempt entry, so I pulled him in first." Never lose an opportunity to have the upper hand. There was a small possibility that he wouldn't have actually entered the room, but judging from the man's reaction, that had been his intent.

As far as the morning meal was concerned, that would hopefully be a simple matter. "At breakfast we'll lay down the ground rules. He lost any potential to intimidate us with his reaction earlier." To intimidate Sai, anyway. He wasn't going to assume for Usopp just yet. "He could prove useful." The ninja smiled again. "If he doesn't, and attempts any harm on either of us, I will deal with him."

Okay, at least he hadn't gotten inside by surprise, so that meant... well, something. Usopp was starting to think he should write things down so he could remember to consider them later when his brain was on straight again. If that happens at all.

The idea that they could intimidate someone else was really cheering, since Usopp didn't often find himself in that kind of position, but he wasn't so sure. Mello hadn't seemed intimidated, just kind of bossy and rude. Maybe Sai could tell better, he had been closer. And Sai seemed stronger than Mello.

Maybe I'm stronger too. Or maybe Mello was bluffing and could really lift ships one-handed. But--Sai said he'd take care of it if Mello tried anything. Usopp huffed out a little breath as he thought, or tried to.

"We gotta keep guards now. For the room."

Sai "hmm"ed thoughtfully, taking a closer examination of the door. It would be so much more helpful if they knew how to lock it themselves. But even if they could, they didn't have a key. The mechanism seemed pretty solid in any case. "What we need is better protection for the room in general. Other human beings need not be involved."

If he had some of his regular supplies, as well as access to his own chakra reserves, he could have constructed a useful trap or two that might respond to his and Usopp's unique chakra signatures. However, that would be impossible with what little they had. Usopp had some good supplies, but they weren't proper ninja tools.

And it wasn't the bedroom door that needed guarding the most, in any case. "It would be better to safeguard just the closet. That way our room doesn't become a suspicious target straight away."

"I didn't put the main treasure in the closet, though. It was... it seemed like... people would look there first." Usopp scratched the back of his head. "People can break locks, right? And the closet is getting really crowded." His clothes were sort of piled haphazardly over the supplies for the most part. "Maybe... we shouldn't have it all together. Like, some goes here, some goes there..."

Which was good thinking, as far as he could tell, except he wasn't sure where 'there' was. Sai's room? But what if he needed something to work with? And they already were storing stuff there--or had they moved it back? He couldn't even remember.

"Inventory!" Like that list Captain Zelnick had shown him. "We need an inventory!" Wait... had they talked about this already? "So we can check. See if someone has..." What if someone had come in and stolen something? Would he even notice, in that pile of stuff?

He hadn't really taken notice of Sai referring to the place as 'our room.' It seemed natural; Sai probably spent more time in it than Sousuke did, anyhow.

Edited 2008-03-23 06:41 (UTC)

A hidden vault of some sort would be ideal, but there was no chance the room would have anything like that, and the chances of them being able to create one, and more importantly - have it still be around the next day, were slim. At Usopp's suggestions, the ninja shook his head.

"No, it will be easier to protect one place under these conditions." He moved to the closet door, checking the knob and hinges. "We might be able to put a simple trap together. Something that would notify us that it's been tampered with and at the same time mark anyone who tried to get in so we'd be able to pick them out." Something that they themselves would be able to bypass, of course.

"A trap." What if he triggered it in confusion, if his head didn't clear up? But being marked wouldn't be so bad, as long as they didn't use acid or anything.

Usopp snapped his fingers. "White paint! We got white paint!" That would be perfect! So just set up a system that would dump paint on anyone who tried to open the door. Ought to be really simple, connected to the door, something they could release from the outside once they knew it was there...

It should have been simple but he couldn't imagine it at all. The concept in general worked, but the specifics? Pulleys, something to yank something else over, something to prevent that... he couldn't think of it. And... "What if it washes off by morning?"

Therein lied the problem. Any mark left had a good chance of being gone come breakfast. Even if they caused injury enough to still be visible by then, there would be so many others injured that it could easily be passed off as a wound caused by a monster.

Still thinking, he moved back to the bed and sat down on the edge, hand to his chin. "You're right." He frowned. "There has to be something... A tattooed marking, maybe. Something that will stay."

There were those that still had some variety of special ability in this place. Magic of some sort. If need be, they could try and get one of them to help, but the fewer number of other patients they ended up relying on, the better.

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Nightshift 30: M31-M40 Hallway

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