damned_institute | Nightshift 30: M-A Block Hallway

"Perhaps," Artemis looked down in thought. He tried to recall the poem, squinting his eyes shut and searching his brain. It looked almost like he was in pain. He could have recited every single nursery rhyme in his sleep after the two-years' worth of research he did on fairies.

"Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

"Up Jack got and home did trot
As fast as he could caper;
And went to bed and covered his head
In vinegar and brown paper.

"When Jill came in how she did grin
To see Jack's paper plaster;
Mother vexed, did whip her next,
For causing Jack's disaster.

"Now Jack did laugh and Jill did cry
But her tears did soon abate;
Then Jill did say that they should play
At see-saw across the gate."

The boy shrugged when he was finished. "There are many theories as to the origin of the rhyme, but none of them could be applied realistically. It could be 'Jill's' rather sick sense of humor talking--'Jack fell down and broke his crown'..." Artemis swallowed. No way out, no way out... "But who would want to come tumbling after is the better question."

Hitsugaya pondered the words in the poem. "It's possible that she expects she will fall as Jack did. 'Jill' may have a martyr complex, which could leave us in a lot of trouble if she decides to act on it. It could also be that she genuinely wants to help. She doesn't strike me as arrogant as her predecessor."

He thought for a time longer on the poem. "Though it does make me nervous that she would be the one who caused 'Jack's disaster,' according to the poem. We should be cautious regarding what she says...but it merits an investigation. Assuming she speaks up tomorrow night, we'll send a team to look into it."

Probably something Fowl would be better suited for, anyways.

Momo's brow creased as she also thought over the poem. Something dawned on ehr then.

"Didn't Landel and Jack bicker one night about a woman?" Her eyes lit up. "Perhaps Jill is this woman. Jack did imply that she and Landel had been involved once and there had been conflict."

"Perhaps the first stanza is a reference to when Jack and Jill decided to stop working with Landel. Jack decided to rise up against Landel, suddenly developing a conscience, and he convinced Jill to leave with him."

She gave Hitsugaya a look. "Yes, I know that might not have been jack's motivation to leave, but if the man really is dead, I will give him the benefit of the doubt."

Another moment of thought. "Jack also implied that Landel was real sore on having lost the woman he'd been involved with to Jack. If that is the reason Landel really killed Jack and this Jill is that woman in question, one could say, as in the rhyme, that she was responsible."

"He did mention that. It fits..." Artemis said, pointing to Momo and looking down at the floor in thought. He should have thought of that first... damned fuzzy head. If whatever this was didn't clear up soon, he wouldn't be able to fight properly.

"Well, then if 'Jill' is this woman that 'Jack' won over, perhaps patient-kind can relax for a while. Landel will undoubtedly focus his anger on her, if she is an object of contention. He seems to have a superiority complex of sorts, so defeating her and closing the feud between him and Doyle will be his top priority...

"Captain," Artemis said, his tone firm, "I don't think it would be wise to send a team in after Jill--especially when we don't have any information concerning her motivations and location. Also, if a team meets with the Head Doctor without preparation, the situation could turn violent and disastrous. I recommend further information before we attempt reconnaissance."

Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow at Fowl's insistance. "Fowl," he said. "How could I send a team in after Jill when we don't even know where she is? We'd be investigating...seeking information whatever clues we can get. We don't move without evidence."

He shrugged, then glanced up and down the hallway. "We should probably move back to my room, instead of waiting around this hallway." It would be a little more secure, at least, if they were near a door that they could bolt into. As far as he could tell, the rooms were safe at night.

Momo shook her head a little at Artemis. "We cannot relax," she said softly.

Her eyes turned to Hitsugaya. "I should be capable of returning to duty tomorrow night, taichou," she said, lifting her injured arm in indication. She would not be at full capacity by far, but she'd at least be able to wield her sword with only a moderate amount of pain.

The shinigami then turned and headed back toward Hitsugaya's room.

[from here]

Hitsugaya and... Momo? Well, they were both close, he felt that easily. Renji tucked the map that Ren had given to him into his sleeve; they could look at it once they got down to the basement. There wasn't much point before then.

He walked right up to the little group, noticing Artemis as well. Momo still didn't look in shape to do much of anything, so he figured that meant Artemis was coming with them as the third member of their group. He was definitely okay with that.

...even more okay, once he noticed Artemis was armed.

"Sir," he said to Hitsugaya, adding in a bow just out of habit. "Sorry for being late. Are we ready to go, or are we waiting for someone else?"

Artemis felt a slight twitch somewhere in his reasoning center. He didn't particularly like being told he was wrong--especially after his spat with Mello. He opened his mouth to retort to both, but Momo left and Renji appeared. So he kept his ~~bitching~~ opinions to himself for now.

"Nice to see you again, Renji," Artemis smiled up at the man towering over him. "The Captain tells me that tonight's venture is of your design. What are we up to?"

Hitsugaya nodded to Momo. "Good," he said, and was about to go back to his room as Renji approached.

He shook his head. "You're fine," he said. "You told me you'd be a few minutes late. Fowl, yourself, and myself are our team. What did you have in mind?"

Momo stopped before she fully left the hall as she felt then heard Renji. She turned about and walked right up to Renji, her face reflecting frustration, and gave him a sound punch on the arm as best as she could with her off-hand. She leaned up toward him, her expression turning more into a scowl, and said, "I'll tell you tomorrow what that was for." Her eyes flickered over at Hitsugaya and back before she could stop herself.

The shinigami then stepped back, her face relaxed. "My apologies, taichou," she said for her little interruption and display. Hitsugaya probably had no clue what that was in reference to, but Renji sure as hell better.

"I'm curious as well, Renji, what you've got up your sleeve for tonight."

Renji's eyebrow twitched. He probably would have been grouchy about it, but it hadn't been much of a punch. "Right, whatever," he said.

"We're going to the basement," he said. He turned to head toward the exit of the m-block. "When I talked to the radio man yesterday, he said that was where to go. Whether I trust that or not, we found some interesting stuff. Weapons." He turned to head toward the exit of the block. "I've caused enough time to be wasted already. We should move out."

Wait. The basement?

The Don't-Go-Down-There-Unless-You're-Absolutely-Ready Basement? That basement? The same basement?

If it was possible, Artemis' face lost a shade of color.

"O-oh. Right, all right," He tried his best to steel his resolve, but last night had spooked him to no end. Artemis remembered his talk with Haku about being assigned to projects more appropriate to his talents, but now was obviously not the time. Momo was injured, and Hitsugaya had chosen him for some reason besides the job of Obvious Target, right? Right. ...Right.

"Yes, let's move out!" Artemis said with a smile, trotting after Renji before anyone could notice his hesitation.

Hitsugaya made no outward sign that he noticed her glance. The punch was puzzling, but he'd figure it out later. Or he wouldn't. Whatever the case it apparently had something to do with him. If they had the chance, he'd ask Renji about it. If not...well...he wasn't going to worry about it.

"Agreed," Hitsugaya said to Renji. He nodded briefly to Momo. "Be safe," he said, then followed after the others.

Momo sighed, both at Artemis' rather false enthusiasm and her own inability to accompany the three to the basement.

"You too," she replied to Hitsugaya, her voice soft, "or I'll come after you." And she would.

The shinigami folded her hands inside the sleeves of her kimono and watched them leave. Now she had no idea what to do.

[to here]

Staying where she was at the moment, Momo waited until she felt the other shinigami's reiatsu drift far enough away that she was certain they wouldn't consider her foray into the hallways as an attempt to follow them. She really wasn't sure what to do, as she had no more plans and no goals for the night. Part of her wanted to go find Signum's team, just to check up on the lead knight's condition (worries as the shinigami was about her), but she trusted her friend would keep her word. Besides, Momo would be nothing but a burden to her and Saber, each knight feeling they had not only Hokuto to protect, but the injured vice captain as well.

No, she wouldn't do that. She... needed to find herself. She still felt lost and Hitsugaya's words about refinding herself rang out in her head. With a silent bow of her head and a nod, Momo headed out of the hall. They would all be upset with her, all of them even down to Hokuto, but the shinigami needed to spend this night on her own, without anyone there but herself to depend on.

Stupid, yes, but necessary.

[to here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/303653.html?page=3#comments)

Nightshift 30: M-A Block Hallway

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