damned_institute | Day 31: Intercom, Evening

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Day 31: Intercom, Evening

The intercom's jingle came on with its usual overly-cheery quality, echoing through the halls and doctors' offices.

"I trust, as always, that you all enjoyed the last shift and that all the staff-patient interaction went smoothly. Of course, we're nearing the end of another day and so we must begin to bring things to a close. Nurses and orderlies, please escort all the patients to their respective rooms and make sure everyone gets their dinner--which is, by the way, chicken teriyaki and assorted tempura, along with rice and miso soup--before they retire for the night. A vegetarian substitute is of course available, and we have our usual assortment of drinks; we also have a special of hot green tea to go along with the meal.

"Thank you, everyone, for an exceedingly pleasant day, and our therapy sessions will continue tomorrow as scheduled. Enjoy your dinner, and I will be on again before bedtime to say goodnight."

The announcement ended.

[ As always, individual dinner threads go in response to this post, and it helps to put your character's room number in the subject line. Thanks! ]

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"I wouldn't want to make you angry in the first place," He said softly. "It would upset me to know that I'd made you angry, or even sad."

Artemis swallowed again, "I'll do my best to always be happy, since you like me that way. I want you to be happy as well, and if I can ensure that by smiling, I'll be more than ecstatic to smile--always." A daunting vow, but one he intended to keep.

Haku smiled and brought up a hand to laugh softly. "Don't feel like you have to be anything other than you, okay? Be sad, be angry, be whatever you'd like."

His smile turned slightly teasing. "I learn better by observation anyway. Perhaps if I watch you expressing your emotions, I'll learn to express mine."

Artemis laughed, "So I suppose you know exactly how to react when the world comes crashing down around your ears, hm? I should start making a lesson plan. Tomorrow could be embarrassment, the next annoyance... and so on!"

Haku laughed. "No, I think I have embarrassment down," he teased. "Warm cheeks, jittery body language. You're a very good teacher."

Artemis' face turned bright red and he let go of Haku's hand. Caught.

"That's... I mean, it's..." He gave up. "Is it that obvious?"

"Oh yes. In the showers, you were very obvious." He felt the loss of the warmth of the hand in his, but didn't move to take his hand back. He wondered why that had caused the other boy to let go though.

"I don't think anyone else noticed though."

...wait, what?

"O-oh! Yes," He laughed, relieved that Haku wasn't talking about something more obvious. "I'm... not used to being completely naked in front of people I don't know. Not to mention the myriad of insults on my back, which would have caused people to stare.

"And that other person... Sai-san... saw," He buried his face in his hands and groaned. "I thought I'd die right there."

Haku reached over and lightly patted his roommate's back. "Sai-san and I were the only ones," he offered. "And he's from the same world I am. Public bathing is nothing new."

It was still slightly strange to think of a place where people all had their own baths.

Artemis felt his face getting even redder. "Y-you saw too...?!"

Now he was certain he was going to die of embarrassment. Of course, he supposed it was only fair. He had taken a quick look at Haku, after all... it was probably only fair.

Still... he saw.

"Those marks all over your back were pretty hard to miss." Honestly, he didn't understand why Artemis was getting so worked up about this...

"Well that's for certain," he said with a sigh. Artemis couldn't help but wonder if Haku was intentionally not on the same page as him, or if they were just experiencing a moment of cultural difference.

He chose cultural difference, for his own sanity's sake.

"I haven't checked to see if they're still there. I made an appointment to get them removed, if they are."

"Good." Haku smiled. "They weren't very flattering and clashed horribly with your skin tone. You would look much better without them." His tone was both serious and teasing.

"Haku!" Artemis moaned. "My face was just returning to a normal shade! At this rate I'm going to pass out from a headrush!"

Haku laughed without malice and leaned over to gently bump his shoulder against Artemis'. He'd seen another person do the same with their friends and figured it applied here as well. "I'm sorry," he said, with a smile that said he was anything but. "I won't tease you about that again."

Artemis was a bit taken aback by the gesture, but started laughing with Haku and did the same motion in return. It seemed like a normal, natural display of affection for a friend.

"Why am I doubting that?" Artemis replied, an eyebrow raised. "I have a feeling you would tease me about anything given the chance."

"I have been called a sadist," Haku pointed out with a grin. The gesture had been well received and reciprocated. Good. That meant he was learning a bit more.

"But I'm an honest one." He pretended to think about that. "Most of the time."

"Most of the time?!" Artemis exclaimed, laughing again. "So now not only do I have to worry about being teased until I faint, I have to wonder whether or not you're being completely honest in your teasings? That's hardly fair, I think."

"No, I'm always honest when I tease," Haku said with a smile. "I was being serious when I said that the marks didn't go well with you."

Artemis blushed again, "This is hardly fair. You're shooting at fish in a barrel here!" He laughed nervously, not sure how to take this compliment, really. "I can't do anything to fight back!"

Haku pretended to preen a bit, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, it is hard to find something to poke at me about." He grinned then and looked over at Artemis.

"But when you do, let me know. I wonder if my cheeks will feel as warm." Haku knew he could blush, had done so n many occasions, but had never known them to be as warm as Artemis seemed to get.

"I have a feeling I'll never find such a legendary thing. The tragedy!" He put the back of his hand to his forehead in mock woe. "But if I do, I will certainly take advantage of it," He said with an evil grin.

"It's only fair," Haku pointed out. He rolled his shoulders and all but flopped back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. He was thinking now, wondering why he was able to tease and be so causal with Artemis, but not his Master.

The dynamics of the relationships were utterly different, but why?

Artemis looked up at the ceiling. There wasn't anything there, so he figured Haku must be thinking. He did the same thing often enough to recognize it.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, laying down next to him and looking up at the ceiling with him.

"I am thinking about the differences in my relationships with both you and Zabuza-san," Haku said easily. "Since you are both the only two people still here that I know well enough to care." He turned his head and looked at Artemis.

"I know that there are a lot of different things about the two situations, but why?" He turned back to the ceiling. "It just popped into my mind now."

"That's easy," Artemis said, turning to look at Haku. "You have a working relationship with Momochi-san that isn't necessary with me." At least, that's what he believed. The situation was much like his own, truth be told.

"It isn't necessary to act a certain way around me, right? So you can tease me and tell me anything and it won't affect any sort of working relationship we have."

He smiled encouragingly, "Our relationship is purely friendship, correct? So we act accordingly. Momochi-san is your master, and thus you have to act with a manner of restraint or consideration.

"At least, that's what I think. I'm in much the same situation."

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