damned_institute | Day 32: Cafeteria, Breakfast

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Day 32: Cafeteria, Breakfast

Sylar's gears were still turning as the nurse and a burly orderly escorted him down long halls and through a strange, sunlit room. He'd been forced to drop his pen when the orderly had seen it, and since then, he'd realized that this place had better security than he'd originally anticipated, as well as a large population of patients. It looked like he'd have to bide his time for now, pretending to be this 'Zachary Blaine' and trying to figure out how the hell he'd gotten here.

His mind went over and over the events in Mohinder's lab, tracing every second that led up to his unconsciousness. According to the computer logs and the decked-out loft, Mohinder was working for the Company now, so had that woman with the electricity been an operative? Was this all a Company front? Even so, it didn't make sense for them to drop him off somewhere without any close supervision. They knew how dangerous he was. How special he was.

But right now, his abilities had been nullified and he was left only with the option of playing along. It was a very good thing that it was something he excelled at, even with his sudden loss of the cure clouding his thoughts and telling him to do something drastic.

Still, it was fun to take ahold of strings and let someone think they were pulling him when in fact he was the puppetmaster. Who knew? Maybe he could find a new toy now that his last one had worn out.

Sylar took his syrup-covered waffle to a table and tried to keep track of both the security and the people flooding in. Soon, he'd find an opening, a weak link he could exploit. It was only a matter of time.

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"Oi..." Growled Zoro, a vein throbbing on his temple in irritaton. He looked between Brook and Sanji, narrowed gaze landing first on the chef, then the musician, then on the chef again.

"What's Thriller Bark?" Zoro repeated with a little twitch. He really didn't like the thought of not being in the loop especially since Sanji seemed to know what it was. A whole week... the difference of which was a new nakama and some kind of adventure.

The others would have to be introduced to Brook later though. Hopefully the three of them could sort things out before the presence of more questions complicated the story.

Now if only someone would tell him what the hell Thriller Bark was.

A stunned silence followed Sanji's condensed explanation in which Brook stared at the tabletop, trying to force himself to understand. He'd unfortunately already ruled out that this was still a dream for how it had played out - too many things Brook would never have even dreamed were coming up. And besides that, his nose still hurt. But if not a dream...

"... then..." when he did finally speak, the only word he could manage was slow and uncertain. His eyes lifted from the table, but he did not put them on Sanji. Instead they went across to Zoro. If everything said was truth, and Zoro really wasn't kidding when he asked them to clarify about Thriller Bark, then Zoro truly didn't remember. Anything! How he'd fought against Ryuuma, won in less than five minute's time, claimed the samurai's sword, and gotten Brook's shadow back! Then having to face off against Moria and Oz, and then Kuma...! Maybe it was better than Zoro did not remember that last part; Brook almost wished he could forget it himself. That scream was still embedded in his own skull for how agonizing it had been.

And Sanji too! Brook looked back to the Cook now, still silent. Sanji had nearly suffered through the same at Kuma's hands, no doubt would have if Zoro hadn't laid him out. Brook had been so touched by their dedication to their Captain back then! But to not remember any of it was just-- and now Sanji was saying that others of the crew also remembered nothing! Less even! Less than nothing! Was that even possible?

If it was, then it was just too cruel!

"Thriller Bark," Sanji finally sighed, looking back at Zoro. "It's where we ended up after running into Brook. Crazy creepy place with zombies, okay? They could take your shadow from you and bring zombies to life with it." Hopefully that would be all that Zoro needed to know, because Sanji couldn't supply much more.

At Brook's dejected expression, the chef rubbed at the back of his head and tried not to look uncomfortable with the whole situation. "Look, uh... I'm sure Luffy will still like you. He's that type of guy. You'll just have to reintroduce yourself, is all. Right?"

So awkward.

Zoro still didn't get it (was Thriller Bark some kind of island? another ship?) but he let the simple explanation stand for now. The chef just probably didn't know. Heh. Stupid chef.

He looked at Brook, frowning but generally unbothered by the situation. Crossing his arms and staring down the new pirate with more speculation than suspicion, Zoro held his gaze for the span of three beats. When he spoke, it was neutral, resolved. Honest.

"Luffy doesn't remember Franky either." He offered. The words were more comforting than his tone but Zoro's face gave no indication that he was trying to achieve anything by it.

Luffy didn't even remember Franky? Someone who'd joined prior to himself, and the person who had built the Lion-chan!

Brook's eyes again trailed to the table, and his hands folded in his lap. Franky was so spirited - it couldn't be that Luffy had forgotten! He was a good Captain and friend and really, really not the type to simply forget someone. Then he really didn't know? About Brook, or Thriller Bark or even...

Laboon?

"Oh. A-ah, yes, you're... you're right," he tried to sound hopeful of Sanji's words, but the doubt was too apparent. The thought of being rejected... it was just too much for someone like Brook who held the bonds of Nakama above all else, and it lingered regardless of what he knew of the Captain. Luffy had only met him as a skeleton, so what if meeting him like this would change his mind? A fully-fleshed musician wasn't nearly as interesting as a skeletal one! And Luffy was always saying how interesting Brook was! And first impressions were everything!

"Look, just ah... Tell him you're a musician! Luffy's been wanting a musician on the crew for ages. That's probably enough for him." Sanji thought for a moment, tapping his chin and leaning back in his chair. "And... tell him about how you joined the crew in the first place. I'm telling you, it won't take much. Luffy'll probably think your affro is pretty awesome."

That reminded him of the whole shpeal with the Foxy Pirates. If Brook hadn't been a skeleton when they'd met, Luffy would have most likely gone sparkly-eyed over the affro all the same. What a nut.

Zoro's brow furrowed. Yeah, Luffy liked afros. Luffy liked a lot of weird things, actually.

Zoro wasn't sure what that said about their crew.

He shook his head. As far as he was concerned, the matter was already decided since Luffy had asked and Brook had agreed. That is, if the musician was telling the truth. Sanji had thrown a "but" into that memory but Zoro also knew how easily things could change within a few days time.

That simple 'yes' wouldn't be an easy promise to break, lacking memories or otherwise.

"If you're worried about appearances just look at this guy over here," Zoro pointed at Sanji seriously. "He has skin and he's stupid but Luffy keeps him around anyway." Zoro cast a final, thoughtful glance at Brook before stuffing the last of his waffles into his mouth. "The Captain won't recant an offer like that even if he doesn't remember making it."

His afro was pretty awesome, if he did say so himself. And it was also one of the things Luffy had liked about him aside from him being a skeleton. Maybe he was just thinking too much! Luffy had asked him a few times to join, and it wasn't as though Brook had ever really refused the invitation those times. He'd just had some setbacks, and the crew, all of them had jumped at the chance to help him! Even if they didn't remember it! He had no doubt that Zoro would gladly face Ryuuma again (or was it for the first time?) if given the chance now. Or again.

The time here was so strange!

Zoro's last words sealed it for the former skeleton. "You're right!" he finally determined, confidence building at their attempts at encouragement. He unfolded his hands and thumped the tabletop with his right. "Even if he doesn't remember it, he still asked me. Twice! And I promised I'd be his musician through hell or high water, even if it killed me!" He exclaimed, then grinned brightly once he realized what he'd just said, "But you know! I was already dead when I said that! Yohohoho!"

He felt so much better that he couldn't help but bring up some kind of joke. He hadn't made any since waking up, and now was the perfect time to brighten the mood with some good morbid humor! It would be strange later though, not having his skeletal body to base his Skull Jokes on! He'd have to improvise!

"OI! I'll cave your face in, moldy bread!" Sanji replied to Zoro's insult by shoving the leg of his chair hard with one foot.

His expression changed into a grin as Brook got his spirit back. "There you go! No need to worry!" ...Then it turned into a grimace as he cracked a (oi!) skull joke. This was definitely the Brook he'd met, even if appearances were different. The attempts at humor were just as corny. Luffy would love him.

"I'd say you should recap the whole story behind why you were a skeleton, but that should probably wait until you meet with the rest of the crew. Unless you like repeating yourself multiple times."

Zoro grit his teeth and grabbed the table to keep from toppling over. "Che, as if you could dart-brow!"

Still scowling, he sat up and fixed his chair. Brook, a lot more cheerful now, was back to that excited babbling he'd been doing when he first accosted Zoro. Still, the swordsman really could have gone without hearing that joke. If it could even be counted as one.

He was a little curious about Brook being a skeleton but internally admitted that Sanji had a point. Not wanting to acknowledge that out loud to himself or to anyone else, Zoro just slung an arm over the back of his chair and smirked. "What I really want to know is... can you fight or do you just play music?"

From the cheeky grin on his face, it looked like Zoro already knew the answer to that question.

He laughed again at the antics of the two, amazed that it wasn't him getting his own chair booted. Maybe it would take a while before he earned any threats of pain with his jokes. But at least his friends' squabblings proved that they were definitely the people he knew. Not that he'd ever doubted that!

"Oh, this is wonderful!" he laughed more, spirits now the complete opposite of what they'd been only moments prior. He'd been so worried over being rejected that he hadn't realized just what this meant! A third opportunity to join the Straw Hat Pirate Crew, and this time with skin! He really, really had skin! This was a dream come true! Literally! "I'll recount every detail, from the moment we met down to everything about Laboon! The bare bones of the story if you will! Yohohoho!" Now he'd hit his joking groove as well. "Skull joke!"

His head turned once again when Zoro asked if he could fight. Ah yes, he wouldn't even know that then! "Certainly, I can!" Brook announced, "though I didn't see my shikomizue around when I awoke. Or my violin!" Oh dear, that would be a problem! Both of his weapons were missing! He could worry over it at a later time though since Zoro's grin was a little more unsettling. He held up his hands towards Zoro and waved them slightly in defense, "But I could never hold a candle to yourself, Zoro-san! You were so excellent against Ryuuma that I--- Oh! But you don't know about that yet!" One of the hands went up over his mouth. Whoops. Maybe learning about the future wasn't something they wished to know about. Or maybe it was! And he had just promised to explain everything, so he'd probably have to bring up Ryuuma and everythign else on Thriller Bark eventually.

Laboon? Where had he heard that name before... Sanji frowned as he tried to remember. Laboon, Laboon... It was the memory of the long, deep, sad crooning from the entrance to the Grand Line that finally had him making the connection. Then he just blinked at Brook in confusion. What did he know about Laboon? Could it be that he--?

And then Brook started praising Zoro and Sanji's foot was soon pressed into the former skeleton's back. "Hey! Stop stroking his ego! What about me? I kicked serious ass too, didn't I?" He refused to believe he'd been unconscious the entire time. Brook remembered him from later, odd as that was, so he had to have participated in more of the fighting at some point.

"Yeah, Brook. Tell the chef how he kicked ass in his dreams." Zoro chuckled and crossed his arms, radiating amusement in the chef's direction. He almost asked who Ryuuma was, but he didn't really think it mattered if he was going to come up against him anyway. Or maybe he already did? Whatever.

There was another familiar name there, Laboon. But it had something to do with Brook's story (maybe the whale ate him whole??) so Zoro resigned himself to hearing about it later. He was a little surprised to hear that Brook was a swordsman as well though he was more curious than anything...

"Aa, yeah. Your stuff. We haven't found where they keep everyone's things yet." Zoro's lips twisted a little at that, remembering the two swords he was missing and the one he'd yet to properly replace.

"Itai!" he shrieked at the foot digging into his back, flailing his arms up just to over-dramatize his pain. "So mean, Sanji-san! I wasn't there when you rescued Nami-sa... Ah, but you don't know that either!" His head was spinning a little with the information now. What could and couldn't be said - he had no idea if he was saying what he was allowed to or not!

He tried looking between the two to see if they might help him with where he might start, or finish, or whatever, but he only ended up pushing his palms back to the table. "But my violin...!" his mouth fell. It wasn't here? They didn't know where it was either?! "That means I can't play!" Which was far more important than being able to fight for the musician. A musician without his instrument was tragic! It meant he'd only be able to sing here too! What would Luffy think?! "How can I be a musician without my instruments! Singing is only one part!"

The moment Brook had finished speaking, Sanji had grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "I did what? I rescued-- Was she grateful? How grateful was she? Was there kissing involved?" Somewhere deep deep down, the chef knew the answers were: a little, not enough to change anything, and no - but he couldn't help but get his hopes up anyway. In any case, he'd kept his sweet Nami safe from harm! It was a bit nice knowing he'd be successful with something that hadn't happened yet.

Then he released the musician, sitting back down and giving the matter of his missing instrument some thought. "There was a music room, wasn't there?" He hadn't been in it himself, but he knew it was sometimes an option during the day. "Maybe they have some instruments there." If they couldn't grab one during the day, a night run could be an option - though it would involve braving the dangers of the Sun Room.

The swordsman's face read exhasperation when the chef reacted as expected at the mention of his having saved Nami. Was there kissing involved? Zoro almost felt bad for the guy. Almost.

"Yeah, there's a music room." Zoro remembered trying to nap there... when was it again? The other day? "Do you only play the violin?" He asked Brook. He remembered various instruments in the room, at any rate.

"Yohohoho! I don't think I've ever seen Nami-san kiss anything other than gold!" Brook laughed out the first thing that came to mind, hoping it might satisfy Sanji enough to get him to let go. He really hadn't answered any of the questions with the comment, but somehow he did end up released.

After brushing at the front of his shirt, for the first time noticing that it wasn't his - a yellow smiling face? How strange! - he continued, "A-ah... but like I said, I wasn't there to see anything, so I wouldn't know what went on aside from what I was told afterwards. I was watching Zoro-san's battle along with Franky-san..." he looked cautiously to Zoro, hoping the other crew member wouldn't move to nearly strangle him as well for the details.

He hadn't even gone into the battle with Oz and Moria yet, nor had he explained a good deal of his past that he'd presented to Franky and Robin, who had, in turn, told the rest of their crew. No one knew his story then, aside from Sanji. And Sanji wouldn't know about Laboon either since he'd had his shadow taken before Luffy had. Then no one here was aware that his friend was waiting!

The word of a music room brought his hopes back though. "A room for music! That sounds wonderful! I do hope there is a violin, or a piano, but I can play anything!" he answered proudly for Zoro.

Sanji wanted to comment on what Brook said about Nami, but he ended up just frowning instead. He couldn't say it wasn't the truth. The frown deepened even further as the former skeleton mentioned how he'd been watching Zoro's fight instead. Though the fact that he mentioned only Franky being with them otherwise led him to believe that they'd gotten divided up. That made sense, what with Sanji already having been grabbed away to have his shadow taken. (What an embarrassment!)

"Anything, huh?" The chef quirked one curly brow. "Yeah, Luffy will be thrilled."

Noticing Sanji's growing frown, Zoro only smirked, almost seeming satisfied at a performance he'd yet to give. He wasn't going to attack Brook for the details of the fight ~~no matter how tempting it was to lord it over Sanji~~ and settled back in his chair instead. A musician who could play anything. That was good.

"We could probably find the music room," Zoro looked a little at Sanji before he spoke the next part. "But if you're going to keep anything we'll have to go at night."

"Yep! Anything at all!" After all, a musician should be well played and well practiced, and there was never a crew what sailed the Grand Line better at that then the Rumbar Pirates! Brook had to be good! Neither his crew or his Captain (or soon-to-be-once-more Captain) would settle for worse!

He wished he had something with him right then since it felt as though he needed to prove himself. The two just seemed so skeptical! He'd just have to show them later then! Once he got himself something to play! "Night? You mean we can't go right now?" he asked, then looked around as though it was his first time noticing the surroundings, "That reminds me - exactly what is this place? Aside from magical, of course! There's so many people! Especially the ones in white..." Some of those in white were giving him strange looks. He did stick out pretty well with his height and huge afro, after all.

"They call it a mental hospital," Sanji explained. "Everyone who works here thinks we're crazy - that all the 'patients' here are crazy. Not mentally stable. They all call us by different names and make up pasts for us that aren't real. Don't take anything the people in white say at face value." He should probably add something about not causing a ruckus. But really, even with sedation, where was the fun in that?

"We have to go at night, because I'm sure if you tried to leave the room with one of the instruments during the day, they'd stop you. Night is the only time we're allowed to roam the halls freely. It's just a whole lot more dangerous then. They let a bunch of monsters loose or something. Don't even try and ask the nurses about that, 'cause they'll deny it happens." He leaned back in his chair and rested his feet up on the table. "Night's when we can explore and get supplies - at the risk of running into something nasty. Even then, you'd wouldn't be able to bring the instrument out of your room. They might confiscate it."

A hospital? An uncomfortable expression crossed Zoro's face and he coughed awkwardly. Admittedly, a hospital made more sense than the prison Zoro originally figured it to be. There were nurses and the guy Luffy wanted to beat up was called the 'Head Doctor' but Zoro figured... well, he figured...

Okay. So he didn't exactly know what he figured but hospitals never even crossed his mind when taking into account the security on the place. They could have been an organization with some kind of messed up theme for all he knew.

No wonder there were no Marines anywhere.

"Before you ask, we don't know how we ended up here either." If they were going to be explaining things to Brook they may as well get most of the important things out of the way. "And some of the people here're supposed to be from different worlds or dimentions or something. As far as I've heard, we're the only ones here from the Grand Line." Zoro scratched at the back of his head, looking thoughtful.

"Crazy?" He almost said something to hearing that, but for once stopped himself. It might... no it would have gotten him a little more than just a kick to the back, especially since these two weren't all that aware of his story just yet. And besides that he had to save himself for the abuse he was certain to get from Nami-san! Another meeting with her was sure to be painful!

"What a strange place?! And monsters?! It's nothing like Thriller Bark, is it?! No zombies, right?!" Not again! As much as he'd been able to cope with his humming there, it had still been an absolutely terrifying experience! So scary!

That was the final outburst the people in white were willing to allow. "Well now, it seems you're certainly making friends, Mr Rousseau," a nurse stepped up, smiling almost sickeningly at him. She'd allowed him a lot of loud words due to it being his first day and him clearly being excited, but now it was just getting downright silly. There was only so much energy a patient could have before it ran them down, but Mr. Rousseau just didn't know when to stop! "It's time to move now. Won't you come with me?"

"Ah move?" He looked down at her (even though he was the one sitting), then to the other two, then again to her before understanding. "Yohohoho! Of course!" he responded finally, standing to go. He didn't quite understand it, but it seemed this was standard. Sanji and Zoro weren't protesting it at least. "I shall see you two later then! Oh, and I'll be sure to find Luffy-san as fast as I can!"

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Day 32: Cafeteria, Breakfast

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