Day 34: Lunch

[thatdamnedninja.livejournal.com]

Yuffie bounced all the way through collecting her lunch, all the way to a good seat- one with a nice view of the whole cafeteria, which was something she'd been missing out on during the past day or so that she'd been stuck in the Institute- and hell, she even bounced into her seat.

A good mood? No, really?

Despite the occasional blip, talking to Sagara had been awesome. He was a fun guy; he wasn't a prude, didn't have a stick shoved so far up his ass it was poking out his eyeballs, and he'd actually had a conversation with her. One that hadn't revolved around doom, gloom or how much life sucked. If she could find other people like that and keep in touch with Sagara, maybe there was a little hope for this place.

After a quick gulp of pink lemonade, Yuffie settled to munching through her food and keeping an eye on the door.

[Waiting for Dean, I think? :x]

Comments

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

The company. Right. Still, the sorcerer wasn't one to not offer his name. He nodded in acknowledgment towards Vlad. "And I am Mozenrath," He remarked, taking a sip and once more turning away from the other man.

That didn't mean he was any less aware of his presence. It didn't seem as if the man was unaffected. Mozenrath glowered. He hated this type. It either meant one of two things:

1) Vlad didn't register his subtle implications because he thought the world was all rainbows and sunshine or

2) He was well aware of Mozenrath's displeasure but thought it would be a fun time carrying on anyway

...and Mozenrath highly doubted it was the first.

[vladville.livejournal.com]

Mozenrath? Some foreign world or at least a language Vlad didn't know. Of course, he was hardly in shape to be throwing stones at other's names, considering his parents had named him Vlad.

"Well, how is it being Mozenrath today? Not going well?" Fake-sympathy, ignoring the way the man was turning away from him. It wasn't exactly making friends, but honestly, someone with such a bad attitude couldn't be too much of a threat to Vlad's security here. What would he say? 'Don't trust that Vlad fellow, he was polite when I tried to ignore him.' First the stress of the night with Daniel, then the intellectually stimulating but serious discussion of breakfast... Vlad had some relaxation earned.

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

"..." Mozenrath looked over at Vlad with a, 'What the hell is your problem?' type of expression for a moment before turning back to him to inquire.

"Was there something I could help you with, Vlad?" He arched an eyebrow. "Maybe you need help with something? Perhaps eating? Salad can be tricky to maneuver, can't it?"

He pivoted away again. "Stop bothering me."

[vladville.livejournal.com]

"Well, the salad isn't going anywhere. But if you're really having such a terrible day, I suppose I should leave you to it. After all, it might be catching." Vlad shrugged off the open hostility, trying not to smile too much. Actually, it reminded him of arguing with Da... well, an argument on a good day.

Telling the other man he reminded Vlad of an angry young teenage boy could get some more reaction, but pushing too far was no good. And the other man had a point, in a way. The salad wouldn't be going anywhere, but there was no sense in wasting it.

Still, he glanced around too, idly curious and wondering what Mozenrath was trying to find in the crowd. Whoever or whatever it was, it didn't seem to be around yet.

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

"...yes. It might," Mozenrath responded dryly, rolling his eyes again. At least this one seemed to have caught on quickly that he wasn't in the mood for conversation. He could eat his blasted salad and go away.

Still no sign of Nakago. This was getting frustrating. Growling, he shot Vlad an annoyed look (like it was his fault he couldn't find Nakago). "Anything else I can help you with?"

[vladville.livejournal.com]

Considering that Vlad had quieted down to eat, the continued annoyed look and the pressing question, with the not-so-subtle suggestion that if the answer were 'no' perhaps it was time to leave, wasn't very kind. After all, Vlad would hardly start his meal, stop it, and move his entire tray to another location just to start eating again without a very good reason.

But something about the question just begged for an answer. Was there anything Mozenrath could possibly help him with, aside from improving his mood? "Hmm." Vlad considered, sipping at his water. "I don't know. Perhaps we could help each other. You seem to be looking for someone; a friend?"

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

Mozenrath pursed his lips. "A servant," he corrected Vlad, even if Nakago wouldn't have seen it that way, where ever the man had gone. Leaning back some, he added, "And how could you help?" Vlad hadn't made any indication of knowing Nakago, so the sorcerer doubted he did. What else could this man offer?

"You seem eager to talk."

[vladville.livejournal.com]

"Oh, a servant? How unusual. Someone from your own world, or have you been fortunate enough to find someone who wishes to serve you here? You must be a natural leader, if that's the case." Vlad gave himself a mental pat on the back for saying that with a straight face, although it was even bets on whether the man across the table would believe the compliment or not. He did seem to have quite an impressive ego.

Vlad poked lightly at his salad, gathering some lettuce and a bit of sliced orange together, as though he needed to think. "Well, if you're so preoccupied, I thought you must have some sort of business at hand. The fact that you also have a servant here seems to be a good sign. I'm a man of business myself, and there are so many unusual individuals here. Doesn't making their friendly acquaintance seem sensible?"

True, there was a chance Mozenrath was an entirely unremarkable egomaniac, but if he had a 'servant' of some kind, one of the two of them had to be worth something. Or were they both examples of the low cards the Doctor seemed to have placed in the deck, inexplicable survivors?

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

Mozenrath stroked his chin. "I met him here. Does that matter? A wise man knows a superior individual when he encounters him." Never mind that he and Nakago spent much of their time together arguing. Or that Nakago wasn't even present at the institution anymore-- Mozenrath wasn't attentive enough to notice such things. All that matter that moment was that Vlad recognized the power he commanded.

"And yes, I do have some business." He would retrieve his gauntlet yet. There had been little progress in that regard, but Mozenrath was a determined and tenacious man. He WOULD get it back. He drummed his fingers on the table and added, "What sort of business are you involved with?"

[vladville.livejournal.com]

My, but that was an open line. Not responding to it somehow took a great deal of mental strength and will, but Vlad mustered himself up to the challenge, nibbling on his salad some more. Someone here had pledged loyalty to the man and then disappeared? Probably a sign that the man wasn't worth Vlad's time, either. But, well, a little time spent learning more about the situation couldn't hurt.

"Myself? Oh, whatever seems best at the time. I believe in diversifying. The old saying about too many eggs in one basket, and all that." That was probably vague enough to be annoying, but in fairness, the other man hadn't exactly offered even that much information. "Looking for interesting prospects in an unfavorable situation like this."

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

"Interesting," Mozenrath replied in a voice that didn't sound too interested. "Have you had any success in your prospects?"

He would, in all seriousness, enlist the man in the the pursuit of his gauntlet if he struck him as the sort to help, rather than try to steal it for himself or tell him off. So far, he hadn't had much success, outside of Nakago.

...who was nowhere to be seen. Mozenrath groaned.

[vladville.livejournal.com]

"Mmm. Tolerable. It's not a very open market and so few people are willing to discuss what they have to trade, so that makes it a bit harder for an entrepreneur to get his footing, but I'm optimistic." The other man, for example, wasn't much help. So far he couldn't tell anything other than the man had an ego, a temper, an odd name and expected others to serve him. Which left so many unknowns that it was really not much use at all, although at least there seemed to be the possibility of something useful. Then again, Mozenrath's apparent dependence on servants didn't bode well.

At the groan, Vlad feigned a concerned expression. "Are you not feeling well? I could call a nurse..."

[mozenwrath.livejournal.com]

Mozenrath glared. "I'm fine." He debated adding a threat, something along the lines of 'but you won't be if you keep bothering me'. However, Mozenrath could tell by sizing up the other man that he'd lose that fight.

...which is why he needed Nakago by his side. "How long have you been here?" He inquired idly. He didn't care, not really. Still it was possible that Vlad had something informative or novel to add. If nothing else, he might reveal another location where his Gauntlet could be squirreled away.