damned_institute | Day 21

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Day 21 - Sun Room

Ichigo was only too eager to leave the cafeteria and its fresh memories behind when the softened chime of the intercome rang clear. What had begun as another ordinary meal, a rather agreeable one despite the lack of the proper utensils, quickly became somewhat unnerving. His conversation with...what was his name again?...took so many sharp turns, he should've felt dizzy. It was easy to feel a little sorry for the guy, though; surrounded by stangers in a very strange place, it was hard to blame him for being so alarmed.

The Sun Room occurred as a more enjoyable choice to spend the time; he had nothing against music, but something about being surrounded by some of the most unruly characters he'd ever met, each of them armed with cacophonous weaponry, didn't sound smart. Once his nurse departed, the young man picked out a cozy little spot near a flood of sunshine and settled in, cradling his head in the palms of his hands. There, he stared up almost bitterly at the ceiling with sharply focused eyes, still exuding the same unapproachable sense of being as ever.

The room was warm, even a little comforting, for any of the tired, weary masses found in Landel's halls, or even those who just craved a little peace and quiet. All he could hear, from end of the room, were soft footfalls and hushed voices. That sounded just fine to the 'berry head.

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Renji only paused for an instant when he was interrupted. He could talk and stretch at the same time. "Or maybe they just want to see what it takes to make some of us really go crazy," he said. He glanced at the guy; he didn't know his name, but he recalled the face. And the fact that a couple of Elena's friends (acquaintances?) had been threatening him with bodily harm.

He didn't know those people, or their problems, though. So he decided to go for neutrality until he got his own impression of the guy.

He paused again, holding a stretch for a moment, and tried to get a feel for things. Nothing clear, of course, but he felt vaguely creeped out. Which, to be fair, could just be the atmosphere of an insane asylum getting to him.

"We all pass the time in our own little way," he said. "What do you want?" While the question was blunt, his tone wasn't overtly unfriendly; he just decided to be to the point, which was really his normal way to deal with people.

"Nothing. I find one notices time passing less when involved in conversation, but I can go if you'd prefer." His own tone was neutral; the offer was a polite one, but it wasn't made in a spirit of politeness. Hojo honestly didn't care either way, and he didn't know this person yet so it would likely be a more productive use of a shift than, say, taunting Valentine.

Renji shrugged, changing positions slightly. "Doesn't bother me much," he said. "I'm used to training. But I can also talk." He paused for a moment to deepen his stetch, then said, "Abarai Renji. What's your name?"

"Mm." Hojo smirked a bit, crossing his arms and leaning on the nearest wall. "Dr. Aleksandr Hojo." It occurred to the scientist that Xigbar still hadn't asked for his name -- introduced himself, yes, but not the other way around. It didn't bother him; honestly he hadn't even realized until just then, but it was an odd piece of trivia. Perhaps it would come into play later.

"Those are interesting tattoos, Abarai Renji. I assume there must be a story behind them." What was to be seen then was whether the redhead would take the prompt or wait to be asked specifically what the story was. Of course, there was also the possibility of him becoming offended, but that seemed rather unlikely. If he was the sort of person to take offense to inquiries about himself he probably would not have marked himself so blatantly.

Renji had been out and about enough to know that "doctor" didn't necessarily mean medical doctor. "Doctor of what?" he asked. Because if this guy was a medical doctor, that could be interesting. And maybe even a little helpful.

Renji considered the next question. A lot of the story, he simply couldn't tell. As much as he'd been revealing - and that was to people that he was certain he trusted - he hadn't even told them about Zabimaru or the other more interesting bits of existence as a shinigami.

And a lot of the rest of the story was personal. Very personal.

So he decided to just give the bare explanation. "Sort of a coming of age thing, and a mark of accomplishment," he said.

Interesting. So Renji was either a precise or careful sort; the two didn't always show up together, though they often did. "My PhD is in biological science, and I specialize in developmental biology. I'm a researcher."

He nodded at the redhead's truncated explanation; it was obviously not the full story, but to be given the full story simply by asking would have been quite surprising. "It seems like you've accomplished quite a lot, then. Or did you start with your head and neck?"

"I see," Renji said. Sort of. He understood generally what that might be. But he'd have to ask if anyone knew exactly what 'developmental biology' happened to be about. He could take a guess from the words, of course, but he might be missing something. "Weird place for a researcher to be," he remarked. He could understand why the people here would be after any of the friends he'd made so far. But a researcher? That didn't make much sense to him.

"I have," he said. "And I did." He grinned. "You just can't see the rest of them."

"Based on what I've seen they don't seem very particular about who they take. If there's a pattern I've yet to find it." He would likely not have been so cavalier about admitting that he didn't know what was going on if he'd seen an indication that other patients did. Some knew more, some less, but it seemed that no one had figured out the puzzle yet. He had time.

"Can't see them?" Hojo sounded amused. "In that they are under your clothes, that you won't show me, or that the ink used is skin-toned?"

"I've got ideas," Renji said, "but they just got shot down. So I'm back to no ideas about why." He shrugged. "Though I'm more worried about how, anyway." Oh yes. Finding out how would be the first step to getting his reiatsu unchained... and once that was done, it was party time, on the grave of their abductors.

He laughed. "They're under my clothes," he said. "I'm not the shy type, but I don't know how our lovely nurses would feel about me doing a strip show in front of everyone."

"Mm." Hojo nodded again. "Something about taking powerful people and figuring out how to use them for some unknown end, I assume? It would make sense, but as you noticed it would give me no reason to be here, at least as a patient. Besies, it's a bit too conspiracy theorist for me. In any case, yes, the how is far more immediately pressing, and probably the easier question to answer."

He was talking more than he usually did, which was interesting. He didn't move to stop himself; why bother, when he wasn't saying anything incriminating or incendiary? It seemed conversation had been at least a satisfactory decision. "I wouldn't ask you to, but I wouldn't stop you if you started," the scientist said, sounding amused. "It would probably get you sedated, though, which I doubt would be very productive considering it's approaching evening."

Renji nodded. "Most of the people I have met here have some sort of interesting... talent. But yeah, that's been shot down, now." He shrugged. "Unless you've got something going that you're not telling." Which he doubted. He'd at least get the feeling of power off the man if he did. "Or you just ended up here because you pissed someone off, rather than them being genuinely interested in picking you to pieces." He grinned. "Or we could get really... conspiracy theorist and I could accuse you of not really being a patient."

He laughed. "Yeah, not so much for the getting drugged. You always have the option of looking like a complete pervert and scoping me out in the shower if you're that damn curious." He imagined he'd get some looks in the showers anyway. He had his share of scars. And the tattoos really did go everywhere.

Hojo laughed. "It would be a valid accusation. I would deny it, but you have no real reason to believe me. Perhaps I'm here to throw you off guard and confuse their real motive." That was also a very real possibility; if you were going to try and fool people you had to have a few red herrings in place. He had to admit, though, that the idea of being a false variable was somewhat distasteful. "Or perhaps I won't remain a patient for long." That was a much more appealing option.

"I think I'll pass on seeing your tattoos, then. Though those that know me already think quite ill of me, I see no reason to potentially alienate people I have yet to actually meet."

Renji snorted. "And until I decide if you're false or true or just here to fuck with me, I guess I'll be politely distant." He grinned. "Because those needles the nurses have? They look pretty effective. And really, it'd be best for everyone involved if we weren't enemies, eh?" And as for his last comment... well, Renji had in mind how he ought to deal with turncoats. He was really saving it for Aizen, but it wouldn't hurt to get a little practice in first.

"Your turn for story time, then," he said. "What's got the people from your world so angry with you?" Maybe that would explain the creepy vibe. Or maybe not.

From his world? Hojo decided not to ask. "For the most part I have no idea. One person is entirely justified, I suppose; I did shoot him. But the others seem to have a vendetta I can't explain. I certainly don't recall doing anything to them." There was the matter of the redhead from the library; there hadn't seemed to be any real pointed dislike there, just distaste and avoidance. Hojo didn't fault that at all, though; he was generally a rather unpleasant person, mostly on purpose. It kept him from having to deal with stupid people.

"That's kind of weird," Renji remarked. "Have you tried asking them why? Because it might not be something you've done. It might be something you're going to do. Which might be good to know about. You could always avoid being a complete bastard or something. If you're so inclined."

"Mm, if I was so inclined." More people talking about the future as if it had happened already. It was slightly irritating, but perhaps there actually was something to it. Perhaps. "Of course, if I could avoid doing whatever it is they're angry about, you'd think I would... due to being here and everything, and wanting to avoid broken bones. And then, if I avoid doing it, they've no reason to be angry with me now. The fact that they are tells me that I have no choice in the matter."

"Huh." Renji shrugged. "I don't think things are so set. This place doesn't exactly follow the rules of logic, let alone time. There's a guy here that I know from back home. He's from my future, and if you take him at his word - and I do - we're pretty good friends. If we're good friends, I would sure as hell have told him about being sucked into this crazy hell hole, and he's talked to me and stuff after the last point that I can recall." He shrugged. "So that seems to say to me that my future isn't exactly fixed. Because if it was, I wouldn't be here."

"But if it wasn't, what would your friend have to go on? It's his past, so it's happened for him, but it's your future. It hasn't happened for you, so presumably you can change it -- change his past." Hojo shook his head. "I've never had a reason to think about it before, to be honest. I suppose it works if time is nonlinear, but I have a difficult time picturing that." Even if he didn't strictly believe in the timelines the way most others seemed to -- and e didn't -- it certainly made for an interesting thought exercize.

"It helps not believing that reality works the same way everyone thinks," Renji says. "Because most everyone is wrong." Since no one had interfered with him just stretching, he began slowly - very slowly, flowing one move through to another. Just so he could move a bit. "Then again, I'm not some scientist type." He grinned. "I'm just an officer on the beat. But it gives me less of a headache if I figure that my future and his past might not be exactly the same thing. Because there's always a choice."

Hojo laughed a little, though he sounded slightly distant. "I suppose. But if the past isn't set, well, what do we have to go on? I have to trust that the sun goes down at night -- figuratively, of course -- or that if you drop sodium in water you get a rather violent reaction. If time can be messed with like that, what else can?" He shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable. It was strange; he'd been out of his element ever since he woke up in this bizarre place, but so far he'd been able to keep from showing it too obviously. Maybe the monotony was getting to him. "I don't know." Shit. Time to stop talking.

Renji grinned. "I think we all have this moment some time," he said. "The 'laws' of time don't bother me as much as the fact that I'm here at all. Reality isn't as steady as you'd think. Try not to worry about it too much. If I were you, I'd look at this as a good chance to avert some serious fuck-ups in my future." He shrugged, then continued on with his slow movements. "We're stuck here for the time being. Might as well find something optomistic to go with the monstrous wad of shit."

"You can't be satisfied with that, can you?" Okay, maybe he'd allow himself a bit more outward incredulity. "I mean, if we're going to accept this whole unstable time thing -- if -- that should affect everything, not just something as inconsequential as a person's memories." He couldn't believe it; it wasn't possible. It defied everything and he was starting to become angry with himself for getting pulled in like he had.

"Oh, but I can be," Renji said. Wow, exercise really was clearing his head and putting him in a better mood. That, and this conversation was starting to get fun. "I'm pretty sure that time can manage to sort itself out without my help. That's not my job." Stretch, and hold. "There's a lot more to world than what you can measure, Doc. Might be the same case with time."

Hojo scowled. "Then why would there be evidence of it now? Why hasn't it been irregular all along?" This line of questioning wasn't going to get him anywhere and he exhaled sharply, clamping down on the things he still rather desperately wanted to ask. He still didn't believe this, after all; there was no reason to get vehement about something that was so clearly untrue. For things to happen they had to be possible, and thus logical. They had to be.

Renji was really enjoying himself now. He hadn't had a conversation like this sober since... ever. And it was more fun while sober, he concluded. "How do you know it hasn't been?" he asked. "Have you been looking for it before now? Have you had an opportunity to before now? I bet not." He shrugged. "Do you think that your world's the only one, too? What about your dimension?"

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