damned_institute | Day 36: Intercom, Evening

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Day 36: Intercom, Evening

The intercom's jingle rang out and the somewhat uninhibited movement that was going on between the main activity rooms halted as the Head Doctor made one of his usual announcements.

"Good evening everyone, and I'm very pleased to see so many of you in such high spirits after meeting with your loved ones! However, like with all good things, it can't last forever, so I ask now for nurses to escort our patients in the waiting rooms and in the main areas back to their rooms, where they will be treated with a special Sunday... steak! That's right: today, we'll be serving juicy, delicious steak with fries and cooked vegetables on the side – simple enough for everyone to like and good enough for everyone to thoroughly enjoy! (Our patients with specialized diets will receive their alternate meals, of course.) Our usual beverages are available, and for dessert, we'll be serving warm slices of apple pie.

"After all, patients, t's always wonderful to see all of you cooperating with the staff even when given so much freedom, so I'd like to personally thank and congratulate all of you for helping us, your family, and more importantly, yourselves. Hopefully, we can help you to a speedy recovery so that you can see your loved ones more often, but first... dinner! I hope to speak with you all again soon."

The intercom clicked off.

[ All room threads go in response to this post; please post your character's room number as the subject line of the initial post. Thank you!

On an added note, just wanted to clarify to players of characters who are canonly vegetarians and the like that you get to decide (within reasonable and realistic limits) what kind of diet your character gets from the staff. :3 ]

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"And who said I complained about it?" Artemis said, huffing and pouting slightly. "I like your temperature."

"Ah, then you would be happy to be as cold as I am all the time?" Haku held up the glass again with a smile.

"That would certianly be interesting."

"I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference," Artemis said, crossing his arms over his chest and refusing the water. "You can't tell the difference, can you? Or do you wish you were as warm as I was?"

"I can tell when something is warmer than I am," Haku said, setting the water to the side.

"But as for cold... I spent my winters in thin summer clothing. I hated to be bundled up when I was young." He smiled at the memory of someone pointing out to Zabuza-san that he needed better winter shoes than simple sandles and his own confusion over the matter.

Artemis seemed to be satisfied with this answer and picked up his glass. "So one could argue that it is beneficial in winter. What about summers? Are those uncomfortably hot?"

"Not where I'm from," Haku said with a smile and shake of his head. "My home village always had snow or at least a light frost on the ground. I've never been anywhere it was terribly hot before."

He glanced at the door. "Until here. It's rather warm here."

Artemis looked a little concerned, his previously stony and calculating expression falling away. "Well, apparently it's November. By December, euh, less than thirty days from now, it'll become very cold and possibly snow," he said with a smile. Haku liked snow. Maybe it would snow soon for him... Artemis could only hope.

Haku smiled. "I would like that very much," Haku said, holding out a bit of veggies on the fork.

"I never made it to see the snow back home before I was here."

Artemis had leaned forward a bit, but stopped when Haku said that. The boy backed off against his pillows again, looking down at his lap.

"They say this area is very nice in the fall and wintertime. Experiencing something different might be nice."

"It is very nice here during the day," Haku agreed,curious about the change in manners. He waved the food slightly.

"The weather is nice, and certainly different."

"Yes..." Artemis said absently, already thinking about how he could possibly get Haku back to his homeland without... the inevitable happening. Would re-entry into one's world cause the laws of time to take hold of Haku's life again? It was making him sick to think about. He couldn't think of anything short of time travel, which was possible once he got back home. He thought. But that meant bringing Haku back with him, first of all.

He zoned out, staring blankly at his plate, unaware of Haku's attempts to get him to eat.

Haku frowned, bringing the fork down slightly.

"Are you alright Artemis?" He didn't understand the sudden withdrawl and it worried him.

Artemis looked up when he heard his name, looking a little ill or dazed.

"I'm... fine. Just the comment about your home made me... start to think."

Haku frowned, reaching out with his free hand to cover one of Artemis's. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up ... unpleasent thoughts of your home."

"My home?" Artemis gave a light, sad sort of laugh. "No, it's not my home that's the problem."

Haku frowned harder, confused.

"I ... don't understand then. What's wrong?"

"Haku," Artemis said, holding Haku's hand a little tighter. "Do you honestly think that I've simply discarded the fact that you were killed in your world? That the possibility you can't return exists?"

Haku relaexed slightly. This wasn't too bad then.

"I've come to terms with my death," he said gently. "Before I even made that final move. And, if there is no way for me to leave without dying once more ... Well,then I'll deal with that when it comes up."

"You may have, but what of the people you'll inevitably leave behind?" Artemis asked, shifting so that both of his hands were holding Haku's. As if that would keep him there. "You may have come to terms with your death Haku, but I am still fighting it."

Haku smiled and bowed his head, looking at their hands. "I ... do not think I wouldbe so eager to die this time," he said. "I do not want to leave the ones I care for behind again. But ...."

He shook his head, unable to explain properly.

"But what?" Artemis tilted his head to the side, trying to look into Haku's eyes. "...you aren't certain you'll have a choice," he provided.

Haku smiled, slightly sad. "I may not. I was given this life, and I don't know if it will be just as simple to take it back."

He gently squeezed Artemis' hand. "I'm sorry. But, I swear I won't give up."

Artemis squeezed Haku's hand back, trying to hold back tears. It would be so easy to just cry right now and let Haku comfort him and tell him everything was going to be okay. But that wasn't how he operated, and he wasn't going to start leaning on Haku for everything.

"I know you won't. I'll make sure you don't," Artemis said with a shaky laugh. A rogue tear ended up on his shirt.

Haku set the fork down, and then reached up and gently wiped the tear track. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you about it. I wasn't thinking."

"I'm not made of glass, Haku. I know these questions, these unknowns are present every time we sit together. I've just never had such a painful unknown in one of my equations."

Artemis tightened his grip on Haku's hand until his knuckles turned white. "You shouldn't have to watch what you say around me. I should be fine with whatever you say."

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