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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Haku blinked, and allowed his head to be brought up. He stopped himself from pulling away, but just barely, and he wasn't able to totally hide the haunted look on his face.

Artemis balked at the look Haku was giving him, but he continued as firmly as was possible. "No one, no one, should assume that. Do you understand? No one. You don't have to put up with that, not anymore."

The boy suddenly embraced Haku tightly, pulling the tube out of his nose. He didn't care. "You will never, ever have to do anything you don't want to ever again. You will never be touched by another person who hasn't been allowed again. I will never let that happen to you again."

After all, why did he have all this money if not to throw it into whatever he wanted?

Haku tensed up and wasn't sure what to do or say in this situation. There didn't seem to be anything to say.

Instead, he started to tremble slightly and made a soft, startled sound when he felt water run down his cheek.

He was ... crying? He couldn't belive it. He'd cried more times in this place than he had in his life.

Artemis was just as surprised. Ironic, though, this situation. A week ago, it had been him crying in Haku's arms. Now it was the reverse.

"Come on," Artemis said, his tone soft and soothing. "Lie down with me, it's alright, I understand." The boy gently stroked Haku's back, trying to comfort him.

Haku gently pushed away enough to wipe at his eyes, but he couldn't seem to stop. He just looked at the tears on his finger with confusion.

"I'm... crying." He sounded perplexed.

"I know, it's alright, don't stop. It hurts more to keep it in," Artemis knew from experience. "Just... stay here a moment."

Annoyed by the tubes, Artemis pulled them away and threw them towards the center of the room. He made his way to the closet, coughing a little. "Just one moment, I'll be right there."

Haku just sat on the bed, staring in shock at his hands.

"You shouldn't be up," he scolded absently.

"You can punish me later," Artemis said, searching through the pockets of his blazer. He found his handkerchief and moved back to the bed. "Now, there are more important things to dedicate my energy to. Here," Artemis held out his handkerchief (standard white linen with 'A.F. II' embroidered in white).

Haku took the cloth square, but just held it in his hands as he shifted on the bed to give Artemis room to lie down again. He felt silly, but wiped at his cheeks again with the heel of his hand.

Artemis looked down at the handkerchief and up at Haku wiping his face with his hand. "You can... use that for your tears," he offered, putting an arm around Haku's shoulders.

Haku heard the words, but didn't register them at all. Instead, he turned and buried his face in Artemis's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said, voice muffled. "I'll stop in a moment."

"Haku," Artemis said, laughing a little. "You may recall that a week ago, I was where you were. There is no need to apologize." The boy shifted and pulled Haku so they were in a more comfortable position. He moved his hand up and began stroking Haku's hair. "You can stop whenever you want to. I'm here, always."

Laughing softly, Haku reached up to lightly grip Artemis's shirt front. "I feel ... weak like this," he admitted. "Even Zabuza-san has only seen me cry once in my life." He took a soft, hitching breath.

"And that was here."

"You aren't weak, Haku. You're human," Artemis said, holding his friend closer. "You have emotions, as much as you wish to deny it. You are a boy, like me. There isn't anything wrong with what you're doing right now.

"And even if you feel weak now, and vulnerable, that's alright. I'm here to protect you."

There was a long pause.

"You just had tubes up your nose, Artemis," he pointed out.

"And?" Artemis asked. "What's your point?"

"Nothing." Laughing, the soundmuffled by shirt and tears that were finalyl tapering off, Haku shook his head. "Never mind."

He sighed and clenched his fingers in the material under his hand. "Thank you."

Artemis looked a little perplexed, but continued to stroke Haku's hair. "Thanks are appreciated, but not necessary. I'm happy to be here for you."

"I didn't mean to bring it up," he said again. Taking a slow breath, he pulled back and smiled at Artemis. It was honest and warm, if a bit small and unsteady. He rubbed at his eyes again.

"I'm okay."

Artemis looked concerned. "Are you sure? You didn't... cry very long."

He felt his pride as a man deflate a little.

Haku laughed softly at that. "I'm alright. Please understand, before I came here, I hadn't cried in nearly ten years. I've cried now three times since coming here."

"I can understand that," Artemis admitted. Granted, he'd cried moments before coming to Landel's, but he wasn't very big on crying. He thought back. "I've cried... four times? Maybe five. I lost count somewhere a week ago."

Haku smiled and reached up to place his fingers on Artemis's jaw. "I know. And the times I've witnessed, you had good reason to."

He made a face and hid in his friend's shoulder again. "This, on the other hand, was silly."

Artemis smiled and put a hand on Haku's head. "Why was it silly? I think you were perfectly within your rights to cry."

"It was long enough ago I should have gotten over it."

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