Day 37: Sun Room

[hismastersdance.livejournal.com]

Joe had read some of the larger notes stuck up on the bulletin board when the announcement came on the intercom. All things considered, this Landel guy didn't even seem so bad. Even if these people were held here against their will, he was certainly nice about it.

Apparently, the new patients - including Joe - were to hang around in the Sun Room or go to Arts and Crafts with the kids. Well, there was plenty of information on the board, including maps and descriptions of monsters, for Joe to prepare for the nighttime, when he could seriously get going on fighting his way out. He could look for where the boss would probably be waiting, or where his V-watch might be, and figure out how to fight the monsters. In fact, he had plenty of time to work all that out... but this the first time he'd had to really relax since he got his powers. So it couldn't possibly hurt to enjoy the calm period, could it?

The red-head stepped back from the board, and hopped back onto a comfy-looking couch to digest in the sunlight. He reached up to pull his cap down, and sighed when he realized it wasn't there. "Oh well, nothing's perfect. I still wouldn't call this hell."

[free!]

Comments

[shallweplay.livejournal.com]

Ophelia was surprised that this man seemed to understand and share many of her points of view even better than most of the warriors of the organization she had met. Now she was really curious to know how powerful exactly he had been in his home land, and to what ends he liked to use that power. The possibilities that flashed through her mind managed to make her feel a little bit better.

"Too true. As I said, I'm confident that once I am more or less familiar with my new limits that I should have no trouble making my way in this place, and most likely, that won't take long. I want to be the one to find this Martin Landel and tear out his intestines with my bare hands, and I want to do it as soon as possible," she replied with a renewed smile.

[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

Itachi couldn't help the slightest quirk of his lips. She definitely reminded him of the people he was accustomed to working with. He hadn't realized what familiarity could do for him until now, when the presence of a person like this was slightly calming. He knew how to work with people like this. Not to mention that she seemed to have enough confidence to be relatively powerful, perhaps somewhere near his own level. Certainly the kind of person he would prefer working with, here.

"That might be more difficult than you are anticipating. Many here desire the same thing, many who are quite powerful in their own world. With the limitations they put on us, organization among patients might be a better method to overthrow Landel. I myself prefer to accomplish things on my own, but I do not think that is what this particular situation calls for."

[shallweplay.livejournal.com]

"All the more reason to hate Landel for making it that way, then. I can work in teams well enough when I have to, but I vastly prefer working on my own. I can't stand amateurs mucking things up and getting in the way of my fun. There's not much I find more annoying than a good game ruined by bad players," she said with a shake of her head. There had been more than a few awakened being hunts where she had been assigned to work with low-ranked warriors and ended up having to compromise her fun to cover their pathetic rears. Ophelia preferred to go on hunts with at least one other higher-ranked warrior so that that person could wrangle the rookies while she carried out the fun parts herself.

"So what all has your group accomplished so far, if you haven't found Landel yet?"

[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

Itachi nodded, once again in agreement, though it had nothing to do with fun for him. "Working with weaker people only limits one's own accomplishments. Even working with those of comparable strength narrows one's options, though in some cases it may be necessary."

As for what his own group had accomplished, Itachi did not actually know much. The most he had done for History Club so far was gather metal; he had yet to learn what information the other club members had discovered. That was something to ask Homura, as he was hopefully established enough in the group so far to be told. He was not going to share this particular lack of information, however.

"The group I have been working with has been gathering metal and making weapons for its members. Various groups of patients have been investigating certain matters, such as the physical laws that operate in the Institution and its relation to the outside world. Some of this information is relevant, some is not. I have been investigating certain aspects of the Institution on my own, as well."

[shallweplay.livejournal.com]

Though Ophelia still found the idea of joining up with a group willingly to be distasteful, she had to admit that it if meant easier, faster access to weapons, it might be worth it to look into the group this man was talking about. As she had always believed about the organization, she knew that she could probably just leave as soon as it had served its purpose to her.

"Seems like an approach that makes a lot of sense in this situation, as far as I can tell so far," she said, her expression clearly showing her growing intrigue. "And how might I go about joining you lot in your exploits, should I ever choose to do so?"

[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

"There are several groups, all of which go by code names of sorts," Itachi replied. "Arts and Crafts, Cooking Club, History Club. I have been working with History Club. You could leave a notice on the board if you wanted to join, or you could just find Homura-san. He runs the History Club. Tall, dark hair, one blue and one gold eye."

It went against Itachi's instincts to be so open with someone he just met, but in this situation it was vital for patients to spread information to each other, especially as their forms of communication were limited. Besides, with regard to the more personal information, Homura left his name and description on the public board. He could hardly resent Itachi for telling another patient, especially if it led to History Club having another fighter among its ranks.

"Incidentally, I don't believe I have introduced myself. My name is Uchiha Itachi."

[shallweplay.livejournal.com]

Ophelia nodded as she listened, stowing all of the information away in her head for the time being "With such interesting eye colours, he shouldn't be hard to find, I imagine," said Ophelia with a light chuckle. She paused, wondering how to address his instruction to check the board, though. He seemed reasonable enough and non-threatening to her cause, unlike Arlene; admitting the one extra flaw in her current status likely wouldn't come across as a sign of weakness to him. "As for the board, unfortunately, it is currently of no use to me. In my world, it is not common for women to be taught reading and writing, and even less common for a warrior such as myself to be taught."

She glanced over at Arlene being continuing, who had been joined by another person whom she seemed to know. Quite the popular little bitch, wasn't she?

"I was planning on finding for someone willing to help me acquire basic literacy soon, though as you can guess, I find it frustrating that I should have to do so," she said. "In my world, I barely paid the skill a thought and was better off for it. In this world, it seems to be essential."

At the introduction, she grinned a little wider. She was always glad to make her name more well known (preferably feared as well, but known was good too). "I am Ophelia. Just Ophelia. Also known as the Blood-soaked Warrior to some."

[youlackmascara.livejournal.com]

Itachi listened to her explanation of her illiteracy quietly, measuring her up with his eyes. She was not unintelligent, and he supposed that if reading and writing truly were not useful for her purposes in her own world, she could hardly be faulted for neglecting them. He made a point himself never to do unnecessary things, as they only took up time and tied one down. Nevertheless, literacy was the sort of thing that could become very necessary in a single instance. Therefore illiteracy was a dangerous state to be in, and hence a weakness of sorts. At least she was going to try and correct the situation, though.

"That is unfortunate," he conceded, deciding not to criticize her weakness. Other than this minor detail, she would be a valuable ally. "Yes, in this world it is a crucial skill, one you should probably learn immediately. But there are a number of people here of the type that would be willing to help others." Not that he would ever be one of those; he hardly wanted to waste time teaching her. Let the weaker-minded, good-willed individuals do that and leave the stronger ones to pursue their goals. She would find someone.

He couldn't help another almost-smile at Ophelia's nickname. Quite unnecessary bragging, but if she was accomplished enough to warrant the name, then so be it. "You earned that particular epithet, then?"

[shallweplay.livejournal.com]

So she had at least not lost her ability to read others to her advantage. Though she could tell that Itachi was not necessarily pleased that she was illiterate, having saved the admission until this point had ensured that he wouldn't really hold it against her. All the better to ensure his help in other matters later should she need it for whatever reason.

"There are always a great number of overly - often bafflingly - helpful people in the world. I don't think that changes much across different realities," she said with a smirk and a chuckle. "I'm sure I'll find one of those types soon enough."

She nodded when asked about the nickname. "I would prefer a more specific title that has to do with my personal technique, as some of the other high-ranked warriors do. Though, it's not much of a surprise that it hasn't happened yet. Most who get to see my special technique don't live long enough to spread its name around."