damned_institute | Day 37: Intercom, Evening

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Day 37: Intercom, Evening

"And I believe it's time to start wrapping up the day," was what the Head Doctor said after the intercom's initial jingle. "Now that everyone's all cleaned up, I think it's time for some... that's right, dinner!

"Tonight, we're serving some scrumptuous rotisserie herb chicken, seasoned with rosemary, lemon juice, and other delicious seasonings. On the side, we have cooked asparagus with bits of grilled onion, as well as small roasted potatoes with garlic and butter; for dessert, we'll be serving vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup on top. Our normal assorted drinks and specialized diet alternatives are available.

"Some of you might find that you have new roommates since your old ones were fortunate enough to recover and leave us. Hopefully, you'll be able to see them again the next time we have visitors if you wish, but in the meantime please treat your new bunkmates kindly.

"I believe that's all for now. I hope you had a wonderful day and that you have a delicious dinner! ...Well, you'll definitely be having a delicious dinner, but there's nothing surprising about that, is there? Hahaha..."

With a seemingly good-natured chuckle, the Head Doctor turned off his mic.

[ All introduction posts for this shift's group of new characters should be made in response to this post. Find your character's room assignments here.

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! ]

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It was a surprise to see the same person he'd spoken with before, who'd given him information about this 'Institute' and its workings earlier at lunch. Was this a coincidence or deliberate? It didn't matter, he decided, it was convenient anyway to have someone he was already familiar with.

"My day was too long and confusing," he answered honestly, not pausing to offer friendly hellos. "I tried to communicate with the Cooking Club. Otherwise, I've done nothing but sleep and eat, and try to understand what can be done to go home." It wasn't acceptable, but what else could he do? He'd head in whatever direction was needed, if he just knew where to focus his energy. "Tonight the doors will unlock and we will fight various types of monsters, even though I've been changed." He'd stated it, but it was a question of sorts. At least that wouldn't be unfamiliar, but he wasn't used to being weakened like this.

Right to the point, just like before. Oh well, he could probably get used to that. "At least you've gotten a start, though?" he offered. "I know you need to get home as soon as possible, but the day takes some getting used to. And I'm guessing you got an assignment from them, right? That should help."

Junior took a big bite of ice cream, and paused for a moment as it went right to his head. "Anyway, yeah." He nodded. "The intercom goes off again, after a little while, and the doctor sounds different. The doors'll unlock after that, and we're free to head out and do our thing."

He paused, then snapped his fingers. "Oh! I forgot to mention this earlier, but sometimes they come to take people away for the night. For like, experiments and stuff."

"Why would they do that?" His expression changed, the confusion openly showing now. "They've already altered my body at some point. Any experiments could have been performed then."

That was right--he was only counting the day. There was still whatever time he'd spent unconscious, while they disarmed him and weakened him. For all he knew, he'd been gone a week already. Counting each hour seemed pointless in the face of that realization, but the sense of urgency didn't dim. There was something he was meant to do, something he was not doing. It wasn't right.

At least the group might help, but... "Yes. I was given orders, but I'm not certain I understand them." He glanced over at the radios beside their beds. "Do you know 'Celes'?"

He wasn't particularly aware of the fact that he was asking question after question of Junior yet again, and still failing to offer pleasantries or thanks in response. He did, however, notice that Junior was quick to take up the ice cream on his own plate. The Pig Mask soldiers were encouraged to gain a certain amount of weight, but he was different. The lead soldier being small and skinny in comparison was 'more adorable,' and besides, he depended on flexibility and speed with strength rather than weight. So he added the order, "Eat my ice cream, I won't be eating it."

"I dunno," he replied, shrugging. "Best I can come up with is that they're sadistic bastards. The people who get taken don't usually like talking about what went on, but I know our group's leader came out of it recently with his memories of this place and apparently a bunch of stuff back home missing." He'd gotten them back, thankfully, but it had been hard for them when it had happened.

"And no, I don't know them. I'm guessing that's your partner's name, huh? Did you guys discuss where to meet?" He followed the kid's glance, and figured that it probably had something to do with the radio. He couldn't remember mentioning it at all, so maybe the kid had heard about it from someone else during the day. That primer that had been getting stuck up on the bulletin over the last few days was helpful, but there was way too much that needed explaining.

Junior was kinda surprised when his roommate offered his ice cream, but sure didn't intend on turning it down. "You sure? Thanks, ah..." He scratched the back of his head. "You know, I never did get your name. Since we're gonna be rooming together, what should I call you?" he asked, getting up and going over to pick up the kid's bowl.

"I am the Commander," he answered, watching Junior take the ice cream. He realized it wasn't a proper name, but it was the proper way to address him. There were other nicknames he'd heard of in passing, and the nurses here insisted on calling him by some name; still, he was the Commander, and that was all the identity he needed.

"Celes is the person I'm to meet with. We were told to follow radio clues." Actually, it was all blurry, but the radio would work as a blunt object just like a flashlight would if nothing else while he was looking around at night, so he could carry it with him and get a better explanation later, possibly a demonstration of what Radio Jill was supposed to be. "Where is block M-A? That's where we are going to meet tonight."

Considering how unrelated the entire thing seemed from his primary mission, much less his new mission to go home and return to his work, he still was faintly unsure about it. Wasting a night would be bad. Then again, there was organization here, so wandering aimlessly instead of trying to take advantage of that organization might also be a bad idea. Frowning at the chicken he'd gone back to cutting into bite-sized pieces, he added, "I agreed to the Cooking Club because they asked when I was near the board. I may try the History Club after." Junior was a member of that one, so he obviously thought that was a good group, but he hadn't disagreed with the Cooking Club either...

"The Commander, huh? I'm guessing you were in some sort of army, then?" Oh yeah, this was gonna be interesting. With a name like that, he had to have been some sort of military guy, even though he didn't really look any older than Junior did. The redhead wondered if there was some sort of story behind that.

"And we're in it." The redhead jerked his thumb at the door. "Out there, go down to the end of the hall, and you'll come up to a bigger hall with a door on one end. That's the main hallway for this block."

"That's a really good idea, too. Try out the clubs, see what works and what doesn't, if you're better on your own or with a group." It wasn't something he'd ever really thought to do, but now that it was on his mind, some of the other clubs did seem to kind of be slowly losing people. Arts and Crafts especially seemed to be dwindling, as far as he was aware.

The information about direction was useful, especially since it meant he didn't have to go far or anywhere he hadn't been yet. The building seemed to be large enough, and it'd be easier to become lost in the dark. Spending the day without really gaining anything but information was bad enough, spending the night lost would be...

"I am the Commander of King Porky's army." An individual who was also Master Porky, or sometimes called King P, and a few other nicknames like Mr. Great, but it was best to be direct for now. "The army is called the Pig Mask Army by many people, including some troops, because of the shape of the helmets. Many people aspire to become Pig Masks."

At least, that was what he understood, both from the troops who were happy to be part of the glorious army and the stories about civilians. He had almost no contact with anyone outside of the army or Master Porky's personal acquaintances, himself, since his duties kept him busy. "Where I am from, everyone in the world knows this, because Porky is the king of the world," he explained, sounding almost disturbed as he added, "but no one here seems to know anything about the army or our King."

With names like 'Porky' and the 'Pig Mask army,' Junior really had to wonder what the hell the Commander's world was like. Was it all kinda just a name trend, or were they actually ruled by a pig? Still, his roommate worked for the guy, so he had to respect him a bit.

He would not laugh. He would not laugh. It was serious to the Commander, no matter how strange it sounded, and Junior turned back to finish up his bowl of ice cream to buy himself time.

"I'm sure your king's a great guy, but it doesn't really sound familiar to me, either," he finally said, picking up the other bowl and starting on that. There were a bunch of worlds that didn't really sound familiar, actually, and this was just one of them. Either the universe was all connected and they hadn't gotten there yet, or these worlds were some weird confusing old sci-fi type of alternate universes. Nevermind that he lived in space; that alone didn't make the concept any less confusing.

"Where I'm from, people are kinda used to the idea of different worlds. Maybe we just haven't met yours yet and gotten to know Porky. He'd probably get along great with the other governments," or get laughed at, "if he has so many citizens who adore him."

Unaware that there was anything strange at all about his army, aside from the fact that it was led by a robotic individual smaller than almost any other person in it and controlled by an ancient child, he accepted the acknowledgment that his king was 'a great guy' as good enough and nodded. His own meal was nearly finished, between the talking. There was a lot of eating and talking here, from what he'd found thus far. Hopefully the night would be as different as people claimed.

"All of his citizens adore him," he agreed. He didn't add that other governments would have to do the same, or that Master Porky was the only valid form of government anyhow. It did raise a strange question; if there were other worlds, what would happen to them when the needle was pulled? Would Master Porky's wish be fulfilled in total, even then?

Fortunately, he had no need to worry about that, despite the fact that the question came to mind. It wasn't his place to question the whole plan or reasons behind it. Everything was taken care of, aside from the needles being pulled, and that would be taken care of as well once he returned home. "I should return to his service as soon as possible," he added, as though he hadn't repeated it enough times just yet.

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Day 37: Intercom, Evening

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