damned_institute | 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.

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Frey was a little surprised that Takaya had so quickly ferreted out not only that he was not in the best of moods, but the reason why. So transparent he was, not much of a Prince. "He wasn't exactly a friend--or at least he'd not have appreciated being called one--but he was the only one here who knew what my world is like. This place is so alien, it was nice..." Frey shrugged helplessly, not knowing quite how to explain. "But it's selfish to wish he was still here."

"Saw it on the board," the teenager mumbled.

Snorting, he opened his eyes and shook his head, staring at the ceiling. "No it's not selfish. It's normal. He knew you, he could relate to you, of course you want him here. It's fucking normal to want something not so damn strange."

"Many people here seem to be from a world at least similar to this one. But the technology here, even the ways of thinking..." Frey was still struggling with the idea of a world without Runes, where people had no way to connect with the forces of nature; wind and water and earth and fire were just there, in this place. It was all very bizarre.

Frey worried immediately, of course, that he was sounding terribly spoiled and self-involved. "But, it's not that I'm saying it's worse for me than anyone else here. At least I can defend myself, and I'm old enough that being on my own isn't such a terrible thing."

Takaya sat up and ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Look, yeah. You're alone. I can't pretend to know what the hell you mean when you talk about your home any more than you can pretend if I start going on about stupid shit. I don't know." He shrugged.

"But, you're here. I'm here. We're all fucking here. And that's something we do have in common, right?" He fell back onto his bed.

Shit, that hadn't made any sense and he probably was only making things worse. He wasn't any good at this crap.

Frey was a bit startled and dismayed to hear his world compared to 'stupid shit', but the fact that he was going on about it was undeniable. And what came after that rather unpleasant part of Takaya's speech was, at least, much more heartening. Frey managed a bit of a smile that was quite genuinely grateful--he did appreciate Takaya trying, knowing that it was not something that came easily to the other young man. "Thank you. It is good to know that there is someone here with my best interests at heart, even if you don't know my world or my country."

(He totally didn't mean it bad! I swear!)

Takaya shrugged and leaned against the wall. "You're .... you're my friend, right? I don't want you to think you're alone or something." He looked away towards the wall, not wanting to look at Frey while he was being .... 'emotional'.

That brought a proper smile out, and Frey almost had to laugh. He restrained himself, though, knowing that Takaya would take it as though Frey was laughing at him, and and not at himself. "We are friends. Thank you." Takaya might even be his first real friend--someone he could interact with as an equal and a comrade, not as commander and follower.

Takaya made another noncommital sound and shrugged his shoulders, uncomfortable with thanks. "Their chiken isn't too bad," he said, since he happened to be looking at the food at the moment. Not waiting for a response, he grabbed his glass of water and just sat on his bed, still slightly uncomfortable with the display of emotions.

Day 37: Intercom, Evening

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