damned_institute | Day 38: Patients' Library

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Day 38: Patients' Library

The intercom rang out, disrupting what had turned out to be a rather pointless breakfast conversation, at least in Brainiac 5's eyes. He couldn't wait to put more distance between himself and Scar's blather of how logic, of all things, might not work the same way in this dimension. It was almost enough to make him believe that the man may very well have been a lion originally after all, as he'd never heard anything so very... ignorant and uneducated.

He quickly finished up the fruit he'd been nibbling on - he was no longer as hungry as he had been - and looked around automatically to see where Clark was. Unfortunately with the press of people around, some being led off to the library and others to the mentioned 'therapy sessions' - if that was what they really were - he had lost sight of the Kryptonian. Still there wasn't many places he could go, so Brainiac 5 would be able to catch up with him eventually to check on his condition and try and learn more about what had happened last night. That the Chapel had healed him - admittedly by passing his injuries to another - was interesting, but far more important in his eyes was what had happened to Clark and his powers. They hadn't been working correctly and that worried the Coluan boy more than he would normally have admitted. Without Clark's abilities... he wasn't sure what they would have to rely on in order to escape.

Another problem he would have to deal with was Grell... or, if he was to believe the notes on the bulletin board, the person pretending to be Grell. But that was going to require more careful planning before he made a move. Come to think of it, he had agreed to meet another in the library today on that same post that had sparked this whole mess. At least then he would have something of interest to look forward to, as he doubted any of the 21st century books were likely to be worthwhile to someone of his advanced intellect.

Following the nurses led him to what must have been the library; a reasonably large room filled with a range of archaic books on tall shelves, a few tables and chairs interspersed around the room. The Coluan boy couldn't refrain from wrinkling his nose in distaste as he entered the room, not liking the cumbersome books and the dust that he knew would have gathered on them; he much preferred the clean arrangement of his C.O.M.P.U.T.O. systems back in the Legion headquarters. It was much more practical then shelves and shelves of books on fictional worlds and dated information.

Trying to avoid as much of the room as possible, Brainiac 5 settled himself down on a chair to wait, keeping an eye out for a tall, dark-haired man with a red... something on his forehead.

[for Homura]

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"His roommate, too. It's Kvothe." He gave the other boy a friendly smile, but he could tell that Takaya wasn't actually interested in talking, and raised his book again.

Yukito apparently hadn't meant a friend when he slipped and said 'we.' So then, who had he been talking about? Ritsuka couldn't figure it out and he didn't like that. People just didn't include others in healings or whatever unless there was a tie there. However, Ritsuka didn't know Yukito well enough to figure out what he meant and the vague answers he was getting hinted that Yukito wasn't going to talk about it. Letting that conversation line drop, Ritsuka settled back in the chair and watched as the guy thought up something to say.

Ritsuka almost expected another excuse, or a brush-off, so when Yukito gave him an answer (albeit a roundabout one), his ears perked up. "Complicated is to be expected, and like I said - I'm good at listening. If you need to get it off your chest, I mean. That helps sometimes, you know?" Hell, he could use that right now about his problems with Soubi, but he didn't really have anyone to talk to right now. Miku was always there, but...well, she had a boyfriend or something now so Ritsuka didn't want to intrude. "What happened last night?"

People did die. They would have eventually anyway - it was the end point for everyone and everything, he was well aware of that, focused on it a little too much sometimes - but this place wasn't where anyone should die. Where they wanted to die. That, Kira was sure of. Unfamiliar and unreal, weakened and useless ... what warrior would let himself be killed that way?

He bit his tongue instead of asking further about what he did make, then, when the boy followed it up with a more thorough answer. Sending people out for materials that might be destroyed with no result would be damning. If they got hurt in the process ... but was this boy really intending to go out and get materials on his own? Certainly he wouldn't try to go alone.

"I know." Kira's voice hadn't changed since the start of the conversation. "There are probably safer places to get materials ... if you travel in a group, that is." He was hesitant to offer any help just yet, until he knew where he stood with the other Shinigami (and besides, the boy probably had his own help). "Maybe the kitchen ... " There had to be a variety of useful materials in there, all metal.

Takaya took his cue and looked at his own book. Pretending to read a few pages didn't really work, so, being the very image of decorum and poise he was, Takaya blurted out:

"You and Tony okay? You look a bit beat up man."

"Oh, well. Last night." Yukito's mouth quirked in a somewhat self-conscious grin. "I was out exploring with a friend and we ran into something really strange. I guess maybe we should have run away, but..." But Yue had decided not to take a chance that the being might attack Fai, and had shot first with the intention of asking questions later. Unfortunately, there hadn't been much of a later.

He shook his head a little. "After it attacked, though, it...I don't know exactly what it did. Somehow it transported the both of us to different places in the building. I got a little banged up, I guess, but I'm really fine. It's not that bad."

There he paused for a moment, then tilted his head a little as his expression turned concerned. "What about you, Ritsuka-kun? I don't know if I can do much to help either, other than listen, but I do that a lot back at home."

Hmm... an odd thing to say in response. Well, it didn't matter now. What was past was past, wasn't it? ZEX would just have to pay attention to see if it happened again...

"I suppose." ZEX was sure most VUX wouldn't find it any great loss. "But perhaps when we escape from here, we can establish more... friendly relations with your species." Very friendly, if ZEX had anything to do with it.

Mmm, his skin felt nice. Human hands were so sensitive! ZEX still wasn't sure how such delicate creatures had ever survived this long. All the more reason to treat them carefully, and appreciate their fragility. ZEX had always been a most considerate caretaker. "Yes, it was a shame. But that's not the case now, thankfully." ZEX grinned a bit, still very content to hold Teisel's hand as long as he had it. "Now we can finally develop a very... close relationship, just as I've always wanted."

ZEX smiled at the thought of Teisel coming to his room, inviting him in... it was a shame his quarters here paled in comparison to those back on his ship. He'd have no drinks to offer him here that might put him in a more... amiable mood. But with ZEX's luck here so far, hopefully something like that wouldn't be necessary anyway! He hadn't needed anything like that for the other humans he'd experienced so far...

A moment to remind himself of his plans for tonight, which didn't involve seduction (at least, right away), although his smile at the thought didn't quite fade. "Mmm, yes, I'll be waiting for you then. Hopefully we'll accomplish many things together." Many sexy things.

He looks up again, startled, he hadn't realized it was that noticable. Then he recalled that the bandage on his hand was in plain view and he was probably still looking very pale at the least from losing so much blood. "--Oh, yeah...Tony's fine, he wasn't even there. He was helping out at the Clinic last night. And I...well, just be very careful around the statue in the chapel. It said it would heal, but it turns out it only transfers the injuries to someone else in the room." He gave Takaya a wry smile. "We didn't know that."

"Hmm, if you go back to your old body after this, then good luck with that." People would probably get a little twitchy about the squid arms, at the very least. And if all Vux talked like Zex did, that added a whole new level of diplomatic tension.

"...Uh-huh." Teisel was fast running out of ways to answer (or sidestep) some of Zex's more awkward comments. It might not have been so bad without having his hand trapped like it was...

At least his plans for tonight were all ironed out. "Righto, boss!" Teisel tossed off a salute (a somewhat ironic one, but hopefully the admiral wouldn't pick up on that). Now all that was left was to get through the rest of the day with something of his dignity and self-respect intact and he'd be in business.

Indy made a concerted effort to keep his impatience in check. "People are claiming a lot of things, but I'd need a lot more proof than anyone has shown me so far to buy into any of them. Monsters? Supernatural beings? Time travel? All I see so far is some kind of strong-arm hospital messing with people's heads for research purposes, and even that's pushing it."

He folded his arms. "And as a scientist, I can tell you: two data points aren't enough to constitute a trend. Unless there's something you're not telling me about those checks, your anonymous friend has no evidence whatsoever that one of the staff didn't just put two different issues down on the same table on two different days. That doesn't prove that the dates are legitimate. Even if you assume they are, it certainly doesn't prove that time is passing more slowly here than it is anywhere else. I leave back issues of journals around my office all the time."

This was what he had expected from most of the patients--a lot of paranoia without the benefit of logic to back it up. It wasn't their fault; this was, evidently, exactly what Landel had been working them up to. But if he was going to have to debunk another crackpot theory every single time he got within earshot of another person, he was going to have to become a hermit to get anything done.

"Look," he said after a minute, trying not to be too hard on the poor kid, "I'm sorry I snapped at you. But if you're going to get me to believe any of this, you're going to have to show me something that's not so easily faked."

Something that transported people around? What kind of weird monster was that? He hadn't heard about anything of that sort on the bulletins. Maybe people were keeping quiet about it? But why do that? Ritsuka hated having so many unanswered questions and it set him on edge again. Not that it was Yukito's fault, or really anyone's fault. No one had any answers but the Head Doctor and that guy wasn't likely to tell them anything useful.

Dropping his gaze, Ritsuka furrowed his brow as he thought about what that might mean for his friends here. Monsters could not only hurt you, but separate you from your allies. Without the Battle System in place and without any sort of real skill at defense, that would put Ritsuka at a sharp disadvantage. And it'd make Soubi worry. And what about Miku? Or even Tamaki? Or the Twins? If they were separated from their friends or their protectors, what would they do? "Well," Ritsuka said, bringing himself back to the conversation. "Hindsight is twenty-twenty, right? At least neither of you were badly hurt, even if you were separated."

Ritsuka wasn't ready for the conversation to turn to him though. The boy jolted a bit and then he scrunched down further in his chair, looking at the book with renewed interest. "Thanks, but I'm fine." Great way to take his own advice. He wanted to kick himself in the head, but at the same time, he really didn't want people knowing about his issues with Soubi. They'd get the wrong idea and then...well, who knew what they might do. "I'm stronger than I look."

Clearly something about what he'd said had upset Ritsuka at least a little. Had he run into whatever that thing was before? Or was he just concerned, for whatever reason? Well, whatever it was, it didn't seem like the boy wanted to explain any of it, so.

"I'm certain you are. Especially if you can survive in a place like this." Yukito started to lean against the arm of his chair, then winced slightly and straightened again as he re-thought that idea. "You know, I had some friends about your age at home. Well, all right, it was my best friend's little sister and her friends, but since she was almost like my little sister sometimes..."

He trailed off, looking almost wistful for a moment. Not that Ritsuka was all that similar to Sakura - either the real one or the almost-real one that had visited the other day - but still, it was kind of like being back at home. "I mean, it's just...well, if you do need anything?" And he smiled again, openly and quite sincerely friendly and concerned.

"Yes, if..." ZEX meant that to come out more nonchalant than it did. No need for his new human to think he was worried about something like that, obviously things would work out... he cleared his throat a bit, which was kind of a strange feeling in this human body. "It will be interesting to see where things go from here."

ZEX giggled again at the salute, quite taken with him. This human was so darling! He'd have to make sure to keep him when he left here. "Hee! Hee! Hee! Boss, I think I like that. I'll see you tonight then, Teisel." And he'd definitely be looking forward to it.

For an uneasy moment, Teisel was afraid that he'd carelessly said something wrong. He'd been known to do that on rare occasions. But it looked the the admiral had already shaken off whatever had bothered him. "Yeah," he agreed, though he wasn't quite sure what he was agreeing with. Anything to smooth over his little gaffe. "Everything's kinda up in the air right now, isn't it."

Whatever stumble he'd made before, the lovable goon routine looked to be making up for it. "Well, just make sure you're earning that title, boss." But there was a hint of a challenge mixed in with the teasing. Teisel was used to being in charge, and he could barely stand even loose partnerships most of the time. If Zex was expecting the pliant servant type, he was in for a surprize. "I'll set out as soon as the doors unlock."

"He's a loud child," Renamon replied bluntly. "I hear him every morning. He's very excited."

And here lead to another point that she was curious on. It was plain that he wrote books from his conversation with Kakashi ~~which also had other interesting points~~, but she had no idea what he wrote about. And for one to coin a name from a book....

Her brow furrowed a little as she considered that. "And how would one," she started, keeping her formal tone, "come by that nickname?" Her voice slid from formal to something else--not quite relaxed, but perhaps something close. She cocked an eyebrow. "What exactly was your novel about?"

"Good," Falis replied. "What part of the building did you run into her?"

Ed smiled a bit more brightly at Adel for that and nodded. Then he thought of something and frowned slightly. "Someone mentioned you in the clinic last night," he said quietly. "Wanted someone to go and check on you. It was that curse thing again, wasn't it?"

It really wasn't that hard to press Yukari's buttons when you knew which ones they were-- and for someone who didn't even know her, Xigbar was beginning to do a spectacular job of doing so. Ooooh, she was going to wipe that annoying grin right off his face! He had no idea what he was talking about!

"I can, and have, been," Yukari replied pointedly, her frown getting visibly more deeper. "I'll have you know I..." Trailing off, she put a frustrated hand to her forehead. "Oh, what do I have to impress you for? I couldn't care less what you think!"

Which wasn't entirely true-- Yukari tended to cling to her image a bit too much quite often, but that didn't mean she didn't try to convince herself otherwise, sometimes.

"Yeah, but you don't have it," Evangeline responded, even more exasperated by the honest, even helpful response. Most people had the decency to be offended or put off-balance when a complete stranger admitted to being hostile to them.

"Are you a construct or something?" she asked, staring flatly. "I mean, there are people who say they're robots here who have way more personality."

Most of that personality consisted of being dumb as hell, but the point stood.

"Yes, but hopefully not for much longer," ZEX said, although he didn't sound quite sincere. "It won't matter once we get out of here." And surely they would.

ZEX smiled at the tone in his voice. Hopefully they'd encounter no trouble tonight and he wouldn't be forced to improvise. But how hard could that be, really? Surely his trouble here before had just been a brief period of bad luck... and either way, it was nothing Teisel had to know about. "Mmm, I'll try not to disappoint you." ZEX stood up, wavering for a moment to catch his balance without his head feelers. He would never get used to the distribution of weight in a human body... "I'll be looking very forward to seeing you."

Although it seemed their time now was going to be cut short. Given his relative good luck for the day so far, ZEX was sure lunch would be just as interesting. Never afraid of touching people whether he'd been invited to or not, ZEX trailed a hand along Teisel's shoulder as he walked by him. "Mmmm, yes, looking very forward to it."

If nothing else, it should be interesting.

Women. Soubi was glad he'd never really had any in his life. Nagisa-sensei forced herself into Ritsu's business far too much and had taught Soubi was most women were plain annoying. The girl's at college had been smart and stayed away after the first warning, unlike Kio. But, then...there were few regrets there. Most days. Some.

"No. How much did she tell you about what happened?" he asked, all pretense of friendliness fading into a dangerous look in his eyes. She'd promised. Not just Soubi, but Ritsuka too.

He wanted to step back, to cover the wound with his hands. Raine looked as though she could see through things if she willed it enough, and that made Soubi uncomfortable.

"I don't want you to meddle. I'll heal on my own."

Edited 2009-01-14 17:48 (UTC)

Jiraiya actually laughed at the blunt reply. "He's definitely excitable. But you get used to it after a while."

The questions would have to be answered carefully, else Renamon might react badly. At the same time, he didn't want to lie to her, but to tell her the full truth now (of him being a pervert) would spell disaster. Oh, and she'd probably mortally wound him, too.

"Adult relationships," Jiraiya grinned. "And the drama that comes with them. It had adult situations--I was writing adult characters, so it's only natural that they occur--so it wasn't for kids. Naruto must have thought it only contained adult situations of the sexual variety--even though that's only a small part of being an adult, and not all adults are interested in it." Mild irritation was obvious even through his smile. "But it was a lot more than that. Many of the characters were ninja, after all. And ninjas are used to dangerous situations."

Part of him felt bad lying to Renamon, but she wasn't ready for the full truth yet. And Jiraiya wasn't exactly ready to die.

He grinned a bit nervously. "There's... other reasons why he calls me that, too, but that's something between me and Naruto."

Time stopped? Clark was still trying to work out if he believed in this different worlds, different dimensions, much less the idea if time could be different in one place.

"How do you know time's different here?" Clark asked. There had to be some reason he thuoght that, right? It'd be nice if his family wasn't freaking out about him, but, on the other hand, that meant he couldn't expect any help from Mom and Dad or his friends. It didn't explain how come Lex knew he was here, except he was calling him a different name altogether.

"Ah?" Sai blinked in honest confusion for a few moments before the smile returned, head tilting. "A construct or a robot? No, no... I'm just a ninja." A ninja from a special unit that rid themselves of emotion, but a ninja nonetheless.

He supposed it should have been disheartening to have someone ask if he'd been a non-living object before he arrived in Landel's, but he wasn't bothered by it. His personality had been something he was working on, to an extent, but he knew he still had a long way to go.

"There might be safer places..." Leon raised an eyebrow at the man. "The kitchen isn't one of them. The route to that area is consistently dangerous." There was something in that direction that led to the floor below, which meant that a good many people wanted to go that way and Landel was sure to put up plenty of roadblocks to keep them from it. He was right about it potentially holding a fair amount of metal, however.

The boy sighed again. He needed to stop being the depressing one. "I have friends here, but..." They had their own things to take care of. He couldn't ask them to add collecting things for him as well - even if he knew Claude would do it. He gave the man a weak smile. "I'll figure something out. Sorry to dump my problems on you."

"Very little--all she saw was that the injuries occurred because you were being experimented on, and she was worried about infection. I've heard that healing spells don't always work on those types of injuries, but I'd still prefer to try it." Raine didn't care if Soubi liked her or not, and she saw nothing wrong with healing an unwilling patient. If she thought he needed it, she could wait until he walked away before using First Aid. He'd feel it, but as she said, it wouldn't do much for the pain anyway.

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Day 38: Patients' Library

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