damned_institute | Day 39: Sun Room

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Day 39: Sun Room

That really hadn't been the breakfast she'd been expecting, but Yuffie couldn't bring herself to complain. The kid made for good company, and was, if nothing else, pretty entertaining. She could've just done without the whole choking thing. That… That had been embarrassing. A bit. Okay, a lot. Yuffie was starting to get a feeling that this day was -- for once-- actually going to ping on her ‘interesting!’ meter.

Whether or not that was a good thing, she didn’t know.

By the time she’d reached the Sun Room's bulletin board, a kitten on her shoulder and a pen twirling between her fingers, Yuffie was starting to put her finger on why she had that weird, nagging feeling. Though on second thought, it was less like putting her finger on it and more like it had jumped up and punched her right in the nose; the feeling wasn’t just about waffles, magicians, or tricky candy thieves. Sagara hadn't answered her bulletin post; he hadn't answered any bulletin posts. She hadn't seen that stupid, spiky head of his all morning. It was like radio silence without a radio.

Agai-- No, Yuffie cut herself off sharply, frowning. She was just jumping to conclusions. It wouldn't be the first time, right? Right! And yet… instincts were instincts for a reason, and in a dump like this, who knew what could happen?

[for Okita?]

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[Hope you don't mind]

Kratos had overslept, badly. He hadn't even done anything last night at the clinic to merit such a waste of time. Frankly, it did not make sense, but who was he to start questioning his internal clock?

His nurse had led him to the Sun Room and given him a gentle shove toward someone- "someone new", she said. Kratos wasn't much in the mood for arguing, so he obliged her, partially to make her leave.

"Sorry," he muttered as he slid into a chair near the other man.

[Not at all]

Lockdown looked over at the human who had addressed him. It was going to take a while for him to get used to people coming up to him at random like this.

This one seemed different from Farfarello, though. This one did not seem to have an air of boldness and civil brutality about him that the human from breakfast had.

At the flesh creature's comment, Lockdown just shrugged. "Trust me, human, so far, you're the least annoying thing that's happened to me today."

Well, he'd been successful in managing some kind of conversation. There was a start.

"I would hope so," Kratos said wryly. "I try to mind my own business." He sighed, looking uncomfortable. "But the nurses insist that I try to socialize. It is...a task."

He was talking, but at the same moment sizing up the man he was speaking to. Sprawling facial tattoos and red irises made this patient look rather otherworldly; the chances were high, in fact, that he was from another planet as well. Kratos's two ventures into Doyleton had showed him what the 'natives' looked like, and this man did not exactly resemble any of them.

"I see," Lockdown answered quietly. Lockdown could see what he meant. As a bounty hunter, he almost never socialized.

There was also something quite appealing to this man's meek-looking demeanor. Lockdown did get a jolly out of messing with those with such demeanors. However, with the nurses everywhere, he doubted he would get to try anything without drawing their attention.

The man's observations of his person were not lost on Lockdown, and he asked, "Is there something about my appearance that bothers you?"

Astute, this one: most people did not notice at all. Thankfully, he had already discerned what he could; there was no need to 'be more careful' now that his fellow patient had caught him in the act.

"No, 'bother' is not the word for it," Kratos said. "But your appearance is interesting." He tilted his head slightly to the side. "I can't pretend to be someone actually from this planet, this...Earth, but do I assume correctly that you are from another world?"

If he was wrong, Kratos would be deeply interested to know where on this particular planet the other man hailed from.

Strange, this person claimed to not be from Earth. Yet, Lockdown was almost certian that all humans came from Earth. He had seen other kinds of aliens before, but none of them greatly resembled humans.

"That is correct. I'm not from this world," Lockdown confirmed. "I'm not even a human, really."

"I see. We are almost in the same boat, then," Kratos said. Technically he was still human: Cruxis Crystal or not, that was what most considered him. 'Human' was also what he preferred to be considered as.

He laughed shortly and shook his head. "And I'm a fool for forgetting; I should introduce myself. I'm Kratos Aurion."

"Yes, I suppose we are," The corner of his lip quirked in a slight smirk.

When the man introduced himself, Lockdown responded, "The name is Lockdown."

"Lockdown...I see." The name was nothing like 'Forte', but Kratos had his suspicions already. "You mentioned that you weren't really a human. What were you originally, then?"

If he and Forte were under the same circumstances, Kratos had to applaud Lockdown for not acting like a complete fool half the time and screeching injustice. In places like Landel's, it was best to try to adapt quickly, rather than resist: made things much easier for everyone.

Lockdown leaned back in his seat to get more comfortable. "I was a Transformer." After realizing that was too specific, and Kratos probably did not know that term, he added, "A mechanical lifeform."

He also could not help but notice that this man also seemed to think his name was interesting, just as Farfarello had thought. He did not see what the big deal was. It was a perfectly ordinary name. The humans he had met so far had odd names, though. Perhaps all humans had names made of nonsense sounds, instead of propor words.

So he had been right, although Forte had never mentioned anything about being a 'Transformer'. Different worlds, different robots, perhaps? "Ah. You seem to be adjusting much better than others I've met."

Then again, he doubted that Lockdown's introduction to Landel's and a strange body had involved a killer scorpion.

Lockdown shrugged. "I don't frighten or panic easily." The upside to being a borderline-sociopath. "Although, I do find this body to be inferior to my own, and I don't think I'll ever be able to get used to actually consuming solid matter."

When Kratos failed to show recognition when he said the name of his species, he took that to mean the man knew nothing of his kind.

"Keeping a cool head is a good ability to have here," Kratos observed. "Especially come night: this place leaves no time for panicking."

He nodded. "And in terms of bodies, it's true that replacements can never quite measure up to the original." There would always be something that it lacked- if not physically, then just a feeling. He suddenly wondered why he had even considered finding a vessel for Martel if he knew this.

"You have no idea," Lockdown said. Flesh was so weak and inferior to steel and circuitry.

There it was again. This was the second time he heard mention of something happening at night. Lockdown leaned up, towards Kratos and asked, "What happens at night?"

"You...ah, I see. New." Things clicked at that moment. "Night in Landel's is very different from anything that happens during the day. Monsters come out, and apparently the nurses transform into something terrible." He shrugged. "I would have no idea, having never had the pleasure of running into a nurse at night." That would probably be remedied someday, though.

Kratos frowned. "However, it's also when we have the most freedom. Nighttime gives people the chance to explore the institute, gather supplies...things along those lines. Most of the doors are open."

Lockdown listened to his explanation with interest. If that was true about the monsters, then Lockdown knew he had to watch himself when night came. Were he still in his real body, with all his weapons, he doubted these "monsters" would be a real threat. However, given his current condition, he was not as strong or well equiped as he would like to be.

The other part of the explanation was what got him the most interested. Exploring the place would probably be very useful, if he was to find a way out. Plus, if it meant he could find some weapons, even impromptu ones, all the more reason to do it.

He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward even more. "What kind of monsters are we talking about, here?"

"Any kind that I think would populate a typical horror story...animal-type mostly. There are a few monsters specifically placed at the exits and entrances of the institute; these are typically more difficult to defeat." His expression darkened: fighting the Tyrant had left him deeply frustrated with his limited powers.

"My knowledge is unfortunately limited: I typically spend all night in the same room, so I haven't been in a position to encounter very many monsters. There is a comprehensive list available for copying on the board, however."

Lockdown nodded. He didn't exactly know what Kratos meant by "typical horror story", as he seriously doubted flesh creatures and Transformers had the same kind of horror stories. Most Cybertronian horror stories involved energy-eating creatures or hairy, underground-dwelling demons.

"Well, then, I suppose I'll have to take a look at the board some time, if I want a good idea of what I might be up against," Lockdown said. "If I still had all my weapons, I wouldn't worry about it so much. Now that I'm... like this," He waved a hand at his form for emphasis. "I no longer have such a luxury."

"I understand that some individuals and clubs run a sort of side business at night making weapons, if you wanted to look into that as well, although there is a rather sizable waiting list." A weapon: now there was something that Kratos lacked as well- or at least, one that he could call his own.

"And it is a pain, being limited in power. I myself have lost most of the abilities that I relied on before; it's meant a great deal of readjusting to new limits which are--" He scowled. "--unsatisfactory."

Lockdown was intrigued by the mention of this "weapons-making club". If he could get in touch with them, it would be very benificial for him. Plus, it would feel good to be able to hold a weapon again. However, it sounded as though if he wanted his desire fulfilled, he would have to wait a while. Fortunatley, he was a very patient being.

"Yes, and I was told by another inmate over breakfast that as long as I inhabit this body, I can no longer effortlessly replace lost limbs." He held up his left hand. "Would you believe I lost this hand in battle steller cycles ago, and up until arriving here, had been replaced with a hook I chopshoped off someone?"

"Considering that you used to be a non-organic life form? Yes." Kratos could also think of some organic life forms who, if they ended up at Landel's, would be replacing even more outrageous pieces of machinery for human limbs.

He held up his own left hand, showing the now-dormant Cruxis Crystal embedded in it. "As for me, this used to actually do something."

Lockdown gazed at the crystal, intrigued. Except for the color, it almost reminded him of an Allspark fragment. He had never actively persued the fragments like the other Transformers back on his world, but he wouldn't mind having one of his own. Especially if the rumors about them granting immortality were true.

"Is that so," Lockdown asked. "Like what exactly, if you don't mind me asking?"

"It enhanced my strength and most of my senses," Kratos said, taking deliberate care to not mention wings or eternal life. "I could also manipulate energy, to a degree." He turned his hand and looked at the darkened crystal. "There was a trade-off, of course. My senses of taste and touch were almost numbed, among other things. It was a bit of a shock to wake up and suddenly feel everything."

It was also a bit of a relief as well: he had been existing over living up until that point.

Lockdown nodded. "Interesting."

He leaned back into the chair, crossing his arms leisurely. "Yes, I had a bit of a similar experience with taste. The fuel you humans consume tastes vastly different from oil and energon." If he was here any longer, he would probably forget what his usual substanance tasted like. Well, at least the orange-colored drink was good.

[Ack! Sorry for the delay!]

Consuming oil: well, he should have guessed, considering that Lockdown was a mechanical lifeform.

Consuming energon: ...come again?

"No doubt," Kratos said with a nod. "Although I'm curious to know what exactly 'energon' is."

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ruthless-hunter.livejournal.com - 2009-02-22 08:12 (UTC) - Expand

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