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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"I don't know if 'leave' is the right term to use," Naoto replied, shaking her head. "As I said, it's uncertain as to why or how they managed to go. Someone reported that approximately forty-five people have disappeared within the past two days, and anyone who responded didn't know what happened to them. I'm sure the hospital staff here has some sort of excuse about their whereabouts."

The high number didn't seem like a usual thing, if the responses to it were anything to go by. But that didn't leave any hints, either, so who could say what it possibly meant?

"I apologize for being unable to answer your questions thoroughly enough. There are a lot of them, but getting the answers appears to be a difficult task on its own. I've hardly been here a full day, myself, so anything I say is most likely only common knowledge. Though, I intend to start digging deeper into the details so I can find what others may have not."

Forty-five people in two days did seem to be a bit of a high release rate. Of course that could also mean that this institute had simply been successful, or that the patients were particularly skilled in leaving. However, he'd need more information than that to be certain.

"That's all right," Van said in a pleasant tone. "I now know more than I did before, that should be helpful enough."

He had what he needed, or at least he got as much information as he could, but it would be rude to end the conversation there. Whether or not Naoto's mind was sound, he -- or was it she? this uncertainty with everything was unnerving -- could still be helpful later on. Perhaps it would be worth it to learn more. "Do you mind if I ask where you were before you've been, brought here?"

"Fair enough," Naoto responded. After a pause, she added, "I don't expect you to take what I say as absolute truth right away. What I explained still sounds illogical to me, as well, but the only way I can think of it is that Landel has managed to twist reality to his desire. Whatever it is you chose to think, I only hope it benefits."

That's where it sounded like this topic would end at, which was fine; he wouldn't have been able to provide no new answers for her, so they might have ended up only going in circles. Naoto let herself sink into where she sat some, getting comfortable without throwing off her posture. "I lived in Inaba," she answered, her voice a little more casual compared to the firm, businesslike manner it had before. "It's a small, rural town in Japan."

"If this Landel can twist reality to his liking, then I'll be sure to be careful while I'm here." Not that he believed a word of it, but being careful in any situation was never a bad idea.

What Naoto said next confused him, and he frowned deeply. "Inaba in Japan? I apologize. I don't recognize either of those names." That may have been what Naoto had meant when they has spoke of 'alternate worlds' earlier. The people in this place must have had elaborate delusions, if that was the case.

He didn't know? It was odd to think that there was someone who didn't know of the country, but she knew she was going to have to get used to the idea pretty quick with this alternate reality thing. Naoto was familiar with the concept, but the other world she knew of was hardly a place where humanity could live and survive; to think otherwise was out there was even more so beyond what she thought possible.

"Japan is a country here," Naoto explained. "Inaba is... Well, I would not be surprised if you never heard of the place even if you lived in the country. It's not a very noteworthy place, easy to become overlooked."

"I see..." So 'Japan' was a country, at least in Naoto's mind. It was probably a common ailment with the people here, coming up with entire homes and places that simply didn't exist, and their stories of what happened at night. All ludicrous babble from broken minds.

However, that begged the question of how sane he was, if he had found himself in this place.

There was really only one way to be certain of that. "Do you know where patient go to have their Score read?" If this was Auldrant, there would surely be an answer. If there was any shred of truth in what Naoto had told him, then it was possible that the Score was unheard of.

Naoto gave the man an odd face, attempting to make sense of his question. In this context, it wasn't making much sense. "I'm not quite sure what you mean," she answered. "Do you mind being a little more specific? There are several meanings of the word."

He had to explain? Surely, anyone who heard of the Score could only think of one thing. Unless of course, Naoto was right...

Van frowned deeply. "The Score is read so that we may know what the future holds for us. Everyone has their Score read at least one a year on their birthday, so that they will know what to expect." He paused a moment. "I take it that that isn't a common practice in Japan?"

"Ah," Naoto's eyes lit up in realization. "It sounds like a form of fortune telling." Only she would never get herself involved in such an unreliable thing. It was utterly pointless. "We have many variations of it, like predictions with cards or palm reading-- it's different, depending where you are-- but I've never heard it be referred to such a way, nor is it an activity every person partakes in."

Van paused, still slightly bewildered. "I see," he finally said, still mulling over what he had been told. It is entirely possible that if alternate worlds existed, there would be alternate ways to view the planet's memory. The Score was only a small part of that put into human words after all, it wouldn't be too difficult to imagine that instead of having a written Score that they used 'cards' or 'palms.' Not that they seemed likely to give clear answers but-

But he was actually considering all this, as though the delusions of a stranger he only met today had any meaning! This was getting ridiculous, to think he was so desperate for an explanation that he'd accept the first thing he was told. That made him no better than the damned fools who clung to the Score's every word, perhaps even worse. At least the Score had been proven to be true time and time again.

"Do you know if anyone at this institute relies on any form of fortune telling?" Van would simply have to continue trying to get as much information as he could and sort through the facts and delusions himself. He'd speak with some of the other patients later and see what he could find.

"In regards to the staff, I severely doubt it," Naoto replied. "Such activities are not taken seriously in any sort of official profession like this, and although this is far from one, it still functions much the same. Asking any of the nurses here about it will not get you very far.

"As for those who have been deemed as patients..." She trailed off, trying to recall anything that could help in an answer. "Again, I'm unable to say. I am unfamiliar with the abilities and hobbies most people here have. I would suggest asking on the bulletin if you want a quick response."

'Fortune telling' was a mere hobby? The very idea seemed absurd. Though given the absurdity of everything else, it shouldn't be too surprising to hear things such as this.

Van glances over at the bulletin with a thoughtful look. "I'll write my question there, thank you." He moved to get up, then stopped.

Frowning, he turned back to Naoto. "The faculty here simply allows anyone to post whatever they please?" Having the patients feed into each other's delusions didn't seem productive for a mental institute, there must be some form of censorship.

He raised a good point, Naoto had to admit, although she definitely wasn't complaining about the unusual amount of freedom they had over the bulletin. Whether they had it or not, word had its way of getting around.

"I imagine they do keep an eye out for certain things," Naoto said, although not without a hint of uncertainty. "Information is traded fairly easy across it, and given the, ah- threats-- if you so wish to call them that-- already posted on it, I don't suppose it would be pushing it to think they're lenient." Given her expression, Naoto didn't look to concerned about this, nor did she seem to particularly care. "It wouldn't be the only oddity to happen, if that is what your concern is."

"I see, then." So he could post any sort of question (or threat) he wanted with little consequence. Of course, he would still need to be careful not to post anything too telling. "If anything happens as a result, I'll make sure to-"

But before he could finish, there was a loud click followed by a voice, similar to the one he heard earlier. It seemed as though he'd have to wait a bit longer before he could attempt anything.

"Our time must be up," Naoto noted while the intercom echoed. "We should both be on our way, then. We can continue our discussion at another other time."

She stood up from where she sat, holding on to her notebook and prepared to leave. "I'll see you," Naoto finished.

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Day 39: Sun Room

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