damned_institute | Nightshift 40: M11-M20 Hallway

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Nightshift 40: M11-M20 Hallway

[M12]

There was this 'Avatar' again, the thing that supposedly linked one's consciousness within this video game. Klavier couldn't quite understand how such a thing could help anyone fight, but he was certain that this connection had something to do with how and why Endrance was taken. If this really wasn't something every player experienced, then there was little doubt others might find such a thing interesting, yes? He still wasn't sure how this all worked, but preserving this connection had to be the point of it all. At least in this particular case.

Any further discussion on this or the strange 'Kira' murders was cut short with the intercom announcement. If one could call it that. Herr Doktor's voice and demeanor changed come nightfall, true, but this was stranger than usual. In fact, he couldn't even be sure if it was the doctor. It was far too raspy to identify either way.

This was getting more bizarre with every evening. First taunting then what may or may not have been snoring... and now this strange dilapidated voice?

"Open the box?" he repeated. What could he possibly mean by that? ...Wait. Was this voice even addressing the patient population? It seemed too specific a thing to say to everyone. Could this be a message for Herr Doktor? Or was this a message for a specific party? Maybe someone had managed to do something recently...

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(From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/603918.html?thread=50558222#t50558222))

The trip down the hallway was short, but a little tense. No one seemed to be emerging from their rooms yet--maybe he was just jumping the gun a little. Well, whatever the case was, he hadn't seen Yuki on his way over, so that meant he was in his room.

"Oi, Yuki," he called, knocking on the door of M11. "It's me."

"I can't say what that might mean, but it certainly doesn't sound like the usual voice on the radio," Endrance replied. "It sounds...it sounds like someone perhaps tapped into the intercom? I don't know how, but..."

He stood then, taking his flashlight and looking for where that pipe he had obtained had ended up. A moment later, he found it in the closet, behind everything else that was there. He nodded once, then turned to Klavier. "I take it you're going out again tonight?"

Klavier eyed the pipe for a moment, but said nothing regarding it. It was a little sad they all had to go out armed like this. They had to lower themselves to such drastic measures.

He gave him a small, simple smile. "I'm expecting company, actually. Whether we venture out or not greatly depends. It might be best to play it safe for a night." He paused a moment. "Do try to be careful yourself. Remember that you are hurt, ja? Adding more to it wouldn't be pleasant."

Between experiments and disappearances and monsters, it was easy enough for someone to die without playing hero. He hoped Endrance would consider his own well being this time.

"I'll try." The reply was as honest as he could make it, considering what he planned on trying to do that night. If it worked, it shouldn't hurt him, but if it didn't...that was something he'd have to handle if it happened.

"You take care, too," he added, not quite an afterthought. With that, he nodded once and stepped out into the hallway.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/604759.html)]

Edited 2009-04-18 00:16 (UTC)

After slipping on his uniform, placing his piercings back in, and making sure Tyche was sound asleep on his pillow, Luxord made his way out into the hallway, hood up as always. It seemed quiet outside, at least for now, so he made sure to not disturb this silence as he walked (which was harder than it looked in the Organization's standard issue boots, thank you, Xemnas).

Hm. Back to finding Ms. Sutcliff.

The message that opened the night was cryptic, but that wasn't an unusual occurrence in this place. Homura gave it little thought as he began his nightly routine; perhaps they were fools, but fighting for their own goals and opening what boxes they might come across was a better fate than staying as they were. A mysterious voice making proclamations as a god would had little chance of shaking Homura's resolve when it came to that.

It only took a few moments for the demi-god to change, and to pull out his sword and flashlight. With any luck, they'd be able to find the door that Kenren's key opened this night. More importantly, the injuries the group had sustained during their trip upstairs would be nearly healed by this point, meaning another venture could be made. The need for weapons was ever pressing, and the demi-god hadn't missed the growing interest in that particular door. Something would have to be done about it.

While he waited on Robin, Homura decided to make some notes for himself. When he opened the drawer to get a pen, however, he took note of a vial of black fluid. The container had been there since he "awoke" after his experimentation night, and Homura vaguely remembered an intention to use it. There was no way to tell what effects it would have, of course, which was likely why Homura had written out the instructions to Kenren and Hijikata in the first place. Looking at the container now, it was tempting to put it back in the drawer, and to forget about it again. The nights were too short as it stood.

Yet as the thought crossed his mind, Homura also remembered just how this vial had come into his possession. Hijikata and MOMO had been with him that night, though both had vanished in the time since. The battle had been a difficult one, earning them keys and this as their prize. There had been great benefit with the items so far, and it was hard to simply pass up the opportunity. Homura eyed the vial, considering what he wished to do this night shift, and what the risks were should the container have adverse reactions.

But there would be nothing gained by hesitating, would there?

Grinning to himself, Homura pocketed the vial. After his meeting with Robin, perhaps. He had the necessary syringe, thanks to the efforts of those who worked under him. There was little good in continuing to let the item go to waste.

Klavier offered a genuine smile after Endrance. He very honestly would prefer he didn't get hurt. Though he didn't like the thought of anyone doing so here. That was why... they needed to work quickly. The sooner everything was sorted, the quicker they might be able to escape. This insanity had already been going on far too long as far as he was concerned.

Honestly, he was too restless to stay sitting still at the moment. He'd made amazing headway today, but everything Endrance had just told him made him question what he'd gathered thus far. More uncertainties. More questions without answers. More problems and inconsistencies. It was frustrating. He had to wonder just how much more they were unable to see. Were they all just nibbling at bits that didn't matter in the end?

Ach, and now he was pacing. He forced himself to stop. That wasn't going to help and it just made him look like he was as lost as he felt. Instead, he forced himself back to the desk to look over his notebook. No, it couldn't have been pointless. There was an answer here somewhere. There had to be. They needed only to look hard enough...

Edited 2009-04-18 01:48 (UTC)

[Went here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/603918.html?thread=50576654#t50576654)]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/603918.html?thread=50577166#t50577166)]

This was it. M13. He'd moved fast enough, which meant there was a good chance Homura hadn't left yet: he hadn't seen him in the halls either. The question was whether the god had sensed something was up or not.

Sanzo drew out the Smith & Wesson from the robes, flicking the chamber open. Fully loaded. He already kept the gun in near flawless condition as it was, but it was more for reassurance. He snapped the chamber shut with a flick of his wrist.

With one hand, he grasped the door handle and slowly opened it as quietly as he could, gun drawn and pointed into the room.

So, dinner hadn't gone too badly, at least by the end of it. But regardless of what had already happened, Kakashi was much more concerned about what was coming up. There was no telling what Naruto's implants would show him, or when they'd do it. That gave the ninja a whole new set of challenges to deal with, not the least of which being dealing with Naruto himself.

Kakashi had never intended to tell any of the other ninja aside from Jiraiya about what had happened to him. There was no willing away the regret, or distracting himself from it as he got dressed for the night in his uniform. He'd wanted the other ninja to be able to focus on the here and now, instead of the dismal future that would befall Konohagure. It wasn't as if any of them could prevent it, and knowing about it would be little more than a distraction. They already had all the motivation they needed to escape Landel's without thinking about what was waiting for them back in their world.

Now, however, the choice had been taken from him, a thought that inspired new anger every time Kakashi thought about it. He'd seen his share of horrors over the years: Pain's attack was only the most recent, and while Itachi's Tsukuyomi easily ranked as one of the worst, it was one of the many genjutsu attacks Kakashi had endured. But this was a whole new challenge, and in its own way, one Kakashi would have picked last if given the option.

Oh well. There was nothing else to do at the moment but wait. Wait for the others to get there, wait for Naruto's next vision to come. Wait, and be patient.

...Suddenly Kakashi found himself wishing he was a little better at that.

Edited 2009-04-19 00:25 (UTC)

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/603473.html?thread=50587473#t50587473).]

Ah, M12. If he had not cemented his gratitude for the proximity, Kristoph certainly was now.

He raised a hand to the door and knocked sharply, before turning the knob to open. Since he had confirmed this room to be Klavier's yesterday, there was no need for additional manners. He was, after all, expecting the former attorney. Anything to the contrary would require an observation from Kristoph, though the prospect of suspicious behavior from his little brother was laughable at best. Klavier was a boy scout. A boy scout with a guitar fetish, perhaps, but one, nonetheless.

"Klavier," he called out, pushing the door just enough to alert any occupants within.

Pausing outside the room, Matt double-checked the number on the door. This should be the right one. He didn't know what he'd expected - a bunch of others waiting outside, perhaps. Homura seemed to be a popular man.

He knocked carefully, and after a moment cleared his throat and followed with "It's Robin."

This whole meeting was a bit ominous, and Matt didn't like not knowing why he'd been called for something. He could almost compare it to getting called to Roger's office without knowing what he'd done wrong, but somehow comparing Homura to the old man that ran Wammy's just didn't seem right. It was probably just for an assignment, anyway, and there was no reason to let on that he suspected he was in trouble.

It wasn't as if he'd even done much, anyway.

He snapped his attention up from the notebook as soon as he heard the voice. Ah. Good. Klavier stood up from his seat to fully face the door. "Kristoph. Come on in."

This feeling of apprehension was getting almost distracting. He was letting his frustrations take hold of him, and that wasn't a good sign. More than ever, he needed to keep a clear head. No one could afford stupid mistakes. His mouth quirked up into an easy, greeting smile. "Hah. The night's barely begun and we're getting mysterious voices and vague statements... Looks like they're upping the ante."

Such a simple, amused statement. Too bad it had to refer to something so chilling. The potential danger only seemed to increase every day. Who really knew what could happen?

At some point during the wait, Homura had begun gathering a pile of scrap metal for Adelheid's use later. Leaving it near his desk when the knock came, Homura moved to the door, opening it so Robin could come in. "Of course. Thank you for being so prompt."

How much had he been able to figure out? Of course, there was no way for Homura to know without actually asking, but the confrontation earlier that day left doubt as to the continued usefulness of Ayumu's cover. Still, whether or not she had been exposed was something Ayumu would have to take care of herself. For now, Homura had to convince the bird to sing a new song for a new master.

"You must be curious as to why I wanted a private meeting with you." The demi-god moved back to his bed with a smooth stride, but didn't sit on it yet. "It isn't unusual for patients to have any number of questions here. In your case, I'd think that the most pressing would be deciding what to do now that the one directing your movements--Mello--is no longer here."

Fuck.

Matt hadn't even gotten to sit down yet before Homura's announcement. He did so after it, though, landing a bit harder than he'd meant to on the bed opposite. Someone had been watching him? Sen was the most likely answer, but it was also possible that it had simply been that obvious. It was harder to hide matters like that in a place like this.

He could do the usual scripted response you saw in every movie ever created when someone was caught red-handed, the usual I have no idea what you're talking about response. He didn't like playing dumb, however, and doing so would be an insult to Homura, who was obviously too clever for that. (Most people were, even in the movies.)

As for how little he'd actually gotten done under Mello's direction... he wasn't going to mention that either. It was better to let Homura think he was of more use than that. "Guess you got me," he said finally, trying to sound casual. "So what do you want?"

Robin's heavy movement made it clear that Homura had caught him off guard, and the demi-god was certainly pleased by that. It meant that whatever thoughts he had about Ayumu's false persona, Robin hadn't yet been able to confirm anything to such a degree that he expected to be outed like this. Or so the demi-god believed, anyway.

It could just be simple arrogance being shattered in front of his eyes.

In either case, Homura wasn't about to give away any information. Though it was surprising that Robin didn't ask how he'd been discovered, Homura knew better than to bring up the subject first. Doing so would only mean that he was concerned about it, and it was better to act as if he wasn't.

"I want you to work for me instead." Homura didn't have to be told that Matt hadn't accomplished much, at least so far as the History Club was concerned. His connection with Himura had proven convenient; despite being one of the founding members, the mans insistence on not killing meant he was kept out of the loop of some of the group's more critical operations. "If you think about it, and if you've been keeping up with the changing situation, you might even be able to guess how. But I see little use in letting your talents go to waste in light of the circumstances."

He surveyed the room for a split second before entering, glad they were once again without distractions. A roommate's presence was bothersome for multiple reasons and relocating to his room was not possible. "You look well," Kristoph murmured, sounding terribly uninterested for someone concerned about his brother's welfare. "I'm glad."

Right. Of course.

The man launched into business. That talk of badly played riddles could continue later, but there was one fact he had to confirm immediately. "Hm, yes. How clever of them." He waved a hand distractedly. "Have you secured our find from last night?"

The pattern had repeated itself enough times now that Yue was certain of it: no matter what he willed, come nightfall he'd shift back to his true form. By now even the fact that his shifts of form were no longer under his control only was a mild irritation amidst the lot, so he'd only frowned slightly at Ken (though not in an unfriendly fashion; Yue had an entire assortment of frowns, each meaning something different, and this one was essentially just an acknowledgement of the man's presence) before seating himself at the desk once more.

The question of just who was going to meet where was solved rather quickly, however. Barely had Yue finished re-braiding his hair before there was a knock and a call at the door. He hesitated long enough to tie off the end of the braid, flicking it behind his back again and out of the way, then paused another second before rising and taking his time going to the door.

"Touya," he observed, opening the door with a slight nod to the one waiting there. He did not, of course, meet the young man's eyes at all, and only stepped back to allow him to enter, if he wished.

...Speaking of apprehension. There was a slight spike in uneasiness for just a moment. Still, it had been enough to shatter whatever pleasant resolve he might have successfully pulled off normally, though it may just have seemed like he'd suddenly hesitated.

After checking their whereabouts this morning, he hadn't given the items a second thought. Klavier had been so preoccupied with his notes and everything he'd learned that day, he hadn't even considered checking on them a second time. For all he knew, the nurses could have cleaned his room during the day, found the pipes, and discarded them. It actually was extremely possible... To the point where them still being there may be considered a small, unlikely miracle.

Within a matter of seconds his heart was in his throat. The prospect of those items being gone... An entire night's worth of progress, gone. Ruined. And no one but him at fault. For a moment, he was actually terrified to answer for fear of being wrong. How could he say anything when he wasn't one hundred percent sure?

"Ah... You're... referring to the pipes, yes?" he said, hoping he simply sounded distracted. He turned to the closet where he'd seen them that morning as though to fetch them. It took every ounce of self control to not heave a sigh of relief when he saw them still hidden in the back, exactly where they'd been earlier. He pulled them out as though that'd been his intention the entire time. "They're both right here. ...As are the papers you brought last night."

Edited 2009-04-18 06:53 (UTC)

Open the box, huh? The head doctor seemed to be getting more and more unhinged every day. Or was that even the not-so-good doctor? Whatever, it was time to get moving. He was crazy enough without trying to figure out whatever Doc's addled mind was up to half the time. Ken reached toward the dresser drawer, then paused and glanced up at the knock, wondering who the person was--the question was answered when Touya was revealed on the other side of the door.

Well, good thing he wasn't planning on staying in, though exactly what he was planning, he didn't know. And he certainly didn't intend to tell Yue that he was going to be wandering the halls until he found someone he knew. That would only end in the guardian glaring at him and quite possibly insisting that he either stay in or go with them, if they were going anywhere.

Ken slid the drawer open and pulled out his weapon, strapping it securely to his right arm, habitually inspecting it and making sure it was in good order, clean and functioning smoothly.

"Well, I'll leave you two alone," Ken said, taking his flashlight from the desk and moving to slip out the door.

[heading out here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/603918.html)]

That... Well, that was better than it could have been. So it wasn't a matter of being found out and being run through on the spot. He was being asked to work for a club where he was likely to get run through by someone or something else instead. No problem.

No Problem.

"I wasn't lying about not being able to swing a sword," he pointed out. "And I was taking the lessons seriously... though I seem to be being shuffled around in that regard. A gun would still be helpful." Not something he should be asking when he was in this position, really, but it was best to get that little point across, right?

Of course he knew Homura wasn't asking him to lead an attack squad. He wanted spywork. It was best not to let on how worse off he was here, such as the fact that he had no real equipment, lest his usefulness go out the window completely.

"You can work out when you take your lessons on your own." Either Robin was playing dumb, or Homura was going to have to consider getting a new spy. He honestly couldn't think the demi-god would be so foolish as to forget that the man had no background on the battlefield? "So far as guns though, they are in precious short supply. And there's the fact that I don't entirely trust you yet. Certainly not with something that rare, even if I could get my hands on one."

Well, if Homura really did have to spell it out for him, there was no helping it. The risk was made easier simply by the fact that Robin wouldn't be working alone on this task. "Lelouch Lamperouge. By all appearances, he's quickly taking the place of Mello here. And as I made clear on the bulletin, I don't trust him, either." Even before Lelouch had made his power clear (assuming that the note was the whole of the truth), Homura wondered about the boy's intentions, if for no other reason than that most naturally conflicted with his own. And it was almost natural, given his experience, to question those who would put themselves in such a position of authority.

"Your situation is true enough that he might not suspect you're working for me. Assuming you do; I'll make it clear now that accepting this role is entirely your choice. I won't force you to take on this role if that isn't what you wish to do." Homura looked over Robin for a moment, trying to judge just what he might be thinking. "I'll still provide you with a weapon, and I'll do whatever else I can to give you the support you need. So long as you keep your eyes on Lelouch, and don't betray me, of course."

Sai stopped outside the door, used to this sort of procedure with others now. He couldn't yet hear Naruto's voice from within, so he could only assume that the other boy hadn't arrived yet.

"Kakashi-san," he said just loud enough to be heard on the other side, following this up with a couple knocks. "It's Sai."

Kakashi had just started rechecking the assorted locations of his weapons when he heard the knock, followed by Sai's voice. So of the three he expected, the ROOT member was the first to arrive. It was probably for the best; Kakashi remembered just how the ANBU had frowned on his tardiness. Not that it stopped him in most cases, but some of the leaders still didn't appreciate it.

Moving to open the door, Kakashi smiled pleasantly to the ninja, even if it didn't quite match his mood. "Come in, Sai. I'm glad to see that you're looking well." After all, Sai was the ninja he had seen least recently of Konoha bunch, traitors nonwithstanding.

Well, it had been worth a shot. Matt nodded as Homura mentioned the impossibility of the gun and kept a sigh to himself. If he was in the other man's position, he wouldn't trust him either. It was only natural.

He was well aware of Lamperouge, though he'd kept his hands out of that mess so far. He should have known he'd end up dealing with the boy at some point or other. As far as taking the place of Mello, though... in task only. The two of them were nothing alike, as far as he could tell. The persona Mello used in the Institute was mostly an act, as it was possible this boy's was, but there was a difference even so.

Really, the option not to go along with Homura wasn't one he saw as a possibility. When it all came down to it, he was a weakling. It put him at risk, certainly, but he'd be at risk either way. If this option offered protection than it was his only one. He'd died once. He didn't want to waste a second chance so easily.

"That's all you need to say," he shrugged. "I have nothing to gain by not accepting your offer."

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Nightshift 40: M11-M20 Hallway

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