damned_institute | Day 22: Brunch

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Day 22: Brunch

Cid usually liked sleeping in, especially in a place as messed up and uninviting as this, but this happened to be one situation where he really wished he hadn't.

Right there, on the bulletin board. The Head Doctor and he'd fucking missed it? Some part of him wished he'd been there to take his eye out and another part of him knew he wouldn't have been able to. No man that powerful who hid for so long went to dangerous places without some kind of entourage.

Brunch sounded like it'd be filling, at least, though he nearly stopped in his tracks when the bastard announced TEA. TEA. It'd been a damn long while since he'd had some fucking tea, though with all the stress this place had found fit to rain down on his fucking head, it hadn't really been the first priority on his mind. Kinda nice, even if Cid was sure this was just some game the mother fucker was playing to get them all stuck neck-deep in Stockholm Syndrome.

He scanned the mostly-empty room for any sign of a familiar face once he'd piled waffles and sausages and syrup on his plate, though the person he really wanted to talk to was that Reynolds guy. "Spaceship" was the last word he remembered clearly before waking up in his bed, and dammit if he wasn't going to keep it stuck like glue in his mind.

He found a table where he could watch people come into the cafeteria and grabbed for his mug. The steam rising from his drink and the bag of herbs in it was nearly enough to make him grin despite it all, and it was with marked leisure and a little relief that he drank his goddamn tea.

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And it was time to eat. That was fine with Jack, food would go down a treat. But he had to admit that he was far more interested in what had happened in the chapel.

He carefully selected his food - no meat - his head down and ignoring the staff as he got his brunch. Simon wasn't around - snooty as the kid was, Jack liked him - so he decided to go find someone new to talk to.

The pretty blond didn't seem a bad choice.

"Mind if I have a seat?" Jack asked, grinning as he set down his tray. Well, she was a cutey, wasn't she? Too young for him, but he could still look.

"Eh?"

It was a less than brilliant response, but she had been only half concerned with her food, her eyes darting around the cafeteria for any sign of her friend. Not that she really minded new company, but she felt slightly dizzy and more than a little anxious.

"Oh, no, I don't mind," she said, attempting to keep her eyes on the person in front of her instead of wandering. She'd seen him before, she realized, but never had the chance to speak to him. "I'm Claire."

"Thanks. The name's Jack." He nodded and leaned back as he sat, rolling his shoulders as though loosening them. He was still grinning though, friendly and relaxed.

"So, Claire, I hear there was quite a shake-down in the Chapel this morning. I was lazing around in the Sun Room myself - can't get enough sunlight, you know. You hear anything about what happened?"

Jack's relaxed attitude was almost infectious. Without realizing it, Claire had stopped gripping her fork so tightly and the muscles relaxed just a bit.

"Yeah - the Head Doctor himself showed up." she still wasn't her normally cheerful self, and her was fork now poking at the food on her plate. But she was trying to be social. "Of course, everyone tried to attack him, but...it didn't work. A lot of people got drugged." At the last sentence, Claire's eyes grew distant again, her thoughts wandering to her friends. She wasn't trying to be rude, of course, but it was hard for her to keep focus.

"Oh yeah?" Jack made a small noise and nodded. "So the.... damn prick showed his face." It was clear from the pause that Jack had been planning on saying something else. But, well, he should probably be careful with his language.

"Guess it's not surprising he'd protect himself somehow. So what did he have to say?" He seemed very eager to hear about what had happened. He'd missed all the excitement, after all.

"Gee, everybody's looking for someone around here. Folks have some close bonds, huh?" But he was still smiling, clearly not bothered.

"I didn't get a whole lot of it, there was so much shouting...but he mentioned he might of experimented on our loved ones." Her eyes found her plate again, only to snap back up at Jack's face when he noted her distraction.

"Oh...sorry," she gave a half hearted grin in apology. "It's just...one of my friends kind of made a scene and..." Eyes on the plate again. "I hope he's okay."

"Oh really?"

A strange expression came over Jack's face and he sat back, stricken silent for a moment. That wasn't something he'd expected to hear, not in the least. He tapped his fingers on his knee and shifted, clearly aggitated by the news. But he smoothed it over.

"Nah, it's fine. I don't really have any friends here, myself. I guess there's this Simon guy I was hanging out with earlier, but... I dunno if he likes me very much. We're kinda on different levels, if you know what I mean. I'm an animal-loving tree-hugger and he's... kind of a rich snob. But I like him. Look, I'm sure your friends fine. Maybe a little drugged up, but fine."

She looked on with understanding at his irritation.

Simon? There were people here who, even in sweats looked like they had come from a privileged life, but she'd never met him.

"I hope so..." she said, and then looked up at him, titling her head. Her face had brightened slightly. "Hey, if you don't mind, I'll be your friend. We're all in this together, right? I think it's best if we all look out for each other."

For some reason she could imagine RC at that moment, slightly edgy and impatient as she did the introductions and pleasantries. A small smile found its way to her lips.

"You wanna be friends with an old nutcase like me?" Jack asked, giving her a wink. What guy was going to say no to a cute blond? "Alright, that sounds fine with me. So where are you from, Claire? Last people I talked to came from a space ship. I come from New York, just outside the city. Got a little studio there. A space ship. Talk about a mind...twist."

He chuckled some, and finally started in on his breakfast.

She couldn't help but crack a smile, and a small giggle escaped her lips. A good mood was starting to form.

"New York?" She was elated someone else was from her world. "I've never been there. I'm from Texas."

She blinked, slightly interested. "A spaceship?" Something out of science fiction, it was still hard to get her head around. But it was getting easier. She also started in on her waffles. They weren't that bad, but she missed her mother's cooking.

"Yeah, New York. Grew up there. My folks were the Wallstreet set and I never really got into it. Had the classic falling out, now I work for a local animal shelter and do some painting on the side. It's a beautiful city, even if it is a polluted cess pool." Jack shook his head, happily sharing his story.

"Texas! The longhorn state. Thats what it's called, right? Home of big burgers, big steaks and big men who rape the planet for oil." He shook his head. "No offense meant, or anything like that. And yeah, a space ship. I guess where they come from there's all kinds of other planets and the universe is ruled by China, or something. I dunno."

Claire listened with interest. She'd never been to New York, although she'd always wanted to go.

"Yes, the longhorn state!" she said happily, then faltered at his political statement. "Well...yes," she wasn't too happy with what had been going on, but she wasn't used to anyone being so blunt about it. "A lot of boys in my town went to fight in Iraq, you know."

She blinked as he told her about the universe being ruled by China. "I've heard weirder. There's...fictional characters from Earth running around, if you can believe that."

"A lot of boys from my town went off to war, too. Doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with it." Jack shrugged. "You can support the people without supporting what they're fighting for, you know. It doesn't have to be both. There's too much violence, too much fighting, and not enough attention and resources given to the places they're needed. Priorities are all screwed up all over the place and it's all just super powers fighting for the biggest piece of the pie...." He trailed off.

"I can get going, if you let me, sorry about that. Just smack me - I did the protest for a while. Environmental issues, mostly, not anti-war. And sweetheart, trust me, after being here? I can believe almost anything."

Claire gave Jack a half-grin. "It's okay...I mean, I agree with a lot of what you're saying." she poked at her food again, but it wasn't out of worry. She was thinking of how to phrase it. "I don't think I've met anyone as vocal as you about it. Maybe I've just been too sheltered." She suddenly felt guilty that she wasn't as into these kinds of issues - until recently, her only priority was the SATs. "I don't mind you going on about it, though." In truth, she was kind of curious. She'd never been to a protest, only seen them on the news.

She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't think she was crazy. "I think I'm willing to believe almost anything, too. I wouldn't have thought a place like this could exist..." She still wondered just how it did.

"I'm a pretty vocal guy." Jack grinned, a wide and friendly expression. "Never been one to keep my mouth shut, even if my views have changed. I speak out against things I think are wrong." His expression changed to thoughtful though, and he leaned forward.

"You're young. You've got time. It's never too late to stand up for what you believe in. Remember that." He sat back, twisting his fork in his food.

"I think, once upon a time in my wildest dreams, I could have thought about a place like this. But little boys have vivid and violent imaginations." He chuckled. "But that's the thing about dreams and thoughts - it's okay, as long as they stay in your head. When they're real... well, it's a whole nother story, isn't it?"

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Day 22: Brunch

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