Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

[arc-wrench.livejournal.com]

When the shift changed, HK stayed put. Even after a long night of zombie killing, he had no interest in meatbag fuel, especially after all the discussion of chocolate with that rather strange meatbag. It was just making him crave the stuff even more than he had previously, if that was possible.

Oh, right. He was supposed to be looking for someone who was "VERY LARGE, WITH DARK HAIR." And also seemed to not know what lower-case letters were on the bulletin. As if that would help. He'd seen a likely candidate last shift, but talk of chocolate had distracted him.

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[madeinthehrl]

Soma had to admit that she felt a little better after talking to Senna. The other girl always had something reassuring to say, and brunch had been no exception. Even if the injury came back tonight, at least she had friends to rely on. All things considered, she counted herself fairly lucky.

She didn't require a lot of food, and after the intercom switched off--she made a mental note to look into that; it was decidedly strange, even if this place really was three centuries behind what she was used to--she requested that she be taken to the Sun Room. She could do with a little sunlight. There was a girl who looked about her age, possibly a little younger, seated by the windows and looking about as happy as Soma felt. Taking a seat next to her, Soma tilted her head slightly.

"What's the matter?" Her voice was quiet and didn't carry much emotion, but that didn't mean she didn't care.

[euphemise.livejournal.com]

Euphemia looked up, trying her best to smile a little at the girl next to her. "Ah, it's just...this place," she said, her own voice soft. "I just woke here last night, and I'm a little overwhelmed."

That wasn't a lie. It really was overwhelming to think of somehow being far away from home, in a scary hospital that was overrun by monsters at night, and being told that friends and family had sent her there. That would overwhelm anyone, she was sure. There wasn't any need to mention the other things that were going on.

"I'm sorry, you must think I'm rude for not introducing myself. I'm Euphie," she said, bowing her head a little.

[madeinthehrl]

Soma didn't smile as much as slightly relax her face. "That's understandable. I haven't been here all that long either. But if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them." It was the least she could do for the patients around her.

Euphie seemed, at the very least, well brought up, and Soma inclined her own head awkwardly, resisting the instinctive urge to salute. "There's no need to apologize; you've probably had a difficult night. I'm Soma Peries." A pause before she added, somewhat belatedly, "It's nice to meet you."

[euphemise.livejournal.com]

"Thank you very much, and it's very nice to meet you too. That's a pretty name, Soma..." she replied, smiling at her. "Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking?" She couldn't say she'd heard a name like that before, and it really was pretty.

"It really is jarring, to say the least, waking up to find everything's changed so radically," she continued, a moment later. "Do you mind if I ask...this may sound incredibly naive of me, but have people tried negotiating with the person running this place for our release? Not that I expect it would be successful if the man is no longer with us, but..."

Euphie closed her eyes for a moment, thinking. "I know that must seem like a terribly odd question to ask, but a...dear friend of mine is also here and filled me in on a lot of information," she added, a small, sheepish smile on her face.

[madeinthehrl]

"Thank you. Your name is pretty, too." Soma looked a little embarrassed and slightly pleased. That was the second time someone had said that about her name since she'd gotten here. "I'm from the Human Reform League--ah, Russia." Nobody seemed to have heard of the HRL, but Russia seemed to be much more common; hopefully she'd heard of that. "Where are you from, Euphie?"

She thought for a moment before she responded to Euphie's question. "The Head Doctor doesn't appear very often, from what I've heard. I believe he showed himself to the patients several weeks ago, but nobody could do anything to him. I don't think negotiation would work, even if he is still alive."

Nodding quietly at the other girl's explanation, Soma attempted to ignore a small prick of envy. What she wouldn't give for one ally from her world. Anyone. "You're lucky to have someone you know in a place like this."

[euphemise.livejournal.com]

Euphemia flushed a little, smiling at the compliment. "Thank you. And ah, yes! I can't say I've been there, but I hear it's lovely." She blinked just a bit at that nation name - the Human Reform League? That wasn't something she was terribly familiar with. Unless it had broken its alliance with the EU and she hadn't - no, that wouldn't be the case. There had been that 'multiple words' theory in the primer on the board that morning, though. She decided that it must be one of those, as odd as it felt to accept the idea.

"Ah, I live in Japan," she said, quickly correcting her own momentary urge to say either Britannia or Area 11. She shouldn't have even thought that, not with it becoming its own country again. It wouldn't be right to do so.

She shook her head at the idea of the Head Doctor simply shooting down any hope of negotiation. It...to be quite honest, it sounded like something any of her older siblings might have done, but especially her father. "I see. If he appears again, though, I still think I'll try. It might not work, but...I'm not a fighter by nature. At least I could do something that way."

Was she the only girl from Russia here, then? If so, Euphie wanted to at least make that a little easier. She couldn't necessarily know what that felt like, but loneliness was loneliness no matter what its cause. "I take it that's a rare thing," she said, frowning as she did. "I'm sorry that isn't the case for you. But," she said, smiling again, "we've both just made an ally, I think."

[madeinthehrl]

"It is, from what I've seen of it." Then again, any country in which she'd be able to enjoy a quiet, civilian existence was more or less lovely in Soma's mind. At least Euphie, too, seemed to have heard of Russia. "I've never been to Japan, but I've met a lot of people here who are from Japan. It's not too far away; I'd like to visit sometime." That was sounding more and more likely now, with the world at peace and the three power blocs united. "What year is it when you're from?"

Soma looked a little doubtful at Euphie's suggestion, but her expression softened after a moment. "He might be more willing to listen to talk, if what everyone is saying is to be believed. Force might be perceived as a threat to his power." It was something along the lines of what she thought the lieutenant colonel might have said; it certainly wasn't something she'd be willing to believe on her own.

She looked a little startled at Euphie's smile--was she offering to be friends? They'd only just met. But there was something infectious about Euphie's attitude, and after a moment, Soma offered a small, hesitant one of her own. "I think so. Who are your friends here?"