damned_institute | Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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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[ Ah sorry ? Have a bitter shota =_= ? ]

Ciel wasn't in a better state after the events of last night. His arm had to be bandaged tightly until it was barely mobile, making it an effort to even pick his fork up and eat as normal, something which now caused him to avoid lunch for the sake of not having to ask someone -of all things- to feed him. His appetite had further been aggravated by the memories that accompanied him still, the stench of those creatures and the way their flesh had been decaying and hanging loosely from their bones.

He felt nauseous just thinking about it, his face more pallid than usual as he shuffled into the sun room. There were a few people sparsely seated, perhaps those that also couldn't fathom the thought of eating after the events of last night. Everyone had been visibly shaken and there was still no explanation for where those creatures had originated from. He suspected it was all orchestrated by the institution, considering the fact that it had ended during the morning hour as scheduled. Then they'd brought back here without a word. The one knife he had acquired was gone, left lodged into the body of one of the creatures that had attacked him, which meant he was unarmed again, something he would have to rectify soon before night fall.

Wearing an obviously foul expression on his face, he took one of the few available seats, pondering on checking the bulletin again after a bit of rest. His body hadn't had any adequate sleep since his arrival, and he was close to passing out on his feet. The occupant on the couch closest to him looked to be in a similar situation, curled up and obviously taking advantage of the reprieve while he could.

Kvothe glanced over when he noticed someone watching him from the nearest couch, eyebrows raising slightly as he took in the unhappy expression and heavily bandaged arm. They were in almost the same boat with that one. He absently scratched at the edge of his cast. "Rough night?"

That was putting it simply. Though Ciel was fortunate to have made it out alive, undoubtedly due to Sebastian's presence. Had he been alone, there was no telling what could have happened. He had no inclination to think on it further, either. Ruminating over the "what could have been"s wasn't conducive to his situation. He needed to plan out what he would do tonight, provided they would be remaining in the institute and not taking another unplanned "field trip."

"More or less," he replied, figuring he might as well drill this man for information if he was going to be playing the role of Christian Porter, a far more social and friendlier patient than he knew himself to be. If anything, it was currently one of the gateways he had to gain the answers to all the questions he possessed. "Have you been to this Doyleton previously?"

"Only once, apparently it's every week." He smiles wryly. "Last week wasn't nearly so exciting." The smile quickly fades into a frown, though. "I wasn't there for it, but I heard that the week before, they brought the prisoners back late enough that night fell before they'd returned."

"Once every week," he repeated, giving the man a dubious stare.

Was he implying even this whole business with those undead creatures also occurred weekly? It wouldn't be hard to imagine, but he himself had no intentions of going through that again. He'd barely survived entirely in tact and had suffered his own set of wounds. It made no sense to him why the institution would have them moved out to a different location unless it was part of there social experiment. They were the control group, and their environment was the variable.

"Does it happen regularly on the same day?" At least he could mentally prepare himself in time if that were the case.

"Yes. But as I said, last week was [i]much[/i] less exciting." He was becoming accustomed to the usual insanity around the Institute but he never wanted to relive the previous night if he could help it. "That seems to be the case, the schedule around here seems pretty ridged. Except for when changing things suits our captors, apparently."

"So those creatures hadn't been there a week ago?" Ciel implored further.

He'd had the impression that the shifts were set in stone to some extent, but it was starting to seem less and less likely. Perhaps the staff was trying to avoid having them grow too complacent and comfortable with their surroundings. This would make it harder to plan things in advance, something that was bound to irritate him even any further.

"No, nothing like that happened last week, just the usual monsters in the hallways here. I didn't even know about what had happened the week before, then." There'd been a lot he hadn't known about the Institute, then.

That put into question whether or not the creatures were really working for the institution then. It was getting more and more difficult to say. Something wasn't right here. Exactly how much control did they exercise over whatever it was they were keeping locked up here, and where exactly were those creatures being stored? He'd heard something about a third floor on the bulletin, which would be worth looking into. Either that or they could be kept outdoors on the institute grounds. There was enough surrounding land to accommodate them. Again, he'd have to inform Sebastian of this.

"And how long have you been here? I've only just arrived recently."

"Just over a week, though it feels like it's been longer. You start to get used to it but it never gets easier." And sometimes it gets harder. He has to force himself not to rub the cast on his hand.

Something he could sympathize with. One day had already felt like a life time, considering all he'd been through. Ciel wasn't sure how others had managed to survive for weeks, but he knew he was in no position to surrender, yet. He had to get back to England as quickly as possible. Who knew what kind of horrors could have befallen London in his absence.

"Of everyone you've met, what is the longest time span they've been in the institute?"

"Most of the people I've spoken to haven't been here much longer than I have. Two weeks, a bit more. I'm not sure if there's a way to know how long the Institute has been running, if anyone from the beginning is still here I haven't met them.

Ciel hadn't met many people had been here over a week, either. He suspected something happened that prevented anyone from being a long-term patient. Did the institute get rid of them or had they actually been successful in their "rehabilitation?" It was difficult to say without any proper contact from those that had left. He'd have to investigate these matters more thoroughly.

"I see," Ciel murmured but was interrupted by the speaker, indicating the next shift was starting. Plastering on a smile that pulled oddly on his mouth -and oh how he hated having to fake it-, he nodded in gratitude. "I thank you for all the information, Sir. May I have your name?"

"I don't believe I got yours, either. I'm Kvothe," he answered, starting to offer his hand to shake before checking himself and offering his unbroken left hand instead. His answering smile was sympathetic. "Pleased to meet you."

"Christian Porter," Ciel answered abruptly, still maintaining that smile that was actually started to hurt his face. "A pleasure to meet you, as well."

Standing up from his chair, he gave the man a slight wave before heading out of the sun room. Perhaps a bit of quiet time in the library would be good to mull over his thoughts while he considered the new information he had obtained from Kvothe.

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Day 43: Sun Room, Second Shift

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