Day 43: Game Room, Third Shift

[piggy-king.livejournal.com]

Peh. "Graduates." Who were they trying to fool? It's not like anyone here believed them, and no one ever visited the institute. What was the point in keeping up this sad little charade? To add to the realism of it? Well, whatever. If they wanted to continue this exercise in futility, that was fine with Porky. All it meant was that they spent more time focusing on the day instead of the night, which was definitely a good thing. Now, who was Porky supposed to meet in the Game Room again? Ah, that's right. Porky didn't know...

No matter. It's not like they would be able to hurt Porky or something in broad daylight. Then again, there were some more...savage patients here. Well, Porky was sure that none of them would be interested in meeting with Porky anyway.

While he waited for his mysterious contact, Porky grabbed a gameboy and started looking for a game to pop in.

...No Zelda, no Mario, no Kirby...What was wrong with Landel? Did he have no taste whatsoever? Porky kept looking for something he had actually heard of before, and eventually settled on...Tetris. How dreadfully boring. Well, no matter. As long as he didn't have to play a board game or something, Porky was content. After turning on the gameboy, Porky merely sat down and played, eagerly anticipating whoever had asked to meet with him.

[For Eva, I think~]

Comments

[bullygeneraleva.livejournal.com]

Evangeline was more or less of the same mind. The brainwashed patients that turned up at night were proof enough that their captors were adept at bending minds, but it didn't have anything to do with their boring daytime routines here, or the 'doctors' she hadn't even seen yet. All the real work here was being done behind locked doors; what purpose the rest served was anyone's guess. Well, being semi-free to wander around and harass her fellow inmates beat the hell out of being locked up like some lab animal, at least most of the time.

Speaking of which, according to her oh-so-carefully-kept schedule it was now time for her to play with a certain Mr. Minch, one of the many evil geniuses Landel had seemed to enjoy collecting, like some sort of supposedly-rare insect. Actually, a lot like that, when you considered the annoying buzzing sounds they were always making.

Well, that kind of unflattering comparison aside, she at least provisionally liked him about as much as she liked anyone around this dump, so she was looking forward to finding him again. The sparsely-populated game room made it pretty easy, though the whole place reminded her of that stupid chess game and Aidou and that she was starting to get fairly hungry.

She soon located the decrepit villain punching away at some sort of handheld. That made another hobby they had in common, didn't it?

"You like those too?" She asked, forgoing any kind of greeting. Rudeness was next to evilness.

[piggy-king.livejournal.com]

Where was that damn long block when Porky needed it? That empty column was just begging to be filled, and he would have gotten at least 4 rows cleared if this stupid-

"Eh?" Porky said, looking up to see who had spoken to him. He thought he recognized that voice, but who could it... "Ah! Evangeline! So good to see you again!"

Porky quickly paused his game and stood up to greet his diminutive friend.

"So, how goes your undoubtedly sinister machinations?" Porky grinned, a little evilly, "Everything falling into place, I hope! Not so for me, unfortunately. You may not have noticed, but it seems like the Pigmask Club has permanently disbanded. Still, though. I have my health, and for that, I am thankful!"

Porky sat down on one of the sofas and patted the seat next to him.

"Well, Evangeline?" Porky said, "There must be some reason you called me out. Care to tell me what it is?"

[bullygeneraleva.livejournal.com]

Well, so far as Evangeline's plans went it just looked increasingly like she was going to end up babysitting Chise, but she was hardly about to admit that to just about the only person here who seemed willing to take her on her word that she was a first-class villain. Chise kept talking like she was some sort of barely-controllable superweapon under the idiot girl so with the right spin she probably could have but it was, on the whole, entirely too much trouble. And whatever else she was Chise was just embarrassing by nature.

Evangeline looked at the seat he'd patted distastefully- the gesture struck her as far too ingratiating- but took it. "It's just boring during the day and most of the people here are pretty annoying," she said before moving on to his questions. "Something useful came out of that mess last night, at least," she said, because that much was true. "What happened with yours?"

She sounded vaguely interested, but far from sympathetic. Evangeline did not do sympathy, especially when she'd hadn't thought his plan had stood much of a chance in the first place. He'd gotten off to a poor start with those public arguments over his motives and there was only so much you could do with the bottom of the barrel in a closed system like this anyway, no matter how powerful a mind you directed them with.

[piggy-king.livejournal.com]

"Hee hee hee..." Porky chuckled, "So I guess that makes me less annoying than most of the patients here, eh? You're too kind, Evangeline. Then again, saying I'm not as annoying as most of these blithering idiots isn't saying much. As for me...I got something rather...useful last night. I'll show you, but keep quiet, alright?"

After looking around nervously to make sure no nurses were close by, Porky put his right hand into his pants and pulled out his lighter.

"So," Porky whispered, "This ought to come in handy, eh?"

Porky gave a quiet chuckle as he placed the lighter back in his pants, but suddenly grimaced and grabbed his right forearm.

"Ah..." Porky said, wincing a little, "That wasn't the only thing I got last night, though. Take a look at this."

Porky pulled up his right sleeve and showed off his bite wound to Evangeline. It may have looked rather normal, but it still hurt quite a bit.

"I got this from a zombie," Porky said, "At the very beginning of the night, you understand. Didn't have any time to react. Anyway, I managed to get out alive, but not before the deed was done. See, I got infected by the bite. My flesh started rotting off and I start acting like a zombie. The people I was traveling with had to tie me up so I wouldn't try to eat them. It certainly wasn't as fun as it could have been. Anyway, enough about that? We're in the game room, so why don't we actually play a game?"

Porky slowly got himself off of the couch he was sitting on and worked his way over to the chess boards.

"Fancy a game of chess, Evangeline?" Porky said, with a slightly devious grin, "Don't worry, I promise I'll go easy on you."

[bullygeneraleva.livejournal.com]

'Not saying much' was about right. For Evangeline most people got divided up into 'tolerable' and 'intolerable'; the notion of treating someone like an equal was essentially foreign to her.

"It could," Evangeline agreed only in the most technical sense, looking at the lighter dubiously. Perhaps for lightning any explosives one might improvise, but on its own it was a good deal less useful than any of the potential improvised weapons she'd had her pick of at the hardware store. Unless, like her, he needed it as an implement for some supernatural ability.

She gave more careful consideration to his bite, though. If the wound was not completely healed, would the effects of the infection linger? She didn't know enough about the nature of the contagion or the healing and suppression that accompanied the night/day transition to really guess.

"You should do the same tonight," Evangeline said, with a lightness that didn't suit the subject in the least. "If the effect returns and you attack someone you could easily be killed."

She matched his grin at the offer of chess easily, though. "Go easy? I'm named Athanasia for a reason, you know. If you can't show me something new you won't win or even keep me entertained."

[rocksthecourt]

It seemed his nurse was aware of his slightly fouler-than-normal mood, and was making an effort to sound cheerful as she led Klavier from the Sun Room to one of the adjacent doors. She even exclaimed that he should be especially happy today. After all, a guest had made an appointment to come see him.

"...Excuse me?" With how distracted he was with his thoughts, it had taken a beat for that statement to sink in completely. His nurse beamed a bright smile at him as though expecting him to follow along and do the same. For once, he didn't.

"Oh, don't get too excited, okay?" she exclaimed, even though she was the only one looking excited at the moment. "That won't be until later. You just sit here and relax a little until they get here, okay?"

And with that she turned and left, leaving Klavier somewhat dumbfounded. Someone scheduled to come see him? One of the visitors he'd heard about a few days ago? From what little he knew about it... wasn't exactly something he felt like he had the energy for at the moment. This was getting increasingly exasperating.

Klavier took an empty seat at random and rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking more tired than anything else. He had wanted to make more headway on his research today, what with an embarrassingly unproductive two days now. Between his conversation last shift and this new development, it was starting to look like he was going to be far too distracted to get much done today, too.

Actually, the way things were going, it almost seemed like talking to Wright was the high point of his day. This was surely a sign that the world was ending.

[come comfort me, brother ;o;]

[dasgift.livejournal.com]

[No. Comfort your own mooching self.]

Kristoph was, in his own standards, becoming a very lazy man. The breakfast with poor little Miss Sohma had been more productive than the time he had spent afterward. Granted, his message had a purpose, but a part of him could not deny the element of boredom. Making men and women react was quite fun, a tad bearable for a day without shelf-upon-shelf of his most cherished nonfiction.

If only it held his interest as the bit of drama developing among his beloved adversaries. He should truly do something to dissuade the growing concern, shouldn't he? No, not concern. Kristoph Gavin did not feel anything beyond cheery goodwill and simple irritation.

And when I.R.I.S. spoke of matters better left in the realm of last week, the man was quickly reminded of an outlet for both.

He quickly searched through the available rooms of the shift, eventually finding his target--despondent as he should be--in the "Game Room". Silently, as not to cause alarm, Kristoph crept behind his little brother and...stood, with his hands drawn behind him. He seemed content to leave Klavier to his thoughts while standing so close, as if the man was a simple attendant.

[rocksthecourt]

This was getting ridiculous. Six days. Six. Days. And he was no closer to figuring anything out than he had been when he first woke up. No, forget figuring things out. He barely had a focus. Every time he started concentrating on one thing, he was immediately distracted by something else. Time differences, motives, I.R.I.S., zombies, alternate dimensions. Nothing made sense. And that wasn't even touching upon the insanity and the idiocy of the people here; the people too blinded by their petty issues to bother working together.

And now on top of everything, this place was upping the ante by sending him a 'visitor.' If what Kristoph had said about these 'visitors' was true, then this place had actually gone through the effort of finding people he was close to for the sake of trying to break him. Or maybe he should say 'trying to find.' He knew and spoke with a lot of people, but there were hardly any he could be considered particularly close to. And even then--

That's when he finally noticed. And it was only by chance that he'd turned his head just enough to catch it: the familiar gray of the institute uniform. Only this was directly in his peripheral vision. Right next to him. He jerked in surprised and whipped his head around in surprise. And, for some reason, he seemed even more shocked once he registered the face.

"Kristoph!" WHY would you do that?! / How long were you standing there?! / You almost gave me a heart attack!! "Y-You startled me..." He attempted to settle back into a casual manner (hardly feeling successful) and distracted himself by pulling his eyes from his brother to focus on putting his journal off to the side, as though to clear space. It was only a moment, but he needed that second to try and regain his bearings. Even if only a little.

He turned his eyes back to Kristoph after that one second distraction and attempted a bright smile. "Are... are you okay? How are... how are you holding up? After last night?"

[dasgift.livejournal.com]

Kristoph shouldn't laugh at the reaction, as humorous as it was. A smile would do, which thankfully matched in time with Klavier's attempt. "Oh, I'm sorry," he mused. "You seemed so engrossed in your thoughts; I had no heart to interrupt." There existed no other reason for the man to stand so close and so still.

"And I am perfectly fine." The smile, as quickly as it came, dropped. "You, on the other hand, appear distressed. What is wrong?"

[rocksthecourt]

What wasn't wrong? Aside from the usual, Klavier was slowly starving himself since the very idea of food brought back visions of rotting flesh, he spent last shift being traumatized by a kid he'd intended to cheer up, and now he was a target in one of the institute's mind games. Had he actually been so inclined, the younger Gavin could have probably rambled on for hours about any one of these subjects. But thankfully he had enough sense not to do so.

He felt he could confide in his brother above any and all others. But at the same time, he hated ever bringing up things that would paint him badly in the elder's eyes. Even if his brother was worried, the last thing he intended to do was whine and provide details regarding his own shameful behavior. Just look at Kristoph... An unbreakable wall, as always. He'd been here almost twice as long and he'd managed to keep his resolve without any visible strain. Klavier couldn't possibly hope to match up to that amount of mental strength.

"Ah. Do I?" he said, trying to bluff it away with a brief laugh. "I suppose. Last night was a bit... jarring. Additionally, some of the people here are a bit more unstable than I first realized. And I'm apparently scheduled for a visit later today. But neither are worth worrying over." That's what he was telling himself right now, anyway.

He gestured to a nearby seat in wordless invitation, trying to push back any worry from his face or tone. "I'm glad you're well, though. It seems a lot of people were affected by what happened yesterday. Physically or otherwise."

[thecamellia.livejournal.com]

_{[free, limitless]}

The day was already half over, and Tsubaki had only eaten a pear and was now just finishing up a banana. Taking that into account--taking everything into account, such as last night’s events, and the news that more of her acquaintance had gone missing--Tsubaki didn’t feel up to making use of the chance to go outside, even if safe, controlled exercise would do her good. After seeing he was all right, she’d enjoyed sitting quietly and discussing other topics with Honey, but otherwise…

Otherwise, the heaviness in her heart seemed make the rest of her heavy when there was nothing to distract her.

Worrying in front of the bulletin board for the rest of the day wasn’t going to help, so once Honey left for the cafeteria (she didn’t really have any right to invite herself along, now did she?) Tsubaki made up her mind to go somewhere else besides the Sun Room. The Music Room had been nice, and so had the library, though a few melancholy memories were tied to the latter… She stopped in the bathroom to clear her head before making a decision, and in the process of washing her face, found herself once again fogging the mirror in order to write the number to the Death Room.

No answer, of course. This was… an entirely different world.

In the end, Tsubaki decided to visit one of the few activity rooms she had yet to see. The Game Room was just as its name suggested, but the seats looked comfy. She cast a smile at the others present before curling up in a chair on her own. Tsubaki didn’t know if she could fully get into a game even if she’d had someone to play with, but it definitely wasn’t going to happen when she didn’t have a partner. A nap, then, maybe? She hadn’t properly slept in a long time…

... It was impossible not to notice how every day she was more or less just waiting for night.

[deadlyjuliet.livejournal.com]

[For the charming and tragic Romeo]

Annelise! That poor dear. She may have had her uncle, but to think that her parents were missing! The fear she must have felt at thinking her parents may have been caught in that accident! Or...something. Sherry had been remarkably calm all things considered. In fact, it had almost been a bit creepy. If Grell were one to be creeped out, of course. Instead, he just renamed her Annelise and left it at that.

Besides, he had some important business to attend and it wouldn't do to be late. Stepping into the game room, Grell gave it a quick look around to make sure no one in here knew him and then relaxed, pulling the tie from his hair and shaking his head to loosen the tresses. The nurse made a sound behind him and he turned to her, bowing slightly. "I've a bit of a headache. You don't mind, do you?"

She seemed perturbed, but left once Grell picked up a chessboard and settled at a table. And once she was gone? The rounded glasses disappeared and his red ones replaced it. He wished he could wear his makeup during the day, but that was pushing his luck. As it was, he was lucky the nurses didn't notice the spectacle switch or he'd lose even that small bit of comfort. Setting the chessboard up, Grell crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair, waiting for his date to show up. He knew what the man would likely be asking, but until that particular topic was breached? He could afford to enjoy himself a little.

[scarletspeedstr.livejournal.com]

Well that had been a pretty depressing way to start the day. First ZEX having lost one of the people he cared about most, and then meeting and alternate Robin (who'd told him his name, which was awesome) and finding out that things were even more messed up with Bruce or something like that. He was starting to think it wasn't possible for things not to be messed up with Bruce.

Normally Wally would have been looking forward to the next shift offering something to help him relax, but he knew he wasn't going to have much of a break there. He might have been flirting enough to not seem too suspicious - or at least he really hoped so - but he was still hoping to find out something about Clark and how, if Bruce was right (and it was rare that he wasn't in Wally's experience), Grell might have had something to do with the whole mess.

But he wasn't going to find out anything if he looked like he was expecting something to go down.

Wally rolled his shoulders as he entered the game room, glancing around until he spotted the long curtain of red hair and letting an easy smile light up his face as he headed over. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting long," he said, sliding into the seat opposite Grell.

[deadlyjuliet.livejournal.com]

The final pawn had just been set onto the board when he felt that tug at the back of his mind. Someone who wasn't quite human had just showed up - and lo and behold, a beautiful smile slid into the seat across from him. Grell returned the gesture, picking up the pawn he'd just set down and rolling it between his fingers. "Not long at all, love. I was just setting up."

Now came the fun part, wasn't that it? Grell played with the smooth black chess piece, letting it roll from finger to finger back and forth across his hand. This wasn't just a friendly chat and he knew it. While he was more than capable of deceiving himself into many things, Grell knew to be aware when the noose was tightening. He had practice while working for his lovely angel, and while avoiding the notice of the higher ups. Small infractions of the rules here and there - makeup at work, a change in footgear, his chainsaw of all things - had to be done so as to not gain a demerit and thus Grell had learned well to watch for the signs.

And he wasn't stupid. He knew that as an officer of the law, even a science-minded one, his darling Wally West would eventually start barking like the Queen's dog. He'd expected it, and yet he was a little disappointed that it had come so soon. Thus, it was time to draw this charade out a little more, until Wally forced the curtain call. "Besides," he continued, not missing a beat. "You're worth the wait, aren't you?"

[scarletspeedstr.livejournal.com]

"Just setting up?" Wally glanced down, finally noticing the chess board, and his smile wavered and was replaced by a slightly panicked look. "Uh, I'm, uh, really not good at this game," he said, sounding slightly desperate. "I mean, I don't really remember what some of the pieces do and I'm not so good at the planning thing--"

Which was painfully true. He just didn't have the attention span to play chess. It was bad enough sometimes having to wait for someone to make a decision on something normal, let alone waiting however long it could take for someone to figure out a chess move. And trying to hold a conversation on top of that would just be a nightmare, specially a conversation where he was trying to find out if what Bats had said was true.

He shot a pleading look at Grell, hoping that might have an effect. "Can't we just talk instead? I mean, I don't think I could concentrate on a game like this while you're sitting across from me."

[deadlyjuliet.livejournal.com]

Not good at planning? Grell raised an eyebrow and then pulled the black chesspiece back so he could hold it in both hands - fingertips balanced lightly on either end to keep it suspended between them. For someone who was so good at romance, Grell would have thought a bit of planning was necessary. Then again, perhaps the future didn't care so much for a good romantic evening. Wally sounded desperate to avoid a game with Grell and the death god grinned, turning the chesspiece around in his hands until the pawn's rounded tip was balanced on his pointer finger.

"Now that's not like you at all, darling," he chided, raising the pawn ever so slightly before letting it slip off to fall toward his lap. He caught it midway and then set it on the board, the grin turning a little more amiable as he did so. "But if you insist. I didn't think a little game between friends would have you so upset." With the pawn replaced on the now useless board, he picked up the black queen and rolled her idly in his hands. "So? Let's talk. You first. You owe me that much for standing me up and nearly getting me killed."

[violent-varmint.livejournal.com]

They had been ready when he awoke in the morning. Of course, they should have been... they knew what had happened the last night, they knew who had died and who had seen it happen. Tanaka barely had time to go five feet towards the nurse when that sting was in his arm again, and he found himself stumbling into the Sun Room, half-asleep and dazed, while the meat puppet that led him claimed that his friend Caleb "had made a full recovery and was discharged this morning." It had taken two whole shifts for him to come out of that haze, and then a note from the tentacled pervert to snap him back to his duty. The Captain had left them with orders, after all, and he'd take his own life before denying Zelnick's last wishes. Even if it meant caring for the mental state of the most incomprehensible VUX he'd ever had the misfortune of meeting. Even if it meant waiting idle for a shift while ZEX was "with a visitor and not to be disturbed."

Tanaka sighed, picked up a chess board - one of the few items in the room that he actually recognized - and began setting the pieces up on it. At least this might draw someone else over to talk to about escape ideas while he was waiting for the slimewad to get back.

[Free. Multiples OK.]

[inviolentgrief.livejournal.com]

"Next shift is free choice. What would you like to do, Jonathan?" The nurse asked, as soon as she'd pulled him away from the cafeteria. He had a lot on his mind, so her vocal intrusion of his thoughts wasn't exactly welcome. When she realized that he hadn't been paying attention at all, she added, "Why don't you go to the game room? I'm sure there will be many teens your age there."

The game room... whether it was for a lack of time or lack of interest, he didn't play games much. The only thing that could have been remotely close to that was the Persona chant Maya had taught them. Other than that, he was more of a books person. Nonetheless, he didn't know the layout of the building yet, having only been there for less than a day, and since the Nurse hadn't named any other options, it would probably be a good idea to head there.

He sat down at a table in the game room with a pack of cards, ready to play a game of solitaire with himself. Something very strange was going on there, he could tell. There was no previous system for him to have been accustomed with, but the patients around him seemed to get increasingly worried as the day went on, usually related to the strange announcements. He had to wonder what the night would be like, once it came.

[For Souji, I think?]

[no-arcana.livejournal.com]

This was getting worrisome. Souji's headache was finally starting to go away a tiny fraction, but something was still keeping him off-balance. He couldn't put his finger on it quite yet, but it was there, it was something he could no more ignore than the throbbing of his head.

Clearly, the sun room was no place for him, with its constant noise. Therefore, Souji let himself into another room, one with at least a smaller patient base. It wasn't silent, but it was certainly better than staying in the more crowded room. Now he just had to find out what was wrong with him, and also, what that 'I.R.I.S.' person was going on about.

For now, though, he wanted to do something. Not play with those kind of scary people with their gameboys, no chess, didn't want to bother people who already had games going... ah hah! One person probably the prettiest in the room was setting up what seemed to be a game of cards, so Souji walked over and started watching. Didn't say anything at the start, but certainly seemed interested.

[inviolentgrief.livejournal.com]

There was someone standing next to him... Jun definitely didn't enjoy the feeling of being watched, but when he looked up, he was surprised to see that the boy standing next to him merely appeared to be interested in what he was doing. At least, that was what he thought. The other boy was someone that he'd never met before, that Jun was sure of, because he made it a point not to forget anyone, never ever. So he had to be interested in the game.

"Hello." He found himself saying as he put his cards down and turned toward the other boy. He hoped that all the boy wanted to do was play; he was still very confused from second shift, and didn't think that talking was the best way to get rid of his more depressing thoughts. A game, however, with someone else, would be a perfect way to turn his thoughts elsewhere.

[no-arcana.livejournal.com]

Souji smiled in his usual friendly manner, nodding in greetings to the other guy. He certainly seemed polite enough, but not exactly the most friendly. If he was anyone else, he might be put off... but for someone who'd met the Amagi Challenge, this was a piece of cake.

For the most part. Kind of.

Instead of introducing himself right away- what was the point, really?- he inclined his head towards the deck of cards. "What's the name of the game?"

[tyki-pon.livejournal.com]

Tyki didn't need to think long when the nurse asked him which room he wanted to go. He wondered if he'd find Walker here, being the cheating boy as always. The boy hadn't replied to his notice, though, which was a little odd. It'd be a shame if the boy had gotten himself killed in the zombie apocalypse or something last night. Plus, he'd miss out on seven packages of smokes. Seven packages!

Come to think of it, the kid also owed him a card game!

He wasn't going to wait for the boy, though. Especially not with some other entertainment to look forward to tonight.

Helping himself to a deck of cards, the now-hobo began playing a card game by himself. He could poke someone to play with him later, he figured.

[Free!]

[toxicspiderman]

The nurses would only allow a patient to stand in front of the bulletin board, scribbling notes and then casually circling the room to allow replies to trickle in, for so long. S.T. rolled his eyes at one last juvenile taunt, and considered the situation.

You are in a solarium. There is a bulletin board. A cafeteria is visible to the north. North? Was that north? It was 'up', which was good enough. Other exits lead SW, NE, E, SE, and S. The south door is guarded by a scorpion princess and a three-headed dog. More commonly known as a nurse and orderly, though vague glimpses last night made the comparison more apt than he wanted to dwell on. Hell with disco. He went EAST.

The game room was less Cave of Wonders and more dentist's waiting room by day, but there were a bunch of people looking at least no more dyspeptic than usual. He walked over to one of the guys playing solitaire (any ones playing solitaire chess were either budding meglomaniacs or complete geeks).

"There's machines in here that will do the hard part for you, you know. Sixteen games of Klondike in sixteen-color glory. Hell if I know what the other fourteen are for, though." He was grinning as he said it.

[tyki-pon.livejournal.com]

He could've find someone to poke for a card game later, or that person could just come to him. That worked just as well. Saved him the trouble to look for a suitable victim opponent, at least. Tyki paused his game to look at the guy that had approached him from behind his glasses.

He definitely didn't understand what Mr. Vague had meant here. Much less the apparent joke that went with the comment, judging by the grin. "Huh? Machines?" the Noah repeated, brushing a hand through his messy black hair. "What'cha talkin' about?"

He couldn't really help it people were apparently nearly a century or so in his future.

[toxicspiderman]

There were reference points shared among many of the "patients" at Landel's -- video games had been a common one on the board, but not universal.

"There's machines that will -- " How was he supposed to explain decades of computing research and innovation, harnessed so that bored corporate drones could play solitaire instead of taking smoke breaks? "Nevermind. What's your game?" S.T. pulled up a chair and flipped it around so he sat straddling the back. One hand drummed on the tabletop.