Day 43: Sun Room, 4th Shift

[euphemise.livejournal.com]

The late-afternoon sun filled the large, open Sun Room. It was almost enough to make you sleepy, Euphemia thought, as she walked in, brushing a little glitter off her shirt. She didn't particularly feel like she was up to much - the worrying about everyone had drained her, as much as she'd tried not to think too much about it.

With that thought in the back of her mind, she walked over towards the bulletin board. It looked like it was cleared off at the end of the day, because now it was filled with information. She made a note of the 'primer' post, then began copying the maps onto some paper she'd taken with her from the Arts and Crafts Room.

One more thing struck her, though - the idea of visitors. Was this what all the announcements about graduates were? She thought of the others then, and frowned, hoping that neither of them were going through anything like that today.

[reserved for the tallmore.]

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[human-sponge.livejournal.com]

That gave Peter pause. He straightened up in his position next to the couch and slowly made eye contact with Roland as he tried to reaffirm what the man had just said. He hadn't survived all of it? While Peter was quite aware that some patients here had died before arriving, he hadn't realized that Roland was one of them. It was strange, talking to a literal dead man walking. (Not like one of those zombies...)

He really didn't like the implications it had, either. Were they back for good? Could people get second chances that easily? Sure, he'd seen people heal from wounds and even prevented Claire's death in the courtyard a week or so ago, but...

Peter was forced out of his thoughts when Roland continued to speak. He frowned at the mention of Heat, feeling some guilt when he heard that the man was gone. He knew that there were strange circumstances surrounding the whole cannibalism incident, and that Roland considered Heat a friend, so he could definitely feel for him on that level -- and he felt bad that he'd caused trouble for the man by getting so confrontational about it.

He looked away, not sure he could hold eye contact at the moment. "I'm... sorry to hear that. I hope he's all right." Nathan had disappeared and come back, so maybe the same thing would happen with Heat. It was possible, at least.

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

Hm, perhaps Peter wasn't one of those people who had a more morbid sense of humor? Roland had always had a sense of proportion about death and dying- his world had been deadly long before the demons had been awakened- and to be honest, death hadn't been as bad as he had thought. Maybe it was still something he'd rather avoid, but there were far worse ways to go out than with a bang that brought someone else down with him.

As for Heat? Roland shrugged, trying to put a brave face on it. It wouldn't do for Peter to know just how badly it stung to have another comrade taken away from him, after he'd sworn to himself that he would never let it happen again. Heh, he should have known better... he never was able to live up to his promises, was he? "'All right' is a bit of an odd phrase when used about him," he quietly admitted, "but I'm sure he went taking a swarm of monsters down with him. Perhaps it is better that way."

[human-sponge.livejournal.com]

While Peter didn't have a sense of humor about death, necessarily, he certainly had a different view on it than most people. He wasn't scared of it and had even put himself in close contact with it during his nursing career -- hell, he'd come back from the dead himself. Still, what Roland must have gone through was different. Being dead (really dead) and then coming back into some foreign place with no idea as to when your time ran out again? That couldn't be easy for most people.

It seemed that Roland wasn't all that bothered by the idea of Heat dying, either -- or at least not as bothered as he should have been. Peter frowned. "He might not have died, you know. I told you about how my brother disappeared and then came to see me as a visitor, right? Well, he's back here in the institute now. The same thing could happen to Heat..." Roland's friend wouldn't remember anything (and Peter personally thought it might be easier if the cannibal stayed gone, but that was his own selfish mind getting away with itself), but he would still be back and Peter imagined that would be good enough for Roland.

Before either of them could say any more, the intercom rudely cut in and caused Peter to straighten slightly. Roland was still mainly immobile on the couch... "Are you going to be all right?" he asked. "Maybe the nurses will help me get you back to your room, if our rooms are close to each other."

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

"I hope that's not the case," Roland quietly answered, "not unless it changes some of the rules about us... him, rather." He shook his head, not wanting to think about that. A Heat who was still cannibalistic in a civilized society was insane. A Heat that lacked Sera and Serph was dangerous. And a Heat who was perfectly well-adjusted... that was like bringing the dead back to life. And Heat O'Brien had no need for anyone, let alone someone like Roland, still in this incarnation of life.

That wasn't what he wanted to think about right now. He waved Peter off, smiling a little as he slowly started moving himself upright. A little stomach ache was bad, but he could endure it. He hoped. "I'll be fine, I feel better already." Which was half-true; speaking to Peter had helped out a little bit. "You stay safe tonight, all right?"