damned_institute | Night 43: F1-10 Hall

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Night 43: F1-10 Hall

Breaking down the bed frame after she'd eaten some of her meal had given Teresa something to do while she waited for the night time phenomena to arrive. Having not been conscious when it occurred the previous night, she was curious. She was not disappointed. The overhead words were certainly something different.

As the door opened, Teresa finished wrapping shredded bedding around the bottom portion of the six foot long metal bar that had once been a main side support of the bed's frame. It wasn't good quality metal by any means, but it was better than nothing. At least, she didn't think it'd break the first time she hit something with it given her reduced strength. As she hefted the weapon, she swung it around to get a feel and decided that it would do for now. Should she manage to find the right kind of stone or a file, she could even work a rough edge onto it.

A few more strips of cloth and the hybrid tied the makeshift weapon across her back, the 'hilt' sticking a foot and a half above her shoulders, and fashioned the cloth so she could pull on the knot by her right shoulder for a quick release. That done, Teresa took her flashlight and exited the room.

[to here]

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Kenren's reaction to seeing him was...not what Tenpou would have predicted, admittedly. In fact, it cast serious doubt in his mind over whether this was, indeed, Kenren, or some sort of trick of this place. One of the monsters he had heard about, surfaced at last, taking the guise of his fallen companion. But he couldn't be sure. He didn't know what was going on. So many possibilities, so many ways to approach. His mind was turning, reeling, forming plans and throwing them out just as quickly.

The entire time, his face had dropped from awe-struck to its usual impassive expression, completely devoid of emotion. Guarded, not betraying any of the inner turmoil. The punch connected with his face easily, knocking his glasses askew. He merely righted them once more, curled his hand not holding the flashlight into a fist. Which he aimed squarely at Kenren's - if this was Kenren - stomach.

He has a sensitive stomach, his mind supplied, not terribly helpfully, but so many other things were cycling through it, why not? It's why he doesn't like milk.

The feeling of his fist against Tenpou's face was obscenely satisfying and make him feel sick to his core. He didn't get chance to appreciate it before Tenpou's fist connected with his stomach hard and Kenren fell back, doubled over and swearing. Fuck, he should have seen that coming, he should have known he'd do something like that. Why hadn't he known?!

It left him off balance for a moment before he grabbed the other man by his collar and slammed him into the wall, glaring at him. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he snarled because Tenpou wasn't supposed to be there, he was never supposed to be stuck in this place when there was Goku to protect in either incarnation.

Tenpou felt the sharp pain in his back as Kenren slammed him against the wall, but he didn't struggle, didn't try to free himself from the stronger man's grasp. Verify who this was, and if it turned out he wasn't Kenren, he'd use his many years of experience to free himself and neutralize the threat. The important thing was to gather information, and use that to decide how to proceed.

"I haven't the slightest idea," Tenpou admitted, his voice pleasant, conversational, despite his current position pressed up against the wall, a man with his dearest friend's face gripping his collar. "I suppose I should be asking you the same question, if you're really Kenren." Although it was possibly a very bad idea, he reached out, gently touching his fingertips between two of the scars on his cheek.

That pleasant tone hurt to hear because they both knew how utterly false it was and it hadn't been used on him since their first meeting all those years ago. He hadn't ever considered how much it would sting to have that bland politeness turned on him. Fuck, he couldn't deal with this now. He needed a drink. Several drinks. Enough to knock him out for the next couple of days.

He flinched when Tenpou's fingers brushed his cheek, tracing the scars that he'd all but forgotten were there. They seemed so natural at times and violently jarring at others. "Fuck. It is you." It really was him and it felt like something that had been missing for a long time had snapped back into place. "It's me. Really. Mostly anyway."

With that confirmation of their identities, the tension hanging between them eased, and Tenpou's face softened, allowing his emotions to come to the surface at last. Confusion, relief, happiness, doubt, hurt...suddenly his usually mask-like façade was teeming with meaningful expression. He wondered if the injuries on Kenren's face were a result of his brutal final confrontation, wondered what was troubling him so much. Tenpou ached for him, and selfishly, wanted to lean into him and order him to never leave his side again.

Instead, Tenpou dropped his hand from Kenren's face, looking away, as a hint of a sad, but genuine, smile appeared on his face. And uncertain of where to start, how to keep him talking, how to further confirm this was all real and not a cruel trick or illusion, he said the first thing that came to his mind: "Ah, do you have a cigarette?"

Kenren slowly released Tenpou, pulling away from him and just looking for a moment, seeing him differently with eyes that weren't quite his, but it was Tenpou and fuck was it good to see him again, even in this crappy place. How long had he been here though? Not long he guessed. They'd have found each other then, he was sure. They'd probably have found each other earlier if he hadn't been so rage-blinded by Sanzo's death.

He snorted softly when the inevitable question arose. He was trying to save his own but this definitely counted as an occasion which warranted one. He pulled out the half empty pack and held it out along with the lighter. "This is it and I've managed to make it last for two weeks now so don't go smoking them all tonight."

Tenpou took the offered cigarettes and lighter, clicking off his flashlight and tucking it under his arm so he could use both hands to manipulate one out of the pack and work the lighter. Once the cigarette was lit, he offered both back to Kenren. Had they not been here, had he not been so sure until today that Kenren was dead, that he was dead, he might have simply pocketed both and never returned them.

He was dying to ask Kenren about what had happened to him, whether it had occurred here somehow or during his final confrontation in the lab. Really, he wanted to ask him everything, force him to sit down and recount his every moment in this place. But they were standing in a hallway, and even if Kenren had never been a particularly private person, Tenpou was, very selective of the information he wanted others to hear, whether it was about himself or anyone else.

Taking an appreciative drag off of the cigarette, he put his flashlight back into his hand, clicking it on to illuminate them once more. "This is all? We'll have to fix that," he stated, as if finding cigarettes in this place would be the easiest thing in Heaven or Earth to achieve. He thought of something as he tapped his ashes onto the floor. "Ah, but here, they insist on calling me 'Marvin Aday'. I don't mind if you use my real name when it's just us, but until I have a better plan, I would like for people to think I am accepting that as my name."

Kenren slipped the lighter and cigarettes back into his pocket once Tenpou had lit up, not wanting to waste one of them when he didn't have time to savour it. he'd probably get through it without really even noticing if he smoked right then. Fuck, Tenpou was here. This put a new spin on things, especially what he was supposed to be doing tonight.

"Yeah, good luck with that. They aren't the easiest thing to get hold of," he said with a smirk. If they were then he wouldn't be rationing them would he? He frowned when Tenpou mentioned the name that he was going under, memory flickering at the back of his mind. "You were on Homura's list for History Club tonight," he said, a grin appearing on his lips. "Well, lucky us, seems like we'll have more backup tonight." He gave Tenpou a wry look. "Hiding your name is pretty pointless. If pretending got people out then all of us would be raising hell outside right now."

Tenpou examined the lit end of his cigarette thoughtfully. "Using that name is part of a larger plan, albeit a tentative one. I haven't completely assessed the situation to plan a proper course of action," Tenpou admitted. "If you want to use my real name, or are certain it won't help matters, feel free to. Although I do want to know the details of how long you've been here and what has happened. When it's convenient, of course." The way he said "when it's convenient" made it apparent that what he truly meant was "when you're comfortable talking about it".

He took a drag off of the cigarette, then offered it to Kenren to take a drag off of. "Ah, you know Homura? I was searching for him before I ran into you. His name seems familiar to me somehow, but I can't quite place where I've heard it before. Dying is apparently terrible for your memory."

A plan already? He should have expected it he was sure, but he still hadn't anticipated it being quite so soon. How much had he changed without noticing it? It was a depressing thought so he wasn't going to bother thinking about it. Unhealthy perhaps, but the whole situation was unhealthy in the long run. ""Of course. Tomorrow would be better. I believe that we have things to do tonight." Didn't want to keep Homura waiting when they were possibly going to get something useful out of the endeavour.

He took the cigarette, taking a long drag and then passing it back as though it were perfectly natural to share with Tenpou. He smirked a little. "You'll understand once you see him I'm sure." He glanced towards the room that he'd been told to go to. "Give me a moment. I have someone to collect." It felt wrong to be stepped away from Tenpou, but if he didn't make himself carry on, then morning would be there before they got anything done.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/700197.html?thread=58055717#t58055717)]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/700197.html?thread=58307877#t58404133)]

Kenren led Hantarou towards where Tenpou was still standing. "I told you I'd be just a minute," he said with a grin that was very close to relief, like he'd half expected to come back out and find that Tenpou had disappeared completely as though he'd never been there at all. "Tenpou, this is Hantarou," he said, gesturing to the younger man as he approached. "He's a healer. A good one. he patched up me and Nataku the other night." He flashed a smile at Hantarou. "This is Tenpou. He's from my world."

Hanatarou blinked at the stranger a little uncertainly, and with eyes that didn't quite focus the way they were supposed to. If this Tenpou was from the same world as Kenren and Nataku, then hopefully he'd be as nice as those two were. That would be good, since although he was feeling a little better, Hanatarou didn't quite feel up to running around anywhere on his own.

"Oh, I'm not that...er...well. Um, nice to, er, m-meet you," he offered, offering a small bow. He regretted the polite gesture when he wobbled a little when straightening up again, though, automatically reaching out a hand to steady himself.

Tenpou had been standing patiently outside of the room when Kenren returned with Hanatarou. Once they reemerged, he dropped his cigarette butt to the floor, stepping it out with his heal, and bowed in return, gentle smile return. "It's very nice to meet you," he greeted. "I am Tenpou Gensui." The introduction out of the way, he glanced over at Kenren.

"Ah, Nataku?" he asked, looking rather shocked at the knowledge that he was here. After all, last he had seen of him, he'd committed suicide. "Is there anyone else here that I know?" It would be good to get his facts straight. Easier to plan based around the strengths of those that he knew. He was still mostly coming up with ideas on the fly, after all, and the more information, the better.

Kenren nodded in response to the question, his expression becoming more serious. "Yeah, Nataku is here. He arrived a couple of days ago and we've been working together." He had been so glad to see Nataku there, unhurt and cheerful, no matter how terrible this place was. The thought unfortunately brought what had happened earlier back with painful clarity and his lips twisted in a sad expression.

"I don't think there's anyone else that you'd know here," he replied, deciding to leave the subject of Sanzo for tomorrow. "Come on. They're probably waiting for us.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/699758.html?thread=58412910#t58412910)]

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Night 43: F1-10 Hall

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