Night 43: West Wing, South Hall 1-A

[superdynamic.livejournal.com]

[from here]

The halls were empty so far, which was probably a good sign. Suzaku was hoping to get a move-on quickly, so they could hurry up and get Yuffie's sword made. The first night he'd been here, he'd been pulled back to his bed the instant he made it outside, so they'd have to move fast if they wanted to make any decent progress. And right now he couldn't afford to focus on anything but just that, making progress.

[to here]

Comments

[razmaspaz.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html)]

Okay, just what the hell was going on? Raz knew that he shouldn't be disappointed at the lack of monsters roaming the halls, but he couldn't help it. Were all the other patients pulling a prank on him? Or maybe everyone else were, as a ironic twist, actually crazy. He sighed; maybe the duel was some kind of trick too...

Still, that didn't deter him from heading over to the Sun Room. Maybe that math guy actually was psychic. And who knows? The monsters could just be at on a coffee break... A coffee break of the damned. Or something.

[unwittingly waiting for Abe]

[bprd-fishman.livejournal.com]

[From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?view=57813530#t57813530)]

Abe slipped through the door to find a young boy in the next hallway. It was the same one who'd written the note about psychics and had such strange adventures. Abe had expected him to be taller, having only seen his top half in his limited psychic reading of the child's note.

"Hello!" he called out softly, stepping out and shutting the door behind him. "You're one of the other psychics, aren't you?" It felt a bit awkward knowing about him without knowing his hame. There were so many psychotypical social graces he needed to learn...

[piggy-king.livejournal.com]

If there was on thing Porky hated about nightshift and loved about dayshift, it was the walking. After not being able to walk, let alone move, for thousands of years, having a pleasant stroll around the institute was rather nice. On the other hand, though, Porky had to walk a metric assload during nightshift, which wasn't fun at all. Now sweating rather profusely, Porky raised a hand to wipe the sweat off his brow.

Suddenly, though, Porky squinted and brought his hand closer to his face.

...It was gray.

Porky shrugged and kept walking. Probably just a side effect to the zombie bite. At least he wasn't rotting. No point in dwelling on it, anyhow.

[piggy-king.livejournal.com]

[its-the-mileage.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=57816090)]

If Indy remembered his map right (and he was pretty confident that he did), M107 would be in the patient block to the northwest; he'd have to go out to the main hall and around. Why was there only one door out of each of the blocks? Put King Kong or something in front of it and everyone inside would be trapped like--well, like the lab rats they were. Landel probably saw it less as a design flaw than a selling point.

[its-the-mileage.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/699758.html?thread=57852014#t57852014)]

[strayfag]

[from here]

Nothing interesting happened for the rest of the trip down the hallway. Unfortunately, it left him with plenty of time to think about where he was going. About half of those thoughts were focused on doing pretty much the opposite of that, but there was only so much empty dark hallway a man could take without getting a little introspective. Maybe it was something to do with the proper mood lighting.

Alkaid. That was the problem. He didn't know how he was supposed to react to her. Sure, he hadn't known her all that well, but she'd been the first person he met in this stupid place and, ok, she disappeared after a while. He didn't like it but it happened. The worst life lesson he'd ever learned from his brother was people didn't come back (take notes). They disappeared and left you with a gaping black hole in your face, and that was that.

But supposedly Alkaid had come back. It was her writing on the Bulletin, and her...Alkaidness to go with it. He just couldn't believe any of this shit until he saw it for himself. His life didn't work that way. Ever. He lit a fresh cigarette at the end of the hall and flicked his flashlight off before turning into the next one. If he was walking into a trap, cigarettes or no, he was going to beat the ever-loving shit out of the bastard.

[to here]

[irishpirational.livejournal.com]

Lockon was beginning to think he'd gone in the wrong direction entirely--but that was all right, because at least he hadn't been attacked yet. He was maybe more relieved about that than he should be--he just didn't think his makeshift weapons would hold up very well.

He kept going.

[lighthearted]

[From here.]

There were some other patients! Sora glanced them over (not because he was nosy, just curious!) -- there was an older man with a boy who was probably a little younger than Sora, and then one other guy who looked like he was by himself. He shouldn't be doing that! But maybe he was just on his way somewhere, and he was already moving further away from Sora.

The boy sighed, knowing that he couldn't worry over each new face he saw. This was always how it was on the night that a new batch came in, and he needed to stay focused on his own task. It wasn't like there were any monsters out yet.

He was pretty sure he knew which hallway Hitsugaya had meant, and he was going to cross his fingers that he hadn't screwed that up. If he was correct, then he just needed to turn right and keep going...

[lighthearted]

[To here.]

[spiritrepellent.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=57894170#t57894170)]

Another hallway, featureless as the last two. There were doors at either end, and after exiting the previous hallway, he paused here, his back pressed against the wall to avoid being snuck up on - because the situation had, in fact, gained some kind of urgency in its strangeness - he looked both ways, considering his options. To his left there was a long hallway and an open door. Despite the poor vision in his right eye, if he squinted, he got the feeling that it lead outside, or to some large open space. To his right, the hallway seemed to continue.

For the moment, Doumeki felt a little safer indoors, and so he opted to take the indoor route. Pushing away from the wall, he padded in his hospital slippers down the hallway, golden eyes on alert.

[whohitreset.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?view=57997297#t57997297)]

These hallways were always crowded. That was nothing new and nothing Matt shouldn't have expected. He turned off his own flashlight in order to save batteries, relying instead on the light from others'. It also helped to keep himself hidden. Even if he didn't plan on attacking anyone in this hallway, he had to look at least somewhat demented - mostly because he was somewhat demented. After last night, and what with things as they were now (Would this ever go away? Would he be stuck as some sort of half-zombie every time night came around, now? What a sick joke.) no one could say his sanity was a hundred percent intact.

He froze as someone came just a little too close, their scent just a little too strong, and had to slap a hand over his mouth again with a short choking noise. Not here. He was too out in the open here...

[yourtravelagent]

[from here]

As he walked, the lesser details of that last announcement began to sink in. Who or what was IRIS? Either Martin didn't work weekends and someone else was trying to guess his password, or he'd just locked himself out of the network.

What network? Manny thought, a little frustrated. Why would someone care enough to set up something so elaborate when the end of the line was right in front of them?

[yourtravelagent]

[to here]

[euphemise.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?view=57916988#t57916988)]

"Hm. The map says it should be that first block. Though...should I knock first? It feels a little rude to just walk in like that." Euphy frowned at the door, as if it would somehow answer for her.

[number1smiley.livejournal.com]

Teresa chose not to comment on Euphy's lack of direction. The girl wasn't a warrior and far more optimistic than she thought was healthy. Then again, she had a feeling that some of that optimism may be a desperate attempt to assure herself, not Teresa. She idly wondered if the girl realized that if Teresa believed Euphy was going to do something terribly stupid, she'd simply pick the girl up and remove her from the danger her choice was putting her in.

"This door leads to a hallway, not a room. Knocking will only draw unwanted attention to us," Teresa said just before she pushed the door open.

[to here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=57922330#t57922330)

[remnantsofflame.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=57934106#t57934106)]

Looking at his map, Asch was annoyed that there wasn't a faster way to the other patient rooms. Why didn't the hallway on the other side connect? Going all the way around was such a waste of time.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=57934908#t57934908)

[mitase.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/699228.html?thread=57935964#t57935964)]

The hallways around the patient rooms were rather depressingly familiar by now, and Hanatarou was mostly running the path he'd followed many times without really paying attention to anything other than the noises around him. He knew where he was going and mostly just wanted to make certain that nothing unpleasant found him while he was going there.

As he went, though, for half a second he thought he saw something...different, from the corner of his eye, and paused. When he turned his light that direction, though, all he saw was bare wall. Must have been his imagination.

Though, didn't his light seem a little dimmer than usual tonight...?

[mitase.livejournal.com]

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=57936956#t57936956)]

[udo-retrovirus.livejournal.com]

As he went out into the hall outside the block, Junior thought he'd noticed something sticking out of the wall, like pipes or something, but when he went to look, the only thing staring back at him was the walls, with nothing sticking out. Huh. He blinked once, twice, but there was still nothing. The redhead shrugged, looking back in front of him. He didn't want to keep his brothers waiting, so he ignored it for now, but that was still kinda strange, even for this place. Maybe it was just starting to get to him.

[purgatio]

[from here]

The last hall turned into the next, and Albedo paused then, froze like a deer in the woods. Close, close, but not close enough. The beat his own heart echoed. His eyes widened to take in any light he could see, pupils dilating as he muffled his waveform, thrusting it down. Though with his heartbeat echoing.... Albedo watched Rubedo, but the other didn't seem to notice his presence. He didn't know whether to be pleased or petulant.

His twin seemed no worse for the wear, nothing unmanageable, nothing too out of place. Both hands still as they were, Albedo ran his tongue over his teeth. The duel instincts were pulling at him, one gradually growing stronger than the other. He restrained the urge to run to Rubedo, fasten on to him like an accessory, and whispered promises to the other, that wanted pain and attacking and vengeance. There was still another brother to check on, and then, and only then, would Albedo make up his mind. Slinking behind Rubedo, and carefully staying to the shadows, Albedo followed him.

There was a good thing in having some unsavory habits.

[slipperymagic.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/699228.html?thread=57968220#t57968220).]

Howl's eyes skimmed his map briefly, confirming that he was heading in the direction of the appointed meeting place. He had truly been clinging to his denial all day, but the onset of the night corroborated the horror story. No, it would have been far too easy if he had simply been institutionalized. It seemed much more fitting for Howl's luck to have dumped him into this mess. He could imagine everyone back at home getting a good laugh out of him being trapped in a monster-infested asylum, complete with a humiliating uniform, while trying to skip back to Ingary. Look at the great Wizard Howl now!

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=57968956#t57968956).]

[human-sponge.livejournal.com]

Still, nothing seemed too amiss. There were a few other patients about, either waiting around or talking or deciding what to do. No sign of Nathan so far, but Peter hadn't made it to the meeting spot just yet. It occurred to him that he didn't think he knew his brother's room number, which was something he needed to find out from him sooner rather than later.

As a matter of fact, it would probably be best for them to come up with fake names to use when they wanted to talk over the bulletin board. He knew perfectly well that Sylar could have seen their exchange over it today, and he might even be planning to track them down to try and do a repeat performance of the Elle incident.

Peter wasn't going to let that happen. Never again. Not to Nathan, not to anyone.

He lowered his head out of slight paranoia and quickly continued down the hall toward the stairway.

[human-sponge.livejournal.com]

[ryuuzaki]

[from here.]

L stepped into the hall, making a right turn. He didn't see Howell.

The idea came to mind that no one would be waiting for him, that he was endangering himself for nothing, but he pushed it aside.

In spite of his sensation of physical vulnerability, exploring would be good. If he kept his wits about him, he might be able to see what patients at the Institute were up against without putting himself in more serious danger: stay at the edges of rooms, observe, be ready to retreat when and where it is necessary. Will that kind of retreat feel like failure...?

There is no way to know until I have experienced it.

Something flickered in his peripheral vision, as if the drywall just behind him and to his left had vanished, revealing a glint of pipes. He paused, putting his back to the wall that had been to his right, taking a closer look. The broken wall appeared smooth and normal, and he stared at it for a moment with a puzzled frown, then darted across the hall to touch it.

Nothing. It was hard under his fingertips.

He shook his head and moved on -- past the door to the Nurses' Station, and into the main hall, where he began to look for Howell with more intent.

[To here.]

[aleaderwillrise.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?thread=58007281#t58007281)]

At the end of this hall and turning the corner to the next was the meeting place. Nathan moved toward it, hoping that whoever got there first wouldn't have to wait long.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=58003516#t58003516)]

[silent-shades.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?thread=58010865#t58010865).]

Last hall. He wasn't sure who he was meeting for this exchange, but it should be simple enough. Better be quick too. Even Turks knew it was a bit dodgy hanging around outside toilets.

[offduty.livejournal.com]

Rude had told him to meet here, so here he was. Reno still had no idea what this was really about, but almost ten years of Shin-Ra, and you kinda got used to running meetings that you weren't properly briefed on. Joys of bureaucracy.

Whatever. At least he trusted Rude a lot more than he trusted his bosses. Once-bosses. Or. Anyway.

He stepped up beside his partner. "You know who we're looking for?"

[vayu-pavana.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=58012954#t58012954) ]

Tensions were high, but the hall seemed relatively docile save soft murmuring and a sudden start. For now he had no distinct destination, quickly working to expand he basic map he'd been setting to memory.

Straight on through the hall, pushing through the next door.

[ to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?thread=58013681#t58013681) ]

[denied-future.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=58022682#t58022682)]

Fortunately, the file rooms' location on the map had been one of the first he'd memorized, so he doubted that he'd get lost. Oh, and the fact it wasn't even that far helped.

Keeping his guard up in case anything tried to attack him, he continued moving.

[denied-future.livejournal.com]

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=58025276#t58025276)]

[beloved-less.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?thread=57942513#t58034673).]

Soubi slowed. "I'll move on ahead, if you don't mind waiting."

He stopped completely and looked at Kio with a little frown. "Shout if you need me. You're collecting surgical spirit. If they argue about the exchange..." Soubi handed Kio another cigarette. It seemed like nothing, but it was a lot to a smoker. "Only if they argue."

He turned and walked away, surprised his legs could even carry him right now.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/706079.html?thread=57977375#t57977375).]

[stalksperverts.livejournal.com]

"I'll be fine, Sou-chan," he replied calmly. Kio took the cigarettes quietly. There was no point in arguing now. He'd spotted the others. Who else could it be but Red and the Sullen Glittery One? Well, Kio could manage. He was a big boy now.

He pocketed the extra cigarette. If they didn't take it, he might keep it. Cigarettes could be useful sometimes. Lying. Another small lie. Anything to keep things going.

Kio watched his friend saunter down the corridor, dead inside. No words came to mind. Nothing to overcome the paralysing nausea in him. He would be fine. He always was. With a sigh, he made his way towards the ones holding the key to Sou-chan's freedom.

[tyki-pon.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702705.html?thread=58034161#t58034161)]

Nothing interesting here, though Tyki guessed that should've been expected from these hallways by now. He moved along, not paying any mind to the other people around. He had more fun things to do for tonight anyway.

[tyki-pon.livejournal.com]

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=58035772#t58035772)]

[liveforthispart.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/702746.html?thread=57999386#t57999386)]

Kanji headed out a bit more carefully than he had that night he was heading to Naoto's room. For one, he had no idea where the hell he was going. And two, the whole zombie invasion the other night kind of got him a little paranoid as to what this place had crawling around. There was a big difference between the Shadows he was used to fighting and rotting, blood-covered zombies.

...And thirdly, he still hated hospitals. Why did it have to be a freaking hospital, man?

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/703548.html?thread=58037564#t58037564)]

[girlsandgadgets]

[From here.]

This hallway had even more people, most in the same outfit as himself. Some were paired off, others alone; perhaps they found safety in numbers?

No matter- he was perfectly capable of handling himself, with or without something with which to defend himself in case of a monster attack. They weren't uncommon in places like this- whatever beasts would be lurking in this institution surely couldn't be as bad as some of the monsters he'd had the chance to meet.

[girlsandgadgets]

[To here.]

[dualistic]

[From here.]

It wasn't that hard to notice how the number of patients seemed to increase as Harvey got closer to the Sun Room. That made him feel uneasy about the fact that he and Jason were meeting up around there, since the matter they were discussing wasn't something that could be broadcasted to the rest of the institute.

He realized they could just move to a more private place, but they would have been able to decide on a better meeting spot if Jason had just met up with him in the first place.

He was going to give the kid a piece of his mind about that regardless of what excuses he came up with.

It was just a bit further. Harvey discreetly adjusted his gun in the elastic of his pants before he continued on.

[dualistic]

[To here.]

[unmocked-lawr.livejournal.com]

Nothing of note here. The number of patients in the hall suggested that some time had passed, but not enough to make a difference. Javert increased his pace all the same. It wouldn't do to arrive last.

[unmocked-lawr.livejournal.com]