damned_institute | Day 46: Lunch

The mere fact that she'd been susceptible to whatever hold the Institute had had on her yesterday was sufficient to leave Ayumu both upset and angry - no, not angry, downright furious, both at herself and whoever was responsible for that. But there was also the fact that because of it, she'd lost out on an entire day of work, and in several ways had ruined some of what she'd done already. That little conversation with Himura the day before, for instance, was something she'd sincerely prefer not to remember if she'd had any choice in the matter.

Unless the man was a complete moron, which, unfortunately, was one thing she couldn't believe of him, he had to have realized just who her brother was. After all the effort to keep that fact quiet (not exactly a secret, but certainly not advertised; half the Shinsengumi probably never even realized it because there was no reason to) she'd gone and chatted about it with him. Told him all about it, practically painted a bright target around a weakness that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

She'd spent the shift in the Sun Room pretending to sleep, while in truth forcing herself into calm. After years of practice she could shunt away the useless and distracting emotions, focusing only on what was important and needed to be at the forefront of her mind, and by the time the intercom signaled the lunch period she was feeling considerably calmer. The time to silently observe others had, as well, alerted her to something she probably should have noticed earlier: Mello was back. Would her previous objective be reinstated now? He seemed to have far less of a bulletin presence this time, so perhaps not. Still, though, it bore investigating.

None of her thoughts were visible, of course, as she moved through the line, examining the lunch selection somewhat dubiously. Now with the benefit of Yuuko's memories she might recognize the food, but she certainly didn't share the enthusiasm for it that her imaginary self apparently had. Ayumu skipped past that part and settled for the salad bar and some bread, then positioned herself in a place where she could watch both the door and the rest of the room, setting her journal open in front of herself as though planning to write something. There was far too much that she'd missed, too much work to do now.

[for Okita]

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He didn't really recognize the voice, but a quick glance over his shoulder affirmed Minato's suspicion that he had been seen. With a slight nod, he moved to one side and busied himself picking up paper napkins while he spoke. "Abe-san. Nice to meet you."

Abe inclined his head, copying Minato's motions and following him. "The same. I'm sorry our first meeting wasn't under better circumstances. Is your head all right?" He pursed his lips and looked properly chastened for his behavior, even though he was sure Minato would understand.

Formalities first, human formalities, normal formalities. Then he could drown Minato in questions.

"It aches -- nothing serious." The bandages probably told a different story, but Minato hadn't felt nausea or seen double since he had awoken. Talking so nonchalantly with someone who he had been grappling with the night before was somewhat uncomfortable, but he wouldn't let that stop him from talking to Abe.

He owed him some answers for attacking him with Surt.

Minato picked up his tray and headed for the nearest empty table, fortunately seeing one with no nearby staff. He asked a question as he led the way. "The other man who was with you. Is he okay too?"

That was good, it didn't sound like a concussion. If he'd caused Minato permanent brain damage he'd never have forgiven himself. "Scar? He's fine, just a bit spooked."

Abe followed, almost overtaking Minato and then forcibly slowing himself down so he didn't run the young man over. Minato's personality seemed altered today, a bit more lively and far less creepy than it had been last night, but he remembered that Abe had been there with another person which meant that his memory hadn't been wiped clean. Exactly how much control had they had over Minato, and to what extent? ...and for that matter, could they take the reins back at any time once Abe returned the device to him?

He took a chair on the opposite side of the table from Minato, setting his bounty of plant matter down gently before him.

Minato let out a sigh of relief. Another person alive and accounted for. That meant that all of the patients he had encountered last night were okay, and no one who had been injured had been hurt seriously.

The boy tried to push his relief down, knowing he still had other worries that would distract him from the conversation. He poked at his pizza with his fork idly, glancing up at Abe. "You had questions?"

"Yes." Many, many questions. Abe's hands set to delicately plucking apart a large piece of lettuce, popping one fragment in his mouth. Having his hands move helped him think, since he was dedicating less brain power to making sure they stayed in place and didn't go flitting around like curious birds.

"Your 'personas', the monsters you conjured last night. What are they? I've never seen anything like them."

Explaining what Personas were had never been something Minato had to do; he could always rely on his senpai to do any explanations necessary, and he would prefer deferring to them rather than talking at the topic himself. He tried to think of how best to describe the potential.

"A physical manifestation of the mind." Psyche given form. He hoped he wouldn't have to explain the 'sea of the soul'; the wild card ability, while a part of him, was still something he felt he couldn't hope to fully explain. Igor had been fairly vague as it was. "It's rare."

Another piece of lettuce slipped between Abe's tense lips. "And your mind...that?" he asked in a nervous tone, looking at Minato as if concerned he'd explode into violent flame if touched wrong. "I saw other creatures in your mind as well. Are they all yours?"

Good lord. A physical projection of an inner state wasn't unheard of but something that big and that powerful--what kind of mind could create such creatures? Despite the protestations from the board that it wouldn't work on him, Abe was glad he wasn't stupid enough to point the device at his own head and see what monstrosities his twisted psyche might produce.

Minato wasn't surprised by Abe's reaction. Truthfully, he would have been more surprised if the man hadn't reacted with nervousness; the very idea of a monster erupting from a person's psyche when a gun was pointed at their head would disturb someone fairly normal.

He sipped his water, wryly wondering if he had just given Abe a real reason to think he was crazy. "All of them," he confirmed, again pushing down the thought so he could focus on the conversation. "It's..."

Then the man's words properly sunk in. He had somehow completely missed that Abe had referred to Personas by the proper term; his headache must have made it difficult to concentrate.

"How did you know about Personas?"

Edited 2009-12-23 11:50 (UTC)

Abe winced, the lettuce in his fingers turning to nervous pulp. He'd been so good around Edward (well, until Edward probed him first) and now he was ruining it again. He wiped his fingers on a paper napkin and tried to find a way of explaining himself that wouldn't make Minato angry again.

"I wouldn't say I know about Personas, bar what I saw last night. I know that's what they're called because that's what they were called in your mind." He held up a hand, fingers spread and palm out. "When you were unconscious I did a low-level psychometric reading on you to determine who you were and if you would be any further danger. When I did that I saw the Personas inside your mind and I saw your name--little besides that, I assure you." The last statement was hastily tagged on in an attempt to make himself less creepy and invasive.

...A mind reader? Well, after meeting people like Igor and Elizabeth, the idea of his mind being read didn't surprise him. It was definitely disconcerting that his mind had been read while he was unconscious, but he couldn't fault Abe for wanting to find out if he was an actual threat.

"You ended up with more questions," he mused aloud, tilting his head slightly.

Day 46: Lunch

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