damned_institute | Day 47: Sun Room [2nd shift]

Cloud knew he should be taking the opportunity to check out the rec field during the day. The fresh air would be a welcome change from the crowded stuffiness the Institute usually provided, and he would have a chance to scope out the area when it wasn't all under the cover of darkness. When offered a choice, however, he remained in the sun room. He told himself it was so that he could watch the bulletin, him still being fairly new and needing all the information he could get, but the thought rang hollow.

The real reason he was here, he knew, was because he would be out there. Maybe it was weak of him, but he needed a chance to breathe. Ever since he'd arrived it had been nothing but one shock after another, and seeing Zack standing in the cafeteria that morning talking to Aerith had been the final card that caused his tower to crumble. He needed to just sit back somewhere out of the way and start rebuilding.

Being able to watch the bulletin from here was just a perk. Cloud made himself comfortable on one of the sofas, watching people come and go but not really paying attention to them. He took the time to try and rate this on a scale of the biggest messes he'd ever gotten thrown into.

(for Sheena)

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"Yuffie," Cloud replied easily enough and with a smile. "And something about a sign and Arts and Crafts." Which had him curious, just because the ninja was involved. Any sign she had a part in creating would be certain to be an attention grabber. He'd let Sheena go on before he assumed too much, however.

He did keep an eye on her injury with some concern. Truthfully, he was more interested in what had caused it. Her mention of a bird reminded him of what he'd seen on the field the night before. That meant it was possible she'd been one of the combatants. It was a bit late for apologies now, and chances were there wouldn't have been anything he could have done to begin with. Given how long it had taken them to get out, she might have even been attacked before they arrived.

"Oh...yeah." Sheena said again after casting another quick glance in the youkai's direction. "We need to finish this sign we're making for when we bring this place down. To give it a proper farewell."

She then grinned. "It's got glitter and reads 'Love and kisses from Mizuho and Wutai'. The perfect sign for when we make Landel fall to his knees and beg us for mercy. He's already shown he's afraid of what we can do together since he made us both evil the night we were going to do some serious damage to this place."

Cloud laughed outright at that, not loudly but without any false cheer. It was no wonder the two of them got along so well. He was all for the positive attitude, and it would be pretty damn gratifying to be able to leave something like that behind once, yes once, they managed to start bringing this place down.

"That's great! I might just want to help you out. Talk about boosting morale." He didn't say anything about her admission to being brainwashed along with Yuffie, considering it a topic best not discussed in detail unless the other patient wanted it. Still that was an interesting coincidence to take note of.

Sheena chuckled. "Now, now, now, Cloud... What kind of qualifications do you have for getting in on the ninja sign of awesomeness?"

Her eyes twinkled a little. "Sure, I hear you have some fashion sense, but what about your sense of glitter?"

More laughter followed, and Cloud held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. "You got me there. I've got no glitter sense at all. Absolutely none. Guess I'll have to leave it up to you guys."

And he had no problem with that, really. Glitter was one of those things you were still picking out of your hair several months after having it spilled on your shoes. It got everywhere. They were free to have all the fun with it they wanted, though, if it meant it kept their spirits up.

A sly little smile touched Sheena's lips. "I bet you'd look dashing in glitter."

Maybe she'd talk Yuffie into giving Cloud a glitter shower the next time there was Arts & Crafts. Just then, the intercom went off and the nurses started bustling around.

"It was nice talking to you. We'll have to do it again sometime,' she said as she slowly got herself to her feet.

Day 47: Sun Room [2nd shift]

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