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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Wonderful and now the blond was staring at him. Why were there so many blonds here? Red was such a better color; rarer, more beautiful, dashing. If it wasn't for Grell's affinity for Luxord and the Gambler's hair color, he'd just about throw the color yellow out altogether. So few good redheads here. It was such a shame.

Casting his gaze sideways under her scrunity in a pretense of unease, the death god, pulled his hair over his shoulder and began nervously playing with the ends of it. He couldn't wait for showers to come, even if they were communal. He hated being unwashed for more than a day if he could manage it. It was so terribly unladylike. "I...don't know," he said hesitantly. "I find it interesting to wonder what they might be thinking." And how best to take their heads.

But then the woman had to go and be absurd and Grell's fingers caught in his hair, yanking it painfully as he stared at her. Pets? Was she calling the nasty beasts that roamed these halls pets? "I don't believe they were ever anyone's pets, madam. They're far too wild." But he had to admit, he did like the night better despite the monsters. It just likely wasn't for the same reason as this woman. Night gave him a chance to take someone out, to kill and maim and then blame it on one of those unearthly creatures instead. Looking down, Grell began to untangle his fingers and sighed slightly. "I do admit, that is a positive feature of the night. Although, it's somewhat lonesome, too. No one really wants someone like me hanging off their heels." And then as if he hadn't meant to say that, he jumped and started waving his hands, speaking a million miles a minute. "I mean! It's not that I'm complaining! Not at all! I'm terribly useless and really I understand if they don't want me--"

With that, the stupid butler should have been cemented in her mind now. Deflating, the god bowed his head and sighed again. "...perhaps I should start over. I never did catch your name, madam. Might I do so now?"

Day 47: Sun Room [2nd shift]

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