damned_institute | Night 47: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

The block got weaker at night? Interesting. It seemed whatever spell controlled this place didn't have conscious thought, so loopholes (like his laguz senses of sight and smell) could be made. He wondered how much this affected his transformation process or even if he still had it at all.

This most likely meant he'd be fully beorc during the day. Wondering what kind of experience that would entail, he nodded to her as she said this, returning her sympathetic expression with one of his own.

He was glad she laughed at his normalcy joke. It was always good to find people with a sense of humor, especially those who could still find something like that funny in a dire situation. Laughing was better than crying, and Ranulf was all about it.

Ranulf had only just met Tsubaki, but he was really starting to like her. She seemed to be the type of person that genuinely cared about people and their well-being. It was rare to find beorc, or even laguz, that possessed the same qualities as she did. She reminded him of Ike... except he was sure she'd look a lot better in a dress.

When she said she'd like to stay there with him, he inwardly gave a sigh of relief. He would've gone with her to help with whatever it was she was doing, but it probably wouldn't have been in his best interests while in his new beorc body. He could barely battle with his balance, let alone monsters!

"I think staying together would be a fantastic idea." He said, giving a slight grin as he leaned back against the wall and slid into a sitting position on the floor. His grin disappeared when he realized he was trying to move an imaginary tail out of the way as he sat, but he just chuckled a little at this and continued speaking.

"It would give us an opportunity to get to know each other better, which is, of course, the first step in social interaction!"

Then, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes with a relaxed expression on his face, he asked "So, would you mind telling me a little about yourself?"

Good, good. Though honestly, Tsubaki wasn’t giving him much of a choice--she could hardly abandon a new prisoner, no matter the circumstances. They’d have to make do until morning, where there would be time for Ranulf to get his bearings without the fear of an attack bearing down on their heads.

Dayshifts weren’t much better in the long run, but they were safe.

“Okay,” she agreed perfunctorily. She stayed standing against the wall while Ranulf lowered himself to the floor; if they needed to move quickly, she had to be on her feet. Continuing to smile, Tsubaki nodded at the direction he turned the conversation. It was a lot to have to take in in so short a time, that he was now trapped in some strange place, in a strange body, with strange people; it was enough to want to do or talk about something more pleasant. And she couldn’t forget that she was another aspect of Landel’s, too--just as unfamiliar.

“I don’t mind,” Tsubaki assured. “What would you like to know?”

Ranulf, eyes still closed, smiled at this question. It felt a little more normal to him in the darkness, blind to the hallway and it's inhabitants and with a track of normal conversation. Well, ok, not exactly normal, but it was close enough.

He shifted a bit, grunting as he did, and thought about what to ask. It was kind of nostalgic to when he'd met Ike and had the opportunity to get to know the beorc culture better, although he was sure by becoming one he'd be able to write a much more sufficient report!

"Well, it's obvious you're not from my world." he said with a slight laugh. "What type of creature were you before you came here? What is your world like, and your friends?"

Shifting the heel of her boot, she took the opportunity to peer more closely at the three-way branching of halls to their right. Still so far, so good. It felt out of place, such a moment of calm, but…

At the word ‘creature’, Tsubaki brought her bottom lip between her teeth and worried it for a short second. If the tangled psychics of the Institute ever revealed itself, she thought it was in the bringing together of different worlds. What was obvious to Ranulf probably wouldn’t be to her--if the usage of ‘laguz’ and ‘beorc’ were any indication--and what was obvious to her, might not be to him. Tsubaki hadn’t met a single person familiar with demon weapons, and she wasn’t confident this meeting was going to prove the exception. It just meant she ran the risk of confusing him further.

“It seems that way, doesn’t it? Mmm… I come from a world called Earth. I don’t know if it’s the same for you. In the country I’m from, there aren’t really any kingdoms--it’s an island called Japan. I was born… um, it might sound weird if you don’t know demon weapons, but I was born with this body, only I’m not exactly a human. Normally I can transform myself into a weapon mode.” Before coming to Landel’s, Tsubaki hadn’t had misgivings over her status, and she still didn’t, not entirely. But sometimes she wondered if those who were unfamiliar with demon weapons would find the knowledge off-putting, like now.

She looked a bit apprehensive as she spoke, but he found what she had said fascinating. Not only was she not a beorc, she had the ability to shift forms as well. He'd never heard of anyone transforming into a weapon though. Then again, he was sure her world didn't have people who grew whiskers and teeth at will either! He opened his eyes, smiling thoughtfully up at her.

"It seems we have more in common than I thought! I don't know of "Earth" or "Japan" but, as I said before, I can also shape-shift. We aren't from the same worlds, but we still have similarities. I find that incredibly interesting."

He paused for a moment. There was something else he was going to say... what was it? AH! Yes.

"You used the word "human", right? Is that a common word to refer to beorc here? We use that word where I come from, but when coming from a laguz it is meant as an insult."

Ah, so her hunch had been right: they weren’t from the same place. (Let alone a recognizable version of Earth.) But despite how mind-boggling the thought could still be, Tsubaki didn’t find it terribly distressing. Maybe someone Ranulf knew was already here? Having familiar faces was comforting if not fortunate, and it was easier to get by if there was someone from the same world around.

It seemed like he found her own disposition a good-curious rather than a bad-curious. Was transformation not a common thing where he was from? If so, that would probably have made his body alteration that much more disturbing. “Actually, I know of people who can change into animal shapes of their own. They just don‘t call themselves laguz,” supplied Tsubaki with a touch of thoughtfulness. It was Blair who came to the forefront of her mind, but there were also the witches, and Free. So many people and clans…

Ranulf’s next question turned her train of thought in a different direction. By polite terms, then, he’d meant that ‘human’ was less appropriate by his standards. That was a different tradition than what she was used to.

“It is for the most part; I don’t really know of any other replacements that people here use. It’s quite normal in the place I come from,” she replied at length. “It can still be rude depending on how you mean it. Then there are human beings who aren’t used to other species besides their own at all…” It was complicated business, language! Complicated enough without contending worldviews, at that. It made her wonder if Ranulf noticed she was somehow speaking his language, if they even used different languages.

Ahhh, so beast transformation was common where she was from as well. No wonder she didn't find him odd! Then again, he was sure he'd had enough help from the facility itself to alter his physical appearance. He was curious about how the people where she was from were able to shift forms, but decided to save that question for another time.

Humans didn't mind being called "humans"? He made a mental note of this, but still decided to tread carefully with the word. There were sure to be others, like Tsubaki and himself, who weren't fully beorc at all and most likely take it personally. On the subject of words, he was struck with another thought, and decided to relay it to Tsubaki.

"I'm supposing this place has a spell over it so we can understand each other as well, correct?"

It was like he’d been reading her mind there for a minute.

“O--Yes! That’s my best guess. You sound like you’re speaking the language of Japan right now. So far it works for everybody.”

The translation magic was one of the more innocent and helpful aspects to Landel’s--one of the few. It only got her thinking of the many less than beneficial things Ranulf was going to experience the longer he was in the Institute. For instance, there was this nightshift to worry about.

“There’re other forces like that one, too, that affect us all,” she added. Tsubaki could never be positive on what the time was, but it was a good opportunity to mention what was going to happen once the sun rose. And for all she knew, it could happen in the next moment. “Like with the ends to these nights. Usually the intercom will come on--er, if you don’t know what that is, it means you’ll start hearing a man speak from a device in the wall--and then you’ll black out. It’s disconcerting, but I haven’t heard of a way to stop it. It happens the same way every night. You’ll just come awake in your room tomorrow morning, and then a nurse will be by to take you to breakfast.”

Language barriers didn't apply? If only this place were used for good instead of evil. Sorcery like this could be of so much help back in Tellius. The sophistication of this magic was only further proof that this... hospital... was a force to be reckoned with.

He leaned back against the wall and stretched out his legs while Tsubaki went on about what happened when the sun came up. A man would speak out of a device? How big was this device, and why did people pass out from his voice? This place only became stranger and stranger.

"Monsters, dark magic and hospital food. If it weren't for the atmosphere, I'd swear I was in a dungeon or a nightmare, both of which would be a preference." he replied, giving Tsubaki another quirky smile.

It was difficult for her to make out details when they were both plunged in total darkness; Tsubaki was quite sure already that Ranulf had the better night version. She couldn’t be positive on his body language, but his choice of words made her curious.

What did he mean by the atmosphere? Tsubaki found it hard to imagine anything more dungeon-like--all the Institute was missing were rusty shackles hanging from the ceiling, and iron maidens, and things of that sort. Actually, she wouldn’t be surprised if the place already had them. Ranulf didn’t sound like he was being downright sarcastic, but maybe he was.

She was quiet for a moment before directing her gaze forward at the hall opposite them. “It is hard to believe something so awful can be real.”

"Honestly, nothing in this world surprises me. Well, if this were my world anyway."

He laughed a little at that, and continued.

"I've seen lots of evil where I come from. Prisons, dungeons, battlefields, torture facilities... this is just another upgrade. A rather advanced upgrade, but an upgrade."

He followed her gaze, but saw nothing threatening down the hallway. Intaking air into his nostrils, he didn't smell anyone either. They were safe for now.

"I agree though, that it's inconceivable on just how far the lengths of some evils can go."

He looked up curiously at her for a moment before asking his next question.

"When the sun rises... will I see you again? In the morning I mean?"

So Ranulf was probably like a lot of the others, a fighter of some kind, someone experienced in the darker side of life. From the way he sounded, he knew what he was talking about.

But an advanced upgrade, huh? Tsubaki glanced back at Ranulf. It made their situation sound like an ambitious video game gone bad, but she thought it was a fair assessment. For a rotten soul to be able to do this, it would take a great deal of power… the kind a kishin could call on. And here the prisoners were, each drawn in by that power for whatever purpose the Head Doctor, the man seemingly behind it all, had in mind. No matter what kind of world they came from, evil was still a part of them. In a way, it linked she and Ranulf together.

There wasn’t any more that Tsubaki could add in response to his words; the truth of the matter was what it was. After a moment of silence, she thought about broaching another subject, but before she could, he spoke up again. “Of course, yes,” Tsubaki was quick to say. She’d been going to mention it herself, as there was still so much he’d need to get used to. She wanted to know he was going to be all right in that regard. It was one more friendly face, right? “I can track you down, and you can ask the nurses for Miyu--that‘s what they call me. Plus there’s a lounge I’m sure your nurse will mention, the Sun Room. It has a bulletin board where the prisoners put up notes for each other. I’m always keeping an eye on it. If you need me, I‘ll find you.” She smiled at him, the brightest yet, to give him some heart.

The idea of meeting up with Tsubaki again made Ranulf smile. He still hoped this was all a horrible nightmare but he was happy that if it wasn't, he had someone to talk to.

"If this isn't some bad dream, I'll look for you tomorrow. It would be nice to meet up with you again."

He grinned, staring up at her and spoke again.

"Thanks... by the way. I don't know what I would have done tonight without you. The ironic thing is I'm usually a guide for others!"

He laughed once again, letting the chuckles block out the negative feelings he'd acquired since waking up in this godforsaken place.

Ah… she wished it was just a bad dream. For him, for everyone. Maybe, though, Ranulf would wake up back where he belonged and believed everything so far had just been a bad joke of his unconscious; even if Tsubaki wasn’t convinced those who left suddenly were returned to their homes safe and sound, she could still hope it happened.

She nodded again, pertly.

When Ranulf thanked her, the tone of her smile became softer. She felt like what little she’d done had been the least anyone could do. This place was a prison, both strange and dangerous--it’d be the height of narrow-mindedness for her to be so bent on her own escape that she didn’t try to help others who found themselves here, like Hikaru and Kaoru had done for her not that long ago. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s enough that I could explain some of it before you were alone for too long.” She regretted she couldn’t do much more than that to relief more of his suffering, but it was out of her power. That’d have to come with finally stopping the Head Doctor and whoever else might be involved in the Institute.

The question of just what he did as a guide was on Tsubaki’s lips, however it seemed like her words had come to foreshadow the inevitable. Before she knew it, the night was over.

Night 47: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

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