damned_institute | Night 48: M-A Block Hallway

Entry tags:

Night 48: M-A Block Hallway

[from here]

The thing about Asch was that he wouldn't have done the same in return. It was made obvious time and time again that he didn't need Luke's help in this place; if he needed it, he would have accepted the offer the first time. That didn't keep Luke from being worried. He thought that maybe if he found Asch and explained the situation, he would understand. Then again, it was possible that Asch saw Luke as some pathetic replica who really couldn't make any decisions for himself. Really, it probably looked like he had a shaky resolve. One moment he wanted to save everyone, and the next, it was as if Master Van had talked him into something again.

Even so, he remembered how Asch lashed out at him for possibly dying, too. It was surprising to see that Asch cared about such a thing. Hadn't he wanted Luke dead all along? If that was a lie, if Asch cared about something else, then maybe Luke needed to go to him. After ditching him against his will last night, he couldn't help but feel as if he needed to make it up to him in some way. He felt a little bad making Asch wait for him, and it was possible that the original of the pair just wanted to avoid him. It could have been a one-chance-and-that's-it mentality.

But even so, Luke refused to give up.

Some part of him realized that Guy probably didn't want to spend his evening doing this, either. Even through the medium of the notes, he remembered how Guy acted when Luke said he'd be spending the evening with Asch. It was just a good thing that Guy managed to get something done, even if Luke's accomplishments of the evening were very much in the negatives range. He was glad his best friend would stick by him when he did go to look for Asch, though. It couldn't be easy for Guy. The history between Guy's family and Luke's was bloody, and he couldn't imagine that it would be easy for Guy to ever disconnect that with the actual Duke's son. Luke's father had destroyed everything that was precious to Guy; Luke realized that the only reason things were different with him was because he was a replica. In some ways, it wasn't fair, but in many others, he understood.

Still, he wanted to get there quickly, before Guy would be burdened with having to speak to Asch. Plus, the idea of getting there before Asch dangerously descended into the dark hallways of the institute urged him to move quickly. He wouldn't let Asch get away. He would corner him and make him talk to him.

Luke's fingers wrapped tightly around the items he held as he continued on, shoes hitting the floor as he moved to round the corner quickly. It was a little surprising that the hallway he hit was currently empty, but maybe that was just a sign that he was making good time. Either way, he didn't hesitate in moving on. Wondering over how empty it was would give Asch a chance to get away. He wouldn't let him do that.

[to here]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[from here]

The path itself was already one that he knew too well. His mind memorized it, and in order to preserve his battery life, he switched off the flashlight as he hit the new hallway. He'd been here before, and after a quick flash down the hall, he didn't see anyone. The coast was clear. Nothing to bother him. Nothing to keep him from his destination.

He almost wished that he had decided to go pick up Kairi instead of taking this route. Making her have to make her way here on her own didn't make him feel comfortable. She didn't need to be attacked again. She didn't need to be attacked, either.

But it wouldn't do to keep making her feel as if she couldn't handle herself. If Riku didn't believe she couldn't fight, he wouldn't have given her that keyblade he found. No, she had a shot in a place like this. He believed it, too.

So he kept moving, with his body adjusting to the different stamina he now had.

[to here.]

Edited 2010-03-23 07:02 (UTC)

[From here.]

It looked like he was getting off to a fast start, since the hallway was completely empty. That was getting to be the norm, though, since Sora always did his best to run out the moment the doors unlocked. He'd had night end at inopportune moments too many times in the past; the last thing he wanted to do was waste time unnecessarily.

Geez, he sounded like Luxord when he thought like that. Too bad the Nobody couldn't warp time here. Not that he'd do it in any sort of helpful way... That would just be too nice and too easy! Though the man had been acting weird when he'd briefly talked to him earlier that day. Sora didn't know what that was all about, but it wasn't exactly at the forefront of his mind at this point.

Either way, the best way to make sure that things actually got done was by being prompt, and so the boy briskly headed for the door that led out into the larger hallways.

[To here.]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/841269.html?thread=67416629#t67416629)]

The halls were currently empty as Xemnas passed through them, lacking the radiance of the flashlights or any other signs of fellow patients. It possibly indicated the fact he had stepped out of the room before the majority of those trapped within this facility had. When the nights were seemingly the only opportunity for seeking answers, moving as swiftly was of importance.

It was a path he had already traversed a number of times during his short stay here, so there was little reason to inspect it as thoroughly as he had when he had just arrived.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/843430.html?thread=67433894#t67433894)

There wasn't much further to go- as long as he kept telling himself that, Kibitoshin decided, he wouldn't fly into a panic again like he had in that other hallway a little way back. Then he wouldn't have to stub his toe on a door to bring himself back to reality; what good was a paramedic who constantly injured himself?

But while the idea of tackling all the injuries in the entire Institute still seemed incredibly daunting to him, now that night had fallen and shadows seemed to fill every last inch of the building, he still couldn't help but... well. Be rather excited about it, actually. It was nice that they'd be meeting up first to try and decide things properly, like they were part of a real organisation, and that lended him a kind of hopefulness he hadn't anticipated. This would work out- he knew it would!

As Peter got closer and closer to his destination, he couldn't help realizing just how ridiculous he felt. Even though the note on the bulletin had seemed pretty open to anyone who was willing to help, here he was going to a meeting that was about medically aiding people, and what did he have? A big roll of bandages around his arm and a lack of supplies. He'd been getting himself hurt more than tending to anyone else during this time here, and so he didn't have much to show for himself.

Hopefully he wouldn't get laughed out of the room. He knew he was being irrational, but he couldn't help feeling out of sorts when he knew that his brother was as good as gone again. Even though Peter was trying to ignore the pain in his arm that came from carrying something even as light as a flashlight, with the mood he was in, he just kept focusing on it.

Stupid. He needed to think positive, and he was hoping that whoever was at this meeting would be helpful with that. Even if they were strangers, it'd be nice to just have someone to talk to after the discovery that he'd just made. Not that Peter was going to make the meeting all about him. It was more that he wanted to be in company rather than by himself, since that would just lead to moping.

So, for the second time that night Peter wandered down a hallway in search of a specific room. Hopefully this would go better than the first time.

Edited 2010-03-24 01:05 (UTC)

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/843430.html?thread=67464102#t67464102)]

She couldn't remember if she'd ever been in the men's block before--maybe their first night, when she'd gone to find Manny?--but she was glad she was almost the only one in this hallway now; even just traveling through here felt strangely transgressive.

But Meche was here on business, after all. If only she knew Manny and--no, just Manny's room number now, she could go see who was there and, if it wasn't Manny, what they could tell her. Since she didn't, though, all she could do was press on toward her destination at the last hallway on the right.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/841578.html?thread=67465834#t67465834)]

[and back from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/841578.html?thread=67465834#t67465834)]

Now what, Meche wondered. Knocking on every door trying to find missing persons wasn't any more realistic an option than it had been the first night, so she'd just have to do something else. Senna and Alita's room sounded like a reasonable idea--she should check in on them and maybe let them know what she'd said in the report, just in case they had something to add. It was as good a plan as any, she decided.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/843430.html?thread=67469478#t67469478)]

[From here.]

There weren't so many people here that Peter had to worry about being seen. Most likely they would have moved out by the time he finished changing, or simply failed to notice the slight boy with the pillow case passing by. That was one thing about being 'Puny Parker' that he liked - being invisible was no biggie. No one suspected you because there was nothing about you to suspect. Underwhelming in every way.

...It was also unbelievably depressing.

[To here.]

Edited 2010-03-25 01:11 (UTC)

[Back from here!]

The hallway was just about as deserted as he left it. He'd prefer it to be empty, but you can't have your cake and eat it too. Which made no sense if you thought about it. What was stopping you from eating the cake if you had it in your hands? A big fat nothing, that was what. If he had cake right now he would dig in face first and not regret a minute of it.

Ah, but delicious carrot cake musings would have to wait. Now he had to go make boo boo eyes at a scalpel wielding murderer and hope that he would melt into such a pile of goo that he'd leave Brainy alone forever.

The things he did for that guy.

[To here.]

Edited 2010-03-25 20:05 (UTC)

[From here.]

Almost there. It was M22, right? Luke was lucky that his own room was so close to Asch's -- or unlucky, as the case might be. Guy wished he wasn't so far away himself, but he figured they'd be able to pick better meeting spots in the future, when a certain God-General wasn't making problems for them.

He needed to compose himself, though. If he entered the conversation with a glare on his face, that would probably only escalate whatever argument was already going on (and it was almost impossible for the original and the replica to talk without it turning into a fight), and they just didn't have the time for it.

Sighing to himself, Guy found the right hallway and started down it.

[To here.]

Edited 2010-03-25 06:07 (UTC)

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/842834.html?thread=67435346#t67435346)]

The downside of bringing someone along, especially someone he didn't know, was that he wasn't sure how Sai would feel about it. Scourge knew Usopp's room number now, or at least could guess at it, and Usopp could do the same, but that was just chance.

Maybe he'd just have to find a way to ask Scourge to wait a moment while Usopp ran and got the slingshot. After he had it, he was sure his destination'd be worthwhile for them both.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/843430.html?thread=67496358#t67496358)]

Edited 2010-03-24 23:46 (UTC)

[From here.]

It wasn't often that Guy headed out to the third block for male patients, but he certainly knew how to get there. It was hard to be clueless about something like that when he'd been here for so long. He'd always have a good hold on the layouts of the rooms due to that one time when he'd walked the entirety of the female block with Jade, and it served him well in times like this.

Besides, even if this was a detour, it was one that was going to serve Luke well -- not to mention it was going to give the younger man a slightly better idea of where everything was in the building. The blocks were pretty basic, but having that down was still important, especially when it came to finding people.

He glanced over at Luke as they walked. "So... how've you been holding up?" All he wanted to do was ask his friend about his own memory issues, but it seemed only right to check on him first. That was Guy how tended to be; putting others before him.

"Not as well as you'd probably hope," Luke confessed. It was better than beating around the bush. "But Cloud helped me feel a little better about it all. Still, I'm not used to everyone forgiving me, and it shouldn't be that easy." His steps slowed a little, with him looking seriously at his best friend. This wasn't the time for it, but he needed to pause to say this.

"Do you remember how I was before Akzeriuth? I didn't even care about Ion. I thought I was gonna be the one to help everyone. Stupid me ..." He frowned, and then completely halted his steps. "That's how I was thinking while I was doing it. It didn't matter if it didn't make sense. It was so much like before that it was almost too simple."

While it was always hard to hear that Luke wasn't doing well, Guy knew that it could be worse. Here his friend was, continuing on despite the hits that he'd taken. It was way different from how he'd reacted to Akzeruith, for instance. Allowing himself to mope and feel sorry for himself wasn't going to do any good, and Luke had clearly learned that years ago. It was also good to know that his friend had a roommate who was looking out for him. People were going to be forgiving considering the context, even if that wasn't what Luke necessarily wanted.

The moment that Luke stopped, Guy did as well. If Luke was doing that, then it was clear that he was putting a lot of importance into his words. It wasn't pleasant to hear Luke describe the experience, and it only made Guy cringe at the thought of how he'd be in that situation. "I know it's tough, Luke, but all of that was just fabricated. Landel wants to mess with you, and he's pretty good at knowing what will get to someone." There was a similarity between the Head Doctor and Van, in that way. They could find people's weaknesses and then exploit them. Guy didn't think it would be a good idea to make that connection out loud, though. Not when Luke was feeling like this.

"We should keep moving, though," he said with a sigh. He hated to rush Luke, but they had someone waiting. He was sure his friend would understand that, and so Guy continued down the hall and out the next door.

[To here.]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/841578.html?thread=67544426#t67544426).]

As Porky skipped down the hallway towards the courtyard and the gardener's shed by proxy, he couldn't help but squeal with delight as he imagined that idiot Scott Pilgrim burning in a horrible fire. The mere thought of flames consuming his enemies brought back so many memories!

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/845200.html?thread=67548816#t67548816), skipping a few halls.]

[From here.]

"He's attracting all my cha-- Whoa!" Guybrush had to turn sideways to dodge being trampled by an old man who skipped past him, squealing with some sort of unbridled glee. The pirate shook his head, a little confused. "Well, he certainly looked... peppy. Now, where was I?"

He spotted the side hall. "Oh right. Almost there. They really ought to add some shortcuts to this place."

[To here.]

Edited 2010-03-26 07:09 (UTC)

[From here.]

More people were out and about now, passing Guybrush and encouraging him to walk faster. If he wanted to get anything accomplished before the night inexplicably ended, he'd have to learn to walk faster or make friends with the people who were on his own hallway. At least he had some incentive for a block party.

[To here.]

Edited 2010-03-27 02:19 (UTC)

[From here.]

As he neared Javert's room, Guybrush couldn't help but wonder how he'd managed to mangle his foot so badly from standing in an open flame for only a few seconds. He was admittedly flimsier than most pirates, but he prided himself on his uncanny stamina- the ability to gracefully take several blows to the face without a visible scratch was almost as impressive as being able to hold his breath for ten minutes.

He wasn't wholly sure, but injuries seemed easier to get (or maybe they just hurt worse- it was kind of the same thing) within the space of the institute. That couldn't be good.

[To here.]

Edited 2010-04-06 07:40 (UTC)

[from here]

Klavier had no intention of going anywhere particularly dangerous this night (unless his brother's room counted), but he still remained cautious as he walked through the corridor. Frankly, he hadn't encountered any real monsters in this place. Despite how widespread the rumors were, he was starting to doubt the validity of any of it. He had encountered a ghost-like apparition his first night here, yes, but it had certainly been no "monster." The only things here that could be considered "monsters" were the people here.

He maintained a distance from any he passed in the hall, neutrally ignoring them as one might a rambling derelict in downtown LA. They were none of his concern. There was only one person he cared about at the moment.

At the end of his hall, Klavier stopped. The note he had left for Kristoph had disappeared from the bulletin board very quickly. It was only natural to assume that was a refusal on his brother's part. If that were the case, Kristoph would likely leave his room at the first opportunity. ...So he would likely be passing through here very soon.

Sigh. Since when had they each been reduced to avoiding each other? It was really annoying. Not to mention juvenile. Regardless, Klavier leaned against the wall dividing the brothers' two hallways, one hand in his pocket, the other tapping his flashlight a bit impatiently.

It didn’t take very long for Klavier to regret the decision. Regardless of whether he should be more wary of beasts or people, standing alone and open in a dark hallway wasn’t exactly a brilliant idea. A few moments of waiting around in silence was enough to spike up his anxiety. Still, he stood his ground and waited, watching passing form and listening to any hushed voice within range for familiarity.

Time passed and the sounds of shuffling movements died down, leaving him with nothing. Still no sign of his brother. Klavier frowned slightly to himself and glanced warily at Kristoph’s hallway. …What exactly was going on? Had he actually decided to heed the younger’s words and stay in his room despite the insulting reaction? Had he misread his actions yet again?

He pulled away from the wall, unsure of what to make of any of this. A knot was twisting in his stomach and he was gripping the flashlight a bit too tightly. He didn’t like this. He wasn’t accustomed to dealing with so much unpredictability, especially from his own blood. And it wasn’t like him to walk into situations with no idea as to how they might turn out; a plan, a reaction. Yet that was exactly what he found himself doing time and again here. What he found himself doing now.

[to here]

[From here]

No matter how many times he traveled these hallways, they always stayed cold and oppressive. In a strange way, it was a comfort and reminded him of home. The walls were more furbished there of course, lined with paintings and accented wallpaper, but the feeling was practically the same as it was here. These were not places a sane person would wish to stay. They weren't safe.

He supposed the familiarity mixed with the creeping dread made it worse. It was one thing to hate something for being restraining and controlling - it was another to be comforted by it at the same time.

He wasn't sure what that said about him. He wasn't going to think about it anymore either.

[This way]

Edited 2010-03-28 12:47 (UTC)

[From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/841578.html?thread=67452778#t67512682)]

Kurt rolled the cart along behind him, both nervous and confident as he walked the hallways. On the one hand, this was the first time he'd been out in the hallways since that chick beat the tar out of him. But on the other, Terry was right there in his... scaryass mask. Hopefully if anybody decided they didn't like the way Kurt looked, they'd be deterred by the pointy-eared, white-eyed looming young man behind the harmless-looking mutant. ...yeah, little weird.

"We could be... I dunno, Fuzzy and the Masks," Kurt said with a grin, clearly enjoying coming up with lame names.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/843430.html?thread=67646118#t67646118)]

[from here]

He knew where he twin laid; he knew it well, after all, half-curled behind him as he slept. And even if not, a heartbeat spoke true and he followed it faithfully, misplaced sword in hand, to a group hall. He paused in the door, a question still present. And what would he do, once he was faced with his twin? How could he blame him for everything? How could he fault him, when Albedo had only expected as much? Rubedo... would not stay. It tore something delicate, ripped fiercely, and he pressed a hand to his chest.

Caught here, a glance upward glimpsed a disappearing trail; another familiar, another well-known, even. The youngest's puppy was so carefree in his wanderings. Where was the pet going, so unaware of his surroundings? Did he have a right to be so unweighted, after all that had transpired? Klavier could no more look after a twelve-year old than his own self, and this was only and ever fact. If one wanted to look for blame, for a center of hostility, Albedo should look no further. The man had disappointed him in every way, abandoned his twin after Nigredo had had faith in him, and still allowed the youngest to come to harm under his own watch. Let alone, their first meeting, so outlandish and incomprehensible. Let alone the night prior, and the man's overreactions. No, if Albedo wanted fuel, wanted an outlet for his silent seething anger, he would not look to a heartbeat beating betrayal in the slow time of one asleep. Only heartbreak rested there; only a lack of satisfaction. He would not be able... to find a relief there. The thought came as sorrow, and he understood without a word. That things were only continuing to change. It was not something comforting, not a reassurance--that something so beloved held neither an outlet for comfort or for rage. It dropped like lead into his stomach, seeped up to poison his veins. Mouth thinning into a line, he closed his eyes; breathed.

When he opened them, his gaze was blank, and without a moment more, he stepped forward.

[to here]

Getting to the stairs, at least, would be easy, but Peter had to admit that he was going to have to rely on Kibitoshin for some of this. Unless the kid was just as clueless as he was, in which case they'd have to put their heads together. Between the two of them, he was certain they could find their way.

"So... we're heading up to where the experiments are performed, right?" Peter frowned at his own clinical language, but it was force of habit and difficult to change now that he'd already said the words. "Have you been up there before?"

Out of the safety of M7 and out in the open, Kibitoshin had to force himself to breath just so that he could take the first few steps. Hesitation definitely wasn't going to help anyone tonight, not least Peter or himself, but he just needed that extra push. Once they got going it would get easier.

"Uh-huh. I was there last night." Although last night he'd been with Fai and Sechs, and Sechs had nearly tried to kill them. In spite of himself, he couldn't help but give Peter a nervous look. Don't be silly. That was just a... a big misunderstanding. Stop being such a pushover and show some spine already! "It was empty then, but you just can't tell around here, huh?"

Tifa opened the door wide and quietly walked into the new hallway. Her first impression was disappointment. There weren't very many people lingering in this place. Wanting to get this over with as fast as possible, the brunette gripped her flashlight tightly and jogged down the short corridor, praying with every step a bra strap didn't break. She was going to have to ask for a more athletic bra next time her nurse woke her up.

She made quick work of the hallways, flashing her light down the four halls that intersected it.

Well shit. Tifa didn't see anyone she knew. Plus she already felt a bit winded. That wasn't good, at all.

Humming lowly and remembering to keep her spirit up, she backtracked to the last hallway. There were plenty of other places he could be.

Edited 2010-04-03 00:08 (UTC)

[from here]

S.T. didn't bother switching his flashlight on for this trip; he knew where he was going. Still, it wasn't often he was the only one in the hall. Especially this late.

If time could even be measured in relative intervals. Fucking with the laws of biology wasn't enough. The Head Bastard had to go and take elementary mechanics out of the equation as well. Late was likely too fucking right. After all, no-one had reported accidental sonic booms just from jogging in the halls. So everything was slowed down, not sped up. Right? Yeah, probably. Or he was just being stupid for even thinking about it.

[to here]

Edited 2010-04-04 16:48 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Night 48: M-A Block Hallway

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject