With the surprisingly painless ordeal of the showers over, Otacon found himself rather chipper as he headed in for lunch. Coffee still wasn't on the menu, but the shower had been enough for refreshment, and he had to acknowledge that the food could be much, much worse in this place.

The conversation at breakfast, while strange and intense in several ways, cheered him now. Whatever this place and time was — his nightmares come to life, the cruel second chance for E.E. — he was confident that they'd all find their way past it.

"That looks inconvenient," remarked Otacon, nodding at Rufus' injuries as he took a seat at the table. He'd learned not to raise eyebrows at all the bandaged patients here, not that bruises and burns and gunshot wounds phased him much anymore. Still, the blond man looked like he'd seen more than his fair share of action at Landel's.