damned_institute | Day 23: Lunch

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Day 23: Lunch

The second the intercom sounded, while the man on the intercom was still talking, Ashton pulled himself off the couch in the Music Room and slowly made his way to the door. He walked, glided even, as if he were a ghost in a dream. The nurses had already filed up to escort the patients to the lunchroom, and one bustled over to walk Ashton those few feet from one room to another.

"You're not looking very well, Mr. Pritchett," she said cheerfully. "Didn't you enjoy your shower?"

Ashton replied with a small, forced smile, then shook his head. He didn't feel like talking now. Though the nurses were pushy and downright annoying, he figured he owed this one at least a little explanation. They didn't know - or didn't believe - what went on after dark, but he owed them the benefit of the doubt. "Bad day," he decided on telling her.

Bad day indeed. The showers and the music had done nothing for his nerves. But then again, what could get that graphic image out of his head?

He glided ghostily through the taco line and settled on two chicken and bean tacos, with chips, a scoop of guacamole, two churros on the side, and a glass of apple juice. He wasn't used to this sort of food (save the juice) and he wasn't even sure he'd eat it, but the chances were high that he'd be able to pass it off on someone.

He was on the verge of tears again, too. What he would have given to just sit down next to a barrel and eat a hamburger.

Thank goodness the cafeteria was bare just now, too. It left all the corner tables open, the tables that shouted 'Don't talk to me, I'm brooding over here.' He sat at one, pushed his food a little away from him, and buried his head in his arms.

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Naminé resisted backing away when Larxene leaned closer. No, she could not allow herself to be intimidated again. Wasn't she supposed to be stronger than this...?

But she said nothing in response to Larxene's request. So... Larxene did not remember? Or it didn't happen yet. All of the sudden, Naminé understood why Larxene had sought her out. Well, perhaps it was just to toy with her, as Larxene as so fond of doing, but perhaps Marluxia was from the same timeline as her.

Well, she had already explained these events before. After drawing a deep breath, Naminé began her story. About the plot to overthrow the Organization, Axel and her own role in dismantling this plot, how Larxene and Marluxia died, and how everyone else died for that matter. It was actually quite depressing to hear, Naminé thought, but what bothered her the most was how oddly quiet Larxene was during her story.

"... And that's what happened," She finished, taking a nervous bite out of her burrito. Taco. Naminé wondered what kind of response Larxene would have to such a story.

"You can ask everyone else. It's true," She added lamely, in case Larxene was suspecting she was inventing parts of the story.

"That won't be necessary; I've already been told bits and pieces by the other members."

Well, she had certainly gotten more than expected. Naminé’s story confirmed what the others had told her about Castle Oblivion. However, she didn’t quite know how to react after hearing the fate of the Organization and its members. Axel killing himself like the wimp that he was, the mighty Xemnas being defeated by a boy…

She had to hand it to Naminé, this information would definitely come in handy.

Larxene didn’t question its authenticity, knowing that the witch would never lie to her out of fear of being caught.

“To think that a shrimp like the key bearer had so much power, it’s almost amusing.”

Reaching across the table, she took the Churro that was on Namine’s tray without so much as asking. Not like Larxene ever needed permission for anything before.

“So, what you been up to, my little memory witch?” asked the Nobody as she took a bite out of the Mexican pastry.

The Witch said nothing as Larxene continued to talk. This was very awkward for her, knowing that if Larxene so much as touched her, she could scream for the nurses. In a way, though, Naminé knew she wouldn't do it, out of fear for what retaliation that would come swiftly in the night and also because it seemed like she was betraying Larxene in some weird sense. As a fellow patient, it seemed oddly wrong to Naminé to use the nurses as defense when, at night, they become grosteque monsters.

Then again, this was Larxene she was thinking about. Naminé did nothing as Larxene took her churro, though she did draw her tray ever closer to herself.

"... Surviving," She said again, but this time it was no joke. "I'm sure you know of the monsters that walk at night."

"What a coincidence, that's the same thing I've been focusing on."

She leaned back in her chair, letting her arm fall to the side while she used the other one to eat the Churro. Something sour would’ve been much better. “I get the feeling you've been doing a better job at it than me, though, and I haven’t seen any of these big bad monsters everybody keeps talking about though."

The Savage Nympth had been in Landel’s for half a week now, but she still hadn’t been able to look around much. She could thank her injuries and waste-of-time-meetings for that.

“But I’m sure I’ll see them eventually.”

Provided that no unexpected experimentation sessions popped up that night, Larxene would take the opportunity to finally scout around the area.

“Hmm.” She stared at the other Nobody for a moment, before speaking once again. “I can tell that being around me is making you uncomfortable. So, let me suggest a way for you to manage that anxiety. Would you like to hear it? It’s quite effective.”

Her grin had never faded once through their conversation.

Naminé had always treated Larxene like a ticking bomb - she would never know when she would misstep and say the wrong thing and suffer an explosion. So how else could she respond to Larxene's comments by just nodding along? However, Naminé had enough of a spine to at least have some semblance of a conversation going on. She did not want Larxene to think that she was ignoring her, after all.

"That's probably a good thing. I've seen too many monsters," Naminé replied quietly, working through her meal. The food didn't seem too appealing now, unfortunately.

When Larxene suggested that she had a method for "relieving" Naminé's anxiety, the Memory Witch wasn't sure she really wanted to hear Larxene's "suggestion".

"I'm... I'm not anxious. It's alright," Naminé mumbled, and it took all of her strength to stare at Larxene in the eye, like she had done when she defended Sora from her a year ago.

"I've found other things to be afraid of besides you."

“Oh, look at you, the center of attention for all sorts of monsters. I’m so proud.”

Her little act of defiance, however small and insignificant it was, did make her chuckle a bit. Larxene would’ve made her pay for it, but she had something else in mind.

“Well too bad, I’m going to tell you anyway.”

She leant closer to Naminé, more than before and turned her head to the side.

“Come on, you know you want to.” She said, tapping her cheek. “Just one punch and you’ll feel a whole lot better. I’ll even make it a freebie, so you don’t have to worry about retaliation.” It was an offer that anybody in the Organization and beyond would love to have made. Yet here was Naminé, with a once in a non-lifetime chance.

She was so lucky.

“After all I’ve done to you, and will probably do to Sora, I probably deserve it. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The mind games had begun.

The Savage's Nymph's snide remarks still managed to sting, even after all this time. Naminé had a hard time not taking Larxene up on her offer - after all, she couldn't say that she hadn't thought about it. Even though Naminé was far from the violent sort, the offer was very tempting.

But she could not do it. Either out of fear, pride, or maybe both, Naminé shook her head. On the contrary, she actually changed the subject.

"If you want a map of the area, I can draw you a small one. It's not much but it might help you get your bearings a little," She offered, pulling the pen and paper that she stashed in her coat pocket for this purpose out and laying them out on the table.

It was her way of "appeasing" Larxene; perhaps giving her more information would satisfy the Nymph and make her leave Naminé alone. Wishful thinking, but she had nothing to lose by trying. Quite literally.

She could tell that Naminé had actually taken a moment to think about it.

Larxene’s plan was to provoke the witch enough so that she would get in trouble with nurses. Nothing would please her more than to see her humiliated like that. Problem was, Naminé was a smart little Nobody, and ended up changing the subject entirely. No matter. Simply knowing that she had considered the offer was enough for the Nymph.

More often than not, she would classify people into two groups: those who were useful to her, and those who weren’t. If she had a use for someone, she would keep them close. Once obtaining what she needed, they would be discarded as trash and treated as such. It was a simple enough system, one that had yet to fail her.

“That’s so nice of you. I’ll have to find a way to return your kindess.”

It was good to see that Naminé knew her place.

Naminé simply nodded. What was Larxene thinking? Naminé once thought she had Larxene's wicked ways figured out, but things were a little different now. Naminé knew that Larxene technically held no power over her, during the daylight anyway (and she guessed that Larxene would not dare strike her while still a member of the Organization - provided that the Organization still saw Naminé as "useful". Suddenly, the witch wasn't so sure about that anymore), but it still didn't stop her from meekly giving into Larxene's demands.

Or more of, trying to appease them before she could even start.

"It's not necessary," Naminé replied stiffly. "Other people have more complete versions." It was true, after all - Naminé's little map really couldn't compare. She was counting on other patients to fill in the blanks and hopefully share the knowledge.

Besides, Naminé did not want to know what Larxene had in mind to "repay" her for her "kindness".

“Is that so? Well, I’m sure yours will come in handy. After all, that sharp memory of yours hasn’t failed you yet.” Larxene looked on as the witch continued to work on her map.

It was almost too easy. Give Naminé an order and she would do it with no qualms or complaints. Like a dog, conditioned to obey their master’s every command. Do a good job and the animal would be praised. Failure was met with discipline.

She then decided to push the Nobody a little bit more.

“While you’re at it, would you be a darling and mark down your room? I’d like to know where you are in case I need you for something. Oh, and throw in the key bearer’s as well.”

Now, Naminé was more than happy to volounteer her room information for Larxene. Naminé knew she could probably escape the F block before Larxene could even reach her room. Even if she could not, she still could hide in one of the other rooms - she could even hide in M Block if she had to. There were other things to fear in the night other than Larxene.

But when Larxene requested Sora's room number, Naminé looked like she had been asked to lick Larxene's boots. No. She would not put Sora in danger. She had stood up to Larxene for Sora's sake and she would gladly do it again.

"My room is F3," Naminé answered. "I don't know where Sora's room is. I haven't spoken to him in a very long time and I never asked."

She knew Larxene would catch on to her lie, but the Savage Nymph could beat the little Nobody senseless and still get no answer. Naminé would not allow anyone else to get caught up in Larxene's cruel game.

F3, she made a mental note about that.

“Oh? That’s too bad.” Larxene finished eating the last of the Churro, licking the remaining sugar and crumbs from her fingers. “Let me know if you ever find out. We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him, now, would we?”

As if she expected Naminé to tell the likes of her anything about the keyblade master.

Stupid girl.

Ah well, she could always beat it out of her later on.

Injure someone enough and they would sing like a canary. The witch would be no different, simply a matter of time.

Naminé did not like this. She had the feeling she would have to avoid beeing seen with Sora if the two ever spoke again, lest she get a surprise visit from Larxene later on. But she would not let Larxene win. She would have to find Sora's room on her own, and she would have to deal with whatever would come with finding that information on her own.

The announcement that lunch was over soon came, and Naminé didn't ever think that she would be happy to hear the Head Doctor's voice. As the nurses came, it seemed like this would be the perfect time to say something to Larxene, while being surrounded by protection. Something that would let the Savage Nymph know how she really felt about this whole situation.

But being a Nobody, Naminé could not truly feel anger, spite and rage. She certainly wasn't feeling any now as the nurses told her it was time to head to the showers.

"Goodbye for now, Larxene," was all Naminé said. This wouldn't be the last time they would meet, she was sure.

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Day 23: Lunch

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