Day 23: Lunch

[part1of3.livejournal.com]

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.

Comments

[nero-yamato.livejournal.com]

I suppose I can do to wait for a while. Don't take the whole night, though. If you feel you're going to be longer than expected, find a way to let me know so I can leave." Vergil sipped some more of his water down and saw Miku come by "Feel free to join us." he said in response to her question "There's certainly nothing to stop you."

Vergil still didn't like this girl too much, he always did have a problem with people as submissive as she was, but he couldn't necessarily stop her, and Alfons seemed to like her, so Vergil decided he'd just have to deal with her for now. He gestured for her a place to sit, and went back to Alfons.

"I'll assume this is that Ed person I've heard so much about." Vergil said to Alfons "If you could, I was told he'd be contacted about a request of mine through a network of alchemist. Ask him if he's heard anything about my request, if you would."

[clockworkblond.livejournal.com]

"Please feel free to join us; I hope that you're feeling better today," Alfons politely answered to Miku, though now he was a little confused. Her hair was damp, but she didn't look older than he was... that was really weird. Maybe she was just small for her age?

...and Alfons had to contain a sigh as his mind instantly added 'Just like Ed' before he could stop it.

As for Vergil's question? Alfons nodded, a little bit of a smile on his face. "Yes, it's Ed; he's the same person I was going to ask to make the sword for you as well, as I promised, but if he's already been asked then I'll just make sure of it. And if not... then I'll request it again. We kind of got everything smoothed over, so while it might take a little while, you'll get your katana eventually." The German was certain of that; with how well Vergil handled himself, and with how strong he seemed, a katana in his hands would make him tremendously powerful. And Alfons promised himself that he'd work as quickly as possible; he wanted to explore as much as he could, too!

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Miku sat down next to Alfons, listening intently. In her mind, a map was being laid out - Alfons knew Vergil for a (possibly?) mercantile relationship, and Alfons's friend Ed was somehow related to that.

Perhaps it was Vergil's distaste in his expression for her that prompted her next sentence as she slid her seat closer to the table. "About last night, I'm very thankful that you helped me... I wasn't myself." She put her head slightly to the side and smiled, gratitude evident. "I don't want to think of what might of happened, because I have people waiting for me at home," it wasn't exactly true - there was only one person and a cat waiting for her - but they didn't need to know that. "And I want to get home to them as soon as possible." She was able to escape Himuro mansion in five days, Miku thought with a bit of pride and sorrow, she could make it out of Landel's too, with a little effort. Her smile brightened.

"So, tonight, when I go map-making, I'll be sure to make copies for you both, so you won't get lost either." Miku didn't mind being alone, that was certain. And now that she had Ritsuka's part, it was only a matter of time before she had a nice little chunk of map to share with Namine when she had a chance.

[nero-yamato.livejournal.com]

"Alone?" Vergil said inquisitively "If you're sure you can handle it, by all means go ahead. However, considering how last night went for you, and that was without any of the creatures we've been told to fear appearing, you might want to reconsider."

Vergil thought about what she had said about having people to come home to, and realized he really didn't have that privilege. No one was going to be excited and happy when he got back home. No one at all. "If you have people waiting for you, don't waste that. It's a luxury some of us don't have here." Vergil finished off his water and wished they served some good tea in this place.

"Regardless, if you insist on this map making venture of yours, at least find someone to come along with you."

[clockworkblond.livejournal.com]

"It's all right, I was happy to help you. But Vergil's right, you shouldn't go alone if you can help it; we might not be there next time, or you might run into something more dangerous. ...besides, the people who are waiting for you would be sad if something happened. So you should at least try to take care of yourself. For that matter, we could possibly take you with us? I know that I'm just getting in the way as well, so... at least with two of us there, we could make sure that both could get away if it was needed, right?"

After a moment's consideration, his smile faltered just a little when he looked at Vergil, some concern in his eyes. "Does that mean that you don't have anyone waiting for you, either?"

The idea that someone else didn't have anyone who cared if he lived or died was very saddening for the gentle blond; while he knew that he would just be going right back to his death, at least Maes had made it absolutely clear that he would be welcome if that could somehow be arranged. He'd like to offer the same to the older man; after all he'd done and promised to do, it was the least Alfons could do. To say nothing of his plain instinct of taking the unloved in and caring for them.

[rope-victim.livejournal.com]

Something dangerous? Miku knew now she was treading carefully - how not to make them worry?
She smoothed her features into another slightly concerned one. Vergil-san was alone, then? And by his admission, so was Alfon-san. Miku could understand - while Rei and Yuu had been wonderful caring friends, they weren't Mafuyu even if she knew he'd been... afraid of her ability. "Sonna..." she began in Japanese, in her hurry to gently correct them. She would have to suffer a little to see Rei again - it was how fate worked.

Alfons had a point, though. If she stayed with them, she and Alfons could run, and be marginally protected while she made her map. The thought didn't completely appeal to Miku - she wasn't much of an athlete on a good day, lifting those camera boxes week after week was hard work! "I understand," she said and nodded, a slight frown pulling down her lips. There was a 'but' hanging off the end of her sentence, and she didn't voice it. But what happens if we can't even do that?