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.

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[voiceless-rage.livejournal.com]

Just as Caim was finishing the first part of his meal, someone sat down near him with a smile that seemed to have been through better days. He gave the person a scrutinizing look, trying to determine first the gender and then the intent. Definitely feminine, but from the way the clothes fell (although they seemed to fall the same way on everyone) the figure was clearly male.

Caim gave a half-shrug. He didn't care either way if he was joined in a ridiculous meal like this. From the look of the boy, he didn't have any idea what this food was, either. This place was ridiculous - did they honestly expect them to know what any of this was?

Yes, he suddenly thought, they did. They thought everyone here was from their world, and therefore knew everything about it and were just pretending. Damn them all, but they wouldn't keep him here much longer. With his newfound weapon, he'd have them bleeding on the floor in a matter of days ... !

Inadvertantly, he stabbed the plate too hard with the fork, causing a loud screeching noise that dragged him back into reality. Caim pulled it away from the plate and ate what food was left on it, focusing his good eye on the boy nearby.

[faithful-frost.livejournal.com]

Haku observed the way some of the people were eating their food, then decided to to the safe thing and just use a utensil. While he ate (with a bit more decorum than the man before him) he was observing. This man was violent, dangerous, and seemed to have a short temper. Nothing new there.

He didn't even bat an eye when metal scraped plate. Instead, after allowing the man to observe him, he turned a warm smile up at him.

"My name is Haku," he offered, then took a sip of water. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He bowed his head then looked back up, friendly look not dampened in the slightest by the bandages covering the left side of his face.