Day 50: Patient Library (3rd Shift)

[vstheworld]

Given a choice, as should have been implied by the whole "Free Choice Day" thing, Scott would have gone straight for the Game Room. Maybe it didn't have the greatest selection of games, but he was raring for another epic Tetris match with Indy or anyone else who cared to challenge him. Unfortunately for him, however, his nurse was already onto his line of thinking.

"Now Bryan, I know how much you love your games, but don't you think some more time away from them would be good for you?" the woman asked him in a soothing tone, gently taking his shoulder when he turned toward the Game Room.

"Uh, why would I think that?" he asked, blinking at her in honest confusion.

"Well, I know your family was worried about more than just your condition before you came here. They're hoping you can start to wean yourself down to a more healthy level of enjoyment with your games, too," the nurse explained with continuing gentleness.

"Yeah. And?" Scott raised an eyebrow. "It's Free Choice Day, isn't it? Don't I get to choose and stuff?"

"Of course, Bryan. But I'm still here to make suggestions, and I think you'd do well with a different activity today." The woman smiled at him, genuine care and concern in her expression. "You can always come here later in the week. It'll probably be more rewarding if you wait, too."

Scott was silent, considering the advice. He raised an index finger. "Well, I suppose... Uh, yeah no. Please to be going to the Game Room now, thanks."

The nurse frowned.

Five minutes of irritatingly gentle coaxing later, and Scott found himself in the patient library. "Stupid guilt tripping never even talked to my real mom and dad I bet I could be playing Tetris right now they don't even have any cool books in here..." he grumbled to himself under his breath as he lazily perused the shelves. He picked a book completely at random, The Oxford Book of English Verse. He was half-hoping that maybe pulling the book out would trigger something more exciting, like a secret item appearing, a bonus stage unlocking, or a new shortcut tunnel opening. But no, Landel's reality was boring as ever. "Maybe there'll be an awesome poem or something in here, at least," he told himself as he headed over to an empty seat with a short sigh.

[Unknowingly waiting for Sam]

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[slipperymagic.livejournal.com]

Howl was not inclined to watch the film. It wasn't any of the options he would have chosen, should he have taken the time to vote. He had been in such a poor mood when he had seen the request for open suggestions that he had only been able to motivate himself to leave an unpleasant note. It had likely completely undermined any argument that he was a sane man. It didn't matter anymore, though. To be released was to forget who and what he was. It was to admit that he was a normal, plain and forgettable man who suffered from severe delusions about his abilities and importance. It would be easier, of course, but he had grown attached to the life he had built, even if it were false. That was the coward's way, he supposed. Howl would always embrace his escapism.

He would rather embrace a true escape, though. He didn't believe that the library would provide many answers, but it was a calm place to wile away his time as he waited for a more opportune moment. He would have to get nosier if he wished for answers. The idea wasn't appealing, but what else had Landel left for him?

The books were all dull and unhelpful, and the ones that would help, he already knew. More so than any text, it was a familiar young lady that caught his eye. By chance, she was perusing a magical text. It would likely be full of the sort of watered down magic they sold to the average curious and disillusioned teenager, but there were grains of truth here and there. After all, it was how Howl discovered himself.

"Planning on doing a bit of casting tonight?" he asked Rita, with more charm than he had possessed at the end of their earlier excursion. He had been given plenty of time to recharge after the dip in the lake, at least when a stranger was looking. If Calcifer, Sophie or Michael were around to see, it would be a different story. He did what he could to garner their sympathy.

[bodhiandspirit.livejournal.com]

Rita was vaguely aware of someone approaching her, but her eyes remained fixed on the book. She wasn't even particularly impressed by the book's contents - Rita just didn't like being interrupted while reading. Even when the man spoke to her, she waited until she reached the end of the page to look up at him.

Howl. Just the person she wanted to see.

The book snapped shut in her hand, and Rita regarded the man with a look that wasn't particularly friendly. To his question, she shrugged dismissively. "If my formulas will work here." Without her blastia, Rita was going to have to be resourceful in finding a way to make her spells work. She had already put together some formulas for spell-casting that would hopefully work outside of Terca Lumireis, but they still needed to be tested.

But there was something more important to discuss before getting into that. "You mind telling me what the hell happened last night?" she demanded, her gaze sharpening into a glare. "How did we wind up in a lake, of all places? And then back here again?"

Since Howl had been at the institute longer than her, Rita expected that he should know something. And returning to the institute... Rita didn't remember anything about that. Had she blacked out at some point? And if so, then was it Howl who took her back?