damned_institute | Day 50: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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Day 50: Sun Room (4th Shift)

The Sun Room was dark when Taura re-entered it; her eyes adjusted quickly, but not quickly enough to avoid one of the 'techs coming over to talk to her.

"Were you going to join us for the movie, Kitty?" she asked, waving a hand at what appeared to be a 2-D projector screen.

"Movie?" This was, apparently, the wrong question to ask, as the woman's face fell into a moue of practiced disappointment.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself, Kitty." Doing what, exactly, was something 'Kitty' was evidently supposed to know. Then the screen flicked on, and some sort of advertisement was playing while a staffer adjusted the volume. Oh. The term was unfamiliar, but entertainment hadn't changed that much.

"I mean, er, what movie is it?" Taura rumbled, keeping her voice low so as not to interrupt. That must have been the right question; the woman brightened back up and started explaining.

"King Kong!" she said, clearly expecting a reply. Then she sighed, and continued. "It's about a giant ape, brought back from an exploration," she began. "It's also a love story -- oh, just trust me. It's a classic."

"The ape falls in love?" That sounded a little outré, at least by Institute standards of entertainment. Not by Jacksonian ones, but those Taura had been just as pleased to leave behind.

"Oh, nothing like that. Well, the ape does fall in love -- but it's just a beast. Why, Fay Wray doesn't even come up to its waist." Taura blinked at her again. What did height have to do with it, anyway? She was leaning, just a little, without even realizing it. Perhaps looming would be a better word. The 'tech blinked back, and then finally the penny dropped. "Oh...oh. Maybe it wouldn't be to your taste, dear." And with that, she scurried off to adjust a chair that was already facing the screen quite adequately. Taura sighed, and slipped through the gathering crowd to the bulletin board.

[Zack]

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"Mr. Honda?"

"Mr. Honda? Will you put the game down for a moment?"

"...Mr. Honda. Put the game down."

Japan wasn't used to hearing his other name and so it took a good long time for him to realize the woman (different from earlier and definitely not moe) was talking to him. She was much older, gray hair pulled back into a bun, with a severe look on her face. Apparently she was upset that he'd spent the entire shift engrossed with the DS, ignoring everyone else around him. It wasn't like it was his fault though! Games were what he did and even if the games here were old and mostly puzzle based, they were a good way for him to keep his old mind sharp. They took the game system away though and told him he should go be social "for his own health."

He really didn't know why they said that to him, especially considering he lived well enough for over 200 years secluded in his room alone, but since his people had yet to come and pick him up, he supposed humoring them for a little while longer wouldn't be so bad. Patience had always been one of Japan's greatest virtues. Or...something like that.

Led into the Sun Room, Japan paused when he heard a movie playing and peeked at the screen. Black and white, old, with...a giant monkey? The room was dark now and he had a hard time seeing who was who in here, but he supposed they were more of the staff or other patients and nations or something. It was still disturbing that he couldn't feel his nation, but maybe...it was merely a cold? Or perhaps a dream. A dream would definitely account for how old those games had been. Maybe it was a nightmare. Augh, how he'd hate to be stuck in a nightmare with only old games to play until he woke up.

Moving toward the back, Japan shuffled along, trying not to get in the way of the movie projector when he noticed something quite strange. One of the patrons in the theatre was none other than the Hitokiri Battousai, Himura Kenshin. The manga and anime had been quite popular as Japan remembered and even now was one of the more recognizable of anime centered around a most tumultuous time in Japan's history. Tilting his head, the nation moved closer and peered at the man as he sat, seemingly lost in thought. Well, he looked real enough. And he seemed to be in three dimensions instead of two.

That clinched it. This had to be a dream.

It didn’t take Kenshin long to realize that someone was in his space. Years of training alerted him as soon as someone got too close, even distracted as he was. He snapped back into reality, taking in the man in front of him. He looked about Kenshin’s age, maybe a little older, with a similar height and build. His face was placid and had to read, but there was a definite air of curiosity about him, and he was staring at the rurouni with some interest. Kenshin forced a smile that looked mostly genuine, though it didn’t reach his eyes, and bowed slightly to the other man.

“Yes?” he asked. The other man was a stranger to him, which probably meant that he was a new patient. Kenshin had been here long enough that he knew practically all of the remaining veterans, at least by sight. This one was entirely unfamiliar. “May this one help you?”

"Aah...." He was talking to him. And using those weird speech patterns that Watsuki-sensei had given him. Well, Japan supposed he wouldn't suddenly speak normally since this was Japan's dream after all. It was kind of cool in a way, to meet such an iconic figure, but it was also a huge bummer. Japan was lacking a camera and even in a dream world, having such a commemorative photograph would have been amazing.

Then again, anyone who saw it might think this was just a cosplayer. How sad would that be?

Japan blinked and then bowed his head, remembering that he needed to be having a conversation and that dream people couldn't read his thoughts. Kenshin seemed rather sad, actually, and Japan wondered what arc he was living in right now. Was he taken from the earlier works? The later ones? The OVAs?

"I didn't mean to bother you," he said, trying to keep his voice low enough as to not interfere with the movie, but loud enough to be heard. "I believe I'm a bit....lost?" There had to be a point to this dream, but so far he had yet to see any sort of pop-up box explaining his quest. "Is there something I'm supposed to do?"

Ah, definitely a new patient, then. Kenshin frowned, wondering how long the man had been here. Probably not very long at all, given how confused he seemed. Once again, this place operated without rhyme or reason. Some inmates disappeared without any warning or notice, and others seemed to sleep all day before they vanished. Still others were killed, leaving their loved ones without even a body to bury or a gravesite to mourn at.

Regardless, this man provided the rurouni with a welcome distraction from his own dark thoughts. He perked up slightly and stood, moving over to the side of the room where they wouldn’t be in the way and indicating for the other patient to do the same. This way they could talk and not be bothered by the moving images being projected onto the screen.

“Not at the moment, no,” he admitted. “This is supposedly a ‘free choice’ day so we’re to choose from a list of pre-determined activities.” Kenshin peered worriedly at him. “Please excuse this one for the intrusion, but have you been here long?”

Kenshin motioned for Japan to follow and he dutifully did so, shuffling along as best he could without disturbing the other movie patrons. It was weird that King Kong of all things would play in his dream, but then dreams had a funny way of being completely and utterly nonsensical. Especially his dreams. Unless this wasn't a dream. Japan paled slightly at that thought and then dismissed it. There was no way this was real or he'd be able to feel his nation. And he wouldn't be stuck here of all places. The nurses weren't even cute and the uniforms were all wrong.

Japan tilted his head slightly as he considered what Kenshin said. Apparently it was a free choice with pre-determined activities. It sounded like a convention, really, but if it were a convention, he should have gotten a pamphlet explaining the events. If this were real life. Right. Moving on.

He wondered what the right answer was and he studied Kenshin's worried face, feeling his stress levels rising already. His usual dreams involved having options to choose from for conversation and there was nothing coming up yet. Maybe it was a nightmare then. Augh, a horribly awkward nightmare. But this was in his head, so maybe if he thought hard enough he could lucidly dream and get things to go the way he wanted. Closing his eyes, Japan concentrated as hard as he could, furrowing his brow slightly as he tried to make things work right again. After a moment, he opened them and was most displeased to find that...nothing had changed. At all. "...I'm afraid not. What sort of convention is this? Are you all cosplaying? I was unaware of such an event going on..."

Cosplay? Convention? Kenshin gave the other man a blank look, wondering what on earth he could be talking about. The rurouni had never heard of either of those things. “Not as such, no,” he admitted with an apologetic little shrug. “This is Landel’s Institute, a prison of sorts. During the day it masquerades as a hospital for the insane, but at night they drop the façade entirely.” He felt badly for saying it so bluntly, but he had to make it clear to the man that he was not where he seemed to think he was. It may have seemed a little harsh now, but ultimately dismantling any illusions he had about this place right now would be kinder than allowing him to continue believing them.

“This one is called Himura Kenshin,” he added, bowing deeply. “If you should need any help, please do not hesitate to let this one, though unworthy, know what he can do to assist you.” Because…that was why he existed, ultimately. To help people. He lived to atone for his sins and protect those within his sight. He’d failed Kaoru, and Sanosuke and Yahiko, but he would fight with every fiber of his being to get them back. Until then, there were others here in need of that protection.

Oh, how silly of him. Japan should have realized there were those who would get so fully into character that they'd never deviate from the setting. Of course Himura Kenshin wouldn't say he was at a convention or some...roleplaying event. It would break the illusion of what they were trying to set up. Nodding slightly as he considered this new environment, Japan wondered if the event organizers had been inspired by the horror video game genre. It certainly seemed like it. What an appropriate place, too. And so elaborate! He would need to congratulate whichever nation had decided to host such a thing for their ingenuity. This was certainly on a larger scale than anything Japan had ever produced. Which actually made him a little jealous.

Ugh, he hoped it wasn't China. He'd never hear the end of it then.

And, as he thought, the young man introduced himself as Himura Kenshin. With the right speech patterns and everything! Oh, but this was marvelous! Japan wished he had his business cards so he could exchange mail addresses with him. Maybe they could even go to more events together. Wouldn't that just be-- Oh, right. Introductions. Japan bowed his head just as deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness in explaining this place to me. My name is--" Oh, there was a problem. Which name did he give? He couldn't very well say he was a nation at a cosplay event, but he was lacking a costume entirely! Maybe he was supposed to be a mundane then, one of the rats in the maze that valiant heroes like Himura Kenshin were supposed to save. "Ah... Honda Kiku. It is my deepest honor to make your acquaintance."

He had questions, certainly, but if Himura Kenshin was a player, it would be unlikely that he could give Japan the role he was supposed to play. He needed to find an NPC somewhere and ask them, even if it meant breaking the rules a little. "Ah...if I might impose on your kindness just a bit longer? I wonder, if things are so dangerous at night, where does one procure the necessary items for survival? Do we need to raid rooms?"

Kenshin bowed again as the man introduced himself. “A pleasure, Kiku-dono.” He’d suspected that the other man was Japanese, but it was nice to get a confirmation of that fact. One could never be sure in this place, after all. Not with everyone speaking Japanese—or seeming to speak Japanese. It was difficult to know for certain without a little help.

At any rate, Kiku was taking all this surprisingly well. He seemed to take the news of imprisonment and the hospital changing at night in stride, moving past the seemingly obvious questions of ‘how did I get here in the first place’ to something a little more practical, like ‘how do I arm myself against them monsters.’ The rurouni was slightly taken aback, but only slightly. Kiku seemed like a very practical person, and maybe he just didn’t wear all his emotions on his sleeve. Kenshin could respect that. “Yes, this one supposes you could put it that way. When we go to dinner, you’ll be able to find a…a…” He trailed off, searching for the right word for the still mostly-unfamiliar object, “…a flashlight under your pillow in the room where you woke up. It will be a great help to you, this one thinks, since there are very few ways to make fire for a lamp or torch. There are also pens in the desk; those might serve as throwing weapons, until you find better.” They had certainly served Okita well enough, he thought ruefully. He still had the scars to prove it. “There are rooms on the second floor that may provide something more substantial, but more than anything this one recommends that you do not go anywhere alone, especially if you decide to venture out of the main patient room blocks. There are things that can overwhelm even experienced fighters.”

Ah! But he was even trying to struggle over the inclusion of modern appliances! Japan felt his pride swell in whoever this man was on his off hours. Such attention to detail and determination to strive for authenticity deserved to be praised! Not that...he could do that now, but once the event was over then perhaps they could talk a bit more when Himura wasn't in character.

Some part of Japan's brain was worried as to how an event could remove his connection to his country, but he ignored that in favor of speaking with someone who so perfectly emulated a hero of Japanese manga. He wondered who else was cosplaying here and whether they, too, worked for such perfection in their depiction of the characters. It did seem strange that Japan didn't recall signing up for such an event as this, and that the participants were so deep into their characters that they wouldn't pay the courtesy of explaining how he'd come to be here, but he supposed he would find that out later. Perhaps when it was over he could ask his boss to explain.

As long as it was the same boss. They'd changed so often in the past few years that even Japan was having a hard time keeping track of them all. Although...considering his current boss' reputation, he could see such a strange event being right up his alley. They didn't call him an alien for nothing.

So for now, the supplies seemed to rest in their rooms - a flashlight and pens - and upstairs, which required entering into some sort of team for protection. Japan wondered idly if the NPCs here would be acting as monsters and guardians, or if they'd merely set traps and left puzzles for the players to muddle through. Considering the scale of the event, it was likely that NPC monsters were going to be present. Which would also account for Himura's insistence on groupwork and his emphasis on weapons. "I see..." Japan said slowly, lowering his head as he thought this over. "Is there any way to find a group to venture out with? Or are the groups decided already? I'm afraid I slept through the morning explanations somehow so I am behind."

“It’s no trouble,” Kenshin answered with a smile. Better that Honda ask questions when he could than being surprised by a monster at nighttime! The rurouni nodded to the bulletin, a few feet away. “The bulletin board is probably your safest bet, this close to nightshift. You can put up notes, see if you recognize any names. They’ve taken us from a lot of different places—” and times, but he wasn’t going to get into that right now “—and friends are sometimes reunited.” And then lost. It was all luck of the draw, wasn’t it? Why had Kaoru been taken, while he remained? Maybe it really was just pure chance. “And enemies as well, this one has to admit. It seems to be fairly random; it’s—”

An overly-cheerful voice cut him off. “There you are, Mr. Aoyagi!” The nurse beamed down at him. It didn’t seem quite fair that she should be that much taller. “I’ve been looking for you! It’s almost time for dinner!”

The rurouni shot Honda an apologetic look and bowed. “It was a pleasure speaking with you, Kiku-dono,” he said, ignoring the nurse’s growing impatience. “If you should need anything tonight, please do not hesitate to come to M20. This one will gladly accompany you wherever you would like to go.” He’d feel much more comfortable if he did. Honda would have to put up with Hattori Heiji, if Homura had been serious about Kenshin’s assignment, but that was all right. Hattori was a generally likeable kid.

The nurse put her hand on Kenshin’s shoulder. Their conversation was obviously over. He turned to follower her to his room, shooting one last look over his shoulder as he did so.

“Good luck tonight.”

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Day 50: Sun Room (4th Shift)

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