damned_institute | Night 50: Main Hallway, 1-West

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Night 50: Main Hallway, 1-West

[from here]

It looked like the hallway opened up over here. Guess he couldn't expect to just run around and follow a linear corridor forever, but now he had to figure out which way he wanted to go. Normally, he'd just run down whatever hallway he happened to lay eye on first, but again, he was running a liiittle blind here.

He still wasn't seeing any people anywhere. Maybe everyone was hiding. If everyone knew the staff turned into monsters and tried to eat them, then it'd make sense that they'd try to keep low. Thankfully, he'd be taking care of whatever was wandering around this place, so they wouldn't have to stay hiding for long. Once that was done, they could blast their way out of there and he could find his way back to the others. Couldn't keep everyone waiting on account of him, right?

[running across Rita, The Trickster, and hopefully, a freaking flashlight]

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Even as he compared the institute to the world he left behind, Minato had to remind himself that he had left with an important decision still at hand. Deciding how he and the others would handle the end of the world...

But he already knew the answer he would choose, when he returned home; the answer had been there for a long time. It was just a matter of not losing sight of himself while he was trapped in the institute. After what had happened as a result of his "Special Counseling," he knew all too well that his mind -- his sense of self -- had to be protected.

A voice drew him out of his thoughts, and he turned his attention to a figure in the dark. He pointed his flashlight towards the wall, light bouncing off enough to illuminating both of them.

No weapons, no items. Nothing at all in his hands. Not even a flashlight. But the single word spoken had a confidence to it...

"A newcomer?" he inquired aloud. His expression was closed, nonjudgmental.

Edited 2010-07-14 05:36 (UTC)

A quick judgment. There was something of a relief in that. The heart of the matter was revealed in a snapshot statement. "Yes."

There were too many things to contemplate, but asking details would give him nothing if he didn't trust the source. The lack of knowledge, lack of prowess ate at him; agitating something underneath his skin. For all purposes, though, nothing changed outwardly. Gaara watched the other, mimicking the expression gave. "We're prisoners." A question posed as a statement. The easier of points to pose to another.

A newcomer who had the misfortune of appearing during the nightshift. He found himself contemplating how to best sum up the institute as he answered. "Yeah."

The most important information would be anything that would help this guy survive until morning. "Things change at night. It's dangerous." He lifted his sword slightly, as if in explanation for its presence.

That was explain the ones with weapons seen. But how would they get weapons in a prison environment? Earnings, perhaps. Or something that he wasn't getting. Regardless, the information was taken seriously--Gaara was look for something to use as a weapon. If his head didn't clear enough for him to wretch control back. Even that statement was flawed. He was already more alert than he had been and still there was no familiar swell of chakra. His mouth moved to form a small frown.

He nodded, accepting the words before adding his own. There were still details too vague to guess at, but the larger questions remained. "Why are we here?"

Why? That was a question even Minato wasn't sure how to answer. Because the Head Doctor was crazy? There didn't seem to be any real reason for everything going on. "I don't know," he eventually answered. But even as he said that, he found himself reluctantly adding, "Experimentation, probably."

He had heard the intercom announcements as the nights progressed. Others were pulled for "Special Counseling," forced to fight other prisoners and later apologize over the bulletin board. And he had no idea how long this had been happening before his arrival.

Too simple it seemed. Experimentation could be done in quieter quarters, with less freedom--flawed as it possibly was. They were allowed out frequently--the other's first words had pointed to that, the weapons possibly more so. Experimentation could possibly be one motive, but it was not the entirety.

As it was, Gaara fell back into comfortable silence, considering the pieces. If he was willing to tell the truth, he was becoming nervous. Every few moments he attempted to raise his chakra, and each time the weak response was upsetting. Again, he questioned the fact. Weakened, and without knowing the full situation... He was at a complete disadvantage. Still, his mien remained the same. He was not yet out of options. Movement, should be a priority. Learning about the surroundings he found himself in.

It was a lot to take in. Even though he had not dumped loads of information on this newcomer in the same way his teammates had, Minato could tell the other was thinking about the institute and what little he had said. He waited for a few moments, lowering his flashlight slightly.

What else could he tell him? He had been fortunate to have friends who had been in the institute for awhile, telling him about their weakened powers and how necessary it was to be armed.

Introductions might be a good place to start. “I’m Minato.” That immediately reminded him of something. “The staff will say you’re crazy. That you have a different name.”

His gaze rose to the other again. Staff. That meant that this was some kind of facility. That also gave some hope for any escape, if things continued as they were. People could be fooled, trapped, or disposed of. And then there was only the method of getting out. The method used seemed simple. If one doubted their sanity, the psychological breaks could lead to reprogramming. Things seemed more and more dark. There was nothing he liked in this situation.

Belatedly he returned the sentiment. "Sabaku no Gaara." A name of fear for most. He wondered, idly, where this person from from. Gaara broke eye contact to look to the halls again, eyes narrowing. "What do you do at night?" If they were given freedom to roam, what was the purpose? More than a few seemed confident in their destinations, walking purposefully out of sight.

Sabaku no Gaara. Gaara of the Sand ... Waterfall? Minato had figured that the boy was probably Japanese, noticing the strokes of a familiar kanji tattoo on his forehead. Even so, he appeared much more serious and analytical than others he had previously met. The rings around his eyes appeared natural, too...

But this wasn't the time to think too deeply about his newest acquaintance. "Explore. Avoid monsters." He had been fortunate to avoid monsters and brainwashed patients as much as he had so far; the zombie the other night had been his only fairly-serious fight. "The closest town is miles away, and you wake up here again every morning."

If he hadn't already been used to the effects of the Dark Hour, he might have sounded less deadpan with his last statement.

All of it was beyond the simplest explanation but settled straightforward. It lacked sense. Lacked answers. But gave enough as was needed. He nodded once, accepting what was said, then crossed his arms against his chest. Then he should 'explore', correct? Allowing himself a better handle on the situation by understanding the scenery could not be seen as bad. The negatives came only in what he lacked.

His gaze dropped to contemplate, glancing out again at the rest of the hall. There were probably many things to at least use as a temporary weapon if he looked.

If Gaara was anything like him, he was probably wondering how to best defend himself in this new environment. Minato found himself looking around as well, at the stairwells and the hallways that stretched in different directions. Despite all of his traveling, his thoughts tended to go back to the first place he had found solid weapons in the institute.

"I can't get you a sword, but we can find a weapon for you," he offered. He idly touched the ring he now wore, thinking back on the sphinx and its chamber. Leading a new arrival -- a much younger arrival, for that matter -- into the unknown was undoubtedly a bad idea.

At least he knew the recreational field had presented dangers in the past. He had no idea what was outside of the sphinx's chamber.

Minato speaking drew the shinobi's attention back to him, Gaara's eyes widening the smallest amount in allowed surprise. The offer was kind. Which meant, of course, that it tread on suspicion. And if there was nothing to be suspicious about, then still. Offering to help another you didn't know was unexpected, if nothing else. And reminded him of another.

...That, however, held no relevance right now. Gaara shifted, considering the reasons why this one would offer that and falling short. He tilted his head towards the sword Minato held in hand. A point in motive, if not behavior. "...Do you have things you need to do?" It seemed all were rushing around. That this one would be any different would be unexpected.

"Need to do?" Minato shook his head at the question, glancing towards one of the stairwells before moving his flashlight to draw attention to it. "I was looking for batteries, that's all." And seeing as he had little idea where to begin searching, he might as well try to help out a newcomer along the way.

He then pointed towards the stairwell he had been glancing at, with his flashlight. "I was thinking of going upstairs." Not that he knew much about what was up there, but he had seen enough of the first floor to know that there weren't many viable places for batteries other than the music room. But even then, a music player wouldn't use the same type of batteries as a flashlight.

Was there anything lost from following him? No. If anything, Gaara could possibly learn more within the night, and as the other said, gain a temporary weapon of sorts. His mind pressed against the positives and negatives and fell short. Again, that anxiety touching close to where it was not wanted. Information, then. He would accompany Minato.

He nodded again, accepting the route. "I will follow you." No question of permission or want--if the other had offered to help gain a weapon, a tagalong on errands could not be much worse. Gaara was nothing close to a burden; he would not slow the other down.

"Okay." If Gaara wanted to come along, he had no objections. The stoic boy carried himself in a way that was less uncertain than Brook; he would likely be able to escape if a Special Counseling patient awaited them upstairs instead of freezing up in fear.

He may have even underestimated Gaara. Only time would tell if he would manage to surprise him.

With a quick nod of acknowledgment, Minato started off towards the stairwell he had pointed at earlier.

[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/943057.html?thread=71397585#t71397585)]

Edited 2010-07-27 02:16 (UTC)

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Night 50: Main Hallway, 1-West

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