Night 50: Main Hallway, 1-West

[heroesdontshave]

[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]

Comments

[buryyourdemons.livejournal.com]

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.

[foolishmessiah.livejournal.com]

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.

[buryyourdemons.livejournal.com]

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.

[foolishmessiah.livejournal.com]

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.

[buryyourdemons.livejournal.com]

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.

[foolishmessiah.livejournal.com]

"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.

[buryyourdemons.livejournal.com]

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.

[foolishmessiah.livejournal.com]

"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)]