damned_institute | Day 51: Breakfast

Yuffie Kisaragi, indomitable bouncing ball of sunshine and unfathomable ebullience, was tired. It'd been a long night full of gibberish and getting nowhere fast.

"Can't I—"

Plucky, who had been busily loading a plate full of French toast and bacon, tittered. "I'm afraid not, Hanna, darling. A chat over a nice, hearty breakfast would do you a world of good, don't you think?"

"Aaaaactually—"

"Come on, let's find you a seat. Plenty to choose from this morning!"

For a long moment, Yuffie seriously considered doing something—anything—to act out. Punch her nurse, rub jam in an orderly's face, climb a wall and hang off the ceiling, jump on a table and parody Loveless… A ruckus like that would definitely jolt her back into gear, right? Sedation aside. And it'd turn Plucky's good day right on its head, which was always a bonus worth shooting for.

But, by the time she'd reached a decision—and it was an epic decision, a really awesome one; everybody'd appreciate the genius, she was sure—she was already alone. Her breakfast tray had been set down neatly by the nurse, who had left with an infuriatingly winsome smile.

"Wow," Yuffie muttered. Shaking her head, she picked a chair at random and threw herself into it. She kicked back, one arm slung across her eyes, to wait. For what, she wasn't totally sure. Some moron to decide that she looked like good company? That was how it usually went.

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Strange. Most of the people he met here were talkative, and he didn't have to initiate things. One one hand, Riku thought about not striking up conversation. It wouldn't be so bad. They could get through this meal and go about their days, but he realized that was a bad idea. It wouldn't show initiative on his part, and if he really planned on helping Sora with his club, he needed to be able to put himself out there.

He poked a little longer at his food before leaning forward onto one elbow, and looking straight at her curiously. She was different from most people he'd ever seen. He just couldn't place his finger on why. That wasn't something that mattered, though.

"The name's Riku," he told her. "I dunno why I decided to sit with you today, but I did. Aside from making my nurse happy, that is." Riku didn't sound cheerful with his words, but instead, matter of fact. Lay it out, but he didn't feel like he was bothering her or anything. It was more that he didn't know how he was making her feel, if she felt anything at all.

The words spoken were afforded no attention for a moment. Then Ayanami raised her head to evaluate him more clearly, face a neutral mask. What he was saying seemed to have nothing to do with her. If he was unsure as to why, their interaction would remain stagnant. "Rei Ayanami," she allowed, by way of social needs.

For a another moment after that, she continued to watch him. Then her gaze slid back to her tray idly. "...Alright." If he wanted to make his nurse happy. If he wanted to sit here. She wasn't sure what was wanted in return.

She was just quiet. That was all right, because it meant he might be able to get some answers without beating around the bush. If she didn't feel like answering, she didn't have to, but he might as well try. Wasting time during the day was never a good idea, and it was absolutely the last thing he wanted to do.

"Rei," he repeated, letting her name linger for a moment on his tongue. "All right."

Better to press on. Better to see what she had to say, because these interrogations were necessary to nighttime activities. "Were you out last night? Did you have a ring?" A pair of questions that, if she understood, went well together. His choice not to use his ring made him realize he still needed to follow up on it.

The repeated name made her look at him again, something truly undesired with another saying her name. That was a useless thought, and it was canceled as soon as it was realized. Others would use her name. Use her. As they saw fit. Last night had only accented that. A fact she already knew and had known. It was a role she understood.

And so the questions prompted almost came as a comfort. With no social niceties between them, one getting down to business was something wanted. "Yes. No." She might have questioned the second inquiry. But she couldn't deem it useful.

So much for that. It wouldn't be good to see someone as useful, no matter how much his brain wanted to skip to those kinds of thoughts. This wasn't the year he spent in a black coat trying to protect his friends. His friends were here, and Riku's behavior was tempered. Still, the fact that he had to suppress the thought was enough. He wondered how much she would tell him, anyway. Maybe there would be something good.

"What were you doing?" Nosy, sure, but he didn't care. He could ask her thoughts on places here, and get a direct response. Of course, he realized he didn't know how long she'd been there so far. Maybe he could ask that in a moment.

His questions were pointed, and were completely clear. However, the bombardment, while familiar, offered nothing in return. From those she worked with and worked for she would continue this way. For a stranger, she would call answers in turn. Rei placed her utensils down, and again answered only what he had asked. "Seeking information."

At that, she continued, adding her own query. "Do you know anything about the experimentation done here?"

"Yeah."

That wasn't a wordy enough response, but he found himself coming up against the same problem he faced before. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell her about his friend being hurt, or if he wanted to handle it like it was a separate party. Riku couldn't tell what this girl was like, if Rei was secretly intuitive, but he couldn't say for sure.

"They use them to hurt people," he continued, deciding that was the best way to explain it. "To change someone. Even if you wouldn't think it possible, they can manage it." His words were flat and even. Riku did his best to act as detached from his explanation as possible, but inside, he could only remember the downsides to Kairi using that Darkness so easily. She would be changed forever, no matter where they went after this.

The words moved in ways she wouldn't normally allow. To bring thoughts and ideas to life without solid evidence behind them. To change someone. She wondered, then. To change someone into something else. A person into an Angel, perhaps? It seemed too far a leap of logic but it stood that it became apparent after that incident. But she could speak truly. She had already been uneasy of the one called Fifth. That one. The instincts toward him. Neither good nor bad, but Rei would admit that it affected her, if only to herself. And only now.

Now. After the night before. Was there reason other than medical to entertain the use of bodily fluids? At the very least, she could say that nothing had been replaced. But if one spoke of change, would she as well? Change without the possibility of it? Or was it nothing like that? She would need, despite reservations and wanting, to speak with the Fifth. Which allowed only one other question to ask. "Why?"

Day 51: Breakfast

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