Day 51: Arts & Crafts (4th shift)

[notthistrain.livejournal.com]

There were very few activity shifts, Cloud was sure, that could possibly make him feel more like he was being treated like a child. He took a seat at one of the tables and blankly examined the materials set out before him. A pair of the dullest scissors he'd ever seen were labeled 'ages 3 and up'. It was good to know where the patients stood in this.

He wasn't much of an artist, and he ignored most of the paints and other drawing utensils in favor of a few sheets of colored paper and instructions on how to make origami. That sounded vaguely familiar. Didn't Yuffie have throwing weapons made out of paper at some point? It was something to do anyway, and thus Cloud began the process of crafting what ended up being very elaborate paper wads.

Sadly, his attempts to keep from dwelling on the subject of his missing friend failed when he realized this was something Aerith probably would have enjoyed greatly. Tonight, he and Yuffie would go out and try to accomplish... something. It was depressing to think there really might not be anything they could do, that they might all end up the same as the flower girl eventually.

[for a hopefully more optimistic materia thief]

Comments

[kagurazuki.livejournal.com]

Not just an adult, but a doctor too. He was probably around Hatori, Shigure, and Ayame's age and she was around them enough to feel comfortable talking with him. He seemed very friendly after all. Then again, she'd seen Hatori here in person, only to have him not remember her in the slightest. She didn't know many doctors here though, that were patients as well.

"Oh! That- that's wonderful. My cousin is a doctor too. So it's Muraki-sensei then!" she nodded, bowing slightly in her seat in an almost automatic response.

"Ah- well... I like it the most. But I also try really hard to be better at cooking and cleaning too," or she had at least, when she'd been seriously pursuing Kyo. But even if it were another guy, she'd have to be good at those things, right? Even moreso now that she had to worry about covering up the scars this place had left her with.

"But it's not so useful here. I bet Muraki-sensei's skills would be really helpful though," she was sure to add. She'd never really had to worry about sewing up anyone else. It might've helped Bridget heal faster if she had, but... no use crying over it now. She probably should try harder to hone what skill she had with martial arts though. Maybe there was something to those outdoor training sessions people kept talking about on the bulletin board after all.

[doctorbadtouch.livejournal.com]

Was he now? Muraki wondered if he worked for the institute. He might be useful if that was the case. Would Landel have bothered to alter the staff's memories? Or simply tell them that he had gone mad?

"Is he the one you're making that lovely bow for?" Muraki asked, a hint of good-natured amusement in his voice.

"You shouldn't sell yourself short, Kagura-chan. Sometimes physical wounds aren't the worst ones. In a place like this, cheering someone up is worth something too, don't you think?" He leaned back in his chair, fingers laced against his stomach. Pain flared briefly and Muraki flinched. Whatever anaesthetic they had given him for the cut was starting to wear off. "I hope my skills will be put to good use as well. If I can help you or your friends, please don't hesitate to ask."

[kagurazuki.livejournal.com]

Kagura's blush deepened and she shook her head quickly at the insinuation. Even if he was kidding, she should have been clearer in her explanation. "Ah- That's- No, um! I have a big family Muraki-sensei so- just one of them is here now. Hatori-san is a doctor, but... but the ribbon is for Rit-chan. I think... Rit-chan misses home as much as I do, so... it might help."

She was careful not to use any specific pronouns when talking about her cross-dressing cousin. Which one would offend him more? Did he want to be called he? or she? Honestly, she couldn't say she knew him well enough to know for sure. Well, it was fine if Muraki assumed... Ritsu didn't usually argue or tell people otherwise when they guessed wrong.

"You're nice to say so. Ah- then if Muraki-sensei and his friends need any cheering up, please count on me too," she offered, nodding and sending him a hopeful smile.

[doctorbadtouch.livejournal.com]

"Ah, I see. I apologize. I misinterpreted." He inclined his head briefly, expression mild, if not particularly contrite. "It's good that you and Rit-chan have eachother here."

He paused, his expression thoughtful. "If it's not too forward, I may have to take you up on that. There's a boy here, Ritsuka, who was a former patient of mine. He's lost a lot of friends recently. If you see him... I think it would be good for him to talk to someone close to his own age."