[From here.]

L hadn't been looking forward to the landing on the other side of the wall. Only the day before, he had been troubled by a persistent ache in his lower back—a consequence of the sleep study—and apart from that, the supplies in his coat pockets made his balance less stable and sure than he would have liked. He knew that the jump was a wager, albeit a small one; he couldn't predict how he would land. Injury would mean spending the night sitting against the wall in the freezing darkness, at best.

Never mind. Calculated gambles were necessary in this situation, when they could control so few of the variables, and he wouldn't have left his room if he didn't feel equal to it. He dropped from the top of the wall as lightly as he could, hitting the ground on his feet.

A quick assessment of his condition confirmed that both he and all of his equipment had survived the drop intact. He held his hand out to Lunge for his blade.

[from here]

Indy banked to the right as soon as they got outside, ready to scale the wall into the courtyard. He didn't see anything suspicious on the field--but then, the threats in here never did make themselves apparent until it was too late to avoid them. You'd've thought a guy with a giant blade would be more obvious.

He began the usual process of securing his flashlight and machete once they were a few yards away. When they reached the wall, then, his hands were free, leaving him ready to start the climb.

Dinner had turned out to just be a session of complaining with Lunge about how hard it was to get things done in this place, which just made Harvey take a step back and realize that complaining wasn't going to get him anywhere. As much as he enjoyed stewing in his own anger, the only thing he could do was keep going. That explosion had taken a lot of things from him, but ambition was not one of them. It was just directed to a different cause now.

Landel's hadn't really been part of the equation, but he had to deal with this before he could get back to the rest of it. If only Batman had actually stayed put here, but that was obviously too much to ask from The Dark Knight.

Landel himself was acting nervous, but it seemed like the reasoning behind that wouldn't come to light until the next day. Or... not? He was being extremely vague, which just made Harvey shake his head and ignore it as he grabbed for flashlight, metal pipe, and gun, as usual. He had to admit it was nice, not having to worry about Lunge seeing it. And he hadn't touched it, either.

"Here's to both of us getting further tonight," he said with a shrug, not sounding all that convinced. He already knew that this was an uphill battle, but he wasn't one to lay down and die. So, as he quickly pulled the bandages from his face, not even wincing when they caught on tender patches of burnt skin before pulling away, he turned toward the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow." That was all he had to say before stepping through and heading down the hall.

[To here.]

[ from here ]

The doors to the next hallway were already wide open when she came through, though the ones at the far end of the hall were, as she could see from one brief flick of her flashlight, were tightly shut. Weren't those the doors to the recreational field? They were in the hall directly North of hers, it only made sense for this to be the other exit.

Checking down the hall also told her she was alone, and she was suddenly very grateful for the fact that the door to Peter's block was directly to her left, because the longer she spent in the male patient blocks, the more paranoid she grew that she was somehow going to stumble straight into Sylar.

Her pace picked up instantly at that thought and she pushed open the door to the block that Peter had directed her to, hoping his directions were right and that she'd remembered them well enough.

[ to here ]

When the intercom came on to announce the shift change, the feeling of dread returned. Anise had calmed down considerably since the morning, and she felt more ready to discuss the previous night with Ilia... but not as ready as she wanted to be.

Since the Music Room was bound to be noisy and crowded, Anise opted for the Sun Room instead, hoping that Ilia would come to the same conclusion. She took a seat on one side of a couch in the middle of the room, and waited there. If Ilia didn't show up after a while, she'd go try the Music Room.

Even though this talk had been on her mind all day, Anise still didn't know what she would say. And if she explained the truth behind her shadow's words last night... what would Ilia think? On the one hand, Ilia had shown herself to be a compassionate person, and it was hard to picture her treating Anise differently. But on the other hand, Anise hadn't known Ilia that long... and Ilia was a soldier. She would understand the gravity of Anise's actions, and the sorts of consequences that usually waited for people like her.

With these worries weighing on her mind, Anise leaned against the arm of the couch as she waited.

[For Ilia.]

There was little to be said of the daily business that went on. He allowed himself to be shuffled, mind embedded too deeply in things he shouldn't be dwelling on. The night was over, the shadows had vanished, and there was little more than bad memories to be left in their stead. This was logic, pure and simple, and should have been reassuring but for the whispered accusations made by his own. Of all things that his mind moved to unconsciously focus on, it was one of the first things spoken. That he could kill himself and nothing would stop him.

Which was pointless. In the whole of its entirety. Gaara had not truly moved in that way for time past--And now, even, he had goals and aspirations that he would see come to pass before he gave anything of himself away. He was working for what he believed in; he was working to become acknowledged by others as himself, and not as what he was created for. And there was no point to anything that thing had said.

His thoughts shifted, moved over the night, each dark statement echoed by an internal vow of his own, a denial of returning to what he once was. He still had yet to seek out Temari--his sister, too, would have been confronted by her demons, and there was a edge of concern in that thought. Considering all of this, he seated himself in a place near the wall, glancing at the doorway every few moments.

[sister dear.]

With breakfast finished and a new acquaintance made, the Scarecrow's mind turned to his other friends. The disappearance of Depth Charge's friend had brought back memories of how he'd felt when Kaiji went missing: helpless, useless, as though he should have and could have done something more to find him. If only he had his brain, then maybe he could have thought of something!

As much as he didn't like to admit it, it was unlikely his former roommate was still within the Institute's walls at this point, though the Scarecrow wouldn't know for sure unless Kaiji returned to visit him as Dorothy had, encouraging his supposed recovery. There was still the concern that Landel, despite his vile methods, was actually right and he was suffering from the delusion of having been a scarecrow in Oz. After all, that movie had been a pretty elaborate trick. Would he have planted it in town on purpose, knowing the Scarecrow would be taken there the night of the enchanted doors? And how could he guarantee that once he did find it, he'd take it and actually watch it? There was so much guesswork involved- it seemed the Wizard Landel either liked coincidences or he had more power on his side than any of the patients could have guessed.

The Scarecrow stopped by the bulletin board before heading for a seat, considering writing a note to his friends to check on them. He'd heard from Depth Charge, Remy, and Kibitoshin within a day's time, so he figured they were probably fine (as fine as Depth Charge could have been after last night, anyway). He'd seen Mele and Scar the day before. He put a finger to his head, thinking- he'd not heard from Abe or Sangamon in a day or so, but being professionals, they were probably very busy. Perhaps a note would be best for them.

[Kibby]

[From here.]

While it was his first time heading up the stairs, Castiel felt no trepidation. Even if he was alone and it was deathly quiet, he was used to unsettling situations and saw no reason to slow his march upward. Though at the sound of footsteps, he did glance over his shoulder for a split second, to see another patient who was taking the same path as him.

Not completely alone, then, and yet Castiel saw no reason to call out to the man. Even though he did take note of the coat he was wearing, immediately being reminded of his own.

Not, it wasn't his; it had been Jimmy Novac's, but that had been in another time and place.

Turning his gaze forward again, Castiel continued to climb up. He would find the chapel in one way or another.

((From here.))

This corridor was empty as well, which was not surprising when one took into account the lack of activity in the previous area. They passed a door to their left, one that lacked a clear label on the maps Spock had seen. While there were several possibilities of what it entailed, Spock knew he would need to make some inquiries from patients who had been here longer than himself. He certainly could have attempted to open it now, but it was better to start further north and work their way down. There would be less time wasted backtracking through previously explored territory that way.

"If the maps are correct," and so far that appeared to be the case, "then we should find a morgue and two autopsy rooms in at the end of the hall ahead."

After a few moments of walking, though, they reached a closed door. Spock adjusted his items long enough to free one of his hands. Grasping onto the knob, he only need to try opening it once to realize it was locked. However, the door did not feel particularly strong, not unlike the one that led into the pharmacy.

Spock leaned down and propped some of his possessions against the wall. "It seems we will have to force our way through."

[from here with Spock]

The doctor jerked with surprise. Spock seemed to appear right at his elbow, and he'd be damned if his heart hadn't set to racing. He'd just been just starting to think that maybe that encounter with that statue was a fluke, and there'd be no surprises down here, and then that damned Vulcan had to go ahead and see if he could put him into his grave early. Where did he even learn that?

"Would you stop sneaking up on me?!" groused McCoy. Bad enough this wasn't the first time that Spock's appearance had him unsettled, but this time, maybe he could attribute it to that blasted angel.

He turned, and for an answer, started up the stairs, flashlight aimed up ahead. He glanced back at Spock out of the corner of his eye as they climbed. Spock looked well enough despite what Jim had told him. Looks could be deceiving though. Even if the institute's accelerated healing had worked, or whatever technology they used, it wouldn't erase the emotional trauma. Spock could swear all night long that Vulcans didn't have the capacity to experience that, but he knew better. McCoy would be happier if he could examine him, but this wasn't the time and place to carry that out.

Later. You aren't getting out of an exam that easy, he thought.

((From M44.))

His dinner had probably been one of the more uneventful ones in awhile, but that suited Claude just fine. After hearing about his father's release and running into his mother today, he had a lot on his mind. And that wasn't even touching on all the after effects of his sleep studies that he knew would probably follow him for a long time to come.

Being left to his own devices for a little while wasn't such a bad thing sometimes, because it meant he'd had enough time to sort through his thoughts long enough to keep them from getting in the way when he hung out with friends later. That was why Claude didn't waste any time moping around as he prepared for the night. While going through his things, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his jacket had been returned to him, neatly folded along with the rest of his uniform. Since he'd been unable to check before tonight because of his previous condition, he'd just assumed that it'd been lost on board the Calnus. At least that was one thing that was back to normal now...

Speaking of his Federation uniform, he hadn't forgotten about the phase gun, either. Even if he wasn't sure whether it would be of much use within the institute, Claude had no intention of leaving it lying around his room, either. He slipped it into the inside of his jacket, just as he'd done on his first official away mission all that time ago. His heart ached with something he couldn't quite name, but he pushed that aside for now. He had other things to do.

There was also the ring Guy had found for him to consider. Upon closer inspection, he was able to admire the craftsmanship of the piece of jewelry for what it was, even if he knew it hadn't been given to him to wear as some kind of accessory, or even as an aid in battle. But if what he'd heard was to believed, that jewel was capable of transporting him to the last place he'd been before the Calnus -- wherever that had been, exactly. Maybe it'd come in handy at some point. Claude slipped the ring onto his right hand and collected the rest of his things.

He didn't need to waste much time. After the last few days, Claude had a renewed appreciation for all the possibilities a new shift could bring. He didn't have to sit in his room with a couple of cold compresses taped over his eyes. That was always something to be grateful for.

With that thought, he pushed the door open and slipped out into the hall.

((To here.))

[To here]

"Made it..." She whispered triumphantly as she walked quietly into the dark and quiet hallway first. It was hard to decide where the best place would be to stand since once others began to flood in, Asuka could easily be overshadowed by the taller adults. "Hmmm..." The best she could guess was to hug the opposite wall by the doorway and hope she would pick out the two members once they entered.

Remember, Asuka, you aren't the veteran here.

This wasn't NERV anymore. She had no one under her to display her impressive and extensive training to. The redhead was a newbie like the ones she was going to be working with, though perhaps a bit more intelligent. This first mission was important for popularity's sake. She needed to play nice for now, gauge their strengths and weaknesses until she knew who she could topple the easiest.

[Waiting on Agatha and Zevran]

[From here]

"Hmmm..." Goku walked down the hallway with short steps, stubby arms crossed over his chest, as he wandered down the dismally dark corridor that seemed to just continue on forever. This was where he had met Spock last night, but he couldn't really sense anyone else in the hall with him. He took another sniff, but decided to just keep searching elsewhere for a companion for the night. The monkey boy had seen plenty his first night in the institute a few hallways away. That would be the best place to start looking.

With a destination in mind, Goku quickly jogged down the hall and opened to door ahead of him.

[To here]

The intercom jingle was slightly different for this shift, almost as if it had gone up in quality. The Head Doctor gave a sigh of relief, his own voice clear as a bell despite the usual electronic buzz.

"Hello, everyone – from our new and improved intercom system! We've had electronics rehauling our circuitry, and you can hear the result quite nicely! A whole bunch of improvement! Right, anyway...

"As I'm sure you've noticed, we have a whole new bunch of patients that have joined us recently, and because of the changes in our roster, we've updated our roommate assignments, so some of you might be enjoying the company of someone entirely new tonight! Please be polite and friendly to anyone you might encounter!

"Which brings us to... dinner! Tonight, we'll be having a delicious 'bento box' meal consisting of fish and vegetable tempura along with chicken teriyaki, a bowl of steamed rice, miso soup, salad, and... green tea! Decaffeinated, of course. We can't have you bouncing from wall to wall when there's sleep to be had! Our usual assorted drinks and alternative meals are also available. Oh, and... dessert! Green tea ice cream, with a topping of red bean paste.

"I think that's all for now! I'll speak to you once more before bed time."

The intercom clicked off.

[ All room threads go in response to this post; please post your character's room number as the subject line of the initial post. Please refer to the updated room assignments before posting. Thank you! ]

[from here]

It was a race. A fight against patience and a Song's call. Still, the sedation's dredges churned through him. Two close at hand had a potent effect--much like the night that they were left in that town, and the morning after. Rubedo had came then. Came for them like something out of place, and wasn't that so ironic afterwards--when Albedo knew what he knew now? How many times would a twin appear to abandon him to harshly? How many times would Rubedo make promises only to break them--tear them to pieces like he did Albedo--in the perfectly precise way of those who knew how to break you down because they knew you so perfectly.

Was that how Rubedo had killed him? Or had Albedo forced him to it? His twin wouldn't say before, and asking now was too much like dead blood rotting in veins--he no longer cared, no longer needed to know how easily it was for his twin to rip him asunder. How joyous Rubedo must have been. If that night was any hint, his twin hated him with a passion to rival man's hatred toward god. And wasn't it the same. This. In ways it was the same. An existence meted out, for what it's worth, and then you were simply trapped in it. Trapped in it and stuck stagnant where you were, bound by that other, unless you forced your hatred forward to strike down the other.

To kill god? It seemed too quaint to entertain.

Be it that he woke as the last shift was ending, Albedo had been escorted to the cafeteria early. He took what was offered without a word, sat in the back without a sound, and sipped at the water put in front of him politely; a hand curled around the cup lightly, fingers loose. Eyes burned into the entrance--for Nigredo or Rubedo, either would suffice. The doubt that his twin would come to him was faulty--to ignore them for a week and then vanish as if they were nothing spoke of only distain, whatever Nigredo chose to believe. The eldest of them hated them both. This was truth. The only truth that Rubedo had shown Albedo, in thought, word, action, and deed, in the two weeks that they had shared here.

So Rubedo was to kill him. Well. Never say Albedo accepted his destiny. Yes, he would die by his twin's hand. But first he would rip Rubedo's throat out, claw out his eyes and press them into his beloved's mouth--see the lies you spew--lift his tenderly beating heart for all to see and then crush it.

This, Rubedo, is what you've done to me.

[...for the twin.]

[From here.]

Not bothering to wait for the other patients behind to catch up, Sechs wasted no more time on opening the door and inviting himself into the nurse's lounge. As soon as he stepped foot into the pitch-black room, Sechs scoured every corner of it with his flashlight before taking a few more wary steps inside. His haggard breaths were deep and cautious as his amber eyes pierced into the darkness for any dangers. If the other prisoners were right, there was a chance that Landel could have an unpleasant surprise waiting in this room...

A moment of hawkish searching for hazards later and Sechs felt himself relax somewhat. So far so good! It was just a regular room with lockers and a few darkened pieces of furniture here and there. With no signs of monstrous guards about, Sechs immediately focused his attention on finding the note and began a brusque search for it; starting with the first open locker he could get his hands on first, and giving it a thorough search before moving on to the next one.

[From here.]

With his blood-stained axe and bright flashlight in hand, the Replica kept a determined pace down the narrow hall that housed rooms for the staff. He began testing the first doors he encountered, but so far they were stubbornly locked. He couldn't risk taking out his axe and making a big racket trying to barge his way through again. He would have to leave that as a last resort.

As he moved farther down the dark corridor, Sechs could hear the gathering of more voices creeping in from behind. Were they monsters or other fellow patients? What if he wasn't the only one looking for that note right then? Sechs quietly growled under his breath. Dammit, he got here first! With the mood he was in then, he wasn't going to be all gentlemen-like and let someone snatch anything important from right under his nose! Not without a fight at least!

An intrusive cough suddenly blasted its way out of Sechs' chest. Shit! Someone or something was bound to hear that! Groaning with pain, Sechs smeared away more traces of blood from his mouth and increased his pace towards the final room at the end of the hallway. He couldn't let all his efforts be for nothing tonight!

[For Lunge and et al~]

[From here.]

Once out of earshot from the center hall's antagonist, Venom pulled himself away from the wall and wandered outward, briefly assessing their location. He'd never been to this side of the institute before (though, to be perfectly honest, it looked the same as all the other halls), and he hadn't thought to carry the map Edward had given him due to his original plans... Wonderful. As interesting as this hall might have been, it was the center one he wanted to be in. They had to get back there! But if they charged in without a plan of action, something better than taking the fight as it went, the chance of injury to all parties involved was going to be high.

With a short huff, the assassin crouched close to the floor, back once again to the wall as he peered back at the fight overhead the Sun Room. It was nice they had avoided a confrontation (this coming from a man who usually found a way to instigate them. The irony was somewhat amusing), but how long that could last with the mission at hand was another story. Focused as he were, he still took the time to speak with the other two. After all, Edward had been the one to say he memorized that map and Bella herself had taken to exploring the asylum a few times.

"Do either of you know where we are?"

[From here.]

With the door shut behind, Sechs took in a few cautious glances around his darkened surroundings. The corridor of the second floor was eerily quiet and unnervingly empty; he must have been one of the first prisoners to arrive here so far. For the first time that night Sechs noticed just how hard his heart was pounding inside his chest. He didn't think it could have been because of the stairs, he didn't have as much trouble climbing them like last time. No, it must have been his body reacting to the memories of this place. He took a moment to allow his burdened body to relax a little as he scanned the hall with his flashlight. Nothing out of the ordinary so far... except for that nightmarish patch of darkness to his left...

( More under cut )

[From here.]

Walking through the darkness, Sechs reluctantly admitted to himself that going alone to somewhere dangerous as the second floor with his condition wasn't exactly the smartest idea in the world. Heck, he could easily picture Kibitoshin having some spectacular fret fest if he knew about what Sechs was doing right then! Still, whatever he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right? Sechs intended on reaching his goal without interruptions and surviving in the process. Besides, he had two weapons and (most of) his battle suit to protect him! Sechs wanted to believe that his white-haired friend wouldn't have to worry; it was thanks to him that Sechs could muster up the confidence to approach the second floor again in the first place...

The liquid parasite in Sechs' spine wasn't so keen on his plan though. "Trying to find that Original of yours is nothing but a suicide mission!" it snarled in Sechs' head, "Why don't you just get it over with now and take that machete of yours and impale yourself on it again like what you did the first time we met!"

Ignoring the drug's scathing taunts and the unpleasant memory it brought up, Sechs shook his head and moved on.

Ignore it... Ignore it... Not yet...

[To here.]