It was hard to imagine that either the regular staff or the soldiers, who had seemed so out of place that morning, had anticipated what the patient populace had decided to do during breakfast. While the grand majority of patients had eventually decided to calm down and either escape to adjacent rooms or stay hidden under the cafeteria tables, there were others who were persistent and stubborn in their need to make some sort of point.

The cafeteria ended up a mess, covered in bits of food, not to mention downed patients who had been suppressed by the unexpected military force. When it seemed like the insanity wasn't going to go away unless extreme measures were taken, that was exactly what happened.

Where exactly the gas came from was a mystery; either it was the vents, or it was one more strange thing about the institute that couldn't and wouldn't be explained. But the tear gas flooded into the room as the staff and the soldiers exited, leaving the patients to suffer with it like they were pests instead of human beings. It was only after everyone had been incapacitated that the staff returned, helping patients to change into fresh clothes or wash themselves off if need be.

It was during this moment that the intercom came on, but Landel's voice was not heard. Where he was -- if he was busy trying to cover up what had happened or was simply throwing a fit somewhere -- was not commented on.

Lydia, the head nurse, simply spoke in her usual clipped tone. "Considering the way all of you have decided to behave this morning, we've had to take some severe measures. Some of you will be taken up to the solitary rooms, while the rest of you can continue on with your day. However, our visitors here may have some tasks for you to carry out, and so I would strongly suggest that you follow their orders. Men will be on the recreational field, with women in the greenhouse. Therapy sessions will also be scheduled if possible, depending on the status of potential patients."

She paused, sighed, and made one last comment. "We all hope that you will know better in the future."

The intercom cut off then, as nurses led the patients around with the soldiers watching, ready to spring into action if need be.

[ Please refer to this post for how to handle the next shift. Also, NEWLY ACCEPTED CHARACTERS are still free to reply to this with their introduction post. Solitary room posts can also be made in response to this post. ]

For once, HK was working very hard to hide a giddy facial expression as he met his nurse at the door. He'd already hidden his scalpels in his clothing. The wonderful, sharp implements of doom would be needed today. “Statement: Despite my reticence towards all processed meat and plant products, I am experiencing intolerable levels of hunger,” he informed his nurse. “I require an especially large meal.”

It was the easiest and best excuse to load his food tray with several of these 'inglish muffin sandwiches', and two glasses of white milk. He then found a table strategically located in the center of the refueling area, and waited. He needed the room as full as possible before the Evil Plan could begin.

[Free, but planning doom upon all.]

The commotion just after the intercom's jingle displayed the same kind of erratic energy that the Head Doctor had been exuding all day.

"Come on, get those papers out of the way – no, I don't...! Ah! Good evening, everyone, and I hope you all enjoyed the activities we had to–"

Someone whispered something in the background. The Head Doctor sighed and muttered: "Yes, Lydia, I know we don't have many organized activities...

"...But anyway! Next up is dinner with your roommates! Tonight, we'll be having turkey and gravy, which will consist of some moist slices of turkey breast and garlic mashed potatoes, garnished with steamed broccoli, grilled asparagus, and topped with delicious gravy. We'll be serving the dinners with small side salads and our dessert will be pumpkin pie – as per usual, we have alternate meals for alternate dietary needs."

The Head Doctor took a long pause. Lydia mumbled something in the background.

"No, I'm not dawdling–! Er... I'll talk to you shortly, everyone!"

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. Thank you! ]

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 sigh that toed the ambiguous no-mans-land between soft and explosive, Yuffie collected a plateful of waffles with all the toppings. She was sure that, if nothing else, it'd making a pretty satisfying splat if—when?—she launched it at somebody's face, and that was all that counted.

"Hanna, isn't that a little much?" Plucky asked, doubtfully.

"Uhhm. No. About, like... a little while ago, I managed five caramel apple pies with ice cream and berries and, y'know, I think there was a gallon of soda involved at some point." It wasn't the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. There really had been five caramel apple pies, but Cloud had ended up wearing two and a half and the third had taken a vacation to Boobsville (Tifa had loved it. Really. Really). The moral of the story (as she'd told Marlene and Denzel later) was that anything was game, just as long as you could run fast enough afterwards.

The nurse nodded slowly. "I… suppose. Well, I'll leave you to it. See that you behave, won't you, dear? You need to set a good example for the new batch of patients."

"My examples are the best examples," Yuffie proclaimed, with the dark-bright grin that still came so easily, no matter how little she felt really felt it. It lingered even when the nurse had flitted off to deal with another charge, but there was an edge to it. What the edge was, Yuffie couldn't say. Didn't want to say, after what'd gone down last night. Nah, she had better things to do; things like sitting down and waiting, just waiting, for Cloud or some other sucker of an easy target to walk through the door.

[HARLEY HARTWELL o/]

[from here]

As they stepped outside, Kratos took a deep breath, taking a moment to savor the feeling of fresh air, even though it was still tainted with the silent evil that surrounded the institute. Then, moment finished, he returned to the task at hand.

The immediate vicinity outside the institute was still and eerily quiet. He knew this place: this was where the buses usually sat whenever they were taken to Doyleton. But now, the plaza was completely empty, and it reminded him that for once he was going somewhere that no map he had had ever described. Yes, other patients had surely come here before, but none of them had ever deigned to tell of what they'd found--or else, Kratos had never noticed their warnings on the board. He and Ishida would have to simply work off of intuition, a situation that he was familiar with, but rather disliked.

"So from here..." Kratos took a few steps away from the door and tried to get an idea of their surroundings. An uneven road stretched out before them, and to its sides he could see that the terrain grew rougher still. "This road leads, if I'm correct, to the town of Doyleton." He strained to see farther and barely made out the tops of trees. "We need not follow it to its conclusion, though."

There was something else that he could recall about this particular area, a memory of watching gigantic, airborne monsters swoop down from above. "Keep an eye on the sky."

[from here]

The door opened onto darkness. Either the lights had switched off, or they'd all burst; sweeping the flashlight's beam over the floor evinced the glitter of broken glass. The latter, then. He hoped the brown of that carpet looked less repulsive in the daylight. As Uryuu walked into the room, he was almost glad of the darkness. The light in the hall, even thrown into the doorway, made his shadow stark, and he had to keep himself from looking again, and again at it. His eyes were playing tricks (he didn't believe that). Scanning the room by flashlight, Uryuu noted that it seemed smaller at this end because of the two rooms on each side.

Venturing further in and turning with the light produced labels for the doors. File Rooms. Temptations. But, he recognized that at the moment, he didn't have enough information. It was unlikely that Kurosaki would be listed under Kurosaki Ichigo; instead, under whatever false name the institute provided. And Uryuu hadn't a clue. There were two long reception desks in front of those rooms, and doors that lead to waiting rooms. Did "visitors" come through the front doors, then sit in those lobbies? Would Kuro--

He couldn't finish the thought, a sudden, amused smirk coming to his face. Even brainwashed into believing he was someone else, no way would Kurosaki ever come to visit his insane classmate "Gerard Way". Assuming their fabricated identities knew one another, it was impossible that they had that sort of relationship. (Well, if he were Gerard and it was Kurosaki in here, he might have--)

Priorities. He'd kept moving while thinking it, at least, not distracted by appearance aside from the out of place trace of humor.

"It seems too easy," he noted quietly, reaching the doors. To simply walk out the entrance.

[From here]

The amount of thin lights and hushed voices thinned greatly as Xemnas made his way further down the corridor, cloaking the area in a silent and deserted darkness. Silence was what drifted even from beyond the doors leading to the Sun room, a silence that may have been eerie to those who had the essence to be gripped by such a primal emotion. As one that wasn't part of such a measure of existence, such a thing held little meaning. The Superior passed those doors without so much as a second glance.

Still, orange eyes searched the darkness as he walked this familiar path, prepared for possible threats lingering within those shadowy depths, seeking to devour those who who passed by. The night had only just began, and he himself was likely among the first to walk these empty corridors; there would naturally be no battles to alert him of any undesired presences. Though time was of the essence in this world, a sense of caution was indeed something holding more importance.

[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]

"Ah...!" This wasn't the right hallway yet, but he could tell it was close from the fresh smell of patients off in the distance. He continued to jog briskly down the hallway, making sure to control his breathing so he didn't get winded so easily. There would be a lot of running (he hoped, at least) this night and it would be good for him to return to his basics in order to ration his stamina. Unfortunately, honing his stamina did nothing for his irregularly terrible night vision. Out of nowhere, he bumped into the wall beside him, squawking like a bird at the sudden impact.

"Jeez..." At least he only got hit on his forehead, that was the thickest part of him really. Keeping one small hand on the side of the hallway for safety, he continued forward, grumbling softly.

[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]

Goku made a strange noise of confusion when he heard this mysterious voice talking to him. It reminded him of last night when Marc had been talking to him from some unknown corner of the kitchen. He knew, however, that this wasn't Marc. The voices were different, but it was still strange. Standing up on his bed, the monkey boy began pacing the thin mattress until he pinpointed where the voice was coming from, or at least where he thought it was coming from. His mouth hung open as he gawked up at the weird box mounted high on the wall.

A sudden click and the darkness consumed the room, making Goku yelp in awe. The voice continued onward, and the kid couldn't help but smile. Well, gee that sounded nice! Goku liked surprises! He couldn't wait to get out there and find it!

"Oh..." But he needed a partner, Claire said so. He wasn't really sure where to find one, but he had found Spock last night luckily, so hopefully someone else would be there that he could follow around. Taking nothing with him, Goku exited his room and started waddling down the hallway without a care.

[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! ]

How one's body could maintain a waking schedule when sleep came unnaturally and in a room without windows, must surely be a mystery. Yet, as if working on cue, Natalia stirred well before her nurse arrived. That was normal. Less so, the weight that sought to press her eyelids closed again, the heaviness of her limbs that made lifting her hands to her face an effort. She put her wrist to her forehead with a frown, then attempted a jolt of energy – to swiftly dig her hands into the mattress and shove herself into a seated position, and from there, to her feet.

Not to overexert herself once again, but to refuse that it could be possible after sleeping. Happily, though all still felt leaden, her head did not swim. Encouraged, Natalia put on her slippers, rearranged the bedding, and waited. There came the announcement (reminding her, suddenly, of what she had last heard, and the guilt that had twisted in her gut, Jill--), and her face wrinkled with disgust at the hacking sound. Therapy and breakfast. Food would surely help.

Natalia did not wait long before her nurse opened the door, and after exchanging cursory “Good Morning”s (with rather more enthusiasm on the other woman's part), they began the walk to the Cafeteria. With, of course, the essential rest room stop, where water was splashed and scrubbed over her face, and her hair toyed with to no great satisfaction. At least the shower had renewed its body.

Separating in the Cafeteria, Natalia took her place in line and loaded her plate: eggs, fruit salad, fried “tater tots” (potatoes?), and curious meat wrapped in cooked dough. Some of everything, with juice and water. She thanked her servers, collected utensils and napkins, and found a seat at an empty table. It was early yet.

Sparing a brief look around to be sure no one she recognized had arrived – though she remained eager to greet every patient, at the moment she chose to focus on the possible strength gained from the meal – Natalia began to cut up the items and eat with a refined gusto. Entirely possible!

[Claude!]

There was no telling if the next announcement came hours or minutes after the previous one, but regardless of that, it did come on with the onset of dawn. Like clockwork, like always, someone was there to greet the half-groggy patients as they woke up in their beds.

Except this greeting got off on the wrong foot, starting with a harsh cough that persisted for a few seconds before the speaker recovered.

"I apologize for that," the head nurse said, without any further explanation given. "As today is Tuesday, it will be the first day of therapy for the week. But before that, all patients will be taken to the cafeteria, as always, to eat their breakfast. We're serving pigs in blankets with fruit, scrambled eggs, and tater tots on the side. Please enjoy juice, milk, or water as possible drinks."

After another coughing fit, the nurse continued. "The Head Doctor will most likely be with you after your meal. Thank you."

And the announcement ended, signaling the nurses to go rouse the patients from their sleep.

Renji wasn't so certain what this grilled cheese thing was all about, but he liked the sound of some soup. Even if it was strange western soup, well... there wasn't anything bad people could do to soup, in his experience. His good mood was starting to fray at the edges, a little, from the strain of dealing with the Ichimaru issue, and even more from what had been on the bulletin board earlier.

He'd never had difficulty simply writing something before. But...

He shook his head as he entered the line. He didn't want to think about it. He wanted to hold on to the tenuous equilibrium he'd managed to find.

Renji got himself a large bowl of soup, water, and even one of those sandwiches, just to try it. Old habit, recently awakened, had him over to one side of the cafeteria, where the fewest people possible would have the chance to pass behind him. He sat there with his back toward the wall and started eating.

"Calvin, the whole reason we have scheduled mealtimes is so that our patients can eat!"

Keman marveled at how severe his short, plump nurse could look. She wasn't fooling anyone, of course, but it was an admirable effort. The dragon shrugged. "But I was talking. I forgot to eat." He'd long given up trying to insist that his name was Kemanorel, not Calvin Jacobs. It was just too much of a headache.

The nurse gave the napkin full of food that he had tried to smuggle out of the cafeteria a disapproving glance. "All right," she said heavily, and Keman rolled his eyes. Honestly. It was just food! "I'll let this go just this once. Now, I know you don't want to do Arts and Crafts, so just be a good boy and stay here in the Sun Room, all right?"

Thus free of his obnoxious watchdog, Keman found a couch and stretched out on it, grinning happily. It seemed like Valyn's hurts weren't going to be that lasting, and Max had taken the revelation of what he really was in stride. All in all, not a bad morning...even if he'd had better. He was still feeling a little drained from all the magic he had used last night, so maybe he'd be able to take a little nap.

After eating, of course.

The young dragon-turned-halfblood popped a strawberry into his mouth and closed his eyes. There really was quite a bit to be said about two-legger food. Especially the sweet things.

Day came too soon.

Sora hadn't been able to find Rena, had instead been forced to crumple onto the grass of the recreational field and bleed all over himself, and hadn't even accomplished what he'd been sent out to do. What he'd been entrusted to do. He didn't know how he was going to be able to face Renji and the others, but he also knew he wasn't going to hide from them, either. That would just be low, after all, and he was ready to face up to the consequences.

He didn't try to make excuses for himself. Even though there had been a Special Counseling patient, they had managed to take her down by sheer numbers. The fact that he hadn't seen any sign of Rena was what had him the most worried. He hoped he could find her today.

The boy laid in his bed for a good while that morning before his nurse finally came in to collect him. She clucked over the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest and leg, and asked him if he was okay to walk.

Once Sora assured her he was fine (he didn't really want to use crutches, as that would just attract attention to himself, and he didn't need others worrying over him), they made their way to the cafeteria. Sora yawned and winced against the bright light of morning - it seemed even earlier than usual, and he realized why when they entered the cafeteria and found it empty.

The boy shuffled over to grab a chocolate chip pancake, a bowl of cereal, and a glass of milk (good for the bones, or so his mom had always told him) before settling at a table. He kept an eye on the door, hoping he would see Rena walking in soon.

Gluttony didn't want to leave his Lust, not after he'd just found her!  But the mean tasty nurses said he had to.  "You can't join her in the women's showers" was a bad excuse.  He didn't like the mean tasty nurses.  Maybe Lust would let him eat them later.  Still, he knew he would see his Lust again, and that was good.  He liked Lust.  She was good and beautiful and smart and kind.  Why did they have to take him away from his Lust?

Still, he would see her again.  And she would tell him it was okay to eat the tasty nurses, and that would be good.  His new friend liked eating people, too.  That made him happy to find a friend who shared a love for eating people.  Today was a very good day.

As he entered the showers, he stood under a shower head and opened his mouth wide to drink up the water.  It wasn't as good as eating people, or eating waffles that didn't scream when he bit into them so weren't nearly as good as eating people, but it was still swallowing something, and that made him feel better.