[ from here ]

And the process continued, stomach flipping over, but Mikado almost relished the sensation if it meant getting out of that dark room.... Of course, all the rooms were dark, and this one could be worse than the last, but at first glance, it at least looked normal. Some kind of office, with a desk, chair, and computer--

...Computer?

There was a high-pitched gasp of delight from Mikado as he rushed into the room, skidding around the desk to brush his hands over the computer. It was only when he pressed the power button that he remembered to answer Sakuta-- And only recalled that. The wariness he had held only moments ago had passed with this new realization. "Oh, right, the experiments. I guess they experiment a lot on people here. My friend was before I even got here, and I was a couple of nights ago. The doctors seem to relish in it."

All spoken in the lightest of conversational tones. Mikado's attention was for the computer, an aspect shown in the shine of his eyes as the computer slowly booted up, screen flickering on.

[from here]

Small room this time. Why did it seem like he'd stepped onto the set of a sci-fi? Is this room about to blast off into space? Ryusei couldn't resist thinking, even though he knew more or less what a space station actually looked like. Glancing through the window didn't make the room's purpose any clearer; it was too dark to make anything out even when he flashed his light directly at it. At least the fact the room even had a window like this was a hint. But what kind of machinery needed that many buttons? Logic would dictate that it was something medical, he thought as he shone the light over the labels. Was it...a surgery room? Was the room beyond the window a surgery room?

"Any idea what this room is?"

More importantly, that had been the only door in the last room, meaning they couldn't backtrack to that outdoors area. What with this Gate Switch nonsense, that meant he might never find the front door tonight. He'd have to wait a day until he could try again. Unless— "This doesn't happen often, I'm guessing," he added.

[from here]

And the door opened into a place Mikado had never seen. The burst of nausea that continued--was he getting sick? What was going on with that?--was almost overcome by the surroundings. There probably wasn't much to look at for most; a couch, a mini-fridge, some casual decorations and shows of use. But that was why Mikado stared. This was the first sight of some kind of casual normality that he had seen in two weeks.

What was normal had become abnormal already. He felt his eyes blinking.

"I don't..." the boy stopped, then started again. "I'm not sure where this is."

[from here]

Ryusei shook his head as he passed through; why was he getting disoriented? He wasn't tired or even hungry, and other than the occasional dizziness, he felt fine—fine enough that sickness wasn't something he was going to consider until other symptoms came up. This room, then, was definitely exhibiting a sense of irony: there were beds in here. Probably not for patients to reside in, from the looks of it; Ryusei only had one roommate, and there'd been a wardrobe and drawers in that room. These beds had curtains. Infirmary?

Whatever this room was, the architecture wasn't making any sense. If that outdoors area wasn't the greenhouse, then he should have seen something like the side of the building jutting out; this room was too long not to. If that outdoors area was in fact the greenhouse, then how had they gotten there?

"This doesn't make any sense," he said aloud as he started between the beds to the other end of the room.

[from here]

Why did he suddenly get dizzy, and why did it disappear just as suddenly once he completed his step? Was he getting sick? Didn't he just get a shot for that? Ryusei reached up to rub his forehead as he took a few more steps into the room, but it was that moment that he realized that this was the wrong room. It wasn't even a 'room' at all.

Ryusei shone his light around, but he didn't even recognize this place. He'd been sure it had been the right door; he didn't make this kind of mistake. He turned to Ryuugamine. "Where are we? I thought I had the right door."

[From here.]

They'd already neared the Sun Room and the door that led to the building's exit, but Castiel wasn't aiming for either one tonight. It was still quiet on this side of the building, which seemed strange to him. He was using crutches, after all... He would have expected that plenty of other patients would have beaten him and Lust to this point.

It didn't matter. If their path wasn't littered with obstacles, that would make it easier to reach the greenhouse. As for Lust's question...

"There is one person I know who I believe is still ill," he explained. "Her name is Aigis. She used to be an android, though she's been made human here." Just like him, and perhaps just like Lust. Though she was a created human, so he had no idea if she could ever be the real thing. Did she even have a soul? There was no way he would be able to feel for it in this place; he didn't have that kind of power at the moment.

"We have a few things in common, but she hasn't been taking her illness very seriously." Which frustrated him, especially since she had struck him as the goal-oriented type. Did she really have that little concern for her own well-being?

[from here --and waiting for Ryusei!]

There still wasn't a lot of people in the halls, and it was starting to make him nervous. Maybe he should try to find someone to hang out with tonight. Snow and Celty had insisted on how Mikado shouldn't be alone at night--it wouldn't hurt to take their advice. But it would be strange to just go up to someone and ask to walk around with them.

...Wouldn't it?

He made a face, and paused in the hall, looking around. He was more aware of the bandages covering his eye in the dim, and even wearing his own clothes didn't negate that uncomfortability. He was suddenly starting to think he should have just stayed inside.

[from here]

For once it seemed like barely any people were out. Was he really that early, or was there some other reason things seemed quiet? It wasn't a good idea to think in the dark with a large blind spot, and Mikado regripped his flashlight nervously.

Maybe he should have contacted Izaya again tonight. But he didn't want to bother the man more than necessary. Despite the circumstances, Mikado was probably just someone Izaya was assisting, not someone to be considered a friend.

...Did Izaya have friends back home? It made Mikado think for a moment. How weird. No one was readily coming to mind.

[to here]

Well, that... Wasn't creepy at all. Really. Mikado looked up at the intercom suspiciously, but it was more from a concern about sanity rather than safety. It didn't change anything, however. If there was some kind of infection going around, enough so that they would immunize (or fake immunize) people for it, it'd be something to gain information on. At least, that's what Mikado thought. The medical wing was on the other side of the building, by the stairs, and he thought to go there.

Never mind that Mikado had no ability at all to understand things like medical charts or that sort of thing. He was hoping mainly that there would be some kind of easily read notes there... But since when did doctors have easily read notes, or easily read anything... Ugh, there wasn't really any point to going there, was there?

He had no other ideas at the time being, though, so he finished dressing into his own clothes, and shouldered his bag across his chest. At least he'd have a direction to go.

[to here]

"Goodness, is it really already time for dinner? Time certainly does fly! And such a lovely day, too. I certainly wouldn't mind having a nice cup of cocoa out on the patio or something..."

That was how the Head Doctor greeted them, although it apparently didn't take him long to realize he'd gotten a little off topic.

"Now then, it's time for the nurses to escort you all back to your rooms, where you'll have the opportunity to tuck into a scrumptious plate of turkey and gravy. And, of course, we always carry vegetarian options for those who don't eat meat. We also have our usual assortment of water, juice and milk.

"Also, some of you will be receiving some extra help in warding off whatever bug some of us have been catching. Please take care, everyone, and be sure to wash your hands! I'll talk to you all again later. Enjoy your dinner."

The intercom clicked off, leaving patients with the prospect of preparing for yet another grueling Nightshift.

((Respond to this post with your character's room number in the subject line. New room assignments are listed here. If you have any questions, let us know!))

With his task successfully accomplished in the greenhouse, Guy was feeling even better as the end of the day rolled around. He still had a few things that he wanted to do, though, and so before he headed into the Music Room he made sure to leave a note on the bulletin board for Claude. He realized that he'd slacked off on making Abyssman posts lately, but seeing how only three of them were left at this point, it didn't seem that necessary.

And even though the day was almost over, Guy hadn't forgotten his decision to take a shower today. While he was perfectly warm and dry at this point, the memory of being soaked to the bone by the rain was still stuck in his mind. On top of that, the greenhouse had been pretty muggy, so the idea of being properly clean sounded pretty good right about now.

Surprisingly, the nurse didn't bat an eye when he told her that he wanted to take a shower. She led him to the shower area, which for once was completely empty, and stood outside the room as Guy was granted complete privacy to wash himself off. Not that he minded the communal setting, but it was nice to have a bit of privacy for once. He savored the feeling of the hot water soaking through his skin and let out a satisfied sigh when he finally turned the water off.

Once he'd dried off, dressed again, and toweled most of the excess water out of his hair, it was finally time to go to the Music Room. Guy stretched his arms up into the air as he stepped inside, feeling nice and refreshed for once.

Usually he went to go toy with the "Walkmans" when he came here, because he couldn't play any instruments himself, and so he wandered in that direction.

[For Ilia.]

[M7]

Dinner went by too fast, and as the intercom announcement came on and the change to night officially started, Sora pushed himself to the edge of bed, caught in the tight hold of dread. He didn't want it to become night. He didn't want to change again. He'd gone to a lot of effort to make sure that he didn't end up repeating the events of last night, but something could always go wrong.

Landel cut to the chase pretty fast this time around, and no other clues were given out. Did that mean that the rebel group hadn't been able to get through, or had they just run out of clues to give them? Did that mean they were on their own? Sora let out a breath and tried to manage the panic that was bubbling up in his chest.

Link was still here. Sora had hoped that his roommate would make a move to leave the second that night came, but it didn't look like that was the case. Of course not. If Sora was honest with himself, he'd known from the start that someone like Link wasn't going to leave him alone here.

Sora forced out a shaky sigh. He didn't feel anything yet, but he knew that it wouldn't be long before the darkness started to take over.

"I know you're worried," he said to Link, "but it's fine. My other friend should be here soon, so..." He wanted as few people as possible around when the change went through. Hopefully Tsurugi would get here soon, and then Link could leave.

When the shift changed, Gabriel didn't hesitate to take his leave, and Castiel couldn't blame him for that. He likely had other people he wanted to talk to, and as a newer patient, he might even be curious about some of the other areas. Castiel had seen it all multiple times by now, so when his nurse asked him if he wanted to move elsewhere, he declined.

It seemed better to remain in one spot for as long as he could and stay still so that his body wasn't pushed past its limits. His nurse couldn't argue with that, so instead she went to go get him some more painkillers, which he swallowed down instantly.

Relying on human drugs... It seemed ridiculous, though Dean had once given him a whole bottle to take. He wouldn't mind doing so again, but with the way his body was right now, that likely wasn't a good idea. So he'd just have to go along with what the nurses allowed him.

"Though Michael, you should really try to eat," his nurse insisted as she set a brown bag into his lap. "I know you're hurting a lot right now, but you'll feel better if you can get some food down."

Maybe she was right, but when Castiel stared at the bag, it seemed like a trial to even open it. Maybe if he just drank something... Slowly, he lifted his hand to push the bag open and reached inside to see what was there.

"There we go," the nurse encouraged him with a smile. "I'll be close-by in case you need anything."

At that point, she walked off, and he was left alone again. Maybe after he drank something, he could even see about getting some rest. Humans could sleep sitting up, couldn't they?

[From here.]

But being outside was probably just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than it was being trapped inside the bus with that nurse.

Besides the many other deformed nurses that were roaming around here, Zero caught sight of numerous forms flying overhead, casting large shadows on the ground as they passed by. They looked like...eagles. But deformed and horrific-looking, just like the nurses. At first, they seemed content to simply circle overhead, screeching, like vultures swarming above a carcass. But then many of them suddenly swooped down and headed straight for some of the prisoners running in the street.

Kind of like the one flying at Zero right now.

"Kh--!" The once-Reploid barely managed to dodge the monster as it dived for him by falling to the ground and rolling back onto his feet. The bird flew upwards again, slowly flapping its wings, then circled around as if to try again, another eagle joining it. To avoid them, Zero quickly moved out of the open, where he was obviously a target, and circled around one of the buses, keeping his back to it for cover. But he knew he wasn't going to be safe here...not when there were nurses on the ground and so many eagles above.

Not since the night he had become temporarily stronger had there been so much visible chaos... And if that one prisoner hadn't started a riot, this wouldn't be happening right now...!

As he stood contemplating the best route for escape, Zero glanced around quickly, searching the fleeing prisoners for anyone familiar or anyone who might need help. He was defenseless, so protecting someone else would only get him so far (and he certainly didn't want a repeat of two nights ago), but they all might have a better chance of survival if they grouped up...

[Leanne, Lana, and Harvey, WHERE YOU AT.]

With the blond's outburst disturbing not only the peace and quite of the trip back, but the trip itself by way of a detour into a damn tree, Kurogane's patience had worn thin by well before the sun had begun to set. No amount of alcohol would have helped temper his mood either. Stuck on the side of the road with the night drawing ever closer... it was almost as though Landel had intended for something like this. That man knew what happened were they not back in the building by nightfall, and a good number of them knew the same.

Probably not the blond idiot.

Though his patience was all but gone, his attention to the situation was heightened with the threat of darkness closing in. Each passing moment put them closer to another attack like before, and if there was where the night was to begin, he wasn't going to be trapped in any vehicle, moving or otherwise. That decision kept him on edge, watching between the window and the bus's back door beside him and waiting with the only remaining patience he had to spare.

"Be ready," was all he'd said to the girl beside him, knowing or at least hoping that she understood what was soon to come. He wasn't sure if she'd been there the time before, but as a ninja she should have known enough to expect anything with the tension aboard.

The moment he caught the sun's final dip beyond the horizon, he was out of his back seat and unhinging the emergency hatch for a quick exit to the ground, expecting that Tsubaki would be close behind. "Come on!" he barked back before starting around the bus at a quick pace. The town was long gone, but the chance stood that the Institute would be not too far ahead of them.

The wind was whipping hard enough that S.T. decided not to take his burger back outside. Eating dirt was all well and good on camping trips, but there was a roof and chairs that weren't too sticky right here. So he sat down at a table and started doctoring his burger with shelf-stable squeeze-packet mustard.

There weren't as many patients in here as he'd expected. How many of them were sick? A lot, if the number that had found their way to the bulletin in the grocery was only a sample. All of them trying to fake being O.K. until they lost control and ate their roommate. Their lack of appetite (for food, at least) was showing, though. People rarely thought about the things they did from day to day and what impact they had. These burgers had been trucked in, the ketchup had probably been grown in Mexico, shipped as tomatoes to China, processed and shipped back to the US. If this was Earth, yada yada. Maybe Landel just opened a portal and snagged stuff by the truckload. In which case they'd have to add how much damage interdimensional travel did to the ozone layer to his list of sins.

Either way, it was boring in here with no one to talk to. S.T. tried folding the aluminized paper from his burger into an origami boat, but it had absorbed too much grease, and sagged.

[free]

Searching for files really wasn't the most exciting way to spend a night, but at least he had Sangamon had managed something and had also somehow avoided getting into any real trouble. While the lack of some sort of conflict meant that it had almost felt boring in comparison, Harvey was pretty sure he could go without seeing one of those rotted faces for the rest of his life.

Yeah, the memory of one of those dogs tearing through Zex's throat hadn't quite left his mind yet. It probably wasn't going to anytime soon, either.

It was clear that Landel was trying to stir up shit among the patients, though, with how he was going on about this so-called sickness. It was obvious from the start that this was something that had been administered to certain patients, but that didn't mean it wouldn't spread. But Harvey's guess was that it wouldn't. This whole charade had clearly been designed to force a wedge between the patients, and he was pretty sure it was going to work.

Other than the fact that he'd slept all day yesterday, though, Harvey felt fine. As fine as someone with half his face burned off could feel, anyway. But the point was that he felt normal for him, which probably meant he'd been lucky enough to steer clear of this weird illness. The coin had apparently landed on the clean side this time.

Sleeping a whole day away meant that it was already time to head into Doyleton yet again. Harvey couldn't say he was that excited. The town hadn't given him much to do, and while a change of scenery was probably good for his mental health, the way the townspeople treated them more or less canceled that out. Still, there was nothing for it, so he didn't put up a fuss as he changed into his clothes for the day. This time he had a pair of black pants, a shirt that was a little too close to purple for his liking, and a gray-colored zip-up windbreaker to wear over it.

As usual, there was the sack lunch and coupons to collect (did they really have to be treated like grade-schoolers?), but it looked like the allowance was going to be a staple from now on. Harvey stepped up onto one of the buses with a sigh, but it looked like he'd picked the one that was emptiest (so far, anyway). Focusing on that silver lining, he went to sit down in the back and started to peel open the brown bag with his breakfast in it.

[For Shiina!]

[from here]

It didn't take long to know he'd made the right choice. As he continued walking down the corridor, his attention was immediately drawn to the balcony to their left. Which he actually recognized!

"Hey! Check it out!" He jogged ahead for a few steps, rushing right over to the balcony. He stopped right up against it, one hand braced on the railing as he leaned over it and the other hand aiming his light down into the room below. "We're right above the Son Room!"

So that meant this was that area that he could see when looking up. Sure looked different looking at it from the other side. He hadn't seen any staff patrolling up here or anything before, but the convenient overlook spot had caught his attention as suspicious. He pulled his light up to scan the... big mess of doors all around the balcony area, wow. Suspicious balcony above a suspicious room and surrounded by a bunch of suspicious doors? Sounded like they hit the jackpot!

[from here]

By the time he reached the top of the stairs, Klavier had a vague melody playing in the back of his head. It really would have been better to have something tangible to listen to. That way he wouldn't lose it as soon as he tried to focus more thoroughly on his surroundings. He stood, quiet and straining to listen for anything unusual in the darkness. Nothing.

He still hesitated in proceeding forward. If anything, the continued silence just made the entire thing feel more suspicious. It was difficult not to feel like one was walking right into a trap or an ambush. He briefly glanced behind him, back down the stairs, before moving forward. Again, he just needed to focus on what he was doing and where he was going. Don't get sidetracked.

The area he wanted to inspect was straight ahead.

[to here]