Day 24: Courtyard (Shift 2)

[stray_shinigami]

Renji's quasi-peaceful mood from breakfast was well and gone by the time he got out to the courtyard. Rather than dwell on the all-new problems with Rukia - and the fact that he had absolutely no idea how to deal with any of it - he tried to occupy himself with a mental checklist of the things he needed to do today. Meet with Roy Mustang at lunch,

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[haiiro_no_chou]

Rukia followed the rest of the patients out into the courtyard, wondering what the therapy sessions were supposed to be. In any case, she was sure they couldn't be good.

As short as she was, she couldn't keep an eye on Renji and the others, but once she was away from the crowd, she spotted Renji standing off by himself, looking more miserable than usual. She took a deep breath. She had no idea what she was going to say to him, and they would likely get interrupted once Rangiku and Captain Hitsugaya found them, but she could at least try to smooth things over with Renji after their argument on the bulletin board.

She walked up, folding her arms. "Hey," she said quietly, looking at anything but Renji's face. She hoped he wouldn't yell at her.

[stray_shinigami]

So, of course, the last person he wanted to deal with at this moment walked over to him. He crossed his arms over his chest, mimicking Rukia's pose. It was easy to just look over her head.

"What." The single word was far too flat to be a question.

He knew he shouldn't be angry with her. Nearly everything - if not everything - that had gone wrong had been his fault, because he didn't know when to shut up. And he felt angry with himself for being a seflish bastard and not having the good grace to be happy for her because of all the shit with her brother.

Unfortunately, neither of them had ever been any good at dealing with things like that. When they felt bad about something, they tended to take it out on other people.

[haiiro_no_chou]

Rukia shuffled her feet, carefully studying the grass between her and Renji. He was mad. When he talked like that - one-word responses - she knew he was mad. Why couldn't he just understand what she'd been trying to tell him? It was perfectly obvious to her, and usually they had no problems communicating. This was apparently different, though. Renji just didn't seem to be able to understand what she was getting at.

But shouldn't the drawing have helped? 'A picture is worth a thousand words', they always said.

"What did you think of my picture?" she asked.

[stray_shinigami]

The picture. He had to think about it a bit, trying to form a coherent thought, since he figured she'd punch him in the nuts if he just grunted.

It'd been clear enough, he thought. So her poorly drawn bunnies were supposed to be the two of them, smiling and holding hands like friends. Which, in his opinion, was belaboring the point unfairly. He knew that she didn't return his feelings; he knew what he needed to do, and he would come to peace with that decision eventually. Their friendship was more important than his feelings on this, and it was his fault things had gotten bad anyway, since he'd been the one that got weird at her.

What he was having the problem with was that she was't just letting it lie. He couldn't make his inappropriate feelings disappear overnight; he needed time and some space to get things under control, to keep himself under control. And he couldn't understand why she wasn't giving it to him

[transgenix]

After Valyn had slipped away, Max had spent the remainder of breakfast studying her surroundings, both the people and the room she was in. When the strange voice came over the intercom once again, she listened, her instincts telling her that if these gullible idiots were going to let her out in the open, then she should take advantage of it. But another part of her hesitated, the rumors Valyn had mentioned having piqued her curiosity and worrying her a bit

[itneverwas]

As interesting as his conversation with Xigbar was becoming, it would seem they'd be ushered to yet another area soon enough. Not having any interest in provoking the unnecessary, Xemnas allowed himself to be escorted to the courtyard while he ignored the trivial chatter of his nurse. After all, she would not be able to be of some use to him.

As he stepped outside into the fresh air, his amber eyes scanned the area for anything particularly interesting. It was almost strange how normal this institute looked during the day. However, in the end it was nothing more than a facade. The ones with a weak heart would be easy preys to the Head Doctor's little game. They would grow insecure, become doubtful of themselves and their very own identity. The results of the tests and experiments he had done in his pursuit of the darkness were the undeniable proof .

Eventually, he picked an occupied bench somewhere in the sun. Some interaction with the other 'patients' wouldn't hurt, at the very least.

[transgenix]

Max glanced up as someone sat down beside her. She'd seen the man come out with the others, but there was so many now spilling into the Courtyard that her gaze hadn't lingered on any one person for long. Now, however, she cocked her head to the side as she glanced at him, dark curls falling over one shoulder as she eyed the stranger.

"Hello," she said in greeting, wondering if this one had more crazy stories to tell or somtehing different altogether. "Are you new here, too, or have you been here a while?"

[itneverwas]

Xemnas returned the female's gaze with one of his own, taking a short moment to study her. It would seem she was one of the new ones. Perhaps it had been just his luck to choose someone that had just arrived here.

"Good morning." he spoke slowly. "I have been here for a few days. Nearly two, to be precise."

A pause, as a small smile appeared on his features. However, the smile was empty, devoid of emotion. A nonexistent being such as he was incapable of such, after all.

"Considering your words, however, I take it you have just come here?"

[personincharge]

Some people used to think it was amazing how, regardless of how her bad her morning was going (and it was), The Boss could still look so calm and unaffected, as if her morning wasn't happening at all.

That didn't apply only a few minutes ago, but it was always easier to calm down when you weren't throwing your disciple's son to the ground. And there was fresh air.

She ignored her nurse, heading over to sit quietly on a bench and mull over all the information she had learned over breakfast. All the almost nonsensical, bizarre information that would seem much more impossible if she wasn't so used to the supernatural.

Hopefully she wouldn't be bothered, but she doubted it. Some of the people on the bulletin board didn't seem like the type that would leave her alone.

[youthfulrocklee]

Lee had spent most of breakfast meditating, and he supposed that since he had ignored the calls, the nurses had decided to let him do his thing just this once. However, apparently they weren't going to let him continue to skip the rest of the activities. He had managed to smuggle a bit of food out before they were sent to the courtyard

[personincharge]

The Boss didn't look up when he approached or spoke, having already figured out that she was both going to be bothered, and not having anything to look at anyways. And then he spoke, and smiled, and it was simultaneously the most sincere and most unreal smile she had ever seen.

As was the way he spoke. He was very formal for someone so young (and it still bothered her how someone like that, his age, could end up here)... Clearly, he had either good or eccentric parents. Or both.

"An intelligent strategy," she replied, not able to stop a small smile of her own at his, although it somehow looked vaguely forced. "I am The Boss. Konoha?"

[youthfulrocklee]

It appeared as if he had made a good move in talking to her. At least she didn't totally ignore him, try to hit him, or make fun of him.

The name was certainly odd, but after everything, names seemed a prety mild oddity.

"Ah, Konoha is...well...I am not sure exactly where it is located with respect to here...where ever here is. It is a relatively quiet village, our people mainly focusing on different hand-to-hand combat strategies." It was not entirely a lie, afterall. True, he didn't say anything about the fact that they were a ninja village, but he would tell that to her once he knew a bit more about her background.

"Boss-san, where is it that you hail from? Is it near here? I have always wanted to travel to distant lands to explore, but this place was not exactly part of my dream."

[arc_wrench]

HK followed the female meatbag, tripping several times over the foot coverings he had been given. If he had been processing in a more organized manner, he would have made sure to examine each corridor they passed, look at every meatbag's face, and examine the structural stability of the complex as well as stay on the lookout for weapons to steal. But he had more important things to hyperventilate worry about- Namely, how in the name of logic could he have been placed in a meatbag body!

He was led into an open area, along with meatbags dressed in the same uniform as his own. Was this some sort of experimental facility? Prison? A 'brainwashing' cult(my cognitive processors are clean enough, thank you!At least this setting afforded him a view of this planet's sky. Which was too cloudy to determine the distance to the system's star, or any details on the atmosphere. The clouds appeared to be water vapor, however. A stable environment for meatbags. There were no visible lights from ships flying overhead. He hoped that was just because of

[icy_demise]

The woman who'd escorted him outside had continued her condescending tone as she talked about Landels and getting better, even though he wasn't ill. The fact that she said his name was 'Ki Lyu' was almost enough to make putting up with her worth while. She left SubZero in the courtyard with the suggestion, more like an order, really, to socialize with someone, practically pushing him in the direction of another patient.

SubZero gave her a murderous glare, one that she either didn't see or ignored as she went off. Still, he wanted answers, so SubZero did go in the direction he'd been prodded in by the nurse.

He walked up to the closest person in that direction, they were also wearing the same strange clothing that had been forced on SubZero after his Lin Kuei uniform had been taken. Rayden was going to pay for sending him here, this was humiliating.

"You, what is this place?" Hopefully this guy would be more cooperative than the woman had been.

[arc_wrench]

HK's head snapped around quickly to visually track the new meatbag. His face remained completely neutral, even though his tone was distinctly unhappy. "Statement: If I was aware of the location of this facility, I would have already taken advantage of this knowledge and made my escape."

A small noise of disgust escaped his throat. "However, upon booting up my systems this morning, I discovered that I am now a stinking, fleshy, fragile meatbag!" He remembered to take a breath before continuing. "Query: Wouldn't you find that utterly traumatizing? If you weren't a meatbag already, that is."

[icy_demise]

Naturally he had to pick someone even worse than the woman he'd been talking too. However, he was much more use to having people unhappy with him. Being called a meat-bag was irritating, and the speech pattern of the man even more so.

He was momentarily unsure how to deal with such a strange person. But he could work with this. "I asked what is this place. Not where. I don't care where it is right now."

And now to deal the issue of trauma.

"That sounds horrible," Maybe he should have talked to someone else. Was it too late to just walk off? "I could kill you and put you out of your misery, then you wouldn't have to suffer being a walking, talking, fragile meatbag."

[whiteychan]

Based on what he had read on the boards, Renji and Rukia clearly had some issues they needed to work out among themselves. It wasn't proper for him to bring it to their attention, but it certainly was the best idea for him to leave them alone and give them the opportunity to work it out themselves. He didn't approve of their public display, but trying to interject himself and force them to resolve it would only make things worse. Either they'd get it fixed, or they wouldn't and there would be bad blood between them. In either case, he hoped Renji had the wisdom to assign Rukia to a different team than his for the nightshift missions

[daddyslilkiller]

Omi let Kurama and Yohji go their separate ways, content to wander out into the Courtyard on his own. It had been an enjoyable breakfast, even if he did worry as people were led off for doctor's visits, hoping that no one he knew would be taken.

He stretched a little, enjoying the feel of being outside after having been cooped up so long inside, their little adventure last night not-withstanding. It's hard to enjoy being in the open air when one is fearing for one's life the entire time.

He spotted a kid who looked even younger than himself sitting alone under a tree. He considered it for a minute before shrugging. Couldn't hurt, right? Besides, new friends were always worth it. He made his way over and dropped down next to the white-haired boy, smiling cheerfully. "Hi! I'm Omi. Can I join you?"

[whiteychan]

Hitsugaya saw the other boy approach, and his body tensed slightly. The problem with dealing with all of these people from other 'worlds' was that nearly every one of them likely saw him as a child, and any efforts to dissuade them would fail. Still, it was something that could be clarified later, perhaps when Renji and Rukia were done with whatever drama they were getting themselves involved with, and getting to know as many individuals as possible would be vital to success in this place.

"Hi Omi," Hitsuaya said respectfully. "My name is Hitsugaya Toshiro. Please, take a seat." He motioned to a spot under the tree.

[daddyslilkiller]

Omi knew all about being underestimated because he looked young. Not that it completely stopped him from making snap judgments about people, but he usually tried not to do it when age was involved.. usually.

He leaned back against the tree, grinning at Hitsugaya before turning his attention to the leaves above them. The flowershop must be affecting him, because he really missed not being around nature these days.

"Thanks. You been here long?" That was the standard question, wasn't it? Anyway, it was a good ice-breaker, if nothing else.