Day 57: Waiting Room/Lobby 1 (Fourth Shift)

[hairraising]

Since her talk with Soma in the morning, Rapunzel had been afraid this moment might come. Even as she distracted herself with other things, there was a tightness knotting up inside her stomach. Even as she assured herself that she would be prepared if it happened, the feeling wouldn't pass. And now, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder, and the

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[girlsandgadgets]

The silence between them was more uncomfortable than Edgar would ever admit. He searched his mind for an answer to the twin's question- any answer would do, as there were none that came to mind that could even begin to explain what was going on with the institute, the military, or the plans of General Aguilar for the patient population; Edgar didn't know the answers to those questions, himself.

Seeing his own frustrated behaviors mirrored by the man across the table, he knew he had to say something. It was so much more difficult than he'd expected, especially when forcing himself to think of this visitor as someone completely different from his brother- another man somehow wearing his skin, copying his mannerisms, mimicking every aspect... and yet, rather than attack as a mimic might, he was here showing concern and compassion for his ill twin. Edgar felt his stomach churn uncharacteristically, the darker thought that this was truly Sabin still there.

Clasping his hands in front of his face, Edgar tried to find the words. It was likely this... Sabin look-alike had been told that anything he might say would be the result of his condition, that his mental capacity was less than stellar and his delusions were out of hand at times. Still, he had to try- in the best case, he would for some reason believe Edgar about the institute and the deception... and in the event he was who he so closely resembled, he somehow broke free of the effects of the brainwashing. Worst case was that he didn't believe it in the slightest and chalked it up to a sick mind- that was the expected result. If nothing else, it might convince March's twin that his brother was truly mad, that he was beyond his reach for now and that leaving was the best course of action.

Edgar sighed behind his hands. No, if March's twin was even remotely like Sabin, he probably wouldn't abandon him so easily. He knew that too well.

Steeling himself, Edgar brought his eyes back the matching pair across the table. "There are monsters loose at night. A military faction has taken over this place, Sabin. It's not an institution... not anymore. It never truly was, I'm sure."

[damned_visitors]

The silence stretched out once more, and Saxon didn't know what to make of it. Before all this, even with their problems, conversation had been easy between them. How could it not be, when they'd grown up together? Jokes were tossed around just as easily as more serious discussions were carried out. That was how it had been up until Edward had been placed here.

Now it was as if a wall had been put up between them, and Saxon wasn't sure if that was Edward's doing or simply the fault of the circumstances. He didn't like it, though. None of this felt right.

Still, Saxon allowed Edward to take his time with the response, partly dreading it. It turned out that that was for good reason, since the words coming out of his brother's mouth were complete nonsense. Monsters? There was no such thing. And he hadn't seen a single soldier around; he could hardly imagine what the military would have wanted with mental patients, anyway.

He frowned, trying to keep the pity he was feeling for Edward off of his face. He knew his brother wouldn't like that, sane or not. He bit his lip and then sighed, wondering if there was any easy way to respond to what he'd just been told.

"Edward, it... it can't be. Monsters don't exist and even if they did, it would be impossible to keep something like that secret." This made him even more certain that Edward needed all the help he could get. It was clear his twin didn't like this place, but would it be any different in another institution? "And it's Saxon, Edward, not Sabin." He said it all as gently as he could, since despite his build and his fondness for boxing, he was a rather gentle person. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his brother.