Day 57: Intercom, Evening
Varying opinions aside about the new caretakers, the efficiency of the military was worthy of some admiration. The Great Escape ended with minutes to spare, and the staff wasted no time in dismantling the equipment in the Sun Room. Visitors were kindly informed that visiting hours were over while patients were ushered to their rooms
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Tolten found he wasn't even particularly surprised or perplexed that he was being taken back to what he was rather certain wasn't the room he'd woken up in the day before. Or that morning. It was all rather blurry at this point, had been since the letter he still clutched in his hand.
And he realized with a sinking sense of reality that he wasn't going home any time soon. At first, he had maintained the idea that of course what everyone was telling him was mad, and he wouldn't have any trouble.... Of course that had been naivety, and he was no more special or skilled than anyone else in this place. Not was he about to be rescued.
Fine. He was having another Adventure, then. At least this one was warm and dry and came with three meals a day. Even if those meals looked like bloody gruel....
It were these thoughts that were passing through Tolten's mind as he entered the cell and was surprised to find it already occupied. Yes, of course. He had noted first thing that the cells were set up for two people. It wasn't the first time that Tolten had been forced to share his sleeping space with a near stranger. He only hoped this red haired man was a better roomer than Jansen had been.
"Ah...hello," Tolten offered nervously. He never imagined being in prison - it was all he could think of the institute as - would force him to such social heights!
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"Hello," Kratos said smoothly, rising from his chair and pushing it in slightly as he walked over and extended a hand for the other man to shake. "I'm Kratos."
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"I am Tolten," the young king responded, gripping the hand in turn and shaking it firmly. He seemed a calm and dignified sort. It boded well. He was also older than Tolten, and perhaps he'd had more experience here than most of the fellow prisoners Tolten had met. Ah, but it wouldn't be polite to ask something like that.
"And it appears as though we will be sharing our personal space. I'm rather quiet, you needn't worry that I'll be a bother." And it wasn't for very long, was it? No one seemed to stay in the cells after they had open at night. It hadn't been that long after dinner....
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"Quiet?" The corner of his mouth twitched as he sat back down at his desk. If they were both quiet people, he could expect dinner from now on to be a silent, sedate affair- as it usually was. "That's fine. I'm not particularly given to idle conversation either."
Again that awkward moment where the difference in their meals could not be more noticeable. Kratos had just cut off another piece of steak when he realized that he really could not maintain any sort of feigned indifference, especially since none of the guards were around to enforce their rules upon him. And if he was punished for it later, well...it wasn't as if he couldn't deal with it.
He set his knife and fork down again and looked over at Tolten. "Would you like some? It seems cruel to continue to eat this way in front of you without asking."
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At the offer of food, the blond looked from his bowl of porridge to the cut of meat on his roommate's plate. He hadn't eaten yet, hadn't been able to bring himself to take in the unidentified glop. But he knew he couldn't keep on like that, and he'd have to swallow his pride sooner or later.
In the form of watery, pink porridge.
"I...of course I would...." he responded, carefully. "But...is it allowed? I'd hate for either of us to get in some manner of trouble...."
He was still learning the rules of this place, but the division of food was quite obviously for a reason. And while he'd seen no horrific treatment so far, he had only been in the place for a little over twenty four hours. And he'd seen punishments for something so simple as questioning the authority.
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He raised an eyebrow and looked away toward his plate. "In the event that we are caught, I will accept full responsibility." He had been bred for obedience, but that didn't necessitate that he follow all and any authorities who forced their way into his life. Kratos had no attachment, no emotional tie to Aguilar or Landel; therefore, some form of rebellion was not yet beyond him.
"If you consider the risks too great, I understand."
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