Day 60: Patient Library (Third Shift)

[poorexample]

After handling two conversations that had been difficult for completely different reasons, Castiel had to admit that he felt weary. It was not a sensation that was new to him; between Izaya showing far too much interest in his kind and Ruby simply being who she was, some peace and quiet was what he craved

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[melodists]

Javert was dead. Peter had yet to respond to her note. If last night's efforts could be considered a success, well, Tear could rightfully be called delusional. Unlike this morning, she could set aside her failings in light of today's discoveries. Her group had been fine; they could continue the investigation of the chapel another night. On her own, too, if necessary.

Right now, her worries lay with the current condition of the paramedics group and the Search and Rescue team. Depending, she may have to delegate for the former and work something else out with the latter, but before anything else, she wanted to ensure everyone's safety. Unfortunately, waiting for an answer was not feasible. Tear was better off making some use of herself.

Therefore, she made her way to the library, sitting on a vacant chair with her notebook in hand. The sacked lunch was set aside for now; after witnessing Anise and Shiina's discomfort with the food, Tear wasn't about to test the waters just yet. Instead, she focused on writing, divvying out tasks and analyzing potential assets.

[For Renamon.]

[yin_yang_fox]

Of the individuals spoken with, there remained yet one that Renamon had yet to meet with today, and to that end, she had perched on the end of a couch in the sun room, waiting and watching the movement of the populace until the one she wanted came into view, then slipped into the library. The Digimon rose from her position and quietly followed the other girl, allowing space to fill between them until Tear settled herself, focused on a notebook.

How familiar. It pleased her somewhat, the similarities. Of mindsets, Tear was likely the closest Renamon would find to someone much like her own. She approached the other, stopping at the edge of the table to bow her head in greeting. "Tear. I wanted to thank you for the other night."

Among other things, but that would do to start.

[melodists]

By the time Tear had names and competencies sorted in neat lists, she caught an approaching patient in her peripheral. As the woman was both a working acquaintance and seemingly intent on interaction, Tear looked up from her notes and met the other's eye. "Oh, Renamon." Before she could pay her proper greetings, however, Renamon had opened with a phrase she had trouble placing.

She's thanking me? Wouldn't it be more appropriate for Tear to offer gratitude? Mildly confused, she gestured to the adjacent seat, a silent invitation for the other to join her if wanted. "May I ask what for?" she asked, emotions obvious. "If anything, I probably need to thank you again for the weapon."

[yin_yang_fox]

She moved to accept the invitation, pulling out the seat and sitting quietly. The question came as something mildly amusing, and Renamon raised an eyebrow. "A weapon you returned," she pointed out. "Though was it that forgettable? You helped heal me faster, and that meant more than I can say. I'm in your debt."

Because Renamon was uncomfortable with being helped by others. And more to the point-- She remembered too well the price of certain healings. "To that," she went on, without allowing an interruption. "I've come with an offer. Two, actually." The Digimon looked at the girl steadily. "I can get to Doyleton at night, as I've told you. I know where there's a doctor's office, and I wanted to know if you would want supplies."

She inclined her head slightly. "That would be my repayment to you. The other is an offer of exploration. I'm planning to go to the basement with a group soon, and we could use a medic on hand who's a competent individual. From what I know you're intelligent, and you fit that. Would you be interested?"

[melodists]

She was surprised. The event had near slipped from her mind; performing artes and hymns was a typical part of her day. That she had sung the Third Hymn to heal Renamon's wounds hadn't even registered as an act in need of gratitude. Doing so, after all, was Tear's duty. "It was no problem, really. I probably would have forced you into it eventually." She smiled. "I'm glad you are healing."

At the offers, the Melodist once again found herself in amazement. First, the generosity Renamon offered was, in Tear's honest opinion, too much in terms of repayment. She would have refused--would have, if not for the fact that she had considered the offer before as well as remembered the group she was partially responsible for. Supplies were critical. Extra proved more than wanted.

As for the basement...

"I think it's because this place doesn't want anyone to know."

In a twist, her thoughts turned to Claude and the memory she had unwittingly stolen from him. They shifted to form--ghosts coming to life--and she didn't know why that came so startlingly clear. Quickly, she shook the images away. "...Admittedly, I would be interested in both," Tear confessed, "but I do have to ask, if you don't mind. I've heard about the basement in passing. Could you tell me more about it?"

[yin_yang_fox]

"Forced me into...." She found herself echoing the sentence incredulously without meaning to. When she realized, she gave a half-grin--it formed and vanished without moments. "You might have done just this, wouldn't you have?" Tear was certainly one to be reckoned with, it seemed. "Thank you nonetheless."

Tear gave interest in the offers, and Renamon nodded her consent to explaining. "There's only some that's known actually. The passage is through a trap door in the kitchen's freezer. It opens to a ballroom that splits into four doors. The side doors can be opened. The third can only be opened with keys gained from each of the side hall's trials. And the fourth from the completion of the third door's test." She paused, then continued. "Of the side halls, both have two doors within each. The east hall has a weapons range to test your skill and four elemental halls to test your resistance and agility. More than likely," she added dryly. "Or it's only there to try to kill you. Of the west hall, I don't know what is behind one door, but the second holds a sphinx." Given straight, with no attempt to make it into a joke. "You're given a riddle to solve; if you cannot, you are not allowed to leave."

Was there more? If anything, only this. "The first two sets of trials can be spoken of. The third and fourth, so far, cannot be. If one who has been through them tries, the attempt is made invalid."

[melodists]

Renamon's account of the basement paralleled Tear's experience of landmarks in Auldrant. Trials and puzzles were commonplace in a typical ruin; she found a weapons range and four elemental halls to be rather anticlimactic when contrasted with her memories. They were still very dangerous, she was certain. The soldier simply expected a different flavor when it came to another planet. Perhaps Earth and Auldrant were closer in traits than initially suspected.

The sentiment lasted until the woman's last sentence. Once again, Tear's thoughts moved to a memory, and her eyes hardened. Claude had mentioned his own inability to speak. Coupled with this detail, could it be, then, that the place where Guy had met his temporary end was in the basement?

She attempted an indirect approach. A part of Tear knew nothing concrete could be conveyed if she talked of death. If both Renamon and Claude were correct, she had to connect the dots herself. Therefore, Tear pressed a question. "The third and fourth trials," she began, "do you have an idea of what they contain?"

[yin_yang_fox]

The question was obvious when placed near the explanation, and despite this, she shook her head. "I don't. Apologies. There hasn't been a way to gain information from the ones that complete it to my knowledge."

There lay a beat, then her lips shifted in something like concern. "However... Nearly all seem to be adamant that going through the third set of doors is not a good idea. And continuously warn others away when it comes up. It's something to at least keep in mind. It's likely dangerous." More than likely, from a stoic child's retelling. But it adjusted nothing. Stagnation was not an option. Renamon would move forward--there were no other options.

[melodists]

The response was as expected. It did nothing, however, to lessen the growing unease. Since Renamon acknowledged the potential danger, it meant the older woman knew the existence of risks but not necessarily the specifics. The former explained the want for a medic while the latter pressed at Tear's duties as soldier. If her presence could potentially prevent disaster, especially for a group that was more or less set on going, she would do well in offering her skills.

There was a prolonged silence, with Tear nodding just once. "I can agree to this but on one condition," she added. "I can only go down to the basement on nights they conduct special counseling." She had the paramedic group to focus on, after all.

[yin_yang_fox]

The condition was simpler than the Digimon would have thought. "Done," she gave easily, making a mental note to look into those days. It was easily switched; she held to no strict schedule. Unlike the nurses that had begun filing in, giving saccharine smiles as they gestured for the ones they were in charge of to move on if they were so inclined.

Renamon's eyes returned to Tear. "I'll contact you, then. And whenever you want to go to that town, let me know. I'll keep a look out." That said, the Digimon rose, meeting the nurse coming to collect her halfway. After some discussion, Renamon was pointed in the direction of the music room, a task the Digimon seemed to find arduous, and unable to easily escape from.