Nightshift 27: M91-M100 Hallway

[not_rly_fai]

As exciting as talking to his roommate was, Fai was anxious to meet up with his new friends for the night.  As he listened to the static crackle over the radio system, everything seemed to fall into place.  It really wasn't a madhouse, but it seemed more like one large puzzle game

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[small_fortune]

He'd found the flashlight right where expected, and with his notebook and a pen tucked under one arm, had ventured out into the hallway.

Mark wasn't thrilled with the idea of wandering into what was reputed to be a hellish land of monsters, demons and otherworldly horrors waiting to tear patients apart, but he was less thrilled with the idea of hiding in his room. Hopefully, the two individuals with the very distinct names that Roy had recommended him to would arrive and they could begin... well, something constructive, at least.

If that didn't pan out, he might have to try to tag along with some other passing group. He noticed one of the young men in the hallway calling to another, but ignored it for the moment, waiting patiently outside his door.

Anyhow, if monsters did appear, they probably wouldn't be any worse than some of the humans he'd met.

[canieathim]

[from here]

Gluttony wandered down the hallway. This was where Lust had told him to meet, right? It was...but she wasn't here yet. Was she late too? She couldn't be sure.

There was a man leaning up against a wall, waiting patiently for someone. Maybe he was the person the barbecue alchemist had wanted them to work with tonight. There was only one way to find out...

"Have you seen my Lust?" he asked with a hopeful, yet unnervingly sinister grin.

[small_fortune]

Mark couldn't avoid noticing the large man well before he wandered closer. For a moment, he was stunned. Like a mountain of fat, or like Gorge allowed to run wild on a taller body... but his proportions were strange as well. There was no one else this could imaginably be, even before the man asked about 'his Lust.' If there were another person wandering around with the name of Gluttony, then he should be promptly ordered to hand the name over to this utterly suited individual.

Metaphors turned metastatic indeed. It was as though Gorge had separated from his body to come marching up and say 'hi,' finally developed into an entire new being. But while Gorge was prone to seek oblivion in food, there was something about the look in this man's eyes that was beyond that simple wish for control and security. He easily outweighed Mark, and Mark could see the shape of muscle under the fat, particularly on those arms. The result of genetic engineering

[canieathim]

Yay! He was the person that was going to be coming along with him and Lust! He supposed that meant that Lust would be very upset indeed if he ate their teammate. That was unfortunate. What was unfortunate was that he could eat a former teammate. Envy was going to be oh so very tasty. Maybe he'd find Envy wandering the halls tonight, and he could eat them. Envy was tricky and took various shapes, though, so he couldn't be sure. Lust was good and smart and wonderful though, she'd know what to do

[small_fortune]

Gluttony, whose appearance was still causing a disconcerting mental echo for Mark, seemed to be simple-minded enough, but he couldn't be too stupid if he'd found his way here on his own. And honestly, strong and stupid people were scarier than the smart kind

[lustful_thing]

From here)

Finally Lust found the appropriate hallway and room. She had no idea who this 'Mark' was, but with luck Gluttony was already in wait. The tall woman strode down the hall, angrily. She hated this human body of hers sometime. Its desperate need for sleep, for food, for expelling waste... a dozen small annoyances that kept her from immediately pursuing her missions.

Her metal knuckles, claws extending from them, were already on her hand. She carried her radio and her flashlight and she slowed only when she caught sight of Gluttony's bulk in the hallway. The man with him had to be Mark.

"I apologize for my tardiness," she said, shaking back her black hair. "Please forgive me, my body was in need of recovery."

[canieathim]

Why was Lust's body in need of recovery? Maybe it had to do with why the bats claws took so long to heal. That wasn't nice. It made him very sad to think about that. Did they weaken her and make her not as healthy as she was?

"Are you ok, Lust?" he asked with genuine concern. There was only one person in the world whose wellbeing mattered to him, and she was standing in front of them. She was so good and kind and wonderful and if someone made her weak, he'd eat them nice and slowly so that they'd scream lots and lots and lots.

[small_fortune]

He was surprised by the woman who finally approached them, although he did his best to not show it beyond a slight raising of eyebrows. Yes, those curves, that walk--he could see why she was called Lust. But the claws she was armed with did not speak of peaceful, leisurely intercourse between safe-sane-consenting adults. Like Gluttony, she embodied a trait, but behind that trait was a threat of violence.

If the reports of this place were true, that violence was likely a needed tool for survival. He was better off with her armed and vicious. Besides, there was no confusing her with Grunt whatsoever

[lustful_thing]

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure." Lust returned the small bow with a nod of her head, her expression softening some. At least he was a gentleman. And knew his manners. They'd get on fine, in that case.

"I'm alright, Gluttony. I simply needed to recover, nothing more. I'm sure you've seen it takes us longer than normal in this place." She wouldn't attempt to explain what had happened to her. He wouldn't be able to understand. And there was the chance he would turn away from her.

She couldn't risk that.

"I heard the radio on my way. I'm rather at a loss as to what to do, with no true clues to go on."

[canieathim]

Gluttony didn't know if he liked this place anymore. It hurt Lust and it hurt him! He didn't like that at all. He liked it when there were bats to eat and people who would eventually scream, but it was no fun if Lust got hurt.

"Don't die Lust!" he blurted out, looking significantly concerned.

[small_fortune]

Mark was taken aback by Gluttony's heart-felt plea, since the woman before him didn't seem to be in any immediate risk of dying. It was obvious they were a set... so long as he didn't raise the ire of either member of that set, he should be fine. That thought didn't lower the nagging suspicion that he was alone and they were a team, however; perhaps Mustang had chosen him to join these two in order to ensure there was a united front if Mark turned out to be a dangerous lunatic like that blood-letting girl. Well, I'm not that kind of dangerous lunatic, at least."Yes... it's hard to know what to make of a message like that," Mark agreed. "It's threatening, but doesn't offer any hints of location beyond what seems to be a mention of tomorrow's trip." Perhaps he should start thinking ahead to what to do on that trip, even if it were only to an extension of this strange prison. "The moon has turned sanguine, as promised... but that doesn't provide direction." He glanced out the hall window. A red moon might be a regular occurence

[lustful_thing]

"Gluttony, calm yourself." Lust reached out and ran a soothing hand over her companion's bald head. "I'm in no danger of death. Now let's finish our plans and perhaps find you something to eat, hmm?"

She turned her violet eyes to the third member of their little group, appraising him finally. "The messages at night are cryptic at best," she explained. "Generally they consist of puzzles promising treasure, though none tonight. How odd. As for the moon... it's simply some thing in the sky. I don't see what effect it has on us."

She tapped her lips with one long finger, thoughtful. "Mustang gave us our orders. Perhaps we should venture out and see what all the fuss is about."

[canieathim]

Gluttony grinned a wide and sinister grin at Lust's mention of something to eat. Food was good. He liked food. He was very, very hungry. Lust would find him something exceptionally tasty, he knew it!

The thought of it was enough to keep him quiet for now. He would follow Lust anywhere.

[small_fortune]

Mark already knew about the individual on the radio thanks to his day of watching the bulletin board, including both the pseudonyms Mr. Radio and Mr. Doyle, but he nodded politely and listened to Lust. Talking about what you already knew only encouraged others not to give further information, which was the last thing he wanted

[lustful_thing]

"I suppose we should make our way outdoors, then." Lust twitched a shoulder. "We've nothing else to go on. If things turn ill, we simply flee." She wasn't going to do anything stupid just to gather information for Mustang.

"The Courtyard is often plagued with multiple monsters and rather nasty things... perhaps that's what our nighttime broadcaster meant." She ran her finger over her lips. What else were they supposed to think? Though that did open up a myriad of questions. What were they supposed to think?

[small_fortune]

Mark thought she looked faintly... perhaps 'put-out' at the lack of useful information. His own ability to analyze these nighttime puzzles was doubtful considering his lack of familiarity with this place, even taking into account his reading during the day, but if she were also stumped it was a good sign that he wasn't missing something glaringly obvious.

The Courtyard is often plagued with monsters--so let's go outside? Even thouogh he wasn't Miles and didn't feel thrilled at the thought of battle, he was curious and he did want to at least see some of these monsters. And while he was feeling increasingly small and unarmed and fairly helpless when placed between his new companions--

You're not, Killer reassured him, as they glanced at Gluttony's wide smile to the side