DAY 20: LUNCH

[prisonerofdeath]

While Arts and Crafts wasn't all that bad, Gray Fox was greatly relieved when an intercom announced Lunch. He had almost reached the point where he was going to start eating more of the building materials

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[theycutitout]

The session with Doctor Crane had not lasted long. Indeed, the girl had been quite terrified to learn that he was working with the hive, a busy little bee assimilated into the whole, only aware of his duty and not the greater cause. Had they played around in his brain? Seen that he could be useful to them as more than a pawn in their game? She would need to tell Eddie later. When he wasn't busy.

Regardless, River Tam was shaken. Vague glimpses that seemed to ring in harmony with those of the old doctors, the ones who had sought to sharpen her into a blade, cutting away lace and dolls to make room for blood and bullets. It was all a game, all a play to be acted out until the curtain dropped and night fell, leaving the theater in darkness.

Inara was eating alone, but River couldn't stand to eat. A glance at Dias revealed fears and regret... He was pulling away from her, pulling away because he didn't feel needed. Was it for the same reason that Simon..? Did he resent that she was so broken in such a vicious way? Regardless, he was losing himself, tearing it all apart to shreds or at least beginning to. Did Scar and Lust feel the same way? Would she lose these people, this family that she'd made. It wasn't fair if she couldn't keep both.

Didn't they realize how important they were? And Simon. Simon wasn't even here yet. Simon was always there. Just moments of having him back, and she was already needing him at every moment. When had the strength died? When had she become nothing?

River sunk into a chair, faded into the fragile mind. Her eyes were filling with water and salt.

It wasn't. It couldn't.

[the_clown_king]

If there was one thing Tamaki could always find, it was a woman who needed cheering up. Still happily entertaining his comparison of himself and his friends to King Arthur and his Knights, Tamaki swept into lunch looking far more like himself than he had all morning. He did get food this time - he'd gotten lucky, eating half of Haruhi's at breakfast. This time he'd eat. Besides, it was good food! And then he looked for someone to share lunch with. The twins and Azel-kun weren't there yet, and neither was Haruhi. But there was a waifish looking girl about his age looking less-than-happy. Tamaki set his tray down near her and got down on one knee, his usual Host Club flourish.

"Fair maiden!" he exclaimed, reaching for her hand. "Don't be frightened or sad! Tell me, my princess, what is your name?"

[theycutitout]

River could only blink as the young man approached. Her everything had been plummeting so very quickly. There simply hadn't been time to salvage at all. Even if you were quick, some would slip through and the balance would be lost.

And yet, only a single tear found it's way down her cheek as he knelt down before her and took her hand, the hopeless quickly replaced with confusion and the faintest traces of amusement.

He didn't make logical sense, didn't even know her, and yet... People here could just be so strange, but that was the logic of humanity. Illogical logic.

"River," she managed curiously, the faintest of smiles twitching at the corners of her lips. She would indulge to illogical for a moment."Are you a prince?"

[the_clown_king]

"My dear princess, don't cry! It pains my heart to see a lovely maiden shed even a single tear!" Tamaki reached up and wiped away the single tear from her face with his knuckle. "River! A beautiful name for a most beautiful creature! Such elegance, such mystery...." Tamaki paused and then began to quote, blue eyes shining as he adopted his full Host King Routine.

"'Her long dark hair elegantly flows without restraint, the river courses without concern, almost silent, by way of elegance. My thirst she quenches, akin to a lake converging into that river, then mystically, the river plots its course into the sea'." He bent over River's hand and kissed the back, before addressing her question.

"I am Lord, Prince and King," he assured her, still on one knee. "Suou Tamaki. Please, call me Tamaki."

[theycutitout]

River was baffled indeed, but the single tear she'd shed was the only one that had slipped out thanks to this Prince and Lord's swift rescue. He was King of Fools and Prince of Jesters, and yet the consequence of his actions was somewhat noble. Was it a role? A part to be played?

No, not entirely... River tilted her head at him as the tiny beginnings of that smile grew into something more substantial. His efforts, he was talented at this.

"Wouldn't it only be proper to address you as Lord Tamaki then, your Highness?" she offered, hesitant and yet intrigued by this dance.

[the_clown_king]

"Only my subjects call me Lord," Tamaki assured her. He couldn't stand to see any woman sad, he truly couldn't. He stood by what he'd told the others - in this place, they were needed more than ever. How could he deny bringing a bit of brightness into such a bleak and dim place?

"Before you, I am humbled and nothing more than a man. A man who wishes to see you smile. Such a pretty face should never be turned down in a frown." Finally, Tamaki got off of his knee and took a seat. He was hungry, he had to admit.

"May I join you for luncheon? I would be honored to share your company."

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru walked up to Tamaki, tray heavily laden with what could only be described as "commoner food," but looked much better than the stuff he had gotten at a McDonald's once. The King of the Host Club was at it again, playing Prince to a rather bemused-looking girl (who had, admittedly, seemed rather distressed before their Lord had swooped in for the rescue).

The other Host made a point of sitting between his senpai and the girl, a little annoyed that Kaoru was taking so long in the bathroom. Normally he wouldn't have really thought to come between even Tamaki and the girl who had designated him, but this wasn't the Host Club (not yet anyway, if the older boy had his way...and knowing him, he probably would), and he still hadn't quite forgiven him for what he had said earlier.

"Kyouya-senpai's not going to be thrilled to hear you're working for free, Milord."

Turning to the girl, Hikaru added, "Don't mind him. He's just an idiot."

[theycutitout]

River didn't have to force the requested smile, despite the maelstrom of thoughts and fears dancing plainly in her mind. Lord Tamaki - no, just Tamaki, as he insisted - was indeed a gifted host.

"A prince or a man, it's the same here, isn't it?" she wondered, more to herself than Tamaki, but she nodded in response to his request. "The seat is free, and the princess shouldn't like to be alone with her thoughts. Not today." It was a fun game. River had always had a flare for the dramatic.

When another companion of Tamaki's appeared, she listened intently to him. To him, to his thoughts, or what she could make of them. She drift along on a consciousness, drifting in a vague boat along a river. As she always drifted.

"But the Prince of Fools offers often the wisest counsel of them all, Hikaru," she observed simply, choosing to pay no heed to the question of money or fees. "You have to listen between the words."

[the_clown_king]

"Then the princess shall have fitting company," Tamaki assured her, smiling charmingly.

He was a bit put out when Hikaru - at least he was pretty sure it was Hikaru - sat and joined them. And called him an idiot. He wasn't an idiot! He was doing what he did best!

"Kyouya isn't here," Tamaki insisted. He 'humphed' and returned his attention to River, who startled him by knowing Hikaru already. And had she just called him wise? Well, he supposed he was. He did come up with brilliant plans, after all!

"You two know each other? Hikaru, shame on you for not introducing me to this beautiful flower! You can't keep them all to yourself!"

[totallytheseme]

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"'Prince of Fools,' yeah. But 'wise'? I'm not su--wait, what?" He stared at the girl, confused. Had Tamaki seen him coming and made introductions? That didn't seem likely, though, since the older boy couldn't usually tell which twin was which, even under the best circumstances.

When the King spoke up, Hikaru's little theory was was ripped apart, stomped on, burned, and the ashes scattered to the wind. He turned to the blond boy, eyes wide and obviously unnerved. "But...I don't know her. Never seen her before."

[reversebemylot]

Now Simon wasted no time on line, waiting for a burger. Food remained completely irrelevant, completely undesirable, when compared with contacting his sister. Anticipating finding her there, after her therapy, Simon walked into the cafeteria and immediately began to look over the faces.

To his credit, he was able to cross the distance between them without running or losing his composure. Simon walked toward his sister, one foot in front of the other, confusion not forgotten but sitting along side his beating heart, the relief in his smile that felt mild compromise as he looked at the boys sitting by her. They were young, around her age. She was young. What was this place.

"River," he said, once he was close, wanting to reach out and hug her to him once more. He resisted, control regained in the face of time apart and these kids, whose conversation he was possibly interrupting. Simon was unaccustomed to feeling old, but he did, eying the three youths.