Day 33: Lunch

[tsunagari]

There was a knot in Sai's stomach as he was led back inside to the cafeteria. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and he tried to ignore it. What was it? Was he actually uncomfortable with his decision? He couldn't afford to be. This alliance with Itachi was crucial, and he'd just have to try and make sure the others saw it that way

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[myopic_mousse]

It never really sank in until meal times just how many people were being held at the institute. Mousse mused over this from his seat as he poked at his food. It wasn't productive, he knew, but if not this, he'd be thinking about Shampoo and getting more depressed about the situation.

Shampoo...

He shook his head and reminded himself that this wasn't the time for that again (though there was ALWAYS time to think about Shampoo) and turned his face down to stare at his food.

[promisedawhale]

Why was everyone in such terrible moods today?!

Brook just couldn't understand it, and he took that conundrum with him into the cafeteria, this almost positive that someone in here would like to be cheered up! Maybe someone who didn't look terribly down but perhaps wasn't in the best of spirits would be more open to some company? He could only hope. Too many people had shouted at him today or been terribly rude.

He retrieved his food and chose the first person who didn't look like they might be some kind of assassin to head towards. The young man with glasses just seem so sullen that maybe he wouldn't mind. "Hello there!" he greeted, trying to keep his cheer and praying he wouldn't be shouted away, "Would you mind some company this meal?"

[myopic_mousse]

The Amazon raised his eyes. "Huh?"

Oh, the man was talking to him. Mousse shook his head and gestured to the table. "I'd like the company, actually. It's been kind of lonely around here lately." He waited for the other to come closer before adding, "My name is Mousse. And you are?..."

[promisedawhale]

"Would you really?!" he asked, overjoyed that finally someone had actually welcomed him to have a seat before he did so! There really were people who didn't want to sulk around all day here! And he had been lonely too! Wasn't that just wonderful?! Well, not really wonderful that he'd felt lonely - such a terrible feeling it was - but that he wanted not to feel so anymore!

Brook took his seat and gave the young man the brightest smile he'd managed all morning. "Yes! Very nice to meet you Mousse-san! My name is Brook!" he introduced, extending a hand across the table. "Such a nice day, isn't it?" Nicer now than it had been earlier for the company he'd shared.

[myopic_mousse]

"Nice to meet you too, Brook."

'A nice day', his new acquaintance had said. Mousse sighed slightly and turned his head to the side. "I guess so. It'd be a lot nicer if we weren't here." He picked up a forkful of fish and held it in front of his mouth, adding before he took a bite, "Or if Shampoo was here as well."

Swallowing the food down, he changed gears. "Where do you come from, Brook?"

[promisedawhale]

"Any place can be nice if you look at it that way!" Brook explained, simply happy to be in more welcoming company. He began munching away at the food he'd gotten with his fingers since ti looked to be finger food and spoke throughout. "But yes, it would be nicer if someone you know were to be here as well. Yohohoho! But that's what making new friends is all about!"

Before answering about his origins, he took a drink of his juice to gulp down the rest of what was in his mouth. Even he needed to breath between bites once in a while! "I hail from the West Blue, but the last I checked I was supposed to be traversing the Grand Line. I'm not so sure where we are now though. Some kind of new world!" Or so he'd been told. It was still a lot to take in, but he didn't mind at least entertaining the thought.

[myopic_mousse]

Brook's origins didn't make much sense to Mousse, but he didn't say as much. Instead, he just nodded politely. Besides, he mentioned making new friends, which Mousse was certainly interested in. "Is it nice this time of year?"

Mousse took another bite. "Did you have anyone there you miss very much?"

[promisedawhale]

"Mmm?" Now there was a question he hadn't been asked in a while. How was the West Blue this time of year? Ah, what time of year was it even?! "You know, I'm not all that sure! Yohohoho! It's been so long since I've been back there, and the Grand Line isn't exactly fixed for what season it can be. Each island has its own climate you know. Or maybe you don't know! You're not a Grand Line native I take it?"

He paused again in eating, this time much more suddenly. Mousse had asked the magic question. "Yes, very much," he nodded, wiping his mouth with the tip of a napkin, "One of my dearest friends that I've not seen in so many years."

[myopic_mousse]

The Amazon's face fell. Years?! Had Brook just said years?! He hopped to his feet, arms at his side in fists and grabbed Brook's collar, looking hysterical.

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? I CAN'T STAY HERE FOR YEARS!"

[promisedawhale]

Brook jumped when Mousse grabbed him and began panicking. "No no! I haven't been here for that long!" What a misunderstanding?! "Yohohoho! You are jumpy, aren't you?!" he asked, trying to laugh off the outburst in hopes that Mousse might calm down from it.

[myopic_mousse]

Mousse released Brook, blinking in confusion. "I thought you said you'd been here for years."

Well, if he hadn't been incarcerated that long, then there was still hope in getting back to Shampoo somewhat soonish. There had to be something Mousse wasn't seeing and not literally. He brushed off his hands on his pants and took his seat once more, resuming his casual eating as if nothing had happened. "I apologize for my mistake."

[promisedawhale]

"I said that I hadn't seen my friends in years. There's a bit of a difference," Brook waved a finger at the boy and rubbed at his neck with his other hand. My he could be forceful when he was in a panic! "I've only just gotten here. This is only my second day! Yohohoho!"

[myopic_mousse]

His second day? Well, then he'd been here less than Mousse. The Amazon sighed again.

"I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to leave, do you?"

[promisedawhale]

"Ah, nope I'm afraid I'm blank as to that," Brook somewhat apologized for being so useless in his answers. First he'd panicked him and now he wasn't even able to assure him that there was indeed a way to escape from this apparent prison. But Brook wasn't going to let such gloomy problems spoil his mood! This boy wanted company, so he was supposed to be in good spirits! "But don't let that bother you! I'm sure there's a way somehow! Yohoho! Just keep a weather eye out, isn't it?" his finger moved to point at one of his eyeballs.

[myopic_mousse]

"I guess."

Mousse put his arms on top of each other, as he would if he had sleeves to slide them into. "It's nice to have a bit of optimism for change," he admitted to his companion. "So thank you for that."

[promisedawhale]

"It's an excellent thing, I must say!" Brook nodded firmly, "So you're welcome!"

Had it not been for his bright outlook on things, Brook no doubt would have had a far harder time dealing with what had been a terrible fifty years alone. But it had been worth it! He'd waited all that time for the day to come when he could finally get out that that dense fog and head back for his friend, and it had finally come!