Day 36: The Sun Room

[ellectriclights]

For the first time since arriving at Landel's, Elle woke up feeling... almost peaceful. She lay in bed for several minutes, adjusting to certain things. Mostly the fact that her left arm was in a sling. And her shoulder didn't hurt as much as she would have expected it to, which probably meant she was on meds

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[cnflctofintrst]

Mello had expected to wake up in significantly less pain than he'd fallen asleep in, but unfortunately, the sensation was only mildly dulled. He cursed under his breath as he sat up, noting the cast around his forearm with annoyance but not surprise. Hopefully, the institute's healing was as fast as rumored.

He pushed himself out of bed and moved over to his desk. The covers of the medical journals were on top of his notebook, and he folded a couple quite messily before tucking them into the waistband of his pants to use as evidence, if required. Moments later the door opened and a cheerful nurse inquired as to his well-being. With effort, Mello resisted the impulse to give a profane answer.

When given the option of the chapel or the sun room, Mello chose the latter. Sai hadn't struck him as the religious type, and he needed to talk to the ninja as soon as possible. Luckily, Sai was easy to pick out. Mello stopped at the bulletin to write a few hasty notes (he'd need to work on his ambidexterity, he realized) before walking over.

"Hey," he said with a friendly smile that didn't quite match up with his actual mood. "Haven't talked to you in a bit. How are you doing?"

[tsunagari]

As Mello approached, Sai returned the smile with one of his own out of habit. "As well as can be expected. You seem to have injured yourself." He wondered what or who the blond had run into in order to receive that injury, and whether or not he'd been alone when it had happened. Mello was an interesting individual.

One who he didn't recall as someone who would normally approach him with such a friendly air. The smile didn't leave his face as he asked "Is there something you needed from me?"

He took a seat on one of the sofas, leaving room for Mello to join him.

[cnflctofintrst]

'Injured himself' was a little far from the passive tense Mello would have used in Sai's position, and he scowled at the mention before dropping onto the sofa with a grunt.

"I could use your help with something." He wasn't sure if Sai would be amenable to the arrangement. Even if Sai agreed, there was a high likelihood that he'd go easy on someone who wasn't a fighter, especially if that person was already injured. Mello couldn't afford that.

He looked over Sai thoughtfully, noting that the teenager's injuries had healed. That was a good sign.

[tsunagari]

And there it was, just as Sai had suspected. Perhaps he was getting better at this after all. Then again, the same aspects of personality didn't work for everyone. Mello was being friendly because he needed something. Naruto was friendly for no reason at all.

The smile remained. "Then what can I do for you, Mello-san?"

The blond was an enigma. Sai was never quite sure what was up with him - whether he really wanted to help them or was just worried about himself. At the very least, he'd made no acts against either him or Usopp since they'd met. He should have no reason not to hear him out.

[cnflctofintrst]

"I need to learn to defend myself," Mello said. He didn't feel the need to try to manipulate Sai by keeping his intentions secret. He'd been useful to Sai and Usopp, so most likely, Sai would at least try to return the favor. "I know you're a skilled fighter, so I thought I'd come to you before asking around."

It was still impossible to get a solid reading on Sai, and when in doubt, Mello appealed to the most common human traits. Flattery was a good starting point, but the statement was true: Sai was good at fighting, even if his attempts at strategy left a bit to be desired.

[tsunagari]

How to defend himself? Sai frowned at this. Mello was a bit old to start learning this now. Was there really no one else for him to go to? "I'm not a teacher," he said aloud. "And you're not ninja material."

All the same, he seemed to give this some thought. He regarded Mello carefully. He was small and of slender build - not too different from himself. Neither of them would currently have access to chakra, so he would have to rely on basic skills...

"What do you expect to learn from me?"

[cnflctofintrst]

Mello's snort showed a rare flash of self-deprecation. "I don't plan on becoming a ninja," he said with an amused smirk.

The fact that Sai looked him over for longer than an instant was a good sign. He didn't make an effort to appear more capable than he was, assuming that someone trained in a martial art would be able to evaluate his ability for what it was and an attempt to hide his apparent weakness would only draw attention to it. "I'll settle for staying alive. Anything you can teach me would be appreciated."

[tsunagari]

"Even with your arm in that condition?" Sai glanced towards Mello's broken wrist. It would be far better for both of them if the blond was willing to wait until it healed. But if he didn't think he had the time...

"I told you. I'm not a teacher." Even as he said this, he was already considering the possibilities. Mello had come to him specifically, and if Naruto had been in his place he was sure his enthusiastic teammate would have accepted. "I can attempt to help you, but I warn you of that beforehand. I'm not sure with how to deal with someone as inexperienced as you are. I'll have to find your limits."

[cnflctofintrst]

"Yeah." Mello didn't elaborate. He wasn't looking forward to what would most likely be a very painful learning process, but Artemis and Schuldig left him with few options and he wasn't going to be caught unprepared.

Apparently, Sai was willing to be flexible. Mello grinned, not just because the ninja had agreed but because he was warning him of the potential dangers, meaning he didn't intend to play gentle. "Alright. I'm inexperienced, but I'm also a fast learner. Just don't go easy on me."

[tsunagari]

"If I did, then it would be pointless to ask me." Sai's expression was still serious as he continued to stare at Mello as though weighing all options. The man wasn't frail, but he would obviously need to work on his stamina if he wanted to be at all successful. "I'm assuming you want somewhat quick results. If that's the case, you should work up strength in your limbs. Use any free time to get in some exercise."

Mello was small and slight, easily overpowered. That was something they'd have to work around. "You're going to be worn out, an easy victim for anyone or anything, before you improve." If he did. "Otherwise this could be a long, slow process. Are you still willing to work with me?"

[cnflctofintrst]

Mello frowned at Sai's point, which he knew he couldn't refute. Anything was preferable to a long, slow process, however, so he eventually gave a determined nod.

"I'm an easy victim right now no matter what," he said. Only having use of one arm didn't bode well for his longevity, and considering what he was up against, any disadvantage was crippling. Even his natural state was a death sentence. "Can we start tonight?"

[tsunagari]

Even fast results would take some time, and it was obvious from Mello's response that he was indeed in a hurry. Something had to have happened to make the man want to defend himself so badly - most likely having to do with his current injury.

He must prefer the option of getting stronger to face the monsters instead of having to keep to his room at night. Unlike others, he might not be willing to simply have someone else do the protecting for him. This was a smart enough solution if one didn't plan on, or believe they could, escape soon.

"We can," Sai answered, smiling once more. He would have to inform Usopp.

[cnflctofintrst]

Mello nodded slightly, grateful. It seemed like going to Sai had been a better idea than he'd initially suspected. He settled back in the sofa as effectively as he could with the use of one arm, which wasn't terribly effectively.

Oddly enough, Sai hadn't asked for anything in return. This made Mello mildly wary...was he planning on collecting the debt at a later point? Either way, this wasn't something Mello could afford to shop around for. If he wanted to see next week, he needed to learn and he needed to learn now.

Silently, he chastised himself for his lack of foresight in not learning sooner. His conversation with Artemis was a dark blur...why had he nearly killed the boy? He hated him, yes, and he'd certainly killed people before, but he'd always had something concrete to gain from those deaths. Self control had never been Mello's forte, but a lapse like that was significant and risky. In order to control others, he needed to control himself.

[tsunagari]

"Where should we meet tonight?" Sai asked, still thinking over the situation and how best to handle it. If he remembered correctly, Mello's room was M3. That was in the same block as Usopp's, making it more convenient than meeting up at his own.

Added almost randomly after this, the ninja gestured towards the blond's good hand. He wasn't going to like hearing this, but it had to be said. "Also, I would attempt to refrain from the nail chewing. Use of your fingers will be more painful if you don't, and that's a weakness you don't need." There wasn't anything wrong with nail-biting on it's own, but Mello had chewed his down to the quick, making them as good as injured. With one hand currently out of commission, he couldn't afford that.