Day 41: Breakfast

[oftemptation]

Endrance turned his head to look at the intercom, giving it a look that would wither an entire rose garden in an instant. He would never get used to ending up in his room again from somewhere else in the Institute

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[iwhipthefool]

Whatever Rude was about to say, he was spared pain and punishment only because he stopped. Franziska listened carefully, folding her arms again as she closed her eyes to take in everything the man was saying. Landel's Institute. That fit with the nurse's story. Kidnapping fit with Franziska's unexpected appearance in this place, rather than where she was supposed to be. The words "mental institution," however, stopped her thoughts in her tracks and when that was followed soon after with 'average creepy hospital packed with monsters' she slammed her fist on the table.

"I asked for the truth, Rude of the Turks! Not some foolish story!" And great, some idiot was now screaming from the top of a table nearby. Today of all days, Franziska wished she had her whip so she could teach that yelling imbecile some manners. But if what Rude said was true, then what was with the monsters? Monsters did not exist as far as Franziska knew. Again, that meant someone in her office had failed her and would pay the price. Somehow, with the large number of people here, and the majority of what Rude had said making sense, Franziska was willing to let a little doubt slide through in favor of gaining the information she needed.

"But tell me more." She smirked and slipped her hand from the table, folding her arms again. "Once I leave here, I'll be certain to let the authorities know and have this place dismantled brick by brick."

[iwhipthefool]

Was Rude really expecting her to believe that? A hospital with monsters? She needed someone to bring her all the relevant material immediately so she could verify this for herself. She hoped not to be here long enough to find out for herself, but since the nurse still hadn't returned with that call from the German office, then it looked like she was stuck for at least another hour.

After all, of all the things she was, she was not crazy and everyone knew that.

Radio clues at night, patient groups looking for escape, experie-- Ah, there was the relevant information. What she needed was on the bulletin board - wherever that was. Snapping her fingers, she caught the attention of a nurse and requested copies of the relevant information brought to her. The nurse, however, did not seem pleased at Franziska's demands, but walked off toward the Sun Room anyway.

Turning back to Rude, she treated him to her usual cocky grin and introduced herself. "Franziska von Karma, Prosecuting Prodigy. Don't worry, now that I'm here, this place will fall within the day."

[iwhipthefool]

Well, now that the information was out of the way, Franziska waited for the details to arrive. If the nurse wasn't prompt enough, she could always get Rude to do it for her. The man seemed like he was of the same breed as most of the investigators who worked under the Prosecutor's Office, meaning he'd probably be willing to run errands for her. And if he wasn't? She'd make him. There was no choice.

Tapping a finger on the table as she thought, Franziska wondered just what Rude's story was. She wasn't in the habit of making small talk, but if he was going to be her replacement Scruffy, then she'd have to make sure he knew his place. She noticed he was looking at her and raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "Do you have something to say?"

[iwhipthefool]

He was like a deer in headlights. How cute. The investigators cowered in just the same way. Picking up her journal, she opened it and leafed to the second page. A pen was taken from where it had been clipped to the cover and she quickly wrote something down, taking note of who this man was, his description, attitude, occupation, and his usefulness. There, that was finished. "Then don't stare. It's impolite."

She closed the journal with a snap and then laid it down by her tray again, setting the pen on top of it. The nurse was taking far too long to bring her the required information. Which meant she'd have to resort to her backup plan. If Rude was so scared of her as he seemed, perhaps he'd do a few things for her in order to stay in her good graces. "If I asked you to do something for me, would you?"

[iwhipthefool]

Oh, so he had a spine after all? Good. Franziska hated pushovers as much as she hated fools and those who wasted her time. Her smile widened a bit when his expression hardened and even more when he quirked an eyebrow at her ever so slightly. Unlike other girls, Franziska never backed down from someone who showed even the smallest iota of fear in her. Whether that person be as meek as a mouse or as tall and silent as this Turk here, she enjoyed seeing them crushed beneath her heel.

"That woman is taking an insufferably long time in returning. See that she hurries, or better - bring me copies of the information you spoke of earlier. I have little time to do the smaller tasks if I'm going to contact both the overseas and American law offices in order to have these people taken care of." Leaning forward onto the desk, Franziska folded her hands under her chin and smiled almost sweetly at him - if she were capable of such a thing. "It's a small task. Think you're up to it?"

[iwhipthefool]

Was he trying to get off with just-- Ah, the journal, hm? She should have expected that he'd at least have the important information copied down. When Rude pushed the journal toward her, Franziska took it, opening it like she would any other case file. She had no interest in the private details, quickly skimming them over before discarding them as unimportant. The other copied information, however, was most interesting.

Monsters and lists about them, names and descriptions of people, copied information from this 'bulletin board' - it all served her purpose incredibly well. Leafing through the pages, she took note of the maps and the 'timeline,' but most importantly to the notes on the primer (she'd have to retrieve the full version later) and the monster information. Rude apparently took great pains to post additional comments to that particular memo. Franziska paused and raised an eyebrow when she noted his vehemence about something called a "lucentien" and its gold skin - especially its blood.

These things were impossible to believe, but she'd have to file them away for later information. When she'd first heard of the Kurain Channeling Technique, she had also thought it impossible, but upon meeting Maya Fey, everything had changed. She still wasn't ready to accept these monsters as fact, however, until she had actual proof. Until then, this information was sufficient. Snapping the journal closed with her usual brisk manner, Franziska held it out to Rude again. "You should not keep recipes for bombs and poisons in such easy reach, Rude of the Turks. Someone might think you're planning to kill someone and arrest you."

[iwhipthefool]

If a prosecutor didn't know at least the basic recipes for the sorts of weapons that might appear in a case, then that prosecutor was useless. Seeing how Franziska was perfect, it meant she had several things memorized for quick and easy reference should she need it. If a case file mentioned a certain type of knife or gun, she'd know the maker and how to contact who sold it. If it mentioned bombs and poisons? The same thing. Being on top meant doing whatever it took to stay there and after dealing with a certain case, she'd made sure to read up on poisons.

And now was the man smiling at her? How quaint. "Unafraid of such a punishment? I would afford you one now for your lack of discretion in keeping such sensitive materials within easy reach of your captors, but I'm lacking my whip." Franziska smiled back, but with little mirth in the expression. "Consider yourself lucky."

[iwhipthefool]

"Same side or no, I do not allow such foolishness in anyone." And just to punctuate that point, Franziska pointed a finger straight at Rude, glaring at him over the top of her hand. If she were to get involved in something he instigated merely by her association with him, Rude would find no end to the pain. Her record was nearly perfect and she was going to keep it that way, no matter what she had to do. Lowering her hand, Franziska crossed her arms and looked over to the nurses.

Whatever was taking them so long with that call? Or the paperwork? Dolts. She'd have them all sacked at the end of the day. Returning her gaze to Rude, she smirked and sighed. "At least use a code. And nothing so simple a baby could crack it. Otherwise it's all but useless and gives the opposition no sense of satisfaction if they ever break it." She paused. "Which they shouldn't, if you're at all good at what you do."