Day 41: Courtyard (4th shift)

[guyslikegames]

Jiraiya had been right about the bulletin, at least. Yousuke guessed that meant he'd probably have to take some of the other things he'd said a bit more seriously as well. Like the monsters at night

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[moral_liberty]

Kaworu trailed after his nurse placidly, but found himself distracted by all of the Lilim as they walked. The hum of voices and footsteps was otherworldly, and as reassuring as it was upsetting. The Third Impact had not been realized. It couldn't, after all. Not while he still existed. Everything reminded him that his dying wish hadn't been granted, and he didn't understand why. He had trusted Shinji, and still did

[meitantei]

Shinichi had been so traumatized by his time in the shower that it was no wonder he hadn't really wanted to mingle during lunch. He'd fucked up last night, even worse than he'd originally thought. He'd blown his cover right out of the water, and it was only a matter of time before Kuroba started asking questions. Shinichi would be surprised if he didn't

[moral_liberty]

Kaworu turned to face the approaching pair, remaining where he was as they neared him. With reluctance he dismissed his silent questions, which was just as well. He did not like any of the answers he had found in his mind.

He smiled airily at the one who was left with him even as he noted the wheelchair and other obvious injuries. It was clear he was unhappy, but Kaworu did not think that the tenseness in the Lilim's face could be completely blamed on his physical pain. Kaworu considered for a moment what nuances made him believe this so, but stopped his thoughts prematurely, lest the silence between them grow heavy.

"Ah," he started, exhaling softly. He glanced around himself and found a bench to settle down on so they would be level. His shoulders fell into a familiar slouch. "Hello, Jimmy-kun. I am sorry that you are hurt," he added in his breathy voice, though he wasn't offering his condolences solely for the lacerations and broken bones.

[meitantei]

"Shinichi," he corrected automatically. "My name's Kudou Shinichi. 'Jimmy' is just what they call me here. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you're not 'Addison,' either." Wasn't that a girl's name anyway? The detective gave the other boy a grin. "Thanks for the sentiment, though."

He turned around as well as the bandages would allow and, seeing that the nurse wasn't watching him anymore, started to ease out of the wheelchair. His legs were getting cramped.

"The nurse said you just arrived. Is that true?"

[moral_liberty]

Without asking, Kaworu reached out to lend his assistance to the other boy's escape from the wheelchair. "Shinichi-kun," Kaworu repeated to himself. He studied Shinichi's face carefully, so that he might remember it later. Small things paralleled Lilim he had known once, but the complete combination of features was unfamiliar. The color of his hair made Kaworu think of Shinji

[meitantei]

"Thanks," Shinichi grunted, grabbing the other boy's hand and carefully standing up. It made him dizzy for just a second, but it was so much nicer to be out of that damned chair that he gladly welcomed the odd shift in equilibrium.

He straightened and gave Kaworu another smile. It was an odd name, sure, but it was much better than "Addison." Or...Conan. "Nice to meet you, Kaworu-san." His smile became a little bit forced as the kid kept talking, though. He really was new here. And what were Lilim?

"What's a 'Lilim?' I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with the term." Maybe it was a regional thing. On Mars, a nasty little voice asked in the back of his mind. "And...well, it's complicated. Yes, these people do reside here--for now. This is a residential facility called Landel's Institute, as I'm sure your nurse was kind enough to inform you. The room you woke up in will be the one you will be shepherded back to at the end of this current shift. However, we're not originally from this place. We all woke up here much like you

[moral_liberty]

"I am sorry," was the only explanation Kaworu offered about the term. Going into it any further would be lengthy, and would doubtlessly open up more doors than he was interested in exploring at the moment.

It was simply not the issue on the forefront of Kaworu's mind. The word kidnapped made the smile slip off his face. He could not come up with any real means by which he himself could be abducted and contained by an average organization, but it was not entirely implausible. Though he would have imagined more intense precautions being taken. As he glanced briefly at his bare wrists, the image of Lilith pinned to a cross and eternally bleeding rose out of his memory. He quickly forced it back down. All of these others, these humans, were a far different matter. He did not have to try hard to imagine them as victims. Lilim would always victimize Lilim

[meitantei]

Shinichi snorted. Kaworu was a bit of a philosopher, apparently. But he was right. Ultimately, the cause of human suffering was almost always other humans. All of the cases he'd ever worked had been people hurting other people. "You're telling me," he said softly. "Back home, I'm a detective. People will always hurt each other. But there's good, too, and there's truth. And it's finding that truth that brings out the good us sometimes." He liked to think so, anyway. It made his job so much more fulfilling when he did.

"No." He shook his head. "I don't know how, and I don't know why, except perhaps to satisfy some sick, sadistic need on the Head Doctor's part. He's the man in charge. There are groups of us trying to figure out how and why...and how we can get out and get back home, but we haven't uncovered much so far. My friend--a fellow detective and I--are trying to investigate it, but no luck yet. Sorry."

[moral_liberty]

"It is good to know that the will to survive and achieve freedom persists in you," Kaworu asserted, dismissing any apology. His smile had returned, and he felt the faint glow of affection. Shinichi's words had hit a clear note. Lilim were a creature capable of the most atrocious cruelties, as well as the deepest acts of kindness