DAY 45: LIBRARY

[byname_bynature]

Even before he got sick, Sean had enjoyed reading. His teachers had always said that he read 'ahead of his age group', but he figured that was just because he read more than most kids his age did. He liked everything: fantasy, science fiction, biographies, journal articles... There was just something satisfying about holding a book--something

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[bitpartgod]

In some ways, speaking to obeying this man was a lot easier than obeying Franziska. For one thing, he was obviously a lot older and a lot more experienced, and Kibitoshin was more than used to being bossed around by an elder; it was through instinct rather than fear that he surreptitiously straightened his back and put his heels together. Well. Mostly. Still, even through his show of obedience, the Kaioshin couldn't help but notice the man's reaction to Franziska's name. He does know her!

All but ready to jump in with a whatever fell out of his mouth first, it was only the man's sudden question that threw Kibitoshin off kilter. Wait ... appellation? Well, he could always pretend he knew what he was talking about, right? Forgetting his place (firmly under Dr. Fuch's heel, for reference), he let his brow knit in confusion. "Well, Kibitoshin's my name, but the nurses here call me Mr. Williams for some reason, sir."

Dr. Karl Fuchs. Kibitoshin's heart sank and he felt himself flush an even deeper shade of crimson. So there really was no relation, even if he had seemed to know the name. Maybe it was just a coincidence that they were almost identical and both had similar sounding names and scary authority-figure voices and that they were both involved in the legal profession.

... damnit.

"This is going to sound really stupid," he said carefully, kicking his heel a little, "but you look really similar. Like, she could easily be your granddaughter. Ah, daughter. Sir."

[perfectrecord]

Quite respectful and obedient, this one, Dr. Fuchs thought, appraising the young man's action of standing at attention. "Mr. Williams," he nodded, satisfied though still unsmiling. A more likely name, just as Dr. Fuchs had suspected. The professor had been dubious at best about how legitimate the original name was; though "Kibitoshin" sounded somewhat as though it could be of Japanese origin, it was unlike any he'd heard of before. After all, though "von Karma" sounded deceptively German, it was not a true name.

Upon hearing the professor's name, this Mr. Williams seemed to lose his composure, becoming even more flustered. Was it that the young man expected Dr. Fuchs to call himself "Manfred von Karma," based on what Ms. von Richter might have said about him? The older man definitely needed to speak to his student about spreading delusional falsehoods that could irreparably destroy his reputation upon his release from this hospital.

After Mr. Williams had finished stammering like the fool he was, Dr. Fuchs raised his left eyebrow. He motioned to the empty seat next to him, jabbing his finger towards it in a tacit command for Mr. Williams to sit down in it. "So, you're assuming that I am immediately related to another person merely because you think I look like her?" He smirked and shook his head. "Is this someone you met here at the institute, Mr. Williams? If so, I can assure you that I have only one daughter and one granddaughter. Neither of them are here. Nor do they bear the name you asked about."

The lines etched in his forehead creased deeper, his unblinking gaze intense, as he drove the point home: "There is no one in my family named 'Franziska von Karma.' Anyone claiming as such is a foolish liar." Or, he added silently, loath to expose Ms. von Richter's condition as well, suffering from an extreme delusion of grandeur.

[bitpartgod]

Kibitoshin wasn't entirely sure how happy he was being called by the wrong name, but he felt about as inclined to argue to chase the point as he would have felt had Dr. Fuchs been a circling shark. Which, verbally, he might well have been. He got the distinct impression that his entire argument was going to be swiftly and unceremoniously shredded before his eyes any second now.

Still, at least he didn't mind him sitting with him. That was a good thing. Hopefully. Almost stumbling over his own feet with nerves- manners, Kibitoshin, just because you're a Kaioshin it doesn't mean you can't have manners!- he just about managed to take a seat without making himself look too silly. It at least gave him a little room to calm down and collect his thoughts.

And then, so began the shredding. Kibitoshin, wincing, waited for Dr. Fuchs to finish before raising his eyes gingerly to meet the man's. "But... but... it's just that you look so much like her," he pressed flimsily, aware that he was digging himself into a deeper and deeper hole but not quite willing to give up the ghost of an argument just yet. "It's really uncanny. And she's definitely not crazy." Just really, really viol-

"W-wait a second!" Suddenly his head jerked up. He stared into the man's face (the more stern he got, the more the resemblance seemed to come through), eyes wide. "You said it! You said 'foolish'! She says that a lot, too!"

It was only after he'd said it that he realised how stupid it sounded.

[perfectrecord]

[Sorry for the delay, orz. D: ]

True. Others had remarked on how alike Dr. Fuchs and Ms. von Richter looked to each other. But then some had also compared his appearance to that of one of the original actors of an old British science fiction television series ("Dr. Who," or whatever it was called... not that Dr. Fuchs really cared, for he wasn't exactly partial to the genre, nor to television, for that matter), and he was certain that he was completely unrelated to anyone named William Hartnell. Pure coincidence, nothing more.

The professor quietly listened to this strange man ramble on about the similarities between him and Ms. von Richter. His arms still folded, he felt an uncontrollable urge to clench his right shoulder. As he did so, a searing pain shot through his upper arm. He released it right away, but not before he had gritted his teeth in response to the unpleasant sensation.

"Mr. Williams. Has the possibility eluded you that perhaps the reason that this Ms. von Karma says 'foolish' a lot has anything to do with the company she is keeping at the time? Frankly, I myself feel inclined to use that word again right now!" His maintained his steely gaze upon this young oaf; there was no question as to who his own current "foolish" company was.

"Now tell me, Mr. Williams. What else did she say to you?"

[bitpartgod]

If conversations were battles, this was Kibitoshin's Waterloo. Unfortunately, as he was beginning to realise (albeit in less poetical terms), he was playing the role of Napoleon.

"I..." The words faltered. They really did have a lot in common- Fuchs had possibly managed to actually beat Franziska in terms of getting him to feel the worst in the shortest amount of time. Congratulations? Humbled, Kibitoshin swallowed hard and tried to reassess the situation. Try a new perspective, his Elder's voice said, but it was all air. What knew perspective could he possibly find to Fuch's definitive 'You're wrong'? The man was about as emotionally and intellectually pliable as an iron fist.

"I guess that's possible, sir," he admitted, picking his way carefully and very politely through the minefield of the man's argument. "She said she was a law- uh, a prosecutor. But I'm sure she's not crazy."

Scary? Usually. Mean? All the time. But crazy? There was no chance. After all, what chance did he stand of being sane if she was?