Yet another intercom jingle sounded, and the nurses, anticipating the Head Doctor's orders, already began grouping around the patients as he began to speak
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The name certainly sounded Japanese, which made Nunnally wonder, especially after her conversation with Honey. Were there really that many Japanese people here? Or had someone deliberately placed her with one, for whatever reason? She could also be overthinking things a little -- the fact that so many other things here were a puzzle didn't necessarily imply that everything was.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Furudo." Nunnally inclined her head slightly in greeting, then carefully moved over to the desk and lowered herself into the chair. It was also nice that the girl hadn't immediately assumed that she needed help, and seemed friendly enough. "I'm not sure how many answers I have for you, though. I only just arrived here this morning."
Did that mean Erika was also in the same situation? If so, then Honey had been right when he said there were several new people. Nunnally mentally shook her head, dismissing that train of thought as she carefully balanced the crutches against the edge of the desk and then turned to examine her dinner. She really wasn't all that hungry, but...if she didn't eat, then Lelouch would probably realize and fuss over her.
"Erika is fine. There's no need to be formal." Erika figured it was appropriate, since she didn't have a last name for Nunnally to refer to her by. It was fine; formalities were trivial things when it came to her job. Erika merely watched as Nunnally settled herself, giving her time as promised. She didn't seem at all concerned when the girl tried to tell her that she wouldn't have that many answers. It was a bit unfortunate, but it wasn't like Erika's own efforts at gathering information were fruitless.
Actually, Nunnally already answered her question merely by stating when she arrived. This morning? Then it was impossible for her to have been injured in the nighttime, then... which meant this girl was either incredibly clumsy or ... No, the presence of the leg braces indicated to her that it could have been a disability. In that case, Erika didn't quite care to hear the story behind that and decided to reword her question.
"You already answered my first question. I wanted to know if you incurred those injuries during the night in this place, and that's impossible if you arrived here this morning, as I did. In that case, I would like to instead share what information we know about this place. I believe this exchange would benefit us mutually."
A final check, as it were, before she finally observed the Institute with her own eyes. Erika was still skeptical of these "monsters" and Nunnally may have received information that she had not. Erika doubted that, however. She was quite thorough.
"Oh? All right then, Miss Erika." It seemed a little...rude, to just start eating while speaking to someone. But Nunnally supposed that mealtimes were meant for that kind of thing, even if said meal was taken in one's bedroom. She carefully cut a section of noodles before taking a bite, trying to keep it small enough that she didn't make a mess, but chewing gave her a reason to pause and consider the questions.
So she was right: her roommate was also a new arrival. But even so, did she want to explain what little she understood of her current condition? Only hours ago in her memory she'd been bound to a wheelchair without even as much mobility as she had now -- even the simple act of seating herself in a chair, something she hadn't done since childhood, was mildly amazing because of that. She finally settled for a vague, "No, I wasn't injured here, but when I was a child, at home.
"But what kind of information do you wish to share?" she continued, quickly and smoothly changing the subject away from herself. "I'm told that this is...a different world than the one I know. Or knew. And that despite the ordinary hospital presented during the day, it changes at night and becomes more dangerous."
If eating during a conversation was rude, then Erika seemed to have forgotten her manners promptly once she picked up her plate and continued with her meal. In truth, Erika was merely passing time as she waited for Nunnally to answer. She didn't really care about the circumstances of Nunnally's injuries now, but she tucked the information away just in case. It seemed like her detective's authority had been stripped on this game board, which meant that she would have to remember each and every detail of this board if she was going to make progress in finding clues.
Well, it wasn't as if she minded having a challenge. The fifth game had been pathetically easy - almost. Erika's brow twitched in the slightest at that memory, but that was why she was here in the sixth game, of course. To recover that loss.
"I was told the same thing," The detective agreed, after she swallowed and dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. "I heard reports of monsters at night - or at least, altered animals that attacked people here. Were you also told that?" It wasn't the kind of direct proof that she liked, and it was easy for a group of people to spin a lie into truth, but Erika was interested nonetheless. She would see for herself tonight.
"I was. And it was by someone I know, so I believe it's trustworthy information, no matter how odd it seems." Was it possible that some people didn't find that strange, when they arrived here? Worlds were monsters were an everyday sort of thing? Nunnally paused briefly to consider that idea, then gave herself a mental shake and went back to the more important matters.
"If you don't mind, might I ask where you're from, Miss Erika?" Perhaps she should have asked the same question of Honey, earlier. It might have cleared up some of her previous confusion, at least. "I was also told that people here come from...different worlds, or at least a world with a history that doesn't match my own."
Now Erika was scribbling into a notebook, having set aside her spaghetti again to make room on her lap. What she was scribbling was merely what Nunnally had told her and what she knew from her investigations earlier. So far, everything had checked out accordingly. Erika wasn't entirely convinced just yet until one more thing could be confirmed: How random her sources were. A story that different, unrelated people could confirm was almost definitely true, compared to a planned fabrication.
She had plenty of time to ask Nunnally that, though. The question she asked was just as important to consider. Yes, the matter of different Fragments... That also required investigation, and was a topic Erika didn't broach yet. How careless of her.
"I come from Japan, from the year 1986. Specifically, I was on the privately owned island of Rokkenjima during the time a typhoon passed over the island, from October 4th to the 6th. And you?"
Just how different of a Fragment was she from? Erika was actually quite anxious to find out, hoping that it would be another interesting clue to the nature of this game.
1986? That was...well before Nunnally had even been born, and thus well before Japan had been conquered by Britannia. She'd never heard of Rokkenjima, but she nodded slightly, looking thoughtful. Why did everyone she'd met so far seem to have some kind of connection to Japan? It seemed rather odd to her.
Again, she gave the simplest answer which required the least explanation. Hopefully. "Britannia, in 2018. Although..." Nunnally paused for a moment, tilting her head to one side as she considered. "I lived in Japan for several years." It probably didn't matter, but if she mentioned it then Erika could decide if it was significant or not from there. She did seem interested in information, after all.
2018?! Nunnally wasn't just from a different Fragment, but a different time as well? Erika should have been skeptical of that information, but it was the opposite: She was all the more interested. Especially since Nunnally mentioned a country that didn't exist: Britannia. Obviously, it must have been some equivalent to Britain. Was there some sort of shift in power from the future? For the moment, Erika forgot about collecting information solely for the purpose of solving the game, eager to learn more about this interesting Fragment from the future.
"Britannia? I've never heard of it... It must be a new country that formed in the future. From the name, it sounds like it's connected to the United Kingdom, or Great Britain as you might know it. Could you tell me more about it?"
Actually, 'Britannia' was the name granted to that region by the Romans. Interesting, that it would be used again... What were the circumstances behind that? Erika could make a few educated guesses, but some more information wouldn't hurt.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Furudo." Nunnally inclined her head slightly in greeting, then carefully moved over to the desk and lowered herself into the chair. It was also nice that the girl hadn't immediately assumed that she needed help, and seemed friendly enough. "I'm not sure how many answers I have for you, though. I only just arrived here this morning."
Did that mean Erika was also in the same situation? If so, then Honey had been right when he said there were several new people. Nunnally mentally shook her head, dismissing that train of thought as she carefully balanced the crutches against the edge of the desk and then turned to examine her dinner. She really wasn't all that hungry, but...if she didn't eat, then Lelouch would probably realize and fuss over her.
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Actually, Nunnally already answered her question merely by stating when she arrived. This morning? Then it was impossible for her to have been injured in the nighttime, then... which meant this girl was either incredibly clumsy or ... No, the presence of the leg braces indicated to her that it could have been a disability. In that case, Erika didn't quite care to hear the story behind that and decided to reword her question.
"You already answered my first question. I wanted to know if you incurred those injuries during the night in this place, and that's impossible if you arrived here this morning, as I did. In that case, I would like to instead share what information we know about this place. I believe this exchange would benefit us mutually."
A final check, as it were, before she finally observed the Institute with her own eyes. Erika was still skeptical of these "monsters" and Nunnally may have received information that she had not. Erika doubted that, however. She was quite thorough.
Reply
So she was right: her roommate was also a new arrival. But even so, did she want to explain what little she understood of her current condition? Only hours ago in her memory she'd been bound to a wheelchair without even as much mobility as she had now -- even the simple act of seating herself in a chair, something she hadn't done since childhood, was mildly amazing because of that. She finally settled for a vague, "No, I wasn't injured here, but when I was a child, at home.
"But what kind of information do you wish to share?" she continued, quickly and smoothly changing the subject away from herself. "I'm told that this is...a different world than the one I know. Or knew. And that despite the ordinary hospital presented during the day, it changes at night and becomes more dangerous."
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Well, it wasn't as if she minded having a challenge. The fifth game had been pathetically easy - almost. Erika's brow twitched in the slightest at that memory, but that was why she was here in the sixth game, of course. To recover that loss.
"I was told the same thing," The detective agreed, after she swallowed and dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. "I heard reports of monsters at night - or at least, altered animals that attacked people here. Were you also told that?" It wasn't the kind of direct proof that she liked, and it was easy for a group of people to spin a lie into truth, but Erika was interested nonetheless. She would see for herself tonight.
Reply
"If you don't mind, might I ask where you're from, Miss Erika?" Perhaps she should have asked the same question of Honey, earlier. It might have cleared up some of her previous confusion, at least. "I was also told that people here come from...different worlds, or at least a world with a history that doesn't match my own."
Reply
She had plenty of time to ask Nunnally that, though. The question she asked was just as important to consider. Yes, the matter of different Fragments... That also required investigation, and was a topic Erika didn't broach yet. How careless of her.
"I come from Japan, from the year 1986. Specifically, I was on the privately owned island of Rokkenjima during the time a typhoon passed over the island, from October 4th to the 6th. And you?"
Just how different of a Fragment was she from? Erika was actually quite anxious to find out, hoping that it would be another interesting clue to the nature of this game.
Reply
Again, she gave the simplest answer which required the least explanation. Hopefully. "Britannia, in 2018. Although..." Nunnally paused for a moment, tilting her head to one side as she considered. "I lived in Japan for several years." It probably didn't matter, but if she mentioned it then Erika could decide if it was significant or not from there. She did seem interested in information, after all.
Reply
"Britannia? I've never heard of it... It must be a new country that formed in the future. From the name, it sounds like it's connected to the United Kingdom, or Great Britain as you might know it. Could you tell me more about it?"
Actually, 'Britannia' was the name granted to that region by the Romans. Interesting, that it would be used again... What were the circumstances behind that? Erika could make a few educated guesses, but some more information wouldn't hurt.
Reply
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