Day 48: Sun Room [Second Shift]
Hmph. While this Rude was the proverbial "man of few words," von Karma found more potential use from him than a number of the other patients he had met put together. He would still ask Franziska about the man... as well as the other people he had learned that she had been spending time around. Many of them were utter fools, especially that
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The Sun Room barely deserved its name today, with only the overhanging gloom visible through the large skylights. Nunnally glanced up with a slight frown, then suppressed a sigh and made her careful way across the room toward one of the sofas. The orderlies weren't hovering quite as closely today, she'd noticed; perhaps they trusted her to be able to better manage the crutches? It seemed odd, though, since she'd only just started to use them a day ago. And already she didn't need the braces. How was any of it possible?
They were questions that probably never would be answered. Perhaps Lelouch would have an idea, if she asked him, but -- well, he had many things to do, she was certain. There had to be someone else she could ask. If she posted on the bulletin, though, he'd definitely see it, and there couldn't be very many other people here in her same condition. She had seen a couple in wheelchairs, but from what she could tell it was simply because they had been injured here (something that seemed relatively common, and reinforced the information that it was dangerous at night).
Still caught up in her thoughts, Nunnally carefully lowered herself to a seat, shaking her head at the orderly who'd moved as though wanting to assist her. She leaned the crutches against the arm of the sofa and leaned back, then wrinkled her nose a little and resettled herself so that she wasn't leaning against her damp hair. Perhaps the kitten that had been in the room the day before was still around. Or another one, perhaps... she wouldn't mind the company.
[for an old man]
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There were benefits to it at least. Mihai spent several long minutes looking over the bulletin, where he penned several replies that might have saved Badou from himself. Considering the rumored dangers, and the effects they'd already taken, Mihai certainly saw the necessity for extreme measures. Haine at least had unnatural healing to his benefit, and Mihai had fought through more than his share of confrontations with only whatever surrounded him to serve as aide. Badou, however, would be more successful in an effort to light a cigarette with a spoon, as opposed to using it to kill a man.
Somewhere between the words, however, the cap of Mihai's pen fell to the floor. Cheap products produced in mass were the hallmark of a younger generation, and the old man shook his head at the thought. But as it turned out, someone else would be delighted by the changing times. The bit of bouncing plastic had caught the eye of a kitten, and before Mihai could retrieve it, the feline had pounced, batting at the thing as if it were a mouse. The old man let out a laugh as he watched, deeming it harmless. At least until the cat managed to hit its prey across the room.
"Hey, now. It's not good to make a mess." The lecture thankfully was in jest, as the kitten paid as much attention to Mihai as--well, Badou, if he were honest with himself. Glad that he wasn't so old that he couldn't keep up, Mihai followed after the cat, until he found himself in front of a couch. That wouldn't have been so bad, except there was also a young woman there, who now had a pen cap between her feet.
"Oh. Excuse me." Mihai smiled to the girl, who had just come from the shower if her hair was any indication. Kneeling down, he picked up the top, then held it up to prove his intentions innocent. Much to the dismay of the kitten, of course. "I'm afraid this got away from me for a moment."
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"It's all right," she replied, offering a politely friendly smile to the man before carefully leaning over with hand outstretched to the kitten. She couldn't quite reach the floor, though, not without disturbing her balance, and it didn't seem to be paying attention to her at the moment. "Cats tend to do whatever they want, with whatever they want, without worrying about who it belongs to, after all."
It suddenly occurred to her to wonder just what Arthur had stolen from her brother that day that seemed ages ago. She never had found out, even after all the fuss it had caused. Would he tell her, if he asked? Or maybe Suzaku would. That might be...simpler.
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"That sounds like more than a few people I know." Mihai laughed quietly as he thought of the assorted 'cats' he'd met over the years, that leaped and pounced without a single thought. Many had learned that such a jump could lead to a nasty landing, through firsthand experience. And others needed more persuasion; Mihai's mind again went to Badou, but only briefly. The kitten mewling in his hands made an easy distraction.
"Even the young should know how to play nice sometimes." Mihai met the cat's eyes as he said this, though the feline didn't seem entirely interested in his opinion. Regardless, he offered the animal to the girl, who probably was much more charming than any old man--and so much more helpless as well. Just what was a girl in such a state doing here, of all places? "My name's Mihai Mihaerofff. It's nice to meet you, Miss...?"
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The smile widened when he held the fluffy creature out toward her, and she gladly reached to gently take the kitten and relocate it into her lap. "My name is Nunnally," she replied, glancing back up at him again as she continued to absently stroke the kitten's soft fur. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Mihaeroff. Have you been here for very long?"
Though she'd already been told about the dangers of this place by several people, perhaps there was more information to be obtained than simply dire warnings. Perhaps she could find something that would be of help to her brother's efforts -- to anyone's efforts to find a way back home again. It was not only that, though, that prompted her curiosity; he had to be one of the oldest people she'd run into here so far. Most everyone seemed to average around young adulthood, with only a few particularly young or old examples.
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"Only a day." Mihai offered a smile of his own, though one that wasn't so honest as hers. He moved to the open space beside Nunnally on the couch, putting enough distance between them to be appropriate as he sat. That way, she wouldn't have to look so far up to speak to him. "But I've heard the basics about this place. I hope you have too." And that she had adequate protection, given her apparent condition. But Mihai thought she might withdraw if he brought that up too soon, which wouldn't do him any good at all. A less direct approach, then. "Given how dangerous things are supposed to be."
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Unfortunately such a thing seemed impossible in this place, for no matter how calm the day might be there was always an awareness of what was about to come. Not that she had seen exactly what happened at night, of course, but so many people had mentioned it that she almost felt that she wouldn't need to. She glanced up at the man and nodded slightly, with what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "I've been told. By several people, in fact. Don't worry, I didn't have any plans to go wander out into the hallways by myself at night." Even if she had anywhere to go, even if there weren't supposed to be monsters in the hallways, she moved slowly enough that it would be difficult, to say the least.
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"I'm glad to hear that." Mihai nodded his approval, then looked down at the kitten who contented himself so easily. Ignorance and bliss, partners in action. "An old man like me can't spend all of his time chasing down stubborn cats. You'll have to forgive me for being forward, Miss Nunnally, since we just met. But I don't think anyone would want to see you hurt."
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She idly rubbed behind the kitten's ears with one fingertip, looking momentarily thoughtful. "Might I ask where you're from, Mr. Mihaeroff? I've been told that there are people here from many different worlds, and...it seems strange to me. But I haven't met anyone except those from my home who are familiar with Britannia as I know it."
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