Day 50: Courtyard (3rd Shift)

[toxicspiderman]

Getting up before the 7-11s opened on Sunday was anathema to any right-thinking man. Sangamon Taylor was no exception. When he wasn't on a field trip to Nowheresville. Where the locals were unconvinced that the Pope was going to personally write them a strongly worded letter if they had fresh Coke with their pancakes. Moving from bed to couch

Comments

[idontregret]

At least it wasn't raining today. That was an odd thing to think, after the junkyard, but real rain was much more unpleasant. Not to mention that the fewer reminders he had about the program he'd been created for, the better. Heat had been handed one of the usual robes from one of the nurses before heading outside, and he pulled it tight against himself now as he sat against the far wall. He might have gone for a jog, if circumstances had been different.

Right now his stomach was protesting its emptiness and there was nothing the demon could do about it. At least out here the smell of food from the kitchen, as well as that of the flesh of other patients, was gone or diminished. It hadn't been so long that he figured he was in danger of losing himself. Not yet. But that didn't mean he enjoyed starving any more than the next guy.

He might have tried watching a movie, but he was still a little disappointed that the one he voted for hadn't been picked - never mind that he didn't know what any of them were about. So it might

[nakedinmoney]

One look into the sun room had told Bela that it was a poor decision to go for the movie -- if she wanted information, she'd have to find other patients to talk to, and that meant exploring this place a little better. That'd have to wait until she had the opportunity, of course, but for now, her nurse suggested the courtyard for the meet and greet. Charming.

Either way, it had convinced her, because interrupting the movie to gossip seemed exceptionally juvenile. The daylight when she first passed the institute doors caused her to blink excessively to try and help her eyes adjust -- she refused to squint, it looked absurd and did nothing to help cases. It wasn't exceptionally bright out, but in comparison to nothing but sleep and fluorescent lights, it was bright enough.Outside, there was only one patient standing alone, and Bela could work much easier without confronting a group, so she beelined for him -- her? it was hard to tell with hair like that, not that she'd go advertising that fact. She greeted the individual with a

[idontregret]

If she couldn't tell his gender at first glance, his voice as well as the physique revealed when he uncurled himself would make it quite apparent. Heat remained seated, turning his head upward just enough to level a blank stare at the woman. He didn't recognize her, but then he didn't keep track of all the new arrivals to the Institute either.

He also wasn't sure how to answer her question about the ape. The word caused his memory to drag up an image of something that reminded him of some of the demons he knew - Onkot or Thoth or even Nue, but he didn't recall seeing anything like that in Landel's over the past few days. It might have been too late to keep himself from looking confused, but that didn't mean he was going to ask anymore questions that proved just how ignorant to some things he was.

"Guess not." He shifted, adopting a more casual seated position as he attempted in vain to shove all thoughts of hunger aside. "You need something?"

[nakedinmoney]

She took back every assumption she'd made -- this was definitely Hell. Whether it was her inherent judgment of him based on body language and appearance or her annoyance at the curt response, she was sure this was hedging on the most painful conversation of her life. Outwardly, though, she did a good job of remaining at ease and casual.

If she noticed his confusion in regards to her passing commentary on King Kong, she didn't choose to further clarify.

"Well, I was hoping for a casual conversation, but if that's too much to ask, maybe I was barking up the wrong tree." Something told her that if she spent much more time here, she'd probably become as much of a hermit as possible, too. "Good behavior's encouraged, yeah?" She was trying to subtly indicate that she was putting on a good show for the nurses without directly stating it, but Bela had a horrible feeling that any subtlety would go amiss on this stranger.

[cmdr_exposition]

It was still strange for Hayes to have too much free time on his hands. For years he'd had to resolve one crisis after another, and they certainly hadn't the time or the power for any kind of movies. It was kind of a shame that he didn't really care for the early ones, actually.

But not much of one. Even if they'd been showing something newer, which was highly unlikely given their refusal to even acknowledge that his century existed, sitting and watching would have nothing on being out here. Even inside, the air without endless recirculation and overtaxed scrubbers seemed almost impossibly fresh- out here, where it was actually coming freshly off of plants, it wasn't something he thought he'd ever be bored with again.

And, while the courtyard wasn't empty, it was quiet, which was good for making plans. The first order of business, he thought, sitting back against a tree with one more glance at TK's map, was to arm the Captain. That was obvious. What next, though?

[Come on over, Abe~]

[bprd_fishman]

No soothing rain to fall on his face, sadly, but the fresh air was still comfortable. Abe set his hands behind his back and walked the courtyard path, letting his mind wander in the relative peace of the daylight.

If he could alter the doorways a path out was even more useless, but a path in was as well. Perhaps Abe had been thinking this too Hellboyish and brute forced, perhaps the best way was to find some form of ritual or incantation...but there was nowhere to start. This place was useless. He hadn't even bothered appealing for a better library.

Along the path he came to a man sitting with his back against a tree, looking over some sort of document. Abe, naturally curious, walked around behind him and peered over his shoulder.

A map?

[cmdr_exposition]

Instinctively, Hayes turned to see who was coming, but it was just a fellow prisoner with a look of vague inquisitiveness. No cause for alarm, no reason not to be friendly; Hayes raised his hand in a brief wave of acknowledgment, then followed the other man's gaze to the map in his hands.

"You like it?" Hayes asked, holding it up slightly. "A friend drew it for me on my first day in here. It's been coming in pretty handy."

[bprd_fishman]

"Is that really a map of the facility?" Abe crouched beside him, tilting his head to look at the map. "How did he manage to get this far? I've only been able to see a few meager rooms." Of course it might be from compounded knowledge, which again asked the question of why nobody had thought to do that on a larger scale. The American government was efficient and organized compared to the Landel's Institute information network.

Belatedly Abe realized he was being nosy. "Abe Sapien, I'm sorry, I should have introduced himself," he said, extending a long and bony hand to his informed companion.

[scarefaux]

With a farewell nod to Remy and Meche, the Scarecrow stood and took a quick look around the cafeteria as people were ushered in all directions, trying to pick a familiar face from the crowd. He didn't see Abe anywhere, or Depth Charge- at least he could ask the latter about the movie during dinner. Something in his middle shifted uncomfortably again as the voice of the Wizard Landel's voice boomed into the room, mentioning something he'd been dreading: visitors. A part of him wanted to see Dorothy again, make sure she was all right out there; the other part wanted to solve one puzzle before taking on more doubt. There was only so much about the entire situation he was willing to question at a time- if he tried to handl everything simultaneously, he'd never get anywhere.

Deciding to dodge his nurse for now, the former strawman headed outside, thinking he'd enjoy the feeling of the grass beneath- oh! Conveniently enough, he spotted Sangamon resting on a bench. Surely he'd know about movies and why they were created. Why someone

[toxicspiderman]

A voice disturbed S.T.'s pseudonap.  Familiar, too.  He tugged the map down enough for a chevron of eyebrows and nose to clear.  "Hey, man.  How's the shitty side of the rainbow treating you?"  He grinned, showing well-fluoridated teeth.

Scarecrow looked OK.  Great, compared to the last few times, but exenuating circumstances, man.  Alive and able to look confused on a scale measured in comparison to tourists rather than bomb shelter residents. Or maybe it was just the effect of turning a painted sack into a live human. However the hell that worked. Now that he'd seen it with Genius Boy, it was hard not to look for the seams. And that led to S.T. wondering if Scarecrow'd gotten the no place like home treatment last night -- looked like a bunch of people had. He was probably staring blankly by this point. Oops. "Sit down if you want.". He sat up, making room. And blinked. Moving that fast was distinctly reminiscent of last night. But his blood pressure equalizes almost instantaneously, bringing the unchanged world back

[scarefaux]

The Scarecrow gave S.T. an appreciative nod before having a seat on the bench beside him, unsure what to make of his first comment. He could feel the strange look of worry etched into his face- it seemed smiling couldn't mask it well.

He clasped his hands before him, trying to think of exactly what he wanted to ask. "I hope I'm not being a bother," he prefaced. "I'm glad to see you in one piece, though. After last night, I was concerned- with the doors enchanted and all, it occurred to me my friends could have ended up in some dangerous places."

[toxicspiderman]

"Naah, I'm not busy." Besides, it was the Scarecrow. Dude probably exuded technicolor friendship pheremones or something. Whatever it was, he was easy to talk to, even if easily bewildered. Sort of like Bart, without twenty-something years of marinating his brain in anything he could find. Smart, but not usually bothering to apply it. Sangamon wasn't sure what that felt like; even when stoned off his ass, he couldn't help trying to think. Music was better. Drowned out some of the noise. The sunlight and the great outdoors wasn't too bad either. Perfect day for a cookout, preferably with the Head Bastard on a spit

[jouer_sans_voir]

It seemed odd that Lelouch would get a visitor and she wouldn't, given that almost everyone Nunnally could think of who would visit him was someone she would want to see as well. Or did she? Everything here seemed to have an edge to it, a hidden side designed to harm rather than help. Perhaps it was best for her that she didn't see a visitor, then, though... she disliked the idea of Lelouch going into something potentially upsetting alone.

When given an option she decided to go outside and enjoy some fresh air without the torrential downpour, and shortly found herself back out in the open courtyard. She had always loved the gardens, no matter where she was, and as she was met with the scents of trees and flowers and earth damp from yesterday's rain, she closed her eyes for a moment to focus on them. It was a moment of peace, of something unchanged from home in the midst of a bizarre and upsetting place, and she wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible

[timeseal]

It was the fall that killed you, or so they said. Rolo sure felt like he died, feeling unusually fatigued when he woke that morning. The only thing he remembered was falling yet he seemed unsurprised at the fact he wasn't dead. What he was surprised at was how much time had passed - it was already well into the day, and he missed "brunch" and the morning activities according to the nurse

[jouer_sans_voir]

There were several people walking around the courtyard now, some finding others to speak to and others simply walking, but Nunnally paid it no mind; she heard no familiar voices or footsteps, and for the moment was enjoying the peace and quiet untouched by another's presence. And, more importantly, untainted by the unwanted appearance of her new Geass. She hadn't thought before to be grateful for the sanctity of her own mind and thoughts, but now was very much so

[she_is_ruin]

[free, no limits]Provided her new boss actually came through, Yomi would be headed outside for fourth shift, anyway, and thought she’d cut out the middle man by spending third in the courtyard. If she waited into the new shift and Homura didn’t appear, she’d move to the rec field

[mugenreppa]

Oh, this was interesting. "Have we met?" Mele asked idly as she moved to keep pace. Mele had just been staring blankly; there was nothing n her mind that she couldn't put off to satisfy her curiosity.

Well, her immediate curiosity, at least. She was still trying to make sense of what the guy said about teleportation, and what had irritated the nurse. Ah- that was it: she'd been headed back to the Sun Room to check the bulletin again. Shaking her head in admonishment that she'd gotten sidetracked so easily, Mele turned back to the issue at hand. "It was in the outdoors like this, wasn't it? Don't think I got your name."

[she_is_ruin]

Huh? Yomi looked over as a young woman with hair that was two different colors fell into step with her. She kept walking, brow scrunching in a look of distant regard.

Had they…? Oh. Sure. They’d sat side-by-side once, if not met. There was no wheelchair this time, but Yomi recognized the face from hidden glances. Well, there was no pretending to sleep this time, was there? The peace of mind required to do so had left her sometime between then and now.

“Ho? Have we?” she said vaguely, once the woman’s distraction seemed to pass and her attention returned to Yomi. “It’s Yomi.”

Ha, for now. She had more names than ever, being here.

[mugenreppa]

Didn't she remember, either? Hmm, must've been brief, then. Unless Mele was mistaken, but oh well, they were meeting now. No harm in it, was there?

"Mele. You looking for something?" Mele looked around for the possible reason Yomi was walking around, but didn't spot anything out of the ordinary. Though it was differently designed than the one she was used to, a courtyard wasn't really anything special; same old, same old. "Or...taking a walk?"