Day 50: Patient Library (4th Shift)

[mitase]

Sakura had mentioned a library on the second floor, but there was one on the first floor, wasn't there? It was for the patients, sure, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be any useful books. Not that he knew for certain, since every time Hanatarou had been in there previously it hadn't been to pay a lot of attention to the reading material

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[falseblack]

He was tired--exhausted, really--and sleep was a far cry from possibility. Farther still was the chance to speak with a brother. Unless the link held a factor not yet realized, Albedo was unconscious. Asleep with no end in sight, it seemed. Like how Nigredo wished was granted to him.

A nurse fortunately noted the boy's condition and suggested he spend the remainder of his day in the library. He didn't oppose; memory had taken the environment as soothing, as something wanted. It wouldn't be bad to stay there until dinner.

Upon entrance, Nigredo took a seat in a vacant chair by a set of bookcases, eyes drooping in expectant boredom. He supposed reading would be a good way to pass the time, but with evening so close, it bordered on useless. His head hurt too much in any case.

[Keman]

[falseblack]

Movement brought the boy out of his thoughts, and he looked to find a teenager in his sights. Initially, Nigredo assumed he would be addressed with the customary greeting; retrospect, however, pulled in something entirely different in meaning. Eyes widened in surprise and partly in recognition; it was difficult to see this individual as what he claimed to be before.

"You're the...dragon from last night," he muttered. The one Albedo inadvertently (or so he hoped) pulled the trigger on. The fact someone came forward with that information likely meant that this was, indeed, their unfortunate associate.

The fact that he was also apologizing for the incident tugged at Nigredo's conscience. "It's okay. You don't have to--" He swallowed thickly. "--apologize." Albedo shouldn't have allowed the gun to fire, after all.

[falseblack]

The confirmation brought a series of questions to mind, but rather than indulging on any, Nigredo chose to address the apology. It was true, what he said. The dragon could have killed or grievously injured the both of them, whether deserved for one or not. But that was already moot point. Nothing actually happened, after all.

Was that not a similar situation with the basement? And what had Yomi said to him afterward? "No one died. We can still move around. So it's okay," he answered. "I accept your apology, and I'm sorry my brother acted rashly." That should end the matter. Discussing it any further would only perpetuate the memories of that night.

Though, the child had to wonder. Not the events nor the older "boy's" contrasting appearance, but... "May I ask you a question? You don't have to answer if you'd rather not." He exhaled in silence, mild exasperation aimed at the disclaimer. "Why were you outside last night?"

[falseblack]

That matched the U.R.T.V.'s experience, at least in terms of mechanics. The connecting line, then, would have to be the renovations spoken about at the beginning of the night. Nigredo nodded at the older boy to show his comprehension. "We must have met by coincidence, then." Irony aside.

But something among the boy's observations, however, continued to nag. From what he understood, the only other place one could start the night in was their room. 'A' room was not the same. "Though, you were in a room...?" he asked. Wasn't that a little strange?

[falseblack]

He understood. Too well, as some might claim. The circumstances surrounding this one's night fell too closely to another's, and there was no way to avoid the obvious implications. Nigredo dropped his gaze to the floor, comprehension gracing his features. "I understand." He wouldn't ask anymore; it would be beyond inappropriate to inquire further.

The topic switched to their names, one easy enough for Nigredo to digest. Keman. Indeed, easy enough. "My name is Nigredo," he offered in turn. "The brother who was with me is Albedo. A-Ah." The U.R.T.V. stammered mid-thought as another rose to the surface. "You might not want to tell him who you are if you run into him. We have a...complicated history with a dragon."

Metaphorical dragon, perhaps, but it was all the same to one.