Nightshift 23: M31-M40 Hallway

[forgot_it_all]

Dinner had been an altogether depressing affair - Tamaki's problems only seemed to underline what Seimei had said earlier about not relying on other people here. Ritsuka had hoped that perhaps he had been wrong, but if Adel was so easily turned against someone like Tamaki, then who could turn on Ritsuka? Or Seimei for that matter

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[seiran314]

Tonight, there was no plan, and that was just fine with Aya. The dinner had been quiet again, and he had shoved food down his throat forcibly, staring at the white walls, annoyed. The quiet time had not gone to waste, however. After he had done a complete check out on his own room for anything useful, he had rolled one of the pens open in frustration and spent few minutes straightening out the small piece of metal thread that was twisted into a stiff spiral within the plastic tube. Slim, strong and on his experience, very capable of doing damage if pulled firmly enough

[sanguinarily]

His roommate was the epitome of antisocial, Soujirou reflected for the third or fourth time that night. It wasn't that he had anything against antisocial people, but it was much nicer to have dinner with people who talked back. However, it was past dinner time and there wasn't much leeway to just laze about and think about roommates. He could, but it would hardly be productive.

He picked up the flashlight and picked up three or four pens, tucking them away. They wouldn't be useful as weapons unless it was against an unarmed patient. Soujirou had full confidence in his ability to drive one home in the neck or eye, however. While it wouldn't do against a monster either, they were certainly better than being unarmed. His fingers could only dig so far into a skull for minimal damage.

Soujirou nodded to himself, twice, while in the doorway of his room before heading out into the hallway. Once again he picked a direction at random and began to walk. Eventually he'd meet something interesting. Or someone.

[seiran314]

Aya had patience, his stubborn silence was perhaps one of his most characteristic features. Staring walls and waiting minutes to tick past was still not his favorite pastime. When he was sure Omi had made it out from the hallway, possibly from the whole block and this side of the building (it didn't matter too much), he finally let himself move.

The dark hallway was now practically deserted and he didn't bother turning on the flashlight. He wasn't worried about heading out all alone, it was the preferred method of action for him. But it was different than having a team behind his back and for that reason alone he kept his steps measured and calm, gazing upon the people he countered with curious eyes.

[sanguinarily]

Soujirou flicked the flashlight on every so often to see a stretch of hall and then turned it off again. If he understood how it worked well enough, then the flashlight would eventually stop working. Something about power and the like and limited use. Either way, he didn't want to waste what usefulness it had. Soujirou preferred to look people in the eye when he spoke to them.

He blinked and turned on the flashlight. Was that a person? He pushed the button on the light and moved closer.

[seiran314]

Squinting his eyes at the light, Aya paused his steps and pulled a hand to his forehead to shield his eyes. His eyes were used to the darkness and he could barely see the person behind the flashlight at first.

This madhouse had him on his toes and he sorely missed the sword by his side. But as of yet, nothing that had hands to carry a flashlight and mouth to speak had hurt him this far and he considered it only logical to speak out.

"Hey," he said silently. "You mind turning that away?" And to company his words, he pointed at the flashlight. Perhaps not the most friendly greeting, but it was better than nothing, right?

[sanguinarily]

Soujirou immediately flicked it off as the voice called out. He blinked and waited for his eyes to adjust again. That had been a human voice, and he doubted monsters were the type to be polite and courteous. Even if the words had been a bit curt it hadn't been unfriendly necessary.

"Sorry!" He called out and moved closer. There wasn't any intent to attack or defend from his position, just walking along as if he were outside for a stroll. Fear wasn't something Soujirou felt.

[seiran314]

"It's... alright," Aya muttered, trying at least to appear less a standoffish jerk than his usual demeanor compelled.

He let his feet take him closer, noting the other's easy approach, which at first made him assume either the person really didn't belong to a place like this or completely the opposite. Pausing his steps in front of the boy, he flicked his own flashlight on, directing it towards the floor so the light was softer and wouldn't bother either one of them.

Now would have been the time for some kind of introduction or at least something to say. 'Hey' would have been a good start But Aya generally felt awkward with people, and the simple, "Hn," was all he could muster as he studied the other in the dim light.

[sanguinarily]

"Another patient?" Soujirou asked with a tilt of his head. It must be, since the other was wearing the uniform of the patients and didn't seem to be here for the purpose of deception. Then again, that would have been a very odd deception indeed!

He offered a smile, despite the rather standoffish response he got. Most people seemed to be pretty stressed, so it wasn't as though he was surprised to get that reaction. Not that people back home weren't standoffish either. "Either way, it's nice to see someone."

[seiran314]

Aya relaxed seemingly at the smile. At least he didn't have to pretend to be social around someone who had less a talent for it than he possessed himself.

He nodded silently as an answer to the question, wondering briefly what else could he have been than a patient. But he still was new to this and at the moment he didn't want to think about all the possibilities.

"Right," he started, sparing one of his pale smiles, just a shallow curve on his lips but better than the default frown he was used to wearing. "Were you looking for someone or something? Or just wandering around aimlessly... like me."

[sanguinarily]

Soujirou shrugged, "I don't have anyone to meet and have no idea what I'd be looking for if I were looking for something." He replied honestly. He could have looked for the people he had spoken to earlier in the day. Or gone looking for a way out... but really he didn't care enough to.

There was no motivating to figure out the Landels game. The visit from his nephew was still clear in his mind as well. Landels was more than just an odd place, he had no bearing and confusion was new to him.

[seiran314]

Usually Aya was reluctant to offer company or ask for it just the same, he preferred solitude in almost every part of life. However, he didn't see any reason to question his motives when he thrust his hand out and curtly introduced himself.

"Fujimiya Aya. Why don't you come along with me then?" He had no idea where, but it was probably reasonable to keep on the moving rather than stay in one place.

[sanguinarily]

"It's nice to meet you, Fujimiya-san. I'm Seta Soujirou, please regard me kindly." Soujirou dropped a bow to Aya. It wasn't quite formal, but it had enough respect in it. He figured the other was Japanese, his name indicated as much.

Though, who knew at Landels. Perhaps there were those who were from different Japans in different times.

[seiran314]

"Uh... " Aya pulled the hand back, arching his brows at the unnecessary politeness. He was hardly a stranger to such gestures whatever his teammates would like to say, only saw the politeness useless most of times.

But by his upbringing, he also knew it was pointless to make an issue out of it. And so he clasped his hands in his lap and bowed down as well. "Pleased to meet you, Seta-kun."

[sanguinarily]

That was familiar. Soujirou bobbed his head at Aya with a wide smile. It was odd, how he didn't think about missing small formalities but really they made him feel more comfortable. Even if he hadn't thought he wasn't not comfortable at all. Odd circular thoughts. He blamed Landels for them.

"The pleasure is mine, Fujimiya-san," he replied. Very few people called him by his last name, surprisingly. Though he wasn't quite ready to break that barrier with someone familiar with his culture.

[seiran314]

That earned just a slight shake of head from Aya and a very pale glimmer of a grin. He had missed speaking Japanese. Not that his English was bad or anything due to the years he had spent in US, but it hardly compared to the familiarity of the mother's tongue.

Soujirou seemed young and kind of cute, easily pleased. Instinctively Aya felt at ease. He wasn't one to trust a smiling mask, far from it. But the truth was that he wouldn't trust anyone by default and manners made it easier to communicate.

"Have you been long here?" he asked while peering at Soujirou through his crimson bangs.

[sanguinarily]

Soujirou blinked at him and ticked off his fingers, before frowning. "... I really have no idea, now that you mention it." He said, not quite with regret, but definite confusion. He couldn't say the last time he was outside of Landels. Or really when he had first gotten here.

"How about you, Fujimiya-san?" Perhaps the other was a better judge of time than himself. Soujirou wasn't one to painstakingly count the days anyway.