Day 24: Courtyard (Shift 2)

[stray_shinigami]

Renji's quasi-peaceful mood from breakfast was well and gone by the time he got out to the courtyard. Rather than dwell on the all-new problems with Rukia - and the fact that he had absolutely no idea how to deal with any of it - he tried to occupy himself with a mental checklist of the things he needed to do today. Meet with Roy Mustang at lunch,

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[gotahunch]

At the very least, the Courtyard was a good place to stretch his legs. Breakfast had been surprisingly pleasant and peaceful, even if he was still trying to avoid Fayt and Albel in a half-assed sort of way. He didn't want to tell Fayt about their plans just yet - he was supposed to keep the kid away from danger, at least until he had a decent weapon - and Albel.. They weren't exactly best friends for life. To be completely truthful which sucked it was pretty jarring trying to piece together any kind of history or relationship with either of them. That would get easier with time, he hoped. Maybe if he didn't get called away for therapy he'd pick up with them next shift.

But he'd deal with the easy part first. Cliff wondered over to the same tree he and Yohji had talked under earlier and sprawled, waiting.

[never_learns]

Yohji couldn't help but be just a little relieved to escape Omi and Kurama and their teasing when breakfast ended. He hated having to dodge questions and lie outright knowing that Omi was there watching him and would have to jump in if Yohji slipped up. Left him feeling on edge and he didn't like it.

The fresh air was good to feel after being cooped up and he quickly spotted Cliff lounging beneath a tree. Good thing it wasn't too crowded yet. He approached the other man slowly, favouring him with a smile before leaning back against the tree. Wow, deja vu. "Hey, you wanted me?" he said cheerfully.

[gotahunch]

Cliff smiled and nodded in return before pushing himself up. He really didn't want this conversation to go farther than the two of them. He was probably better off standing anyway. It made him feel less lethargic. "I wanted to talk to you last night but we had company."

He folded his arms and leaned against the tree, his voice remaining light and casual. "How're things going between you and your teammates?"

[never_learns]

"Sounds ominous," Yohji said, giving Cliff a mock-wary look. If it had been that important, then he was sure Cliff would've told the other two to get lost.

He shrugged slightly at the question, not entirely sure where to begin describing the train wreck that was Weiss. "Aya's the same as always," he said after a moment. "We were never particularly friendly at the best of times. And Omi... he's from a long way before me. He's probably five years younger than when I last saw him. It's awkward, but hey, I'm alive. Probably a good sign."

[tartaros_avatar]

According to the nurse, he'd be meeting with his doctor after lunch. Wonderful. He couldn't get any information about this individual out of her, either.

Recluse was distinctly relieved to find that the cloud cover really was as dark as it seemed. Still, there was enough sunlight to ensure that his perpetual daytime headache continued unabated.

Finding a bench, Recluse sat and pulled out his notebook, sketching the area for lack of a better pastime. Hopefully something more interesting would happen during this shift than the last.

[faithful_frost]

Haku stepped outside after a polite bow to Iruka-sensei. How strange to call someone that. But it made the older nin happy, and kept him friendly seeming towards Haku.

He stepped outside, taking a deep breath and smiling at the simple fact that he was outside.

He looked around. Zabuza-san was talking with Naruto-kun. A few familiar faces here and there. He spotted Stephan sitting alone and decided to join him. Even if the man didn't want any company.

He walked quietly over and smiled warmly. "Hi again. May I sit with you?"

[tartaros_avatar]

Recluse looked up from his sketching. "Of course." He indicated the empty side of the bench.

Now that there was no reason to worry about wasting time, it was easier to bow to social rules of politeness. "Thank you for your help last night."

[faithful_frost]

Haku sat down at the invitation and smiled at Recluse. He had a moment of confusion over the thanks, then brightened when he recalled.

"No need for thanks," he said. "If you ever need any help, please don't hesitate to ask." He didn't like to see people in distress of any kind. "I'll be more than happy to do what I can for you."

[moon_brained]

Usagi had learned a few things from the surprisingly chatty nurse on her way out to the courtyard. First, this place was a mental institution. Second, they seemed to think her name was Victoria Moore and that she was crazy.

There had been strange people, other patients she guessed by the uniforms, in the courtyard when Usagi got there. She avoided them, feeling the sting of disappointment and fear when she realized there was not a single familiar face. She sat on the grass and let everything she had learned sink in. Just the other day I was sitting in the park with everyone. She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees, watching strangers in their ugly, gray uniforms as they were led outside.

If this was a new enemy Usagi didn't understand what their plot was. Luna and Ami were always the ones who figured this stuff out. Usagi squinted determinedly as she tried to work it out on her own. If they had her crystal she should be dead, she knew that for sure. "So where's my brooch," she mumbled to herself.

[killing_suzie]

Jack was sad to be seperated from his lovely breakfast companion. He hoped that it would be only a temporary thing, since she'd been attractive and friendly - both qualities that he was quite enamored of.

The nurses herded them out to the courtyard; he ended up near a blonde girl. A glance told him that she was probably a bit young for him - though his notions of young were rather flexible - but it never hurt to be friendly any way.

He gave her a friendly smile. "Morning," he said.

[moon_brained]

Usagi looked up at the man, startled out of her train of thought. He was a patient like her, they seemed like the first people she should trust in this place since the nurses were not helpful. Maybe he was in the same situation as her or knew something that could help her find her brooch.

"Good morning!" she said cheerfully, smiling back. She opened her mouth to ask something important and then frowned, unsure where to start. Introductions were probably best or she might seem rude. Usagi stood up to face him, but had to stare up since he was a good foot taller.

"My name is Usagi. Do you know where we are?" She would probably cry if he called her crazy too.

[killing_suzie]

Jack sat down on the grass next to her; she seemed friendly enough, so it was probably just a matter of time until she got around to inviting him to sit. He might as well save them both the trouble, and he wasn't in the habit of waiting to be invited to do what he wanted anyway.

"Captain Jack Harkness, Royal Air Force," he said. "Well, if you believe the nurses, we're in some mental institution that belongs to a Dr. Landel. Which is actually possible. But if that's the case, someone's seriously messing with space-time to get us all here." He wouldn't mention dimensions quite yet, since that was even harder for people to wrap their heads around than just space and time in one universe. "Which makes things kind of problematic. But it could be worse."

[somber_secret]

Despite the small bit of energy Hisoka had managed to muster up during breakfast, the boy was still quite exhausted and it took all the energy the boy had left just to keep from snapping at his nurse. Being sedated couldn't be so bad...

The shinigami shook these thoughts aside as he entered the courtyard, an odd sense of relief welling up inside. It had been a while since he had last had fresh air, it felt nice to finally be able to breathe regardless of how many people were in the area. Regardless of how the marks on his skin writhed, just barely hidden beneath the fabric.

Noting the few people he recognized, Hisoka then found a vacant area and sat down tiredly in hopes to get a few moments of rest.

[catsandsaucers]

Byakko let himself be led out into the courtyard by the woman, shoulders hunched and eyes wide and wary; making him look more and more like a cornered cat than anything. If he'd been in his other form, then his fur would have been puffed out, tail twitching, fangs bared. But he wasn't, he couldn't even... he didn't know how it had happened but he couldn't change form. It should have been as easy as breathing, but he just couldn't

[somber_secret]

If there was anything that Hisoka was expecting, it definitely wasn't that. To top it all off, the boy didn't even feel the stranger approach before it was too late and the happyexcitedgleefulrelieved emotions were already seeping in.

"Let go of me!!" Hisoka grit his teeth and struck at the stranger behind him, elbowing and kicking sharply in attempt to make the other let go.

[catsandsaucers]

Byakko winced as one of Hisoka's elbows connected with his ribs sharply. "Ooooow," he said, jumping back and pouting quite effectively at Hisoka (and who had learned it from whom? Tsuzuki from Byakko, or Byakko from Tsuzuki?), putting his hands on his hips. He hadn't expected such a violent reaction.

"It's me," he said plaintively. "It's Byakko. You remember!"

[141point12]

Otacon followed the rest of the patients outside, distracted by the same semi-paranoia that came after every one of these weird chance encounters. Today's a little different, however.

Today, he was 99.8% certain that somewhere out there, there was a video game character who bore is exact likeness.

And not just him, he realized. Snake, Fox... Emma, too. On one hand, it made sense: hadn't he felt that his life had taken a turn for the surreal since Shadow Moses? On the other hand, if this was true, then his life was already surreal long before then.

His family's dark history was just a subplot in a game. Real to him, but...

Otacon hoped a walk in the Courtyard would help clear his head. There were a few people he'd wanted to talk to, one of whom seemed to be here: the abnormally large blond man, who, now that Otacon was looking for it, was most likely another work of fiction.

He sighed at himself. This was going to be another long day.

[lost_metal]

Well, that had been awkward. He was glad he'd talked to Adel, but still... he felt like they weren't friends when he'd only just started experiencing it. He really didn't understand what Adel was so upset about. But he had found some things to think about. The man on the radio... Adel had met him. He was on their side, at least partially. And they had to take all the help they could get. He had to trust Adel's judgement

[141point12]

Otacon turned to look at the person who'd addressed him, taking in the short but muscular stature, distinct golden blond hair and... metal arm. It shouldn't have been surprising. He'd already had a few long conversations with Roy Mustang, and Fox had mentioned that he knew this Ed who knew alchemy. Nonetheless, for the next few seconds, Otacon found it very hard to say something coherent.

"Ah, er..." C'mon, he was supposed to be a genius. He had to get it together. So what if this is EDWARD ELRIC, the FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST himself? "Y-yes! I know Fox. Uh. I'm Otacon. Nice to meet you, Ed. I've already heard some stuff about you."

Not bad so far.

[lost_metal]

Ed blinked up at the man flatly, a little bemused by his reaction. He looked like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. Maybe he'd come at a bad time? "Uh, I can come back later," he offered, slightly warily. It wasn't as though it was anything hugely important besides distracting him from the things he'd have to think of eventually.

"What kind of stuff?" he asked curiously. Fox had mentioned him? That was kinda' nice to know. But if it was someone else... all those things which had been written on the bulletin board... What if Otacon thought he was some kind of... of... of immature child?