Day 57: Cafeteria

[gald_digger]

Edgar's charming company had raised Anise's spirits enough that not even the Head Doctor's voice could bring them back down. Besides, she was feeling pretty sure that Landel wasn't actually around. To begin with, it wouldn't make sense, and secondly, his announcements sounded suspiciously like ones she'd already heard before. While Anise wasn't

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[unpriest]

[From here]

The nurse escorted the former priest through various hallways and a lounge to eventually what appeared to be a cafeteria. The small tour that he had just been subjected to only served to puzzle the former priest even more; if anything, it appeared to be a rather strange hospital, only confirming the sense that something did not seem right.

Seishin was ushered into the food line whether he liked it or not. Food hadn't been among the things on his mind right now, and he couldn't quite say he was all that hungry. If he had possessed any appetite to begin with, however, then surely it would have vanished as soon as he saw the sort of food he'd be served. It took some degree of effort not to make a face.

After he had acquired his bowl of what appeared to be pink gruel, he was escorted towards an empty table before he was left to his own devices. He looked down at the bowl, but he didn't bother to start eating it.

He didn't know anything, not even where he was or whether Sunako was alive or not. What should he do?

[For

[train_tracer]

The crackle of the intercom seemed especially loud in a place like the chapel, so Claire found himself actually paying attention this time around. Movies? How had he not heard of this before?! And food! Food was always good. While the uniforms had certainly been downgraded in quality, the food seemed to have upgraded in compensation. Excellent

[unpriest]

It wasn't long before the cafeteria began filling up with people wearing the same grey uniform, but among the many faces there wasn't a single one Seishin recognized. Considering the circumstances, he wasn't certain whether to be relieved or not. Perhaps receiving answers from a familiar person would have been easier, though it remained to be seen how many from Sotoba were willing to tell him anything -- he was the one that had forsaken them, after all. Had they been here, then Sunako's last moment would have been of a stake that was rammed through her chest; the very thing he had tried to prevent from happening

[train_tracer]

"Hm?" Claire looked up finally at the quiet voice. The man in front of him was someone he hadn't met before and he looked some kind of Asian. They were still a minority back where he came from, but it seemed like he'd seen a lot more here in the Institute. A lot more. Claire didn't have anything against them though -- it was just something he happened to notice. It was his fifth day here, after all

[dork_at_duty]

[Tolten!]

All of the foods that the man over the loud speaker mentioned sounded so good. The ones that the young girl seated nearby had on her plate looked really good, too. If only Meekins were allowed to eat during this meal. But he had a punishment to fulfill. Besides, the one other person in here had a bowl of that pink goo. Even if the hospital allowed Meekins to eat during this shift, they'd probably serve him that anyway.

Being forced to watch people eat and sit down while barred from doing the same. There was a name for that, wasn't there? "Cruel and unusual punishment" or something? Not even the Academy was this cruel and unusual!

A dismal look on his face, Meekins just stood at an empty section of the table that had the chair removed from it. A nurse stood by to make sure that he wouldn't try to sit down or steal someone's food. Not that Meekins would have done any such thing; theft was a crime!

[age_of_kings]

At least, despite the...er...interesting conversation that Tolten had found himself engaging in with Rose, he'd found a moment to speak to his ancestors and his gods. He couldn't say he felt any better about his current situation, but he at least felt slightly more grounded.

And now he at least knew how to uncover more information, which was key. Knowledge was power, and he needed to glean all that he could. Whether he were a prisoner or a king, he needed information.

At least food sounded amazing. Until he was informed in no uncertain terms that the tantalizingly smelling spread was not at all for him. He got more gruel. Why was he considered a less worthy prisoner than the others? He was a king, for goodness' sake! Even Sed's cooking had looked more appealing than the watered-down-blood colored porridge.

He was being treated like nothing and no-one. And he was beginning to realize that despite longing for that treatment as a teenager, he hated it. He knew he had no ability or right to cry rank here - in a world with

[dork_at_duty]

His head down and a glum look on his face, Meekins almost didn't notice the young man addressing him from across the table. Though Meekins didn't have the best memory for even people he'd already met, he was certain that this one was a stranger. Though the man was blond and blue-eyed, he didn't wear glasses and had a much stronger build than his own roommate, so it couldn't be Mr. Williams. At least he seemed sympathetic to his plight

[age_of_kings]

The address of 'sir' made Tolten's rather lonely heart rise for a moment. Automatically, he assumed it due to being recognized! He had hoped that in this strange, indecipherable place he'd run into someone from his own world. It was certainly easy to tell!

But then he found himself asked his name and he face fell some before he could compose it into a polite mask. No, simply a lawman or soldier who was terribly well trained. Though he had to wonder what question it was that was asked to warrant the punishment. It wasn't an unfamiliar one, but it was a bit harsh...

Well, assuming the officer wasn't being fed gruel.

"A pleasure to meet you," Tolten responded, offering up a small smile. He kept his voice low, as well, not unawares of how they were being watched. It made his skin prickle and he found he couldn't even think of eating. "I am Tolten. And you, too, arrived here just yesterday?" So far, the young king hadn't met anyone who had been here longer. How many people had they taken? And for what?

[human_sponge]

Speaking with Depth Charge had definitely been a good way to start the day, if only because Peter was comfortable around him and saw him as one of the few constants here. Still, he realized that he needed to be careful, as nothing was really constant in this place. He'd lost Brooklyn and Roland and -- man, it was just occurring to him that he'd made a lot of friends who weren't really human. A gargoyle, a demon, and... whatever Depth Charge was. Peter didn't really know the right term for it.

It was still kind of eerie, the way that the Head Doctor's words were being recycled now. The man wasn't even here -- he was out in the forest somewhere, probably tormenting Marc. Hopefully not brainwashing him or anything, because that was really the last thing they needed

[ofthemotions]

That... had been strange. Different worlds? Where did he come up with that--or rather, why had people told Hope that? Mikado blinked in thought, wondering. That was something unknown to focus on, something he couldn't know at this moment. Rather than focusing on the man leading him who knows where now, who refused to answer Mikado in more than grunts. The people in charge here were, uh. Charming. And exceedingly unhelpful

[human_sponge]

Despite his searching, in the end Peter was approached by someone who he didn't know. That was just as common as meeting up with a friend, if not more so, and so Peter didn't mind. Especially considering how young the boy looked. In a situation like this, he was always willing to provide support to any young person, although he had to admit that hadn't gone over well so far

[ofthemotions]

Mikado accepted the allowance with a nod and started to sit, glancing at the man a second time at the words. Saying it filled up fast meant he was familiar, then, right? There might be a chance this person knew what was going on more than Hope had. He settled into the chair, looking warily at the substance in front of him.

Peter was certainly a western name, less unique than Hope's and more... an actual name than a process. The man also looked European or American. Had he immigrated? His Japanese was flawless. Maybe a student of some sort. He gave a slightly uncomfortable smile. "I'm Ryuugamine Mikado. Pleased to meet you."

And as he half-bowed his head in acknowledgment, he noticed, off to the side, a girl with extremely long hair. Extremely long, white hair. How had she ever...? He wasn't an expert on bleaching and dyeing by any rate, but shouldn't her hair have fallen out if she did all of that? Maybe it was a wig.... Outright staring, he pulled his gaze back to his tablemate, waving off the concern. "Ah, it's fine, I'm sure

[zack_fair]

Zack wasn't sure if his conversation this morning had accomplished anything, but he wasn't as worked up as he'd been upon first waking, so that was something. He couldn't maintain that level for anger for too long, mainly because it was draining. Zack was the sort of person who found it hard to hold a grudge, although people like Hojo and Landel and Aguilar tested that

[loyalrose]

Rose eyed the unpalatable goop in her bowl with a wrinkle of her nose in distaste, thanking whatever gods might be listening that she didn't have to eat it. Hunger was something she was accustomed to, and hers was still at a manageable level at the moment, although she knew she would have to hunt either tonight or the following night. Which was problematic in itself. She would have to talk to one of the Salvatore brothers to find out a solution to this, or at least find out what they did for blood. She didn't exactly relish the thought of pouncing on one of their unsuspecting companions.

Glancing around, she saw no familiar faces at the moment, so she moved instead towards one of the emptier tables, spotting a young man sitting by himself and looking even less thrilled with the meal than she was.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" she asked, her tone polite as she stopped behind one of the empty chairs across from him, hesitating in case he preferred to keep his privacy.

[zack_fair]

Was it his lucky day today or what? This was the second good-looking woman who had come up to him out of the blue today. Zack hadn't really been in the mood to flirt with Maya and he couldn't really guess how he'd interact with this woman, but he could still appreciate his good fortune.

Maybe this was a sign that he'd be lucky in the coming night as well. He could only hope (and keep his fingers crossed).

"Not at all," he said with a shake of his head after he forced down another bite of the food. After he got a few bites in he got used to the taste, at the least, which meant that he just needed to distract himself from it by conversing with this stranger.

"I'm Zack Fair," he started, as he almost always did in situations like this. His name wasn't one that wasn't going to be recognized in this place, after all. No fan club here. Even if there had been, he wouldn't have hidden who he was. He was pretty sure his hair and his glowing eyes would have given him away anyhow. "It's nice to meet you."

[loyalrose]

"Rose," she replied with a smile as she sank down in the empty chair across from him, settling herself comfortably and depositing the tray in front of her. The bowl of what was supposed to pass as food remained untouched.

"As much of a pleasure as meeting people here is likely to be," she added with a wry quirk of her lips, her hazel eyes warm and friendly for the moment. "Somehow every new introduction I make feels a little more ironic, if you know what I mean."

She eyed the food he was forcing down with a skeptical look, leaning over with a skeptical look. "Does it taste as bad as it looks?" she asked curiously.

[doneinthree]

If Kirk thought a return of their old greys and Landel's cheerful litany of breakfast foods promised something actually filling for brunch, well... no luck there.  The cafeteria worker gave him the old line about "rank privileges" before sending him away with a bowl of tasteless pink gruel.  What rank was he now, anyway?  Last night marked exactly two weeks he'd spent imprisoned here, and if his hunch was right and the ranks had to do with longevity, he might have moved up by now.  There was no way to tell without his dog tags, although the soldier-nurse this morning had awarded him with five words of conversation instead of the usual three.  Pretty promising

[hes_deadjim]

McCoy woke feeling marginally better than before. He cracked an eye open, but didn't move. So far so good. Just a headache. No migraine. The next test would be trying to roll over, but why tempt fate just yet? McCoy was going to sit here and enjoy having just a headache this morning. After being stuck with the migraines, it seemed like a goddamn gift

[doneinthree]

At McCoy's appearance in his peripheral vision, Kirk forced himself put aside all of his grim thoughts, because... doing that made a lot of sense when Bones was the one he was fretting over in the first place. Whatever. If he wasn't good at logic, then at least he was great at compartmentalizing, and the smile he flashed at Bones as he sat down might as well have been any other smile he'd given on any other occasion they'd sat down for lunch. Well, with the other Bones, anyway. Kirk's thoughts lingered over him for a moment, and that bright morning cheer wavered. It had been exactly one week since that visit

[hes_deadjim]

"Good," he grumbled.

McCoy paused for a moment, surprised.It slipped out of his mouth before he'd realized it, and by then, it wasn't as if he could take it back. It embarrassed him to admit it, but he'd have thought it before. Just very privately. It wasn't like he'd ever blurt it out like that though. He'd been so distracted by having Jim actually smile, welcomingly, that McCoy was taken off guard. After the coldness last night, and how Jim was just now, he was damned if he knew where he stood right now.

How did he even slip up? It wasn't like he wanted them to stay in their rooms, like he wanted them not to get anything done, but the doctor in him, the part that wasn't just a crew member, wanted them desperately to stay out of harm's way