Day 58: Arts & Crafts (Fourth shift)

[immortale]

Firo was glad to see the end of lunch, if only for the fact that in a few more hours, the day would be over. Night was the only time he had any real freedom of movement, and it was the only time he could do something worth doing, instead of just sitting around

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[age_of_kings]

Despite feeling as though he was being juvenile, Tolten was somewhat eager about the idea of an Art Room. While the supplies were indeed juvenile, he didn't care. It was something stimulating, and he could perhaps add a touch of personality to his wall. And he could make little decorative notes of thanks for those people who had been so kind and gone out of their way for him

[full_score]

While Guy had been pretty gracious about the questions during lunch, Claude couldn't help but wonder if maybe he'd gone a little far. After seeing that note Anise had placed on the board this morning, though, he just hadn't been able to contain his curiosity about how those sorts of things worked on Auldrant. Since he'd never visited the place, his only knowledge about his friends' culture came from his own observations and whatever they took the time to explain to him. That sort of interest was only natural

[age_of_kings]

Tolten could hardly believe that that ridiculous song was still stuck in his head. He could barely even remember the words, but the tune... and the fact that he had heard it day in and day out when stuck in the merchant town. And he supposed it wasn't ridiculous, it was just annoying. There was a distinct lack of music about. He wondered what the music of this world was like. Would it be at all familiar? The instruments sounded the same enough...

As he puzzled over audial matters, Tolten was busy clipping a neat square of cardboard to fit within the circle. A bit of creativity and he imagined he could make something just as pretty as the gilt and be-spelled missives he had crafted back home. Or close enough, anyway.

It was as he was choosing over the soft colored pens that he was aware of eyes on him. He paused and tensed for a moment, then lifted his eyes slowly to spot the source of the scrutiny. His humming tapered off and he wet his lips nervously. It was so silly, really, but he hated being observed when he was

[full_score]

When the stranger slowly turned his attention on him, Claude froze in his seat. "O-oh, I didn't mean to stare like that," he sheepishly said in way of apology. "Sorry. Your humming just grabbed my attention, is all, and then I was wondering what you were making..."

Maybe it would have been better to just ask, but Claude hadn't wanted to interrupt him. It looked like he'd managed to wordlessly do just that, though. Hopefully the man wouldn't hold it against him, but sometimes it was hard to know in a place like this.

"I'm Claude, by the way," he added, hoping an introduction would help smooth the awkward air between them. "Have you been here long? I don't think I've seen you around much."

[razing_phoenix]

While it was always nice to spend some time with Claude, Guy had to admit he was a little relieved when their conversation was interrupted this time around. It wasn't that he'd had anything against answering his friend's questions, but Claude also hadn't really let up once he'd gotten started. Combine that with the fact that Guy wasn't used to explaining his phobia so openly and he was pretty eager to go meet his escort. Not that he made that obvious, since the last thing he wanted to do was hurt his friend's feelings

[avengingfists]

[Wow I am so late ;; sorry Court!]

Arts and Crafts, huh? Ilia hadn't been in the room since her first day at the institute. It was here she had met Anise, and through her had learned so much about the institute. For that, Ilia considered it an unexpected place for chance meetings, not just childish activites. And speaking of one Auldrantian and chance meetings, Ilia spotted another familiar face that she had been meaning to meet with again. She had spotted Guy and Claude talking earlier at lunch, and that had reminded her all too easily of Claude's few words about their adventures the previous night. The bulletin posts between the two blonds and Anise had raised quite a few questions, questions Ilia was certain Claude would try to side-step as he had earlier that day. Maybe she would have better luck getting some info out of Guy

[razing_phoenix]

It took some time to sort through all of the supplies that the room had to offer. Seeing how the younger patients had been here earlier in the day, some of them had been misplaced or put back in the wrong spot and it seemed that the staff hadn't bothered to tidy up that much. Probably because their main priority was making sure that the patients were all in line

[avengingfists]

Guy's over-the-top reaction to her touch startled Ilia almost as much as she seemed to startle him. She drew back, her hand moving to chest. "Heavens! I'm sorry, Guy." She chuckled nervously, clearing her throat. "I'll be more careful next time."

She offered her friend a smile, examining the materials in his hand. Sewing tools. Interesting. Males typically found sewing to be more of a feminine hobby, but if Guy had an interest in the trade it made Ilia wonder if he had previous tailoring skills back home and what ideals Auldrant held concerning men and women when it came to garment-making. "Find yourself something interesting there?"

[poorexample]

That had been nice, in a weird sort of way. Michael didn't know if Reiko had been humoring him, but he didn't really mind if she had. Because they'd been able to have a conversation that wasn't completely insane, that didn't require talking about Heaven and Hell every few words. And at this point, that was a relief

[predictator]

Some people might have thought it was ridiculous to try to sit down a group of adults at tables with craft paper, safety scissors, and miscellaneous other supplies and expect them to participate willingly in 'arts and crafts'. But Izaya? Izaya wasn't among them.

He'd made a stop at the bulletin on his way to the room, of course-that was turning into something of a habit, as one of his few sources of information, news, rumors, and gossip. But afterwards, it was off to the art room with a skip in his step. He knew that some people would think it ridiculous, and that some people would embrace it. He wanted to see all of themIzaya's eyes darted around the room when he entered-there were some people who were working with the supplies and others that were pointedly ignoring them (such as one disgruntled-looking young man), and there was even a boy who looked too young to be counted among the adults (what was he doing in there?). There were faces he recognized, too, but the only ones he knew by name were Tina and Castiel

[poorexample]

And so he was approached by yet another familiar face. It had been easier when it had been Reiko, as they'd only ever interacted during the day, which meant that he knew all of that had really happened. With Orihara, on the other hand (and what was with all of these Japanese names?), it was split about half and half. Which meant that he really didn't know the young man as well as he thought he did

[predictator]

When Castiel (Michael?) had said he had something he should clear up, going on to say he wasn't the person he'd presented himself as this past week hadn't exactly been what Izaya had expected to hear. There had been something a bit odd about Castiel, teleportation aside, but he'd chalked it up to simple quirks, an aspect of humanity that he hadn't gotten to see as much and therefore seemed like a deviation from the broad 'norm

[scintillatingly]

[From here.]While the children were supposed to spend their time in the Sun Room if they showered quickly, Sora had already made plans to meet with someone in Arts and Crafts. Not just anyone, either, but one of the people who had decided to join his club. Sora had recruited him over the bulletin board so this would be their first time meeting face-to-face

[dork_at_duty]

If Meekins had to classify his lunch time with that strange young man who called himself Niikura as pleasant or not exactly pleasant, it would have to have been the latter. Just like everyone else in this hospital, it seemed, he didn't like being called Sir. What was it with all these people who didn't appreciate that term of respect?

Which reminded him that he was supposed to meet someone else who didn't like being called Mr. or Sir. Having been occupied with all of those phantom monster attacks all day, Meekins nearly forgot about his scheduled meeting in the Arts and Crafts Room with the very leader of the club that had the same name. Which Meekins had to think of as odd, since taking drugs (which he'd always been taught were baaaaad, even for an investigation, was a far cry from making little collages of the Police Department on construction paper

[scintillatingly]

To go from sitting quietly on his own to suddenly have someone standing before him and talking very excitedly was almost enough to cause Sora to jerk up in his seat. He was confused enough by just that, but add the fact that he was being called by the wrong name and for a few seconds all the boy could do was stare at the man in front of him.

When he was asked about "Sora" as if that wasn't who he was, that was when things got really strange. But his mind caught up with what was being said eventually and he realized that the man in front of him had to be Mr. Meekins -- and more than that, he'd confused him with Neku!

It was something that had happened a few times before. It wasn't so surprising, seeing how at one point it had been him, Neku, and Roxas wandering around. The similarities in appearance made sense for his Other, but with Neku it was one big mystery. They'd already discovered how certain things about their worlds were too similar for comfort, but Sora tried not to dwell too much on that

[dork_at_duty]

As the boy replied, Meekins gave a start. It was far from the first time he'd confused someone for someone else, but this was especially appalling since this was the leader of the club! Of course, that Sora wasn't wearing the giant headphones that Neku had been should have been a clue. But then again, the hospital seemed to be strict on what they allowed the patients to wear during the day

[stlg13bomber]

That note on the bulletin board had given him quite a start! Claire had been one of his favorite people here, and that little speech she'd gave him had been a point of strength in his moments of doubt. For someone as clever and strong as her to be dead while foolish people like Carter were still alive was unthinkable. If anyone deserved to survive around here, it was her

[girlsandgadgets]

Well, that had been an interesting conversation, to say the very least. Edgar ran a hand through his hair, pushing more sweat-laced strands from his eyes. As much as he wished for allies, or even just more patients who understood that cooperation would be the only way to conquer those running the institute, this was something far riskier. Locke from the future, and Terra from the past- no, Terra before she knew either of them, before she learned of her heritage, her potential. It was the most logical explanation for her memory loss, and was also the most unfortunate

[stlg13bomber]

"Oh! Hi, sir." Carter gave Edgar a quick nod as he sat down. He was halfway through a spiky, misshapen figure that would eventually be Christmas tree, and the table was scattered with shards of green paper. "I'm making Christmas cards. Um, I don't know if they have Christmas where you come from, there's people here from all over the place." Even Aigis-san hasn't known quite what it was and she was from Earth, so the Japanese obviously didn't get Christmas. Carter would just have to spread the love around.

Maybe he needed to put a little explanation of what Christmas was when he sent the cards to people who weren't from Earth. The whole Baby Jesus thing would take too long to explain and had never been the most interesting part, but a time to spend with your friends and family, that was pretty universal. Carter carefully snipped along the lines in his head.

At the Stalag they'd let them have Christmas, albeit in the smallest and poorest of ways. Would Aguilar do the same?

[girlsandgadgets]

Edgar shook his head, grabbing a pencil from the pile of papers. "No, we don't have Christmas," he said, wondering exactly what it was and why one would make cards related to it.

On his own sheet, he started idly drawing lines and rectangles, the shapes quickly becoming pipes and gas tanks. He usually took more caution when working on anything close to drafts for a new weapon; he was careful to keep his work vague, so the soldiers didn't piece together just what he was planning.

He thought to ask about the Christmas topic, but couldn't get past something in Carter's behavior. "Is... everything all right?"