Day 60: Music Room (Fourth Shift)

[stray_shinigami]

It wasn't often that Renji felt less like punching people in general as his day wore on. This was a new experience for him. A not unwelcome one, if he was being honest. And the fact that he felt less like punching Fai? Kind of mind-blowing. The sort of thing Zen masters would probably use as a kouan to reach an all-new level of non-punching

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[unheroed]

Having caught up with Scott and Sangamon, Harvey realized that the only person he hadn't talked to since the coliseum was Peter. There was probably a good reason for that. If anyone had reason to avoid the rest of them, it was that kid. Still, he'd apparently gotten into a fight with Scott if nothing else, and Harvey was sure that Peter had met up with Jones by now, so...

Well, he wasn't going to take it personally or anything. He and Peter weren't exactly close. Not that he was close to Scott or Sangamon, either, but --

And Depth Charge wasn't even on his radar.

It wasn't worth dwelling on and he'd been keeping an eye out for Scott's bulletin note so that they could figure out their next move. There wasn't much else he could do, so he went ahead and let the nurses herd him into the next room. Which happened to be one of his least favorite. The sound of a flute being played badly hit him first, but it was soon followed by the notes of a string instrument and then a tune on the piano.

It wouldn't have been so bad if one person

[scientist_skye]

The cacophony of the 'music' had Ema similarly retreating for the far corner of the Music Room. After taking advantage of the free-roaming lunch to curl up and eat by herself, Ema's nurse had decided that social activity was not optional this afternoon. While the opportunity to be alone and sort through her own thoughts and emotions had been nice (and needed, after the events of last night and the words of comfort she'd received int he morning), she wasn't entirely sure if the punishment that followed made the solitude worth it. After all, the noise was unpleasant to the average ear; with her enhanced hearing, it was practically unbearable

[unheroed]

While it took Ema a while to notice him, Harvey spotted her heading over when she was still halfway across the room. She was kind of hard to miss, seeing how she looked like she was in physical pain from the noise. Well, he couldn't blame her there. When she finally realized that he was there, he nodded to her, surprised that she was able to look so pleased to see him.

For one thing, she was clearly suffering at the moment, so being able to smile despite that was kind of remarkable. For another, no one should really be that happy to see him.

Seeing how both of them were miserable, the girl's suggestion made sense, although Harvey wasn't sure if they would get away with it. He frowned and looked around, eyeing the nurses like they were the enemy. "I don't know if they'll go for it, but you could give it a shot. You'll probably have a better chance of convincing them than I will."

A smiling teenage girl versus a cranky middle-aged man in bandages. Yeah, he was well aware of which out of those was more endearing.

[scientist_skye]

Between recent releases and--more recently--deaths, Ema's friends in the institute were growing fewer and fewer. She was relieved to see that Mr. Dent was not among that number. Sure, he was somewhat abrasive, but it was because he was a serious person and meant business. Having grown up following her sister around the LAPD building, she was familiar with the type. Of course, he probably had some kind of unspoken history that she didn't know about; a man didn't end up with his face that injured for no reason at all. But her questions about that (and she had several, after seeing the sheer extent of the damage two nights ago) would have to wait until they could get somewhere more quiet

[poorexample]

For once during his time in this place, Castiel had been able to form a plan and carry it out. It was only in its beginning stages, but that didn't defeat the fact that he had written out a description of what he had experienced last night and passed it on to someone else. Kratos had mentioned that he would do what he could to keep sharing it with others, and in theory if that continued, then the information would be properly disseminated

[yin_yang_fox]

She was informed that as she normally defaulted to the sun room when given an option, she wouldn't be given one today. To this, Renamon only firmly and quietly began to miss the military. At the very least, one was spoken to if they were more than a child. The Digimon moved into the room she was presented with, and looked around dryly. If this shift could at least be useful, then it would not be considered a waste.

So it was that she caught the appearance of the angel--or man, possibly. Renamon had half-thought if Castiel believed he was Michael, then he would be gone the next day--seeing him here, then, made her wonder which persona he was currently using. She approached him to discern this, stopped in front of him to bow her head. Her normal greeting consisted of the person's name, but as she couldn't know which he was using she would have to speak otherwise. "Afternoon," she said quietly, watching him. "How are you doing?"

[poorexample]

Castiel zeroed in on Renamon soon after she stepped into the room, though he realized that a conversation with her was likely to be more complicated. She was the exact sort of person who he wanted to share his note with, but he imagined that they were going to have to discuss their last meeting before he could even touch on that

[yin_yang_fox]

...Castiel, then. Again, the Digimon bowed her head, the motion hiding the pleased expression that slipped across her face. So it had been like the time before, after all. Despite knowing this, she would keep a closer eye on him. It was possible that was a prelude to something else, and if there were any other signs, she would prefer to be aware of them. Of those known, he had proved himself capable, with an informed and intelligent mind. She would prefer his existence to continue.

Something she would not say easily, if at all.

"It was like the time before, then," she gave in understanding. "There was a day when some woke up as their false personas. I wondered if your shift was attributed to the same." Renamon watched him a moment, then added, "I'm glad that it was only a day." More-- She was glad that he remained.

[razing_phoenix]

Guy wasn't sure that he had done much to help Luke's spirits when it came to this place, but he also wasn't going to let himself worry too much about him. So long as Luke was healthy and able to put one foot in front of the other, he was probably going to be fine

[tsunagari]

Sai allowed his nurse to lead him into the music room. Honestly, he didn't really care where he was sent now that he'd gotten speaking with Sakura out of the way. It might still be worth it to approach Sasuke, but some part of him was avoiding that particular conversation. He knew he was alive, and that was all that mattered.

The nurse was going on about how he needed to talk with other patients more, but he wasn't really listening. She would lead him to someone as usual and he'd spend the rest of the shift either sitting quietly or conversing with that person. That was how it went in situations like this one and he was fine with it.

Then he recognized a familiar blond and used that as an excuse to avoid awkward conversations with someone completely new. The woman was just pleased that he'd come to a decision on his own. He made his way over carefully, easing himself into a chair once he was close enough. "Good afternoon, Guy-san."

[razing_phoenix]

Guy was in the middle of examining the underside of one of the CDs, wondering how it might be different from the ones that they had collected on Auldrant (or was it exactly the same? How likely was that?) when someone's voice broke through and shattered his concentration.

Despite the fact that he had been in his own little world, Guy managed to keep his composure. He carefully laid the CD down on the table and watched as Sai took a seat. While he'd been absorbed by his own thoughts, this was someone that he had been meaning to talk to for a while, so it was just as well that the man had decided to drop by and drag him out of his trance.

"Hey," he greeted, making sure that his tone was somewhat muted even if he was happy to see Sai. Considering the last time they had seen each other, it made sense to approach this soberly. At least the fact that Sai had come to him meant that he'd wanted to talk as well. "How's your wound?" It seemed like the obvious question to ask.

[tsunagari]

"I am alive. That in itself makes the state of the actual wound irrelevant." The ninja placed a hand over the location of the injury. "But it is better." He knew he shouldn't be impolite about the issue, and he wasn't really trying to be. "I can walk unassisted, but it is admittedly painful." Not painful enough to keep him from doing it, of course, but uncomfortable all the same. That was why he took every opportunity to slouch as he was then.

There wasn't actually much he wanted to say to Guy. He'd just been a momentary escape from a rehashing of the same greetings. It couldn't hurt to let him know how he fared either, seeing as he'd been with him at the morgue. That whole incident seemed particularly surreal, but he was getting used to surreal nowadays.

He sat up only slightly. "The other night... You were coming for Okita-san?"

[hasnomeaning]

Nothing had given itself to change. And yet everything had. In the interterm of time’s passing, life had continued to move. As she had known it would. For she was but an outside participant, an observer in place to bear witness to the rotations of the earth. There was little more to categorize it as. She could not think of anything else

[no_dont_go]

[hei yurself~]Aigis had little knowledge of music. The closest she had really come to understanding it had been her knowledge that Minato had liked music. He always had his headphones on his person even if they were not placed over his ears. Curious, she opted to go with the institute's planned activity rather than seeking to lose herself in the passage of time in the sun room

[hasnomeaning]

As if by thinking it, the mind shifted reality to suit the will, and the girl thought of simply appeared.

There was a beat of loss, of the mind's faltering catch on the the current movements of reality, a blank look and a faraway place, and then Rei's mouth slightly opened in surprise, eyes holding something close to relief. For this was one. One of the bonds created. And Aigis was still here.

If the other was too close, Rei had no mind for it. Human decorum was beyond her, and she wasn't able to tell. "...Aigis." Quieter than was normal even for Rei. A beat, and then she moved her head, shook it firmly. Despite the threat given the shift before, the irregularities lined up before her, she would hold to what she deemed as truth. "I never left."

[no_dont_go]

Aigis smiled and nodded at the return of her name from Rei's lips. So she had not forgotten either. Some had said the people who disappeared would often forget. Like Utena before her, Rei had managed to cling to her memories.

"Never left?" Aigis wasn't certain how that was possible. Surely if Rei had been here someone would have mentioned her. Unless...

"The military. Aguilar. Did he do something to you, Ayanami-san?" Aigis' eyes subconsciously sharpened and her mouth lost its smile, settling into a suspicious frown. If what she suspected was true then her captors were more devious than she had originally imagined. Using her friends to bring her strife. That was lower than anyone could sink. It was on par it Ikutsuki's level of evil.

She awaited her friend's response, hoping to hear maybe a little something more about the institute's hidden agenda.

[not_rly_fai]

Compared to his first meeting with Renji, last shift had been downright pleasant. While it'd been a little awkward at first, eventually the conversation had gotten friendly and relaxed and he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.

I think I get why she liked you so much.

The comment was a kind word and a cold memory all at once. Rukia wasn't here. Or rather, she could be here, but they'd no way of knowing where or how to reach her. Was she sleeping in one of those glass tubes like Sakura? Or had she gone "home" to the life this place created for her

[thecamellia]

[Finallyyyy.]

One of the skills that went with ninja training was being able to track a target; even if Tsubaki wasn’t the most skilled fighter in her own right, she could at least do that. Seeing Fai’s tall form headed into the Music Room was encouragement enough to keep her skills sharp.

As far as Tsubaki had ascertained, Fai wasn’t an antagonistic person, but he did seem to avoid close company at times. Everything she and Fai had been through together did complicate things, and it remained to be seen if he would welcome her company after yesterday’s communication meltdown. Even so, she was determined to give talking a shot. And hopefully it wouldn’t end with him walking away too soon. Maybe Kurogane and Fai’s earlier conversation had helped smooth things over? She could be optimistic.

Coming up behind his chair, Tsubaki folded her hands behind her back and leaned over into his field of vision. “Hello, Fai-san. Is this a bad time?"

[not_rly_fai]

So far, nothing out of the ordinary for a typical day in the Music Room. There was the occasional practiced musician intermingled with those who were still learning and those that were shutting the rest of the world out with their headphones. All viable options, but before Yuuhi could choose any one to while away the time with, he caught just a bit of movement from the corner of his eye.

Tsubaki neared, leaning closer in her usual unassuming sort of way. She appeared harmless enough, and Yuuhi had never seen her as anything but. Though he had to admit, he felt a bit guilty about their last meeting. He'd allowed his emotions to get the better of him and lost control and she'd been the innocent bystander. He sent her a sheepish smile and shook his head.

"Not at all. I'd be glad for the company. Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

[thecamellia]

She had learned to be careful of Fai’s surface reactions, which were sometimes more courtesies than representations of his true feelings, so she wasn’t one hundred percent sure her company was as welcome he made it seem. But Tsubaki had been prepared for either possibility, anyway.

“Excuse me if it seems like I’m just being a busybody,” she started, a soft sigh escaping her, “but there seems to be a lot we just haven’t had the time to discuss. About yesterday… have you had time to sort out your thoughts? I wouldn’t want you and Kurogane-san to stop talking to each other.”