Day 29: Waiting Room/Lobby 1

[forgot_it_all]

When the nurse suddenly appeared after the intercom's announcement, Ritsuka could only stare at her. He had a visitor? He knew that Miku had one, but to think that he would get one? He couldn't imagine who would come to see him. Seimei was gone, Soubi was here... Or so he hoped. It had been almost two shifts since he'd last seen the older man

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[thehellismycar]

The instant he heard Landel mentioning 'visitors', he felt his ever-uninvited nurse snatch and pull at his sleeve, and Dean was pretty sure this next shift was gonna be a first-class waste of time, not unlike his earlier session with Dr. What's-His-Name. Least he'd gotten something out of that, he thought, remembering back to how he'd persuaded the guy to surrender those pills

[damned_visitors]

A man walked in the door to the lobby, a man with stubble and greying, unkempt hair, a man whose eyes were tired and his expression hard to read. A nurse followed him in, reading something off a clipboard and chattering away.

"Scott Patterson--is that right? You'll be here for the shift? Your son is--"

"I know, I see him." The man responded in a gravelly voice, not really glancing back at the woman as he made his way into his room. He pulled his hands into his jacket pockets as he stopped in front of Jack, looking him square in the eye.

"Hey, son."

[thehellismycar]

With the minutes snailing by, observing as unfamiliar 'guests' were guided into the lobby, Dean remained standing, uncomfortably taut but quiet. He held no clue as to what was in store for him, except that he'd probably recognise his visitor in some way. He'd witnessed a few surprised faces throughout the waiting period to be certain these visitors weren't the Institute's janitors sporting plain clothes

[damned_visitors]

Scott gave a wry smirk.

"Who else would it be?" He said, stepping forward and putting a hand on Jack's shoulder. He squeezed, as if anchoring his son somewhere that his delusions couldn't take him from, and then stepped back, eyes slowly surveying the room.

"Fine mess you got yourself into, Jack. Damn fine mess."

[secret_orchard]

How could he have a visitor?Armand stared at the nurse in blank incomprehension until she frowned and repeated herself. "Come along, Gilles, you have a visitor coming today." Her broad American pronounciation of his fake name made Armand wince

[damned_visitors]

A woman was escorted into the waiting room, the nurse that led her seemingly in awe of her. And with little wonder. She was beautiful, quite tall and slim, and dressed as though she were a movie star in a tailored women's suit that looked as though it belonged on a runway in Milan or perhaps Paris. Her auburn hair was swept back from her delicate features, and there was a tight smile on her cupid's bow lips.

She looked as though she held the institute - or perhaps the awe-struck nurse who escorted her through it - in contempt. Most likely that could be attributed to the staff - surely this woman was wealthy, if not well known, and had no time for gushing and fawning.

But that melted away soon enough, as soon as the woman was able to scan the waiting room.

"Gilles!" she exclaimed, happily, as she caught sight of the young man sitting and looking less than pleased. She rushed over, eyes bright and smile warm as she tripped easily on her high heeled shoes to greet her beloved brother.

[secret_orchard]

The hope that Armand had been carefully nurturing flared when he saw his own dear sister walk into the room. His eyes went to her, drinking in the details, almost basking in the knowledge that she could set this all right again. Then she spoke his name, the wrong name. At least she pronounced it correctly.

Even as he rose to catch her tiny hands in his, a little voice in his head scoffed at him. You were warned, it said. He tried to keep his smile on his lips, even as he knew hope was fading from his eyes. On some level, she still was Marguerite, and he had no intention of hurting her if he could help it.

"You came to see me, M--" He bit off the rest of the name, since now he had no idea if it were hers or not.

[damned_visitors]

"Madeleine," she prompted, with a gentle smile. "Oh, but you very nearly remembered! And of course I came to see you!" The woman was practically glowing with joy, clasping her brother's hands tightly. "I've missed you terribly! Oh, you cannot imagine how I've missed you!" Though this woman called him Gilles and spoke as though the institute was real, there was honest and true emotion in her voice.

"Are you well? I can't help but worry, of course. Though they do say that true relaxation is only the luxury of the institutionalized - it must be so terribly calming here. But come! Sit! Tell me how your stay has been. I wish to hear everything - and do take your time. I cannot bear to think I must leave you again soon."

[hajike_tobiume]

The Courtyard sounded nice, being outside and all and also one of the places she'd never seen in the day, so Momo decided that's where she was going to go, hoping Hitsugaya would make the same decision so she could just talk to him and get it over with. She mumbled as much to the nurse when she came to get Momo, the nurse seeming pleased that the shinigami was moving a little better as she'd taken the pain killers

[damned_visitors]

Perhaps the other visitors came for simpler reasons. For love or support, or to offer bits of hope to the patients. Yes they were there, they were waiting just beyond the walls. They'd wait as long as necessary, emotions burning as strongly as they ever did, looking to the far off day of return with tempered anticipation

[hajike_tobiume]

That voice. She knew that voice. She knew the concern that flowed in his voice well. The times he'd come upon her leafing through his books or tending to the flowers in their garden, wondering if her hard work was pleasing to him, hoping he'd give her more than just a warm smile, comforting eyes and embrace

[damned_visitors]

Her face lit up, which wasn't something that surprised him. At first, his did at well, hope well measured, but tempered with reality when she mentioned "his" name. Ah yes, that illusion, that world Jehna had woven for herself to spare her mind the truth it couldn't handle. How the weak coped with a reality that weighed too much for them to carry.

And she still clung to it, every detail of it. He saw that hesitation when it came, the whimper echoing her conflict. But he was here to soothe her wounds, to remind the girl of the world that really did exist beyond these walls. To keep her where he needed her to be.

"Jehna." He answered her conflict with an embrace, warm and tender. She could push away if she wished, and he would respond accordingly. But for now he held, loosely on the left, his right hand rubbing her back in chaste circles. "Oh Jehna. I had hoped they would have made more progress than this. But you still believe all those things, don't you?"

"All those things you made up about yourself, and about me."

[visualize]

Of all the things that Jade expected this truly was the frosting on his cake. That wasn't to say that he was completely against it, oh no not at all. It was almost a pleasantry to be acknowledged like this, though he wasn't quite sure what would come of it. But he never really minded surprises, if they were to his benefit anyway. So when the nurse meandered over just as he was about to step foot into the Sun Room he gave her a brisk nod before following her down through the hallway

[damned_visitors]

Loved ones, indeed. The moment she walked through the door, Nephry Mann scanned the room and found her brother, sitting rather peacefully with that mysterious smile as always. It was such a heartbreaking thing to do to him, making him stay locked up in an insane asylum. But considering the alternatives...

"Barry," She smiled slightly, taking a seat next to her brother. He didn't look like he had changed at all. Was she supposed to be relieved or saddened by this?

Nephry took a quick look around before she rustled through her purse, getting something wrapped in tinfoil and handing it to Jade.

"I don't know if we're allowed to give you things here, but it's your favorite. From Jill's Sandwiches, remember?"

[visualize]

Jade should've expected his own sister to 'make the trip'. After all, it seemed to be the safest route considering the other alternatives. He took the time to inspect her carefully, clearly fascinated with the fact that not a single hair was out of place on Nephry's head. She seemed as well as ever, and Jade saw no need to be hostile to his own flesh and blood. He'd done that plenty when they were younger.

"Hello, Nephry. It's been a while, hasn't it?" If he remembered correctly, those were the very words he'd said to her after Akzeriuth's collapse. But this wasn't exactly the right place to be nostalgic, looking down at the tightly bound object with mild curiosity before pulling it open to peer inside.

"Is this... roast rappig? You shouldn't have." Of all the things to give to him. Even he had to bow his head back and laugh before gingerly pulling the foil back over the sandwich. He already had someone else in mind to give this to after this little visit was over.

[damned_visitors]

As if sensing Jade's evil intentions, Nephry gave him somewhat of a withering glare.

"Now don't keep that sandwich and shove it in Ben's face," She sighed, but in reality, Nephry wouldn't have minded. At least Barry was here with someone that he knew... She wondered if she would be allowed to see Ben too. But the thought only lingered in Nephry's mind for a moment before she launched back into conversation. It seemed that this whole visit was awkward for Nephry, but to tell the truth, she was just glad she could see her brother again. There wasn't much else to say.

"So, how are Benjamin and Timothy doing anyway?" She asked. It had been... how long, 6 months after Professor Nebilim had died? Nephry had to wonder how they were coping.

[1mperturbable]

Cloud had, at first, passed off the intercom message about visitors and was already planning where he might go for the afternoon where he had his freedom. Or, he thought he had his freedom. No one would come and visit him, would they? That seemed like such an impossibility, so he passed it off.

He eyed the nurse apparently assigned to him bustle up after the announcement and offered him a cheery smile. He made no move to stand up and simply watched her gesture enthusiastically to stand and follow her off to Shiva knew where. When gesturing only resulted in a raised eyebrow, she finally said, “come along, Mr. Smith. You have a visitor. You don’t want to make your visitor wait, would you?”

He blinked and found himself getting to his feet as his mind whirled at the thought of a visitor for him. He felt a terrible feeling to dread welling in his stomach, but he followed along as she bustled out of the cafeteria towards entranceway of the institute.

“Who… is visiting me,” he asked softly. Anyone but Aerith he thought

[damned_visitors]

Before the door had evened opened all the way there was a quiet gasp from the other side. A blond, middle-aged woman in a blue dress and apron appeared as though she had just stepped out of the kitchen and into the waiting room. She didn't rush to the young man's side, as much as she wanted to, but approached him with slow and cautious footsteps like she was afraid he would up and bolt if she came at him too fast - like a frightened puppy.

"Skye?" She asked gently. "Oh Skye, I'm so happy to see you! You're looking well." That was a safe way to begin a conversation with someone in an institution like this one, wasn't it? At least she didn't follow it up with 'and sane.'

[1mperturbable]

His keen hearing was about the only thing to wash aside the feeling of deep foreboding, and Cloud turned his head to view the woman that walked in the door. His chest seized with shock as he stared with an uncharacteristic amount of surprise on his face.

“…mom?”

The word jumped from his lips before he had any control over his mouth, and he rose from his seat in a remembered awkward fashion, as if he had just been caught doing something he was not supposed to. It took him a moment to regain himself as he stared at her, saw that she was exactly as he remembered her before he left for military school.

As the shock ebbed away, Cloud felt the overwhelming feeling of guilt hit him. She was just another person that he was guilty for, was he not? She had died painfully and alone, and he had been off taking survivors out as he had been unable to search for her body. He had let to fall to his delusions of grandeur, and it became so painful to look upon her

[damned_visitors]

"How did I...? I drove!" The woman stuck out her bottom lip ever so slightly in a pout, looking indignant. His response seemed to be enough to make her drop most of the previous cautiousness and she quickly wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "How else do you think? They do let people in every once in a while!" She pulled back, holding him at arms length and giving him a long scrutinizing look.

"They're not feeding you enough," she added, contradictory to what she'd said only moments before about him looking well. "I've asked to send baked goodies to you from home, but they told me they had plenty of food here and that it wouldn't be fair to the other patients. You are eating what they give you, aren't you?"

He was pulled into another hug as the woman became teary eyed. "Maybe... maybe you'll be better soon and they'll let you come home with me. They told me you weren't ready yet, but..."