Day 43: Courtyard, Third Shift

[oftemptation]

Once again, Endrance's nurse interfered with his plans. He had been planning to look around the Game Room, but the moment he began to move towards the Sun Room, she had taken him by the arm. "Your family has asked that we make sure you get as much fresh air and sunshine has possible, and you won't get that by staying inside playing video games all

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[superdynamic]

At the end of brunch, it had become pretty clear Suzaku wasn't going to eat anything. There was no way his nurse could just keep him here, was there? She seemed insistent, though, and he didn't feel like getting into a pointless argument, so Suzaku shoved some eggs in his mouth, tried not to gag, and stomped off to the Sun Room to check the bulletin

[tostepforward]

There was no visitor in sight so far, for which Ayumu was quite grateful. She'd read over the discussions of patients (or "graduates"?) on the bulletin board but found no indication of how it was decided whether or not someone would get one. This was her first visitor day, so would that make her more or less likely to have someone visit her? Or was it perhaps determined by how receptive a person was to the Institute's lies? She'd have to consider it, and perhaps see if Okita or his allies had any further information to add to her observations

[superdynamic]

Suzaku started a little when someone sat down next to him. He'd kind of been hoping the other patients would leave him alone, but she sounded so concerned, and he couldn't fault her for being compassionate. Still, she was probably wasting her time. It was good of her to try to comfort someone who was obviously upset, but of course she couldn't know that he was beyond all compassion. He was on his own

[tostepforward]

Ah, so it was Suzaku, then. If he wasn't in the mood to talk then she'd have to settle just for laying the groundwork, as she'd done with Lelouch the day before. And...well, honestly, he wouldn't be the first depressed young man she'd comforted in her day. Ignore her feelings as she would, there were still her instincts to consider.

"I'm glad to meet you, then, Suzaku. My name is Sen." Ayumu gave him her best caring big-sisterly smile, tilting her head to one side a little as she watched him. "I don't know that anyone could really describe themselves as "fine" in a place like this. If it would help to talk, I'd be willing to listen?"

She paused, then her cheeks flushed just slightly as she lowered her eyes again. "Although if you don't want to talk to a stranger, I'll understand. I just didn't want to walk by and leave you looking upset."

[instaheal]

The conversation she'd been having ended quickly as the shift changed. Claire tried to appeal to the nurse again, but she was met with the same story-- she was here for her own good, and she was sick, and worst of all her family had put her here.

The blonde she had been speaking to at breakfast seemed to have been telling the truth, and that was more unnerving. There were still a lot of questions she had, not the least of which was why had she been brought here, exactly? And what was the point of creating a lie like this?

She requested to be lead outdoors, and the nurse thankfully agreed that some fresh air would do her good. Claire's eyes immediately went towards the huge brick wall surrounding the area-- daunting at first, until she noted the thick vines covering it. Maybe escape wasn't entirely impossible.

[Eyebrows Sylar]

[7_to_midnight]

Sylar hit the bulletin board as soon as he was able, intending to find out just what exactly had happened last night (or at least what people were theorizing about it). While he did find a useful transcript of what had happened over the intercom while almost everyone had been fighting for their lives back in town, he'd also found an anonymous note left specifically for him.

Someone from the Courtyard altercation. Just what he needed, and the bastard refused to even give their name. He wondered whether or not he'd agree to the damn meeting they were proposing, and if he did, if it'd just be to relieve some frustration... and maybe do a little experimenting. He was curious about how much he could do with his newfound electricity, and if this guy was offering himself up as a test subject... well, Sylar wasn't about to question it.

Still, the message only reminded him of the abilities he had wielded that night, and the lingering migraine from his last, minor surge of power only reinforced the feeling of uselessness that had been

[instaheal]

Claire tensed at the voice. Even without turning around, she knew who it was.

But no. No. How Why It couldn't be-- had he followed her? What else could he possibly want from her, or had he just come here to gloat?

Maybe she could run (if she was fast enough), or fight him off (if she was strong enough) but she'd tried both options before and they hadn't worked. There was hospital staff everywhere, and Claire briefly considered going to them for help, but getting anyone else involved would only get them killed. No one was going to help her. She was alone.

She slowly turned to face him, not sure what she was going to say or do, until her fear was overshadowed by another feeling.

Hatred.

She hated him. She hated him. She wanted to take the nearest rock and bash it into his skull, see how he liked feeling helpless and exposed and violated. How he'd like it if she just flipped a switch in his head, so he'd never feel anything again.

"What do you want?" she spat, not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her scared.

[7_to_midnight]

Sylar relished seeing the muscles of her shoulders tense, hear her breath draw sharply, see her wide, frightened eyes as she turned to look at the stuff of nightmares. Sylar's smirk widened as he lowered his head and made eye contact with the girl who'd always gotten away, whose blood had been meant to heal him, whose brain was meant to teach him. She was alive, which he guessed was the point, but she was still a little girl. She was still afraid of the boogeyman.

Over her, he still had power.

Even as her expression turned angry, as she spoke like she had anything to back herself up, Sylar's smug expression didn't falter. Anger was just a product of fear, and her reactions told him that even if she thought she was being brave, it was only the irrationality of cornered prey. Her mood was compromised because of him, controlled by his presence. Sylar hadn't felt so alive in a very long time.

"You know what I want, Claire," Sylar replied softly as he approached her, feeling stronger with each step, more confident, more himself. "Of

[iwhipthefool]

[For Frey!]

Escape. Franziska hadn't wanted to escape any situation as much as she had wanted to leave that lunch with Phoenix Wright. Now that she had her evidence waiting for her on the horizon, her father hanging in the balance, she wanted...away from the whole case. She knew she couldn't turn her face away from the truth or the law, but that didn't change her - pitiful as they were - feelings. She needed time to organize her thoughts, record what she had heard, and decide her strategy for the night, and so she headed outside

[dawn_rune]

It was colder here than anywhere but the glacier had been, back home, but Frey still preferred the outdoors to the strangely-lit and suffocating indoors, given the choice. The sports field was larger, more open, but the courtyard had the advantage of having the pond--nothing compared to the Feitas river, much less the ocean, but a little water was always a welcome sight to Frey.

He spotted a vaguely familiar form sitting on one of the benches, and recalled his interesting conversation with that woman a few days back. Was it even that long? Certainly before yesterday, since they'd been in town. Time tended to blur very disconcertingly, here.

Since Franziska seemed to be caught up in her own thoughts, Frey approached a bit hesitantly, stopping a polite distance away and asking softly, "Miss von Karma?"

[iwhipthefool]

Franziska was indeed caught up in her thoughts, but by the time Frey appeared, her mind had finally started moving. She needed fingerprint powder and a way of taking the prints. She could use pen ink as a way of getting her father's prints - messy, but doable. The fingerprint powder itself was going to be harder. She would need starch powder, candles, dishes and a knife - or someone's makeup compact. Oh, and take and a stiff white card. This would take a bit of time to prepare and time was what she didn't have

[dawn_rune]

Frey smiled slightly as Franziska greeted him by name--his full name, and pronounced correctly, too. "I wasn't sure you would remember me." He sat, at the woman's invitation, and leaned back a little to look up at the cold, dull-coloured sky.

"I'm not very comfortable being indoors all the time. The light in there is strange, and the lack of windows in many of the rooms is unsettling. My people are very fond of the sun, and try to let it in everywhere. I hope I'm not interrupting your work?"

[faile]

It was a relief to see that Zach was doing well after what had happened the previous night. Faize didn't see the woman he had encountered along with him, but she was likely also in good health. He hoped the same could be said for his other acquaintances

[grosse_sklaven]

This... this wasn't good. Adelheid could feel that virus still inside of him, the heat in his blood telling of the war between virus and Orochi blood. It felt like he was on fire inside, and for the previous two shifts, he had suffered through it as best he could. But now? Now he felt a tiny bit better; still pale and feverish, but at least not in quite so much pain. Some painkillers certainly had something to do with that

[faile]

Though Faize's expressions were rarely very expressive, there was some visible relief in his face when he saw who was greeting him. "Adelheid! I'm relieved to see you're in one piece." That confirmed the condition of one of his acquaintances. Adelheid appeared to be rather muscular, though, so perhaps there was no need for concern. His face seemed to be lacking in color, however. There was little doubt that the night had not been kind to him as well.

"You look pale, though. Perhaps you should sit down," he offered, gesturing with a lightly bandaged arm to the spot next to himself. He didn't doubt that Adelheid was strong, but it wouldn't do for him to push himself if he was indeed unwell.

[grosse_sklaven]

Well, mostly in one piece; Adelheid still felt like a part of him was in some townperson's stomach somewhere, but he wasn't going to mention that. Not if he didn't have to. Instead, he accepted Faize's offer to sit down, easing onto the bench and offering a quiet smile.

At least Faize seemed to be doing all right. Adelheid had had his doubts, but here was proof that he'd managed to survive so far. "I'm glad that you made it through last night as well," he answered, though he brushed the back of his hand against his forehead. Despite the chilly weather, he was still sweating- not as bad as it would be in the night to come, but still a tiny bit worrisome. "...were you injured badly?"

[141_12]

Even though he'd eaten recently, Otacon's stomach still felt unsettled. It wasn't the zombies anymore - as horrifying as that had been, being back here, in the pristine oblivious halls of the institute, had a way of making those hours seem hazier, as if they'd occurred weeks ago instead of just last night.

And it wasn't what had happened to Snake either. If anything, Big Boss' appearance was an almost welcome distraction.

Once outside, he spotted Snake within seconds, and made his way toward the pond. "Snake." Otacon crouched down beside him instinctively, one hand on his arm as he tried to get a better look at the extent of his injuries. "You look awful," he sighed, but at least he'd confirmed that Snake wasn't dying. He held out several paper napkins he'd picked up in the cafeteria. "Here."

[141_12]

Otacon gazed at Snake a moment longer, then shook his head and settled on the grass beside him without comment. He knew when pressing the issue (Snake would've called it "nagging") wouldn't change anything. Although there had been a time he would've done it anyway, in the belief that Snake still listened, no matter how brusque he acted