Juri was hoping finally to get to the recreation field. She was heading that way on her own--it wasn't like she didn't know the way--when a nurse caught up with her. She braced herself for getting scolded for moving around without an escort, but the nurse only asked her to come with her to the waiting room, because she had a visitor. What?
She was too stunned to protest, but she sat as indicated and tried to guess who was coming. She wasn't at all certain. One of her teachers? Someone from the student council? Her parents or sister perhaps? Juri hunched over and then bent to retie the shoelaces of her sneakers. Why did she have to have a visitor when she was dressed for sports?
By the time she arrived in the second lobby, her visitor was already waiting for her. A young boy with short hair and a small, lithe body sat in a chair looking at his watch, wondering how much longer it would take for her to be brought in. His cheeks flushed a faint red when he caught sight of his schoolmate, but he managed to smile at her easily enough.
"There you are," said James Mirabel with as much good cheer as he could manage, inviting Penny to sit across from him. "Um, I know we didn't last see each other on the best of terms, but it's still really good to see you," he went on, wincing a little as he thought about the break-up not a few weeks prior. Even if them dating had been more Penny's idea than his, that had still hurt. "I've missed you a lot. Everyone at school has."
Juri halted in the middle of the room to stare at Miki. That answered her question, didn't it? Student council it was, and the one she felt closest to as well. She finally suspected the cunning of the people who ran this place. "Mickey," she said, reverting to the westernized nickname to see how he'd react, "what are you talking about?"
The nurse pushed gently at her shoulder, but even that kindly touched annoyed Juri. She jerked away, tossed her head and strode over to sit near Miki. "How long do you think it's been since we last talked?" It actually worried her to see Miki inside the walls of this creepy Institute. He was such an innocent.
Her time in the Game Room had been quiet, if not relaxing, though she’d done her best to meditate and relieve some of her emotions during the shift. Dragging herself around while at the point of crying out her frustration and sorrow wasn’t going to help anyone, not herself, and least of all the people she wanted to help. Once again, she had to push that stuff behind the veil in her heart and not let it distract her.
But it suddenly became twice as hard to do when the nurse who came to collect her surprised Tsubaki with the announcement that she had visitors this week! Wouldn’t that be a nice way to end the day?
It was supposed to be a pleasant surprise. To Tsubaki, it felt like someone had poured ice into the top of her head.
Someone to see me…? Someone? She didn’t understand it, not any of it, not what she’d read about visitations or what the Iris thing on the intercom was saying. She’d never dealt with these ‘visitors’ before. Were they fake? Were they real? Were they… graduates, former patients? Were they illusions built from
( ... )
She didn't have to wait long. The door opened moments later and a middle-aged couple walked through. The man's face seemed open and honest and the woman's a close reflection of the girl who sat waiting. He wore a simple kimono, only slightly different from the yukata worn around their home. The woman followed quietly beside him, a warm smile on her Asian features. She too wore a kimono, though the colors had faded and she was nowhere near as bold as her husband and his pride for the traditional.
There was no hesitation in his step as he led the way and stopped just short of his daughter. "How's my little girl?" he asked, the creases of a smile just barely touching his lips. Her mother smiled warmly enough for both of them.
The nurses started guiding other people in--people wearing clothes that weren’t the Landel’s uniform or like the styles seen in Doyleton, which was almost strange to see now, a taste of the outside world that seemed so far out of her grasp. Tsubaki didn’t want to stare at them, but she suddenly felt so awkward, so unprepared; she didn’t know where to look, or how to situate herself, and the seconds ticking by only made the feeling worse. Who was coming for her?
But any peace of mind she managed to knit together for herself slipped apart the moment Tsubaki glanced toward the door at movement and saw who was entering next. They were meant for her, she knew.
Because they were her parents.
Right there, her parents, looking every bit as she knew them, nothing hinting at otherwise. She’d been expecting an emotional attack, something she wouldn’t immediately be able to see through, but this was… Had she seen them anywhere else, she wouldn’t have thought twice. They felt like her parents in a way that kawarimi didn’t, even if she was
( ... )
She recognized them, or seemed to. Her mother looked relieved and took a few steps forward to clasp her daughter's hands. Her grip was firm but feminine and she squeezed her daughter's hand once before speaking.
"That's right Miyu. Your father and I wanted to come see you. The doctors said we had to wait a little while for you to settle in first, but-"
The man cleared his throat and offered a half smile, "I knew you wouldn't forget us." They'd said Miyu's condition might be getting worse, but when it came to treatments, this place was the best. There was nothing they wouldn't do for family, even moving halfway across the world just to make sure their daughter got better.
"Things alright here?" he asked, "I know it's all a little foreign, but they're top notch here. We'll have you feeling a lot better in no time."
The nurse had caught the Scarecrow off-guard when she found him still in the Sun Room and announced he'd be having a visitor after all. Excitement and trepidation hit him simultaneously; he had a visitor. He warned himself not to get worked up- after all, that woman had warned him that visitors looked and sounded very much like friends, but they believed what the Institute told them. None of his friends would be so gullible, would they?
The nurse interrupted his thoughts to lead him to the Waiting Room so as not to keep his visitor waiting. She found him an empty table and left him in one of the seats, reminding him to be courteous. He fiddled with his hands, the worry on his mind apparent. They wouldn't send one of his friends here, not even to visit him. Surely they'd send someone who'd rile him- wasn't that what had happened to that woman he'd spoken to? What if it was the Witch? Oh, he hoped it wasn't the Witch. He hoped it wasn't one of his friends even more.
Dorothy felt shy and small, returning to the Institute, but it was important to show Hunk that recovery was possible. She wanted so much for her friend to be able to come back to the farm. Not only did she miss him, but there was always a lot of work to do: Uncle Henry, Aunt Em, and their other employees needed his help.
She stepped meekly into the Waiting Room, looking around, before spotting Hunk sitting at a table, fiddling with his hands. Smoothing the skirt of her blue and white gingham sundress, she approached the table. Her smile was tentative but genuine, and she waited for him to notice her.
With his eyes still on his hands, the Scarecrow could see the edge of the blue-and-white gingham step into view. He turned his face to meet hers, his mouth agape- he'd really tried to ready himself for anyone they would possibly send to visit him, but of all his friends and acquaintances, it was her. Surely this wasn't some figment or cruel creation of the Institute. Surely!
Still genuinely surprised and realizing he'd forgotten his manners entirely, he stood quickly, banging his knee on the table as he did so. He clumsily caught the wobbly furniture, wincing at both the injury and slight embarrassment, before turning to her again.
The former king stood awkwardly for a moment as he couldn't think of anything good to say- nothing smart or witty or even minutely intelligent came to mind. He decided to go with his gut instinct instead, wrapping the girl in a tight embrace. The real Dorothy or not, she certainly was better than nothing at all.
She looked surprised and concerned when he banged his knee on the table, but then, after a moment of hesitation, he hugged her. Her arms went around her old friend -- really more like an uncle to her than anything -- as she returned the hug.
"Hey, Hunk! How're you doing? I know they're treating you good here, but how do you like it?" Her voice was still girlish, although she had had a growth spurt since her own stay at Landel's.
Then, she was smiling at him and finding her own seat at the table.
"It's good to see you looking so well and happy, Nicole." The nurse commented, smiling at the girl. She smiled right back, and answered, "I'm really doing great these days. School's been good, though we all miss Mr. Cross. In fact, I even made him something in home ec, see?" She held up the bag with a smile.
"That's great. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, so why don't you just get settled in?" The girl smiled and nodded, then stepped in, making a beeline for the corner.
"Oh, it's so good to see you, Mr. Cross!" She stopped just short of hugging him, instead standing on tip-toe so she could see him a little better. "We all miss you."
Instead of watching to see who was coming for him, Kurogane had kept his eyes to the other door to see if the magician would enter. He didn't much care who it was that visited the man every week, but the ninja knew that whoever it was had a strong influence on Fai's actions. That left him wanting to at least see what this Ashura person looked like - if the magician hadn't lied over that part in the first place
( ... )
"You don't remember me? Come onnnnnnnn~!" The girl smiled mischievously. "You can't tell me you can't remember! It's Nicole, from fifth period class? You know, Amaya's friend." She knew her teacher was a kidder, but to not remember something like that? That just wasn't right.
"We all miss you at school, you know. Yeah, the sub is okay, but we all want you back. The whole class actually wanted to come see you. Even people from your other sections! But then Mr. Mead told us that only one of us would get to. So there was a vote, and, well." She trailed off, with a little bit of a smile.
"Anyway. How are things? I...well, I know I made folks worry. But then it's great when you come home. There was a party and everyone was there. It was really great."
He'd been shocked, but not confused, so when she got on him about not remembering he ground out a sigh through gritted teeth. "I remember you already," he told her, "but not like that
( ... )
X could never claim to have had a visitor before. As far as he could see, Landel took pleasure in ignoring the Nobody and his lack of existence, finding it more amusing to let him wander aimlessly with no plans in mind for him. He had been here for about four weeks and had never been attacked by something to the point of wondering if he would make it out alive (last night aside), had never been plucked for that Special Counseling nonsense, had never been experimented on, and for all the trauma and mental scarring he had seen, most of it had been his doing (Brainiac must have appreciated him by now). So when Nursey, having gently pulled Luxord to the side and reassured him that no harm would come to his kitten, told him he had a special visitor... Well, he certainly was not expecting anything of the sort.
Thoughts of that insidious "Tim" put aside, the Gambler found a chair, and sat down, crossing his legs as he waited curiously. And which shadow of the past would they conjure now?
This "surprise visitor" had no trouble finding her way to the lobby, although she waited for a nurse to escort her anyway. She understood what the rules and regulations were, since she formally was a patient in this place. Besides, Sarah didn't want to lose her chance to see Daniel, especially since she still had to apologize for leaving so suddenly.
Once she entered the lobby, Sarah spotted Daniel immediately. A smile spread across her face as she saw her cousin, marveling at how he barely changed. But even when they shared that strange delusion, he was still the same old Daniel.
Sarah quietly took her spot next to her cousin, knowing that she didn't need to introduce herself. But really, she also didn't know what to say. Should she apologize? Say hello? Or was he actually angry at her for leaving the Institute first?
"... I missed you, Daniel," She said that first, looking at her beloved cousin with sad eyes.
That voice. The blonde hair. The meek, shy personality...
"Peanut!" It was almost like a flip had been switched; his normal bored expression turning into some foreign remnant of joy as he heard that tiny voice again.
Without a second thought, the Nobody immediately reached out and pulled the little blonde into a tight hug, laughing in merriment (or as close as he got). It was Naminé. Naminé! He'd not seen her in what felt like months! He did have enough self-control to set her down after a moment (...strange. He didn't recall picking her up) and get back in his seat before the nurses became upset, but the point still stood.
And, of course, she wasn't about to escape this meeting without having her hair ruffled. "All the crayons in the world and you've still not managed to write your dear cousin a letter? I'm ashamed." If the smile on his face said anything, that was obviously not the case, but it wouldn't hurt to play along. If Landel were attempting to make up for those monstrosities last night, Luxord was listening.
To tell the truth, Sarah was expecting some sort of tart remark about how she came back after so long, or something else equally sarcastic. She did not expect to be pulled into a tight hug and more or less picked up, squeaking a little as she felt her feet leave the ground
( ... )
Comments 273
She was too stunned to protest, but she sat as indicated and tried to guess who was coming. She wasn't at all certain. One of her teachers? Someone from the student council? Her parents or sister perhaps? Juri hunched over and then bent to retie the shoelaces of her sneakers. Why did she have to have a visitor when she was dressed for sports?
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"There you are," said James Mirabel with as much good cheer as he could manage, inviting Penny to sit across from him. "Um, I know we didn't last see each other on the best of terms, but it's still really good to see you," he went on, wincing a little as he thought about the break-up not a few weeks prior. Even if them dating had been more Penny's idea than his, that had still hurt. "I've missed you a lot. Everyone at school has."
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The nurse pushed gently at her shoulder, but even that kindly touched annoyed Juri. She jerked away, tossed her head and strode over to sit near Miki. "How long do you think it's been since we last talked?" It actually worried her to see Miki inside the walls of this creepy Institute. He was such an innocent.
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But it suddenly became twice as hard to do when the nurse who came to collect her surprised Tsubaki with the announcement that she had visitors this week! Wouldn’t that be a nice way to end the day?
It was supposed to be a pleasant surprise. To Tsubaki, it felt like someone had poured ice into the top of her head.
Someone to see me…? Someone? She didn’t understand it, not any of it, not what she’d read about visitations or what the Iris thing on the intercom was saying. She’d never dealt with these ‘visitors’ before. Were they fake? Were they real? Were they… graduates, former patients? Were they illusions built from ( ... )
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There was no hesitation in his step as he led the way and stopped just short of his daughter. "How's my little girl?" he asked, the creases of a smile just barely touching his lips. Her mother smiled warmly enough for both of them.
Reply
But any peace of mind she managed to knit together for herself slipped apart the moment Tsubaki glanced toward the door at movement and saw who was entering next. They were meant for her, she knew.
Because they were her parents.
Right there, her parents, looking every bit as she knew them, nothing hinting at otherwise. She’d been expecting an emotional attack, something she wouldn’t immediately be able to see through, but this was… Had she seen them anywhere else, she wouldn’t have thought twice. They felt like her parents in a way that kawarimi didn’t, even if she was ( ... )
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"That's right Miyu. Your father and I wanted to come see you. The doctors said we had to wait a little while for you to settle in first, but-"
The man cleared his throat and offered a half smile, "I knew you wouldn't forget us." They'd said Miyu's condition might be getting worse, but when it came to treatments, this place was the best. There was nothing they wouldn't do for family, even moving halfway across the world just to make sure their daughter got better.
"Things alright here?" he asked, "I know it's all a little foreign, but they're top notch here. We'll have you feeling a lot better in no time."
Reply
The nurse interrupted his thoughts to lead him to the Waiting Room so as not to keep his visitor waiting. She found him an empty table and left him in one of the seats, reminding him to be courteous. He fiddled with his hands, the worry on his mind apparent. They wouldn't send one of his friends here, not even to visit him. Surely they'd send someone who'd rile him- wasn't that what had happened to that woman he'd spoken to? What if it was the Witch? Oh, he hoped it wasn't the Witch. He hoped it wasn't one of his friends even more.
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She stepped meekly into the Waiting Room, looking around, before spotting Hunk sitting at a table, fiddling with his hands. Smoothing the skirt of her blue and white gingham sundress, she approached the table. Her smile was tentative but genuine, and she waited for him to notice her.
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Still genuinely surprised and realizing he'd forgotten his manners entirely, he stood quickly, banging his knee on the table as he did so. He clumsily caught the wobbly furniture, wincing at both the injury and slight embarrassment, before turning to her again.
The former king stood awkwardly for a moment as he couldn't think of anything good to say- nothing smart or witty or even minutely intelligent came to mind. He decided to go with his gut instinct instead, wrapping the girl in a tight embrace. The real Dorothy or not, she certainly was better than nothing at all.
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"Hey, Hunk! How're you doing? I know they're treating you good here, but how do you like it?" Her voice was still girlish, although she had had a growth spurt since her own stay at Landel's.
Then, she was smiling at him and finding her own seat at the table.
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"That's great. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, so why don't you just get settled in?" The girl smiled and nodded, then stepped in, making a beeline for the corner.
"Oh, it's so good to see you, Mr. Cross!" She stopped just short of hugging him, instead standing on tip-toe so she could see him a little better. "We all miss you."
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"We all miss you at school, you know. Yeah, the sub is okay, but we all want you back. The whole class actually wanted to come see you. Even people from your other sections! But then Mr. Mead told us that only one of us would get to. So there was a vote, and, well." She trailed off, with a little bit of a smile.
"Anyway. How are things? I...well, I know I made folks worry. But then it's great when you come home. There was a party and everyone was there. It was really great."
Reply
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X could never claim to have had a visitor before. As far as he could see, Landel took pleasure in ignoring the Nobody and his lack of existence, finding it more amusing to let him wander aimlessly with no plans in mind for him. He had been here for about four weeks and had never been attacked by something to the point of wondering if he would make it out alive (last night aside), had never been plucked for that Special Counseling nonsense, had never been experimented on, and for all the trauma and mental scarring he had seen, most of it had been his doing (Brainiac must have appreciated him by now). So when Nursey, having gently pulled Luxord to the side and reassured him that no harm would come to his kitten, told him he had a special visitor... Well, he certainly was not expecting anything of the sort.
Thoughts of that insidious "Tim" put aside, the Gambler found a chair, and sat down, crossing his legs as he waited curiously. And which shadow of the past would they conjure now?
Reply
Once she entered the lobby, Sarah spotted Daniel immediately. A smile spread across her face as she saw her cousin, marveling at how he barely changed. But even when they shared that strange delusion, he was still the same old Daniel.
Sarah quietly took her spot next to her cousin, knowing that she didn't need to introduce herself. But really, she also didn't know what to say. Should she apologize? Say hello? Or was he actually angry at her for leaving the Institute first?
"... I missed you, Daniel," She said that first, looking at her beloved cousin with sad eyes.
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"Peanut!" It was almost like a flip had been switched; his normal bored expression turning into some foreign remnant of joy as he heard that tiny voice again.
Without a second thought, the Nobody immediately reached out and pulled the little blonde into a tight hug, laughing in merriment (or as close as he got). It was Naminé. Naminé! He'd not seen her in what felt like months! He did have enough self-control to set her down after a moment (...strange. He didn't recall picking her up) and get back in his seat before the nurses became upset, but the point still stood.
And, of course, she wasn't about to escape this meeting without having her hair ruffled. "All the crayons in the world and you've still not managed to write your dear cousin a letter? I'm ashamed." If the smile on his face said anything, that was obviously not the case, but it wouldn't hurt to play along. If Landel were attempting to make up for those monstrosities last night, Luxord was listening.
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