Day 45: Sun Room

[notthistrain]

Despite the bit of bravado he'd displayed for Yuffie's sake, seeing her that way really had done a number on him. It was a good thing he'd found the bulletin board afterward. Having it confirmed that this state wasn't normal (was, in fact, new as of that morning) made it much easier to think positive. They'd get back the Yuffie they knew one way

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[mugenreppa]

Spending lunch with Scar had been nice, but...memories. Memories of Leo, memories of Robert, memories that belonged to Airi. It made her feel more and more like Airi, more anxious, more worried, and that perpetual dull throb on her heart and invaded the rest of her body and made her movements sluggish-

She'd thought she'd gotten rid of it all.

Flopping onto a couch, Airi stared up at the ceiling, trying to regain the sense of Mele she'd had at the beginning of the day-she wanted to be able to do that, at least, just for reassurance that this place didn't drive Mele completely from her. And she really hated that doctor.

[For the Scarecrow]

[scarefaux]

The Scarecrow declined a trip to the 'Game Room,' deciding he'd be able to think better in the Sun Room. This day had certainly been strange- that Abe fellow at breakfast had seemed normal enough, but the conversation with Scourge had been a little troubling. He had been so adamant about his life as a robot just a few days before! Why would he change his mind and decide that it had all been some sort of a delusion, like it never existed? It wasn't as though the former strawman hadn't been having thoughts like this, but he'd not been able to convince himself that his memories as a scarecrow and Oz were just fantasies of a sick mind

[mugenreppa]

Airi looked up and nodded in greeting.

"That doctor," she said, "one of these days he's going to get murdered by rusty fork. 'Today is a day that should be celebrated'," she mocked, hating that she even knew what he was even talking about. She couldn't imagine Mele would have understood it.

"...By the way," she said off-handedly, finally sitting up, "Could you sit in a...chair, maybe?" She hated for anyone to look up at her unless she was on a cliff or something and they had no choice. Having someone looking up her reminded her way too much of Robert's habit of ducking to look up into people's faces and she didn't-well, he had been doing it to Leo even when she was right there, but she didn't want to think about him doing anything to Leo. Maybe when she could do something, she'd think about it.

[scarefaux]

"Of course," the Scarecrow said as he clumsily got to his feet, turning a complete circle before spotting an empty chair. He pulled it toward the couch, hoping no one minded if he moved the furniture.

He wrung the edge of his shirt for a moment. "As for the Wizard Landel... I'm not really sure what he's been going on about," he admitted. "Is there some reason today is so special? Nothing seems different, though a few people are acting a little strangely."

[promisedawhale]

[claiming the spikey-head? Plz?]

Lunch had been refreshing for Brook, more so than he had expected it would be, and he was in a far better mood for it. The morning had not gotten off on the best foot, but there was still one more shift left to make amends for that failure, and Brook was not going to let it go to waste!

There were plenty of options for whom to cheer up in the Sun Room, as always, however when Brook ended up spotting a familiar face he'd not seen in a while, he strode immediately for the man. "Oh my, Cloud-san, isn't it? Yohohohoho! But it has been a while! How have you been doing?" he asked, bending down so that he wasn't towering too much over the man.

[notthistrain]

Cloud was distracted as a shadow fell across his field of vision and he found himself looking up at... a tree? A tree that recognized him, apparently. The blond blinked, wide-eyed, before he realized that what he'd assumed was foliage was somehow a person. Here he'd thought he'd known tall people back home.

"Er... what?" He was fairly certain that if he'd ever met someone that looked the way this guy looked, he'd remember it. This wasn't a sort of presence that went easily forgotten. Then again, he still wasn't sure how long he'd actually been here. While he'd assumed he'd been asleep, the thought that he might be missing memories instead was very worrisome.

Looking apologetic, he rubbed at the back of his neck. "I'm sorry. Have we met before?"

[promisedawhale]

"Eh?" Brook paused, then straightened a bit and blinked as he looked the young man over. He was... fairly sure of this person being the same as the Cloud he knew. Or the person he knew as Cloud. Brook couldn't admit to actually knowing any real clouds, after all. But just as the man before him was sure he would remember Brook's own appearance, Brook was sure that he could never forget such an interesting hairstyle. Or that ever-present frown on his face.

"You are... Cloud-san, yes?" Brook tried again, hoping to be more careful now that he had caused the other confusion, "I supposed it has been well over a week since I last saw you... I guess I didn't make much of an impression if you've forgotten then! Yohohohoho!" Brook quickly lost his attempts at being careful and laughed in an attempt to make Cloud feel better. It wasn't good to forget others, however it was even worse to make friend feel bad for not having very good memories.

[notthistrain]

"Yeah. My name's Cloud." And he was grateful that he was being called by it honestly for the first time that day, but he really wished he had some idea of who he was being called it by. One week, the man said, and apparently Yuffie had been here at least two according to her friend on the bulletin. Had he actually been there as long? "But I only remember waking up here today. I'm really sorry."

He wondered if he could grill this strange person for answers. (Or if he would get clear ones if he did.) Making room for Brook to sit next to him, he watched the man expectantly. He wasn't getting away now that he'd admitted to recognizing him.

[spandexorgtfo]

Kratos was still mulling over his lunch with Rika as he walked into the Sun Room. There was a girl with about as little to willingly say about herself as him, which was surprising because at her apparent age, he couldn't see anything that would need to be kept secret at all.

He settled into a chair and managed to look up just in time to see Sheena land a punch with such intensity that he half expected nurses to descend on the spot. None did, however, and while the spectacle would have been exciting, he was relieved that she had escaped the repercussions...for now.

Still, at least someone was still easy to read.

[unknowingly for the angry ninja]

[mizuhomaiden]

[from here]

From the moment Sheena's angry eyes fell upon Kratos, she altered her path to stalk right up to him. A part of her was warning her to stay away from him, they hadn't talked since she'd beat the shit out of him that night she'd been evil, but with the way her luck was going, even he would be someone else now. Why had she decided to approach him?

"You," she growled at Kratos, stopping directly before him, her hands curled into fists down at her side. "Are you a betraying, pathetic emo angel that's the world's worst father and lapdog to the evil overangel," she asked, practically spitting lightning, "or are you going to tell me it all doesn't exist, that you're someone named Kenny with a loving family and that you're 'getting better' just like everyone else I've talked to today?"

[spandexorgtfo]

And right then and there Kratos regretted every ounce of sympathy he had just given, although he wasn't sure which had affronted him more: her description of him or her decision to talk to him now.

"If I may, it's actually 'Kurtis'," he said quietly, but in a light enough way that knowing her, could very well earn him a punch as well. "And I'm sure you'll be relieved to know that I am indeed still the betraying, pathetic, emo" - there was a word that he didn't know - "angel that's the world's worst father and so forth that you remember."

[mizuhomaiden]

The ninja's fist did indeed clench even harder when Kratos clarified the name, almost like he was about to tell her it was really his name. But then... he confirmed that he was everything she'd said he was and Sheena was...

All anger disappeared from her face, as if she'd just walked under a waterfall and emerged a different person. She stared at Kratos for a moment before her eyes teared up and she practically threw herself at him, hand moving to grasp the front of his shirt, her shoulders shaking.

It was ridiculous - this was Kratos, but he knew her. He knew what she said was real. And, most of all, he was a father. Sure, he might be the world's worst father (which was completely untrue - Sheena's father was the worst one in the world), but he still was one and, whether she wanted to admit it or not, she really just needed one.

Even Kratos.

[vitale]

With the help of Inspector Lunge, Bella felt as if she was … at least prepared to take on the rest of the institute. Well, not take on, exactly - but she was prepared for what happened at night. It was always a plus, being able to expect something before it happened.

At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

Entering the Sun Room, she glanced around, still not recognizing anyone - oh well. Perhaps it was for the better.

On the wall she noted what appeared to be a bulletin board, and she quickly hurried over to it, flipping through the random notes that were placed up on the wall. Perhaps she could find someone she knew, by a stroke of luck? Or she could at least find … well, something to tip her off on what the hell was going on.

Okay Bella, think, she thought to herself, frowning. What do you have to do first? Or … what should we do first?

[ free ]

[whos_da_man]

Junpei decided that the best way to get over the scary-creepy apparition that had just grabbed his knees (so he thought) in the cafeteria and freaked him out was to find a pretty girl to flirt with. With a note from Okita in his pocket about the upcoming night, the teen scanned the Sun Room for a babe alone, possibly in distress, to flirt with.

Bingo. This chick had like a neon sign over her head that blinked Babalicious.

Sliding up next to her, positioned so the bandage on the side of his neck wasn't particularly noticeable (he really didn't need her asking about it cause then he'd have to worry about spilling Evangeline's eating habits), Junpei gave the chick a charming smile.

"Hey there. So, what's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?"

[vitale]

When someone suddenly slid on next to her, Bella turned her head and blinked, giving the boy a look - a quirked eyebrow and pursed lips, the epitome of “What?” - before speaking. “Uh. Put in this strange place like the rest of you, I guess. What about you? Minus the being a pretty girl part.”

A smile crossed her lips for a brief moment, and she ran her fingers through her hair, pursing her lips as she looked up at the bulletin board. “I’m still just … trying to wrap my head around this whole idea right now, so sorry if I’m kind of … quiet.”

That wasn’t exactly true. She was completely used to the idea - monsters, of course. She would be tossed into a crazy place where evil things roamed the halls. Danger magnet ahoy - she was just still trying to think about where she would get a weapon or something to keep herself safe. She supposed she could wander around tonight and at least try and find her way around …

She’d get to that.

After another moment, she turned towards the boy and shrugged. “I’m Bella.”

[whos_da_man]

"Such beauty should not be confined in an evil creepy place like this," he replied, undaunted by the reaction. "I, unfortunately, got dropped in here like it's the Twilight Zone."

By her comments, Junpei easily deduced that she was new. Sucks to be her.

"I'm Junpei," he replied, flashing her another charming grin. "I've been here a bit, so if you need anything clarified, I can give it a shot." He gestured to the board. "This thing's starting to become useless. The lame nurses take anything interesting or vaguely important down."

[madeinthehrl]

It was with no small amount of apprehension that Maria entered the Sun Room, though she tried and failed to hide it. Thankfully, her nurse appeared to understand why, and left her perched on a sofa with only a nod and an encouraging smile. Maria tried to smile back.

She hoped this meeting would go well. Straightaway she promised herself she wouldn't be upset if Jude didn't forgive her. It was true he hadn't wanted to fight her even when he was delusional, but...there was always that chance, wasn't there? He had every right to be angry at her. He wasn't responsible for all of this, she was, and she'd attacked him for reasons she couldn't even comprehend now.

She sat up a little straighter and kept her eyes on the doors leading from the cafeteria. Would he even come at all?

[for Allelujah!]

[tender_cruelty]

Allelujah almost asked to be taken back to his room, too tired and frustrated to want to do much of anything at the moment. He hated this. Hated what they'd done to Lockon and who knew? Maybe it had taken place last night while he'd been getting himself cut up in a stupid fight, all because of that horrendous music playing with his brainwaves. But no, Soma... Marie, wanted to see him and even if he was partly bracing himself for another fight, he couldn't turn her down. He'd never be able to refuse her would he, except when it came to his own survival.

He spotted her quickly, the white hair something of a giveaway, and he watched for a few moments before approaching her, sliding into a seat just out of range of a punch. "You wanted to see me."

[madeinthehrl]

Maria looked up with a small start, hesitation flitting across her features for a moment

[tender_cruelty]

Allelujah didn't smile back, too tired and wary to respond to the gesture today, even if it might have caused him utmost joy at any other time. What Lockon had said had hurt and he was dwelling on it far too much.

It was only when she began to speak that he paid his usual attention to her and he could catalogue the differences already, even though he'd only met Soma twice. He knew her and this, this wasn't her.

But it wasn't Marie either.

He squeezed his eyes shut, gnawing on his lower lip for a moment. "You think its a lie don't you?" he said sharply. "You think I'm making this up." She didn't believe that their existence was real which meant that Marie wasn't real to her either and that was nearly unbearable.