Day 50: Waiting Room / Lobby 2 (3rd Shift)

[falseblack]

When they told him he would have a visitor, Nigredo could not even feign surprise. He had, after all, asked the one who looked like Citrine to visit again. Despite the falsity of her presence, the child had liked her in the sense that out of all his siblings, she had been the most forgiving on his sanity. Not to mention, a part of him wanted to

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[damned_visitors]

George was trying hard to keep himself from fidgeting in place as he waited for the nurse to come fetch him. Yeah, fine, he could admit it. He was nervous, alright? It was weird being back in this place, even if it was only for a few hours. And last time he'd talked to either of his brothers wasn't exactly the most heartwarming family moment ever. But he hadn't wanted his new guardian to come in here with him. This was something George had to do on his own, so that's what he was going to do

[falseblack]

Him.

Of all the possible family in all of space and time, Nigredo had not anticipated his visitor to be the very brother they had taken. Who had left them behind. The child stared at him--the one he had once addressed as Rubedo--his mind drawing a blank, his comprehension lacking. If questions arose, he did not voice them. Instead, he favored an expression of pure shock, as though Nigredo had seen a ghost.

A statement not far from the truth.

His waveform automatically reached to touch the connection between red and black. Gone. Still dead like Rubedo might have been. Yet, there he stood with a cat (Gaignun?) in his arms like it was completely normal. Like he'd never left.

Nigredo swallowed hard, before stammering the first words that came to mind. "H-Hi."

[damned_visitors]

There was a quiet exhale of relief at the response. Not being ignored or turned away right out was a good start. The shock written all over Nigel's face, on the other hand, stung really bad. What, was it really that surprising that he'd want to come back and visit? He didn't have to act like George showing up was some kind of God-sent miracle or something.

Well, whatever. He just did his best to bite back his defensiveness and keep his smile, carefully taking a seat across from Nigel. A part of him wanted to just blurt out what he came to say, turn tail, and run out of the room, but he knew that wasn't really gonna do anything to help. He needed to do this.

"How've... you been holding up, huh?" Stupid. He could see how he was holding up.

[falseblack]

Was that all he could ask? How Nigredo had been holding up? Granted, their past exchanges consisted of mostly pleasantries, the occasional bickering, and the rare fight. None of the gritty elements that composed his other relationships. Perhaps the younger could take the question as it was: a simple question. No use grabbing for potential hurts, nor being open and forthright. He had enough of that with Albedo.

...Why was he still sleeping, anyway?

Nigredo carefully folded his hands against his lap, the shock on his face fading to bland neutrality. His heart pounded in the confines of his ribcage, but the boy seemed to show no discomfort. He could be perfectly fine, the way he was.

"I've been well." A pause. "How are you?"

[moral_liberty]

Condensation collected on the ice pack and rolled off the plastic and onto the table. Kaworu had been holding it, but the cold discomfort in his fingers prompted him to abandon it on the surface in front of him. He had been advised to hold it to his eye, but he had found no balance that didn't distract him. The angles of the ice couldn't fit the socket correctly, and its contact didn't relieve so much that he was reluctant to set it down

[damned_visitors]

If Joseph was nervous about stepping back into the white halls of Landel's Institute, he was doing a fairly good job of hiding it, stammering only once when the nurse told him he could come in. There was no reason for him to be nervous, really. It'd been only a few days since he'd been discharged, but this time he was coming back voluntarily, and as a visitor, not a patient.

The nurse had warned him about what had happened last shift, but Joseph was still caught off-guard when he walked into the waiting room and saw the array of bruises showing stark against Addison's white skin. A dozen scenarios popped into his head, each more frightening than the last, before he reminded himself of where they were. A hospital, not... whatever he'd thought Landel's was before. He'd been delusional, but this place had helped him and returned him to his family, coherent and clear-headed for the first time in weeks

[moral_liberty]

Kaworu stared too long, silent and slow to accept the truth that stood in front of him. Otacon had not left, but had simply ceased to be. He had become only a passing memory, less tangible as time passed. Kaworu had not spoken to anyone who had known this Lilim. He had no evidence of his existence, besides a drawing that meant nothing to him outside of the hand that had created it. Kaworu hadn't known himself when he had watched Otacon's bony fingers create those lines. He had moved in a precise, mechanical way that was unlike the soft weight of sadness that surrounded him

[damned_visitors]

"That's right." Joseph still smiled, but his hands were fumbling again as he readjusted his glasses, despite having adjusted them just a second ago. If the habit seemed nervous, it wasn't because of Addison, exactly. He'd noticed the almost dispassionate way the teenager had poked at his own bruises, which was pretty weird, sure, but... not really unexpected.

Although it was no wonder why Joseph had thought Addison wasn't quite human. This, like so many other things during his sickness, made him feel not a little ashamed, but that's why he was here now, wasn't it? He was no longer someone who ran away from his problems.

"I owe you an apology," he began. "When I... er, got better, all I could think about was getting back to my family and my life outside. I had to forget about this other person I'd thought I was, but that also meant I forgot about the friends I'd made in here."

He looked at Addison, hands dropping back to his lap.

"So... I'm sorry. For not saying goodbye to you."

[damned_visitors]

To say Charlotte was nervous about this meeting was a huge understatement. This place was almost scary to her as she realized how many people, how many dear friends were sent here. Brendan was the first one, and everyone just seemed to... follow

[damned_visitors]

Charlotte's eyes lit up when she heard her name - her name! - spoken by Brendan, something that encouraged her to sit down next to her friend. Maybe this place really was good for him? Would he be coming home soon, like Lance did? Maybe Spike and Natalie were getting better too! Just this seemed like it lifted up Charlotte's spirits immensely, though it might have been hard to notice that they were down in the first place.

"Of course! I wanted to visit you sooner, but..." Charlotte started to talk, but she trailed off and nervously rubbed the still-stitched side of her. It probably wasn't good to bring that up. "But you know, it's been busy. Mary and I have our hands full without your help. Er, but don't feel bad! We'll pull through until you feel well enough to come home!"

This was so not going well. She sighed, not sure if she was making the whole affair better or worse. Fortunately for Charlotte, a subject change came to her quickly.

"How is Natalie?"

[replicatedorder]

When the nurse grabbed him by the arm and announced that he had a visitor, Luke's stomach twisted in response. On the one hand, he knew there were several possibilities for who would come to see him: Jade, Peony, Asch, or Tear, but that didn't make him feel any more at ease with the situation. Of course, he could always ask them where they were; the question wouldn't sound strange to them, because he was clearly living in another world, and they would answer. At least, he hoped that would be the case. Any information they could provide would make him feel better, and he knew he would be able to help them in the future

[damned_visitors]

For most of the car ride over, Matt had kept his face pressed against the window, wondering if this was the same road Brandon took on his way to the hospital. There were lots of trees, and it was so peaceful and quiet! This had to be the perfect place for someone sick to get better, he decided. And if Brandon was well enough to talk to him, then that meant he was going to be released soon, right

[replicatedorder]

Between the light blue hair and the voice, it wasn't difficult to tell who this was supposed to be. Mieu-Thing-sat right before him, as if nothing was the problem, as if he was supposed to not be feeling well. For every ounce of preparation he felt, he didn't expect that Landel would bring Mieu here, a cheagle of all things, and turn him into a boy. Luke wasn't upset, necessarily, but startled and surprised. Maybe that was what Landel wanted. He didn't want them to know where their friends had gone. He just wanted Luke to see how helpless his situation was

[damned_visitors]

Matt tilted his head to the side, curious as to why Brandon would only feel "somewhat" better. Not only that, but he was acting a little weird that he'd come to see him. Matt didn't completely understand why, though it could have had to do with him not feeling well. Maybe he hadn't been in Landel's long enough? Grandpa had told him it might take awhile, but Brandon was always so strong and brave. There was no doubt in Matt's mind that he'd get better soon!

That didn't answer why he hadn't expected him as a visitor, though. They used to do everything together! Even if it a lot of it had just been Brandon letting Matt follow him around, it was still a lot of fun. "Of course I'd come visit!" he replied, taking a seat next to his friend. He was mindful not to drop the gift bag he was carrying. "I wanted to come with you, but they said you'd get better faster without me." The boy seemed to sag a little in his chair, as though the very thought made him feel heavier. "Plus I still have to go to school. I'm sorry

[byname_bynature]

Somehow Artemis had avoided getting a visitor last week, though he couldn't call himself surprised that 'Butler' had shown up to visit him yet again. The man was methodical, and probably thought that giving 'Sean' two weeks to get himself straightened out before coming by again would spare him being hit with a magazine this time. Artemis, however, would hit Butler with entire serializations of magazines if it brought the Butler he knew back from whatever Landel had done to him. If there was a Butler with him, there was certainly a way--a way out at least

[damned_visitors]

Sadly, when the door opened the one who entered couldn't have been farther in appearance from who he had expected. Not only was it a she rather than a he, but she was quite small, delicate and almost fragile-looking. The girl glanced up to give a sickly-sweet smile to the nurse, then turned the same expression on Sean as she approached. She was always perfect when other people were looking, of course.

"Oh, Sean, it's so good to see you!" Belinda gushed, clasping her hands together in front of her chest as she simpered at him. Half a second later the door closed behind the nurse, though, and a glint of malice appeared in her eyes. "Here, I mean. And not at home."

[byname_bynature]

Ah yes. Opal Koboi always did have a talent for shocking Artemis at the most inopportune times. Usually with a bio-bomb. Or a troll. And apparently next on the list was a death-trap mental hospital.

He straightened his spine, watching Koboi approach him with calculated intensity. Fingers curled around the arms of the chair he was seated in, and while he was not concerned that she would attack him physically, Opal typically had much, much worse than a fist up her sleeve.

This sort of operation was just so... Opal. Why hadn't he seen it before? If she was capable of cloning herself just in case, she was capable of contacting Landel and selling Artemis to him. It was even possible that she was a partner in all of this, he wouldn't put anything past her

[damned_visitors]

"Are you still going on about that 'Opal' business?" Belinda gave a trill of highly condescending laughter as she pulled a chair over and settled down, facing him but not too close. Wouldn't want him to think that she wanted to be anywhere near him-- this visit was only for her benefit, not his. "As if you wouldn't know who I am, Sean. Belinda Zito, only the best student in the entire state."

She crossed one leg over the other with a prim little smile that rapidly turned into a smirk. "Especially now that you're all crazy and no longer in the running. I can't tell you just how terribly disappointed I was that you weren't in the science fair this year. Your look of dismay when my entry utterly crushed yours would have been so sweet."