Day 57: Courtyard (Third Shift)

[roseoverture]

The air inside the Institute was getting stifling. It wasn't much different than usual, really, but knowing about all the changes done under the Institute's hood in her absence, Utena could barely stand it. The staff were so stiff, even as they pretended to be the same caring nurses as always. Landel's regurgitated voice recordings crept under her

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[for_a_song]

Gren had to admit, as little as he liked anything about his current situation, it was nice to be given a choice in something, even as superficial a choice as 'where would you like to enjoy your imprisonment for the next hour

[corvus_veritas]

[Hope this is okay, despite it being so late!]Free day was a thought well appreciated at first. When the patients were actually turned loose, however, Byrne wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. He was free, but not truly free. The same escort was still there to keep an eye on him, and there were only so many places he was allowed to go. 'Free' might as well have not been included in the equation at all

[for_a_song]

He'd been mentally trying to compose a bit of music when a voice interrupted him. The notes vanished from his head, but he found he wasn't really that irritated at the loss--he had a lot of free time here. There would be time to write more music later.

Gren glanced over at the man who'd spoken and smiled. If it was a little worn around the edges, well... it wasn't for lack of trying. "Sure. Go right ahead," he replied. The man wasn't anyone he'd spoken to before, although he might have seen him around. It was hard to remember, with the way people came and went in this place.

[corvus_veritas]

"Thanks." Byrne settled himself comfortably in the empty space beside the man, crossing his arms to help keep himself warm. He probably wouldn't be able to sit for very long without becoming a human popsicle, but he just didn't feel like walking around right now. The scenery was sometimes best appreciated from the comfort of a bench. A really cold bench, true, but still a bench.

Anyway, it was a little awkward to share a bench with someone and then completely ignore them, wasn't it? Especially if they were a stranger, like in this case. Introductions were necessary then. Byrne turned to face the man, still smiling, and held out a hand for a handshake. "I'm Byrne Faraday, by the way. You?"

[for_a_song]

In contrast, the cold really didn't seem to be bothering Gren one bit. It was certainly chilly, but it was still a far cry from Callisto, so he was fairly comfortable sitting there, for the time being.

"No problem." It would be silly to get territorial over a bench in a lunatic asylum's courtyard, after all.

"Gren Eckener," he replied and returned the handshake. It was an odd bit of formality in the middle of all this craziness.

[corvus_veritas]

"Nice to meet you." To Byrne, formality with strangers was a must in any situation. No good came out of making enemies with someone you just met, especially in a place like this. They had enough enemies as it was with the doctors and soldiers pushing them around. Why make more?

It was not for him. Besides, there were other things to worry about right now than making an enemy out of his fellow patient body. The prosecutor gazed at the scenery the Courtyard had to offer as he considered these 'other things to worry about'. Too many things to worry about.

"This place just gets better and better every day, doesn't it?" There was obvious sarcasm in his voice.

[for_a_song]

"Likewise."

The next remark got a quiet laugh out of him, not because it was particularly funny, but because it was such an understatement. "You're telling me," he replied, shaking his head a little. "At least today, they're back to pretending we're all crazy, instead of pawns in their little military war game." If he sounded somewhat bitter... well. The last few days had really done a number on him, and the only way he was getting through it was sheer obstinacy. He'd spent a lot of time subject to someone else's whims, and he was getting tired of it.