As the day began drawing to a close, the intercom flickered to life. Instead of Harrington's voice, however, Berg's calm tone filtered through the speakers
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Another meal was set aside, and although Tear was beginning to feel the effects of hunger, she managed to keep herself together. She had no reason to doubt Anise, after all, and if the girl had perceived the food as contaminated, it was best that Tear observed the same to the best of her ability. The soldier did, however, take the medicine they had left for her. With a long night ahead, she couldn't afford to take chances with her condition, and Tear could not reason enough to back away.
It did steady her disorientation and lessen her headache, at the very least. Her gamble, then, had paid off.
Instead of dinner, she focused on gathering up the necessities for tonight. On occasion, she glanced at the door, eyes watching for the appearance of her roommate. Changes in rooming and rooming situation were always a concern here; she hoped Shiina hadn't fallen victim to the institute's tendency to cause people to disappear.
It seemed that Shiina had survived her second day at the institute with little incident. Unless one counted the being unable to eat and nearly losing what little she had left in her from the day before. That had not been so good. Still, Shiina couldn't let a little hunger get to her. Shou had gone through much more pain in all of his lives
( ... )
When Shiina appeared at the doorway, Tear felt the beginning signs of relief. Her new roommate hadn't gone the way of the previous batch, and for that, the soldier was grateful. It was despairing enough to think of another being brainwashed and subsequently released to the outside world, let alone vanishing. Tear turned to greet Shiina, only to consider one key factor.
Despite the ambicable opening, Shiina seemed a little off. As a trained medic, Tear wondered if the girl actually looked unwell, in a way that reminded her of Anise this morning. This was further emphasized when her roommate discarded the bowl of food in the trashcan.
The Melodist's expression instantly shifted to concern. "Good evening, Shiina," she returned. "I apologize for the possible intrusion, but are you also being affected by the food?"
Shiina turned, surprised by Tear's question. The contents of her bowl looked just as putrid as Shiina's had been, but like several of the other patients, it looked as if she couldn't see the thin layer of mold encrusted over the the gelatinous gruel.
"Good evening, Tear-san," she said after a pause, giving Tear a pained smile. "Ah, yes, it's... been hard, during meal times."
She moved to sit on her bed, as far away from the rotten stench as she could. Once safely away and her gag reflex was under as much control as possible, she felt she could talk a bit easier. "Do you... have you been eating what they've given us?"
It just didn't seem like anyone could miss it, but some people had shoveled it down like they were starving. Well, maybe they were, but Shiina didn't think food poisoning would be any easier to handle than an empty stomach.
Her worries proved right on the mark. As though to accept Shiina's answer, Tear marched over to the tray on her desk. "I see," she murmured as she picked up the tray and inspected its contents. The pink gruel still appeared nothing to the Melodist, but given the nature of this place, that hardly made a difference when it came to another's suffering.
Without another word, she took the tray to her closet, opened the door, and placed the tray inside. As soon as she piled an armful of clothes on top of the food, Tear shut the door and pressed her back against it, bowing her head apologetically to Shiina. Hopefully, that made the situation more bearable for her roommate.
"I haven't," she answered, sighing. "A friend of mine was experiencing the same effects and fortunately warned me beforehand." And Tear knew better than to question a trusted teammate. "Is that better?"
It did steady her disorientation and lessen her headache, at the very least. Her gamble, then, had paid off.
Instead of dinner, she focused on gathering up the necessities for tonight. On occasion, she glanced at the door, eyes watching for the appearance of her roommate. Changes in rooming and rooming situation were always a concern here; she hoped Shiina hadn't fallen victim to the institute's tendency to cause people to disappear.
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Despite the ambicable opening, Shiina seemed a little off. As a trained medic, Tear wondered if the girl actually looked unwell, in a way that reminded her of Anise this morning. This was further emphasized when her roommate discarded the bowl of food in the trashcan.
The Melodist's expression instantly shifted to concern. "Good evening, Shiina," she returned. "I apologize for the possible intrusion, but are you also being affected by the food?"
Reply
"Good evening, Tear-san," she said after a pause, giving Tear a pained smile. "Ah, yes, it's... been hard, during meal times."
She moved to sit on her bed, as far away from the rotten stench as she could. Once safely away and her gag reflex was under as much control as possible, she felt she could talk a bit easier. "Do you... have you been eating what they've given us?"
It just didn't seem like anyone could miss it, but some people had shoveled it down like they were starving. Well, maybe they were, but Shiina didn't think food poisoning would be any easier to handle than an empty stomach.
Reply
Without another word, she took the tray to her closet, opened the door, and placed the tray inside. As soon as she piled an armful of clothes on top of the food, Tear shut the door and pressed her back against it, bowing her head apologetically to Shiina. Hopefully, that made the situation more bearable for her roommate.
"I haven't," she answered, sighing. "A friend of mine was experiencing the same effects and fortunately warned me beforehand." And Tear knew better than to question a trusted teammate. "Is that better?"
Reply
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