Day 60: Cafeteria

[gald_digger]

Anise had been lying snug in bed, only vaguely aware that she was awake, when her rest was disturbed by the one sound in the world she'd never wanted to hear again.

"Good morning, everyone!"

The girl's eyes shot open and she immediately sat up straight. There was no doubt about it. That was the Head Doctor, that bastard, and he was back! Now that

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[meanandgreen]

First Raph was running around like a maniac in gore-covered monster hell, then bam, he's lying on his stomach with his face smothered in a pillow. In that hazy place between sleep and waking, he almost thought it was a dream.

Then a bolt of realization hit him like a punch in the face. Everything was wrong. Again.

Adrenaline had him reeling out of bed so quick he stumbled over his own alien feet, sending him pitching forward until he caught himself on the desk. The moment he caught sight of his hand, the sense of déjà vu was replaced with something more sinister.

Human. He was still goddamn human.

In these kinds of situations, anger is a good replacement for things like fear or dread or disgust. Rage, thick and boiling hot, filled his stomach before his brain could catch up. He charged toward the door like a mad bull on a rampage, not even sure where the heck he was going. Out. He'd had enough of this crud. He just needed outUnfortunately his exit was barred by a large, dark-skinned woman whose stubborn expression said he was

[ofthemotions]

Mikado was slowly learning that he should assume the worst, round up, and that would basically be the scenarios he found himself in. The last the boy remembered was berating Snow for his irresponsible acts without remorse, a seemingly only lightly irritated Izaya to his side. And now it was daylight. Another transition without contrast, and he was left blinking up at the ceiling when the intercom went off, an unfamiliar voice ringing from it. A vacation? So this must be

[meanandgreen]

Raph glared up darkly at the voice, shaking his head in an attempt to clear it. It didn't work. Everything was as fuzzy as ever. It wasn't the first time he'd been forcibly drugged, won't be the last, either. But he could never grow to like the feeling of being at someone else's mercy.

Actually, it royally pissed him off.

"Peachy," he spat, unsure if he'd imagined the kid calling him by name or something like it. He eyed him more thoroughly, noting the clothes and expression. The kid probably wasn't much younger than him, but young enough to coax a little leeway out of Raph's bad mood. "Just met the welcoming committee."

His glare traveled to the far wall where a few of the orderlies stood, watching. Soon as the drugs wore off, they could bet their asses he'd be ready for round two. Next time he didn't plan on losing.

[ofthemotions]

Mikado flinched at the glare and tone, eyes glancing away on reflex. Okay, obviously... He wasn't really welcome here. But if this guy was someone he had to live with, more or less, Mikado should at least make sure the guy was actually okay. And hope that he wasn't someone too strange. Like Snow or that Claire copy.

"...I know," he gave in response. "I'm, uh. Your roommate, actually. I saw what happened." The boy shifted his weight awkwardly, hoping that wouldn't make the other more angry. "Do you mind if I eat with you?"

[meanandgreen]

Raph's scowl turned into a frown. He's obviously scaring the kid, and he didn't need to be a turtle to do it. Yeah, he was pissed, but there was no reason for him to be a jerk to some kid that was probably in the same boat he's in. So he just shrugged. Let him figure out for himself what that meant.

And now he had to think. He remembered someone else being in the room, but he was too keyed up to realize who it had been. Not that he really cared. He had plans to blow this joint as soon as possible. No use getting all buddy-buddy with the locals if he wasn't gonna stick around, but maybe the kid would be good for some info.

"That was you, huh?" And then it was time to scowl again, stubbornly folding his arms across his chest. "They caught a lucky break. But now I'm onto their little tricks. It's not gonna happen again."

Though the groggy way his eyelids were drooping against his will said he won't be getting that rematch anytime soon.

[ofthemotions]

...That wasn't really an invitation, but it wasn't a denial either. Mikado paused a moment, then quietly pulled out the chair opposite to Raphael, sitting down and placing the tray in front of him. "That was me," he gave in affirmation. Saying anything more to what the other said seemed faulty. He had already been shown to have a temper. Pointing out the fact that the tricks used had overwhelmed the other easily and would probably be the same way again if he tried anything seemed like a bad idea.

Instead, the boy moved the conversation along. "I'm Ryuugamine Mikado. It's nice to meet you." Hopefully. It would be nice if this was a meeting that didn't have pain or bruising involved. Or insanity. Or people claiming to be characters.

...Maybe he just needed a vacation.

[meanandgreen]

"Raphael," he grumbled. Whether the meeting was nice or not was still up for debate. But after waking up in a strange place twice in a row, not finding his brothers, and getting his ass drugged, Raph was pretty sure things were turning out to be anything but niceAs the kid took his seat, Raph surveyed the room, trying to force his brain to cooperate through the fog. Check out the exits, scan the faces, size up the goons loitering around like bouncers for the world's cruddiest nightclub. He didn't have a plan. He never did. Never intended on making much of one, either. But when his eyes finally settled back down on his untouched plate of food, Raph actually found himself wishing Leo was there to tell him where to go next

[ofthemotions]

Raphael. Wasn't that... An archangel? Another name to add to the interesting column here, and he was beginning to think that Ippo was the only new person he had met with a more normal name. Technically, Mikado couldn't call his own name normal, but at least--

He was pulled from his musings by his roommate's voice, and blankly looked at him for a moment before his brain caught up, following Raphael's line of sight and then looking at his own plate. Caught in a memory of the day before, Mikado grimaced. "It's not that they drug us... Mostly. There was this thing yesterday where they fed us rotting food but some people couldn't tell that and ate it anyway." The boy was obviously beyond disgusted by that, and bordering some trauma on the subject. "But the food won't do anything to you... --Well. That I know of, I guess. I mean, I might not know--"

...Mikado was rambling. He winced and looked to the side. "...Just don't always trust your eyes... I guess."

[meanandgreen]

Raph shrugged and speared a waffle with his fork, attempting to cram the whole thing in his mouth. What would normally be an easy feat as a turtle turned into a complete mess of syrup when the damn thing refused to fit in his stupid tiny human mouth.

If it was anyone else, they might've been embarrassed, but Raph seemed more peeved than anything as he ripped off a hunk with his teeth. Rotten food didn't scare him any. He'd eaten his fair share and then some. But this stuff didn't taste spoiled. It was actually pretty damn good.

"Tastes fine to me," he said, spitting crumbs and chewing messily. He seemed to be taking out most of his aggression on his food. As he ate, his eyes kept darting around the room. Even with the sedative, his muscles were tense like some kind of cornered animal, ready to spring into a fight at any second.

[ofthemotions]

...Well, it looked like his roommate lacked most of the things that made manners what they were. Mikado watched in a mix of horror and fascination until he realized he was staring, to which he promptly stared at his own food. Which looked and smelled exactly as they should.

Which only served to remind Mikado that it had been days since he last ate. He started cutting into his own food at the thought, lifting a bite to his mouth. There was actual flavor, and not the kind that made him wince. The boy's eyes lit up, and he swallowed, looking back at Raphael. "Well, it's not rotted today, it looks like. And it's actual food now," he added as a grateful murmur. That was enough of a deterrent to any larger thought processes for the time being.

[meanandgreen]

He ate in silence, hunched over his plate and still obviously on edge. Mikado's staring didn't get past him, but it was something he was used to. Raph grunted at the boy but didn't stop eating.

Silence was good. All he really wanted to do was eat in peace and be left the hell alone, but he knew he had to start asking questions. It wasn't his favorite method of gathering info. He wasn't all that good at it, either, but talking was all he could do until he could get his hands on one of those guards. Give 'em the good old shakedown.

"Thought this joint was supposed to be some kind of military run operation," he said around a mouthful of sausage. As frenzied as he was last night, he did pay attention to most of the things S.T. said. Or, well. The important things.

[ofthemotions]

Silence slipped in, and Mikado let it. He didn't really know how to talk to Raphael, and for that, he stuck to his own food, relishing the joy of actual solid food that tasted as it should. This continued for a few minutes, before the other spoke up again. Which... Mikado really had no clue on. There was a quick wave of guilt over him--honestly, he wasn't being very useful at all--but he could at least share what he knew.

"It... was? I guess?" The boy looked troubled, obviously unsure of what was going on. "Since I got here, it was. We had these uniforms, and these soldiers watching us.... And then today it's different. And there's someone new talking over the intercom." Though, that man seemed more like he had been here before. Which would put him as the one that had been in charge previously, if what Mikado had been told was correct. So, really.... What had happened to the military?