A Fortunate Arival

[despairing_hope]

[Arriving on Base]

[He was vaguely aware of waking up inside a small capsule. If he was to describe it he would liken it to one of those escape pods you see in scifi films. He might have had more to describe if he hadn't been violently jerked out of one perceived reality to another. After all, it was a little hard to go from a rather unpleasant state to suddenly waking up in a small capsule and being attacked by some horrible sea monster.]

Oh what bad luck!

[But as soon as he said that much a laser fired out and monster got distracted going somewhere else. before he knew it something was shooting him out and directly towards the base. Though his legs were a little wobbly, and he definitely needed a moment to gather himself it didn't take too much effort to board. As soon as he walked in he smiled cheerfully.]

It was lucky after all!

[Med Bay]

[Despite a safe arrival he was not in a good state. Being stationary for the minimum of a month, the maximum of who even knows is hard on the body, especially Nagito's body. For the time being he was simply resting in one of the beds, though trying to get up every so often to move around. However, staying here was troubling him. He had taken measure of himself, it was someone else. A person that worried him.]

I guess my assumption was true then....

[Did that mean he failed? He had to know... he had to know if his plan had been successful, if he had saved them! Still... if he was here....

He lifted up his left arm and stared at the hand there. That hand that didn't belong. A woman's hand with red nails....]

This really is unlucky in the end.

[Library]

[It was later at night and Nagito had more or less made camp in the room. There wasn't anywhere else for him to go. Taking a private room didn't feel right, and he couldn't bare the thought of sharing it with others. However, he liked the idea of being where all the books in this place were. He could read them at leisure, and unless someone told him he couldn't stay... well, it was a free space, right?]

Comments

Re: med bay

[gnasher]

[Rin about half-jumps out of his skin, because typically the med bay is a quiet, calm place, and not full of yelling strangers with crazy scarecrow hair. he whirls around, dropping the bandages like he's been caught in some sort of heinous act, and the roll goes unspooling across the floor]

Haah -- ?!

[holding his arm to his chest, he stares at this newcomer, noticing three things in quick succession: the sickly tint to the stranger's skin, his sharp eyes, and what he swears is nail polish on one hand?]

I'm just grabbing some bandages, fuck, what are you yelling for?

[despairing_hope]

[Nagito blinked a bit his frown softening when he got a better look at the person. In fact he looked embarrassed now.]

Ah... I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else.

[He looked down, and then noticed his hand was in view and shifted it to behind his back.]

You look very similar to them, I spoke out of turn.

[gnasher]

[seriously? he doesn't look like anyone he's ever met, this guy must be high on painkillers or something]

-- It's fine. You don't look so hot, though... should you be up?

[looks around for Valentine again, as if he hasn't already verified she isn't around]

[despairing_hope]

I'm fine, a little rest should be more than enough.

[He was used to it, good days and bad days.]

I just arrived here today, so... it's been a bit rough.

[gnasher]

[Rin squats to pick up the tail end of the dropped roll of gauze, spooling it back up carefully]

The first day can be pretty overwhelming. Uh, if you give me a minute, I can get you something to eat and drink from the kitchen. Are you sick?

[despairing_hope]

Ah... well, I think I've been asleep for a long time so.... Maybe a month? Maybe longer? It's hard to say. Thank you for the offer, but there's no reason to go out of your way for someone like me. I'm not particularly hungry anyway.

[gnasher]

-- That's not asleep, that's a coma. Oi, you just woke up from a coma?

[and here he is, bleeding all over everything and swearing at the guy, wtf]

You've got to be starving! Is that how comas even work...? Shit, where the hell is Valentine?

[despairing_hope]

Ah... probably. Though, I'm sure it was an induced coma. Though, there was a question on whether waking up was an option or not. I suppose the details don't matter.

[He chuckles slightly and waves his right hand dismissively.]

I don't eat much even on a normal day so... and I'm sure they had nutrients hooked up through a tube. It's fine.

[gnasher]

[ok, Rin resolves then and there not to leave this guy alone until he's acting less reckless about his own health]

Alright, enough messing around... you need to rest.

[he's quickly wrapping his forearm in the gauze now]

I'm gonna head to the kitchens and get you some stuff that's easy on the stomach, and something to drink, and maybe some soap or something if you want to wash up in the clinic bathroom...

[despairing_hope]

[Why was this person getting more persistent? He was starting not to know what to do. People always just left him alone before. Who would go out of their away to be nice to a stranger?]

You... really don't have to go out of your way.... You came here for a reason didn't you? You're hurt? Isn't that more important?

[gnasher]

[Rin blinks, like he's almost forgotten about the wound on his arm -- actually, he kind of had. adrenaline does that to a person]

What? It's just some stupid scratch, who cares about that.

[the bandage has been tied on rather shittily, but whatever; he's on a mission now]

I'll be back in ten minutes exactly, and if you're not here or not resting, I'll find you. This is a small base, and I can smell blood in the water every time.

[a grimace of teeth, he's probably joking. probably]

[he then turns on his heel, leaving the way he came; ten minutes later, exactly, he returns, with all the things he listed in tow, placed neatly on a tray]

[despairing_hope]

If you insist.

[He had considered trying to run away, but accepted the idea he would be hunted down if he did. So he waited silently for the strange guy to come back. Why was this happening? Why would anyone go through the effort?]

[gnasher]

[the tray gets put down on a nearby table when he returns, and Rin immediately starts handing Komaeda the water, first. it's important to hydrate]

I'm only really familiar with sports medicine, but I know a few exercises for getting atrophied muscles back into shape, after a break or something...

[despairing_hope]

[He takes the water, though he is honestly bewildered by the sudden concern. He didn't even know what to do with it. It was... a weird feeling.]

Thank you....

And it's alright, I mean, I walked here, a little stiffly maybe, but I'm fine. It's kind enough that you brought this for someone like me.

[gnasher]

[arches an eyebrow, because he's used to overly self-demeaning Japanese etiquette, but that's a little much -- "someone like me"]

We've got to work together here, or it'll get real unpleasant. Walking's probably the best exercise for now, because it actually resets your muscles given that its a motion your body has done every day for years, but we should add some arm weights in a couple days, maybe.

[picks a seat nearby; apparently Rin is going nowhere]

-- Ah, I'm Rin Matsuoka, by the way.

[despairing_hope]

[It was beyond that typical Japanese self deprecation, it was true lack of self worth.]

I see you're dedicated.

[He was feeling so unlucky.]

A pleasure Matsuoka kun. I'm Nagito Komaeda.

[gnasher]

Nice to meet you. I don't mind being informal, Rin is fine.

[realises he's probably being a little overbearing for someone who just woke up out of a coma, so he sits back a little in his chair, and fiddles with something on his communicator. it's actually a to-do list for this guy, but Komaeda doesn't need to know that]

I've been told that I'm dedicated before. Somehow it doesn't sound like a compliment, half the time.

[despairing_hope]

Ah... I feel that would be too familiar.

[The only person he could imagine using their given name with is Sonia, and that was because Sonia was foreign.]

I can see where that might be the case.

[It did leave at least him with an awkward feeling.]

Have you been in this place long?

[gnasher]

[he's pretty formal for somebody who looks like they've been through hell and back recently, but Rin doesn't mind either way. he supposes he should call him Komaeda]

Only about a month. Which is why I'm still making rookie mistakes. [waves his stupidly bandaged arm] It isn't hard to get used to the rhythm of the base, but outside's a whole different story. -- Don't forget to try to eat, too.

[the bowl of soft, plain rice is gestured to]

[despairing_hope]

[One of the things Nagito had as a pretty good consistent was that he was polite.]

May I ask how that happened?

[Rice, people always brought rice. Why couldn't it be toast? However this time he didn't feel there was a way to get something else. Classmates were one thing to do that to, a stranger he had just met was different. So reluctantly he took the rice, though didn't make to eat it.}

Of course, of course.

[gnasher]

[Rin watches the other guy closely, feeling a little thrown, for some reason. he's never met a coma patient recently reanimated, but... this doesn't seem right. he's just too calm. maybe he's from one of those worlds where fucked up shit happened a lot, but still]

...It's not important. I'm aiming to be the best swimmer in Japan, not the best fighter, is the short version, I guess.

[there were a lot of things in the ocean that didn't see him as a friend, despite the similar dental situation]

[despairing_hope]

Oh! I read about someone who was the best swimmer in Japan once. It was a bit of a tragedy.

[But she survived so it was a happy ending.]

So it's safe to assume that you were attacked swimming outside? That makes being down here just a bit more unnerving.

[gnasher]

[a bit of a tragedy? what? he wants to push further, but realises his swimming obsession is probably not what this guy needs, on top of everything else]

[staring at that rice]

You don't have to worry about that yet. Going off-base would be stupid in your condition. We're safe here, for now.

[he tried to make it less ominous, but he... doesn't really like to lie, so here's a sort of approximate uncomfortable truth]

[despairing_hope]

Perhaps.... But, have you ever considered the amount of pressure that's all around us? It takes very little for such a structure to collapse in on itself.

Ah! But, we need to believe that it won't, because being hopeful about this situation is what's important.

[And, he had rice... things were fine. He wasn't lucky right now.]

[gnasher]

[arches an eyebrow; Rin's a practical kind of guy, he's not that easily given over to panic]

You don't have to worry about the structure. It's currently being reinforced by an expert architect -- in addition to all the work that was recently done after a hurricane. This place is only getting stronger by the day.

[he's not sure it comes down to hope, as much as hard work, really -- facts would probably put this guy's mind at ease more, wouldn't it]