Farewell Happy Fields!

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Farewell Happy Fields!

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What: Aftermath of Anoli Attack: Hospital
Where: Leo Ward - Caduceus Hospital Headquarters
Summary: It is the aftermath of the Anoli attack on the Closing Ceremonies. The injured have been taken to Caduceus Hospital Headquarters, and it is time for reflection, visting, or old-fashioned escapes from the hospital rooms.
Warnings: Mild squick if people want to describe their wounds in explicit detail.

Caduceus Hospital Headquarters. It has a distinguished history within Hinoto-Ri, boasting of a staff of well-trained Healers, as well as possessing the most cutting edge medical technology possible. There was no limb they couldn't reattach, no organ they couldn't replace... - they even claimed to be able to bring someone back from the dead (with the small disclaimer that it could only occur under certain conditions and with an obscene amount of luck).

So needless to say, the hospital was more than well-equipped to deal with the aftermath of the Anoli attack on the Closing Ceremonies.

---

Nearly every hospital bed had been filled by an injured patient that night. The A&E room had been in constant chaos, with civilians crying and shouting, searching for loved ones, or demanding to see doctors or healers to help so-and-so...

There had also been plenty of reporters milling about, shouting and crying over the status of the Mayor's Secretary, and whether the Red Lion had really died at the scene, or if he was still alive and well within the safety of the hospital's ICU.

By the time morning broke, there was a false sense of tranquillity within the hospital. The healers had been pushed to their limits with the sheer number of patients being wheeled in and out of surgery, but otherwise, the situation had finally gotten under control. Now, both civilians and visitors were merely waiting for word of the conditions of their injured friends and family...

[Welcome to the winding down of the event! You are now at the hospital, where you may be visiting the injured, or be one of the injured yourself! Those with RED injuries will be in the ICU, and those with YELLOW injures will be in normal wards, for obvious reasons. Those with GREEN injuries wouldn't have had to go to the hospital at all, so they are free to come and go as they wish!

You may all start your threads and mingle!]

Comments

[otakuro]

"But Misery! How are we going to unlock our secret mass group Persona if we don't all recognize the power of love?"

Atsuro's exclamation is innocent, and almost a little too out-of-character facetious.

"Yeah, I've heard it all before, too. This kind of thing is supposed to work in movies and video games and anime... If I got any extra powers from being around my friends back home, it was just that they kept me sane when the world was collapsing around us."

He gives a shrug.

"But... I'm not gonna complain if it's a real phenomenon here, either."

[misery_hates_company]

"Oh my, I suppose we're simply doomed, then! What a pity, oh ho ho ho ho." Say what you will, she's getting better at playing along with this stuff.

She snorts. "I suppose I shall not as well. Just don't expect me to brag about too many. Far too many fools here for me to connect with. Speaking of fools..."

She looks out the window. "So... what do you think? The Anoli are miserable wretches, to be certain, but are you inclined to believe them about the outside? I am."

[otakuro]

Atsuro is quiet for a few moments at this next question, not responding until he's shuffled towards a chair closer to Misery's bed to sit down.

"...I think it's likely. But..."

A short pause as he collects his thoughts.

"It would mean a lot of deception on the government's part. The books in the library - I think Arturia and I are still the only ones who've gone through them, but there were a lot. And they all said the same thing. It's not like they were written by the same person, either; every book that talks about the recent history of Hinoto-Ri says that there's destruction outside the barrier. Since it's only been ten years or so... I thought they were writing from first-hand experience. I don't know how the government would have managed to pull off such a huge scam without lying constantly out of their..."

He refrains from finishing the curse word.

"Anyway. Whatever their shortcomings are... I've still gotta side with the government, for now. The Anoli... The Anoli's stance is clear, and it's so bad it shouldn't even be an option."

[misery_hates_company]

She looks at him, then, closes her eyes. "You know, though, people don't always lie out of maliciousness. Sometimes they lie out of a misplaced concern for others. Or fear." She opens her eyes. "And sometimes, if enough people share these concerns, these fears, then they are more than willing to help perpetuate the lie. Some would argue that's how religions start."

She looks out the window. "To be honest, I don't care one way or the other what's out there. I'm perfectly comfortable in here. But you really MUST wonder what they're so afraid of they'd keep everybody locked inside a snug little cage like this."

She pauses. "Or what the Anoli stand to gain from letting them loose into a terrible wasteland."

[otakuro]

Atsuro nods thoughtfully to her words.

"...It might make sense from another perspective, too. ...A city inside a bubble. It doesn't work. They make things like clothes and electronics; we've got gas and electricity and oil... Where is it all coming from? Where are we getting the natural resources we need for all of this stuff if we're trapped inside a barrier? Computers don't just come out of factories from thin air; you need plastic and metal and silicon."

He pauses.

"The guy who brought us here... He never said we were supposed to help the government fight off the demons, did he? We just all kind of... assumed."

[misery_hates_company]

"Or rather, the government came to us first. It is hard to say how they did or did not know of our arrival, but there you have it. I had no intention of fixing my alliance to them from the start. I merely assist against the demons because it works to my benefit."

She looks up. "One way or another, regardless of how idiotic their actions were, their words will touch hearts. Factions will only grow from here. I DO hope you're prepared for that... and know what your own alliance is."

[otakuro]

"Hah..."

Atsuro shakes his head with a wan smile.

"I had a choice, once before... It seems like a long time ago now. We were meant to side with the angels or the demons in the coming conflict." A brief pause. "Literally. Sounds easy, right? But it turns out, neither of them were any good..." At least, for him and the Kazuya back in his world. "To take command of the demons to rise up against God for true freedom in total chaos... or to enforce God's kingdom on earth to strip humans of their will."

"We couldn't do it. ...So we took a third choice. Our choice." He glances towards Misery briefly. This was the first time he had explained things so thoroughly to anyone here, as he recalled. "Maybe that's why the demons here are just like the ones we had back home. It's almost the same choice all over again."

"Freedom in chaos or happiness without free will."

Another pause.

"We can find another choice again."

[misery_hates_company]

She pauses. And then, quickly, that snide smile of her is back on her face, and she chortles. "Good answer, yet again! We'll make a smart one of you yet. Exactly! The best route is the third choice! I like it." She smirks. "Well, let's not be forgetting that then! After all, this is certainly not the end of things."

[otakuro]

"Yeah. And I've got another third choice to think about now."

Atsuro leans over and points at an empty tray lying on a table nearby.

"They asked me to choose between vanilla and chocolate ice cream for after lunch today, but I'm really craving cookie dough. Think it'll fly?"

Maybe not quite so smart.

[hinoto_npcs]

"I know keeping up 'spirit' is important for recovery..."

Uh-oh. Busted. Looks like one of the doctors is standing in the doorway.

"...but if one of the nurses catches you, they'll probably nag you back to your room. Fair warning."

[misery_hates_company]

"Oh deary, deary me. I'm afraid that question for the ages shall simply have to remain unanswered for now. Best not to set off the naggers!" She waves chipperly.

[hinoto_npcs]

"Oh, please. I didn't see anything."

The doctor put a hand over his eyes, before giving a good natured laugh.

"As for the ice cream? I'd stick with the chocolate and vanilla."

The man turned to go, but gave one last comment as he left.

"...the 'special' flavors are all sugar free."

[otakuro]

Whoops.

Atsuro flushes slightly as he half-turns in surprise; the doctor is already on his way out before he recovers enough to say anything coherent.

"Aha... Thanks!"

Sugar-free frozen yogurt wasn't terrible. He didn't think it would be wise to chance it with cookie dough, though.

"You know, what I really want is some shaved ice... I guess I should get back to my room, though."

[misery_hates_company]

"Hmm, yes. Those nurses' tongues can cut through steel sometimes." She waves him off. "Go, enjoy your frozen treat. Don't you worry about me! I've lived through worse."

And died through worse, technically, but that's something she doesn't feel the urge to elaborate on.