There was no denying that the institute was less crowded than it had been a week ago, and that some of the patients had been left without a roommate. That stood out even more when the other half of the room was left unoccupied, as if those patients were expected to return but never would. But despite all these signs that something wasn't right, the staff paid it no attention, and that was the same for the Head Doctor's daytime persona.

"Now that you all have full bellies, it should be easy enough to drift off to sleep, right?" The Head Doctor chuckled as he greeted all of the patients over the intercom. "I'm sure that by tomorrow everyone should be feeling much better, and so we can go full steam ahead with getting you all well, not just in body but in mind."

It would have seemed like an encouraging thought if the lack of truth wasn't so painfully obvious to each person listening. But that didn't seem to bother Landel.

"Good night, everyone! Have sweet dreams." With that worrisome end, the intercom clicked off, leaving only the hollow, distant sound of the wind for the patients to listen to.

Not too long after that, the intercom switched back on, but by this point the nurses had cleared away from the patient blocks and everything was deadly silent. Until the static started, at least.

"You know, I have to admit," the Head Doctor spoke up, "I find it pretty cute how some of you have been trying to make your way to the third floor. You found that little shortcut, did you? Well, you're certainly allowed to keep knocking on that particular door, so to speak, but I can't be held responsible for what happens to you if you do."

Landel cleared his throat and laughed lowly, under his breath. "As for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about? Don't worry your heads over it! Just keep running like rats through this maze and we can continue to have all kinds of fun, I'm sure."

Whatever warning Landel was hinting at, he clearly wasn't interested in saying anything further on it, as the intercom shut off the next second.

[M73]

Dinner had been uneventful. L had kept to himself; he might test the migraine scenario another time, but for tonight, he couldn't risk it. He ate the soup, following it with two of the fruit cups that had survived the trip back from Doyleton and the cup of coffee that now appeared with every dinner. It was hard not to be wary of the coffee, however. The food itself was delivered in such a way that it probably wouldn't be complicated to dose a given patient's meal, but the coffee was even more targeted -- more specific to him.

He was usually passive when he listened to Landel's nightly round of bombast. It had been laden with clues to their situation long before his own abduction and arrival, but it also tended to be extremely annoying in tone and content. Tonight, though, the comments about a shortcut to the third floor caused a visible reaction. His head snapped towards the speaker and an expression of frustration and annoyance set in.

Afterward, he got ready to leave quickly. Most of his preparations were identical to the previous night's. There was some chance that they might go to the basement, and that being the case, he would need the backpack. That would make it easy to carry the radio, so he slipped it into the side pocket.

He hesitated over the flower he had picked for Lana, in its plastic sleeve, then added that to the small zippered pouch on the front of the bag. He didn't know whether she would still need it, or whether it would have any efficacy at this point, or whether she would venture out. But it was easy to bring it along.

[To here.]

Scar was still sitting at his desk, listening to the wind howl outside when the intercom came on once again for the night. He scowled, listening while going about the nightly routine he had missed the previous night. His robe, sash, and pathetic weapons, followed by the photograph, slipped quickly and discretely into his robe. That was when he heard the Head Bastard mention the third floor.

His attention snapped directly up to the intercom and he stopped in his tracks. He needed to get there. That was where everything was, where they must have been keeping the secrets of this damned place. Landel's sinister warnings were completely ignored. If it was a possible route, he was finding it and taking it.

Perhaps one of his allies would know something. First, he would check in with Alphonse since he was so close. But it would be more likely for Lust to know of this sort of thing. God knew they had hardly discussed anything productive, earlier.

Scar pushed out into the hallway with his flashlight in hand, leaning lightly against the wall to wait for the younger Elric.

[Alphonse]

Full of dinner and sick of sitting around, Korra moved quickly down the women's hallway with only her flashlight. She kept a close eye out for trouble as well as for other patients.

The third floor... That was what the head doctor had been talking about on the speaker, right? Soma said that was where they kept everything, including their stupid "power jamming device." That was what was wrecking her bending. That was what she needed to take out. But she didn't know where to even start looking for this so-called "entrance." Landel's threats didn't scare her, at least not enough to make her lose her curiosity.

She wasn't too keen on doing anything alone, though, not in poor visibility like this. Maybe she'd get lucky and come across someone willing to keep her company.

[To here]

[From here]

Link made his way briskly toward the main hallway and the meeting point with his allies. They had begun work in the basement, and they would continue it, yes. But the thought of breaching the third floor was tempting, oh so tempting.

He needed to focus on the task at hand. There was much to be seen in the dungeons of Landel's, and he planned on exploring it thoroughly. It was in the darkest corners that the greatest secrets were always held.

[To here]

[From here]

The same tedious route as always. It was so frustrating for Link to have to reset his progress night after night. It would be so much quicker if he could simply blow through this place in one run.

But this place was different than any temple of dungeon he had ever faced before. It was the same, yes, in many ways. But it was still much more tedious in its own little ways. And much more deadly.

[To here]

[From here]

Just as last night, Link stood and waited along the wall of the main hallway. Nobody else was out, yet. Good. He had made good time. One never truly knew, here.

He didn't expect to wait long. They all seemed to be very competent people, perhaps with the slight exception of the Once-ler. Though Link could not complain. He had been a bumbling fool the first time he had faced a true monster.

[The Green Team!]

Fai had finished his dinner in relative silence.  He had been thinking about the events of the day and the fact that he had yet another long night ahead of him.  He had determined that he should do some exploring but as the doctor's voice came over the loud speaker, something had caught his attention.  The third floor..he wondered if that was the place that Kurogane had been trying to take him when he had first arrived.  Things had been a little strange then and they never seemed to end up where they were supposed to.

Standing up, Fai set his dinner plates aside and headed out into the hall. He looked around for a moment, finding that things were fairly quiet still.  It seemed he was a little early in heading out.  He wondered who he might run into while out tonight.  He hadn't met a lot of people on this world yet, but the few he had were certainly interesting.

Starting down the hallway, Fai briefly wondered if he should stop by Kurogane's room before continuing. The other had said he would check up on him.  That thought made Fai pause.  He had promised to wait for Kurogane to check up on him before venturing out each night, but certainly the ninja wouldn't care if Fai met him half way or even made it to the room before Kurogane left. 

With a smile on his face, Fai continued down the hall. He put his hands behind his head as he took his time. No sense in rushing since he did have all the time in the world to get there. And with no destination really in mind, Fai wouldn't have to worry about being late.

[Open]