Masquerade

H-Hazing? What? No! Th-There are guards everywhere, and I-I’ve only been here a few months, and I d-don’t talk t-to a lot of p-people. I d-don’t w-want to hurt anyone. [Her expression is a  cocktail of horrified and earnest. Who would orchestrate such a horrible trick? Why is this person so sure Annie’s involved? She’d just wanted to make sure he wasn’t lost! Her mouth slumps unhappily.]

[It didn't make any sense, that's what people did. They picked and prodded at the new kids and then leave them alone, well the rules might be different in a place like this, but the concept should still be the same. A few months, that still made her relatively new, right? So she should be in the same boat that he is. Maybe that's why she didn't know about the hazing.] A few months? So you should be like me, you might get the better end of the deal on the hazing but I doubt you'll know when the whole thing was taking place. 

Okay, fair enough there. But I’m not one of those people. I’m only here because I didn’t want to exist. Problem solved. No more judging. [Her eyes roll then she shakes her head.] So just a little bit more than me. Ah the comfort of a room. Where only your mind can get you.

[She talked a lot. That was the first thing that he could take away from their conversation (if he could really call it that) but she hadn't made any moves to attack him or anything like that, so he figured that he would be fine for the moment] S'not really problem solved 'cause ya still have to exist and what not. [If that was the case, he wouldn't be here.] There's only so many hours you can stay in your room without going crazy, its too quiet sometimes, ya know?

See, but the point was intentionally awful, therefore, It was just as creative as it needed to be.

[The instructions were simple enough, but that didn't make it easier for him to want to do them. He doubted that him and Wes would get anything done with meeting once a week, but that was only because they wouldn't agree on anything. It was obvious that the doctor wasn't going to take his side and actually believe that there was nothing wrong with him, so there was nothing else to talk about.] Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll catch ya around, Doc. 

Anything? Careful what you wish for there, kid. I might decide to call you Barbie Panties or something, and you’d have to suck it up. 

If the best thing that you can come up with is Barbie Panties then we have to have a serious conversation about your creativity. 

I was talking to myself, not the books. Why would I talk to the books? I’d rather have the non-conversation interrupted than spend another minute being bored. [She shrugs.] I expected people. Simple, isn’t it? [She looks more closely at him.] You been here for long?

I mean considerin' where we are, it's not much of a surprise if people were actually talkin' to books. S'not like I was judgin'- okay maybe I was but not enough to be insulting. [He shook his head] Nah, not really. Give or take a week at best, maybe a little less. I've had the comfort of my own room so I haven't been around many people. 

[Annie’s nails dig into her tender palms. What? What had she done to cause such suspicion? She bites her lip in agitation, taking a step forward despite her fear; her face is open and honest- if a little worried.] I don’t understand. Wh-What did I do? H-Have I d-done something to y-you before, to make y-you angry? Please, I’m sorry for whatever I’ve done.

[Dez knew that he wouldn't get her to admit anything, so the whole thing was pointless. However, what he wasn't used to was people apologizing for the whole thing beforehand, it threw him for a loop for a moment.] The hazin' of the newbies, ya' know. Where all the veterans come and like beat the shite out of all the newer people. 

The heating in the tech office must be fucked, I haven’t been able to take off my jacket yet and I’ve been here since half seven this morning. 

I mean if the windows didn't have like bars on them, ya' could always crack 'em open or if you're the violent type, ya' could always go up to the techies and give 'em a piece of your mind.

That...doesn't actually make me feel any better, [He had a feeling that if the wanted to, she could hurt him a good amount before the guards even reached them. No matter where they were, a person can only run so fast.] Still means that you could get at least one punch in, and let's say they're havin' a crappy day and just don't give a damn. They are gonna be walkin' a lot slower to get to my rescue, by then half my head should be off.

I…b-beat? [Annie’s brow creases, worried eyes staring at the strange boy. Had she said something wrong? Did she look like someone who would beat someone up? Annie takes a step away from him, expression filled with concern and growing fear. Maybe he wants to hurt her, if he thinks that she’ll attack him.] I..I…I w-wouldn’t beat anyone, I pr-promise. [It had happened too often to her for her to ever want to do anything of the sort to anyone else.] 

[The confused look that was flashed his way was nothing that he hadn't experienced before. There were plenty of times back home where people would back away from him or call the cops because he accused them of acts that they weren't going to do. He didn't believe them and he told the cops just as much, but they never took his side.]  I have to hand it to ya' though, ya' would have got me if I hadn't been payin' attention. 

Hell, if only most of us were that lucky. I'd be a genius if I could pay my way through.

[He laughs, and though it’s mostly just a chuckle, it’s both relieving and ironic because it’s amusing that it’s snarky sarcasm that has him coming around to a patient.]

[While it still made him uncomfortable to have the doctor know his entire name, especially without him giving it, the fact that he had an option made him feel a bit better. That wasn't to say that he trusted Wes, but he didn't feel as tense as before.] If I had to chose from what ya' gave me, I'd have to go with Dez, but Simmons fit just as well, its original and whatnot. [He made a face before shaking his head.] Actually anythin' but my full name would be perfect. 

[Emilia turned at the sudden voice. It was a single word and it felt like an accusation. She crossed her arms.] Most people would say “Hello” or something of the sort. There’s nothing weird here but the lack of interesting things to do.

[Dez wasn't quite sure how to respond, it was definitely more than he's heard some people around here say but he wasn't about to mark it down as normal.] Well you were talkin' to a stack of books and I thought it would be rude to interrupt the conversation. Ya' right about it being borin' but what did ya' expect in a loony bin. 

[Annie nods, shifting uncomfortably. She wouldn’t have normally approached someone she didn’t know, but he’d just looked so…lost. She fiddles again with the scabs at her palm as an excuse to avoid eye contact.] Oh. Um, d’you need help w-with anything? [She hopes not; but asks anyway. She doesn’t want to leave him stranded if he’s all mixed up.]

[Dez didn't know if the people here were actually this considerate or if it was all a facade. Surely people that were locked in the loony bin for god knows how long wouldn't just offer up their assistance, right? The whole thing was almost sketchy.

[Scott laughs a bit.] ‘Z’. ‘X’. Same thing, isn’t it?

No way, [He objected] If I said that in class, they would've put me with one of the specials. 

[Emilia’s hands run up and down her forearms, gently touching the sewn up and puckered lines along them. She doesn’t remember much of the hospital before this place, but she hasn’t yet decided if she’s okay with this place. Her footsteps take her to the rec room and she looks at the books available.] Wow. Even the book selection is inadequate.

[Dez wasn't as bitter as was he was when he first arrived, it was still there but it was being replaced with other emotions like boredom and more excessive boredom. He figured that if he explored his surroundings more he might find something to do- he doubted it but it was worth a try. However as he made his way towards the rec room, he heard an unfamiliar voice(not that he knew anyone to recognize their voice by yet) in the room that he was heading towards. Peaking his head around the corner, he noticed a girl that seemed to be talking to a couple of books.The whole thing was-] Weird.