Elias Gordon (malkovian) wrote in zenithrp, @ 2017-02-17 14:22:00 |
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Entry tags: | #day 068, august |
Who: August & Jonnie.
Where: Third floor, near the stairs.
When: Morning.
Once he'd inputted his request, August made his way out onto the open hallway of his floor. He'd been curious about the newly-installed handicap chair attached to the stairs. Once he saw that there was no one else around, he crept forward slowly, approaching the chair in the same manner a cat might approach an unwary bird. He really, really wanted to try it, out of sheer curiosity, but the idea that most people would chide him for taking away other people's much-needed transportation made him hesitate. He peered more closely at the buttons on the handle; the chair's operation seemed simple enough, and what if he just rode it from one floor to the next? It wasn't like anyone was walking down the stairs right that instant, except suddenly, someone was. August stood straight up, trying to look nonchalant and casual, which was impossible since he was left leaning on the staircase's banister, in the middle of an empty hallway, all alone. Sure, nothing weird about that.
"Uh, hi," he finally offered to the woman, eyes narrowing in concern and some slight confusion when he didn't recognize her. "You're...new."
"I am." She arched one tawny brow. Her eyes darted from August to chair and back again, easily making the connection between the two. She very nearly smiled, but quickly curbed the expression, lest she give away precisely how long she had been watching him at his curious work. "I'm Jonnie. And you are?"
"Ah, August," he replied, leaning forward and away from the banister sheepishly. His shoulders immediately bent forward, his whole body sloughing into a position that made him seem smaller than he should have been. His head bobbed to the side, and one hand rose to his throat, which he quickly tailored into a brief pull of his shirt collar. An older, polite woman like Jonnie immediately put him at ease; she might've reminded him of his mother, or simply mistaken her for another nurturer like Rae. "I, ah, I'm new here too. A couple of days. You missed out on some fun," he added quietly and sarcastically. "But I guess you saw that on the network."
A sharp glint entered her eyes at the sound of his name. She allowed herself that smile, suited to the moment as it was. "August," she said. "Yes, I did see some references to that. It does sound for the best that I missed it." She took a single, small step closer. Bare-footed, he towered over her, and yet the square of her shoulders and the slump of his seemed to somehow lessen the vertical distance between them. "I'm very glad I've run into you, though. I think you could help me, if you have the time. I had some questions I think you can answer, probably better than anyone else here."
The moment she moved into his space, he instantly stepped back. Brow furrowed, he watched her warily. "Like...like what?"
She did not pursue him, though the slightly forward slant of her posture indicated she was not wholly unwilling to do so, should it prove necessary. "Jack and Madison were trying to explain the implant to me," she said. "Apparently you're the only one who's had the balls to try to cut it out. I'd like you to tell me about that, August. If you would."
The hand at his throat slid toward the back of his neck, but August forced it down. "Uh, no. Sorry. I really...don't wanna talk about that." He moved to step around Jonnie, away from the small enclosure that the banister and handicap chair made. She moved nimbly in front of him, smiling still.
"I know," Jonnie said. "I understand it was very unpleasant, but they fixed you right up. You look healthy as a horse now." She gestured to him, tall and lean, indeed mostly healthy in appearance, if a bit pale. "I really only have a few very small questions." She moved closer, her head canting, pale eyes fixing him with an unblinking gaze. "Just tell me what it was like. How deep did you cut? What did you use? How did… They… respond?"
August's eyes went as round as dinner plates, and he backed up again, this time into the banister.
"Look, I don't, I said I don't wanna talk about it! Why...why do you care? It didn't work, I didn't...I couldn't get it out!" His harried voice carried down over the stairwell and to the floor below, his tone rising with worry and anxiety.
Jonnie folded her arms across her chest. Her expression softened, but into something more akin to disappointment than compassion. "I know," she said. "And I don't want to dredge up old pains. But I'm new here, and I'm trying to learn what I can about this place. You're the only one who knows these things, August. I'm asking for your help."
August's head tipped back, as though the angle would give him fresh perspective on just what this woman was trying to gain from him. Slowly, the answers started to eke out, tidbits of information that he hoped would stave off her curiosity.
"I...I don't know how deep. Pretty bad. Enough to lose a lot of blood, pass out. I...I used a razor? Just. The first thing that came to hand in my bathroom. And...I don't know how 'they' responded. As far as I know, not at all. Like...like I said, I couldn't get it out." He did not add that he damn sure tried, that he had cut down to the bone, past the point where the pain had overwhelmed him and he'd blacked out. But he'd answered her questions -- wasn't that enough?
"Can I go now?"
She hummed, soft and contemplative. "Are you sure there's nothing you're forgetting? Please be thorough, August. I really need to know, in case at some point we can use this to get home. And I know neither of us wants to have this conversation again."
His face adopted an expression that would have been pertinent had Jonnie suddenly grown two heads. How was getting their implants out going to help them get home? If anything, he'd proven that that wasn't an acceptable method of escape, but he suddenly and desperately needed to be out of that situation.
"I...I don't know what else you want. I couldn't get it out. I just...I think I might've cut down to the bone, and it still wouldn't come out..." He edged to the side, trying to get around her again; all it would take was one swift motion, one long-legged stride so that he could escape back to his room.
She moved along with him, still watching his face. Then she moved to one side, her arms still neatly folded, her gaze still unblinking. Her mouth curled upward, only at one corner; whatever warmth the expression held died well before it reached her eyes. "Thank you, August. I appreciate your help."
August stared for a moment, as if waiting to see if this was some further trap. Once he realized he was well and truly free, he moved forward at a quick clip, though not so fast as to seem he was running. No, just striding quickly and efficiently forward, back to his room.
He shut the door behind him, quietly but firmly, drawing a line between himself and the previous experience.