InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You are a people too"

Lockon Stratos (Neil Dylandy) (stratos1) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2015-07-03 09:36:00

Entry tags:

artemis crock, neil dylandy, spencer reid

[action | open | day 330 ]
[ Neil had been holding up fine. He'd been slowly getting used to the thought that what life he had, it was going to be spent in a virtual reality. A virtual reality prison. After all, Tieria was here. And a chance to reconnect with Lyle. It wasn't bad, not bad at all.

But then he'd gone to the shooting range. He didn't have that many skills, and he figured that he could at least keep up with the ones he had.

Within three shots, he'd remembered, though. Not being able to aim properly. Hurting all over. Al-Saachez getting in from his blind spot. Everything.

Only the force of habit made him put away the gun properly. Then he mostly stumbled into one of the dimmer places, slumping against the wall, gloved fingers digging into his hair. He kept telling himself that he was being stupid, that it was nothing, that he was going to be fine. The thought of coming out, of talking to anyone, of trying to smile and act natural, it was simply too much. He was too stuck in reliving his last minutes. Over and over again.

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thisiscalm
2015-07-03 08:57 am UTC (link)

[ There's a revolver locked away in his apartment. Hidden in a safe box, tucked into the back of the closet. With Tyki gone, there's no need to carry it on his person that he's aware of but he still feels a desperate need to brush up on his marksmanship. It's been a while. Too long.

Of course, he'd expected to be alone and upon realizing that he isn't, target practice will have to wait. Approaching cautiously, Reid keeps a safe distance. ]

Hey... are you okay?

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	stratos1 2015-07-03 09:09 am UTC (link)
	Huh? [ Neil's head snaps up, turning a little to the left to compensate for the eye that's gone. The other eye widening a little in surprise. Then his features ease to normal, though he doesn't quite manage a smile. ] Yo. I'm... More or less, yeah. Just remembering some... things. Am I in the way? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thisiscalm
2015-07-04 07:48 am UTC (link)

No, no... it's fine.

[ He hesitates, shifting his weight. Contemplates excusing himself to come back later but the way the other man is acting resonates with him. He knows what this is like and maybe he knows the guy too. Sure looks familiar, but not. Like a copy of someone he's seen around the dome. ]

We don't have, ah... a counselor anymore but, uhm. I have a little experience. [ Yeah, that'll do it. ]

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stratos1
2015-07-04 09:33 am UTC (link)

[ A twin. Who's actually six or so years older than him now. Also without an eyepatch. But, basically, yeah, there is.

The offer, though, it makes Neil's focus clear, and his eyebrow draws down, in an instant, reflexive denial. ]

I do--

[ Then he stops himself. Is it that he doesn't need a counselor, or that it might not be a good idea? He's not even sure how much, and to whom, he can talk about... anything. Other than Lyle and Tieria, of course. And maybe Duo, except Duo's, what, fifteen? Sixteen? Not applicable. This time, he does manage a smile, albeit a wry one, and one of his hands drops to his side, while the other rakes back through his hair, resting to rub the back of his neck. ]

That's kind of you to offer, thanks. I'm not sure it's a good idea to talk about it, though, and I'm kinda certain a little experience isn't the same as accepting to deal with... some stuff.

There used to be a counselor before? Who was that, if I may ask? [ Distraction? What distraction? And, after a beat, because it's only polite, especially after this offer. ]

Oh. Name's Neil, Neil Dylandy.

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thisiscalm
2015-07-04 09:39 am UTC (link)

Maybe more than a little.

[ Criminal profiler, six month veteran of Marina, psychology BA, not to mention the massive slew of personal problems he's had to dig his way through since he was four years old. It's not a title, nothing he can claim as training for this actual situation but enough to make due. ]

Spencer Reid. [ No Doctor, this time. ] And... Deanna Troi. That was our counselor — she worked as one where she was from. It's been awhile since she was here, though.

[ A great loss to everyone. ]

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stratos1
2015-07-04 11:55 am UTC (link)

[ Neil lets out a long breath. ]

I just meant... There's a difference between... having had to do it - and I have no doubt you did well, too, or else you wouldn't be bringing it up [ wouldn't've been trying to help ] - and taking it up. There's some weird stuff involved, stuff that I did take up of my own free will, and dumping it on somebody else might be a little heavy.

[ He files away the name, nodding a little with the details. The man's name, though, that snags at Neil's memory. His courses are still in the course catalog for the school, even if they're marked as currently unavailable. And Euphie did say that she wasn't sure if they were going to be resumed.

It might not be much, but it gives Neil some idea about the intensity of the personal problems, at least. But that's neither here nor there. Yet. ]

Even in this place, and... like this. [ He waves a hand at himself. ] It's good to meet you, Spenser.

[ ... yeah, Neil does the first name thing. Feel free to correct him. ]

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thisiscalm
2015-07-05 07:31 am UTC (link)

[ He shrugs, awkwardly. ] The offer is there, should you want it.

[ He's not so self absorbed that he doesn't offer help when he's able, not even now that his priorities have shifted. At least this guy acknowledges that something is wrong, which is more than you can say for a lot of people in this place (including him). ]

Most people call me Reid. [ So please do that. You're not his mom. ]

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stratos1
2015-07-05 11:56 am UTC (link)

Thank you, Reid.

[ Oh, he will, he will! And the gratitude is real, here. But, while he's not as fond of lying as to try to pretend he's okay - especially with how Reid just found him - he's not up to talking about it, yet. Especially when he'll need to cover so much background.

Instead, he tries a small smile, not a merry one but - polite. ]

So... what do you think about this place?

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	thisiscalm 2015-07-07 08:45 am UTC (link)
	[ The change in topic is accepted, even though he's not entirely sure what to do with it. ] Honestly... at this point, I don't know. I've been here six months. [ Not as long as some, but plenty long. ] You're going to have to narrow down that question a bit. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	stratos1 2015-07-07 09:09 am UTC (link)
	[ Neil shrugs, each moment of distraction seeming to ease up his shoulders. ] Fair enough. Starting at random, do you think they're right to bring you here? How about the people you've met, around here? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	thisiscalm 2015-07-08 09:52 am UTC (link)
	Are you asking me if I think this is a real prison? [ That's usually the real question. ] No. I don't think this is a prison, and I don't think that everyone here is a criminal. Some, yes, but that's just statistically expected. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	stratos1 2015-07-08 01:15 pm UTC (link)
	[ That's about half of what Neil was asking, but, yes, he was asking that, as well. And he noted what Reid avoided answering - letting it go, for the moment. ] But you have a theory? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thisiscalm
2015-07-09 08:31 am UTC (link)

[ Hey, that's all relative. They can certainly discuss the moral quandaries of murder in the line of duty later on. ]

Oh, I have several. Most of them stem from an idea that this is some kind of experiment, psychological or social. Considering the lengths they've gone through to keep us comfortable while simultaneously putting us in extreme mental and physical situations, I'd be surprised if it wasn't some more elaborate version of say... the Stansford Prison Experiment.