I .

[desolavi]

one. 〆 PHONE | PUBLIC

[ a soft sigh at first, as he picks up the phone. pause. pulls it away to stare at it. mutters under his breath

Comments

three;

[decadenzas]

[he almost doesn't take notice of this newcomer as he passes by, already used to the drones and their perpetually blank stares. there's something about this one that makes him pause, though; Lucy had come back the same as ever, but who's to say the drones hadn't changed?]

...Yes?

[desolavi]

[ ah. he's sort of noticed that there seem to be some more active people mixed in with the weird, robotic-acting people. this person seems to be in the former category. seki just shrugs at first, leaning back against the wall as he studies this kid, not really bothering to mask the way he's staring -- almost trying to draw out a reaction. ]

I didn't say anything.

[decadenzas]

[good, good, that response seems to lack the rehearsed feel that most of the drones seem to possess. he doesn't drop his guard quite yet but he does feel more at ease, feigning mild annoyance.]

No, but it's quite rude to stare.

[desolavi]

[ a sideways cant of the head. at least that's a familiar sort of reaction. he sits up straighter to look around for a bit. ]

I guess. Not many people here seem to notice, though. Like they're all pre-occupied.

[decadenzas]

That's certainly one way to put it. [or at least they seemed pre-occupied when they weren't under direct control of Lucy or Grady. he shoots a nearby drone girl a somewhat sour look before his gaze returns to the stranger.]

You must be new.

[desolavi]

[ 'new.' odd choice of word. does that mean it's common for people to end up here? ]

Something like that. You aren't?

[decadenzas]

[there's a pause while he does a mental tally. these past couple of weeks have ruined his count, though.] I've been here for just past a year, give or take.

[desolavi]

A year. [ frowns, fidgeting with his clothes. ] I guess there's no way to get out of here, if anyone's actually stayed for that long.

[decadenzas]

You're taking it in stride, hm?

[not bothering to see if it's okay, he takes a seat next to the other on the bench and gestures toward the same drone girl.] Some leave mentally, like the drones, but nobody that I know of has truly left.

[desolavi]

It's not like panicking would get anything done, so ... [ shifts his weight a bit when the other sits down, looking curiously at the drone girl. yeah, she has that same ever-so-slightly-vacant look as some others. ]

So, what, some people just go strange like that one day without warning?

[decadenzas]

More or less. Sometimes it's entirely random, sometimes it's a punishment for going against the lead figures of the city or breaking the rules they've set.

[desolavi]

So -- like mind control. Like out of a movie. [ sighs, tipping his head back. ] This is all so dumb.

[decadenzas]

Agreed. [his nose wrinkles in disdain] That isn't even counting the occasional threat of death and being transported to dystopian towns.

[desolavi]

... what, the lead figures threaten to kill people? I would have thought something like that would be outlawed even in America.

[decadenzas]

They don't threaten, they do kill people. You may have to worry about some of your fellow captives as well. [a hint of a smile follows that, but it's there and gone in an instant.

he then swings his legs, making a sweeping gesture to the whole of the park.] This isn't truly America or the 1950's, so don't expect any laws to be in effect.

[desolavi]

Fellow captives -- so, the other people who were brought here. [ completely misses that smile, because he's occupied thinking over this for a moment.

a slow exhale, letting his gaze follow that wide gesture. ] I can't imagine this place being quiet for too long if there really aren't any rules. I wouldn't be surprised if people went on killing sprees and stuff.