Steve hates the part of himself that hears the shift in this creep's tone and finds, what, comfort? Yeah, right. He knows what this is. Number 2 is trying to endear himself to Steve to make him more susceptible to whatever nightmare comes next.
"No, your number is 13. You need to accept that." He pushes on ahead, ignoring how Steve tries to dig in his heels.
"I understand your hesitance, son. I've read up on what you've been through. Aren't you tired of needing to constantly run for your life? Wouldn't you rather stay somewhere safe where you can focus on the things a boy your age should really be concerned with? Don't you just want to live your life?"
"There's more this place can offer you than that. You can participate in sports, mingle with people your own age, finish your education, start a career or a family, settle down, and live in peace. No more hiding, either. I know about you and that young man you fancy. You'll find no persecution here."
He snorts out a sharp exhale that's nearly a laugh. "Yeah, right," he says. "You and me both know that's a crock of shit."
He wants all of it more than anything but this isn't the place to give it to him. Besides, Eddie could never be happy in a place so devoted to conformity that it expects you to sacrifice anything that makes you unique.
"Look, if you're not gonna let me go can we at least cut the crap? Let's get whatever this is over with."
"What is this?" Number 2 asks, one eyebrow going up skeptically. "What were you expecting? I am making a sales pitch, as it were. Everything I have to offer will be yours, all you have to do is forsake that ship and its captain. Place your allegiance in me, instead."
"Number 13, please. I do understand your hesitance, but I am nothing like the Captain. When you come knock at my door, I answer. When you express a need, I do what is in my power to fulfill it. And when I am concerned that you have been harmed in some way, I make sure you are looked after whether you like it or not." His hand tightens. They are nearly to the door now.
"Don't you want to be cared for? Don't you want someone to notice when you are in pain?"
Steve weighs out his options as those fingers squeeze his shoulder. He could try to escape, maybe even succeed, and then what? He'd be constantly looking over his shoulder for this guy or one of those weird white balls, almost definitely. If he goes along with it there are few things that could happen:
1. He dies, big deal. He'll just come back and tell the others about whatever these weirdos do to people in the hospital. 2. He's held here, big deal. Someone out there will notice he's gone, and Valdis will surely remember he was being escorted away. 3. Nothing happens. This guy is serious about having an innocent checkup. (unlikely.)
He relaxes again and allows Number 2 to guide him through the door. "Yeah, and everyone's just one big happy family here, right?" he grumbles. "That's why one of those giant balls killed me for entering a building? Doesn't exactly sound like a place that cares about people."
"Dear boy," Number 2 tuts. "That was no ordinary building you were trying to get into. That was a restricted area. I can protect you, but not from the consequences of your own misdeeds."
He steers Steve through a door on the left marked as the examination room. Inside is a chair that's similar to the kind in dentists' offices. Number 2 motions for him to sit in it.
"I accept some of the blame too. Clearly, the warnings should have been larger. I'll be sure to amend the signage right away. It won't happen again, I'm sure. Now, please, have a seat and relax here while we wait for the doctor to arrive.
The color drains from Steve's face when he lays eyes on the chair. He's fucked, he knows he is.
But it'll be fine, he reminds himself. He runs through the list in his mind again to ease his nerves as he trudges into the room.
(He dies, it's ok. He's locked up, it's ok. Nothing happens, it's ok.)
The chair terrifies him. It makes him want to turn around and fight tooth and nail to get out of this place. It makes him wish more than anything that he could close his eyes, pinch himself, wake up in his actual bedroom in Hawkins — not the copy this place has for him.
When he sits, he doesn't slide fully onto the chair. He stays perched on the edge, back tense and ramrod straight, ready to bolt.
Number 2 takes a seat in a metal chair across from Steve, settling his umbrella across his legs like a lap bar. "Nervous? Are you afraid of doctors, dear boy? There's no need to be so stiff. We have the very best here, I promise you. Go on, try to get comfortable."
As he speaks, the lights begin to dim in the room ever-so-subtly. Except for the bright spotlight that comes on above Steve's head. A sonic wave emanates from the light, imperceptible, but it has a relaxing effect. Slowly, despite his fear, Steve will feel the tension in his muscles begin to loosen.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-12-22 04:33 pm (UTC)He's scared shitless.
He's also not giving up without a fight.
"I told you already. My name's Steve."
no subject
Date: 2023-12-24 03:39 am (UTC)"I understand your hesitance, son. I've read up on what you've been through. Aren't you tired of needing to constantly run for your life? Wouldn't you rather stay somewhere safe where you can focus on the things a boy your age should really be concerned with? Don't you just want to live your life?"
no subject
Date: 2023-12-24 03:51 am (UTC)"Live my life in a creepy little place like this where people have to wear capes and stupid hats? Yeeeaaah, I don't think so. No thanks."
no subject
Date: 2023-12-27 04:07 am (UTC)"There's more this place can offer you than that. You can participate in sports, mingle with people your own age, finish your education, start a career or a family, settle down, and live in peace. No more hiding, either. I know about you and that young man you fancy. You'll find no persecution here."
no subject
Date: 2023-12-27 05:20 am (UTC)He wants all of it more than anything but this isn't the place to give it to him. Besides, Eddie could never be happy in a place so devoted to conformity that it expects you to sacrifice anything that makes you unique.
"Look, if you're not gonna let me go can we at least cut the crap? Let's get whatever this is over with."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 12:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-02 02:25 am (UTC)He's gauging the possibility of an escape again. Whether the odds are in his favor or not, he's likely to take the chance.
"I'm not buying whatever you think you're selling. Can I go now?"
no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 10:47 pm (UTC)"Don't you want to be cared for? Don't you want someone to notice when you are in pain?"
no subject
Date: 2024-01-08 05:03 pm (UTC)1. He dies, big deal. He'll just come back and tell the others about whatever these weirdos do to people in the hospital.
2. He's held here, big deal. Someone out there will notice he's gone, and Valdis will surely remember he was being escorted away.
3. Nothing happens. This guy is serious about having an innocent checkup. (unlikely.)
He relaxes again and allows Number 2 to guide him through the door. "Yeah, and everyone's just one big happy family here, right?" he grumbles. "That's why one of those giant balls killed me for entering a building? Doesn't exactly sound like a place that cares about people."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-15 03:23 am (UTC)He steers Steve through a door on the left marked as the examination room. Inside is a chair that's similar to the kind in dentists' offices. Number 2 motions for him to sit in it.
"I accept some of the blame too. Clearly, the warnings should have been larger. I'll be sure to amend the signage right away. It won't happen again, I'm sure. Now, please, have a seat and relax here while we wait for the doctor to arrive.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-30 12:11 am (UTC)But it'll be fine, he reminds himself. He runs through the list in his mind again to ease his nerves as he trudges into the room.
(He dies, it's ok. He's locked up, it's ok. Nothing happens, it's ok.)
The chair terrifies him. It makes him want to turn around and fight tooth and nail to get out of this place. It makes him wish more than anything that he could close his eyes, pinch himself, wake up in his actual bedroom in Hawkins — not the copy this place has for him.
When he sits, he doesn't slide fully onto the chair. He stays perched on the edge, back tense and ramrod straight, ready to bolt.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-10 03:43 am (UTC)As he speaks, the lights begin to dim in the room ever-so-subtly. Except for the bright spotlight that comes on above Steve's head. A sonic wave emanates from the light, imperceptible, but it has a relaxing effect. Slowly, despite his fear, Steve will feel the tension in his muscles begin to loosen.