[036] hee hee ha ha ho ho

[notafuckingnut]

[Hello Barge! There is a more subdued than usual Richie greeting you all with a quiet, self-conscious smile, although he never quite looks at the screen.]

Um. Hi. So...I guess I'm here for a couple days? Like a field trip or something. Scared straight kinda thing I guess. I dunno.

Anyway. Hi. This is a pretty cool place you got here, aside from the whole prison thing.

[A/N: for the next few days, Richie is AFFECTED, in this case meaning Seth was marginalised. As a result, Richie's spent quite a bit of time in and out of various facilities, and consequently is fairly institutionalized. He doesn't quite get morals really, but he does what he's told with little complaint; basically he's an overgrown puppy who's stopped biting because he doesn't like getting swatted by the newspaper after, not so much because he's learned it's wrong to.]

Comments

[some_kinda_hero]

[She tries to subtly take a step backwards.]

But no babysitter now, right?

[notafuckingnut]

No.

I mean, I don't do anything. I'm good. I'm not like the troublemakers. I've been Upstairs, I don't want to go there again if I can help it. Or get the cocktail. I haven't done anything bad since the last time they had to up my dose.

[some_kinda_hero]

[Most of these terms are lost on her, but Claire doesn't ask for not wanting to know.]

Right. Well, I'm sure you won't be here long anyway. And if you're being allowed to explore alone, then they must think you're doing well enough.

This place you came from...was it a hospital, then?

[Because it sounds like a psych ward.]

[notafuckingnut]

I guess...

[he doesn't seem so sure. But then again he hasn't been on his own in...ever. So he doesn't quite see what the appeal would be.]

Yeah. Osawatomie. It's a state run place.

[some_kinda_hero]

I've never heard of it.

[Shrugs, trying for small talk with him is so weird.]

So, what are you going to do then? I'm not keeping you am I?

[notafuckingnut]

It's in Kansas.

[because that helps]

Uh no. You're not keeping me from anything. I'm not...actually sure what I'm supposed to be doing here. Experiencing or something. I dunno.

[some_kinda_hero]

Oh. I've only been to Texas, New York, and California.

Yeah, you're standing in for someone. I still have no idea what's going on or why, sorry. You talk to anyone else yet?

[notafuckingnut]

A few people. One didn't think this was much of a prison, and I think one was a therapist.

Who am I standing in for?

[some_kinda_hero]

Before I answer that, have you read the journal in your room, yet? Because my answer might be too crazy for you to believe and that could help.

[notafuckingnut]

...I poked through it a little. I started, but...

[An uncomfortable shrug; he doesn't really like the guy he read about.]

[some_kinda_hero]

[She shrugs herself and cants her head to the side, once.] That's who you're here for or replacing or whatever.

[Now she wonders if he saw anything about her.]

[notafuckingnut]

[a moment or so of contemplation, then:]

He's not very nice, is he.

[some_kinda_hero]

[She raises one brow.]

Do you want a simple yes or no, or you want a more graphic, honest answer, Richie?

[notafuckingnut]

[gulp]

Um. No, that's...

[the fidgeting gets more marked the more anxious he gets over this.]

I'm sorry. For...him. I'm not like that, I don't...I'm good. I promise.

[please don't think anything bad about him because his alternate's horrible. He tries! Really hard.]

[some_kinda_hero]

Dude, chill. I already forgave that one for his...

Whatever. I'm done with it.

[She looks down the hall to where she was going and then back at him. Does she want to keep doing this? His breach self had been tolerable for obvious reasons. But this time, she's not affected, and she's been through enough, both recently and at his hands. Well, the other Richie's hands.]

Have you checked the place out much?

[notafuckingnut]

Sort of. It's...big.

[some_kinda_hero]

[She nods.]

Well, I was going to the gym, so...

[More nodding.]

[notafuckingnut]

Okay, uh. I'll...explore on my own or something. I think I'll be okay.

It was nice to meet you?

[some_kinda_hero]

[Inwardly, she groans. Outwardly, she sighs.]

You think? You can ask, you know. If you want...

[a babysitter, a guide, company. She doesn't pick a word, though.]

[notafuckingnut]

No, it's...it's okay. I'll be okay. I can keep my head down. I mean, if you want to then okay, but. You don't have to. I can...I can find somebody else if I need to.

[some_kinda_hero]

'Kay, well. If you can't find anyone else, just...you can ask me, instead.

[notafuckingnut]

Mmhmm. Sure.

[nod nod.]