Logs:Quick Study

Quick Study
imprisonment/abuse
Dramatis Personae Skye
In Absentia	2021-10-19 "We're going to learn so much together, just you wait and see."
Location <MA> Dirac Research Laboratory - Testing Room
There's nothing particularly remarkable about this room one way or another -- it could almost be a scanning room in any hospital anywhere. The MRI in the center has had some modifications made to harden it against a range of abuses but the suppression tech in the walls can't be seen; the observation room outside is standard enough for radiology, though the amount of security in and out perhaps not so much. Skye was brought here some time ago and, in the usual habit of doctor's appointments, after an orderly took her vitals, has been left to wait. And wait. And wait. There's not a lot with which to keep occupied. Some old People and National Geographic magazines. One of those looping wire and bead maze toys, which appears somewhat cracked and even more twisted than it perhaps should be, its ends contorted through each other in ways that seem to defy the laws of physics if looked at for too long. A small stack of paperback potboilers on a plastic table next to a little mug full of Dum-dums. Pacing evidently got old a while ago, because Skye is now sitting in front of the maze toy, glowering at the bead she's pushing around with the tip of one index finger. She's been singing, too, though only quietly at this moment. "...you're gonna miss me by my hair, you're gonna miss me everywhere, oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone..." Her hand drops away from the puzzling toy and her song trails off for a moment. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I've got my ticket for the long way 'round, two bottle whiskey for the way..." The door opens again, dispensing another scrub-clad orderly into the room -- different than the mousy one who'd taken her vitals before, short and stocky with thick glasses and hair buzzed into an undercut. Maybe it's been long enough there's been a shift change. They're carrying a gown that they lay down on the table beside the toy, a tablet in their other hand. "Oh!" This sounds downright chipper -- almost amused. "Normally I have to ask about jewelry, hairpins, watches, things like that but -- well I guess you wouldn't have any of that on today, now would you?" Skye looks up at the orderly, her gaze flat and unamused. "I think they took care of that while I was unconscious. Maybe you should give me a pregnancy test while you're at it, because they had to get pretty friendly to remove all of it." She looks down at the gown, plucking thoughtfully at an exposed seam. "Are any of your guinea pigs allowed to have jewelry, hairpins, watches, things like that? Are you going give them back tomorrow? The day after?" "Of course some of you are." The orderly looks just a touch offended by the question. "There are safety considerations while we're doing intake but many people here earn all kinds of privileges. It's not so bad, you'll see." They lean in to confide with a bit of a huff, "your gym here is better than the one I pay good money for at home. I'm serious. Anyway, you should change." They give the gown a firm pat-pat. "Boss is real excited about you for some reason so I'm guessing today will be exciting. Well, maybe not the MRI that's pretty tedious, but we might learn something good." "I'm sorry about your gym and all, capitalism is a fuck. Oh! You wanna trade places?" Skye suggests brightly. "I mean, my work experience in torture and enslavement is all consensual, but I'm a quick study. You should really consider doing this shit in leather." She sinks back against her seat and gives an exaggerated shrug, both palms turned up. "I don't do gowns, it just doesn't flatter my figure." Her eyebrows lift slightly. "Anyway, the fuck you gonna do if I don't change?" Drug me again?" "Oh, I'm not so lucky as you, I can't do anything special, my most exciting talent is always remembering my timers right before they go off. But sure," they're picking the gown back up without any fuss, "if you're not in a mood to cooperate today I'm sure we can bring Mr. Salinas in and run these tests on him instead. From what I understand it'll be much the same though -- I guess the process of taking your ability on is pretty grueling for him on top the tests? I'm not too clear." They're waving a hand toward the front of the room. "What, my sick Transistor speedrun skills? That's not luck, that's hyperfocus." Skye rolls her eyes theatrically. "Weren't you going to do that to us anyway? Power like his, you'd be shitty scientists if you didn't. Shittier. Don't get me started on subject stress." Her bravado is visibly starting to fail, her voice going quieter, her hands pressing down on the table in front of her as she rises reluctantly. "And what'll you do if he won't copy me?" "Oh," the orderly waves their hand dismissively. There are a pair of guards entering now -- large, stern-faced; one's keeping their hand on their gun as they head over toward Skye. "I think that'll be my problem then, won't it? You can have the afternoon free, won't that be nice! Ah, can you take this one out? A change of plans, we're going to bring in Mr. Salinas instead." One of the guards' expression breaks into a thin, unpleasant sliver of a smile. "Oh. Salinas is back, again?" He was looking somewhat bored with this assignment but has come to something of attention at this; his hand on Skye's shoulder is a hard jostle now as he urges her toward the door. Skye's face blanches. "Look, don't hurt him what the --" She sputters, and when the guard grabs her shoulder she pulls away from him reflexively. "Ok, ok! I'll do it I'm better at using my own powers anyway. Trust me you don't want that shit firing out of control." She drops her gaze to the floor, her cheeks flushing. "Please?" "Good girl," the orderly replies, warmly. They wave a hand to the guards (the one who had been smiling looks faintly disappointed, but both leave the room) and pat the gown again. "There's nothing to worry about. We're going to learn so much together, just you wait and see."