[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e77e52f9-0a74-4e5b-af7f-5bee3c4f3361.jpg[/img][/center][center][/center][hr][center][color=CC99FF][b]Location[/b][/color]: C.A.G.E
[color=CC99FF][b]Skills[/b][/color]: [url=https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/392257844256440322/1220897088322277436/Screenshot_20240322_204856_Instagram.jpg?ex=66109c05&is=65fe2705&hm=639d58a538e21bf7ab4251ae2cd57815ec479bf241a93e68c915e7f911234b1e&]Work Out Fit[/url][/center]
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April hadn’t slept much the night before.

Following her session with Dr. Whitehall, April had been left more or less to her own devices. The room she was being kept in was fine - it had a small bathroom connected to the bedroom, furnished with a twin sized bed, a desk, and a chair. Brochures about C.A.G.E. had been set out for her, along with a journal and crayons. She didn’t have any of her belongings - no phone, no favorite stuffed animals, nothing to really make the place feel like hers. 

She’d spent most of the night awake, staring at the door, trying to anticipate when it would open again - she was on suicide watch - or standing in front of the sink, letting the water run and doing her best to make it budge, even a little. But it had been like trying to use a phantom limb, an intrinsic part of her identity that she couldn’t access. 

And crying. April had done a [i]lot[/i] of crying. 

By morning, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, her hair almost matted in spots, and she had constructed for herself a truly horrifying image of what would await her beyond her little cage. She was starving, though - she needed to eat. And Dr. Whitehall had mentioned that there would be medicine for her to take with breakfast - things that would help her. 

She bit her lip, wishing Danni and Dorian were there with her - or Sabine or Leah. And slowly, like a startled prey animal, April ventured out of her room and down the hallway into the common area, one step at a time. 

As soon as August spotted the new patient who now seemed to be sporting a birds nest as her hairdo, he propped up off of the wall and made his way over to her. His hands in his pocket as he approached, stopping in front of her just short of a foot. [color=66CDAA]“Couldn't sleep? First few nights are always a little rough here at good ol C.A.G.E. Though most residents don't wake up with a birds nest.”[/color] He moved to walk in step with her side by side.

April couldn’t help but jump slightly, as a boy that looked to be around her age started walking next to her. Immediately, she tried to figure out what was wrong with him - what he’d done to be locked up here. It hadn’t entirely occurred to her yet that [i]she[/i] was here - that the people in CAGE were just people, not characters from some DC Arkham Asylum show. Did he hear voices at night telling him who deserved righteous vengeance enacted upon them? Did he have multiple personalities, some prone to violence? If she said the wrong thing, would he lash out at her? She didn’t have her powers here - she didn’t know if she’d be able to protect herself without them. 

She nervously ran a few fingers through her hair, trying to get it tamed down a touch, but it wasn’t much use. She needed a brush and a bottle of detangler. Immediately, her instinct was to just turn around and go back to her room, to shut herself in there and avoid seeing anyone or having anyone see her - she’d have died of embarrassment if she’d gone to class with her hair like this, and that was without having to worry about what horrors could be lurking inside her classmates. 

Although Arcade had been her classmate - and he’d tried to kill her… She swallowed slightly, wondering if he was here too. [color=42A9FF]”U-uh, yeah,”[/color] April squeaked out, suddenly aware that her hands were shaking. [color=42A9FF]”... I-it’s that bad, isn’t it? I d-didn’t see a brush anywhere and my hair can be a lot without one, it just kinda goes all over the place, my mom’s got the curly genes and th-they sometimes show up for me I think in the fact that my hair, like, tangles so so easily….I-I’m April.”[/color]

[color=FF9A4F][i]”Hm, she could be a threat. Or a snack. Lick her. We will determine this through her tastiness.”[/i][/color]

August pulled his hands out of his pockets and spun on his heels. [color=66CDAA]“Aye chill chill mamasita. It's all good. You see, I like to help people. New people. Show em the ropes, and because of that I get to have certain…privileges. I haven't had a single person visit me, but some others like to sneak things in for me, like a brush for starters. You think this hair is easy to keep this beautiful?”[/color] He continued forward, linking arms with her as he psuedo dragged her forward before stopping abruptly. [color=66CDAA]“I am not going to lick her…unless”[/color] August said as he looked at her with a quirked eyebrow.

April’s eyes widened, already alarmed as this stranger linked his arm with hers. Had her powers not been offline, every pipe in the place would have suddenly frozen. But she was so sleep deprived, and already so terrified in this place, that she didn’t struggle - she wished that she would have, that her fear wouldn’t have gotten the better of her, that she could say she pushed him aside and took off running - but she felt stuck, trapped, just hoping desperately that this interaction would end - or that one of the orderlies would come on by and give her an out, maybe Dr. Whitehall had figured out what was wrong with her. 

[color=42A9FF]”Y-yeah your hair looks n-nice! Wh-what products do you use on it? One of my friends, he swears by…”[/color] and then the final thing he said registered with her, jolting her enough to activate some small ounce of self preservation, as she practically leapt backwards, removing her arm from his. [color=42A9FF]”N-nope, no licking, I am not interested! I am very much gay - gay for women, not for men, I guess I sh-should say lesbian, but yeah - so - so no licking. I h-have two girlfriends w-who would be v-very upset and my d-dad is basically a c-cop so… so no-no thank you!”[/color] 

[color=66CDAA]“Hey very gay, I'm August. But that's fine now worries no need to call your cop dad. Though not much he could do I'm already locked up here. Just my buddy”[/color] August said as he pointed to his head [color=66CDAA]“He likes to taste someone to make sure they aren't a threat. Not much i can do about it sometimes. Soooo two girlfriends huh? That's cool, always wanted that tho more boy and girl at the same time you know but hey! Lesbian cool.”[/color]

[Color=FF9A4F][i]“You are too trusting. She could be a spy for them. We need to protect us, August. At least ask if she is a spy.”[/i][/color]

So this person heard voices, then. Voices that told him to lick people in case they were dangerous. April was fairly certain that - at least in a medical sense - the only person she was a danger to right now was herself. Although… she winced a bit, remembering how after they caught Arcade, she’d totally lost it, freaking out enough that she’d hurt the others - the Scarlet Witch had had to heal people to undo the damage. [color=42A9FF]”Um, well, I’m not a threat? I think at least. I guess they still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with me, but I don’t really hurt other people… except for those few times, but that was an accident… but that can’t happen here, because I don’t have my powers right now - so yeah, totally fine. Totally not a threat. Just… just an ordinary girl. And y-yeah, two girlfriends - they’re - they’re so great.”[/color]

August nodded to no one in particular. [color=66CDAA]“Good idea, good idea. I'll ask.”[/color] He said almost as if speaking off camera to a fourth wall before looking back at April. [color=66CDAA]“Are you a spy? You're required to tell me if you're a spy. It's the law”[/color] He closed the gap between the two again, gently nudging her towards the cafeteria where breakfast was being served. [color=66CDAA]“Its ok, they haven't even figured out what I am. But they give me meds and that's what matters. So powers? Talk to me. What can you do?”  [/color]

[color=42A9FF]”N-no, I’m not a spy,”[/color] April said, still freaked out by this entire interaction, but the longer that it persisted for and no harm came to her, the more she slowly started to relax - just a little bit. Not enough to turn her back on him or anything, but at least to not jump too noticeably when he nudged her slightly in a given direction - she didn’t exactly know [i]where[/i] that direction led to, however. She’d just been escorted here the previous night. They hadn’t given her a tour. 

[color=42A9FF]”...A-aren’t you just, like, um, schizophrenic? Sorry is that rude? I don’t - I’ve never - sorry,”[/color] April paused. [color=42A9FF]”Um, I can - I can control water, turn it into ice, throw it around… L-like Katara stuff, y’know. It’s nice ‘cause - ‘cause I have a friend who has fire powers, so - so we can help each other out if things get out of hand which… which happens a lot…”[/color] 

[color=FF9A4F][i] “Hm, perhaps she is not a spy then. Perhaps she is just one of those little four legged furry things that pee when they are nervous. What are those called again? I would like to try one still. Ask her if she has tried one.”[/i][/color]

August stopped once more, placing a hand on his chest as he feigned being insulted. A squeal leaving his throat before a giddy chuckle followed suit. [color=66CDAA]“I'm not schizo noooo. See that's the fun part. I just have depression, but no one here wants to 🎶listen🎶 to meeee. I have an alien living inside of me that only I can here. But it's fiiiine. Now- what? No. Does she look like a dog to you? Get your eyes checked geeze. Sorry about that they can be a little… eh.” [/color]August said with shrug until he continued to walk again.[color=66CDAA] “ Kataras cool. So is Zuko there it seems, suuuuuper jealous. I don't have any powers really. Not unless I'm high as a kite. Hungry?”[/color] 

Definitely schizophrenic, then, April decided - but she wasn’t going to push it. Maybe it was best to just play along with this boy. She vaguely recalled hearing somewhere that people lashed out more when their reality was challenged - she wasn’t sure if that was true or not - but… He seemed almost harmless. Aside from the possibility of being licked, which made April want to vomit just thinking about it. As for the dog comment… April nervously tried to pull out some of the snarls in her hair again. If she had scissors, she would have just chopped those chunks about - but she figured scissors weren’t allowed in this place. 

[color=42A9FF]”You…. You get powers from drugs? That’s… never mind. Um. Y-yeah, I’m pretty hungry - a-and the doctor mentioned there’s some medicine I’m supposed to take with breakfast? I’m not - I’m not sure how things work around here.”[/color]

August chortled at Aprils comment. Waving it away dismissively before getting control of himself and responding. [color=66CDAA]“No, I get so high it feels like I have powers. Ah it's great. Don't take anything until I've seen what they hand you. Some of the stuff is no bueno. That's Italian for shit. Buuut some is helpful, I can pocket the ones you don't need so they won't find them on you ok? Now c'mon, foods this way and I can't wait to tear into some of it I'm starved.”[/color]

[color=FF9A4F][i]“They are your eyes, August. I was making a joke because she is clearly afraid of something that will not harm her, like the little taco bell dog. Dog. I like that word. I will call her dog. I like our little dog. I would like to keep this one. She will not hurt us.”[/i][/color]

[color=42A9FF]”But… Aren’t the meds supposed to… to help? Like they won’t work right if I don’t take them all?”[/color] April asked, legitimately confused. Her mother was SHIELD’s medical science director - the concept of going against a doctor’s instructions was completely foreign to her. And if she didn’t take all of the meds, didn’t she need to then tell the doctors that, so they could look at her charts correctly? Maybe August was trying to trick her, so he could use the meds they wanted to give her to get high - assuming they were ones possible to get high off of? She bit her lip, wishing that she’d spent more time looking at the brochures and info sheets that had been left in the room for her. [color=42A9FF]”I don’t - I’m not - I’m not crazy but… The doctors know what they’re doing, right? They went to school for years to know this stuff.”[/color]

[color=66CDAA]“Please. I mean yeah some of those meds will help sure. Others just keep you complacent. Look at that guy, he's watching the wall likes it TV. Brains practically rotted from the stuff. But I know my way around the pharms, which is which and what's actually useful. You see, doctors say they want to help but if every patient was better they wouldn't have a job now would they? Ugh now I want some taco bell, those crunchwraps slap!” [/color]

She frowned, even as her stomach growled. When [i]was[/i] the last time she’d eaten anything? It took her a moment to remember - everything at school seemed so far away now, so distant. It must have been lunch with Danni and Dorian. [color=42A9FF]”Okay, so if you know your way around the meds, don’t you need to know what’s wrong with me first? Like, I don’t even think the doctors know.”[/color] Although there was definitely a ton in her family medical history for them to draw from. [color=42A9FF]”Or actually… If you’ve been here a ton… Do you… do you have a guess?”[/color]

[color=FF9A4F][i]“She obviously needs more life threatening situations. The thrill of combat will make her strong! And if she is strong, she will not be scared. Tell her, August.”[/i][/color]

[color=66CDAA]“Now see, I don't need to know what you have to know what's bad for you. It's ez pz. But if you want the 100% genuine August Perland diagnosis? Based on how skittish you are, the way you move, and the fact that they havent exactly found what was wrong with you even though you, apparently, harmed some people. I'd say it's a deep psychological issue caused by trauma at home. Maybe not physically but in some sense. Then again my depression is telling me you just need more combat in life to help strengthen your mind and body.”[/color] August replied nonchalantly as he picked up a tray and a plate to begin serving himself some food.

April hesitated for a moment, before picking up a tray and a plate as well. The food… didn’t look great. She was used to the nice food at the dining hall at AA - or even better, the food that Danni and Dori’s parents would drop off for them from time to time. She put what tentatively looked like possibly oatmeal, or maybe a generic gruel, onto her plate. [color=42A9FF]”I go to Avengers Academy, I have plenty of combat in my life - we actually beat our first supervillain last week, which was… Anyways my home life is fine, but also isn’t saying that just cheating and basically saying it’s probably daddy issues? A-and I don’t hurt people, it was an accident, but it was fine, the Scarlet Witch fixed it, so no one got hurt… really. I don’t think it should count. The only person I… I’m fine. I think it’s a mistake. They’re going to realize that I’m fine and then I can go back to school. We’re in the contest this year - the big one on TV, where all the superheroes go to see who deserves to be on their teams after graduation.”[/color]

[color=66CDAA]“Oh so it's just daddy issues then. See i didn't mention a father. Could've been anyone at home. And everyone knows the more someone says they're fine the less fine they are. But we can drop it if you'd like. Tell me about this contest? Prize? Cash? An exclusive with your fav avenger? What's YourLie trying to get from it?”[/color] August seemed unphased by the food they gave them. The oatmeal may look like ass, but it was better than any oatmeal his mother ever made. But if he said that shed smack him across the hand with a wooden spoon. 

[color=42A9FF]”Hey! I don’t have [i]daddy issues[/i] - my dad’s great!”[/color] April protested, even as it made her feel queasy. [color=42A9FF]”A-and I am fine! I’m so fine! What would I have to be upset about?”[/color] The food line itself ran into the immediate next line - a small counter of sorts where the meds were dispensed, with the attendant asking for folks to open their mouth to confirm they’d swallow them after. [color=42A9FF]”You haven’t heard of it? It’s, like, such a big deal - you get this huge trophy when you win, and the Avengers and Fantastic Four and everyone are there - even the X-Men show up. I don’t think Namor shows up, so that’s a no on the favorite. And my name is [i]April.[/i]”[/color]

[color=66CDAA]“Didn't you say your dad's a cop? ACAB. That includes papa dearest.”[/color] August retorted as he slid down the line. A wonderful thing about Symbiotes, they had this thing some considered a Hammer Space. How else did spiderman and other symbiotic people carry things around? It was that very space where August kept his meds, as soon as he closed his mouth to “swallow” Depression would absorb them for later use and the narcs would be none the wiser.  [color=66CDAA]“Sounds nice, I've been in and out of testing for a large chunk of my life so didn't really pay attention. Besides, not like I could ever compete. Unless they let depressed Non powered kids fight.”[/color] He replied ignoring the comment about her name.

[color=42A9FF]”He’s a SHIELD agent,”[/color] April said quietly, although it did occur to her that that occupation might be even worse. She knew on a logical level that all cops were, in fact, bastards - but applying that to her parents? The people who raised her and loved her and supported her? It was hard for her to wrap her head around. So like with most things that made April uncomfortable, she just tried not to think about it. [color=42A9FF]”... You said not to take anything until you looked at it? …How?”[/color] April then whispered, as they were almost to the front of the med line now. Maybe he was crazy - but he seemed nice? It also occurred to her that this place was named CAGE for a reason - and had power dampeners to remove mutant abilities - she probably should have paid attention to Dorian when he was talking about Purifiers and stuff. It felt incredibly relevant now. 

Well shit. It was hard to explain to someone how to tongue a pill just before they had to do it live. For now she'd have to take it, he'd keep a close eye on what they gave her and later with his own pills give her a proper lesson on pocketing them. [color=66CDAA]“For now just take it. Too hard to explain right in front of them. But I'll show you some skillz later no worries. Can come over to mi casa and I'll help you with your hair and how to not swallow.”[/color]

[color=FF9A4F][i]Teach her now, August. I would like her delicious little food bits. She does not need them. Or maybe she does but someone would not lick her to confirm. I do not understand your aversion to additional sensory information. It is very useful in defensive analysis. I could do what these doctors do, if I could just borrow your tongue![/i][/color]

[color=42A9FF]”Oh…. Okay!”[/color] April felt even more confused than before. She almost wished that August hadn’t said anything, because it wouldn’t have occurred to her that some of these pills would be bad for her. But now as she reached the front of the line, and confirmed her name with the orderly, she couldn’t help but feel her anxiety skyrocket. What if these meds [i]were[/i] bad for her? What if they turned her into a zombie - like the man who was staring at the wall earlier? Her breaths started coming faster and faster, and her hands were shaking as she held the tiny little paper cup the pills were within. There were three of them, and she had absolutely no idea what they did. 

[color=42A9FF]”U-um, can I… do you have the, like, little pamphlet the pharmacist gives you that explains the meds? I just… I just don’t know what these are and, like, I’m sure you all know what you’re doing and that this is correct, but I would love to know for myself what they are and…”[/color] she trailed off, seeing the clear look of annoyance on the orderly’s face, and her self-consciousness got the better of her. [color=42A9FF]”O-or totally don’t have to, that’s fine, I’ll just… just take these. Um, thanks! Sorry? Thank you and sorry.”[/color] 

She then winced, before taking the pills and washing them down with a small cup of water. When the orderly asked her to open her mouth afterwards, she did so - not a single pill had remained unswallowed. 

[color=66CDAA]“Bev couldn't you be a little nicer to the girl? She's new here, and shakin like a chihuahua. Oh well.”[/color] August said as he waved her off taking April with him. [color=66CDAA]“It's not you, she's always a sour puss. Buuuut, maybe i can better tell what it is they gave you now that you've taken your meds.”[/color] He suggested as he gestured for her to sit down at the empty table. 

[color=E948FC][i]Why does Bev not like our dog? I did not see any bad behaviors. Perhaps Bev only likes cats. I do not like cats. See if our dog likes cats so we can correct that if she does.[/i][/color]

April sat down at the table, biting her lip a bit as she tried to determine how long it would take for the meds to hit her system. Were they just like painkillers, where it would take half an hour or so? Or would it just immediately hit her? Would she be able to tell as it was happening - or would she just blink and suddenly it would be the next day, all of her memories blank? Would she have to ask August what had happened? [color=42A9FF]”You mean, like, o-once they kick in right? Because you don’t have powers - but that’s weird, right, because isn’t this a place for people specifically with powers? So like… Why are you here? Like not to be rude, you seem… I mean, you seem pretty crazy, but like, an okay kind of crazy?”[/color] 

[color=66CDAA]“As far as the docs are concerned, I have Super Strength, and a Healing Factor. But I don't. Also not going to correct them. This place has premo drugs. Buuuuut no, I meant in a few minutes once it's had time into get into your bloodstream. Also, how do you feel about cats? Very important.”[/color] August said as he decidedly sat right next to April instead of in front. There was hardly any space between them, his leg pressed against hers as he took a bite of his oatmeal.

She was used to having her personal space invaded - particularly by Danni. Dorian wasn’t as frequent as an offender. And as much as she had been tolerating a little bit of August doing that, April still felt jumpy - still could hear her father’s voice in her head, warning her to be careful, especially around boys. [i]Especially[/i] around boys in psych wards. So April quietly scooted to the left, enforcing some space between them. [color=42A9FF]”Um, cats?”[/color] She paused for a minute, struggling to recall her opinion - she’d been so fixated on everything going on that being asked something so mundane was odd. [color=42A9FF]”My parents didn’t let us have pets growing up, so… I mean cats are cute, I’ve enjoyed petting them when they’re around, and I know my dad had dogs growing up so it was always weird that we didn’t have a dog or something around - like I think I’m pro cats? Unless cats is code for something else? My friend has a dragon, and the other one has a raptor, so I kinda see those more than, like, normal pets.”[/color]

When April scooted back, August moved in closer once again. This time however, as soon as he closed the gap, he leaned in and quickly licked her cheek. Smacking his lips slightly as he tried to figure things out. [color=66CDAA]“Oh. These hit you hard didn't the YourLie? You don't have long unfortunately. But I can kind of figure out what all was in your cocktail this morning. Before you zonk out though, may want to give me your room number. So I can walk you back when you're donezo.”[/color]

April shrieked as something wet and slimy touched her cheek, and she jumped out of the seat, accidentally knocking her tray of oatmeal slop over in the process. [color=42A9FF]”Oh my god oh my god did you just - did you just fucking lick me?????”[/color] Her eyes were wide, as she stared in shock for a moment at August, before her eyes flickered frantically around the room - no one was really paying much attention to them, probably having seen things more interesting here than this. [color=42A9FF]”Oh god I’m so fucking stupid, you’re - I don’t know what you’re trying to do but it’s… it’s…”[/color] her voice faltered, as her vision started to blur, and the room around her seemed like it started to twist and turn, colors running together in a muddied, bizarre mess. [color=42A9FF]”...what…”[/color]

[color=FF9A4F][i]Hm, hmm. August, our dog is scared. A little confused, but you scared her. She is weak; do not scare her more. Hm, hm, mmmm. Two flavors. What was that called. The ones who are very, scary happy and then become very, very sad back and forth? Tastes like popsicles.”[/i][/color]

August stared at April, his smile shrinking slightly. He clicked his tongue five times, disappointedly at her. [color=66CDAA]“A muddled mind with two flavours, like a Creamsicle. Sorry to hear it. But-”[/color] August said, his smile widening as he giggled giddily as he bopped April on the nose with his finger. [color=66CDAA]“-you're about to be out of the loop for a bit. Boop.”[/color]