Day 58: Lunch

[full_score]

Although it had been good to see his mom again, Claude entered the cafeteria with a dark expression on his face. He was glad she felt comfortable enough with him to share her experiences from last night, but that didn't make him any less angry at the military for using her to do their dirty work. Why couldn't those bastards clean up their own

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[damned_soldiers]

The woman didn't seem to show any outward pride over being chosen for this task. For the most part, the expression on her face was unreadable as she waited. She stood, with perfect posture in that same black uniform, and sent calm glances around the cafeteria. As formal as she was, there was something casual about her as well; she was at ease. There was, after all, nothing to be scared of.

Harrington's announcement had made the patients aware of her presence, and so she was content to wait for the moment. She placed one hand on her hip, a few inches away from where her standard-issue gun was strapped, and kept an eye out for anyone curious or interesting.

Her black hair was kept neatly under a cap and despite the fact that she wasn't revealing much about her mood, she seemed open enough.

[Free; check here for more details.]

[selfnighted]

The new Intercom Man seemed to be quite emotional, strangely enough. Had intercom duty turned into too menial a task? The least he could have done was indicate who this open-to-questions soldier was-if the soldier existed at all. It was only a hearsay, was it not?

However, as Maya made her way to the food line, she happened to notice that one of the black-garbed sentries didn't seem to be watching a patient. Was this the mysterious intercom soldier? Hmm. Maya had expected a man, but... Maya's personal guard was a woman. My. What an unfortunate assumption she had made.

If she had made one-but the attitude of their new overseers didn't permit this kind of slack, she'd imagine. We'll find out soon enough, shall we? Maya glanced at the soldier by her side, but she didn't seem to object to Maya's little diversion. Forging ahead it was, then. "Not a flattering introduction, was it?" Maya asked light-heartedly, putting on an I-am-harmless smile. "Almost as if he had forgotten."

[damned_soldiers]

It didn't take long for someone to approach, and the patient got points for being the first one brave enough to come over. The soldier had noticed a few others who had sent glances her way, but had ultimately decided to leave her be. It wasn't as if she was standing here as decoration, after all.

The greeting she received was friendly, almost casual. It was difficult to know if it was sincere or not, but the soldier adjusted her weight from one leg to the other, relaxing ever-so-slightly.

"Major Harrington tends to have his heads in the clouds," she said, her mouth only barely betraying a smile as she spoke. "I'm not quite sure why he was given intercom duty, to tell you the truth." It wasn't her decision to make, however, and so she said nothing more on the matter. Perhaps it had been a situation where no one else had wanted to bother with it.

"Can I ask your name? I'm sorry to say that I don't know all of yours off the top of my head." It was difficult to keep track with how often they all filed through.

[selfnighted]

"Maya," Maya replied after a brief moment of surprise. The soldier's friendly display couldn't negate Maya's first impressions-namely, that of a leadership that would use tear gas on the entire cafeteria on the first day. An attempt to salvage that misstep, perhaps? However... Maya had observed that certain soldiers treated their charges differently. Perhaps it would be prudent for now to re-evaluate her judgment. "May I ask yours...?"

If anything, Maya noticed that the Intercom Soldier hadn't twitched the fingers that rested close to her weapon. Unless the soldier's arm was already in the most optimal position to draw it, yes? But it did indicate that the good general had chosen someone calm and suited for the task. Whether that meant Maya's inquiries would only be vaguely answered remained to be seen.

"After hearing the general on the intercom," she continued conversationally, "it is a bit jarring." Did the general have more important things to see to? Another I-am-harmless smile. "Why the facade?"

[damned_soldiers]

Maya. It was difficult to know if that was the patient's true name or not, but the soldier was inclined to believe that it wasn't. It was something she likely could have looked up if she'd taken the time, but in the end it wasn't relevant to the conversation. A lack of pins made it clear that this one probably wasn't the highest of ranks, but there was no reason to be distant when she'd been posted here specifically to converse.

"Major Cartwright," she replied, not seeing a reason to give her full name. There was no intention to get that close.

Interestingly enough, this patient was starting off with her own line of questioning, which made it simple enough for a discussion to begin. The soldier tilted her head for a moment. "Why do you call it a facade? Harrington is simply dedicated to his job; there's nothing disingenuous about him."

[selfnighted]

"That's a relief to know," Maya replied, picking her words carefully. It hadn't been what she'd been asking, but she'd leave that for now. It felt too easy to rile up the Major; Maya simply didn't know what would set her off. Best to keep it to lighter topics.

No, Maya thought a moment later. She'd have to change her mind. Lighter topics-small talk, in other words-would provide nothing useful. She'd have to play it risky. "I apologize for the confusion. I meant the nurse uniforms of two days ago."

Not just the uniforms, but the entire pretense of an asylum-but that had been more Landel's thing, was it not? The General had disregarded most of those things, leaving only the town trip as the most outstanding example. "I tried to ask my escort," she elaborated, "but I'm afraid she doesn't like me. If you would be so kind...?"

[damned_soldiers]

So that was what Maya had meant. The soldier had gotten the feeling that she was implying something else, but she always preferred people being straight-forward when it came to these things.

"Oh, you mean that," she replied, though it was hard to tell what her feelings were on the matter. As casual as she'd been acting, the soldier didn't seem to have a difficult time masking her emotions when necessary. "I can only postulate -- my rank isn't that high -- but I would guess that Aguilar felt that the townspeople and your family and friends would be intimidated by the uniforms and guns."

It could be said that they were hiding it all, but didn't that make sense? A mental institute wasn't supposed to have any military involvement, after all.

[selfnighted]

Vague answers it was. At least it was consistent with the other things they'd been told, and Maya had the feeling it wasn't an outright lie...though it was difficult to tell. But it was foolish to assume this would be easy, yes

[damned_soldiers]

That was an odd question. Doyleton was such a small town, and yet the soldier couldn't assume much of anything. Not when there were so many patients with different situations. Maya was being persistent with her questions, but that was only to be expected -- and she was polite, at least.

"I can't say for sure. I think most family comes from much further, but it's possible that a patient or two might have family that lives in Doyleton." It wasn't the sort of information she usually needed to know, so she hadn't bothered looking into it.

"Of course it's secret," she replied with a tilt of her head. She would have thought that would be obvious by now. The military holding a group of people against their will out in the middle of the mountains didn't sound like something legitimate no matter which way you looked at it.

"The fake names serve a number of purposes, I imagine, but the secrecy is definitely part of it."

[selfnighted]

This was turning into quite a goose chase. Very much like Maya's escort in that regard, which, honestly, shouldn't have been very surprising, yes? On top of that, the Major didn't give much away; Maya couldn't discern the correct way to proceed. In that case....

"Thank you kindly." She trailed off into a pause she hoped sounded as thoughtful to the Major as it did to herself. "...If you wouldn't mind, would you tell me a bit about yourself? I'm a bit curious."

What Maya had noticed was that the Major answered all questions in the most straightforward and simplest way possible. Perhaps Maya shouldn't have relied on certain implications-implications that may not have even been obvious to the Major... That had been a bit silly of Maya, hadn't it?-but this question blew the affair wide open. What the Major said next was up to her. And Maya was honestly curious. What lay beneath the professionalism? It was much like attempting the puzzle of a stoic fellow patient; a pleasant way to pass the time.

[damned_soldiers]

Was it possible that thank you was not all that sincere? The woman's mouth quirked slightly at that, but whether it was out of amusement or annoyance was difficult to say. It hardly mattered, though, since the next question was one that she hadn't been prepared to answer.

"Myself?" She clenched her hands at her sides, as if she was trying to hold back some sort of nervous tic. She'd been ready to answer questions about the military and even about Aguilar, but this?

"There's not much to say, I'm afraid," she continued after a pause. "Is there something specific you wanted to know about me?" At it was, she hardly knew where to start.

[selfnighted]

Maya, wary of angering the Major and getting a bullet in the eye for some unspoken impertinence, dropped her gaze to the Major's hands. Interesting.... Maya cautiously shifted her weight for ease of dodging, but the suspected reprimand didn't come.

But Maya's clever little plan hadn't been successful, either. Well, not entirely; she didn't want to keep pushing her agenda lest the Major really was about to rebuke Maya for the question, but Maya really didn't have any specifics in mind that she could clarify with, either. And the Major didn't sound disapproving....

"Just making conversation," Maya answered lightly. "It's very rude of me to keep asking questions, you know." A smile-one part self-mocking, two parts casual- "Is there something on your mind, perhaps?"

[damned_soldiers]

"Rude?" It wasn't that, not really. The soldier hadn't been prepared for it, that was all. The fault was really her own, and after a moment she shook her head. "Not at all. I just don't really see myself as all that interesting." She stated it plainly; there was no self-deprecation in her tone.

Still, a more specific question was also easier to handle, although she wasn't sure that Maya would like the spin she put on it. "I guess I did have a few questions for you," she said after a pause. This conversation could go both ways, couldn't it?

"It's already been made clear to all of you that the general is aiming to get some use out of you as patients." The term wasn't entirely accurate anymore, and yet she persisted in using it. "What do you see as your strengths? What do you think you could contribute?" It wasn't a question about willingness. Most of the people in this place had no intention of being here. She was simply evaluating, and in a way that didn't involve an exam table and medical tools.