Day 33: Doctor's Office 4 (Dr. Stegman)

[damned_doctors]

Another day, another tedious regimen of stubborn patients and mindless paper work. Stegman settled into his seat, set down his coffee, and pulled out his files for the day. How long before he had a headache this morning? They always seemed to give him one

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[bastard_sadi]

Daemon was mildly concerned when he was ushered away from the rest of the patients as they were herded outside and he was taken down a long hall instead. Only once before had he been separated from the rest of those trapped here, and he did not have fond memories of that time, so to say he was wary as he was escorted into an office would have been an extreme understatement.

His expression gave none of his emotions away, however, his Court mask firmly in place. Golden eyes were half-lidded as he eyed the man behind the desk, his posture relaxed, his expression bored and cold. The room dropped a few temperatures as he stepped inside, but other than that, there was no visible hint to his mood. Only someone who knew Daemon - and the Sadist - very well would recognize that he was anything but perfectly calm and extremely bored.

[damned_doctors]

"Ah, Mr...Tannin. Andrew." Stegman smiled at the man and then chuckled. "Look at that, we've something in common. Please, have a seat. I'm Dr. Andrew Stegman and I'll be handling your case for your stay here at our fine institute. Would you like a drink? Something to eat?"

He could at least get things off on a good foot with his new patients, he figured. Put them at ease, go slowly, make the office feel welcoming.

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon regarded the man coolly for a moment before gliding across the office and sinking down into one of the empty chairs indicated. One dark eyebrow winged upwards in blatant skepticism.

"Is this a jest?"

[damned_doctors]

"No." Stegman shook his head. "I keep a few refreshments around the office. There's no reason we can't be comfortable while you're here. I'm sorry, I'm a bit...distracted this morning. Can't rely on these cheap foreign alarm clocks, I'm afraid...." he shook his head, stopping himself before he headed into a rant.

"So, unless you'd like a cup of tea or a snack cake, we can get down to business."

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon didn't trust any food or drink handed out by someone who worked as a Healer for this place. He'd spent too many centuries being overly cautious to relax that wariness now.

"No, I do believe I'll pass," he drawled, leaning back in his chair and fixing the doctor with a sleepy, half-lidded stare. "Why am I here?"

[damned_doctors]

"Alright then." Stegman folded his hands on his desk, preparing himself for a difficult session.

"You're here so you and I can talk and discover the root of your illness, and you can go home. Which I'm sure you're very eager for - despite the compliments regarding the food, I can't imagine this is much of a vacation. So let's begin. How are you feeling today?"

[bastard_sadi]

Something glinted in the Warlord Prince's eyes at the male's brusque manner, but he maintained his bored facade.

"Today? Rather irritated."

[damned_doctors]

Stegman nodded. "Not an entirely surprising response. What has you irritated today?" If it was something he could help with, well... he would happily show his patients he was on their side when the opportunity presented itself.

[bastard_sadi]

"First of all, my name isn't Andrew Tannin. It's Daemon Sadi," he began, holding up a single digit as he began to count off the things that were irritable at this moment. He doubted he had enough fingers.

"Secondly, I want my jewels back. I would also like my brother and father to receive theirs back as well, and my brother is missing far more than that. Also among the things irritating me is that we are here at all, instead of at home with our family and the people that need us and count on our presence and protection. The same with every other person here kept against his will."

"Also, the brainwashing that goes on here during certain nights is increasingly making me want to splatter the responsible party's brains from one side of this building to another."

"Would you like me to continue?" Daemon paused, arching an eyebrow as he halted his list of irritants.

[damned_doctors]

Stegman sighed and nodded. "Mr. Tannin - because your name is Andrew Tannin - you're here because your family thinks it's best for you. And I have to agree. You're suffering from extremely advanced delusions. I understand that you fully believe that you are... 'Daemon'. Your memories, your thoughts, the way you perceive the world...."

He trailed off, shaking his head a bit.

"That is what this institute specializes in. We're here to help you. I can assure you, whatever is going on here at night, it isn't brain washing. But why don't you tell me about it? I'd like to know why so many of my patients have such disheartening things to say about the nights."

Stegman wasn't a stupid man. He had gathered that security at night was extremely lax, and patients were wandering the halls and seeing god knew what and developing all manner of delusions because of it. But if he could perhaps uncover what his patients had really seen, he could begin to point out the reality versus the fantasy.

[bastard_sadi]

"How else do explain certain patients being dragged away from the others, submitted to things that controls their thoughts and actions, and then sets them against their fellow patients?" Daemon countered. "Considering I've had it happen to myself in the time I've been here. We are separated, given orders we are not capable of refusing, and then sent out among the other patients to guard a hallway, or a room, or a stair. Any who come across us are in potential danger, for the only restriction we are given is that we may not kill. However, there is a startling length of things a person can live through. Believe me, doctor, it's been my life to know that distinction."

"If you're so curious about what happens at night, where are you after the lights go out? Have you seen the mutations that are let loose on this place?" Then he paused, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied the man across the desk, recalling what had happened to the nurses and orderlies on the bus after the trip to town. "Or are you part one of them?"

[damned_doctors]

"Mr. Tannin, I'm a doctor. I go home to my apartment at night. But I can assure you, there are no mutants running about, and no one is...ordering you with mind control suggestions." Now this was even more absurd than the usual tales of monsters and oogy boogies and things that went bump in the night.

"Besides which, we simply don't have the technology to... control someone's mind like that. But why is it, do you think, that you'd ever be given orders you were incapable of refusing?"

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon watched him, trying to decide if the man was telling the truth or not. "That's what I'd like to know," Daemon countered, lounging deceptively comfortable in his chair, his golden eyes fixed intently on the man's face