(no subject)

[screwmeister]

WHO: screwmeister and whoever
WHERE: within a five mile radius or so of nohope
WHEN: today
WARNINGS: violence, mental health issues, stein in general...
SUMMARY: Stein loses his shit, breaks out of NOHoPE, calms down and turns himself back in. WHAT AN EXCITING DAY. Perhaps he will even run into someone during the few hours he is on the lam!! Maybe that someone will be you!!!!!
FORMAT: whatever you fancy

It's impossible to know what triggered it, even Stein couldn't say if he were asked, but whatever the cause, it hits him hard. He's out of his room, en route to some sort of group therapy, and suddenly he loses track of his surroundings. All he can see is mist and all he can hear is static, and it's fortunate that it's a guard bot that tries to bring his attention back to reality, because when it touches him he lashes out with his soul and sends it flying.

Stein doesn't stop to see if it broke when he knocked it away, and he certainly doesn't stick around for the other guards, robot or otherwise, to intervene. He runs, operating purely on instinct, smashing through anything that gets in his way. The static in his mind gets louder and louder, pushing everything out, until suddenly it calms, and Stein blinks and he can see again, and he turns around and can't even see the hospital anymore. He's out.

Stein cautiously gives his screw a single turn, then a few more just because he can without being told off, and his entire countenance brightens when it stops with a satisfying click. He knows exactly what he wants.

So, wearing NOHoPE pajamas and slip on shoes and walking like someone who's more buzzed than sober, Stein wanders further into the City in search of a cigarette.

Comments

[curses]

[Bellatrix grins when she sees the figure in pajamas walk in her direction, and she stalks over, her guard seemingly lowered.]

Are congratulations in order?

[screwmeister]

[stein is on his sixth or seventh cigarette by now, and has basically made up his mind that he needs to turn himself back in. but he regards bellatrix with a blank expression and slightly tilted head.]

I don't know.

[seems like he's the same as ever, even in these unusual circumstances.]

[curses]

You're no longer in that bloody prison fronting as a mental institution. It's certainly a cause for congratulations.

[screwmeister]

Oh. That.

[should he tell her........nope he's gonna ride this one out.]

It is nice to be outside I guess.

[curses]

[wow stein rude]

Should I be worried that you aren't rejoicing?

[screwmeister]

[oops jumping on that one for sure]

Do you usually worry about me?...I'm touched Bellatrix.

[curses]

[she knew he would the minute she finished that sentence]

I have my moments. [A beat.]I suppose you're going to leave the City for a bit.

[screwmeister]

[his smile disappears as he gives his screw a single, hesitant turn. no click.]

No...I don't think I will.

[curses]

[uh.] Well, the City is a big place. Assuming you escaped, they won't be able to find you if you know where to hide.

[screwmeister]

Weeeeeeeell...

[his gaze drifts upward as he draws out the word. man this is almost awkward.]

I think I might go back instead.

[curses]

[She just stares at him for a few moments.]

...You're insane.

[screwmeister]

Yeah. That's probably the point.

[he's still not looking at her.]

[curses]

No. Even the insane prefer freedom over captivity.

[screwmeister]

It's not about preferring freedom.

[oh, his voice went a little sharp just then. but it smooths back out almost immediately.]

It's about what I deserve.

[curses]

[She just blinks at his change of tone.]

If you truly want to go back to that hellhole, then perhaps you do deserve it.

[screwmeister]

I don't want to. [he pauses, takes a deep drag of his cigarette, blows the smoke out. he is going to miss cigarettes.] Good and evil don't exist, but when whoever's in control issues a punishment you should probably take it. That's all.

[curses]

Who exactly is in control? The insignificant doctors at the institution? It isn't you, clearly.

[screwmeister]

Mm.

[the barest of acknowledgments.]

There's a new warden at the hospital if you didn't know.

[curses]

What does that have to do with anything?

hi honey

[ioudas]

Always in the shadiest parts of the city, looking for something that was more fulfilling than the usual antagonizing that he does (he hasn't thrown a good punch in a while). Plus, prostitutes were always a good addition to a good time. Strip clubs were grimy, too grimy and there weren't any really good cabarets in the city.

So, Cross was left to stalk the streets like a wanderer looking for a hedonistic nirvana. That is, until he ran into a familiar face.

"What're you doing out here?" He called more like a person finding their friend out and around than you know, finding a deranged man walking around in pajamas.

hey baby

[screwmeister]

Stein hasn't obtained a cigarette, not yet, but he has purpose and the static is bearable. So he stopped walking when Cross called out. Cross was a friend, after all.

"I need a cigarette," he said, voice low. As though that explained why he was out of the hospital.