Pages of madness filled by fractured sanity {Open}

[Drake Constantine]

Drake stepped into the library, his babysitter right behind him, and stared yet again in amazement at the collection that lay before him. Books consisting of all subject matters, in all conditions, all donated by people, mostly fools, who didn't realize the treasures that they held. In a recent trip he managed to find Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil and while not agreeing with everything the German said, he found the concept that morality should only apply to the common people while the exceptional few should be held to their own inner law to be particularly amusing. But that's not why he was here today, today was all about research and protection. Years back he had read a book on black magic and he remembered seeing that knowing the names of demons and devils gave you power over them. With his current mindset, with the random voices he's hearing, the odd thoughts creeping through his normally stable mindset, there is no precautionary action too crazy to try. Drake knew there was a fairly extensive religion section although finding exactly what he was looking for would prove rather difficult. Looking around the library he noticed a few other patients scattered about, he couldn't help but wonder what tripe they were reading...or if the majority of them were simply looking at the pictures.

Ugh...fucking simpletons...

What was that?

Erm, nothing Jeeves, let's make our way over to Ms. McGillicutty and see if she can't help me find what I'm after shall we?

Not waiting for an answer Drake heads off in the general direction of the desk, the smell of the leather flowing through his nostrils, the aged wood creaking beneath his feet when out of the corner of his eye he noticed someone walking towards him.

[Cobra Jackson Putnum]

Cobra Jackson walked through the hallways, contemplating. What would he do today? He would find something to do, even if it meant finding someone to harass until he got his way. He wasn’t exactly annoying … okay, he was only annoying when he wanted pain, but for the majority – and for the same sanity of him – that was virtually almost always. There were pills he had at one point that made him feel so dead, so… un-masochistic that it scared him, but then, after a few temper tantrums, he got his doctor to change it – which did make him happy, because the pills he had now only filled his mind with more want, more cravings. It made his head swirl through most of the day, but his cravings were still there, that made him happy. He giggled a bit as he followed along a medium – almost high – profile until they disappeared into their room and he frowned, knowing he now had to find someone new to follow around and hopefully find someone to give into his cravings.

His feet led the way as he was lost in thought, wondering about something. He found his way to the library, a place that he didn’t particularly go to often seeing as his cravings usually took over unless he was ordered to go and read, and most of the time he just ended up staring at the pictures and talking to himself. He rubbed his chin as he walked through the solid wooden doors, lost in thought and definitely not watching where he went. He stopped at the first bookshelf and randomly grabbed a book – something about medieval history or something – and then flipped through the book as he started towards a table, not realizing there were people walking around.

He didn’t notice there was at least one person watching him as he approached them, lost in staring at the pages of a castle with a draw bridge and people at the top that was illustrated on the page. He stumbled, and without thinking accidentally knocked into the older man, dropping his own book. He frowned, looking down, “Sorry. CJ didn’t mean to hit you,” he said, finally looking at the man, a little lost in thought, “CJ didn’t hurt you, did he? CJ doesn’t try to hurt people…” Ironically, he liked people hurting him, but he wouldn’t just say that. The guy who was a high profile, wasn’t he? Well, that was a better assumption seeing as he had a guard following him, and he unconsciously backed up, going to get the book, “CJ didn’t mean it. CJ gets no pain when he messes up, sorry,” he said quickly, suddenly realizing that anything to spark a high profile’s anger against him was bad – because then he’d get into trouble for fighting and then he’d be tossed into a strait jacket and put in solitary confinement and… CJ didn’t like that…

[/justify]

[Drake Constantine]

Drake, eyebrow raised, stared at this little...person in front of him, stumbling and stammering all over his words. His hair was a mess, falling all over the place, his eyes looking from side to side, never meeting Drake's gaze. There's certainly something off about this kid, and for a moment figuring it out took precedents over finding his book. Granted if Jim were around he could easily just ask him and be over it but as it happens his favorite lummox wasn't assigned to him today. So instead it was time to fire up the charm and try to get something out of this little mess of a person.

No bubbles no troubles mate. CJ you said your name was?

At the sound of the older man's voice CJ froze as he was bending over to grab his book and slowly nodded. Drake leaned towards CJ as his guard started to lunge forward.

Relax mate, I said it wasn't a problem and it's not, just trying to be helpful and all that

With that, Drake picked the book up and flipped open to a random page.

Huh...you're a fan of the middle ages? I suppose it was a dark time for us Brits, hell we practically reinvented pain and torture for the world. Between all the wars and the corrupt church officials, there was a lot of blood shed for senseless reasons. I still remember reading a book about medieval pain and punishment when I was younger, the stuff really stays with you, but you're probably not interested in any of that. I mean, there was beautiful architecture to come out of the era, not to mention laying the groundwork for all forms of modern thinking and technology. I suppose that's the silver lining on such a dark cloud.

[Cobra Jackson Putnum]

It wasn’t as if Cobra was easily intimidated.

But sometimes, high profiles who he’s directly confronted to without being one of their favourite little stalkers or even the pleasant little person to beg them for his pains, but this… this scared him. He had never met this man, nor saw what he was like, and that made his skin crawl a little. He honestly wanted to just collect his book and get to a table and read through it – hey, medieval history was interesting, especially since it was half his life; he had often visited the castles – especially the bigger ones like the Tower of London – whilest on school trips through the boarding school, and it had interested him at an early age. He froze just a little as the older man started to talk, saying that it wasn’t any trouble, followed by double checking his name. CJ was quiet a minute, “Cobra… most people call me CJ,” he stated, quietly, obviously intimidated by this man. His accent was obvious when he was scared, but that’s because it slipped out when he wasn’t trying to stay without the accent.

The man leaned forward and CJ couldn’t help but step back a bit, watching the man pick up his book and tell him to relax. He watched the man flip through the book and start talking – honestly, most of the words flew right over poor CJ’s head, only certain words catching his attention – pain, torture, punishment… little keywords that his doctor even used with him. It made his breathing become a little bit labored, his eyes staring at Drake, almost with a wanting look, knowing not here, but he couldn’t help it. He licked his lips, forcing himself to focus, “CJ learned to like the medieval times when CJ used to take trips at school to the Tower of London or Warwick Castle,” he said. Oh, yes. the castles were always something he enjoyed the most.

[/justify]

[Drake Constantine]

Drake had noticed the boy's eyes suddenly springing to attention when he mentioned pain and the subsequent body language exhibited thereafter. A small smirk spread across Drake's face as all the pieces were beginning to fall into place.

Oh yeah mate, the castles were always ace. I remember visiting them as a lad meself, never for school though, 'twas always family outings. Me da was a history buff and would make us go on various weekend trips to historic landmarks. But when it comes to torture nowadays the Chinese have surpassed us. Tiger bench, Hell confinement, small cage, electric batons, water dungeon, they're sick in a way that normal people couldn't even begin to comprehend. But anyways, look at me prattling on like a fool about torture and torment, like you really want to hear about the Chinese inventing sick new ways to inflict pain on people for little to no reason.

CJ's eyes were fixated on Drake the entire time he spoke, exactly what Drake was hoping for, which meant there was only one thing left to do, put theory to practice which under the guard's watchful eye would prove difficult but not impossible. All that he needed was a little tact and smarts. Drake momentarily turned from CJ to his guard.

Excuse me, I'm having a wonderful little chat here with me new friend CJ and I don't really want it to end but at the same time, I don't want to forget the book I was looking for. Would you be a saint and go ask the librarian to find it for me?

Absolutely not, I'm here to watch you, not to leave you by yourself.

I understand that completely, but this is the first time in a long time that I've found myself in an enjoyable conversation, I'm sure Dr. Lucid wouldn't be happy to hear that you were hindering my social growth here. Besides, it's only a few feet over there, if I were stupid enough to try anything you could reach around and knock me head off before I could get anything done.

The guard glanced to his right, noticing the librarian's desk was only six feet away. He thought about what Drake had said, if there were two people in here...hell on this planet he didn't want to get on the wrong side of it would be his boss Eliot Holt and Damian Lucid. He had been warned that Drake was crafty and it was his gift with his silver tongue that worried him, what if Drake got to Dr. Lucid and convinced him that he had somehow done something wrong. Both of his superiors would tear him a new asshole...

*sigh* Fine, but if you do one thing, ONE THING wrong, I will take you down and put you in a world of pain son.

Yeah. Scary. Anyways, go ask her if she's got anything on de...ancient mythology, like an encyclopedia.

As the guard turned towards the desk Drake thought "You really shouldn't call me son, you wouldn't want to end up like the last man that did..." then sheepishly began to grin.

Sorry about that little bit of business friend, while I'm sitting here talking about getting my book, here I am holding onto yours. I'm sure you want this back.

In an instant Drake pulled the book back and whipped it forward towards CJ's head. CJ let out a squeal, Drake immediately stopped his arm and held the book firmly in his hand as his guard snaps his head around.

Anyone ever tell you that you're too high strung mate? I mean I know it's your job to keep me under control but seriously, I just told the boy a joke, he must've found it funny and let out an odd little noise. Now be a good boy and go back to Ms. McGillicutty, she looks as if she's found something.

The guard gave Drake a hard look which Drake easily dismissed with a grin and a snicker, then turned back to CJ and dropped his voice to a whisper.

You wanted me to hit you with this, didn't you?

[Cobra Jackson Putnum]

In just a few words, this man – this older, high profile man with a guard walking around next to him without any hesitation – had captured CJ’s attention in less than ten words. Simple little words that had made him honestly interested, made him freeze in his spot and tilt his head just a little as if he was focusing on someone who was his ultimate ruler. He had smirked at CJ – even though CJ was too stupid to realize that it was there, his mind filled with hazy wonder at the man. His mouth started to move – he started to talk, with the same British accent that CJ himself had, talking about how he too had went to castles as a kid, then continuing about the Chinese and how they had seemingly surpassed the English in torture methods – naming off five different ways. CJ tried to put names to what they were together – try to put mental images to the man’s words, but nothing came up. And then he just stopped – almost as if he was talking about something wrong. Without even thinking, CJ’s mouth opened, and he spoke, “No, it’s okay. CJ doesn’t mind listening,” he stated, wondering about this man. He didn’t know who he was – only that he was a high profile and there was a guard following him around.

CJ thought about this, his eyes never once leaving the man as he talked to the guard about finding him a mythology book and how he didn’t want to leave his new friend – they were friends? It made CJ grin excitedly – he did like friends, that was for sure, and having lots of new friends was always a bonus. He squirmed a little in place as he watched the guard walk away, and his eyes swiveled quickly to face the man who he didn’t even know the name of, and he wondered for a moment if he ever WOULD know the name. He apologized about being interrupted and saying that CJ wanted his book back and he mindlessly nodded, holding out his hand… but instead of handing it to him, the man pulled back and whipped it forward, towards CJ’s head. He squealed, excitedly – was he really going to get his pain? He loved his pain! He grinned mindlessly as he thought about it, but frowned when the impact never came, staring at the older man with wanting eyes, begging eyes, wanting to be hit. When the situation with the guard was over, he had asked CJ – in a whisper – if he wanted to get hit. CJ nodded, whispering back, “CJ likes pain. CJ likes every type of pain. CJ’s a good boy for pain,” he had said, stupidly as usual.

[/justify]

[Drake Constantine]

An earnest grin made it's way across Drake's face, the kind of smile that is almost never seen inside the Manor. Thoughts began firing through his head like bullets in times of war. But he needed to play this right, this was far too good to ever let go. A scheme was forming deep within his subconscious, bits and pieces slowly coming into the light.

CJ, CJ, CJ...my boy, the two of us are going to be the best of friends.

The smile returned to Drake's face as the guard returned to Drake's side.

The librarian says that you've spent more time reading the mythology books than anyone in the Manor.

Oh yeah, must've slipped me mind...

Slipped your mi...do you take me for some kind of fool?

Sir, I take you for only the greatest kind of fool.

Shut your mouth! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you.

The guard turns to CJ who has been standing by silently watching the exchange.

You! What were you two doing while my back was at the desk?

CJ stood in place, eyes wide, but not saying a word.

Come on, tell me. What did you do? What did he say?

Drake stepped between the two, a deadpan expression on his face but fire burning behind his eyes.

I'm sure it makes you feel like a real big man, intimidating this poor boy. I'm not going to allow it, someone needs to take a stand, to protect him from pieces of shit like you who wield false power and a sense of entitlement. What's wrong, you got picked on and beat up as a lad and since you couldn't do anything then you're trying to take advantage now?

A look of anger spread across the man's face, not believing an outburst like that would come from a patient, especially not towards a guard. Drake's eyes told him that he meant every word he said. He turned his back and began to walk away.

No reading for you, I'm taking you back to your room.

Smartest decision you could've made. *Drake turns to CJ* None of these arseholes will bother you as you're with me, I'll see to it. They could never hurt you with kindness like I will.

Drake turns to walk away, spins around and slaps CJ hard across the face. Stopping momentarily that genuine smile, the look of true happiness returned to his face, then just as fast as he delivered the slap he spun around and began walking out of the library.