Drake, an introduction of sorts

[Drake Constantine]

He awoke in his small bed to the warm embrace of sunlight, somewhat diluted by the dingy window, and the sound of footfalls echoing in the hallway. Drake lay in bed, stretching out and for a moment he truly felt grateful. Grateful that he was actually able to stretch, that he wasn't deemed "dangerous to himself" and therefore wasn't locked up in a straight jacket or strapped to a bed like some silly little prat. Grateful that his pills kept him sleeping through the night for the first time in a long time, but mostly grateful because today was Jim's day..that is to say that today was when Jim was his assigned baby-sitter. Poor, simple little Jim, a man broken down by a miserable bitch of a wife, a lack of social skills and mostly a man that no one would listen to, nobody except Drake that is. He had long ago assumed guards were the first step to not being completely miserable, not realizing initially that with a bit of coaxing and some feigned friendship that they could also be an excellent source of information when the need should arise. There was a plethora of new arrivals that Drake had yet to fully encounter or interact with them, a little research always the best course of action in a place like this and today would be the perfect day to get it done.

Well, I suppose it's time to get this started...

[/color]

Drake stood up, crept over to the wall right next to the door and pounded on the window, slightly startling Jim.

Drake, why must you be a pain in my ass already? It's the ass crack of the morning, you really think I need to be in the infirmary before noon, making the poor nurses give my heart the once over?

Jimmy, you silly bastard, we both know you'd rather be in the cafeteria before noon and the nurses giving little Jimmy the once over, twice if it's right...

Drake grinned at the man through the glass and Jim couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle back at him.

Will you just hurry up and get dressed already? Unless of course you'd rather stay in your room all day.

Oi, just because the old cow at home isn't letting you have the butcher's look doesn't mean you've gotta start in on me. I mean, I know I'm attractive but Jimmy, I'd never bite the pillow for you, you're just not me type.

That's not what I meant and you know it. You know, I never know how you managed to make it through your life with that mouth without getting beaten on a daily basis.

So now we're starting in with the rough stuff?[/color]

Ha. Ha. Now just get dressed or I'm telling the Dr. Lucid that you're being unruly and threatening, I'll get you busted back down to 24 hour in room surveillance and only being able to eat with a spoon.

"Fucking bastard" Drake thought as he turned and grabbed a different set of hospital provided, non-threateningly colored garb and began dressing. It wasn't so much the comment that Jim made that bothered him, it was the underlying connotation. Those were rough days, being woken up to guards yanking him carelessly from bed, dragged half-awake to the treatment center to be subjected to whatever treatment the head doc thought appropriate for the day. Then being degraded to using a plastic spoon so that he didn't try to harm anyone, complete fuckin' shite mind you, the doctors just didn't like his attitude. "Just relax, the poor boy is only joking" he thought to himself as he turned around ready to start his subtle interrogation.

Alright, alright, let's get a move on shall we? I haven't got all day, I hear the president is waiting for me in the conference room.

Yeah, the president... Drake, the president wouldn't meet with you if you pissed gold and shit billion dollar bills.

As Jim unlocked the door, Drake bit his tongue, so as not to reply with "But I'm certain your wife would". No, no, today was a day for pure charm and friendship. Drake stood against the wall, waiting for the unnecessary frisking, as if he'd have something on him now that he didn't have before going into his room last night. A few moments later and the two men were out of the room walking down the hall.

So Jim, you keeping up on the footy scores? How are me Reds doing?

Drake, you know I can't watch that shit, bunch of pansies kicking a ball around, falling over every ten seconds, no one ever scoring. Now football, that's a real man's sport. So long as there's actually a season this year the Panther's are gonna win the Super Bowl. Might seem like an early prediction but we've got that new kid, Cam Newton he plays just like a youn...

Drake let the man blather on about his silly game, not paying attention but making sure to seem attentive and genuinely interested, a minor annoyance but you had to give to get. Before long the man would tire himself out and then Drake would start in with the questions.

...need some more veterans on the field to help them, but I swear this is our year!

Thankfully they had reached the rec room and Drake had the moment of silence he had been waiting for.

A lot of new faces around here as of late...[/color]

Don't even think about it Drake.

Ye wha...I'm just saying there's new blood here, some of them look interesting.

Yeah, you're "just saying" and the pope shits in the woods.

Maybe if he had a cabin there or something, but I couldn't see him trudging through the bugs, bears, muck and mess just to do his business. Could you imagine though? Walking through the woods on a nice day and seeing that daft hat popping up from behind a bush?

Jim covered his mouth with his hand, hoping to disguise his chuckling as a cough.

You're something else kid, I swear.

One in a million is what I hear, but seriously mate, I just want to know more about the people I'm being locked up with here. Like over there, what's her story?

Drake nodded towards a girl sitting off in a corner by herself, seemingly carefree but her eyes constantly darting towards anyone moving about or any time two people began talking, currently her eyes were fixated on Jim and Drake. Drake being the natural charmer that he is returned her stare with a pearly white smile and a kind look.

Come on Drake, I really shouldn't...

She's an attractive girl, seems outwardly nice, but they don't just lock pretty, nice birds up in this place. I just want to know if I go to say hello if she's going to spring like a panther and try to rip me eyes out.

*sigh* Her name is Haven Kraelis, twenty, she's been in and out of institutions for the last three years and yes, she probably would rip your eyeballs out...then step on them in front of you and laugh as you walked around helplessly. She's got anger issues and she doesn't trust anyone.

You mean in a private resort like this? I don't bloody blame her, well present company excluded.

Nice to know you care.

That's me, mister fucking sunshine himself. Speaking of, what's with the kid in the sunglasses?

Tony Williamson, young kid only 16, claims he had his eyes carved up by a baby-sitter, so he's not really fond of people either, keeps to himself otherwise he gets all worked up.

They'll let anyone in these days won't they? This isn't exactly a sodding day care center if you know what I mean.

I hear you and I feel bad for the kid, but apparently he tried lashed out, tried killing someone in the hospital so for the time being this is where he belongs.

Slacker... What's with Johnny USA over there? Looks like he should be locked in a barracks somewhere.[/color]

Don't even think of saying anything bad about that boy, his name is Nathan Lloyd and he's a war hero. Hell, he'd probably be walking around outside if it weren't for that war, PTSD and all the fun stuff that goes along with it.

Now, now Jim, if I didn't know any better I'd think you had a crush on the old boy. I don't know what I'd do if you left me for another head case.

Knowing full well that this would get under Jim's skin, Drake immediately shot him a smirk and despite catching a glare from him, Drake knew that he hadn't crossed any lines.

How about the toothpick I've seen wandering about? Dark hair, has a wild cat of some sort on her back, ocelot or maybe a lynx?

That would be Kala...Kayl...Kay Dace. Poor little thing, her mother used to lock her in a cage which pushed her over the edge, now she's hearing voices and has an imaginary pet. Such a shame...

So she get's a pet but I can't get bevvied up, it's criminal Jim, criminal...

It's a disorder Drake, the girl has a disease!

So do I, it's called being sober. All got our crosses to bear I suppose. How about the tiny bird I've seen wandering about the 'ozzy? She's short, seems to be scratching her arms every time I see her.

Jamie Manlow, was in a car accident with her mother and brother, the mother died immediately, she got PTSD, nightmares and a bunch of scars. She went to a juvenile health center and took a bunch of pills, that landed her here.

With the mention of a dead mother, Drake fell silent, a far away look in his eyes as though he was remembering something from another life. Noticing the strange behavior, Jim nudged Drake with his shoulder causing Drake to snap his head towards Jim, his body coiled like an animal ready to strike.

Woah, Drake, calm down. You're a good patient but if you don't relax your body and your eyes, I'll put you up against the wall and get a nurse over here to loosen you up.

So now you're trying to make this a three way? You just caught me off guard, all is well in casa de Constantine. I was just thinking about something is all.

I know how you are Drake, don't even think about trying anything with her.

You ever think about anything but sex mate? You want I could try to charm one of the nurses to give you a private session.

I'm a married man Drake, happily I might add.

You might add it, I certainly wouldn't though. Whose the blonde with the lively blues I've seen trotting about?

Kara Sills, yes that Sills as in "rich enough to buy and sell you a thousand times a day and never notice the missing cash". She believes she's trapped in a story, Red Riding Hood if I'm not mistaken, night terrors, believes that the big bad wolf is coming to get her. Don't ever approach her if you're not cleanly presented, she got here for stabbing a scruffy looking guy 126 times.

Shite, talk about overkill. Everyone knows that if you go over a hundred you're clearly nutters... How about the music box? The one always wandering around humming musicals to herself or staring out into the yard?

Erin Priddy, slightly anti-social, suffers from depression and has chronic nightmares. From what I hear sh...

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that these girls all have night terrors because you leave me unattended at night and go off to take care of yourself while watching them sleep.

That's disgusting, these girls are practically half my age.

I'm not judging Jimmy, hell given the freedom I might try one or two out meself.

And you wonder why you're locked up in the wing with a guard outside every door.

Ah, good old home, sweet home. Which actually brings me to the most important thing, I've heard some new voices in the hall, mind spilling the beans on my new neighbors?

First off you've got Alec Anderson. A.L.E.C. Not Alex, not that you'll see him much but don't make the mistake. They find him covered head to toe in blood sitting in his parent's back yard, turns out he just went off the rails, for no reason killed four men in gruesome fashion. The guy is a mess and loves being alone so that's usually what he is.

Dominic Graves, trouble patient down to the core, he tries to attack the staff, believes he's a vampire and is always going off about blood and the sick and twisted things he's going to do to people. He's not out and about much but you'd know who he was as soon as you saw him.

Then there's Sid Snider aka Jimmy. A hundred and change soaking wet but you don't want to get this guy angry. You see, Sid is alright, a little off but nothing you'd be worried about. Jimmy however...well Jimmy's the kind of guy I could see you hanging out with if you weren't in here. Alcoholic, violent, and a general disregard for authority.

And how about me girl, Nikki, how's she been?[/color]

Drake, she's no more your girl than she is anyone else's, you know as well as I do that girl is just full of problems and waiting to explode. But since you asked she seems to be unchanged, still flirting with everything she sees, still exploding every time things don't go her way.

She's still got that spark in her eyes, yeah? I tell you Jim, one day that girl and I are going to have a lot of fun in this place, if you're lucky I'll do it on a day you're working.

Please don't, I enjoy collecting a pay check. But there, are you happy now? You've gotten it all out of me.

Drake turns towards Jim, raises an eyebrow and stares at him with an otherwise deadpan face.

What?

Come now Jim, we both know there's one other person in the wing. I've been here long enough that I can hear the different voices in the hallway, I know all the screams and there's one you're not telling me about. Who is he? Why are you trying to keep him a secret?

*sigh* Okay, look Drake, yes there is one more patient, his name is Jeremiah Andrews and the only reason I didn't mention anything is because you're having a good day and it's not my job to change that.

I'm having a fantastic day I'll have you know, there's nothing that you or anyone else could say that is going to change that. So have at it!

If you say so, just remember I warned you. He's the son of a reverend and he's in here because he believes he's an angel sent to do God's work, to protect and help the weak and to smite the evil, those who the Devil has infected.

Huh, a religious boy?

Drake spoke in monotone, the far away look returned to his eyes. Vivid memories of attending church with his father, the lies he was told therein, the ultimate question of why God never saved his mother from his father, why his father never seemed to feel guilty for what he had done, the path he had traveled down because of everything that happened as a child, because God wasn't there because, because, because...Adelaide. The name burst into his brain like a flash of lightning, his body cringing in reaction to it before settling in a defeated state. He turned around and faced back towards the high profile wing.

Jim, I'd like to go back to my room now.[/color]

Jim being fully aware of Drake's disdain for religion but not understanding why, no one in the hospital had been able to figure out why because he had yet to say a word. Through all the torture, all the treatments Drake had kept silent. Not knowing what else to do, Jim just fell behind Drake and took him back to his room, the sun no longer shining even dimly, the only light provided by the fluorescent hanging above.[/blockquote][/size]

OOC: Long winded and shite towards the end but Drake is finally out and about...sort of.