“I was wondering about my subject. They’re just… frustrating. They don’t make sense on good days, even, I just… I was wondering if you could see them for a minute? That would be lovely, if you could.” she said, looking a bit embarrassed.
(I feel like I'm not keeping up the energy for this, do you guys want to add any ideas for plot?)
(This sentiment still stands.)
Frustrating? From the looks of other subjects, he wouldn't have assumed that. Not really unexpected on the other hand. Although this subject they're talking about is relatively younger in a sense. Having the duty to create the "perfect" human all while having to take care of a failed attempt is stressful; also given the fact that Miss Norman is very pressing about it too. Part of him sympathizes with Katherine on that matter.
"Don't be too hard yourself. You're doing all that you can.", Ares reassured, "Just send them over to me, I already have approval to take them in as my patient."
He kept his hands inside the coat pockets. Momentarily his eyes were averted away taking a glimpse down the hallway. In the corner was a security camera with a small blinking light on it. Ares never really seen it previously. Maybe this uneventful day is making him notice a lot of things he hasn't before.
Suddenly his attention went back to Katherine and Nobody. Right. Gazing back, Ares gave a more optimistic look. "One more thing.", he added, "May I ask why they're frustrating? How do they act?" Perhaps asking the caretaker first can give him some insight. Sadly he will not be able to tell most of his findings to her, confidentiality rules. He can work with the subject which might make them more bearable or understanding.
“Hmm, well, they’re always talking to that imaginary friend of theirs. Offering them small tokens of affection, even when they know the thing won’t take them. Dr. Scribbles, they call it. They also have a very strong avoidance to pain beyond what a normal child would, and I say child because that is in effect what they are, at this developmental stage. They get too distracted with things, are always asking strange questions about the nature of things, not uncommon but certainly difficult to deal with. I had to sew them a whole gown just because the one they were in was too itchy, even though no other patients have ever complained of that to my knowledge. I suspect some form of neurodivergence at play here, but what I could only guess.” Katharine said, explaining in-detail her grievances with the Subject. “Really, I just need a name to the issues and some help making them more manageable. They often refuse to eat or sleep or cooperate when they’re upset, and often have meltdowns if they don’t get what they want or if they don’t understand something. It’s… tiring, to say the least, and they’re always using words I know I never taught them. They say they learn them from this Dr. Scribbles, but I think it’s just simply eavesdropping.”
As Katharine spoke, he slowly nodded carefully taking in each word. So far in his career, he has worked with serial killers, sickly traumatized soldiers, and now artificial human test subjects. All the things she said does not match any habits or behaviors other subjects have. Time doesn't act that way for sure. The fact that Nobody is two weeks old has already made him draw to a conclusion. They're a child, if not toddler, in a young adult's body. Also they are stuck in an abnormal environment for a child to develop in with no parental support. An imaginary friend is quite interesting too, he never had one when he was younger; only a stuffed lamb.
"Katharine, you're dealing with a child. It's perfectly normal for them to behave this way. I know you're trying to make the superb human, keep in mind being neurodivergent is also perfectly normal. My assumption is that TZE-85 isn't though, they're only what I said before, a child.", Ares explained, "Creating and raising them here is going to be a challenge, especially if there isn't some sort of parent figures and loving support. Being that we're in a lab with certain guidelines and protocols, this is will be difficult. On another note, I'll still gladly take them in, but be aware I can only tell you, Miss Norman, Di, and everyone else so much; psychiatrist rules."
Ares turned his face to he side to clear his throat. Adjusting his tie, he looked back giving a small grin as an apology. "Send them to me right away, I have plenty of time for the first session.", he nodded, "Also if you ever see Di, please ask her to come here as well. I just need her to return some things to the archive room."
“I will check in with Di. Thank you for your time.” she said, exiting the room. Kath wandered down the halls aimlessly until she remembered she had to retrieve TZE-85 from the ward to pass off to Ares. She eventually managed to make her way there, and entered the small nook the not-quite-human rested in. “Hey there, kitty. You up for a little visit to Dr. Zhang’s office?” she asked, trying to act as sensitively as possible to the kid.
“Is the Doctor a nice person? Are they the nice person? Who smiled at me?”
“I believe so,” she laughed a little, patting Nobody’s arm. “He wants to listen to you for a little bit. And then he wants to see what he can do to make being here easier.”
“Okay! Do I hafta wear the bracelets? They hurt my arrrms.” Nobody complained, acting a little giggly and softer than usual.
“The cuffs are required for patient transport, yes. I’m sorry, kitty, it’s the rules.”
“Okay, but can I have them off in Doctor’s office?”
“Maybe. Only if you’re good, and follow me. I know you like exploring, but you can’t here, there’s a lot of dangerous stuff and Dr. Norman would kill me if you got injured.”
“Kill? What’s that supposedta be?”
“Uh, not something for you to worry about, kitty. Now let’s go!” she said, hoping to hype up Nobody enough for cooperation.
Nobody nodded and followed, willingly heading into the “bracelets” to be dragged along by Katharine. They followed dutifully, only getting distracted about six times, a record low for them. When they reached Zhang’s office, Kath didn’t bother to knock, instead simply heading in with Nobody unthinkingly.
(dslknvka I could totally see Di being Nobody's surrogate mom-figure)
Di stretched her right hand vigorously. Taking notes for that last doctor always made her hands cramp up. He was just…so fast when he talked. She was glad that she'd at least been able to drop her helmet off in the lounge before being called by everyone in that god-forsaken building to do some task or another. For now, though, it seemed like she had nothing to do, so she headed to the break room for the time being. If anyone needed her, they knew where she tended to be found when she wasn't busy.
Ares stood facing the window with his head tilted down. After going inside his office, he paced around patiently waiting for Nobody to arrive. It had to be over twenty minutes because the patience grew weary as he started to look around the room for a lighter. Not being able to find his, he opened up the window behind his desk then just stared outside. He never really opened it up when there were patients around. Something about it dealing with curiosity is the reason why he can't have it? Hell he knows, succeeding in getting these projects right might do better if they let these subjects think freely.
The creak in the door made his shoulders tensed up in surprise. Shutting his eyes for a brief second, he let out a small sigh. Time for another patient, again. Ares shut the window pulling the curtains over. The corners of his lips turned up. Waiting had made his bright expression a little bit dimmer than usual. Not knocking or any sign of coming over did bother him a little. The somewhat sincere smile got better as he faced Katherine and Nobody.
"Pleasure to meet you TZE-85, I'm Doctor Zhang. I'll be your psychiatrist.", Ares smiled then turned to Katharine, "Should I go over the basic producers?"
(If you're still looking for some plots idea, I think I might have some. Maybe there is a major backfire at the lab which leads to conflict between the scientists like a random subject causes a lot of trouble, goes missing, or something.)
“Procedure?” Nobody asked, tilting their head.
“It’s how you do things, kitty. I’ll leave hem here with you. The code to the cuffs is 8683, if you feel safe enough to take them of. TZE-85 is fairly tame, they won’t cause you much trouble.” Katherine said, then turned to leave. “Just ping me when I need to pick them up.” and with that, she left.
Nobody sat down in the chair in front of Ares’ desk, looking around with wide eyes. It had been a while since they had been let anywhere but the exercise area and the ward, so this was very exciting. “Hello, Dr. Zhang. Dr. Scribbles couldn’t make it here today so I can’t let you meet him, but he’s kinda shy so I think he wouldn’t have come here anyways.” they said,
Ares said nothing, only giving a small wave of goodbye. With his finger, he traced the numbers 8683 on the desk to remember the code. Typically he does not remove the cuffs on the first appointment, even the second and third too. Bad memories of being attacked by patients still lingered in his mind to this day. Not like it makes him anxious or what, but the possibilities are endless. Speaking of which, he'll have to find a way to explain the protocols with these sessions to Nobody without confusion. Really every one was just formality, but telling this to the subjects gave them a sense of freedom and personal decision.
Doctor Scribbles, must be that imaginary friend from before. Interesting how other subjects have visions or come up with their own friends. Slowly, he nodded deciding to just roll with it. Ares would've rather gone with asking some questions or going through simple tests, but having a discussion seems that it will do for now. "What a shame that is.", he sighed while sitting down, "Tell him there's no need to fear me, you both can trust me. Is there anything you're scared of, Nobody?"
“Mummy-no, she’s Dr. Green, she says, and she says there isn’t anything to be scared about, that I’m safe. But Scribbles says I’m going to get hurt here, and I think it’s true because of all the spikes and the stabbies and the bracelets. But I don’t know what else could hurt me, I don’t know if I should be scared.” they said. This was all so confusing, and they were actually a little bit scared without their friend, but it was bad to tell the doctors things. Only their friend, only their friend they could trust.
(Bloop)