you've got a mouthful of diamonds

[heartlessglitch]

WHO: Abel Gideon & Danger, featuring Freddie Lounds.
WHERE: A cafe between the hospital and home.
WHEN: 06/08, late morning.
WHAT: Gideon's release.
WARNINGS: These people though...

(Threads below!)

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(hospital: gideon & danger)

[heartlessglitch]

[ Danger remembered that Gideon's appetite had been poor during her stay the hospital-- statistically normal, to a certain point, for someone in his condition, though given her knowledge of Hannibal Lecter's dietary predilections, she could only guess at what he had experienced to put off his stomach. Still, nutrition was an essential part of healing, and her emotional investment dictated that some measures be taken to improve things on that front. Improvement was, after all, her overarching goal. Her plan for the morning was to buy the man a meal, then take him home, where she would keep him safe.

She drove a government issue vehicle-- a sleek black thing, a small perk of her work for Homeland Security-- and wore her more approachable organic body to pick Gideon up from the hospital. The car pulled up to the front of the building, tucking into the curb with precision before she cut the engine. Stepping out, she moved to meet Gideon and one of the nurses on the sidewalk.

Her eyes lingered only a moment on the nurse, a brief acknowledgement before her attention came to rest on him. ]

Are you ready, Doctor?

[enabeled]

[ In truth, Gideon could have probably left the hospital sooner than this. They were mostly keeping his condition stable at this point, but there was little in particular that needed urgent surveillance; he'd simply had little motivation to leave.

Now, however, with Hannibal Lecter making appearance, Gideon is not inclined to wait around a hospital room alone and just wait for him to visit. No; better not make himself easy prey, even if he can't stay there forever regardless.

He closes his eyes to the breeze coming off the water before he turns his eyes up to Danger. ]

Very ready. And I appreciate the ride.

[heartlessglitch]

[ Ever polite, her friend.

Danger lets the verbal gratitute pass her without acknowledging it out loud-- such a purposeful display of manners is reserved for when she feels she needs to smooth over her communication with a human being. Grease the gears, so to speak. No such playing pretend is necessary here. Instead, she makes herself useful, opening the passenger car door and taking over for the nurse.

It's straight-forward when she brings up the subject that has been on both of their minds: ]

I thought perhaps we might discuss the arrival of Hannibal Lecter. [ A little pause, as she brings the wheelchair up to the side of the car. Putting on the brakes, she leans but doesn't touch him without first asking: ] May I assist you into the vehicle, Doctor?

[enabeled]

[ The look on Gideon's face probably conveys his feelings on the notion of discussing Hannibal Lecter clearly enough, but he says nothing as she moves his wheelchair closer to the car; he nods his head, offering out his hand to her. ]

Be my guest -- can't step in myself now, even had I still both my legs. Not that I'm worried...

[ He tilts his head up, chin faced forward, shoulders very straight. The car looms before him, his back just slightly tense at the notion of leaving the hospital for good despite his restlessness, his desire to get out. ]

I do know that I'm in good hands.

[heartlessglitch]

[ She takes his hand in a steady grip, her natural strength making the transfer outwardly effortless as she moves him into the passenger's seat. The wheelchair gets folded and tucked away in the back before she settles into the driver's seat.

As she turns the key in the ignition, she glances at him, openly gauging him for a moment before her eyes turn ahead again and she begins to pull out of the hospital lot. ]

I intend to take good care of you, Doctor. And I am monitoring the situation with Hannibal Lecter. [ Quiet confidence. ] I will keep you safe.

[enabeled]

I have the utmost faith that you will, Danger. In my time knowing you, performance is an area I've yet to see you fall short in.

[ He sits up as straight as he can, which is a difficult task with his lower body paralyzed; he moves mostly using his arms and leaning his weight into his back, letting his neck and head relax against the seat. ]

I'm not worried about Hannibal Lecter. Have you seen him? It's a nearly unfathomable difference, between that boy and the man I was briefly acquainted with.

[heartlessglitch]

[ Her eyes remain focused straight ahead on the road-- all complicated tasks require a particular, deliberate kind of concentration in this human-like form, though they would be more automatic if she were a machine-- but she's still paying attention to him, to what he's doing in her peripheral vision and what he's saying to her.

She takes her time in responding. It's true-- the situation with Hannibal Lecter could be significantly worse. He's a man hardly finished with being a boy. But she understands how calculating he is, even now, remembering the way they had gauged each other when she'd first spoken to him.

Still, out loud, as she drives: ]

Your priorities are mine, Doctor. If you are not concerned, then I acknowledge that. [ But that doesn't mean she won't be watching. ] Would you prefer if I devoted my efforts elsewhere?

[enabeled]

[ Sitting there in the car, Gideon is hyper-aware of the vibrations in the seat as they drive against his back, and the utter lack of them below his waist. He tenses, sitting as flat to the seat as possible, as still as he can be, breathing shallowly.

His eyes close briefly as he tries to center himself and not let the pace of his breathing quicken, the unease of being away from the hospital cold under his skin. It's better this way, though, because he knows remaining there will only make him a target (potentially, but how can he not consider potentially?) for Hannibal once again. Young or not, Gideon isn't convinced. ]

Elsewhere? [ His voice a bit dreamy, far away in thought before he refocuses once again, looking over at her. ] Have you something in mind?

[heartlessglitch]

[ Being in this body deprives her of all her various sensors-- the ones that would tell him what his heart rate is right now, or how many respirations per minute are rising and falling through his chest. But a sidelong glance tells her that he hasn't relaxed yet, that there's some kind of lingering discomfort, even now.

Her attention shifts frontwards again, back towards the road. ]

I thought perhaps the house could benefit from some adjustments. To better accommodate you. [ Practicality. Engineering. There's some comfort for her in those things. ] I would like to assist in your adjustment, if at all possible.

[enabeled]

[ That discomfort may never fade, no matter how Gideon may try to disguise it. Everything is regarded with paranoia and a cloaked sort of caution, something almost like fear. That alone unnerves him as well as the feeling itself; the lack of control he now seems to have over his composure. Well, no, not a lack... but a weakening. Gideon struggles harder now to retain his impassive dignity than he would have before. ]

Something like a ramp, you mean? [ The idea makes him smirk, his tone wry. ] Stairs may be an obstacle.

[heartlessglitch]

Yes. I imagine they would be. A ramp is more than manageable.

[ She responds in that uninflecting way of hers, answering his wryness with quiet flatness, words taken for their most literal meaning. But despite what she says, her mind lingers only briefly on the idea of a ramp-- she'll do it, of course, and it'll be easy, but the a part of her feels a flicker of frustration, because she knows the physical adjustments will be the simple ones. She could build an entire system to accommodate his every physical need-- but that is hardly solving the problem.

Her hands tighten slightly on the steering wheel. ]

You need only tell me what you require, Doctor. It is the least I can do.

[enabeled]

Well, as you might imagine, Danger, my needs are rather straightforward. I can feed myself... wash myself, move myself around... so a nursemaid I won't need.

[ His voice is a bit distant again as he glances out the window. Stairs, of course, he'll need help with. Getting in and out of vehicles, some doors. Likely a dozen more small things that don't even occur to him at the moment.

Gideon turns his head again, looking back to her. ]

As long as I have your company.

[heartlessglitch]

My company is a constant, Doctor. As long as you wish for it to be.

[ That is the easiest thing for her to provide-- and she does it willingly. It makes her feel as though she's fulfilling her functions as his friend, something that's become important to her, with how few close friends she actually keeps. And at the same time, being present allows her a sense of control. That too is reassuring.

One hand moves to flick on the turn signal as she drives. It isn't too much farther now. At length, she goes on in that unreadable voice: ]

I will not press for you to discuss your feelings on what happened to you. But if you have not already, perhaps it would be helpful to express yourself with someone.

(cafe: gideon, danger, & freddie)

[heartlessglitch]

[ Danger reached across the table to briefly close her hand over Gideon's, an abrupt gesture meant to stop the flow of their conversation. Her touch remained just a second before she withdrew, her attention shifting to the woman that had just entered the cafe. She recognized her immediately as Freddie Lounds-- a woman that Danger had determined to be not only clever but potentially dangerous, as anyone in Dr. Chilton's good graces might be.

She stared for a moment, her gaze scrutinizing before she finally raised her voice just loud enough to greet Freddie-- to acknowledge her presence. ]

Ms. Lounds. [ Friendly? Not particularly, not with that tone of voice. But nevertheless, her words went on calmly: ] Won't you join us?

[redhairring]

[ There were so many things Freddie needed to do before the swear-in that she had heard about--grabbing more film for her camera was one thing. Thankfully, the schizophrenic technology level of this place meant that she found a vintage camera (something closer in fit and size to what she was used to) with a USB port (something utterly convenient). Purchases in her bag, Freddie entered a cafe, intent on grabbing herself just a small coffee before heading out to God knows where.

This place didn't have Starbucks. While it certainly wasn't evil, it was massively inconvenient.

As she heard her name, Freddie turned around...and screwed a tight smile on her face as she came face to face with Abel Gideon (and some other lady). She took a sadistic pleasure noting that Gideon was in a wheelchair (try to kidnap her now, shithead) but she had no idea who his companion was. ]

I'm sorry, [ Freddie tightly said, trying to keep a small smirk on her face. ] You've got me at a disadvantage--I know Gideon, but I don't think we've met.

[ Just 'Gideon', not Doctor Gideon. A purposeful slight, and a terribly rude one. The woman still worried her. After all, she had first met Danger as a blue robolady, not a blue-haired human. ]

[enabeled]

[ There is barely time to react from one moment to the next, after Danger touches Gideon's hand to when she addresses Freddie Lounds. He turns his head, eyes half-lidded and wearing his all-too-recognizable weary, unfazed look as Freddie approaches. He lifts one hand, waving his fingers in the world's most half-assed greeting. ]

Ms. Lounds. So nice to see you.

[ His smile is mild as ever, delivery void of much sincerity past the polite words. He motions to his company. ]

This is Danger. Are you sure you haven't met?

[heartlessglitch]

[ Danger takes a moment to gauge the atmosphere between Gideon and Freddie, eying them both with a certain scrutiny. She had spoken with Freddie about her various acquaintances from Baltimore before, but she had yet to observe any interactions in person. Dr. Gideon is smiling, but she'd come to know that smiles, despite what a person might tell you, were not always an expression of friendship.

Finally, at the mention of her own name: ]

Ms. Lounds is not familiar with my organic body. But we have met, yes. Our conversation was a very educational one.

[redhairring]

[ Freddie's smile is tight, trying to give off the impression that she was perfectly fine running into Abel Gideon at a little cafe when in reality, she was anything but. This was just her luck, wasn't it.

As Gideon mentions Danger's name, Freddie can't help but fix a small look of confusion on her face...which softens as Danger explains. Ah. That was the robot woman. A robot with the power to turn into a human. Helpful. ]

She'r right, we have met, [ said to Gideon, with a small little smile. And then, turning back to Danger, ] A robot turning into a human, huh? Or, vice versa maybe. Anyway, it certainly shows the capacity for superpowers this place has.

[enabeled]

[ One might think this meeting was the most natural thing in the world going by the expression still on Gideon's face, though his fingers -- stiff, tense -- curl themselves tightly against his palms where they rest. He watches the two of them, mildly curious and even more wary. ]

However she might look, the change is purely cosmetic. [ His eyes flicker, looking both aware and unimpressed, curiosity as disguised as he is able to accomplish when he turns his gaze back on Danger. ] Educational in what way, exactly?

[heartlessglitch]

[ Educational in a number of ways, truthfully. The subject matter itself is predictable-- Danger had asked about the things that were important to her. Relevant. Gideon was one of those things. Chilton, too. And Hannibal Lecter, of course. There was a bigger picture she is trying to compose in that meticulous mind of hers, pieces being put together the more she learns.

Out loud, however, all she says is: ]

Ms. Lounds and I merely compared notes, so to speak.

[ An answer that's more vague than exact. ]

[redhairring]

[ Freddie simply smiled, giving Gideon a look that plainly implied she wasn't going to tell him just what sort of 'notes' they compared. What she and Danger talked about would stay between the two of them. ]

I've got to say, it's really illuminating talking to someone who's been here longer than I have.

[enabeled]

[ His eyebrow raises, arching up his forehead. He glances, again, between the two of them, but doesn't comment on the suspect lack of answers his question received. ]

I imagine. Danger has seen all kinds of dogs, haven't you? You may yet get a few good interviews.

[ He tilts his head. ]

Is anyone thirsty?

[heartlessglitch]

[ It is, in her mind, strategic secrecy. Freddie's presence is unexpected, and if Danger has her way, she'd prefer not to discuss their conversation out in the open, especially not with Freddie there to contradict her presentation of the facts, for better or for worse. She needs to maintain control of this situation. ]

I will arrange for beverages, if you will both excuse me. [ She rises from her seat, imperiously tall as she straightens. Gesturing to the empty seats at their table, she goes on: ] Please, Ms. Lounds.

[ With that, she turns to head to the counter to order. ]

[redhairring]

[ Freddie also doesn't want to talk about their conversation. As far as she's concerned, it was between her and Danger.

As Danger turns to head to the counter, Freddie turns towards Gideon, smiling still. ]

She's cute as a human. [ Funky hair notwithstanding. ] And, she looks to be a good match for you, especially because of your current...condition.

[ aka 'if you try anything, she can probably kick your ass.' ]

[enabeled]

[ As Freddie joins them and Danger leaves, Gideon has little choice but to focus on the one woman sitting with him. He's tight-lipped but sitting straight with relative dignity, considering his circumstances. There are numerous ways to interpret Freddie's words, which Gideon takes as intentional on her part; wherever a story may hide. ]

A very good match, I can't help but agree. Danger is particularly... exceptional, more than well-qualified to help manage my current condition. Speaking of which--

[ He leans forward, arms folding in front of him on the table. ]

What do you know of it?