The Mind is all that Matters... Wait...

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

For Your Consideration
I can't lose a past that I'm still lost in
Pawns: Ben and Vee
I can tell myself it's over
Status: OPEN, ACTIVE
And make a brand new start
Setting: Walking along the wall
But there's no such thing as
Scene: Ben is carrying Vee as they 'walk' along the wall.
Mind over matters of the heart...

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Ben carried Vee in his arms as they walked along the wall. It was the second part of their planned evening. He let her mutter or ramble or whatever she felt she had to do at that point in time as he tried to gather his thoughts. He kept a steady pace, even, and didn't try to jar her too much. He finally looked down at her as he walked. He tried to make eye contact with her, but didn't want to. He had to find out more about her. See if he could help her as she had helped him—in a way.

“How long have you been here?”

Himself, he had only been here for the past year. He knew contact was limited to the outside world. Visitors were prohibited (lucky for him, that would mean his sister would have to give up either way) for their own safety. If you were here, you were working or being worked on. He knew loneliness since that year in high school... so long ago. She had sounded either tortured from being alone so long or was just that drunk. Either way, he had to get her home and make sure he could learn more about the dream world than he knew now. If not to look for Ricky—his heart clinched from the thought—then to just know. To learn.

Not to mention, she seemed nice. It had been far too long since he had ever had the thought, but perhaps he needed a friend. Someone to confide in. He mentally shook himself. He refused to tell anyone anything about his inner workings. It let people have power. He knew. It was how he worked.

[Vichee Founder]

"Two years." Vee answered glumly, nuzzling against his neck. She must be on a down slope, because she was no longer feeling as touchy. Now she was just enjoying being near him. Bennet was certainly not like she'd imagined he was. She hadnt thought he could be so...nice. Most of the guys she'd met in labs werent.

"I miss being able t' travel." she murmured. "I used t' go to all these...cities. All over." she made a wide, sweeping gesture with her arm. "Rome, Paris, New York, Tokyo..." The wide smile that had spread across her face fell slowly. "Bu' now 'm stuck here. I can' leave. All I c'n do is try t' cope..." She sensed he carried a sadness just like she did, though it seemed stronger and deeper than simply being unable to do something that had once been habit.

"Miss my dad, 'n even m' coworkers." she shook her head. "Tha's a big deal. They're all assholes." She giggled suddenly. "Lab guys are weird some times. They were always hittin' on me bu' like, not very well. I don' find flesh eatin' diseases sexy, you know?"

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

He grinned despite himself. It was something his had heard his old roommate bring up--the flesh eating virus. He knew a few stories because of that nut case he shared rooms with--of course, it was in his latter years of collage after Ricky had shunned him. Another pain in his chest and the grin faded into a blank look.

"Coping is normally all we can do. It's human nature for things to change. For things to move and flow. The stillness that this place causes. It would be enough to cause cabin fever if one didn't reach--"

He stopped. Was he even following her in her state? He continued anyway.

"--out to others and start a current in their life."

He came to a spot at the wall and stopped. He liked to read at this particular spot most days save he would be in the shade of the tree. That was how he knew about her running. He shifted to set her down to rest his arms and shoulders.

"You run by here. In your work out clothes. The black shorts, a gray midriff work out tank and lime green running shoes. I'm normally reading, over by that tree."

He pointed to where he would sit.

"Do you ever see me?"

[Vichee Founder]

Vee's whole face scrunched as she thought. Had she? Maybe...wait...ok there it was...or maybe not. Hey the stars were really bright out here at night. She hadn't ever noticed. Wait, what was she supposed to be...? Oh yeah!

"Yeah...I do..." She licked her lips slowly. "I always wondered who you were, but I got why you're out here." She smiled. "It's so peaceful out here. Tha's at least one good thing about it..." She smiled. "Studen's don't come out here..." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"You're too skinny." She said suddenly, poking his chest. "D' you even eat? You need to." She peered up at him through squinted eyes. "Im goin' to cook for you." She told him, nodding. "I like cooking for my friends, and you, sir, obviously need it." Her tone dared him to object. Not like it would have mattered, she was going to do it anyway.

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

He nodded in agreement with the peaceful comment. That was exactly why he came out here. When the chaos in your head can never leave, you can at least escape the chaos outside your head. He jumped when he was poked and looked at her. Too skinny? He had a very healthy diet: tomato soup for breakfast, beef flavored ramen for lunch, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a glass of milk for dinner. He raised a brow slightly. He had his bases covered: grains for lunch and dinner, fruit with the jelly, vegetables with the soup, meat with the beef... flavoring? You could live without meat, and milk to cover the dairy. He took vitamins for whatever he couldn't get.

"I eat enough."

Then she said she would cook for him. He frowned and looked off into the distance trying to think. Cook... for him? What was cooking exactly... everything he made was microwaveable. Problem solved. The stove in his kitchen at his apartment had collected dust inside because of it's lack of use. He puzzled over what could she cook? Well, food was food, he supposed but she didn't have to.

"You don't have to cook for me. I might be a picky eater and not like what you cook."

He looked down at her before insuring that she was safely in his arms again and they were walking along the wall once more.

[Vichee Founder]

Vee reached up and covered his mouth. "Shhhhhh. I's gonna happen and there's nothing you c'n do about it." she frowned at him. "And your diet is atrocious. How are you even still alive, eating all that junk? No no no, Im making you food. End of th' story. kay?" She giggled and leaned up, kissing his cheek lightly.

"Actually, with th' way you 'parrently eat, Im gonna be feedin' you from now on. Seriously, tha's all you eat? You're missin a whooooole lot." She settled back against his chest, loosing her mind in what she could make him. What did children like to eat? She'd start with that and work their way up... She shook her head and patted his shoulder. "It'll be ok. Promish." She giggled at her slurred 's.'

"Mmm can we jus'...sit for a minute?" she asked, pushing lightly at his chest. She felt dizzy all of a sudden, like the ground was rushing up at her, though B...Be..Ben...fuckit, Ben hadn't dropped her or jolted her at all. Don't throw up, don't throw up, don't throw up.

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

He raised a brow when his mouth was covered but said nothing. When she kissed his cheek, his brown went back down. Feeding him from now on? No, that would be... that wouldn't be... He shook his head, unable to form the words. He gave a small grin at her slurred words. That was the fun part of his processes. The slurring. He found it amazing and in collage, had taken a muscle relaxer injection to his face just to see what happened in collage. Also, he had recorded it. He still had the recording somewhere in his stacks of books and such. When she made her request, he put her down quickly but gently. He knelt down next to her and rubbed her back gently.

He had been puked on numerous of times. It never messed with him or grossed him out. He remembered the water in his pocket. If it would help after she puked it all out...

"Take slow breaths..."

It was all he could think to say.

[Vichee Founder]

"Nnnn.." Vee mumbled, pressing her cheek against the rough bark of the tree beside her. She didnt feel so sick anymore now that she wasnt moving. The night air was cool and it helped calm her heated skin and racing heart. She brushed her hair back from her face and twisted it, holding it up off her neck with a sigh. That felt much much better.

"S'rry." She murmured, glancing over her shoulder at Ben. She was starting to get sleepy but she didnt want to pass out and then throw up all over herself, leaving him to take care of her. Vee shook her head and forced her eyes to stay. "Should head back.." She said softly. "Inna minute...tired..." She pressed back against him, looking for some kind of comfort.

At least she wasnt alone, not like the last time she'd drank here. She'd felt more alone than ever then.

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

He decided it was time. He withdrew the flask and held it out in front of her.

"Have a drink of water."

He hoped he wouldn't question why it was in a flask. He gently rubbed her back still, watching her. If he had to, he would carry her home. He would just have to get the address before she fell asleep. He opened the flask with practice ease and offered it to her.

[Vichee Founder]

Vee took the flask and sipped at the cool liquid, sighing softly as it hit her throat and cooled her insides. Her stomach stopped rolling and calmed a bit, leaving her feeling just a tad less queasy. She sighed as she pulled the bottle away from her lips and set it down, leaning back against him more.

"M'sleepy..." she mumbled, settling closer to him. She set her head on his shoulder, absently humming some random song as she focused on the side of his neck. She could name every muscle structure in there and point them out by touch. She could name the vertebrae that made up that section of his neck. She could...could...close her eyes and fall asleep. Yeah, that sounded nice. Sleep... Vee hardly even noticed as she closed her eyes and her breathing evened out. Maybe she wouldn't have to be Seppa tonight and she could actually sleep. That would be nice too.

[Dr. Benedict Hidzenboosh]

"Vee? Where do you live so I can take you home?"

He asked as he closed the flask and put it up. He watched her. Was she falling asleep that fast? He put a hand on her shoulder and gently shook it.

"Vee? Vichee? Ms. Founder?"

He sighed, realizing she was out cold. He gently picked her up and cradled her in his arms before standing. He would just have to take her home. No sense leaving the poor woman out in the open like this. Oh this was going to be awkward for her when she woke. Hopefully she wouldn't remember anything.

Hopefully.