like a shadow on the wall | Connor

[tarquin finley ellis]

He'd eaten quite a bit after they had released him from observation. It didn't seem to be helping all that much though. Quinn knew it wasn't real, that it was just some chemical reaction to the shots he'd been given, but it felt real and it kind of hurt to go too long without food of some sort. He didn't like it, and he was wary on the whole subject. He had the rest of the day to kill, yet thankfully he'd been able to get a certain matter situated after he'd gotten the letter stating what was going to happen to him. It made Quinn decide on a plan, because he simply couldn't stand the thought of being around people in this condition. At least not for long.

Things had fallen into place sooner then he could have wished for, but Quinn wasn't going to give it much more thought. It worked out better this way, because tomorrow would bring the final shot for this whole mess, and Quinn knew it was only going to get worse once that happened. His stomach was already starting to grumble, and he'd just eaten not twenty minutes ago. He was going to make himself sick if this kept up, and it was a struggle keeping himself from eating everything in sight. He was managing because he had something to do before he started to lay low for a little bit and hope this whole eating issue blew over.

Quinn was moving quickly towards the mutation ward with a blanket bundle in his arms, in pajama wear because he honestly couldn't be too bothered to get actually dressed today. There were things to do and food to try and avoid -- wasn't working well, as that was the first thing he'd done after getting the second shot -- and Quinn wasn't going to be held up by putting on proper clothing. He was covered up and that was enough. Even wearing a shirt. Good enough. Once at Connor's door, he knocked and started to push the door open with a hand to peer in anyway.

CLOTHES

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor had put up a fight at the mention of another altering i.jection, and after the first one, observation had been hell. He had thrown a fit in the cells until he'd put himself into a stress induced seizure. Irritable, pissed. Mainly to blame on that fact that he just didn't want to be here, and his stash of drugs had finally dwindled to nothing, waiting on what he had ordered from Ace, desperate. After the second injection, Connor had gotten bolder, challenging authority. It of course got him beaten until Derek threw fit tht it ws side affect and their fault, and that they were hypocrites for punishing him.

Connor had witnessed staff beat another staff the first time Halloween night because of that. They said Derek's temper was too much. That if he wanted to protect patients in the wrong, he would be treated like one again.
Since then, Connor had been sticking to himself because people were too annoying, looking at him as if he weren't better than them. Since then, he'd had a bit of an ego.

Even so, the knock had him jumping, nerves tense. The door cracked open and he looked up in surprise with a razorblade halfway across his wrist. It wasn't deep enough to be deadly or need stitches. Just enough for a bite of pain. The blade clattered from his half paralyzed right hand, and he hid his bleeding left wrist as best he could, then thought better of it. "H-hey.."

[tarquin finley ellis]

This whole set of injections had been something Quinn was fully against as well. He'd been tazered and shot with a tranquilizer dart more then once over the whole ordeal, and one of the staff had a close call. Quinn was pretty easy going these days with all of the bullshit because he figured it simply didn't matter, but he was drawing the line at the idea of wanting to eat everything. He's dragged his feet the entire time -- and that's putting it nicely -- but in the end it still happened and it will again tomorrow. Oh he'll still fight then too, but they'll probably be ready for that. Obnoxious.

So there wasn't anything left to do but accept it and deal with it accordingly. Quinn wanted to lock himself away from food for as long as possible. His mind was already turning for that, yet he wasn't going to neglect all of the things that were his usual sort of thing. Like sleeping next to Connor. Now Quinn had seen this sort of issue coming, though not quite in this way, of course. He had tried to be prepared. Obviously with the first shot and all he couldn't have been in Connor's bed, though now that he thought about it, Connor probably had his own little cell and injections. That was a bit worrisome, but nothing Quinn could do about it.

Once he'd opened the door to peer in, he'd grimaced at the sound, and at the sight of the blood. It wasn't that he was queasy at all -- how could he be? -- but that he didn't like the idea of Connor cutting. At the words, he gave a sigh, then a nod as he walked the rest of the way in, shouldering the door closed. "Hey. Set the blade out of the way for a minute, would you?" He asked, shifting his weight with the bundle in his arms. "Anyway, I was thinking about how I wouldn't always be around to keep the bed warm..." The words were calm and even as he moved closer, settling on the edge of the bed.

Quinn opened the blanket and set the mostly asleep puppy on the bed. "So... I got you a puppy. It's a girl, Irish Setter because my cousin Calla has a funny sense of humor... But she's potty trained and I hear quite the cuddly thing." A pause. "I did consider some of the limitations, so I paid a nurse off to take her for walks and feed her and all that sort of stuff..." The words drifted off as he looked at Connor, wondering what kind of reaction this would get. And of course Quinn had to ignore his own complaining stomach, trying to push that to the back of his mind.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor rose an eyebrow as he was asked to put the blade aside. There was no shame this time, like there had been other times if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't or couldn't have. The injections had numbed him up to that. He was evenmmore daring than he had been before. And it wasn't necessarily a good thing either.

The blade had already fallen though so he just watched Quinn curiously. He understood not being able to come stay the night, since they had all been looked up. But when Quinn produced the puppy, Connor smiled she was adorable. Connor reached out with a faintly trembling hand to pretty her affectionately. "Thank y-you.." He murmured.

[tarquin finley ellis]

Quinn didn't even think too much on the expression Connor had at the mention of having to put the blade away. It wasn't like Quinn was going to bitch about it -- he wanted to in some way, but it seemed useless so he wasn't bothering -- he was just going to try and ignore it the best he could. For now. He couldn't promise that would last long, but right now he could just get his mind off of it, and maybe Connor's too. Plus, it was kinda hard not to be distracted in some way by a puppy, right? Though good or bad, Quinn actually wasn't too sure what to expect from the male on this matter.

At the smile from Connor, Quinn relaxed a little more. Oh, good. He liked her. Quinn hadn't been able to shake the nagging feeling that maybe the male wouldn't, though for what reason someone would turn away a puppy like this was beyond him. Certainly not if they didn't have to do much work with it in the first place. So Quinn watched Connor pet the puppy, heard the thanks and smiled, nodding. "Welcome." He responded, shifting close enough to put his arms around the male and lean in and nuzzle his face along Connor's neck, trying to distract himself from the want for food. "What are you thinking about calling her?" He asked, curious

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor shrugged. "I'll like of s-something.." He murmured softly, wanted to decide on a name that had meaning, one he would like hearing himself say. Connor felt Quinn's arms move around him and he shifted his weight with a grimace, moving Quinn's hands away from bruises over his body. They had been sure to try and teach him a lesson.

Connor wondered what they might have done to Quinn. For him, he didn't really realize his own side affects, since that pride was blocking admittance to anything being wrong.
"They tested y-you too?"
He overturned his bleeding wrist, focusing on the sting for a moment before looking at the puppy again and hugging her closer to his thin chest, kissing the top of her head.

[tarquin finley ellis]

He nods absently at the words that Connor would think of something, accepting that. Naming didn't need to be rushed, Quinn could wait to find out what Connor decided on. He might not find out for awhile if he was going to avoid people and try to lock himself away from being able to easily get much food, but that was okay. Quinn knows the dangers of overeating just as he knows them on undereating. With this kind of thing, he had to worry if the injections might over-ride his body's natural need to stop eating when his stomach was. Too full. What? He's seen the CSI episode depicting the very real disease. This wasn't the first case of such a thing. Nature had it's own anomolies.

Quinn was trying not to think about it. Doing all he could to push it from his mind. It was very difficult to do, but with Connor as a distraction it was helping a little. Enough to keep him from bolting for the nearest area to get food from. Though he did notice when the male shifted and moved his arms from certain spots. There was a sigh, and he carefully pulled up the front of Connor's shirt. Bruises, just as he thought there would be. Damnit. The words made him nod. "Yeah. Looks like they tried to kick the crap out of you this time around again..." He wasn't happy about that. Connor needed to stop fighting when the male knew he didn't have a chance against the staff. He watched the male hold the puppy close with a thin smile. "So what did they dose you with? I ended up with gluttany, which is why my stomach's been making a fuss..." His tone was annoyed.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor grunted. "I'm f-fine." He muttered as Quinn pointed out that he had been beat up again. He didn't care, refused to be ashamed. Right now he couldn't feel shame. His pride was going to get him in trouble with the wrong people.
He nuzzled the puppy gently, scoffing at what Quinn had to say. It was annoying, that they would fuck everyone up even more.
"Pride." He murmured, shifting his weight, feet having started to fall asleep with how he was sitting on them.

He petted the puppy, running names through his head thoughtfully. He reached over to pick at his scabbing wrist, but otherwise remained still against Quinn. "When does Ace h-have visitation?" He was getting desperate.

[tarquin finley ellis]

He frowned at the words of Connor being fine, but he wasn't going into that right now. The male knew better then to pick a fight with the staff now, or he should. Either way, anything he said probably wouldn't matter in that aspect. They seemed to beat on Connor pretty much any time the male went in for something. Quinn wished they'd let him in to keep an eye on things; how Connor was doing whenever the staff was doing... well, who knows what to the winged male. Quinn would feel more at ease about it if that was the case. Still, he doubted it would happen. They wouldn't want him there.

Quinn raised an eyebrow when Connor muttered out what they had decided to inject the male with. Pride? Interesting. Horrible in all aspects of them messing around with people like they were doing, but since there was no way around it, Quinn was trying to find the interesting aspects of it. He was almost sad to realize he wasn't going to be around to see how it all affected Connor. Could have been something to see. Still, Quinn wasn't going to risk it. Not for that. He sighed, but said nothing about it. Then when Connor asked about Lexi's visitations, Quinn bristled a little. He understood a little, though. "I'm not sure if this whole injection thing is going to mess that schedual up... if that's the case, you can borrow some of the small stuff I have to hold you over if you need..." The words are calm, and honestly he doesn't want Lexi around Connor as it was.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor huffed softly. 'Borrow'. Connor was curious to know how he might have to repay him. The puppy licked his chin and he smiled into her bright eyes. "what about..Eve?" She was definitely bright with life. And maybe hearing that name would be enough, calming, when he got caught up in thinking about Adam. Huh..he hadn't thought about him recently.

Fingers traced over the name tattooed above his heart, brushing the bullet dent there through his shirt. He hadn't thought about that for awhile. And briefly it was enough to fight past those side effects and strike him hard. It had been almost exactly two years... Adam would have been eighteen next week. 'Damn...'
He grew distant for a moment, that gunshot echoing over and over in his head until he was gagging in Quinn's arm, coughing feebly as he curled up closer, suddenly shaking and feeling surprisingly sick. No...that was why he tried not to think about any of it. It was too much...
Even pride couldn't shake how much of Connor's fault that Adam was dead.. Nothing could.

[tarquin finley ellis]

The question, even if unspoken would bring up a number of things. There was a conversation Quinn has struggled with, but it hadn't been said just yet. He had held back from it all before, simply because he didn't want to go there at that time. There had been enough irritable feelings that day, and so Quinn had let it go. But it couldn't be that way for long, because the issue was still on the forefront of Quinn's mind often enough. Even bringing up the subject of drugs, of Lexi's schedual made Quinn think about it all. Yeah, they'd get to that conversation, because now that Quinn thought about it, the more he wanted to dig at it. How much worse could the week get, honestly? It was already pretty bad.

Quinn blinked out of the thoughts at the name Connor said. Eve was nice enough; short, sweet and simple. "If that's what you like. Good enough name." He responded with a little dip of his head. He wasn't really going to go either way with the whole name thing, he didn't want to sway Connor's mind over it in one way or the other. Whichever the male liked best and wanted for the puppy, Quinn would go with it. Of course after Connor had said it, things seemed to go silent and almost dreary. Quinn didn't try to break the silence, only being there and waiting it out. When Connor was having a bit of a rough time with coughing then leaning closer, Quinn still said nothing, just tried to be there, stroking his fingers over the male's feathers to try and soothe the nerves. He wasn't sure what that was about, but he could just keep himself from asking anyway.

At least when it came to that. The other things on his mind were only just starting to irk him, and Quinn wasn't going to let it go without answers much longer. He wanted to know, and so he was damn well going to finally ask the questions that had been circling his mind since Connor had met Lexi. Since all of that. Yes, Quinn really wanted to know. He figured he knew the answer, but still. It was better to confirm rather then assume. Always. So he took a breath, peering down at the male. "Connor... what were you willing to do had Lexi- Ace, wanted to... play?" Quinn's voice was very quiet, but there wasn't anything in the tone right now other then the question itself, the need to know and the fact he wouldn't leave it alone until he did know what was what.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor eased up again eventually, shrugging at Quinn's question. "Dunno.." He mumbled. But if Ace knew what he was doing, took his chance when Connor was high, then they would probably go all the way. "I-I've sold myself to pay f-for drugs, or food, or sh-shelter. Nothing new. But when y-your father rapes you nearly daily? I-I lost that trust..only did it high..." He coughed.
But no shame crossed his face. Normally it would have hurt to admit those things, most likely he wouldn't have even admitted to any of it.
But not now. Now he was testing limits. It was only a matter of time before others figured it out and took advantage as well.

[tarquin finley ellis]

Quinn might have prodded more if 'dunno' had been all Connor gave him for an answer, but he had given enough pause to think a little on the matter before speaking. Of course Connor had already gone on and started talking again, which made Quinn look at the male carefully, not saying or asking anything for a few moments. There was a lot spinning around his head right now, and he was simply stroking along those wings and trying to put his thoughts in order. It wasn't working all that well, though. Not really.

There were two things on his mind, both something that he wanted to say, and yet... Quinn took a breath, glancing away for a moment. There was a fair amount of concern over the whole drug thing, perhaps more now then before. Now that Quinn knew that was a sort of key weak point for Connor, possibly in more ways then one, more then just for drugs. Because of them, even. "So you've ordered all these drugs to use, and you'll be high often.... I don't like it." He said quietly. Obviously not about the drug use, but what people could get from the male while Connor was high. And the other thing; "Does he ever visit? I could hurt him.. kill him, even.. whatever you'd like, Angel." He added after a few seconds.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor shrugged. "why? I-I'll be exactly h-how I was before getting here.." He tore the scab loosed on his arm, watching fresh blood bubble up as he held Eve close to himself, leaning against Quinn still. At the next comment, Connor swallowed.
"No.." He choked. He couldn't help it. Jonathan, his father, was all he had left aside from his little sister. And somewhere deep down, Connor still wanted to love his dad, blamed himself for how nasty he had become, took the abuse half the time because he thought he deserved it.
"It's ok-kay. He hasn't visited.." Sometimes it hurt, that nobody would visit him, not to mention he wasn't sure how you could hide massive wings anyway. Another part of him was numb to it. He hadn't expected to see his father's face anyway, what with how hospital trips always ended up with him alone, too.

[tarquin finley ellis]

His lips quirked downwards at the words, shaking his head. How was that a good thing? Quinn didn't like the thought of that, either. Not really. He eyed the way Connor tore the scab away, watched the blood rise from the wound. "I don't want you to be like that. I want you to be mine." He pointed out somewhat stiffly, having no want for Connor to act like Quinn had just heard the male had acted before while high. No, Quinn did not share well, and how much blood could he even spill here until they simply decided he wasn't worth testing on anymore for that price? He had to be getting close to his limit by now...

Then Connor's reaction to what Quinn had said about the male's father had him quiet again, a low grumble given before he just sat there with his fingers rubbing along the feathers of Connor's wings. Though when hearing the male's father did not visit, Quinn had to wonder if he was glad about that or he just wanted to break the old guy's neck more. Hmm, no. Quinn would rather make him suffer if he could. Still, not going to happen, so he had to push the thought away. Quinn pressed his lips lightly to Connor's temple. "I'd give you whatever I could if I was able... as long as I could keep you." The words were low, spoken with a sigh.