Institutional Love

[Detective Rascal]

It was common room time in the current schedule slot, the only place in the mental institution where all the patients could have fun all in one room, and made it easier for the staff to watch them all.


Though only those who could make it too the common room had the chance to be in the common room, those in solitary or just constantly napping in their rooms obviously weren't there, and that pretty much made sure that there was always enough room, in the common room.


The large space had a moderately sized TV with a small array of chairs placed in front of it, so patients could watch whatever was placed on. It usually had Disney playing, or Pixar, or anything animation.


There were a whole load of tables and chairs, with each table having a cool activity or game on it, though most of them didn't need a nurse or a carer to run, there were some just hovering about the place just to make sure.


And on one wall, there was the counter. The place where you either get all your meds, talk with the nurses, or try jump through. There was always a nurse behind the counter, but nurses can always come to you to give you your meds, it all depends whether your lazy or not that day.


And the Common Room time slot was always the time when the staff brought in a new patient, and Don was waiting in the display of chairs to see if they were going to bring anyone new in, since he was probably the most sane out of all these people and he wanted to give the new guy a good welcome, if there was going to be a new guy today.

 

[tunes42]

Ryan shifted a little in his seat. He looked at the door as it shut with a soft puff of air, almost like it was finalizing his existence as mentally is. He sighed and looked down dissapointed as his father and mother waved to him as the driver drove away. He gave straight face holding it until he frowned. They had given up on him and they didn't deserve to see him smile.


As the car pulled up to where ryan was staying he hesitated, looking up at the dull sign. "Vision Mental Health Center." It read in bold black lettering against a white background. How much more boring could you get? He sighed and stepped out of the car carefully. He was escorted into the white building and immediately to the front desk where he filled out a few forms. He finished quickly and was led first to his room, then to the common room. He walked in on the people he assumed would be crazy. This was his first time here and he was shocked at how calm it was. He looked over to the guy who watched him as he entered. He didn't make much note of it. He had the rules explained to him and as he was let go for now, he looked around glancing at the guy staring at him before walking to a table and sitting staring at a blank wall. He hoped his parents would be here soon to pull him out. He knew the chances were so slim, but he wanted to be normal, or at least treated normal. He looked down sadly and then back up holding a straight face.

 

[Detective Rascal]

Don watched as the new guy actually did happen, and a young man walked into the common room. He didn't do much, and ended up siting at a table and staring at a wall.


Don pondered for a moment, before he pretty much jumped up from his seat, causing a little noise as his chair scrapped along the floor, and the other chairs moving in a racket. Some of the other patients looked towards Don's ruckus, and with a simple hand gesture and head movement, they went back to whatever they were doing.


Don made it to the new guy's table, and pulled up one of the chairs to sit with him, facing the wall also so the new guy didn't feel too bad.


"You know, I would like to extend a Welcome from the other patients to you, since obviously they aren't going to come up to a man just staring at the wall."

 

[tunes42]

Ryan looked at him. He paused for a moment. Wait? What? He seems normal. Ryan glanced around the room looking at the other patients. "Well, I'm not here to be friendly, my parents will be here soon to pick me up anyway because I'm not crazy." He huffed and turned his chair towards the man. Ryan was curious as to why this stranger felt like it was important to give him a greeting its not like he would suffer with out it. He shrugged it off but keeping it at the back of his head. His False hope of his family was leading him astray. Once you're in, you don't get out. That was the universal rule that he seemed to think he had an exception to.


"Why are you stuck here?" He looked at the table and then to the wall for a moment. He watched him through his peripheral vision. He still couldn't come up with a reason why someone like him would come up to him. He felt like there was an impossible barrier that separated kindness and insanity. He waited for his response eagerly but he kept his curiosity and eagerness inside him. "How long have you been in here?" He asked curiously. Maybe this guy was only sane because he was about to get out....... Lucky....

 

[Detective Rascal]

Don gave himself a moment to think about what question to answer first, the new guy kind of dropped a bomb shell, and letting him know that his family wasn't going to come back for him might be something hard to do.


"Well, I've been here for a while now, I would say about 5 years maybe. And technically I'm the most insane person here, so thats why I'm stuck here. But really, that's just a technicality, my personality overrides that, kind of, so I'm also the most sane person around her as well. It's a weird system."