Announcement

[Dev]

Devlin walked straight past Kristy without saying a word, leaving her in his room. She would go back to her room soon enough, he figured. He glanced at the door to Eddie's room as he walked; she probably wasn't there and went somewhere to let out her frustrations. Oh well. Devlin slipped his hands into his pockets as he went down the stairs and eventually left the building, heading for the teacher's offices in the administration building. It was the afternoon already, so he doubted any of them were teaching anything at this moment. Besides Kudo, she was probably busy making some student's life hell.

"This. Why do I have it? You are going to tell me."

"Fine. That is the blade of a dagger implanted into your arm, which you already know. In your left arm a metal plate was implanted to act as a bracer."

"I don't remember any of this. Why don't I remember something like that?"

"...Because you grew up with it."

"What do you mean?"

"The implants were put in at birth. It's not normal metal, or at least I don't think so. How else would they be able to fit a foot-long piece of metal in your arm at birth?

"...I don't know. What else is there?"

"I don't know."

The conversation Devlin had with this strange girl, Kristy, kept playing through his head. He had to know what was put inside his body. Everything. How it may have affected him as a person without even realizing it. But how could he find out without even knowing who did it? Perhaps one of the teachers could find something for him. But again, how? Then he thought of someone who wouldn't give a second thought to helping him in this predicament.

Stepping into the administration building, Devlin paid no attention to the smoking secretary, Marybojangles who gave him a quick look before deciding not to worry about it. A sign on the wall indicated that the office he needed to go to was in room 108. The blonde-haired boy made his way down the hall, stopping in front of his destination. Taking a deep breath in order to try and relieve this sense of nervousness, Devlin proceeded to knock on the closed office door.

"Oy, Professor Stein! Can I talk to you about something?"

[R. Lloyd Stein]

The door to room 108 appeared to be closed at first, until there was an audible click and the door opens with a creak, beckoning for a look inside. Come on, come in, nevermind that there was no explanation for how the door opened on its own.

The office was dark, lit only by a single swinging lightbulb. What little light the poor fizzling bulb gives reveals an office with strange architecture, a floor bearing the appearance of stitched checkered linoleum, the wall seemed to tilt in different directions each time the light bulb swings, and that was just the small foyer before actually he would actually be inside of the office. Devlin would have the pass under the jagged looking archway that bore a resemblance to the teeth of some long-dead monster and then he would find himself in the heart of Stein’s office.

To Stein's credit, it was rather huge office odd in overall shape and lit with single rows of small, blue LED lights on the odd sided walls to leave large, uneasy shadows. A human skeleton greets Devlin to his immediate left, holding out a stack of post it notes in case he needed any, bits of dead skin still attached to some areas. On one of the walls were jars, though with the lack of light, it was hard to see what was inside them. Behind the dark wood desk a computer is faced away from him and his credentials are framed for all to see. To his right was a white dry erase board, its border plastered in some disturbing and gory photos and some equations randomly written in a red marker.

But no sign of the teacher he wants to see.
Yet.

[Dev]

Devlin was standing there for a moment and was about to give up... until the door randomly opened. "Huh," Devlin commented to himself, not expecting the door to open up like that. He took a step inside, but only a step, until he stopped dead in his tracks. This was by far the creepiest room he had ever been in. Looking around he saw no sign of the weird science teacher anywhere, but something was telling him he should stay. A quick look left and Devlin noticed the skeleton, which made him quickly jump to the side in surprise.

"Jesus Christ this is creepy," Devlin muttered as he took care to avoid being within a foot of the skeleton, not wanting to know whether it was real or not. He took a look around the room, noticing all of the random jars and other miscellaneous objects that just added to the creepy factor. It was then that his eyes fell upon the whiteboard, and some of the pictures on it. "Aww, that is NOT what I wanted to see today..." The boy forced himself to look away. Stein's credentials were hanging on the wall behind his desk. At least he knew what he was talking about.

"I wonder when he'll be getting back..."

[R. Lloyd Stein]

From the corner of his Devlin’s eye, he will see a brief glint, however a full turn to that direction would reveal nothing. There is a brief and low hum from somewhere in the room and yet again there was nothing to indicate where it was coming from or what it was. Stein’s office was, for all intents and purposes, empty. While Devlin is fixed on the direction he had seen the glint from, Stein lurks in one of the strange corners, sitting informally backwards in his computer chair, his arms crossed along the back while leering at the boy for God knows how long. Study the student who walks in and you will learn a thing or two; Devlin said he wanted something and that particularly interested him.

I wonder, I wonder...

Finally after lurking in the dark, he moves his chair, the wheels creak to make his presence known. It would be an unsettling sight to see the gangly madman in the shadows, watching with that well place glare over his lenses, maybe wondering how and where he would cut into the student. Too bad he didn't have his scalpel with him just for kicks, he loved to see the fear on a student's face when sharp instruments were involved. Without any clearing of the throat or any indicators that he really was in the room, Stein spoke.

“What can I do for you, mister Fragston?”

[Dev]

Devlin was focused on that glint he had seen elsewhere in the room. His hand slipping into his pockets, the boy was trying to figure out what had moved, but he saw nothing. But he certainly heard something, and that came from a different part of the room. He turned to face the direction the creaking was coming from only to see the very scary Mr. Stein staring at him over the top of the back of his chair.

"...Little bit creepy, I'm not gonna lie," he muttered to himself. If Stein's hearing was just like everyone else's then he would have no problems figuring out what he said. Devlin pulled his hands out of his pockets and turned his entire body to face the science teacher, running his hand through his blonde hair. He never imagined he'd be this nervous. But still, he had to ask.

“What can I do for you, mister Fragston?”

"I um... have a request," Devlin began, rubbing the side of his head nervously with his hand. He waited a moment for a reaction before continuing, "I need you... to cut me open, I guess would be the best way to put it." He would have to explain what exactly for, but he figured that could wait until Stein agreed to this situation. Devlin had no idea exactly how happy this would make Stein.

[R. Lloyd Stein]

"...Little bit creepy, I'm not gonna lie."

Such a comment makes Stein smirk briefly, but that’s not what keeping his attention. The boy said he had something to discuss, though he was not entirely sure what student would seek him out like this. Something about his demeanor could tell Dev that he doesn’t get visits from students very often - the skeleton with the post it notes tend to scare the less brave ones off with ease.

"I um... have a request," He was nervous given his gestures. Stein waves his hand off to allow him to continue on with what he was saying. “I need you... to cut me open, I guess would be the best way to put it."

Screech everything to a halt! Stop the presses! Stop digging that grave for the body! The glare moves across his glasses as he mentally scrutinized the student’s words. Did he just say what he thought he said? Did he actually request that R. Lloyd Stein cut him open? The chair creaks as he rose from his chair and kicks it towards the desk. Because of his freakish height, Stein towered over many of the students in the school, which did not help the whole creepiness about him. Now his shadow falls over Devlin, that well placed glare obscuring whatever reaction in his eyes. He grins the madman’s grin.

“Really now?” He says, trying hard to contain his joy for a moment. He could cut into a student! Legally! It was a dream that was never supposed to happen and now there was an opportunity right before him. But first, he needed his curiosity satisfied.

“If I may ask, why? I’m rather intrigued by your request.”

[Dev]

Stein stood up from his chair. He was a lot taller than Devlin was, and easily towered over him. It was a intimidating, standing next to someone as tall as Professor Stein. But Devlin had to stay, had to convince Stein to do this for him. He was a teacher. At the assembly one of them said they were there to help, didn't they? Well, no doubt they didn't mean like this.

“Really now?”

Even with Stein trying to hide his excitement, the boy was able to hear hints of it in his voice. But that didn't matter. He was a science teacher, naturally the anatomy of things would interest him. Brush it off like it's nothing, Devlin.

“If I may ask, why? I’m rather intrigued by your request.”

Devlin paused for a moment. How was he supposed to word his explanation? He hadn't thought about that. "Well... I have this," Devlin allowed the blade in his arm to extend out, holding his arm up so Stein could see his forearm. "And I have some sort of metal plate in this arm," he continued, holding his right right arm. "I need to know what else there is," he finished, something in his voice hinting that he didn't know about himself. Among other things, the teenager also wanted to know if he was even completely human. He had to know.

"Sorry if what I'm asking is a little far-fetched," the boy added, laughing nervously at the end.

[R. Lloyd Stein]

"Well... I have this."

A blade extended from the boy’s arm and Stein adjusts his glasses, pushing them up so that he could get a better look. Snap, snap and a pair of gloves he procured from some inside pocket of his lab coat were on his hands. The teacher kneels for ease and took hold of his arm, inspecting the blade closely, the sharpness, the overall design - it was one thing seeing a description in the student file, but it was even more intriguing seeing it up close. Meanwhile, the student continued yammering:

"And I have some sort of metal plate in this arm. I need to know what else there is."

Not a sound from Stein as he inspects the other arm, pressing the skin over the location of the metal plate. Without a word of warning, Stein reaches into his lab coat again and there is a telling whick of a metallic object slicing through the air before imbedding into his skin. A distinct resistance between scalpel and metal; absolutely there was a metal plate there. No doubt the sudden move would maybe be a bit painful and Stein glances up at the boy.

"Oh, yes, I should have made mention that I was going to test that." He says dismissively. maybe he should have mentioned it a second before going through. Oh well! He procures gauze from one of his pockets and hand sit to him in case he needed or wanted it. Stein places both his hands on Devlin's shoulders, a serious expression on his face.

"Do not take this the wrong way Mister Fragston..." He says before unleashing the joy. yes, it was the day he had waited for: a student asking for him to cut him open! The absolute joy on Stein's face was unsettling."You have made me the happiest man in the world!"

He then makes a quick dash over to his desk and opened a drawer, shifting through what sounded like a bunch of papers and possibly metal instruments. He pulls out manila folder wrapped in plastic like the rarest comic book, unwraps is and sets a single for on his desk. A liability form, as Stein would explain in a moment.

"With the signing of this particular document, you are allowing me to operate on you. Should anything...happen, I nor the school will be held responsible since it is you who have sought out my expertise of your own discretion." A smirk crosses his face as he holds out a red pen.

"Otherwise I am quite eager and able to help you out in this endeavor. I have a host of technology to give you an upgrade, lessen the pain of your blade formation, and whatever else you may need. All you have to do is sign."

[Dev]

Devlin just stood there while Professor Stein inspected the blade that had come out of his arm. His mind wandered a little bit as Stein inspected it, but his attention was brought back quite quickly when he suddenly felt something stab into his left arm. Wincing, he let out an audible, "Ow!" before looking at the professor questionably. It didn't hurt as much as it used to, probably because he was getting used to it.

"Oh, yes, I should have made mention that I was going to test that."

Yeah, probably. But Devlin kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to get too sarcastic with the teacher who was probably going to be cutting him open, more for fear of him botching it purposely than anything else. The gauze was probably going to be useless. After all, the wounds to his left arm tended to stop bleeding quite quickly. Stein finished up and placed both of his hands on Devlin's shoulders.

"Do not take this the wrong way Mister Fragston... You have made me the happiest man in the world!"

It took Devlin everything he had to prevent himself from saying something bad, but couldn't help but say, "Then don't say it that way," looking questionably at the science teacher again. Perhaps he was better off just not going through with this. No, that wasn't it. He had to find out. When Stein started searching through his desk, the boy rubbed the spot where Stein had stabbed his arm, wiping some of the blood away. It would stop bleeding soon enough. For some reason it tended to heal a little faster than if he got stabbed somewhere else. Then Stein returned and handed him the paperwork.

"With the signing of this particular document, you are allowing me to operate on you. Should anything...happen, I nor the school will be held responsible since it is you who have sought out my expertise of your own discretion."

Devlin took the red pen offered to him and glanced over it a little bit, not really paying attention to what it said. This was it. Stein seemed quite excited, so he probably wouldn't do anything deliberately. Then again, he didn't know what Stein's mind was capable of and he might just wake up with three arms. Either way, it was a chance he had to take. But a part of him prevented from signing for just a moment.

"Otherwise I am quite eager and able to help you out in this endeavor. I have a host of technology to give you an upgrade, lessen the pain of your blade formation, and whatever else you may need. All you have to do is sign."

Another quick pause as Devlin made his final decision on the matter. He gripped the pen in his hand, located where he had to sign, and took a deep breath. This was it. It was time to find out what was inside of him. He quickly signed what quite possibly could be the end of his life and handed it back to the overly excited teacher who was going to operate on him.

"Alright." It was done. He was going to find out.

[R. Lloyd Stein]

The boy might as well have signed his name in his own blood, the pen’s deep red ink sealed the deal between student and teacher. Finally, one of Stein’s lifelong dreams had finally came true and without being the instigator for once! This particular document was destined to be laminated, framed in gold or bone (or both), shown off to the rest of the faculty later complete with bragging rights and then have a place on the wall behind him. At least Ikuto now could worry less about being asked (or dissected in the middle of the night) now that he had a subject to work with.

Stein types something on the computer, its contents unseen by Devlin and filled the silence until he was finished, the well placed glare over his glasses lens centered on his new subject.

“Standard but quick questions: Any allergies to medicines or medically relevant information I should note? I would not my new favorite subject to die on the operating table.”

Grin.

“Not that it would happen, precautions of course.”

The wall of his credentials behind him, once seamless and solid to the touch, rose and slid to one side to reveal a passage way, lit only by a pair of LED lights leading down. Where did they go, Stein knew but the student obviously had no inkling that there was more to this crazy office than just the office. The mad teacher’s grin is one of madness but think nothing of it! The boy cannot back out now...

“Care to see your operating room? I assure that it will ease any anxiety you may have. Or if you are merely curious.”

[Dev]

Stein seemed completely overjoyed at the fact that Devlin actually signed the waiver. As Stein moved around to the computer, keypresses the only sound in the office until he looked up at his new plaything--er, patient. Devlin returned the gaze only briefly. That look this Stein character gave was just plain chilling.

“Standard but quick questions: Any allergies to medicines or medically relevant information I should note? I would not my new favorite subject to die on the operating table.”

New... favorite subject? Did he have an old one? What happened to the one before him? That was a little bit unsettling news, to say the least. But then Stein grinned and reassured him, or at least tried to. "Uh..."

“Not that it would happen, precautions of course.”

"Well, not that I know of," Devlin answered, not exactly sure what type of Stein was looking for, but he wasn't allergic to anything and didn't think he had any other medical problems, so that was about the best answer he could give short of 'No.' The teenager's eyes fell on the wall behind Stein. What seemed like a solid wall was apparently some sort of secret passageway. Did Stein seriously have some secret room only he knew about? It sure seemed like it, and Devlin wasn't really surprised at this turn of events. Stein still had that grin on his face. It was one of happiness laced with insanity, but for his own sake Devlin chose not to pay any attention to it.

“Care to see your operating room? I assure that it will ease any anxiety you may have. Or if you are merely curious.”

The look that appeared on the blonde's face was one of skepticism. How could seeing a random operating room which was probably located in the depths of some hidden dungeon underneath the school possibly ease anxiety? He didn't know what to think, but he supposed he might as well go along with it. Pulling his right hand out of its respective pocket, Devlin ran the hand through his hair, unsure of exactly what to say. "Uh, sure?" I don't have much of a choice, do I?

And so Devlin made his way over towards the passageway but was skeptical to enter before the mad science teacher. "Lead the way," he requested, both hands out of his pockets and rubbing together in nervousness.

[R. Lloyd Stein]

Stein fingers tapped some more on the keyboard and then he led the way down the smooth onyx passageway. Blips of blue LED lights following, watching the two as they descended and shutting off when they were no longer in range. The staircase even appeared to sweep to one side so that the office could appear to be swallowed by the darkness that stalked them. Abandon all hope, you cannot retract your decision. Ponder if this was built deliberately to play upon the fears of Stein’s poor students. How many had even been down this far?

There was no hint of conversation needed between them, Stein was not one for idle chatter...or maybe he was plotting dissection points in his head already. Soon enough, they would reach a pentagonal room, a dimly lit with a low hum and four doors not counting the one the pair appeared from and only one on the immediate left was open to them. That was their target destination, another room that appeared at first to resemble a operating room straight from an abandoned hospital from hell. Several screens with odd lines and flickers, rusted machinery that looked like it was crafted from alien technology, and the daunting bloody table in the center, ready and appearing to be waiting for Devlin already.

But blink once, allow the lights to come on upon their entrance. The hellish operating room looked much cleaner, the machines appeared relatively sleek and new. Hell, the room actually appeared to be rather newly built. Had it just been a trick of the eyes? Stein would never tell, grin and all. Yes, he was far too busy already be imagining the dotted lines on Devlin’s body: cut here, here and right there at the sternum.

“This will be a place you will come to be familiar with, Mr. Fragston.” He motions his hand to the ready, clean table, “Get comfortable, it’ll ease the anxieties.”

And with that, he stalks over to the computer, bringing up all possible data, specs and other assorted information about his new favorite subject.

[Dev]

Devlin wasn't ready to engage in a random conversation with his science teacher, especially since he signed that paperwork. Something told him he should just get this done and over with as quickly as possible so as to avoid any... mishaps. Though, Dev didn't exactly have a choice once he was put under; his entire body would become Stein's playground. He shuddered at the thought, but it was something that had to be done. He had to know what he was and what he was capable of. If not capable now, then what would he grow to be, and if it was something bad, could he prevent it?

Some of those thoughts were cut short when he first peered into the room. What the hell is this!? It didn't look sanitary at all. Rather, it looked quite... hellish. As if Stein didn't upkeep his room at all, as if he didn't use it at all. But something told Devlin that wasn't the case. It had to be a hallucination. Nothing that evil looking could possibly be inside the school. Devlin had no idea...

And then the lights flicked on at the precise moment Devlin blinked. Running his right hand through blonde hair, he was relieved to see that the room was, in fact, quite clean and sanitary. He watched as Stein was seemingly in a dream world. Surely Devlin had underestimated just how happy the mad scientist was, and it would go on that way. He preferred to think that no one actually took joy in such living dissections and that the teacher was doing this out of kindness, but Devlin wasn't stupid. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts...

“This will be a place you will come to be familiar with, Mr. Fragston. Get comfortable, it’ll ease the anxieties.”

As Stein walked over to another conveniently placed computer, Devlin obliged, this time agreeing with the man with glasses. He took a few steps closer to the table, examining it closely to make sure the blood he had seen before the lights flickered on was just in his imagination. Upon discovering that this was, or at least seemed to be, the case, the teenager propped himself up onto the table, his gaze turning towards the teacher. There wasn't really much he could say. Well, there was one thing, and it didn't come easily.

"Thanks for doing this, by the way..." Devlin himself thought this seemed awkward, considering the instructor's response when Devlin first asked him to do it. But still, Devlin felt it had to be said. Let's face it, he could and would be in more awkward situations in the near future, and they would have nothing to do with this man.

[R. Lloyd Stein]

Stein was listening as Devlin inspected the table, watching the reflection from the monitor. What possible reason would he examine it so closely? It was completely sanitary, he could assure him of that. Ah, whatever made him comfortable, students needed reassurance...at least that's what Mai told him several times. Any words from that beauty always made sense!

"Thanks for doing this, by the way..."

A pause in his typing, and a glance over the shoulder; if only Devlin could see the madman's slasher smile right then. Given his giddiness, the unfortunate student could probably imagine it.

"As if I would refuse."

Across the room, a panel slides open in silence. Stein's hand twists a dial to his immediate right and his eyes refocus on the screen. A little to the right and then the science teacher would spin in his chair to face the boy, the well placed glare from the lights appearing over his glasses.

"Goodnight Mr. Fragston."

And right as he says this, Devlin would feel a sharp pain in his neck: a slim and metallic dart filled with a "special" solution. He won't be conscious for long, just long enough to see the glimmer of the scalpel Stein flipped between his fingers.

[Dev]

"As if I would refuse."

Yeah, good point. "True." Devlin looked back over towards the teacher after examining the rest of the room. What was next? He ran his hand through his hair again. How long was it going to take to get ready?

"Goodnight Mr. Fragston."

"What? AH!" And suddenly something jammed into his neck, and he was immediately beginning to lose consciousness. As his eyes shut, he noticed one thing; a scalpel. God damn it, Stein... And then he was out. Stein could begin.