Midazolam and the Future

>Speaker is approaching the room that listener is staying in.

(Muffled fade in) "Right, so, they've been out for…. Basically 6 hours? Should be awake by now."

"I mean, I've been checking every hour because… how can I not- but yeah. Should be up now."

"Cognizant is… another thing, though."

SFX: Door creaks open.

>Speaker is watching through the entrance.

(Echo-y)(Amused huff) "…adorable as always."

SFX: shuffle, small hum, phone sounds) "Five… four…. Three… two… one…"

"Right on schedule. How're you feeling? Water's on your left, in the bottle."

SFX: Shuffle, chains clink. Sipping.

…

"Woah now, don't strain your throat. Don't- don't strain anything really. The midazolam's still in your system, anything I say's going to pop right out of your mind."

(Murmur) "It's a moment of opportunity for me at the moment, really. Were I a worse person…. (shudder (pleasure? Disgust?))"

…

"…Ah. Yes."

SFX: Deep breath in, out.

"I'm here to help regarding that. Look, do you need the toilet?  The chain's long enough to let you walk there but- ah - the muscle relaxant you took might make it hard to walk" (murmur) "…among other reasons…"(normal) "So… I'm here."

"Yeah? Right, c'mere then."

SFX: shuffle, clink,

(chuckle)

SFX:footsteps, thuds.

…

"It's cute of you to struggle, y'know. Must be human instinct, mm? No logic in that beautiful mind of yours at the moment. Look at you, hey? Indominable human spirit all dazed and confused. So… pathetic, in the best way I could ever ask form"

(sfx: door opening thud) "There. You can handle this alone, right?"

…

"Mm! Yes, you're welcome. Don't take too long now - I'll be outside, knock when you're done, babe."

(sfx: door close. Flushing, water running, investigating to no avail - knock - door bursts open.)

"…"

"…Almost a smart play, honey, but as I said, you're not going to remember much of this in a moment, so what's the point?"

(Click of the tongue) " 'Dides, all the good shit's under lock and key and code and stuff; I know i'm not daft - are you, though?"

…

"I'll tell you what's in there once the drugs are out of your system- hup-"

>listener is picked up.

"In up to an hour's time! C'mon now."

>return to the bed. listener is placed down.

SFX: ceramic clinking

"I readied some food. Easily digestible stuff so taste is a bit constrained but… hey, you look famished, so open wide!"

…

"…Darling, I'm not risking you spilling everything everywhere. You can do this yourself later if you continue to be so good. Open. Wide."

…

(pleased action - kiss on cheek? Head pat?.)

"Oh… good job honey. You've been handling this so well so far… yeah, it's because of how drugged out of your mind you still are, but I digress; that glassy look in your eyes is adorable, you wouldn't know."

…

"Well, that's all I have to do with you here now, and I really don't want to have to explain myself again later so… can you sleep the rest off? You still must be drowsy and all that, and I did just rush you around straight out of awareness so-"

"Oh!"

"Already slipping again, hm? You're- you're gonna crush my arm."

(Fading) "Hah- well. Goodnight again honey… and good day to me." (pleased sigh.) "God, you're heavenly…"

>Timeskip.

SFX: Shuffle. Clink. More clinks, struggle.

"And there we go. How're you feeling now?"

…

(Noticably colder.) "…yeah, thought so. At least now I can answer you, so pay attention, because yelling won't do anything; I ensured that."

…

"So. Yeah. This looks bad, but it could be worse. Bed and chain's better than zip-tied to a chair, right?"

"In fact, I'd say this is pretty damn good. Because… I love you. And I wanted to make life better for you, so… I took you."

…

"Honey. What you're doing right now will achieve nothing but make your situation worse. And nobody wins there. "

SFX: Struggle.

"Sh- shhshh. Stop that. Stop. Do you need a second dose? Do I need to bring out something to keep you still like a knife? I can do that. I can stop being nice like this, if that's what you want."

>Speaker gets in close.

"Take a deep breath, and relax before I make you."

(Pause, then giggle.)

"….God…. You are…. So good up close. You know that? You have to. Your bruises look like galaxies and your hair shines like silk and you're posed like an art nouveau painting and that's  you in a worse state than usual!"

"Ah- ahem- ah- I digress."

…

"…Your ankle? It'll heal eventually. I did it when you were asleep - it's… insurance. Do you want something for the pain?"

…

"Well… I'll… give it for a kiss. See, I don't know how clear it is - I hope it is, I designed this room to every aesthetic preference of yours I know but… you're my everything."

"Like- your attitude towards your passions are so inspiring and the way you look when figuring things out so adorable and the way you worry over the phone makes my heart break and- and-"

(breathe in, breathe out.)

"It'd mean so much to me, if you could want me the same way I want you. Or to receive some level of likeness."

…

"Oh- did I say could? Oh- (laughter) sorry, that implies a choice in the situation."

"Something you do not have, let's be real."

…

"Yes,it's sudden. I'll be here to help prove how good this is for us, but… relationships take effort on both ends. You know that, right?"

…

…!

"…do you want to rethink the words that came out your mouth, pet?"

…!

(Sigh) "…You're being really stupid right now. But- I get it. I took you away from that dingy miserable place, but you have issues letting go. Not to worry, I accounted for thSat."

"So, let's get the facts straight."

"You're chained to the wall. Your ankle is broken, this room is soundproofed, this house is secure to the nines."

"And, most of all?"

"You're mine."

"You understand that? You're mine now. You always have been. You're mine. You're mine you're mine you're mine you're mine you're mine you're mine  you're mine!"

"Do you. Understand that?"

…

SFX: hands clapped together.

"Good!"

"Still, I suggest you take some time to think those facts over, pet. One thing to hear, another to see, another to understand, no? That's how you grew on me."

…

"Stalker? I suppose so."

"What're you going to do about it?"

"It's in the past, silly. Don't you know  you need to carpe diem or whatever?"

"…still though, it's baffling; thought you'd have figured that out already given this space we're in like, look!"

"Even beyond how I've got the right sort of pillow for you to sleep on; I hand binded a book for one of your favourite stories you regularly return to! Now it can never leave you, like you're never leaving me; look at this effort, hm?"

…

(Snort.)

SFX: Book shut.

"…Quiet now, huh? Fair. Fair enough. Think it through all you need."

> Pause.

(Contemplative) "…Y'know, I'll let you pursue anything except leaving my side. That's what a good partner does, right? Encourage dreams side by side?"

…

"Well, you're my dream. I've chased you for years on years and I've finally got you… oh my god, I've finally got you. I've got you I've got you I've got you I've got you-"

"Aha. Ahem ah- yeah. "

"So… what can I do for you now, darling? Because we've all the time in the world to get to know each other better."

…

"Leave?"

> Pause again.

"…sure. Just don't try anything funny. I've got all the measures ready to persuade you to stay. Some are actually quite lovely, and some… well, let's hope we don't have to go there, hm?"

SFX: getting up off the bed.

"I'll grab you some tea, then I'll let you have some space. But call… Or do something that we'll both regret, and.. And well, I'll be right by your side in an instant, honey."

"I'll be back in… three hours after that? Well, I didn't put a clock in here for a reason, but I'll be back in three hours."

(Kiss)

"I'll see you soon,honey. Don't be stupid now, 'kay? We've all the timein world for anything but that."