"What's the purpose of observing him watching pornography?" Logic asked, peering at Roman through double sided glass. The window allowed Logic and Dr. Florin to watch Roman without him seeing them. Roman sat in an uncomfortable looking black chair. A laptop sat in front of him on a simple fold-able table. On the opposite wall to them, a small mirror hung at the eye-level of the Side sitting. In two corners of the ceiling, cameras watched Roman's every movement. Behind Roman, on the last wall, was a rather large clock that currently projected '00:00' in red lighting.
Dr. Florin had attached heart monitor readers to Roman's chest and temples; the results were displayed on screens in the small observation room. Already Roman's heart rate was high, and the test had only just begun. After securing the heart monitor, Dr. Florin informed Roman of the task - to watch pornography.
Then she proceeded to point out each camera, as well as gesture to the mirror-like window that Logic was already standing behind. Although Roman couldn't see him, he stared at the glass as Dr. Florin explained that Logic would also be watching. Logic, although not very well-versed with emotions, could tell Roman was deeply uncomfortable. And yet, there was a resigned acceptance to Roman's gaze; as if he had done this all before. Logic shifted on his feet. Roman looked away.
After Dr. Florin joined Logic in the observation room, she announced through a microphone that Roman could begin. Dr. Florin started a small timer. She let it hang around her neck so she could hold her clipboard and pen. She made a mark on her paper, but Logic wasn't sure of what. Roman hadn't moved yet.
She answered Logic's question as Roman slowly shifted in his chair. He had to select the pornography himself, Dr. Florin had explained. That, somehow, factored into the results. Roman sat stiffly - maybe he assumed if he never chose a video to watch, the test would have to end.
"A Side's trait tends to activate most when they are outside of their comfort zone." Dr. Florin said. "Many people find public arousal taboo. Our task now is to see how Roman reacts to the taboo."
Roman glanced at the window. He reached for the mouse. Dr. Florin glanced at the time on her little watch and wrote it down. Roman didn't click anything, but scrolled to see the next assortment of videos. Another screen in the observation room showed what was displayed on Roman's screen. Many of the videos on the front page were of heterosexual Established couples, and Logic didn't have to wonder why Roman kept scrolling. Even still, the website moved at a slow pace, like Roman was taking his time inspecting each thumbnail.
Dr. Florin continued, writing as she spoke. "People - Sides especially - have a very wide range of reactions to pornography. For example, any Sexually Deviant Sides would obviously have no issues being watched. The level of enjoyment the Side feels could be a way to determine their trait. In the same way, if they are greatly distressed by the task, they may be more of an Ethical or Emotional trait."
"Roman was previously told he was an Emotional trait. They just didn't know what emotion." Logic said.
Dr. Florin nodded. "I'm going to keep that in mind, but I want to see for myself what traits he exhibits."
Roman kept scrolling. His shoulders relaxed some; his heart rate lowered as he got used to the sterile environment. He glanced over at the mirror, uninterested in what was on the screen before him.
"Sexually Deviant traits are Negatives." Logic said quietly.
"Many traits are." Dr. Florin responded, writing once more. She looked between her clipboard and Roman as she wrote.
"He has concerns he'll be a Negative." Logic said.
Dr. Florin nodded, and wrote that down. Logic bit the inside of his cheek and focused back on Roman again. With quick movements, Roman leaned forward and typed into the search bar 'gay Sides'.
Roman's brows pinched as the first row of thumbnails all included an Established person with the Side - or Sides - in the scene.
"Do you continue to watch if he begins to …?" Logic felt shy. He didn't usually have issue discussing such topics. But with Roman right there, being the subject of discussion, it felt odd to Logic.
"Most Sides don't pleasure themselves during this test, even if arousal occurs." Dr. Florin said simply. "The ones who do, tend to be some kind of Sexually Deviant Negatives. The test ends quickly after arousal occurs, and a diagnosis is typically determined by then."
Logic nodded quietly. Roman kept scrolling.
"We try to provide the Sides as much privacy as we can; but as I'm sure you understand, diagnosis can be a rather personal affair." Dr. Florin said. Roman glanced at the window, the mirror, the camera. He kept scrolling.
Roman crossed his legs and sighed. Logic didn't think the position was strategic, rather he read the body language as "quickly losing interest".
He scrolled past rows and rows of male Sides in different poses. His mouse didn't even hover over any thumbnails, simply dismissing everything in sight. His heart monitor showed his heartbeat almost at a relaxed state.
Roman typed 'gay fusions' into the search engine next. He turned his body so he could lay sideways in the chair, his legs hanging over the armrest. He scrolled through the Fusion's videos with the same interest as the Side ones - which is to say, very little.
"I'm surprised." Logic stated, tilting his head. "I would have thought, based on his relationships, he would be more…"
"Perverted?" Dr. Florin suggested. She didn't wait for Logic's response. "If he's concerned about being Negative, he may be resisting those urges. A true Sexually Deviant trait wouldn't be able to ignore their urges."
She tapped on her notes and watched Roman's heartbeat.
"Nothing looks good!" Roman said, looking over to the window. He scowled and turned to stare at the camera instead. "What off brand site is this?"
Logic laughed, the sound slipping past his guard. He slapped his hand over his mouth, warmth gathering in his cheeks. Dr. Florin paid no notice, writing something down in her notes. She checked her timer and wrote that down as well.
Roman began scrolling again but at a much faster pace, clearly not looking at the options anymore.
Once Dr. Florin was done writing, she nodded to herself and murmured, "I see."
She pressed a button on the control panel before them, and the screen on Roman's laptop went black. He jerked back in surprise.
"Alright, Roman. This next task is very simple." Dr. Florin said into the microphone. Roman relaxed in his seat, looking at the camera in the corner of the room. Dr. Florin kept a finger on a button as she spoke. "Don't turn around."
She pushed the button and the clock behind Roman began counting up. Milliseconds flashed by as the seconds grew. Logic watched the large, red numbers curiously. Roman sat upright, crossing his arms. He frowned and stared straight ahead.
"What's the purpose of this test?" Logic asked.
"Many things; but mostly we're testing impulse now." Dr. Florin said. She wrote something down, and quickly looked back to Roman. Logic wonders if he has been given this test before; he doesn't seem confused by the task. "Sides such as Impulsive, Anxiety, and Curiosity will look very quickly."
Logic nodded, understanding crossing over him. "I mentioned his Fusion might be an Impulsive."
"Indeed, and if that Fusion isn't, then perhaps Roman is." Dr. Florin brushed a stray strand of her black hair out of her face. "Moreso; I'm wondering what his level of Stubbornness is. Stubborn can be very difficult to determine in this test - half will look immediately, and half will wait a very long time before looking."
Roman began tapping his foot, but stayed staring forward. He glanced at the mirror. Logic asked, "What traits take the longest?"
To Logic's surprise, Dr. Florin let out a small snort. She shared a little smile with him and said, "Sides with sleep-related disorders, such as Narcolepsy or Lazy. The longest one fell asleep for six hours and twenty-four minutes before he woke up and looked around."
"That makes sense." Logic murmured. "But at that point, is the trait not obvious?"
"Sure, but it'd be rude to wake them up." Dr. Florin said with a shrug. Logic decided that was a joke.
They sat in silence for exactly twenty-two seconds before Roman's fidgeting grew more intense. He shifted in his seat, scratched his neck, and began to hum; but he didn't look behind him.
Roman spoke then, startling Logic. He called out, "What's the record?"
Dr. Florin leaned into the mic and said, "Six hours."
Roman looked up at the ceiling, groaning. He stared at the lights for a moment, then tilted his head back and forth. Finally, with a large sigh, he sat up and looked behind him. The clock stopped at '03:19', which was two minutes longer than Logic thought he would last. Roman muttered something and crossed his arms again, facing forward once more.
He said, looking into the camera, "What's next?"
Dr. Florin nodded, writing. She didn't respond for a long moment, and Logic could see Roman getting impatient.
Roman turned to face the window, unintentionally glaring right at Logic, "Hey!"
Dr. Florin spoke into the microphone, "Thank you, Roman."
She pressed a series of buttons in front of them, and Roman's laptop turned back on. This time, instead of pornography, the video displayed was of a children's puppet show. Roman sat back in his chair, and silently watched as two puppets hugged.
Dr. Florin took some time writing, and Logic didn't interrupt her. He watched Roman's face on the screen. Logic could see the irritation in the tightness of his jaw.
Roman got bored of watching the puppet show, and eventually turned his gaze to the window. Which Logic thought rather silly; with the reflective glass, all Roman could see was himself.
Dr. Florin walked ahead of them, her heels echoing down the hall as they walked. Logic glanced at Roman, who had been silent since they brought him out of the first testing room. He reached out and took Roman's hand. Logic wasn't expecting to feel so much relief when Roman accepted his touch and linked their fingers together. Roman tilted his head to look over at Logic, and only then could Logic see the despair there. Something painful happened in Logic's chest - a twist or a punch, he wasn't sure how to describe it. But Roman's hatred of this place, this process, was clear as day. Logic squeezed his hand and hoped the rest of the tests would pass faster. It was all he could do.
"Mr. Logic, please wait here." Dr. Florin said, stopping at an open door. Logic gave Roman a final glance, dropped his hand, and stepped inside. Dr. Florin added, "I'll join you shortly."
This room was smaller than the last one, with no two-way glass window trickery. It had four TV screens that showed the room Dr. Florin and Roman were walking in. Dr. Florin gestured to a chair in front of a small control panel, not unlike the one that was in the larger observation room. It had several small buttons and levers further back on the control board, with one large, red button in the front.
"This looks new." Roman muttered, his voice coming out staticy through the speakers. He sat down in the chair, frowning at the large, center button.
"Heart rate monitors," Dr. Florin said, handing little suction-cup-like sensors with wires attached to Roman. He muttered and lifted his shirt, sticking them where she instructed. She didn't put the monitors on his temples this time, Logic noticed.
Finally, Dr. Florin left the room with no further instruction to Roman. She closed the door behind her, and even through the speakers, Logic could hear a distinctive click of it being locked. Roman glared at one of the several cameras in the room.
Dr. Florin rejoined Logic in the small observation room. She pressed a button and spoke into another microphone. She said, "Okay, Roman. Please press the button."
Roman didn't hesitate to smack the large red button, as if he had been wanting to do it since he walked in. Logic was unsurprised by that. What did surprise him, however, was the yelp of pain Roman let out once he did so. He yanked his hand back and scowled at the camera.
"What was that?!" Roman shouted, clutching his hand close.
Dr. Florin wrote something, then said, "Please press the button again."
Roman hesitated. Logic shook his head, but he wasn't visible to Roman, who pushed the button again. He flinched this time as he was shocked once more. It didn't seem like the shocks were incredibly painful, but Logic still grew uneasy by the test.
"Please press the button again."
Roman frowned and rubbed his hand. He then, very intelligently, decided to press the button with his other hand. He still was shocked. Logic had to admit, that was a somewhat reasonable hypothesis.
"Please press the button again." Dr. Florin requested.
"No way!" Roman said. He crossed his arms and sat in silence. Logic counted to five before Roman pressed the button again.
"Fuck!" He shouted as he was shocked.
Logic sighed out his nose.
"Please press the button again." Dr. Florin said.
Roman frowned and stared down at the panel before him. He seemingly thought for a moment, then pressed a button in the back. He flinched with a new shock.
The next time, he didn't wait for Dr. Florin to request it. He pushed another button. Then another. Each button he pushed shocked him, but he continued to press them.
"How interesting." Dr. Florin said, writing it down. She watched for another moment as Roman pressed as many buttons as he could. He tried a new strategy of letting go of the button faster to avoid the shock, which Logic thought rather smart.
"He's not going to stop until he finds the correct one." Logic said.
"There's not a correct one." Dr. Florin said back. She watched with a small smile as Roman tried to press as many buttons as he could in one row.
"And what do you learn from this?" Logic asked.
"A few things. Obedience is the first observation, if they will press it again after being shocked once." She wrote something as Roman took a breath and shook his hands out. He stared at the board for a long time, clearly thinking. "But we're also attempting to measure a certain level of intelligence."
Roman shocked himself again.
Dr. Florin finally said into the microphone, "Very good, Roman, we'll be with you in a moment."
When they opened the door to the room, Roman was already waiting for them. He held his hands by his stomach, frowning down at them. Logic didn't reach out, in fear of harming him further.
"Is the testing almost over?" Logic asked.
"Yes, we just have one more." Dr. Florin said as she led them down the hall to another room. Roman was not eager to continue.
Logic felt himself relax when he looked inside the final room. He said, "Oh, Roman, you'll enjoy this."
"Doubt it." Roman muttered, but his sour mood disappeared once he saw the contents of the room. He let out a gasp and rushed inside. "Why couldn't we do this first?"
Logic smiled as Roman grabbed a guitar, one of many instruments displayed in the room. He tuned it easily, fingers running over the strings and manipulating the sounds to be delightful. He played the guitar as he walked around the room, inspecting all the other instruments that took up the space. A drum kit sat in one corner, a table of brass instruments displayed next to it. Roman smiled as he looked at each item, his fingers never pausing his playing.
"And this one?" Logic asked as he watched by the doorway.
Dr. Florin wrote a bit, but not at the same frantic pace as before. She smiled and said, "This is for him. A small reward before sending you home without a diagnosis."
Logic nodded. Roman took off the guitar and picked up a saxophone. He blew into it, making a loud screeching noise. He laughed and pressed the buttons some, inspecting the instrument. Then he gave it another try, and the next sound the sax made was a lovely low note.
Logic blinked in surprise. He had never known Roman to be a fast learner. In fact, Roman usually avoided learning anything new that wasn't lines for a role. He leaned back against the wall, crossed his arms, and listened to Roman play.
After a while, he switched to a keyboard piano that was set up by a wall. He didn't bother sitting down, and played with the keys as he had done it all his life.
"The diagnosis won't be ready for a few days, when we will call you with the results." Dr. Florin said, finally lowering her clipboard.
Logic asked, lowering his voice, "What do you think he is?"
Dr. Florin smiled and said, "A very special Side."
Logic didn't find that remotely useful scientifically. But he had to agree, it was most definitely accurate.