Prison was a tiresomely predictable place. Most every event of every day played out by route and routine, even the fights were basically part of the schedule. Small scuffles helped keep everyone pacified, inmates and guards alike. Venting the pressure that could otherwise erupt into real chaos.<br/><br/>So it was pleasant surprise for a stranger to walk up to her, pleasant in being surprising. It was not an environment that fostered the idea of sticking your neck out to make a new acquaintance. Ix cocked her head to the side, pinpricks of amber floating through her eyes, displaying the mild amusement she felt. A rolling ticking sort of noise resonated in her chest, laughter, at the idea of the<em>thing</em>being one of the worst in the prison. Perhaps, if by worst one meant most egregious waste of sentience. Ix chuckled a little louder at the thought before turning her attention back to what the human was saying.<br/><br/>"We have not, I should think it would not have been a forgettable moment." Warily Ix smelled the human when he turned his back on her, straightening back up before her turned to face her again. "The smell of you is not unpleasant." She projected the announcement warmly, as if it was something the man had been waiting to hear. She continued, with a somewhat theatrical gesticulation, to introduce herself. "I am Ix, as it says, waylaid here in my search for friends."<br/><br/>Ix picked up the note between chitin tipped fingers, delicately as if it were alive, curiosity piqued. "I was under the impression that it was the general policy of the staff to disregard such trivialities as innocence and guilt." The vocalization was completely free of sarcasm, the statement a simple fact of life in the facility. Her black eyes left the note to regard the human,<em>Tom</em>, once again.<br/><br/>"What is this Mertens seeking to gain from side stepping protocol and authority?" The words were barely loud enough to be heard. "What strangeness made him think to send one note on the assumption that we would be together..."<br/>