Mute, mute, and mute.

The only settings Ronan could look for by heart. The only setting that was default. On life, as well.

It wasn't a period of teenage rebellion — shutting down who and whatever came to bother him. Rather, it was a period that lasted from start to finish. It was never a sign of worry, for everybody around him imagined it were just a phase. But, when a phase has lasted this long and has no sign of ending anytime soon, the worry set in for his family. Although, Ronan didn't seem to reciprocate those feelings of distress.

There were few people to talk to him to, from, and during school.

There was hardly anybody to check in.

There was nobody to drag him out of the hole he dug.

And that was the routine he liked.

So what if he was missing out on the supposed "best years" of his (hopefully short) life? He was doing what he loved. Jack shit nothing. It brought a cramped smile to his face. In his own way, this were the best years of his life. No heavy responsibilities, no forced outside contact. In a bit, — if he survived that long without succumbing to his nasty environment, that is — he'd be forced to interact with the natural world. The judgmental, unwelcoming environment.

The eagerness of other people willing to go outside for things that weren't for survival reasons was beyond Ronan. To engage in small talk, to touch other people on their own accord. It was all..

Blegh. Just, disgusting. Indescriptible, really.

Ronan could never imagine such world, and even if he could, he's not sure he'd want to. To be free is to be content. And he, was definitely content.

Ronan turns on his phone to its lockscreen, scrolling past compressed notifications announced during its time in do not disturb mode. No messages. No missed calls.

He smiles bitterly.

He was in too deep, so why not indulge himself?