Welcome to Gaia! ::

Julian was quite thankful for the network of people and services available through the people he knew. Delilah had mentioned a woman named Orah to him, who was a nurse working at a prominent hospital in the city. Since his rebirth, Julian hadn't had a proper physical. He didn't know his blood type, nor the state of his health as a whole. Delilah had heard good things about Orah, and seemed to trust her enough to get Julian in touch with her.

The information she would have received was as descriptive as Delilah felt comfortable providing - that Julian was once part of the Negaverse and needed to be looked over for his health and safety now that he'd purified. Julian thought it would be important to point out that he used to be a youma, and therefore not human, but wanted to meet Orah first and determine if that information was pertinent to give.

She was a senshi, wasn't she? Julian couldn't remember her senshi name, but if she was a senshi, and trusted by Delilah, it must've been okay.

Through their channels, the meeting was arranged. Julian was dropped off at Orah's apartment per Delilah's instructions, late in the evening (presumably after Orah's shift at the hospital). Equipped with his identification card created by Delilah at the others and a plate of brownies as a thank you gift, Julian gingerly walked up the steps to Orah's apartment, raising his hand to gently knock on the door. He was supposed to call when everything was done, and though it was supposed to be routine, he was still worried.

What if some residual Chaos was in his blood? Was that possible? Oh, he didn't know, and to think about it now made him oh so nervous. Calm down, Orah is a nurse, she knows what she's doing!

“O-oh! Um… it’s nice to meet you, Orah.” He was carrying a plate wrapped in celophane and shifted to move it to his right hand so he could take Orah’s with his left. His grip was light - perhaps too light - as if he were afraid of harming her. “I brought you some brownies? Oh! Oh no, I should have asked Delilah if you had any food sensitivities or restrictions… I’m sorry! I should have thought about that, but… Truthfully, I panicked a little. I’ve um… never been… to a doctor before.”

Orah’s welcome was warm and much appreciated. She reminded him somewhat of Sita, his older sister, with her gentle demeanor and war-weary eyes. Stepping into Orah’s home, nervousness got the better of him and Julian started to titter about various things while he gazed about at the decor that filled the space. “Delilah said she trusted you more than other doctors. She said… you’d be the best bet, and… and I really appreciate what you’re doing. I guess,” With a sigh, Julian hung his head.

“...I guess, I hope you don’t… find anything… bad.”

Julian was aware that Delilah had told Orah about some of his history. What if she drew blood and it was black? His memory was fuzzy, and in his brief panic, couldn’t recall a time when he’d cut himself slicing celery or something. Was it red, back then? Or was it black? Did he actually cut himself at all? With a wheeze, he shook his head. Orah seemed very nice, and if Delilah trusted her, then he would as well.

“Orah, do you…” Swallowing, Julian wondered if asking such a question was considered rude or not. Orah was somewhat of a stranger at this point. “...do you help a lot of people, who… aren’t in the Negaverse anymore? If that’s the case, then… thank you. Thank you… for doing that. That’s very kind of you. Oh! Um… do you need my ID card? Delilah and Mercy made it for me.” With the plate in one hand, Julian rummaged through the jacket pockets for said ID, which gave his surname as identical to Delilah’s.

“I don’t know… um… I’m sorry. Delilah said to keep in mind about any allergies and that sort of thing, since I don’t have a medical history. I don’t think I have any allergies, but… I haven’t eaten every food ever just yet.” With a deep breath, Julian tried to steady his thoughts. There was so much to keep track of, and he still needed to find a decent place for the brownies Orah may or may not be able to eat.

Dutifully did he follow Orah about the apartment like a duckling, appreciating the little knickknacks and framed pictures the young nurse had around her apartment. It felt homey, like someone with a warm personality lived here. It put Julian at ease, and Delilah's utmost trust in Orah helped that much more. "You're not just a nurse," he commented, standing before a small potted plant on a shelf to admire it. "You help things like me, and women and children who need you... There's no just in that." Oops, too focused on the plant. Toddling to keep following Orah, he finished that thought. "...I think so, anyway. There is no just a nurse."

Being ushered to the couch, Julian sat upon a cushion on the opposite end to give Orah some personal space. Her questions of his history were pertinent and important, and one should never lie to their doctor. Or nurse. Really, Orah was a doctor as far as Julian was concerned - she knew far more about medicine than he ever would. Clasping his hands in his lap, he took a deep and steadying breath.

Hopefully, Orah wouldn't hate him.

"...Delilah told you a little bit, right? That... I was once part of the Negaverse." he started, choosing to stare off at nothing in particular to keep himself from fidgeting too much. Would Orah throw him out of the apartment, knowing the truth? It was best to tell her, regardless. Delilah would expect him to be truthful, as he would expect of himself. "Do you... know G-General Benitoite?"

The name was stumbled off his tongue, not in reverence, but in fear. It was as though Julian believed speaking his once-General's name would summon the man on the spot to fill him full of holes with that spear of his. "Benitoite, he... he had some officers under his command, but... I don't remember who they are. I don't remember too much, except for the darkness. That's... that's where I slept. I didn't... get to be with Benitoite very often, but he would come see me from time to time, and..." A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. "Time is something new, even now. Sometimes, I forget what day it is, because down there, you don't have days. Just nights... nights of endless screaming and skittering and lost Lieutenants that don't ever come back..."

Another steadying sigh. He should get to the point. "I... I hope I didn't... hurt you, when I was like that. I don't remember you, but... that doesn't mean much. W-what I mean, is... I wasn't Benitoite's officer... I was his youma..."

The fact that Orah hadn't booted him from the apartment, spat on him and cursed his very existence was shocking to Julian. Her tender hands and offer of support touched his heart in ways he couldn't explain, but furrowed brows and tears forming in the corners of his blue eyes spoke more than Julian ever could. Swallowing, he tried to keep himself focused on the reason for invading Orah's space in the first place - a checkup, the first of his human life.

Nodded, Julian pressed the heel of his hand to his temple to wipe the tears. "N-no, it's... you don't... please don't feel like you're supposed to... to help me, if you don't want to. I should be helping you, really... Um..." With a sigh, Julian tried to steady his thoughts. "I would like to know, you know, if... everything is working okay? Delilah said that I... mentioned that I used to be a human, before being a youma, down in the Rift. But, after Cosmos and the others fixed me, and gave me this body... I don't remember a time before the darkness. It's... not that I don't believe them! Really, I do trust them with everything! I just... want to make sure that... everything is working okay. And that... my blood is red and not black, which..."

With an embarrassed chuckle to himself, Julian stood from the couch to try and assist Orah with whatever needed to be done. He hated the thought of being waited on. Really, he should be the one doing all the work on Orah's behalf. "...which is silly, if you think about it, but... I guess... I have a lot of... apprehension?"

It was difficult to try and explain to Orah what it meant to have real skin instead of a carapace, and how the warmth of her hand was more pronounced because of it. Maybe that would sound creepy. Julian wasn't sure. "I'd really appreciate your help but... is there anything I can do? To help?"

The thought that anxiety might effect his blood pressure didn't even occur to Julian, and he stared blankly at poor Orah.

"O-oh! Right, yes..."

Twiddling his slender fingers and taking several deep, calming breaths, Julian turned around (noticing for the moment that Orah's carpet was incredibly soft on his tender, fleshy feet), wandering to the bar stool to sit back down. Right, Orah was nice enough to open her home to him and perform this service for no money at all, so the least he could do would be to follow her directions closely. Her questions were listened to, carefully considered and then answered to the best of his ability.

"Pain? Oh... um... not really? I mean, unless I bump into something or that one time, I ate this fruit cake and I don't recall having food hate me so much. That was terrible, it really was. I think fruit cake is the only cake I've tried and been so upset about. Everything else I've eaten has been wonderful..."

Well... that didn't really answer her question. Julian tried not to get flustered about that fact - it might ruin the readings on the cuff that was slowly closing around his arm. A cold metal disk was pressed to his wrist to read his pulse somehow. Orah was kind, gentle, and very patient. It was apparent as to why Delilah would have recommended her. She had the perfect bedside manner, and Julian was incredibly grateful. "...having real skin has been really nice. I get bruised sometimes... walking was very hard in the beginning, I mean. But I wouldn't go back to a carapace if you paid me all the money in the world..."

With a chuckle, Julian tilted his head. "You'd think... all cake should be wonderful, but now I understand why people tend to be wary of fruit cake."

The confirmation that his bumps and bruises were normal, and his blood pressure was in ideal range came a huge relief. That relief shone plainly on his face and in the way his shoulders relaxed. Dutifully Julian took deep breaths on Orah's command, hoping his lungs sounded just as good as his blood pressure numbers looked. When she was finished, he started to chatter again.

"Delilah had said she trusts you and wouldn't send me to anyone else... Oh, I forgot. She gave me some cash to give to you for the inconvenience." A single one-hundred dollar bill was pulled from Julian's back pocket and handed to the nurse. "I sort of agree when she said she didn't really trust a hospital to understand what happened, so... She said you were number on on the list. I can see why. She said you're a great senshi too, and... well, I believe that. Maybe we can patrol together, sometime?"

Julian suddenly looked shocked, embarrassed by making such an assumption. "I-I mean, only if you want to!"

Truth be told, Orah's hands were warm and soft against his skin, and Julian found the examination wasn't so bad after all. The fact that Orah was so attentive, patient and kind put his mind at ease, even when the ice-cold stethoscope was placed against his back. Orah was doing this not only because he and Delilah had asked, but because she cared. She was an excellent nurse, by his estimation, and would be such an incredible boon to anyone else escaping the Negaverse.

Especially if they were youma before.

Getting his blood drawn was something he'd been fearing. What if the blood was tarry and black, like it was before?! No, it couldn't be, could it? He'd have felt the insatiable hunger for souls and energy from the deep darkness of the Rift. If his blood was black, he'd have noticed, wouldn't he? Yes, Orah knew what she was doing. She knew the perfect distraction - Lulu the cat.

"Oh, she's lovely, Orah. It's nice to have pets in the house, isn't it? Roddy has a puffy poodle mix named Staccato. He's trained as a support animal, because his older sister is wheelchair-bound. That doesn't seem to stop her, which... I think is great. It was hard to walk when Delilah and the others fixed me, because my feet were a different shape, back then. Once Anais was used to her wheelchair and her physical therapy was completed, Staccato helped me so much. Sometimes, I would get lost and confused, but he's very good with anxiety too. He has a vest he wears, so people know he's working... I bet Lulu is great, keeping you company and sitting with you when you're sick or sad..."

The pinch from the needle wasn't as bad as Julian had anticipated, and he only winced very slightly, closing his eyes briefly before focusing on Lulu again. Blue eyes were forced to stay on the marmalade cat as best Julian could manage, but curiosity got the better of him. Stealing a glance at the tube being filled with the blood Orah had drawn, there was an audible sigh of relief.

The blood was red.

"You're the best, Orah," Julian murmured after breathing a sigh of relief. "Is there any way I can thank you for... for everything?"

Pressing the pad down on the tender crook of his arm, Julian nodded with confidence to Orah. "Oh, yes, please let me repay you! What about... what about dinner? I can cook now, and Roddy says I do a good job, so... can I feed you? Please? And... I'll go buy supplies. I don't make much money yet, but... anything is helpful, right? I want to help, however I can. And... there are others, like me. Not just purified from the Negaverse..."

With a sigh, Julian squeezed his eyes shut. He wasn't sure whether Evan would want anyone else to know, but to Orah, it might be a piece of information that could give her the confidence to continue to work so hard for the people who needed her. Her skills would be invaluable. "...there are others who used to be youma. I don't know of many, but... some are better than none, right? Maybe... maybe this means, little by little, people like you and me are doing some real good out there?"

He laughed nervously, casting his gaze over at Lulu again. She was a lovely sight. Out of his peripherals, Orah had pulled something from her pocket. "Mmm, yes, that's fine. Let me..." Fumbling to hold the gauze on his arm and pull his phone from his pocket before realizing he could just fold his arm instead. There was simply too much going on at the time, mixed with incredible relief that Orah was kind and patient, and that his blood was red. "I'll give you my number... you can call me any time. May I... call you, too, Orah? Just... just to talk."

Slumping his head out of embarrassment, a touch of pink grazed his cheeks and ears. "I'd... I'd like to call you a friend, Orah. If... if that's okay, that is."