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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:44 pm
A pair of strong arms caught her as she swayed, and then she was being gently lifted from the chair. The doctor didn't say anything as he carried the girl out of the exam room. After some time, she may have become aware that she was laying down on something comfortable, complete with a soft pillow and blanket.
Later, she'd awaken to a man's voice, explaining softly that there was difference between kindness and actually being kind and that everything was fine, go back to sleep, my dear.
Next a hushed discussion between the man and a woman, calm amusement on his part, exasperation on hers.
A sudden, icy chill as someone replacing the coldpack with a new one. The throbbing pain that had slowly began to regain it's hold on her began to recede once again.
Eventually, when Sasha became fully aware, she'd find herself on a small couch, pretty but comfortable. The room looked like a cross between an office and a small workshop. At the desk, surrounded by several computer monitor, the doctor sat writing notes on a yellow legal pad. For once, he had done away with the hooded coat of his uniform, a small pair of reading glasses perched on his nose. On the desk itself, there was a small stack of papers, a vase of dried flowers, a curious little decorative ball, and a small plaque reading, Clarice Sinclaire, Live Division Assistant.
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Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:11 pm
Sasha's eyes flickered open, fluttering slowly as she woke. Upon catching sight of the doctor she immediately froze in place, blue eyes widening in something that looked suspiciously like horror. Nona remained quiet and sluggish; this was probably for the best, as Sasha was having a difficult time recalling exactly what had transpired up to this point. She vaguely remembered making her way to the infirmary - she could recall explaining to the doctor what had happened... after that? Wispy moments that she couldn't exactly piece together quite yet. The pain in her skull had receded to a dull ache, and for that Sasha was incredibly thankful.
Clearing her throat softly, Sasha pushed up into a seated position. Having slept without her customary braid left half of her hair in a shamble of tangles and knots. Her mouth was so dry, and she really just wanted to close her eyes and reappear in her own dorm room. Maybe it would work. Maybe this was just a bad dream. Squeezing her eyes closed, she gave it an attempt.
...nope, she was still on a couch in Clarice's office with her division lead. Her division lead who was not wearing his uniform and currently had his reading glasses on. Sasha swallowed dryly.
Great. Way to make a good second.. third? impression, Sasha.
Patting down her hair as best she could, Sasha cleared her throat again before forcing herself to look towards the doctor. She offered him a weak little smile. It wibbled unconvincingly and for the third time since regaining consciousness, Sasha cleared her throat once more as the smile on her lips beat a hasty retreat.
"Well.. ah. I feel better. Ah.. thank you, sir.. and ah. I'll just. You know."
She hefted a hand, thumb outstretched, and pointed towards the door. Now all she had to do was stand up, a feat easier said than done at this point.
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:21 pm
Giving the girl a long look over his glasses, the doctor reached down and grabbed a small bottle of water from Clarice's minifridge. He noted with a small, sly smile that she had also pilfered several plums from his suite. Silently, he walked over to the girl and knelt down beside her, loosened the bottle's cap with a soft snap before handing it to her.
"Do you really, Sasha?" He reached out and plucked something out of hair, a stray feather from the pillow. When he smiled this time, there a certain wistfulness in his expression, "No pain or dizziness?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:48 pm
Sasha took the proffered water eagerly, taking a few greedy swallows before resting the cool bottle against her temple. Her eyes slipped closed for a split second before she took one more sip of water, finally meeting the doctor's eyes. When she saw his expression she offered a smile of her own.
"A little dizzy, sir, but nothing that.. nothing that can't be cured without supervision, sir. No pain to speak of, really, sir."
That may or may not have been a small smudge of the truth. Sasha instantly felt bad for lying to her division lead.
"Ah.. except for the back of my head. I think that's to be expected, though, sir." She clutched the small bottle in one hand, raking her fingers through her messy bed head with the other. "I'm not nearly as tired as I was before, though, sir, so I'm certain that I'll be fine. Really, thank you, sir." Was she saying sir too much? Should she call him doctor instead?
Sasha cleared her throat. Again.
"You've been so very ah.. nice. Kind." She wrapped both of her hands around the plastic bottle, offering him a genuine smile. "I'm sorry to have been a bother, sir."
Nona remained quiet. It was eerie.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:12 am
His expression stilled when she claimed no pain, but swiftly relaxed as she amended her answer into something more closely approaching a plausible truth. She called him kind once again, and his lips curled up ever so slightly, "Not everyone would agree with that, my dear, and for good reason."
He leaned forward, arm reaching behind her to grab a small bottle on the side table. Leaning back, he tapped out several more painkillers and held them out for her to take. "As for bothering me, have no fear in that regard. I'm not one for lies, Sasha, especially not polite ones. So please do trust me when I say I'm glad you sought help, and that I was there to provide it."
For several long moments he simply looked at her, and then sighed, giving her an almost stern expression, "Can I trust you? To not hesitate to seek help when you need it from now on? I don't doubt that you're strong, Sasha, and capable. But I want to know you won't be reckless with your own well-being."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:27 pm
Sasha took the pills from the doctor, shuffling them around in her hand before staidly placing them in her mouth one at a time. Washing them down with a healthy swallow of water, Sasha looked very properly reprimanded as she settled the bottle of water on the side table. The young woman folded her hands in her lap, eyes glued to her knees.
Her eyes shot up when he spoke of trust, a slight frown marring her features.
"O-of course you can trust m-me, sir. Doctor." She looked upset by the question. It wasn't that she'd tried to ... she wasn't ... "I just. I'm sorry. It.. won't happen again, doctor. It was silly of me, I was just... you know." Her hands formed fists in her lap as she tried to decide the best way to earnestly explain her thought process on the matter. It'd made sense at the time.
"I.. I'm not weak. I'm not... I'm not a baby." That last word was whispered with a strange sort of ferocity. Despite the fact that he'd already said he had no doubts about her strength and capability, Sasha felt the need to explain her actions. "I thought that I could.. that I could take care of myself."
Apparently she'd been wrong. She'd been wrong, and to make matters worse the doctor had also called her out on her little fib.
"...I'm sorry for lying, sir. It won't..." her fingers tightened as she watched him carefully, clearing her throat before softly whispering, "it won't happen again."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:43 pm
Smile lines appeared at the corners of his eyes at that fierce little whisper. At the apology, his eyebrows lifted, "You needn't apologize Sasha. You are quite..." his expression finally gentled again, and he reached out an plucked another small feather from her hair, "...lovely, in an almost delicate way. And you're..." another feather, this time he took the time to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You've a sort of sweetly smiling innocence to you. I imagine a number of people on this island will wish to protect that, to shelter you, if only a little. Even in such a place as this."
He plucked out one last feather, and reached for her hands, gently coaxing the clenched fists open, "But you are more that just a pretty bird in a cage." He placed the feathers in her hands, closing her fingers over them. "You're a young woman who is just now starting to realize her own power. And watching you explore that power, discovering what you're truly capable of is a wonderful sight, Sasha." He smiled at her, eyebrows raised, "So please don't stop trying to take care of yourself, my dear. Just remember that asking for help when you need it is a necessary part of that."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:29 pm
Sasha blinked slowly as the doctor reached forward to pluck that first feather from her hair. Her cheeks flushed with color the instant he brushed a bit of hair behind her ear, her skin growing even hotter when he complimented her. A strange emotion, one she'd never experienced before, threatened to choke her. Embarrassment? Nervousness? Sasha didn't know - and as the doctor reached for her hands, Sasha's eyes filled with emotion. There was one thing that Sasha knew for certain; never, in her life, had she been so flattered. Not even her own papa had shown her such praise - not like this. Not ever. The emotions evoked by the doctor's words.. they were almost too much to stand.
Sasha's breath hitched as the doctor continued. She watched him place the feathers in her palms, blinking rapidly as she did her best to hold back the sudden threat of tears. When he closed her fingers over the feathers, Sasha clenched her fists until she felt the bite of her own nails against the soft flesh of her palm. To have someone like Doctor H recognize the potential that she knew she had... it was heart-stopping. It was empowering. It was... baffling. She'd done nothing to earn these gracious words.
And despite his gentle touch and tender tone, despite the pretty words and compliments, despite the smiles and concern... Nona was silent.
"T-thank you, sir," Sasha whispered, still fighting tears. They brimmed against her dark lashes until they could no longer be tamed, spilling down her cheeks as Sasha gave a breathlessly sheepish laugh. "Thank you, Doctor H. You.. I should be going. I've taken up too much of your time already." Sasha used the backs of her hands to wipe away the tracks of her tears, giving the doctor a soft smile as she moved to rise to her feet. Sasha hesitated for a moment before she made a rough sound, wrapping her arms around her division lead for a brief hug before stepping away. She looked embarrassed still, but there was a glint in her eyes that spoke clearly of how much his words had meant to her. Her hands, still grasping the feathers, were pressed tightly to her chest.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much for everything. I.. I won't let you down, sir."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:21 pm
The doctor's eyebrows lifted at her emotional reaction, a kind of fond amusement creeping over features when suddenly she was wrapping her arms around him in a hug. His expression froze and emptied out, for several moments leaving the him void of...anything. All that remained was a man-shaped series of hard planes and angles that neither took, nor gave.
And then she was letting go, and looking at him, flushed with embarrassment and determination, and everything about him gentled and smoothed, as if humanity had once again been breathed into his body. Placing a hand on top her head he gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm sure you'll do quite well, Sasha."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:48 pm
Sasha was glowing, radiating a sort of silly confidence that had been fed by the doctor's compliments.
"Thank you, sir."
She gave another breathless laugh and a blinding smile before she backed away a few steps. Sasha paused for one last moment, just staring with utter and complete adoration towards her division lead before she spun on her heel and dashed from the room.
On her way back to the dorm, Sasha stopped by the labs to retrieve a roll of tape. Once back in her room Sasha used a piece of paper to create a small envelope. The feathers - though silly bits of fluff - were carefully placed within it. Taping it closed, Sasha slipped it under her pillow.
It would be a simple reminder of the doctor's words - just in case she forgot about the strength, capability and power that the doctor had praised.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:52 pm
A week later, she'd find a case on her bedstand. Within it lay a flute. Not just any flute, but hers.
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