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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 13, 2020 14:18:05 GMT -8
After Gabriella had left the room, William caught himself staring down at the business card for some more moments, hearing her advice and encouragement still in his head like an echo. And then there was something else she had said, that actually brought a smile to his face all of a sudden. A friend. He really was glad that it wasn't just him who had grown so fond of her to call her a friend. With a quiet chuckle, William placed the card on the little table next to the bed, before allowing himself some more rest. Her question about his state of mind had, on the one hand, touched him because someone actually cared, but on the other hand, activated this numbness deep inside of him. A feeling, or rather a non-feeling, that always came with sudden exhaustion.
Maybe he was not as okay as he thought he'd be.
***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Oct 18, 2020 21:17:45 GMT -8
***Gail enters from Granny's Diner***
The short walk in the fresh air of the morning was refreshing. Hands full, someone had the impeccable timing to be exiting just as she'd reached the door. "Thanks!" she said with a bright smile to the man who'd held it open for her.
The lady at the desk was on a phone call but looked to her with a welcome nod followed by eyebrows raised in question for her reason for being there. "Morning!" Gail said with quiet cheer to the lady at the desk. "William Robinson?"
Gail continued on her way toward the door the lady had pointed to. Tucking one of the cups in her arm, she knocked quietly before more securely taking the cup back in hand. "Mr. Robinson? Mind if I come in?" she asked, again speaking quietly in case he was asleep.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Oct 29, 2020 4:02:11 GMT -8
It was not too long ago since Gabriella had left the room, or maybe it only felt that way, for his health had been going more and more downhill ever since, making him lose track of time. His health, not in the physical but in the mental sense. This numbness inside of him kept growing, and although he felt like it had always been a part of him, William had never felt it as much as he did right now. Having had a roof over his head, just as having had more or less current receipts, seemed to have kept it in rein in the past, but now his future looked rather uncertain, with no one letting him in on it in the first place. William didn't blame anyone but himself, though - he never did. They probably just felt sorry for him, thinking it might be better for his health to not talk about it at all. But was it?
Suddenly a quiet knock on the door was jolting him out of this dark tiny prison deep inside of him. Maybe this was good. Yet, it probably was just one of the nurses checking on him.
"Mr. Robinson? Mind if I come in?", a familiar voice asked from the other side of the door.
"Feel free.", William answered it with a friendly chuckle, wondering about who his visitor could be, especially since he felt like remembering her voice from somewhere.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Nov 14, 2020 16:09:58 GMT -8
Gail grinned at the voice from within that granted entry. Turning to the side, she used her elbow to push down on the door handle and then walked backward, using her back to push it open enough to let herself in before using her elbow to quietly close it behind her.
"Hey Mr. Robinson!" she said cheerily, heading toward his bedside table as she continued with her bubbly chatter. "Hope you don't mind my dropping by. I was starting to feel all cooped up at the diner and I was sitting there thinking how gloomy it's been feeling without you brightening up the place. I've really missed your friendly face and our conversations. I brought some stuff to bribe my way into a visit with you."
She grinned at him, knowing he was so kind hearted that she didn't need any bribery to be allowed to hang out with him for a spell. Placing the bed tray over his lap, she transferred the two cups of hot cocoa on the tray, one in front of him and one on the opposite side, then the bag with the muffin inside beside his hot cocoa. "Hot chocolate, a muffin, and," she sat on the other side of the tray along the edge of the bed, pulling one final items from her cardigan pocket, "lots and lots of 'mallows," she finished, shaking it in the air before placing the bag of marshmallows between them on the tray.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Nov 21, 2020 13:36:19 GMT -8
Usually, his etiquette would have caused William rushing over towards the door to give her a helping hand, but that was something the nurses wouldn't have liked to see, and also something his bed-ridden legs would not have allowed. Well, who was he going to fool? He had become old already before he had checked in here.
"Hey Mr. Robinson!"
"Gail!" William greeted back with a visible change of mood. He was glad to see someone who didn't belong to the hospital staff - that didn't go for Gabriella, though, for he always loved to chat with her -, just like someone with who he had a lot of cheering conversations in the past. Granted, conversations that had never been beyond a friendly waitress and a chatty old man who kept her from work, but William had always cherished every single one of them.
"Hope you don't mind my dropping by. I was starting to feel all cooped up at the diner and I was sitting there thinking how gloomy it's been feeling without you brightening up the place. I've really missed your friendly face and our conversations. I brought some stuff to bribe my way into a visit with you."
Her words were affecting him deeply, for, even though he could be very talkative around others, William actually had low self-esteem most of the time. Something he would never bring up, though. "I'm just hoping this won't be deducted from your salary.", he said as he pointed at the most delicious looking breakfast that he would have for a felt yonks. "Oh dear, you're an angel.", William added before she even could have answered his former comment. What she brought here was his regular order whenever he went to Granny's.
"Hot chocolate, a muffin, and,"
"lots and lots of 'mallows," "... lots and lots of 'mallows", he finished the sentence with her, as this was some kind of inside saying between them. He couldn't even remember when that had first happened. William chuckled softly. "So, how did ya smuggle all this past the staff? I'm sure they don't like competition when it comes to their cuisine." The last he added on the quiet as if there was someone who could overhear them.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 19, 2020 11:35:08 GMT -8
Gail made a face in reference to hospital food. "Oh yes, mustn't insult the fine hospital chefs with their fancy degrees from the Culinary School of Slop," she countered quietly with an amused grin. "Actually," she reached over and removed the lid from his hot chocolate, then hers as she seriously answered his question now, "it's pretty early. There was just the one lady at the desk who was busy on a phone call." She opened the bag of marshmallows and placed it before him to pour into his hot chocolate to his heart's content. "I don't think they mind too much anyway," she said on a shrug. At least when you were bringing it to someone who was in due to an accident, rather than health issues, but she didn't want to make such a depressing comment or bring to his mind the occurrence that had landed him here.
"I bet you miss the diner's food, huh. Nobody cooks like our Tony!" she proudly proclaimed, though none of what she had brought had been made by Tony, which prompted her to add, "I'll be sure to bring by some lunch or dinner for you sometime soon. For now, you get my hot chocolate and your usual muffin." Gail dumped a handful of marshmallows into her hot chocolate and whilst taking a sip, realized he might not be up on current events. "Actually," she said, holding the cup between her hands to warm them, "it's not your exact usual muffin. Granny's been recouping, so we've been outsourcing. You know that bakery that's been empty for forever? Well, these three eccentric older ladies finally rented it out and oooooh, my gosh," Gail said, reaching out to squeeze William's arm for extra emphasis on her already emphasized tone and dreamy look heavenward before looking back at William, "just wait until you taste this. They are the best bakers!" Gail suddenly looked playfully serious while quietly adding, "Don't tell Granny I said that."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Dec 20, 2020 15:14:02 GMT -8
"I'll be sure to bring by some lunch or dinner for you sometime soon. For now, you get my hot chocolate and your usual muffin."
William was going to say that she shall not trouble herself on his account, yet he knew that she would have stopped him with a wave of her hand, telling him that he was no trouble at all. A smile appeared on his lips, evoked by the mere thought of others caring so much for him while he felt like he couldn't do much to reciprocate. Sometimes, there even was this ridiculous image in his head of wanting to grant each of them a wish in return, never mind what it would be.
"Actually," William looked up from his cup, in which just a marshmallow had sunken to the ground. "it's not your exact usual muffin. Granny's been recouping, so we've been outsourcing. You know that bakery that's been empty for forever? Well, these three eccentric older ladies finally rented it out and oooooh, my gosh,""just wait until you taste this. They are the best bakers!""Don't tell Granny I said that."
William was glad to hear the bakery was back to business but at the same time worried about the news of Granny recouping.
"Pinky swear.", he replied jokingly at her last remark before his face became more serious all of a sudden. "But Granny's is okay?" William asked even before taking a bite of the delicious looking goodies from the mentioned bakery. His reaction might seem a bit over-the-top, especially because outsourcing something usually meant rather more than a less amount of work, but this sudden pessimism was probably coming from the circumstance of the dilemma with his own store, just for different reasons. On the other hand, he never really had a lot of income with it, although that had never stopped him from keeping it running. Every single happy smile on a child's face had been worth the hard times.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 2, 2021 12:06:43 GMT -8
Gail was taking a sip when he asked the question. "Mm," she said with a casual wave of her hand, swallowing down the sweet chocolatey goodness before speaking. "Oh yah. You know Granny. Tough as nails. Sometimes I think she just overworks herself with that spunky attitude of hers." Gail smiled, adoring that tough attitude of Granny's, even though it made her want to flee the diner the rare times Granny set her disapproval on her. Usually it was aimed at Ruby, who seemed unphased.
"She wanted to come back to work but we insisted she rests awhile still. Even when she does return though, I'm gonna try to talk her into keeping this arrangement with the bakery. She's got enough on her plate with the accounting, inventory, working the register, yelling at Ruby..." she broke off with her hand still doing small etcetera loops in the air. "She can start working normal hours. No more bakers' hours combined with restaurant hours. You know bakers start around 4 or 5 in the morning?" Gail asked, eyes wide with a silent 'isn't that insane?' written on her face.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 18, 2021 14:47:33 GMT -8
William had to chuckle at that accurate characterization she gave about Granny. 'Tough as nails' nailed it by chapter and verse. Every time she would yell at Ruby, William almost choked on his breakfast. You definitely wouldn't want to get on the bad side of somebody like Granny. He could tell though, that all harshness towards her granddaughter rose from deep care. That's what Grannies were doing, weren't they? Well, so he guessed. Wow, he felt like it must be a thousand years ago he'd had one himself. Wasn't it strange that he couldn't even remember a face? Before William could have developed further into this thought to realize that he wasn't only remembering his grandparents but also his parents, Gail went on.
"She wanted to come back to work but we insisted she rests awhile still. Even when she does return though, I'm gonna try to talk her into keeping this arrangement with the bakery. She's got enough on her plate with the accounting, inventory, working the register, yelling at Ruby...""She can start working normal hours. No more bakers' hours combined with restaurant hours. You know bakers start around 4 or 5 in the morning?"
William answered her silent 'isn't that insane?' with a silent 'bloody insane!' before a warm chuckle left him. "They say that, as older as you get, you'd become one of these early bird peeps... It's a lie." He made a face as if silently adding 'there's no such thing as an early bird person. All a big plot'.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 6, 2021 1:13:54 GMT -8
Gail chuckled. "Well, whoever 'they' are, they're wrong. All my time observing people at the diner, they never change. Sure, we all go through moods when things around us affect us," she said with a shrug, "but at our base, we are what we are. Morning person, night owl. Nice, grumpy, serious, easygoing, extrovert, introvert..." Gail raised her cup to her lips, adding "bitchy diva," in a barely audible mumble just as the cup hit her lips.
After taking another satisfying gulp, she returned her cup to the tray and retrieved the muffin from the bag, placing on a napkin in front of him, thinking again of the girl who fled the diner this morning. "Speaking of introverts, the girl who's delivered a couple times recently is a real mystery. I think everyone knows more about Emma in the three days she's been visiting here than this mystery girl who seems to be a resident. Far as I know, no one has moved to Storybrooke in years, but I've never seen her before. Even Detective Smith didn't know she existed before today. Chased after the poor thing when she fled. She's very skittish," Gail clarified. "Any one pays her any attention or tries talking to her, she's just off like a rocket." Gail held out her hand palm up and ran the other quickly across it in a take-off motion. She wondered if she'd ever see her again after this morning.
Picking up her cup again to hold it between her hands to warm them, she tilted her head. "I was curious if maybe you've seen her around before. Looks to be in her early 20's, long blonde hair, blue eyes, about an inch taller than me," she put her hand about an inch above her head, "perfect porcelain skin, pretty, like, really pretty," she corrected, a slight eyeroll as if playing at jealous but not really pulling it off. It was hard to feel any sort of jealous spite because, "She's this sweet, pure kind of beautiful, like... like a fairy tale princess." The ridiculous description came tumbling out of her mouth but the more she thought about it, the more accurate the description sounded. "I swear, it's like you just can't help but like her, even if you've never really talked to her."
Gail chuckled at how crazy that sounded and made a dismissive wave. "Anyway, she usually has her jacket hoodie pulled practically to her eyes and keeps her head down. Ever seen anyone like that wandering near your place?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 20, 2021 0:39:34 GMT -8
"Well, whoever 'they' are, they're wrong. All my time observing people at the diner, they never change. Sure, we all go through moods when things around us affect us,""but at our base, we are what we are. Morning person, night owl. Nice, grumpy, serious, easygoing, extrovert, introvert...""bitchy diva,"
William couldn't suppress a chuckle at that last only barely audible part, yet he pretended to haven't heard it. He had a guess, though, who she'd been referring to. The little eye rolls and snarks, as much as Gail tried to hide them, whenever Miss Vanessa Bennett would pick up her daily coffee to go, hadn't slipped William's attention. He guessed Gail, just like himself, wasn't quick to judge anyone, but those two words seemed to describe very well that woman's attitude. Yes, at their base, people were what they were.
"Speaking of introverts," Gail spoke up again, drawing his attention to the delicious-looking muffin she just placed in front of him. "the girl who's delivered a couple times recently is a real mystery. I think everyone knows more about Emma in the three days she's been visiting here than this mystery girl who seems to be a resident. Far as I know, no one has moved to Storybrooke in years, but I've never seen her before. Even Detective Smith didn't know she existed before today. Chased after the poor thing when she fled. She's very skittish,"
William was not exactly up-to-date with every person around town, but now that she mentioned it, he wondered about the moving part. Wasn't it odd that they had no visitors at all? Like never at all?
"Any one pays her any attention or tries talking to her, she's just off like a rocket.""I was curious if maybe you've seen her around before. Looks to be in her early 20's, long blonde hair, blue eyes, about an inch taller than me,""perfect porcelain skin, pretty, like, really pretty,""She's this sweet, pure kind of beautiful, like... like a fairy tale princess.""I swear, it's like you just can't help but like her, even if you've never really talked to her."
William had, yet again, to chuckle at her words while, at the same time, wondering if he had ever seen someone around that would fit this particular description. He guessed not.
"Anyway, she usually has her jacket hoodie pulled practically to her eyes and keeps her head down. Ever seen anyone like that wandering near your place?"
"Ain't never reached as much of a high profile with my products to have the royal family check me out," he replied with another chuckle, then answered her question more seriously since he didn't want to make her feel like he wouldn't be taking the matter seriously. "Sadly no. I hope that girl isn't in any kind of trouble?" William came up with worries about this girl he only just heard about, and only through Gail's description, at that. Almost as if something deep inside him would know who she was talking about. And not only that, but also as if this image of a person he wasn't able to grasp would be someone he deeply cared for once. He even stopped eating for a moment, looking at Gail in silent anticipation.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 6, 2021 11:41:00 GMT -8
Gail shrugged, still completely puzzled. "Hopefully not. Witness protection was one of the random thoughts that popped into my head, but I think that's overdramatic of a conclusion. I mean, if she was, she wouldn't be working some random delivery job. She'd have something low key where she'd be tucked away in some boring office or no job at all. Keeping hidden away is kind of the point of witness protection, right?" she asked rhetorically, her knowledge about witness protection was limited to what she saw in movies and on TV. "Storybrooke's a great hiding place, seeing as nobody ever comes here, but eh," she said with a wave of her hand, "I think I was just reaching for something overly exciting in our very sleepy, uneventful town."
Gail sighed. "Well, anywho," she said, waving her hand again in a gesture of changing a subject that had run its course. "How are you feeling?" she asked, reaching out to temporarily squeeze his hand with a look of genuine concern for him on her features.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 3, 2021 16:02:22 GMT -8
"Hopefully not. Witness protection was one of the random thoughts that popped into my head, but I think that's overdramatic of a conclusion. I mean, if she was, she wouldn't be working some random delivery job. She'd have something low key where she'd be tucked away in some boring office or no job at all. Keeping hidden away is kind of the point of witness protection, right?"
"I guess so?" William shrugged as well, not knowing anything about witness protection either. He was actually - even if those who knew him might not think so - more of an introverted kind of person, barely leaving his shop - which even was located in the same house he lived in -, except for his visits at Granny's, the pet shop, and some other stops that were giving him a welcome variety from the little world of his own.
"Storybrooke's a great hiding place, seeing as nobody ever comes here, but eh,""I think I was just reaching for something overly exciting in our very sleepy, uneventful town."
William chuckled lightly.
"Well, anywho,""How are you feeling?"
Just as he was going to answer in the usual way of stating to be fine, William had to suddenly remember the conversation he'd had with Gabriella this morning. She had been asking her the same question and, for the first time in his life, had wormed a different answer out of him. He also remembered that business card she had handed him, from this doctor who was a hypnotherapist. William was still not sure what to think of that.
"I-uhm," he started, trying to banish these upcoming thoughts to, instead, reply in the usual way. Well, Gail was surely referring to his physical condition rather than to his mental wellbeing, so, technically, there was no need to feel like he was telling a story here. "Honestly, the cough's now merely what I call a symptom of old age, so is the weakness of my muscles. Might be as well because they won't let me leave to get taken care of my daily life and finally one of Granny's famous hot dogs again." He chuckled in his usual way of being able to make a joke out of an unfortunate situation. But what else would be left even in the very end, if not a healthy sense of humor, right? And so went on with that even. "I ain't got no idea why they're still keepin' me here, really. Got a little obsessed with my latest idea in which the reception lady has a thing for me, so she keeps crossing my name off that list for dismissal."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 4, 2021 12:50:41 GMT -8
Gail laughed at that scenario. "Ah, the ol' Stockholm Syndrome method. Well, good men are rare. It's worth risking losing your job for one..." she looked upward and tapped her chin in thought of the consequences of that very wrong method, "but there's probably a better way that doesn't also include jail time," she added, pointing the finger that had been tapping her chin.
"And you, sir, are not old!" she playfully swatted his arm. "You're in your prime!" Before he could argue with her on that, she returned to the issue of him starting to wonder why he was still being kept here. She might be too busy constantly working at Granny's to help out at William's toy store, so she would try to help by stopping him from starting to get suspicious which might lead to him finding out the secret of the surprise the town was collectively working on for him. "You'll be out of here soon. I asked Gabriella how you were doing and she mentioned you'd be good to go in a day, two, tops." It was actually the completion of the restoration that they'd been talking about, but seeing as it's the reason he was still here, the answer was the same.
The timer on her phone started to chime its little tune, signifying her break was almost over and she needed to start on her way back to work. Gail pulled her phone from her pocket and hit the alarm's stop button as she got to her feet. "I've gotta get back to the diner. Just hang in there," she said, leaning forward to place a hand on his arm again, "and know that Gabriella has your best interests at heart. I'll see ya again soon!" she promised.
Excited over the joy William would have when he stepped through the doors of his shop and home, her friendly grin for him turned into a huge smile as soon as she closed the door to his room. She just couldn't wait to hear all about it.
With an extra giddiness of anticipation in her step, Gail headed back to the diner, making mental note to have a hot dog delivered to him for lunch.
***Gail exits to Granny's Diner***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 22, 2021 7:47:26 GMT -8
William had to chuckle at the way Gail was joining in his joke. The best humor was a shared one.
"And you, sir, are not old!""You're in your prime!"
He gave her a look as if silently arguing with her on that, but before he could have done so with words, she just went on with their actual topic of conversation, namely the reason for him to be still here.
"You'll be out of here soon. I asked Gabriella how you were doing and she mentioned you'd be good to go in a day, two, tops."
William was glad to hear so since he wasn't even sure himself if his growing suspicion had been meant as a joke or not. It probably started to not. Maybe there was bad news as for the shape of his shop and home, and everyone felt terrible telling him. How could they not, though? If he would be homeless once out, then he had to know. For Gail's sake and to cause no more questioning of his wellbeing, he tried to not let his worries show on his face, though.
Suddenly her phone started to chime and cut their conversation short.
"I've gotta get back to the diner. Just hang in there," Gail said as she placed a comforting hand on his arm, "and know that Gabriella has your best interests at heart. I'll see ya again soon!"
That he truly believed and appreciated. Gabriella had proved to be not only a good nurse but also someone who he probably would call a friend if William didn't always fear to use that term too early, even if only in his head. But when you weren't surrounding yourself with a lot of people in general, the few who were there could become precious in a heartbeat, especially when they were as good-natured and calming as Gabriella. "And I'll just stay here. No movin', I promise." William replied with another joke before Gail left the room with one last wave of her hand.
As soon as she was out of the room, the smile on William's face faded bit by bit. He just hoped that there really was nothing to worry about, and the hospital just extra careful as to not dismissing him too early.
***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 2, 2022 20:58:56 GMT -8
The rest of Wednesday passes uneventfully.
It is now Thursday, October 27, 2011, early morning.
Four days after the clock started moving
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Apr 9, 2022 21:39:09 GMT -8
***Gabriella enters from Will's Itty Bitty Wonderworld***
Before heading for William's hospital room, Gabriella had stashed her large satchel of digging supplies in her office and had donned her hospital coat over her work clothes so that she'd appear more professional even though she was technically still on holiday leave. Not that she minded. She had promised to be on-call and she'd wanted to be the one to release William.
The hour was still very early. Gabriella quietly let herself into his room, looking over his chart and signing off on his release. As she placed the clipboard back onto the hook at the foot of the bed, his sketch on the bedside table caught her eye and drew her in once again. Gabriella quietly tiptoed to the seat beside his bed, picking up the sketch and settling into the chair, getting lost in the image of the ship as she patiently waited for him to stir.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on May 2, 2022 4:05:53 GMT -8
William had heard quiet noises around him, but, after all, it was the silence that made him open his eyes. Once he saw Gabriella sitting there, scanning over the little sketch drawing he'd done a while ago, a smile appeared on his lips. William remained silent for another second before finally letting her know that he was awake.
"Not exactly a Van Gogh," he chuckled, "but not my worst. Shouldn't you be still on holiday?" William gave her this look as if to silently, yet jokingly, judge her for checking on him instead.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 14, 2022 11:13:09 GMT -8
It was strange how an image could evoke such feelings. Gabriella felt such a connection to it.
"Not exactly a Van Gogh," "but not my worst.
His voice brought a smile to her face even though she disagreed. When she looked at it, she could picture the entire layout of the ship, which, in her mind, spoke to just how great the piece of work was. She lowered the drawing to rest in her lap as she gave him her attention. "I think it's wonderful."
Shouldn't you be still on holiday?"
"Eh, I'm still on call," she said with a dismissive wave. "But I'm here now because I wanted to be the one to tell you that you're showing a clean and clear bill of health and that you are officially released. You're a free man." Gabriella was struck with a strange sense of deja vu that momentarily distracted her but she quickly found her way back on track. "Oh, here you are," she said, digging a key from her pocket. "The door and locks were replaced on your shop." Amongst everything else in the overhaul, but Gabriella did not give away the surprise that was awaiting him, making it sound as if door replacement was natural protocol to keep a place locked and secure.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on May 30, 2022 3:20:07 GMT -8
"I think it's wonderful."
The playful reprehension on his face vanished immediately, making place for a warm smile as he nodded for his silent gratitude.
"Eh, I'm still on call,""But I'm here now because I wanted to be the one to tell you that you're showing a clean and clear bill of health and that you are officially released. You're a free man."
Suddenly his features changed into wonderment. Not that William had expected to not get back to a clean health, especially since, to him, it had seemed that it hadn't been more than a cough anyway, but it just came so suddenly now. Something else felt strange about her words of release, but he couldn't make the slightest sense of that, which was why he dismissed the feeling right away.
"Oh, here you are,""The door and locks were replaced on your shop."
"Oh really?" William uttered in slight surprise as he received the key from her. He hadn't expected tha,t which was why it was a matter of course for him asking another question. "Will the bill be sent to my address?" William hoped that it wouldn't be a lot since the business wasn't working well lately, not trying to make that worry readable on his face, though.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 4, 2022 14:54:10 GMT -8
"Oh no, no bill," she said with another dismissive wave. "Anything that's a general security or safety issue is covered by the town. It's less costly to the town in the long run than to have a place open to looters or kids playing around where they shouldn't and finding themselves here to be patched up for whatever silly dares or games they were playing."
There was a partial truth to her white lie, which made it all the more believable but she further secured the validity of it by playfully adding on, "Now if your taste in doors falls into the more particular and you had something very specific in mind, the cost of replacing it wouldn't be covered by the town." She grinned over the humorous thought that anyone would be so particular about a door.
Gabriella's eyes fell to the picture once again as she went to place it back on the bedside table but she found she had trouble letting it go. What was it about this sketch that had her so captivated? Finally she looked to William again, whatever playful humor had been on her face had melted into something more sincere and heartfelt, perhaps a dash of bewilderment. "Would you mind if I kept this? There's just something about it that makes me..." What, happy? That wasn't exactly right. It was something more; something deeper. Gabriella glanced down at it again, trying to put into words what drew her to it when she didn't understand why a drawing of a fictional ship had such a draw in the first place. "It's strangely... comforting," was the best word she could come up with to describe it. She chuckled at herself, feeling a bit silly. "I seem to have stumbled upon a passion for sailing. I don't know where it came from, it just sort of hit me, right out of the blue."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 5, 2022 2:18:25 GMT -8
"Oh no, no bill," "Anything that's a general security or safety issue is covered by the town. It's less costly to the town in the long run than to have a place open to looters or kids playing around where they shouldn't and finding themselves here to be patched up for whatever silly dares or games they were playing."
William gave a grateful nod to her explanation, honestly glad about that news, for he had been worrying a lot during his stay. There still might be a lot of renovation needed, but to know the most importantly done was setting him a little more on ease.
"Now if your taste in doors falls into the more particular and you had something very specific in mind, the cost of replacing it wouldn't be covered by the town."
"Oh no, nothing like that," William assured with a slight chuckle himself, knowing that she had been joking, though. He watched her as she looked at his drawing once again, her features softening just some more.
"Would you mind if I kept this? There's just something about it that makes me...""It's strangely... comforting,""I seem to have stumbled upon a passion for sailing. I don't know where it came from, it just sort of hit me, right out of the blue."
His smile grew even warmer and happier when he heard that, especially with that sincere and heartfelt expression on her face. This feeling reminded him of those he had when watching a kid being in awe over a toy he had made himself. Someone appreciating your hard, passionatly created work was one of the most satisfying things, at least to him. It probably was about serving others with something that brought them joy, fulfilling a silent wish deep from their hearts.
"Then it's all yours," William replied with a smile and another nod.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 5, 2022 13:24:25 GMT -8
"Cheers," she said, smiling her gratitude and glancing down at it once again. She already knew where she'd be displaying it and had a frame about this size that had been collecting dust in a drawer in her office.
"Well, I'll let you get to it then," she said, getting to her feet. "Your clothes were laundered and are hanging in the closet. They were smoky and had patches of ash, but no permanent damage. They're still fit to wear," she reassured.
Pausing at the door, Gabriella turned for one more parting word. "You've been a model patient but we do hope there won't be a need to serve you again," she said cheekily and with a wink, Gabriella left his room.
She made a quick stop at her office, ditching her hospital coat back onto the coat hanger, then put the picture into the frame which she then stashed in her large satchel. Pulling the strap over her head to rest diagonally across her torso, Gabriella quickly made her way out of the hospital and to the docks.
***Gabriella exits to Main Street Outside of Shops and Diner***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jul 4, 2022 1:34:37 GMT -8
"Well, I'll let you get to it then," "Your clothes were laundered and are hanging in the closet. They were smoky and had patches of ash, but no permanent damage. They're still fit to wear,"
William gave no more than a slight nod of gratitude to that. His clothes seriously had been the least of his worries, but it was good to know that they would still fit to wear.
"You've been a model patient but we do hope there won't be a need to serve you again,"
At that, he had to chuckle softly, after all. "It was my pleasure, dear, even with the circumstances not have been the most satisfying." He answered her wink with one of his own before she left. For a moment, William let his eyes wander around the room before chuckling again, this time only on the quiet. He was a strong believer in the saying that there could be found something good in the worst of situations. At least, he felt like he'd made a new friend, and that, surely, always was something good.
***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 25, 2022 0:50:46 GMT -8
William was glad to be released from the hospital but also felt a strange sadness coming with said release. Gabriella hadn't shown up so often but had grown to him during the time. His life was not the most social, although he'd been used to talking openly to people whenever he met them, mostly shop owners, though; People who would not have the time for a long and deep conversation. Well, to Gabriella, he might have been no more than a patient as well. Ah, the hell with thoughts like that.
As he left his room, with him the few belongings he'd come with, William's hand casually slid into his trousers' pockets, finding something in there that he'd almost forgotten. He drew out the business card with a name on it, once more getting a closer look at it. Dr. Lee, Hypnotherapist. Gabriella had given this to him after he had opened up to her about this numb feeling inside him. Banishing these thoughts again, William tucked the card back to where it had been, the depth of his trousers' pocket. Then he started his way down to the reception to check out and leave towards his home and workplace, or what might have left from it. Surely, there will be a lot of work waiting for him. But what had to, needed to be done. He just hoped that the damage would be manageable for his wallet.
*** William exits to Main Street Outside of Shops and Diner ***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 7, 2023 0:24:25 GMT -8
Approximately nine hours later.
The early morning and afternoon have passed.
It is late afternoon of Thursday, October 27, 2011,
four days after the clock started moving.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 11, 2023 6:35:06 GMT -8
After school, as usual on a Thursday, Mary Margaret spent more hours, on a voluntary basis, at the hospital. She liked spending time there, being helpful, even if only with little tasks that didn't need special training. This afternoon, however, said little tasks contained one rather unusual. Anyways, Mary Margaret had made a promise. So she walked inside the room with their John Doe sleeping inside, as usual, pausing by his bedside for a second, just watching the man with a soft smile on her features. She really wished for him to wake up someday, learning who he was and what kind of life he had. Thinking that he had none saddened her the most. Surely his beloved and friends just weren't aware of him being here. That had to be why nobody was paying him a visit.
As soon as Mary Margaret had took a seat in the chair at his bedside, as usual, she drew out that book Henry had given back to her to... read to him. She let out a quiet sigh. A promise was a promise. It wasn't like she wouldn't be talking to their John Doe every now and then anyway, but never had she read actual stories to him, fairytales at that. Still, the thought of that made Mary Margaret smile again.
"Look, I know this is odd, but I'm doing it for... a friend. So please, just bear with me," she stated with a soft chuckle, opening the storybook on her lap. Then she began reading, realizing that, with every further word, it got less weird until it didn't feel weird at all. But instead... nice, in a way.
"As the Prince chased the thief on horseback, through the treacherous forest, his betrothed crossed her arms and pouted, wondering how many dreadful, boring minutes it would take until they could resume their journey again. The thief vaulted over a fallen..."
***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jul 22, 2023 23:12:54 GMT -8
"...They didn't need words to express what they felt in their hearts, for it was here, in the shadow of the troll bridge, that their love was born, where they knew, no matter how they were separated, they would always--"
A sudden touch on her hand made her stop the reading and immediately look down on her only listener. Mary Margaret was startled but remained in place, unmoving. Maybe because she couldn't. Was this...? Did their John Doe really just... grabbed her hand? Since she saw no other sign of him waking up, she carefully put his hand away, the book aside, and quickly rushed to search for Dr. Whale, a bright smile on her face. This had never happened before. Surely, this man would be waking up soon.
***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 5, 2023 2:42:41 GMT -8
"No, I'm sure he's waking up. He... He grabbed my hand," Mary Margaret said as Dr. Whale was still checking the monitor with a rather unperturbed expression.
"Everything's steady. The same as it's always been. What were you doing in here?"
"Oh, I was just reading h-him a story," she replied sheepishly. Mary Margaret knew exactly how it sounded and also that it might not help hoping for a second date with the doctor. Not that, after he'd been having much more eyes for Ruby in her tight dress, she would actually like to, but the options for finding someone at all seemed almost zero for her by now. Maybe she didn't deserve what all these stories told, true love.
"Oh. Well, perhaps you, um, dozed off. Perhaps you imagined it," Dr. Whale shrugged it off.
"No, I didn't imagine anything," she insisted, slightly annoyed by his ignorance. She might be a dreamer but would not sleep away at work, imagining things.
"Miss Blanchard, I can only tell you what I see, which is nothing. Sometimes there are minor fluctuations in readings. Perhaps you heard the machine register something and misunderstood? Look, why don't you go home, get some rest? If anything changes, I'll call you, okay?"
This time, Mary Margaret escaped a sigh, making her annoyance over being shrugged off audibly. But there was no chance he would take her seriously now, so she eventually gave in. "Okay." And with that, she grabbed the storybook and left.
As she walked outside the building, she couldn't help pondering though. No, she definitely hadn't just imagined it. This man had grabbed her hand. He was waking up. A slight smile, rather unconsciously, appeared around Mary Maragret's lips as she continued her way back home.
***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 20, 2023 11:53:23 GMT -8
Several hours pass.
It is late evening of Thursday, October 27, 2011,
still four days after the clock started moving.
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