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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 5, 2018 21:23:00 GMT -8
The night passes and it is now Tuesday morning,
two days after the clock started moving.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 5, 2018 22:31:39 GMT -8
***Gabriella enters from working her way around the town, posting her flyer*** Gabriella had been up early and walking from business to business, making use of public announcement boards or clearing with the owner the posting of the fliers she'd printed when she'd gotten home late last night. Some places weren't open yet so she'd gone ahead and taped the notice to the window near the business' entrances. She figured most wouldn't mind and the ones who would, would just through them away. She'd hesitated when reaching Mr. Gold's shop, thankfully still closed, but had pressed her lips into a determined line and had taped one up anyway. Her first concern had been Mr. Gold knowing she was taking on an endeavor that would probably eat up her entire weekend, cutting out treasure hunting until Monday for the most part, but the flier didn't have her name on it. This was a small town and everyone would probably know all the details by dinner anyway but she didn't care. Mr. Gold could bugger off and wait a few days. It's not like the treasure was going anywhere and Gabriella still doubted she'd really find anything anyway. There was only one person she didn't want knowing and it wasn't Mr. Gold. She'd prefer William didn't find out until he was released and could discover it for himself upon arriving to the toy store that was his home and business. Gabriella figured that it would be the natural inclination of everyone to keep it from William for that very same reason. Just picturing the joyous surprise that would be on his face was enough to make her smile. Gabriella avoided leaving a flier on the outside of the hospital or the cork boards viewable from the public areas of the hospital but she headed for the employee designated break rooms and placed them up there. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Will's Itty Bitty Wonderworld has suffered minor fire damage. William Robinson has been a kind and giving member of the community. Looking for volunteers who would like to show the same kind and giving spirit by helping with repairs and refurbishment so that he has a home and store to return to when released from hospital.
Costs are covered. Supplies and paints have been purchased. Additional tools and paint supplies would be helpful but it is your dedicated time and work that would be most appreciated.
Work to begin noon Friday and continue at all hours throughout the weekend until completed. Volunteers are welcome to report for whatever times are convenient.
Thank you.
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That done, Gabriella tucked away the extra fliers into her desk, then left her office, starting to move toward the door but paused, looking back in the direction of William's room. She contemplated making a quick exit before someone tried to rope her into something work related when she was technically on vacation but she just couldn't leave without checking in. There was something about William. She didn't know what it was, but she felt connected in a way, almost as though they were old friends. Perhaps it was his kind and giving nature that made one feel as such. Not wanting to wake him in case he was asleep, Gabriella knocked lightly on his door before cracking it open to check.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 8, 2018 10:53:44 GMT -8
William had been awake long before someone lightly knocked on the door, so long that he might have slept away again several times and still found himself awake by the time the knocking tore him out of this lonely silence. Actually a welcoming change no matter who was standing behind. Though, before William could have spoken up to invite the person in, the door opened.
He smiled at the nurse immediately, as he slowly sat up in his bed. "Good morning... Gabriella, wasn't it?" William hoped his memory wasn't as bad as he was used to often joke it would be. Then suddenly some other fact came back to his mind as well. "Hope you haven't canceled your adventurous Carribean vacation to check on this boring old fella.", William uttered with a warm chuckle, pointing at himself.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 8, 2018 13:22:48 GMT -8
"That's right," she smiled. "Good morning, William."
"Hope you haven't canceled your adventurous Carribean vacation to check on this boring old fella."
Gabriella smiled as she opened the door and let herself in, leaving the door ajar. "Went yesterday." She gave a dismissive wave, feigning a look of disappointment. "Found it boring and came back," she joked as she walked over to the foot of his bed and looked over his chart. "People just laying about drinking." She gave a heavy sigh at that and replaced the chart. "Nary a pirate in sight. How's a girl to have a good time in the Caribbean without pirates?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 8, 2018 15:02:41 GMT -8
"Went yesterday.""Found it boring and came back,", Gabriella feigned disappointment, while she walked inside.
"Yah, I thought so.", William joined in her joking. "I couldn't imagine any better place than this as well. No offense." Despite their joking attitude, he felt the need to add the last. If there was any chance someone might take something personally, William liked to counteract that beforehand; most of the time though, his smiling ensured that clarification anyway.
"People just laying about drinking.", she went on whilst checking the chart at the foot of his bed. "Nary a pirate in sight. How's a girl to have a good time in the Caribbean without pirates?"
"That's a shame indeed.", William replied with a chuckle and an expression looking half-serious. "Times change, people change, innit?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 8, 2018 21:58:08 GMT -8
Gabriella looked thoughtful. She felt changes over the passed couple of days. Mostly with her circumstances and veers from her usual routine, but also with herself; her thoughts and emotions. How she handled things or the kinds of decisions she'd made.
She felt she was opening up to people more, starting with William here. She'd always kept to herself and avoided connections but here she was, just having gone around town, posting fliers to invite everyone and anyone to join her in fixing up Williams place. It would be impossible to get it all done herself. She'd have to come up with too many pretenses to keep him here for well into a month's time if she attempted all that on her own, she rationalized.
"You look like you're feeling a lot better," she observed with a smile. "Did you move around a bit? Find the courtyard I'd told you about?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 8:12:49 GMT -8
***Meanwhile at the reception area: Vanessa enters from her house***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 8:15:40 GMT -8
"You look like you're feeling a lot better,""Did you move around a bit? Find the courtyard I'd told you about?"
"Yes, thank you.", William replied with a smile in return. "The cough is almost..."
A sudden yell, or more precisely, a sequence of yells, coming from the corridor, broke into his words. It hadn't been so loud that it actually would have drowned them, but loud enough and above all disturbing enough to make him pause in the middle of the sentence. Instead of taking up the thread again, William exchanged a surprised look with Gabriella.
It was only a second later when the ajar left door opened and in came one of the temporary helpers, a young woman, tear-stained and nerves frazzled. "Oh god, I'm so glad someone else is here. Sorry- ", the nurse apologized towards William and at the same time went on with a pleading towards Gabriella. "Do you have some time right now? They've left me alone with that... ahem... Well, could you help me please?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 9:44:15 GMT -8
Gabriella's expression mirrored William's. With wide-eyed surprise, she turned toward the door to see one of the candy stripers, also wide-eyed but with fear and added trails of tears. The poor girl pleaded with Gabriella to step in and Gabriella was quick to oblige.
"Yes, I'll take care of it," she said as she beckoned the girl in. She took the girl's arm and led her to the chair beside William's bed, grabbing a tissue and handing it to the girl. The deep and gravely bellowing at the desk was increasing in volume.
'What the bloody hell is going on out there?'
"Don't you worry, I'll take care of it. Keep William here company. He'll have you cheered up in no time." She gave William a smile, knowing the girl would be in good hands.
Gabriella closed the door behind her, leaving William and the girl safely tucked away in peace as she headed for the desk in determined strides. A quick look around showed deserted hallways and closed doors. The bellowing harpy had cleared the bloody room. "Madam," she began to get her attention as she approached. Gabriella's voice was stern, yet calm as she attempted to calm the situation. It was common for people to panic when a loved one was badly sick or injured so Gabriella tried to keep that in mind. "What seems to be the problem? Has there been an accident?" She spoke calmly, evenly. Finally getting a good look at the woman when she turned to face her, Gabriella couldn't help but quickly glance around again. Surely that voice she'd heard hadn't come out of that face.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 13:30:03 GMT -8
William sent a sympathetic smile towards the candy striper. Poor little thing. Whatever obviously really angry guy was hollering out there, it must have been upsetting for someone new in this department.
"Don't you worry, I'll take care of it. Keep William here company. He'll have you cheered up in no time."
William gave Gabriella an assentient nod before he turned his attention towards the young nurse to cheer her up a little, once the door got shut behind.
And almost as a matter of fact didn't take it long until the girl's tear-stained face got brightened with a chuckle of joy. There seemed to be something more than just a toymaker lying dormant within him; something that was able to serve with so much more than a toy - and that was with joy.
***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 14:31:02 GMT -8
Vanessa impatiently tapped her flawless fingertips on the desk while waiting for someone else to finally show up. This was just unbelievable, a sheer impertinence! How was it possible to run a hospital with no staff around to take care of their patients? And again, just unbelievable!
She was too deep into her rage to hear that first "Madam" coming from behind, and so it happened she got pretty annoyed right off when someone started bubbling without any form of greeting.
"What seems to be the problem? Has there been an accident?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes in annoyance while she turned to face the freshly incoming nurse. Dude, that exemplar didn't look less dense than the last, even started to stupidly glance around in the middle of her sentence. "Hey stupid, this is where it's at.", Vanessa suddenly uttered in the nurse's direction with the same disgusting voice that had echoed all throughout the corridors just some moments before.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 18:36:52 GMT -8
Dear God, it was even worse up close. Gabriella was busy holding in her laugh to have been offended by the "lady" calling her stupid.
Gabriella gave her a clinical look-over, searching for any signs of cold, fever, allergy, injury... "You appear to be fine." 'Except for the fact you sound like a braying jackass.' she mentally added. "What symptoms are you experiencing?" she asked patiently.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 20:41:18 GMT -8
Of course, it hadn't slipped her attention that this nurse was holding back some stupid amusement about her distress. Simply unprofessional! And when she suddenly started to actually search for signs of disease or whatsoever everywhere but at the elephant in the room so to speak, which was her damn voice, Vanessa didn't make an effort to hold her anger back any longer. She was already about to blow another storm of indignation towards this so-called nurse when it was that who spoke up again first.
"You appear to be fine.""What symptoms are you experiencing?"
Vanessa couldn't trust her own ears. "So, you're not only stupid but also deaf! Where I come from, lovely faces like this", she pointed at her own features at that. "don't come along with kind of a voice break all of a sudden. So, instead of just standing there like stupid, I suggest you get started to finally set things aright!"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 10, 2018 19:27:57 GMT -8
Gabriella began to bristle at the woman's tone and onslaught of insults. It stirred the darkness within her. She crossed her arms, piercing the woman with a warning glare.
"It appears to go along perfectly with your personality and temperament," Gabriella bit out. 'Hippocratic oath. Hippocratic oath.' she mentally chanted, trying to calm herself. "Madam, if you'd like me to help you, you're going to need to cool your temper and calmly explain to me the details, then I can do a proper exam."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 14, 2018 8:31:57 GMT -8
Vanessa gave an eye-roll at her crossed arms along with the warning glare. The incapacity of these nurses simply disqualified them from acting all annoyed and even admonitory in any way, shape or form.
"It appears to go along perfectly with your personality and temperament,"
Even though she didn't give a shit about this woman's opinion, Vanessa's eyes almost popped out of her head. She already took a breath for a reply to that impertinence when the nurse stopped her from doing so by speaking up again first.
"Madam, if you'd like me to help you, you're going to need to cool your temper and calmly explain to me the details, then I can do a proper exam."
"I'm gonna tell you something, lovely!", Vanessa suddenly snarled while seizing her by the collar of her gown. She simply had enough of this. "Either you finally get your sweet little ass in gear to get me into surgery immediately, or I promise this will be your last work day!"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 18, 2018 22:55:54 GMT -8
"I'm gonna tell you something, lovely!"
Gabriella was concentrating on keeping her temper in check when the retched woman went from verbally to physically attacking her. It caught her completely off guard, a shot of adrenaline and fear for her wellbeing triggering a self defense mechanism within herself.
"Either you finally get your sweet little ass...
A black haze crept in from the edges of her vision and she felt herself falling further and further away, the witch's voice fading out.
***Gabriella fades under the surface***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 18, 2018 22:56:55 GMT -8
***Elle comes to the surface***
Elle had felt the stirrings of awakening when her weak and feeble counterpart's levels of anger, anxiety, and alarm began to grow. She'd watched from the darkness, her own anger spiking as the horrid diva threatened but when she laid hands on her vessel, Elle broke free from the darkness with a vengeful fury.
...this will be your last work day!"
As the horrid creature finished spouting her threat, Elle's hand had snaked over the counter and with shocking swiftness, held a metal letter opener to the horrid woman's throat. The look of surprise that had been on Gabriella's face vanished, replaced by Elle's dangerous edge to her hardened features and a cold, murderess glint in her glare.
"If you insist on acting like a rabid bitch in heat," Elle bit out, voice cold as ice, "I suggest you make an appointment with a vet." Elle swatted the woman's hand from her collar and added a bit more pressure to the letter opener at the woman's throat as she leaned menacingly closer to get her full attention. "If you ever, ever, threaten us again, I will take care of your problem by tearing out your vocal cords with my bare hands."
Elle pulled the letter opener away and twirled it between her fingers with the ease of an expert blade wielder before sending it with alarming speed and force deep into the wood of the counter, pinning the woman by her sleeve.
Elle started to step away but paused next to the woman, adding sweetly, "I do so look forward to the possibility of making good on my promise." A slow smile of pure pleasure at the thought joined the murder still in her eyes. "Ta."
With a joyful bounce in her step, Elle headed for the exit to feel the warmth of the sun and to fill her senses with the world before the weak one would soon take back over.
***Elle exits for Main Street Outside of Shops and Diner***
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jul 14, 2018 1:48:09 GMT -8
It then happened that the whole situation turned. Vanessa's eyes almost popped out of her head when suddenly the nurse snaked over the counter, gripped a sharp metal object and held it onto her throat. Maybe this was even the very first time the town's bitch met with someone who was able to actually silence her, though there was this odd feeling that this wasn't the same person than the woman who had come up with nothing but explanations and excuses.
"If you insist on acting like a rabid bitch in heat,""I suggest you make an appointment with a vet." Even the woman's voice seemed to have changed. Well, not that anything voice related could shock her now, though Vanessa had a feeling something really strange was going on in this town lately. It seemed like... cursed or something.
"If you ever, ever, threaten us again, I will take care of your problem by tearing out your vocal cords with my bare hands." Vanessa was still like glued to the spot, when the metal object finally left her throat and instead landed deep into the wood of the counter right next to her, being placed there with the ease of an expert blade wielder. And then she was literally glued to the spot.
Vanessa's eyes incredulously followed each of the other bitch's steps to outside, before one of the other nurses around drew her attention away from the, by then, closed entrance door.
"No, I don't need anything!", she drowned the nurse with the immense intensity of her new voice even before this one had been able to finish her sentence. "But you'll need something when I come back! This will have consequences, I promise!" And with these words Vanessa forcefully pulled at her sleeve, accompanied by the ripping noise of the fabric, and headed for the door as well to leave this place of slouches and bitches.
*** Vanessa exits for Main Street Outside of Shops and Diner***
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 18, 2020 15:05:10 GMT -8
The rest of Tuesday passes uneventfully.
It is now Wednesday, October 26, 2011, early morning.
Three days after the clock started moving
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 25, 2020 21:06:44 GMT -8
Repairs on the toy shop had gone into early evening. Most having been there since early morning, they'd decided to call it a day and reconvene in the morning whenever everyone was ready. There was no set time as it was all volunteered time.
Because she'd crashed so early, she'd been up early. Finding herself restless, she headed out for the day, deciding to stop by the hospital before throwing herself back into renovating the toy shop. The streets were quiet, hardly any of the town's residence up at this hour. She enjoyed the tranquility of the sleeping town and took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air before stepping inside the building that permeated the senses with the smell of disinfectant.
Gabriella had gone straight home and had fallen into bed after a quick shower, too tired to have even had dinner. She was glad she'd thought to grab the box with two leftover pastries off the table on her way out. With the box in hand, Gabriella headed down the quiet corridor, giving a polite 'good morning' to the single employee nearing the end of her shift of manning the desk during the quiet after-hours.
All was quiet and calm within the hospital just as it had been outside. She passed the glass wall of the room with their John Doe and paused, glancing in. Despite the fact she was officially on vacation, she couldn't help the urge to do her job. Turning back, she looked through the glass door and took the handle, pausing yet again with the feeling that she was forgetting something important that she'd strangely recalled in this particular spot once before. The same unseen purple haze swept across her mind and took any notion of recollection away. Shrugging it off, she opened the door and moved toward the bed, placing the box on the nearby table before taking up his chart and looking it over.
Just as every day, everything was the same. Their John Doe slept on, undisturbed, his circumstances unchanging, and no family or friends taking claim. She replaced the chart and gave the monitors a quick read, the IV and equipment a quick check, and finally, unnecessarily adjusted the already perfectly positioned, undisturbed blankets.
"Just another day, same as the others. You're not missing anything exciting," she reassured. Small town life was rarely exciting. Well, there had been the fire and her own personal problems that started up when Mr. Gold interrupted her relatively quiet life, but she wasn't about to launch into all that with an unconscious man, whether he could hear her or not. She may experience loneliness because she kept to herself but not to this extent. Besides, there was another patient in residence that could actually reciprocate in a conversation. Provided he was awake at this early hour. Picking up the box, Gabriella continued on to her original destination.
Not wanting to wake him in case he still slept, Gabriella quietly opened Mr. Robinson's door and peaked in. If he still slept, she would leave him in peace and just head to his shop early, but preferring a friendly conversation with the warm and lively older gentleman she'd felt an odd connection with, Gabriella hoped he'd already been awake.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 26, 2020 8:49:39 GMT -8
William had been here now for already three days and, at this point, he started to worry about the reasoning of not getting discharged. The cough was nearly gone and the only thing that was distinguishing him from being completely healthy seemed to be this feeling of emptiness inside, probably just a by-effect when you've lost all your business and shelter at once. Actually, he didn't even know how the building looked like after the firefighters had done their best to slack the fire. These last days William had been too exhausted, physically just as mentally, to ask any questions about it. What if the flames had spread out that much that his flat would be uninhabitable? Would the hospital staff not tell him so? Unless they were having no information about that. A sight left him as he tried to banish the sudden pessimism that didn't suit him well, at that. He would just have to soonish ask someone to keep their ears open for any information regarding the building's state. When his eyes caught a glimpse of the time, another sigh left his lips. It was still early in the morning and he couldn't find any more sleep, barely slept five hours as he assumed. And so William decided to just sit up in his bed and to look for something else to do than just lying awake. Reading? No, he had done this these last three days and didn't find the book the staff has given to him entertaining enough to read it twice. It wasn't even his kind of reading but he didn't want to ask for any comic books instead. They probably wouldn't have that kind of book anyway. Watching TV? No, letting the early morning TV program wash over him would just bring back the negative thoughts. He sighed again, then reached out for the little writing pad right next to the phone. Fiddling around with the ballpoint for a moment, a sudden smile came upon his features. He positioned the pen on the paper and finally just started to sketch something. While the moving of the ink on its white underground became a little piece of art bit by bit, William felt kind of a mental change. The emptiness inside of him seemed to vanish for the moment and instead filled up with something else. He wasn't even sure what exactly he was drawing right there but deep down his heart, he felt like it kind of meant something to him - in a way he didn't understand yet wasn't bringing into question.
Let it be just fantasy. Deeply absorbed in the finishing process of his drawing, something William hadn't done for quite a while, to be honest, he didn't even notice the door slightly opened in the background.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 22, 2020 18:34:49 GMT -8
He was awake. And so fully absorbed with a pen and paper that he hadn't noticed the quiet clicking of the door opening.
"Good morning," she said from the door to make her presence known before stepping in and shutting the door behind her. Gabriella moved toward his bed and placed the box of pastries on the bedside table while turning to look at what had so fully absorbed his attention. "Wow," she said breathlessly, immediately swept up in the drawing. The black and white still was such a perfect rendition that it triggered something deep in her memory. She pictured the ship in full color and motion, gliding along the waves, the wind filling its sails. "That is amazing. You've captured the Jolly Roger perfectly." In her distraction over studying the drawing, she'd spoken automatically, not processing the fact that there was no basis to her claim.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 29, 2020 11:43:04 GMT -8
"Good morning,"
"Oh, Goodness!", William uttered in surprise and at the same time in amusement about how absorbed he actually had become, maybe for once in a very long while. He always had been when working on the stuff around his shop, yet in a different way and still with thoughts and worries buzzing around his mind while he did. William let out a chuckle at his own reaction.
"Wow,", Gabriella (he was already used to call her by her first name instead of her last name or even just her nurse title) uttered as she threw a look at his little drawing.
William had to chuckle once more, this time a little bit awkward due to his genuine modesty. "Oh, this was just...", he was going to underplay it when suddenly she said something that made him wonder and at the same time sounded strangely familiar.
"That is amazing. You've captured the Jolly Roger perfectly."
Maybe this name of a ship had been mentioned in some kind of book they both had read? William didn't remember but it was still possible because, well, he didn't grow younger over the years. "I thought this was a good variation from books and tv.", William shrugged it off and put on another smile.
"Do you have any news on my discharge yet?", William asked after a little pause, then quickly added: "Not that I'd scorn the service or cuisine!" to not sound like he was complaining. Okay, the cuisine might not be the best but William would never complain about it.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 29, 2020 17:56:52 GMT -8
"I thought this was a good variation from books and tv."
She'd felt she'd seen it somewhere and he must be right; from a movie or TV. But variation? No, that's not what she'd felt when she'd looked at the picture. It was on the nose and strangely meaningful. But from what? It must have been a movie she'd watched a lot in her younger years but hadn't seen in a long time for her to so recognize it, and by its name, no less, but not be able to pinpoint exactly where.
"Do you have any news on my discharge yet?" "Not that I'd scorn the service or cuisine!"
Gabriella laughed. "Oh, go ahead and scorn the cuisine. I do and I'm on the payroll." Gabriella carried the chair to beside his bed and grabbed the pastry box before settling down. "That's why I bring in food as often as I can." She opened the box and placed one of the pastries on a napkin then held it out to him.
She couldn't put off the topic of his being discharged. It might raise his suspicion. "You're almost there. Just a day or two more," she said, taking a bite of her own pastry and humming her approval as her eyes looked heavenward. "This is amazing," she said around a mouthful.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 29, 2020 18:40:55 GMT -8
"Oh, go ahead and scorn the cuisine. I do and I'm on the payroll."
William let out a delightful chuckle at that. He liked all kinds of humor unless it was at other people's expense. But he would never think of Gabriella to have that kind of humor as he was seeing only good in her. If there was some kind of darkness within her, then it must be hidden very well and very deep down the core. No, of course, there wasn't. This had been a purely hypothetical thought only.
"That's why I bring in food as often as I can."
"And that's why I like you the most of all the staff around. But don't tell anyone - I heard it's not quite the thing to have a favorite," William joked with another warm chuckle and with a pretended on the quiet gesture.
"You're almost there. Just a day or two more,", Gabriella eventually reacted to his former question about his discharge. He was still wondering about the state of his flat and shop, yet didn't have the heart to bring it up just now.
"This is amazing,", she said around a mouthful which brought a smile to his face once again.
"I hope you're not paying this up from your salary though. In that case, you would have to accept an invitation for a meal once I'll be back to choosing food myself." William actually hoped this offer hadn't come off as importunity or something, because nothing could be further from that. He just liked her company and didn't like to be in anybody's debt. He was sure she wouldn't misinterpret it though.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 29, 2020 20:17:55 GMT -8
"I hope you're not paying this up from your salary though. In that case, you would have to accept an invitation for a meal once I'll be back to choosing food myself."
"Mm, nope," she said, mouth full again. "Leftovers from..." she barely caught herself before saying they were from the toy shop, which would have led down a path of questions she wouldn't be able to back peddle from. She held up her fingers near her lips in a sort of 'gimme a sec' gesture and made a show of swallow the bite as if that was the reason for her pause. "The staff room," she finished. "I'm not the only person on the payroll that isn't a fan of hospital cuisine," she joked. "But I'll hold you to the promise of a meal anyway," she said, smiling fondly as she popped the last bite in her mouth.
Chances were once he was out and saw what the town had done for him, he'd want to treat every one of them. But even if there hadn't been anything to repay, Gabriella would have happily agreed to a meal and conversation. Despite her attempts to avoid growing attached to anyone, she'd grown rather fond of the warm and funny older gentleman. His goodness and gentleness were so rare and refreshing in an adult. She couldn't imagine him ever creating a situation that would cause her the slightest bit of anger or feeling of threat. In fact, he was so pleasant and calming to be around that it would probably put Elle into a deep coma.
At that pleasant reminder of her own mental issues, Gabriella inquired after his mental and emotional state. She tossed their used napkins in the empty pastry box and returned it to the bedside table, then watched him with genuine concern. "How are you feeling? Not physically, but in here." She placed one hand over her heart while tapping couple fingers on her temple.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 1, 2020 7:01:43 GMT -8
"...""But I'll hold you to the promise of a meal anyway,"
"I'd love that.", William stated with a smile.
He had grown fond of Gabriella during his stay here, yet did he silently wonder if the fact he was inviting his nurse to share a meal with him, was also proof of how lonely he actually was. William loved his job a lot, that was out of question, but, day in day out, watching parents entering his shop with their kids or even grandkids, to see the happiness and fortune written on their faces, sometimes brought up an emptiness inside himself. He couldn't even name it, but it was a feeling of, even if he tried to change something, it wouldn't be granted to him. Almost as if some kind of invisible chains were holding him captive.
As the two of them had finished the leftovers she had brought, Gabriella watched him with concern all of a sudden. And although William had a feeling that she could have seen the twinge of grief on his mind for a moment of having lost himself in thoughts, William tried to put on a smile again.
"How are you feeling? Not physically, but in here.", she suddenly asked and placed one hand over her heart to underline what she was talking about.
There was a moment that William's mask of happiness, the one he always wore on his face, fell apart, just like a curtain, someone had been pulling off a window. Never did anyone ask him about how he was feeling deep down inside. "I- I think I am.. okay.", he replied visibly uncertain, trying to voice his own feelings for the first time in his life.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 1, 2020 10:45:26 GMT -8
Just 'okay'? People feigning that everything was right in their world hit higher than that in the wellbeing spectrum, at the very least, going with 'good'. But he didn't seem to be pretending. He seemed genuinely uncertain and unsure if he even leveled up to 'okay'.
"Hmm," she said skeptically. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. But," she said, holding up a finger before leaning down to retrieve her purse from the ground. She dug into it, knowing exactly where she could find what she was looking for as she'd only just yesterday found it to make a call herself. "If you'd ever like to dive deep and battle those inner demons with someone who's trained to help you face it and guide you through it all, I highly recommend Dr. Lee."
If people only knew of her literal inner demon, they'd grasp not only how high of a compliment that was, but how amazing he was at his job. She handed William the business card. "I know, I know," she said now that the card revealed Dr. Lee's title of 'Hypnotherapist'. "Hypnotherapy sounds like a load of tosh to most but I promise you, it isn't. In fact," she exposed having big enough inner turmoil herself by encouragingly confessing, "I have an appointment with him this morning."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 1, 2020 12:39:04 GMT -8
"Hmm,""If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you. But,"
William really appreciated her offer, yet probably could never accept it for he didn't want to burden anyone with his misery that probably was nothing compared to the misery of people who really were living a hard life. He actually had a lot to feel happy about, hadn't he? His job, his hobbies, people that were nice to him... Then why he didn't feel happy?
"If you'd ever like to dive deep and battle those inner demons with someone who's trained to help you face it and guide you through it all, I highly recommend Dr. Lee."
First, he thought she'd recommend him a psychiatrist, but as he threw a better look at the business card she had handed him, William came up with a little bit of surprise. He had no idea there was something like a hypnotherapist practicing in Storybrooke, but then again, he had never wasted a thought on that anyway. Wasn't that somehow chancy or actually even too much? It was a fact that he'd always had the feeling of something lying deep down his mind; so deep that he was not even able to name it or explain to anyone, but would this really be the right way?
"Hypnotherapy sounds like a load of tosh to most but I promise you, it isn't. In fact,", Gabriella explained as if she would have read the doubts on his face. "I have an appointment with him this morning."
At that, William looked back up at her. Not in surprise, but in a silent worry. He never would have guessed that she was dealing with kind of inner demons herself, but then again, these were diseases nobody could see with their eyes.
"Thank you.", he said with a genuine smile. At least, he would think about this as soon as he was out of the hospital, although he feared he'll have his hands full with the redevelopment of his shop and probably also his flat. He could just hope that the insurance company will be covering all the costs, as it still was unsure what had caused the fire.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 1, 2020 16:20:05 GMT -8
"Of course," she said with a smile. Gabriella had seen the worry on his face and addressed it. "Everyone is going through something. It's good to let someone help you through it, no matter how big or small."
Of course, she could preach it but seeing as she hadn't been to Dr. Lee in a long time, she wasn't exactly practicing it. Not until her problem had gotten so big that the thought she couldn't control it was scaring her.
Gabriella didn't let any of that worry show for William's peace of mind, effectively ignoring her own advice as she was giving it. While her reasons up until now had been stubborn insistence that she was fine and could handle it, she guessed his might be the fact he was so kind and considerate that he didn't want to take up the doctor's time. And so she jokingly tried to appeal to his considerate side. "Don't be afraid to set something up with him. Think of it as providing him with job security."
With a chuckle, Gabriella grabbed her purse and got to her feet. She gave his hand a squeeze. "I'm lucky to have made a friend like you. I'll visit again soon," she promised.
***Gabriella exits to Vladimir Lee's Hypnotherapy Clinic***
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