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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 0:11:47 GMT
Patience does her best to steady her breathing, and the brushing does seem to help as Joy continues her examination. The additional contact, and her trainer's words draw her eyes to his face and her mind to his needs. Serenity lightly licks at the girl's forehead just under where the brush has passed, causing her to sputter and giggle weakly, batting at the fox with her painted fingers.
The Nurse's attention is on the unit itself now, which she scrutinizes closely. "Is this particularly heavy? Does it shift position a lot?" "It's not as heavy as it was, and it hurts more when I don't walk carefully, cause it swings..." "Makes it hard to breathe, and the muscles in your chest tight?" "Yes Ma'am..."
Joy begins to sift through her bag, producing a tube of opaque white paste, and a number of rolls of bandages. "We're going to clean the edge of the graft and secure the whole thing more firmly to her body. I'll need her to agree to general anesthetic first... If there is a sudden spike of pain, I can't risk her injuring herself by moving suddenly."
"What's a general anesthetic?" "It means I'm going to put you to sleep until the procedure is over, so you don't have to feel anything." Her hand goes tight on Thel's.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 0:20:35 GMT
"How long would it take?" Thel asks Joy. "Because I want to be able to be there for her for every moment of it. If she agrees to it. I unfortunately can't stay here forever right now."
He locks eyes with Patience, squeezing her hand in both of his. "This is entirely up to you. I don't want to force you into this."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 0:33:45 GMT
"The anesthetic a few moments to set in... the cleaning and bandaging might be an hour or two, but it will reduce her soreness greatly, and improve her mobility. The unit moving is putting strain on connections set under her skin. It is rooted along her central nervous system, and between at least a few vertebrae, the bones in your back... I see why this was put off and questioned. Your friend is in a very precarious situation." Joy sat back to give the girl some space. "Surgeries involving these areas are only attempted as a last resort due to the complications that they can cause."
"Thel, I'm really scared... I know I need this... I need it more than anything... but..." She buries her head against his thigh.
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 0:47:28 GMT
"I should have that time before I need to be back at school, yeah," Thel says, nodding, before addressing Patience, gently running his fingers through her hair. "It's okay to be scared. More than okay. I'd be worried if you weren't scared. Because... this is scary."
"You told me yesterday, that you felt it would all be worth the risks for there to be more you. This isn't removing them, so... I don't know if you feel the same way. But... I trust Joy, and her abilities. To help you make it until that time. And I'll be with you. Even if I can't be holding your hand, I'll be right there." He taps her heart. He can still feel the connection from yesterday. He knows he can be there with her. "As close as can be, supporting you."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 1:27:00 GMT
Joy gathers a small canister with some sort of cup attached to a nozzle and hands it gently to Thel. "When she's ready... if... she's ready... she just has to hold it against her mouth and turn the nozzle. Three deep breaths should be enough. She'll be asleep before she knows it, and I can begin. I'm licensed for this, and we're only going to do what will help alleviate a possible infection. Once everything is clean and bandaged, we can go from there..."
Patience looks between the canister and Thel. "You'll never really leave me, right? And Serenity will be here to watch over me the whole time? Nobody will take me or hurt Miss Joy?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 1:34:48 GMT
"I'll be with you, of course," Thel reassures. "I don't want to leave you alone. You deserve someone there, to comfort you. And even if something happens, and I have to go, Serenity will be right here. We won't let anything hurt you, or anyone take you. Right, Serenity?" he asks, smiling at the fox. "And nothing will happen to Nurse Joy either. This isn't like where they did this to you."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 2:22:06 GMT
With Thel's gentle reassurances, Patience does eventually acquiesce to being sedated. Once she is under, Joy works quickly, cleaning along the edges of the grafts with a swab. "I will do everything I can to reduce her discomfort. Thank you for keeping her as calm as you could."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 2:46:18 GMT
"Of course. I want to do everything I can for her," he replies, nodding. "She's done so much for me. And... even if she hadn't, she's still my friend."
He focuses on trying to keep himself calm, keeping a grasp on her hand. For as long as he could, he wouldn't let go. In case she could feel it, he would stay there.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 18:19:30 GMT
As Joy is starting to apply bindings and bandages, lunch approaches its zenith. It will be time, all too soon, to sign on for community teams. If he doesn't leave soon, Thel will miss his midday meal. Patience hasn't roused, and the makeshift support is well underway.
"I will need to reach out to a few scientists to see what can be done magnetically, but she is already well on her way.". Joy released a small pink and white Pokemon with bright blue eyes and wing-like ears. "Audino, if you could assist me in Mister Lucasta's absence?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 18:31:36 GMT
"Thank you, for everything," Thel says to the nurse, giving Patience's hand one last squeeze, and telling her, even if she can't hear, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Serenity's here." He looks at the fox. "Thank you, too. You mean a lot to her, from what I can tell."
Giving one last look, and hoping everything would be okay... he heads back to the school to eat a bit of food and sign up. He hadn't realized how hungry he's getting.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 18:47:47 GMT
"It's the life I chose, you don't need to thank me.". Joy smiled, as her Pokemon moved in to lend another pair of hands. Excusing himself, and leaving his dear friend to Serenity's watchful eyes, It was a brief stint through the rain and back to the school for lunch.
Violet was no longer present, but Thel found Bryonry, Alicia, and Celosia sitting together as they often did. (A DC 12 Perception will reveal Mable sitting separate.)
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 18:54:16 GMT
He tries to push out the nervousness he has for Patience. There's nothing he can do for her now.
Getting to school, as much as he liked sitting with Aliana and them, he thinks that Mable could use some company. ...unless she doesn't want it, he realizes when he's halfway over. But, oops, it'd be awkward to just turn around now, so, well, just follow through.
"Hello, Mable," he says, hoping this wasn't a mistake, "Mind having some company?"
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 19:18:17 GMT
"I never mind your company Thel.". Mable replies quietly, serving him a few things from their table's platter he might have ordinarily chosen for himself. "Take it you had a lot to do with our new project? Jasmine tends to do things on her own. That way any chance for error or blame falls on her. Guess she sent really willing to gamble this time "
The girl returns to her own meal when Thel asks her to stop or takes over the task. "How are you holding up between the fire, the stalking Pokemon, the rain, and all?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 19:32:59 GMT
"I didn't really have much to do with it," Thel says, shaking his head and taking over putting food on his plate. "I talked to her when she asked me about it, but... that's it. It was all her idea." He looks outside towards the rain. "I think she just... realizes that it's too big for even her to deal with."
"Hmm?" he asks, "How did- oh, right, I mentioned that on Friday. The weekend's been... something," he says, letting out an involuntary laugh at the understatement. "So I genuinely forgot about that for a moment. I just know people were asking me about the mountain this morning, and have no idea how they heard I went climbing there, because I didn't exactly tell anyone."
"Regardless, I'm... holding up. Things could be a lot better, but... they could be worse, too. Focusing on the good helps, rather than lamenting over the bad. It's... really easy to get lost in the bad if you aren't careful."
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6,672 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 19:54:25 GMT
"It is, isn't it?". Mable asked absently between bites of a salad. "There isn't a lot that happens in this town that the girls don't catch wind of and gossip about. All the same, I am glad you are safe, and well. Listen, Thel... About next weekend.". Mable's eyes moved to the other three girls, and noted Celosia looking in the general direction of where they were seated.
"Come prepared for a fight, even if you don't expect one. You'll be tested."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 20:03:13 GMT
"Hmm? ...ah, well, I'm not exactly the best at either fighting or tests," Thel admits. "Things are usually just... luck for me. I guess it would have been too simple to expect anything else, though," he says, lightly laughing.
"How about you?" he asks. "How was your weekend?"
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 20:28:08 GMT
"Loud. Difficult. Finding a difference of opinion with the others that I haven't in a very long time. It might be time we went our separate ways. I don't know, it might resolve itself. It might not.". She poked at her food with a fork and sighed a little.
"Have you ever been so in over your head you were paralyzed to make any decision at all?"
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 20:48:53 GMT
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that..." Thel says. "I can't imagine how that is. I... haven't really known my own friends for very long, and I know it would hurt immensely to be in that situation. And I know it was mentioned that you've been together for quite a while."
"I... feel in over my head most of the time, to be honest," Thel says. "I've felt paralyzed a few times, though, yeah," he remembers after fighting that woman who kidnapped Terra, not knowing what to do when she fell in the water. "Most of the time... I just try. Try and make a choice. Even if that one's the wrong one in the end... if you don't make a choice, you'll never end up making the right one anyways." He shrugs. "I don't really know. I seem to make the wrong choice a lot."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Feb 1, 2021 21:53:34 GMT
"But you always make a choice, because your are allowed. It is presented. That's life, the true nature of life. A series of choices that define us, and eventually end through accident or just time catching up with our bodies.". Mable worked her thumbs into her temples.
"Whatever you decide Thel, I will support you as best I can. Before, during, and after our... Meet up. You've given me a lot to think about every time we talk."
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Post by DataNinja on Feb 1, 2021 22:05:38 GMT
"When those around you didn't really let you have a choice when growing up... you cherish being able to do it," Thel says. "It's sad to think that it will all eventually end... but all we can do is make sure we fill that time as best we can. And, in the end, it's probably for the best."
"I... can't really imagine what I've said that would be that thought-provoking," he says, flushing a bit. "But... I'm glad to have met you, and gotten to know you during my time here. Even though it's really been pretty short."
"Oh! Silly question," he says, suddenly remembering something. "I've got to do some food stuff for Friday, and... I usually just do things by taste and intuition. Is there somewhere I should look to find stuff that... doesn't rely on trial and error? Because, uh, I don't really have the time for that, but that's the only way I've really learned how to do it."
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