unpavemypaths | open post

[She's so tired. She's barely sleeping; every time she closes her eyes she's 19 and back in the morgue again, and more than anything it just makes her angry, frustrated that it can still hit her like this even though everything's fine, she knows everything's fine. It's a struggle just to get out of bed when her alarm goes off, and she takes longer than she wants to finally get herself out the door.

So this is the last thing she needs to start her day. Physically she at least managed to make herself look reasonably together, but she can't bother to try to sound any less exhausted then she feels, staring blankly at the wall across from her.]

Can you just go bug someone else for like an hour? Or a month? [It's shorter than she'd normally be right off the bat, especially when they haven't seen each other in a few days, between her weekend away and the fact that they were working in separate places before.]

[There is a comeback on the tip of his tongue that he keeps to himself for a moment, her tone enough to make him pause. They usually have more of a casual back and forth, more annoyance than actual anger, he scowls at the wall for a moment before turning very slightly to look her way.]

I thought vacations were supposed to be restful, Howl. You look like shit. [She's been gone the last few days, he assumes for her birthday, he figured it would have been a fun time, but she looks like she just got back from jury duty. In hell.]

[She bristles a little, not so much at him pointing it out as at being reminded just how fucking stupid it is. Arms crossing over her chest as she shrugs, still just staring straight ahead.] Well luckily, I don't think the kids will care as much as you do.

They might. It looks like death is their doctor. The crypt keeper is going to diagnose their problems. [The medical director is starting to move forward, getting his files in order so he can't say much more, even if he wants to keep teasing her. In a rush of good favor towards her, he reaches out, needing to touch skin to do his trick, and pinches her hand gently.]

Just making sure you're awake. [And fuck it all if the exhaustion that was just weighing her down doesn't hit him like a ton of bricks, he can't take anything emotional but hopefully the physical is enough. He went from feeling refreshed and ready to wanting to lie down and sleep for days. He runs a hand down his face, attempting to wake himself up just before the director starts talking. Fuck it's going to be a long day.]

[She's purposefully trying not to pay too much attention to him, like somehow she can get him to ignore her if she starts it off, so she's not expecting the touch. She jumps a little, scowling as she pulls her hand back, not that she's fast enough to avoid it, and there's no chance to say anything before she has to snap her attention back to the front and focus on work.

It does feel a little easier when things get started, though. She feels more awake, at least, even if there's an ache under it all that won't quite go away. She chalks it up to adrenaline, fear of doing something wrong making her focus through everything. Dealing with the kids helps, too. She likes kids, always has, and even if a lot of it is bound to be painful, it's still nice to get to help them, talk to them. It's easier to try to be out of her own head when she's dealing with patients anyway.

She's a little less pissy once she's not about to fall over on her feet again. Enough that when they run into each other at the vending machines halfway through, her tone is back to its normal mild needling, instead of immediate venom.] You look dead on your feet already. Sure you're going to last the month?

[Halfway through the day, he's starting to lose steam. Not only is he exhausted but he also took the pain for a kid with appendicitis and someone with a broken arm, so he's not only tired, he's sore, and over it, and ready to go home. He knew kids would be difficult. It's hard to see anyone in pain but it's nearly impossible to see kids in pain.

It's only because his guard is down that when he hears Imogene's voice he smiles, waiting until it turns into more of a smirk before responding.] And miss our first rotation together? I couldn't do that to you, I know you've been looking forward to it.

I am ready to watch you slip up, true.

[It would make her feel a little better, anyway. Part of the frustration is from how he acts, but the fact that he seems to be so good at all of it does make her jealous. She's smart, she works hard and she knows she's doing well, but sometimes she wishes it all came a little easier to her.]

Did you just admit that you watch me? You could have just said. I would have switched to your rotation sooner.

[He leans against the vending machines, raising his eyebrows at her slowly. It's not actually possible for him to get onto her rotation, if he could, it probably would have happened sooner. As it is, they just got lucky.]

Well, if you stopped talking once in a while, maybe you'd be easier to ignore.

[Or if he wasn't there every time she turned around. At least it feels like that. She's given up on questioning it. Either she has really bad luck, or he's just always spoiling for a fight; either way, there's no way to get away from him until she graduates and can get the hell out of here.]

Maybe for a little bit, I think you'd miss my pretty voice though. Otherwise you wouldn't talk to me so much.

[He turns back to the vending machine after he says it, finally choosing the protein bar, before throwing another dollar in it, gesturing for her to pick something.] On me. Consider it a birthday gift.

Don't flatter yourself. You're more like a gnat that's always buzzing in my ear.

[She gives him a sideways look, frowning a little like she's waiting for a catch. It always throws her off when he does anything remotely nice. It feels like he must have some kind of secret plan to use it against her. Kind of petty to complain about being offered food, though, so she just turns back after a second, punching in the number for a bag of trail mix.] ...Thanks.

[He hands the trail mix to her, tapping his protein bar against the bag once she's got a hand on it, doing like a cheers with their snacks before pulling back. It's not caffeine but hopefully it will give him enough of a boost to make it through the rest of the day.]

You pick a focus yet? [It's small talk, they do it sometimes, although not often. He's curious if she's decided where to stay. He's thinking ER but it seems cliché. He just likes the fast paced work. He'd rather his day go by quicker than have to wait for appointment after appointment. Something new and exciting every minute feels more appropriate to him.]

[The gesture actually gets a little bit of a smile out of her before she pulls away, genuinely amused for once instead of annoyed. She's not really expecting him to say anything else, about to walk away, so she ends up hovering a little awkwardly in the middle of the hallway as she shakes her head.]

Still trying to narrow it down. [If they were friends she'd gush about it, about how much she keeps changing her mind, because every new option feels so exciting. How she's been looking forward to pediatrics, it's been on her short list for ages, hopefully the rocky start doesn't end up souring the whole experience. They're not, though, so she just shrugs.] You?

[He can tell she wants to leave, if he was stronger, he'd just let her go, but he's always been weak, doing anything he can for just a fraction of her attention. He takes a bite of his protein bar, grinning obnoxiously as he chews, making her wait for his reply.]

Emergency, I think. [He finally says after he swallows, walking a few steps closer to her, they are both heading back in the same direction, might as well walk together.]

[She just raises an eyebrow at him, unimpressed, but she's not quite rude enough to just walk away. Or at least, he hasn't been frustrating enough in the last few minutes to make her forget herself; sometimes she does.

She really does try to be polite, overall, he's just good at getting under her skin.]

That's one off my list now, at least. [Joking; it's not what she expects to go with anyway, but it's not like she's planning on hanging around to work with him even if she does.]

Ow, that hurts. [He puts a hand to his chest in mock pain, even as it makes his arm twinge with actual pain.] Every lead needs a great second in command, I would have been happy to offer the role to you.

[If he's being honest, most of the time their positions are practically tied, sometimes with her in the lead. He got lucky on the last few tests, got a leg up with his abilities to diagnose a hard case and it's pushed him ahead. He doesn't usually have this to hold over her, he has to milk it while he still can.]

Tempting, but I don't think I could fit alongside your ego. [Her voice is bone dry, wrinkling her nose as she glances at him.] Maybe save it for someone you actually get along with. If you ever find one.

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