Vixere — Roleplayer Guild

Celeste had taken a fair bit to seemingly relax fully, though the redhead proved to be a good listener.  Somehow, she had not been surprised when he had revealed that he had once participated in mixed martial arts - his form alone was too fit to be that of a passive military man.  Part of her felt some hurt at knowing how much muscle mass he was going to lose in recovery, and her heart broke at the knowledge that not being able to move his legs had to be like being completely trapped within his own flesh.  At the same time, having that much knowledge on how to hurt people also struck a chord in her, as if sending up a red flag to stay away... but, for now, he was harmless and she could enjoy his company.

Every bite was a little victory for them both - Chambers needed to eat, and Celeste felt a bare bit of pride knowing that she had been able to get him to do so.  Every sip of Coke, every fry was something in his stomach that would give his body fuel to begin recovery.

One leg folded up under her, she had eventually shown him pictures - they were tasteful, but she had shown him progress of completing the large World Tree on her back, the healed version of the blue roses on her hip.  Her right ankle held a Celtic triangle, and a Viking compass rested on her left foot.

"I would show you my solar plexus piece, but... well, the only shot I have of it only has my arm covering me, so I think that's one earned," was chuckled after a moment, her iPhone slid into her cargo pocket.  Gathering up the garbage onto the tray, she had been slow to rise from the seat, as if it felt a monumental effort.  Just sitting with the man and relaxing had been strangely comforting.  "I have some things to see to, but I'll try to get in here before morning to get your bandages changed, so long as things don't get crazy tonight.  Try to get some sleep though, okay?  It's the best thing you can do to heal."

Using her hip to bump his table back into place, she had given a grin and touched his shoulder before she had left the room.  It hadn't been a grip, but a nearly affectionate gesture.  Even still, as the door was cracked behind her to filter out the noise of the hospital, Celeste hadn't been able to drop the ease that she felt in his presence.

---

The night had proven to be anything but quiet.  If Jason was awake for any of it, he would have heard the insanity that had happened - the scuffle of people, the calling of security and codes.  Celeste's voice had been with it all, but the last incident had happened not long before the end of shift.

"Stand down, I'm not going to hurt you.  I just want to help--"  Those had been the only words she had been able to say to a man lost in psychosis before he had lunged at her, larger and physically stronger despite the broken leg that should have made him be on crutches.  Before she had been able to think, he had ended up in a choke hold and security had come running, managing to pry the man off before he had either crushed her wind pipe or she had gone limp.  Even still, it didn't mean there was any less alarm when she had collapsed to sit in a pile on the floor with a mixture of gasps and shock.

It had been sudden and violent, and she could feel the swelling and bruising before it would have even been present.  Helped to her feet by other staff, she had been slow to fill out the paperwork and report off to the other nurse before she had gotten herself a coffee.  Standing before the machine, she had almost thought about sleeping on the couch before there was a curse, paying for a second one.  Dumping ice into it and grabbing a straw, her feet had taken her right back to 516, where she had been able to relax earlier.

Managing to knock quietly on the door, her form lingered for a moment before the ginger had entered and stood a few feet from his bed.

"Mind if I sit with you for a few minutes?  I brought some morning coffee."

Darling.

That little purr of a pet name had meant more than the soldier had probably wanted it to, her stomach fluttering and a warmth spreading up her chest in a way that, after years of devotion to work, felt foreign.  It was likely for the best that all Celeste had been able to manage was a chuckle in response, though her lips had formed into a curvy grin without knowing it.  If only she could tell him that it was impossible to let people in, he might have realized it would be like fighting in a burning house.

Gathering up her supplies, the bandage changes were going to have to wait while he got some actual food in his stomach and his spirits lifted.  Crouching to begin putting it all together, she couldn't help but give a soft laugh as the linens and trash were bagged up and lobbed towards the door.

"I like doing what I do, Mister Chambers... healing, it has honor of its own, at least from my heritage."  Settling back against her worn Puma shoes, the grip thankfully kept her aloft.  "You don't have to thank me or serenade me, you just have to get better to get back to your life."  A smirk was forced onto her lips.  "Besides, I'm sure you have plenty of women that will be crawling all over you stateside."  It was as best a rejection she could give, but it felt like someone had thrown acid on that wonderful feeling that had previously been there by that one, simple word.  "I will say, though - if you're still here and your hands are working, I wouldn't turn down a good foot massage.  Eighteens are killer on your tootsies."

Rising to stand, it seemed to take a little effort more than she would have liked.  Stretching and yoga had been thrown to the wayside for sleep months ago.

"I have to toss these, then I'll be back with your food and mine.  I could use a few minutes to rest anyway, and I did say I'd show you ink."  With a smirk, the nurse was gone out the door with her mess with just a whisper of her shoes on the floor.

It felt like a lifetime waiting in the cafeteria for the food to be ready.  With a hand on her nose bridge, she pinched there to remind herself not to get attached.  Jason Chambers was her patient, she had to keep a line drawn.  It didn't matter that he was friendly, right?  Though, the thought of spending time with him didn't much feel like work to get him something good to eat, or just to chat and take their minds from the reality that she had run from the States and he had been practically blown up.

When she heard her name, she was pulled from that place in her head to grab the tray and head back up to her floor.  Snaking a couple bottles of Coke and a straw along with a handful of napkins from the lounge, it felt strangely surreal.  Stopping at the linen closet to grab a couple towels before she knocked on the door, the nurse soon enough entered again without her tools aside the stethoscope that seemed to hang perpetually around her neck.

Pulling his table over towards her, the tray was set down and the armchair nearby was yanked closer.

"You weren't diabetic, so I grabbed you a regular Coke.  Figured it would be a nice change from water, and all the juices here always taste watered down."  Leaning over, a towel was tucked into his gown to protect it, even as her bare fingers were tickled by the beginnings of a beard.  "And we can share the fries, I always feel like they give me a pound of them anyway."

Vixere Member

Littera scripta manet.

Status

Recent Statuses

Bio

Most Recent Posts