[There aren't many to choose from, Rosella's grounding in science being somewhat shaky. Chase expects the princess. Stops and tilts his head at an unfamiliar face in a well policed warehouse.]
Daddy wasn't exactly there for any of us but her, and mostly he was there for her because her mom was even more absentee than he could ever hope to be.
[She looks up at him]
That's all I expected her to tell, really. Maybe a little about Scholar since he's pretty much the only person she loves. But anyway.
[And he only pauses for a second to consider whether that was flirting before dropping to sit beside her.]
You should know that I'm bad at impromptu therapy sessions. I also think only the really lucky kids wind up with both parents working together on screwing them up - but most of them have to deal with one or the other.
[He clasps his hands.]
I heard about Scholar. Not about you - and you care about her.
[But, it's less important now. Though Daisy's question is a frustrating one.]
I... can't remember. I've lost around two years here, I can't even remember how I met her. Since I've been back, she's offered more help to me than I've been able to return.
She knows I'd be willing.
[And Daisy, you've already given away something for damn near sure, even if it's the confirmation of something already suspected.]
[No, it's a genuine question. If strength and self-possession is an act, Saya already has it down. And yet never asking for help is in itself an act of weakness. It implies being afraid of being found out.
It would be interesting if it didn't come with the idea that, right now, there's obviously something to be worried about.]
Well, she hasn't asked me for anything, and neither have you. So why don't we go and see her.
[Daisy settles in for her nap and when Chase opens the door to Saya's bedroom (dark, stark, very clean) she looks up from her nightstand.
The room is pretty dark but the lines of her body are obvious and unclothed, and one of her legs is at an angle that even for Saya and her awkward holding is impossible. There are smudges of darkness along her body that are clearly where she's been hurt, but the blood looks...wrong, even in the dark.]
[He leaves the bag he's brought with him on a chair by the door, left open just enough for the hall light to sharpen outlines inside. And it's no longer a mere curiosity that she hasn't asked for help, it's insane.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[action]
Room service?
[action]
[Daisy's wearing something Saya would never have on her body, and converse sneakers, too.]
Re: [action]
[Making a cursory show of checking, Chase backs up enough to let the girl through. She doesn't look like she's here to mug him.
And their sneakers match.]
[action]
[She smiles a little]
Daisy Dulane, sugar. But if I used my dad's name it would be Wallace.
[Her accent is southern US, all drawling]
[action]
[-ly absent, but it doesn't require pointing out in more tedious terms. It does explain why she's wandering the halls.]
Robert. Satya must not have told me about the pet name. She sent you up here?
[action]
[She's in her early thirties, smiling and cheerful]
Sort of. She doesn't really like me to butt in and I usually don't. Can I call you Chase? I've noticed that's what everyone likes.
[action]
Of course. As long as you're going to tell me what you're butting into.
[action]
How much has Saya told you about our family?
[action]
[About the brother with one like his. About the father she saw die.]
She's told me what she wants to.
[action]
[She looks up at him]
That's all I expected her to tell, really. Maybe a little about Scholar since he's pretty much the only person she loves. But anyway.
[There's a pause]
Wow this bed is comfortable.
[action]
You should know that I'm bad at impromptu therapy sessions. I also think only the really lucky kids wind up with both parents working together on screwing them up - but most of them have to deal with one or the other.
[He clasps his hands.]
I heard about Scholar. Not about you - and you care about her.
[action]
Not here for that. I'm not screwed up, and I know, I know, that's the first thing screwed up people say, but seriously, I'm not.
I do care for her. Probably more than she'd like me to, and so here I am, contemplating giving away some of her secrets.
She ever tell you about any trips to the doctor? She ever come to you for anything like that?
[action]
[But, it's less important now. Though Daisy's question is a frustrating one.]
I... can't remember. I've lost around two years here, I can't even remember how I met her. Since I've been back, she's offered more help to me than I've been able to return.
She knows I'd be willing.
[And Daisy, you've already given away something for damn near sure, even if it's the confirmation of something already suspected.]
I see plenty of patients with unusual needs.
[action]
[Daisy looks at him for a long, long minute, and stands up]
The rest of us, we don't go. We don't need to. But she's more fragile than we are, in a lot of ways.
[action]
[No, it's a genuine question. If strength and self-possession is an act, Saya already has it down. And yet never asking for help is in itself an act of weakness. It implies being afraid of being found out.
It would be interesting if it didn't come with the idea that, right now, there's obviously something to be worried about.]
Well, she hasn't asked me for anything, and neither have you. So why don't we go and see her.
[action]
[Daisy looks at him and reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a key]
I'm sure I don't have to remind you about doctor-patient confidentiality.
[action]
[Or he doubts it, not by his estimation. He already owes her enough.
In answer to Daisy's question, he stands and holds a hand out for the key.]
[action]
I'll just stay here and take a nap on this ridiculously comfortable bed.
[Saya is making her sleep on the couch ;;]
[action]
[And that's true. It means he'll try not to wake her, later.
In the meantime, time to open Bluebeard's forbidden door.]
[action]
The room is pretty dark but the lines of her body are obvious and unclothed, and one of her legs is at an angle that even for Saya and her awkward holding is impossible. There are smudges of darkness along her body that are clearly where she's been hurt, but the blood looks...wrong, even in the dark.]
Daisy.
[action]
[He leaves the bag he's brought with him on a chair by the door, left open just enough for the hall light to sharpen outlines inside. And it's no longer a mere curiosity that she hasn't asked for help, it's insane.
What happened should be the obvious question.]
I thought you were sick.
[action]
[She opens her mouth then and makes a motion with it, and a piece of something falls out]
I suppose it's pointless to tell you to leave.
[action]
[He can feel the press of his own pulse under his collarbone, but he moves closer anyway, close enough to crouch beside the bed.]
You can evict me for trespassing, if you like, once I make certain you can stand.
[action]
[She looks at him and almost frowns]
Fine.
[Once he gets closer, it's clear that whatever is on her is blue, and oozing from her cuts]
[action]
[Fine is enough permission for him to lean over her, though he doesn't touch, assessing the leg that looks snapped, the rips in her skin.
Blue blood isn't the strangest thing he's seen here. He lifts a vividly stained part of the sheet she lays on.]
How much blood have you lost? If I have to source hemocyanin I'll need to make those calls first.
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