When Graham woke up on Saturday, he stared at the ceiling and honestly considered trying to go back to sleep. He hadn’t slept well, he never slept well, but he didn’t feel in pain as strongly as he did when he was sleeping. Still, he had promised to be somewhere and getting x-rays done was in his best interest anyway. He pulled himself out of bed and started about his morning routine. It was slow going, much slower than he had anticipated. He scowled when he saw the time, upset that he had made Maeven wait for him. He set out finally and slowly made his way down the stairs. Seeing the town car, he knocked on the window. “Sorry for the delay, it took me longer to do everything than I was initially expecting.”
The driver stepped out of the vehicle, jogged around to Graham’s side, and opened the door for him. Maeven greeted Graham with a smile and a wave of her hand to dismiss his apology. “Nonsense, I wasn’t waiting long at all. I’m sure with everything that’s happened, mornings are moving a bit more slowly than usual. I’m experiencing minor obstacles and I only have a broken finger.” She chuckled and held up the splinted finger on her hand.
The car lurched forward slowly and Maeven nodded. “Off we go, then.”
The time passed rather quickly, as surprising as that was to Maeven. She’d intermittently ask Graham questions and sit quietly. Car rides were odd when you were with a patient, however Maeven had taken this trip many a time with someone who needed the ride to the hospital.
Cass made a face when Maeven asked if she’d had a recent check-up, thinking back to the medical care that she’d received in prison. It wasn’t ideal, to say the least. Still, it was hard to dislike Maeven even if her jokes were iffy.
She stared with obvious hesitation as Maeven spoke again, Cass finding herself dangerously tempted to want to trust Maeven.
“I- Okay. Thanks, I guess.” She spoke awkwardly, shifting her weight to the other foot. “If you know of anyone who needs extra manpower I’ve got a ton of time. Looking for work.”
Maeven chuckled a bit. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you go to the doctor. Believe it or not, I hate check ups.” She shrugged. They were a vulnerable experience, and Maeven often rejected vulnerability with a force likened to a rhino.
She rested her chin delicately on her hand and thought for a moment. “Work? Have you checked with the mechanic in town, Sloan? Or perhaps the coffee shop here? Just to get you on your feet, I suppose.” She eyed Cass casually. She seemed nervous. That was good. “How are you currently making money? I mean, I believe I have a feeling, considering who set up this meeting, but I’d rather not make assumptions.”
Backdated: Chicago Hospital Visit | Maeven & Graham
Maeven smoothed the fabric of the navy pencil skirt that stretched across her lap as she rode in the silent town car. The driver had taken Maeven on many a trip, but he wasn’t of the chatty sort. This fact didn’t bother Maeven in the slightest, because she usually had other things on her mind.
Today she was thinking about Graham’s medical situation. She knew his family well enough through her medical care, and she knew that money would likely be an issue for the MRI and following treatment for his injuries. It was a sad fact that many of the citizens of Muddy Waters would be thoroughly fucked over by the catastrophe of the recreational center.
The town car pulled to a stop in front of the Neuvilles’ home. The driver beeped his horn twice to indicate that Graham could come on out now. Maeven waited patiently.
Abi looked around the room she was in and tried not to feel nervous. She told herself it was ridiculous that she felt more anxious in an normal medical examination room than she did prepping a dead body for embalming or cremation. Something about the smell of doctor’s offices always put her off, she wondered if the people that worked there got used to it.
She straightened her back and looked at the door expectantly as she heard a knock and saw the knob start to turn.
Maeven stepped into the room and smiled warmly at her new patient. “Hi there, I’m Dr. Graves.” She held out her hand for a shake.
After looking over the clipboard of paperwork for a moment, Maeven took a seat on her little stool and faced Abilene with attentive eyes and clasped hands on her lap. “You’re here for a routine exam, then?” She looked over the girl before her, who appeared to be in generally good health upon glance. Then again, many people appeared to be many things, and that wasn’t always the case. Maeven was sure she would find anything that Abilene needed to know, though. She was an adept doctor, after all.
Maeven’s last relationship was with a mousy, serious woman named Ellen. She was several inches smaller than Maeven, with brown hair and eyes, and a bright but infrequent smile. Maeven adored her, but alas, the long distance wasn’t fitting for them after long. Maeven ended it over dinner at Ellen’s Chicago apartment. There were no tears. It was almost like a business transaction. The two kissed goodbye after the discussion, and Maeven left, not having finished her cheesecake.
Do you miss someone? (CAN'T FIND THE ANON OPTION SO PRETEND U DON'T SEE ME)
Maeven would never admit it, but sometimes when the night was quiet and the wind was warm, she thought of Elodie. One of many college relationships, only not quite like the rest. Elodie was a lot of things, but forgettable wasn’t one of them. Maeven isn’t one to pine, per say, but there are certain things that remind her of Elodie and she can’t deny herself the simple pleasure of reminiscence when the opportunity arrives.
As for everyone else? When Maeven moves on, she moves completely on.
Dr. Maeven Graves: Like No Other | Muddy Waters Task
♕ Name meaning
Maeven is a variation on the name Maeve - an Irish name which means “intoxicating.” In Irish legend, Maeve was a warrior queen from the epic ‘The Cattle Raid of Cooley.”
It is appropriate that Maeven means intoxicating, because people tend to gravitate toward her. Respect and admiration are two things that Maeven receives a lot of, although in some ways she’s hardly deserving of them. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone you could convince of Maeven’s nefarious behind-the-scenes activities. Really, she’s no saint, but she has had more than a couple of people place her on an undeserving pedestal.
Maeven loves to socialize, even if she does keep most at arms’ length. Parties, luncheons, and the like revitalize her and make her feel like her time is being spent in a good way. Maeven tends to pry in her social life, despite how closed off she herself can be, because she notices things around her and has to scratch the itch of curiosity when it crops up. This makes her an adept leader because she solves problems by finding the root and digging it up. On the other hand, it can also make people feel a little dissected if she isn’t considerate - which can slip her mind on occasion.
♕ Enneagram
The Challenger
Powerful & Dominating - Self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational
Ever since Maeven was a child, she’s made choices succinctly and thoughtfully, and has very rarely had to change her mind. A lot of thought goes into her life choices, but she also is good at making them responsibly and in a timely manner. She keeps to herself in part because it’s a lot easier to make the right choice when the only factors to consider are her own.
Although many find Maeven utterly pleasant to be around, those opinions are usually held by people who have never crossed her. Get in her way or make her feel vulnerable and one might find a side of Maeven that few have experienced - and it isn’t a side that many would enjoy.
♕ Alignment
True Neutral
Ultimately, Maeven looks out for Maeven. She does what is best for herself, without much regard to what is considered morally good or morally bad. She is loyal to those who have proven they’re worth it, but wrong her more than once and she’s done with you. She’ll align with who is most beneficial, which is why she is often found dealing with Mother Teresa types and Al Capone types alike.
♕ Zodiac
Gemini: The Twins
Maeven would argue that she is nothing like the descriptions of geminis. Gentle, affectionate, nervous, indecisive? Absolutely not. Maeven, truthfully, would be ashamed of herself if she fit this description. However, the idea that geminis can often encompass two opposing personalities or over-arching archetypes is fairly accurate. She’s warm, compassionate, and helpful in her every day life. People want to be close to Maeven. However, it starkly contrasts the way she behaves both in her night life as a drug supplier for the Rascals, as well as her romantic life. She can be cold, aloof, and closed off to a fault when romance comes into play (unless we’re talking about the bedroom). Maeven would never say she is a true gemini, but look closer and you’ll find there’s more to her sign than she’d like to admit.
♕ Celtic
Oak: The Stabilizer
Social, protective, knowledgeable, and confident... What more can you say about dear Maeven?
Cassie didn’t have many contacts in town so she was anxious to meet with this person, especially since they were interested in meeting her. She desperately needed a source of revenue and was eager to get something up and running even if it violated every single condition of her parole. Going back to prison didn’t really scare her nearly as much as living out here did.
She saw the older woman when she entered, taking Maeven’s hand and giving it a firm but brief shake. “Hey,” She dropped into the chair across from Maeven. “They said you’re a doctor?”
Although Maeven hid it well, she was a tad surprised by the face in front of her. The kid had a firm handshake, sure, but she was definitely - well... a kid. Maeven knew this, and yet seeing her right now made her realize that she didn’t really let that sink in. Still she smiled casually and nodded. “Yes, I’m a doctor at the clinic. Have you had a check up recently?” She winked, not really all that serious about the question.
She observed Cassie’s appearance, trying to make inferences about the type of individual she was - and how much of a threat she might actually be. For now, she’d try to remain neutral on her, though.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I wanted to meet you. To be frank, I simply heard there were some new people lately within our tight-knit little community and I do like to meet and greet as needed. Make everyone feel welcome, you know.”
Maeven sat with coffee mug in hand, pastry in front of her, and eyes out the window of Sweet Cheeks. The occasional passerby caught her gaze as they went on their way, as was often the case since Maeven liked to people-watch. When a petite, generally androgynous young woman came to the door of the bakery, Maeven knew it was likely who she was waiting for. She’d requested that a couple of Rascals set her up with this person because she’d heard that Cass was trying to get in on the business of supplying - and obviously Maeven needed to know who her potential competition was. Cass seemed young, but Maeven knew from how she, herself, was at a young age that no one should be underestimated.
“Cass?” She stood and held out her hand, a discerning smile on her face. “I’m Dr. Maeven Graves.”
Awhile. Eva could live with that. She wasn’t in a rush, or anything, but it would be nice to be able to get back to her old self sooner rather than later.
The mention of medication brought about hope within her. It wouldn’t be bad if she had help with her anxiety, particularly now that it was worse than before. Biting her lower lip, she simply nodded, and said, “That would be nice, thanks, Maeven.”
All she wanted was to be back at home, away from the mess of it all.
Maeven sat back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other, nodding. “Why don’t you tell me a little bit about what you’ve been experiencing. Were you feeling anxious again before the accident, or has this been new?” Even though Maeven wasn’t a psychiatrist, a lot of her Muddy Waters patients came to her and a few of the other Clinic doctors for psychiatric medication because there simply weren’t the resources for it here, and it was expensive and inconvenient to go all the way to Chicago for regular treatment.
“Are there any moments where you find yourself particularly anxious, or is it just random?”
Crutches. Eva would need to use crutches until her leg and ankle fully healed. It wasn’t the best case scenario, but being on a wheelchair would be much harder. Being mindful of her appearance always came with a price. “How long before I can wear heels again?”
It wouldn’t be easy for her to simply open up. The blonde had guarded herself, kept her walls up for a reason. It took years before she finally started opening up to Clara. Doing so to Maeven would entail years of trust.
She did, however, understand where Maeven was coming from; she was only trying to help. Nodding her head in silence, Eva remained tugging at the thread, her gaze burdened with absent-minded sadness. “I think my counselor friend can help me out.” she simply answered, unwilling to share her feelings with anyone just yet. In other words, she was postponing.
Maeven chuckled at Eva’s question. “Awhile, but if you take good care of it now then it will be like you never had to miss out on them at all.” Maeven could relate. She loved a good stiletto.
She watched Eva’s wheels turn. It was obvious that Eva was a closed off kind of girl. Being rough and tumble as she was, it was no surprise. You can’t lead a hard lifestyle and not keep people at a distance most of the time. Maeven assumed Eva wouldn’t just spill her guts to her, and that was okay. She just wanted it to be clear that if she needed to, she could come to Maeven - as a doctor or a friend.
“Good, good. It’s always lucky to have friends in professions like counseling - and healthcare.” She wrinkled her nose a bit, trying to remind Eva that she was in safe company. “If anything, I’d be happy to discuss prescriptions for anxiety. You’re in control when it comes to what you think you need now.”
As an after-effect of the tragic incident at the community center, several locals had been seeking the doctor for constant treatment and follow-ups. Not to mention the regular clinic hours he had to put in at the health center. And as if things weren’t loaded enough, Wyatt’s switch to his personal care now had rendered his hands and schedule extremely full.
It had gotten so bad that there was barely any time for a good night’s sleep at this point. Instead, he found himself stealing whatever time he could for a quick nap. Unfortunately, they never seem to last as long as he wanted them to.
Damion suddenly jerked awake. “I’m up!” he said, snapping out of his micro sleep. He didn’t realise he had dozed off on his chair yet again.
Maeven watched Damion for awhile from across the clinic. That look people get when their eyes go glassy because they’re dozing had been coming over him all day in his moments of stillness, and it was irking her. She knew how tired he was because she knew how tired she, herself, was. Still, she wasn’t nodding off. Although, if Maeven was being honest with herself, she saw Damion in a slightly less harsh light since the community center debacle. He’d taken action quickly and effectively, something she assumed he didn’t have in him.
This newfound respect is why she simply tapped his shoulder instead of scolding him awake.
“Good, you should be. I need help with a particularly ornery older gentleman.” She pointed to who the town affectionately referred to as Old Man Baskin. He was in the early stages of dementia and would regularly come in for cuts and bruises of mysterious origins - and unfortunately he was always very angry about it.
Maeven didn’t have a coming out moment, per say. Rather than go through the effort of actually explaining herself to her parents, she simply came home from college one semester with a girlfriend. Upon being asked by her mother, Maeven happily confirmed that she was bisexual, and that was the end of the conversation. Pass the butter.
For the record, both of Maeven’s parents adored her girlfriend, Elodie, and were very disappointed when Maeven didn’t bring her home again after that semester. They still ask about her to this day, although Maeven doesn’t really know. Maeven leans more toward hot, heavy, quick relationships - not long-lasting ones...
The doctor’s words, though it only sounded like a bunch of science-y things thrown at her, was reassuring enough, that Eva nodded as she listened.
“I haven’t tried getting up or walking ‘round just yet.” The thought to actually get up hadn’t dawned on her until that moment. Perhaps it was the fear of making things worse that hindered her. “Crutches would be great, doc.”
Eva’s fingers started fidgeting absentmindedly, nervously tugging at a loose, white thread at the hem her hospital gown. Shaking her head, the blonde anxiously licked her lips. “There’s no one I can talk to about it.” she lamented quietly. Although if anything, it was half a lie. There was one person she could talk to about, but it was highly unlikely that they would be able to. After all, their relationship was already strained to non-existence.
Maeven scribbled more down on the chart, then nodded. “If crutches work for you, they work for me. Based on the examinations of your leg, you can handle the crutches and then we can monitor your healing and possibly get a walking cast fitted for you.”
She watched Eva fidget a bit and knew that she’d probably hit a bit of a sore spot. Anyone with a ear to the ground knew about the tension between Eva and Clara, and Maeven had known the women long enough to know that things were different. Clara didn’t discuss it much, nor did Eva, but Maeven could tell things weren’t right since the incident between them.
“Well, I’d be happy to be a shoulder to cry on or just a listening ear. I was there. I know how traumatic things like that can be. You know, I’ve been having trouble sleeping the last couple nights, and I didn’t even experience as much as some. You’re not alone in this. Understand?” She rested her hand on Eva’s bed, not actually touching Eva, but simply expressing that she meant her words.
