Untitled

[felicitymiller-thornewood]

I’ve grown to love your disappearing acts|| Open starter.

Amidst the fountain of knowledge inhabiting Thornewood’s grand library, the nurse could be found sat cross-legged, on splintering wooden floors, surrounded by an overwhelming plethora of leather-bound books. Nose deep in the pages as the second hour of research rolled around, Felicity had begun organising the books into categories mentally labelled as; fiction, non-fiction, useful, potentially helpful and utterly-fucking-useless. 

Nimble fingers shook slightly as emerald hues grew weary and bloodshot, the three cups of coffee she had downed one after another now coursed through her veins and sent her body into some form of caffeine-induced shock. The sentence Fliss had read over three times now was not registering in a jittery and overworked mind as words began to blend together on the page. A heavy sigh left parted lips, silently admitting defeat in the form of a closed book before discarding it to her left and onto the utterly useless category, “May as well burn this pile.” The nurse muttered aloud, her hushed tones carrying an air of annoyance through the quiet room. “Fuck it, I need a smoke.” Her disheartened words floated into the silence, confident that she was alone in the large room. 

[sofiaverrat]

Sofia was not used to seeing the young nurse looking so studious. She recalled her first impressions of Felicity over a year earlier. She had seemed so carefree and aloof. Sofia used to grow weary that the nurse didn’t act more serious and professional. Yet, here was Fliss sitting on the floor of the library with stacks of books around her. Whatever had driven her to this place had to be important.

“You look like you really are searching for something.” Sofia remarked as she approached. The way the blonde had been murmuring to herself made Sofia aware that she had probably assumed she was alone. Folks didn’t normal speak to themselves so clearly when others were present. “I will join you for a cigarette if you share what is on your mind.” She added. It was a rare offer. To consume contraband on the hospital premises would’ve been out of the question earlier in Sofia’s career, but she was tired now. She was nearly certain that her boss was not the person she’d assumed him to be, and consequently, her position her was not the career move she’d hoped for. Risking it hardly seemed to be an issue now.

[sofiaverrat]

ccallahann​:

“… Your hands off me, you crock of sh —” Cut off by the opening of the office door, Casey bit off the rest of the irritated snarl. He hadn’t had the best rap sheet for attending his therapy sessions, but a guard hauling him to this one with a vice grip on his bicep was nothing short of aggravating. Tension and palpable apprehension lasted until the Forrester lap dog closed the door behind him with a loud click. A heavy exhale followed his trek to the seat he hadn’t seen too often, an absentminded hand rubbing over the spot where the guard had dragged him by. “Look, I was already gonna be here, I don’t know why —” a wide gesture towards the door, and hopefully the overzealous security behind it.

The chair luckily held his weight as he crashed his entire weight on it at once, a casual half-sitting position common when Casey got to talking to the staff, unless he could run like hell and avoid them altogether. It was something less defiant than the prowling around the office in hopes of a quick escape. There were those familiar points he’d use to dash, but there was no desire for that as of late; Not as prominently as before and that was something frightening. Delving into the lack of opposition was a slippery slope, a self-reflection reserved for three in the morning and not for a therapy session. Instead of giving away those troubling thoughts, Casey crossed his arms and let his gaze fall on the multitude of files on her desk. The sheer amount of them something he almost sympathized with, brow drawing into a frown for only a moment before the gaze was torn away and met with the doctor’s. A low chuckle warded off the previous expression, replaced with something more casually neutral as he spoke, “Looks like you got some work to catch up on, I can leave. I wouldn’t mind, really.”

When Sofia had left the prestigious university of Berlin with her degree, she had imagined truly helping those who were struggling. She had left her entire family, and the country, customs and language of her home behind her in order to gain residency at Thornewood. It had promised to be a high quality program with secure funding. Her picture of her life here had not included the angry Australian being manhandling through the door of her office. Sofia stood from her desk with angry in her eyes and her mouth set in a firm line. She glared down the guard. “That’s enough.” She snapped, her accent harsh and authoritative. The incompetence here was really beginning to wear on her nerves. She gestured for Casey to take a seat.

She noted the man’s posture and his almost apologetic explanation for why he didn’t need to be dragged down here. “It’s alright.” She reassured. She did not catch him glancing at the stack of files until she had settled in her chair and he spoke up again. “There is always work to catch up on here.” She offered with a soft shrug. She found that Casey responded best when treated more like a conversation partner than a patient. That required her to take down some of her own walls and the firmness that she often clung to in order to remind others that she was not to be underestimated. “Every time I think I have figured out the reasoning for this change or that one, there is a new one waiting for me that is even harder to understand.” The blonde’s laugh was warm and bright. “They do not tell you in school that the hardest person to understand will not be your patient, but your administration.” She pulled her notebook from her drawer and uncapped a redwood fountain pen. “Do not let me complain any further though, Mr. Callahan, I will have us here all afternoon.” She looked at him with a smile. “How are things with you? Let’s start with that.”

[sofiaverrat]

felicitymiller-thornewood​:

Stacked [Open to Patients]

Felicity was grateful for the other making time for her, a beaming smile graced her features as she crossed the room and took a seat, green hues glanced at her desk once more before shaking her head with a light chuckle, “I know the feeling.” She could sympathise with the work overload. “It seems like there’s been such an influx in things to report lately.” 

“Um, sort of,” A furrow of her brow probably gave away more than she wished it to, concern leaving her throat dry as she searched for the right way to work her query. “Have you had much interaction with Dr Bennet?” The nurse questioned, clearing her throat as she shuffled uncomfortably on the chair. “I just recently spoke with him and I’ve got a few concerns but I wondered if it was because of a clash of work personalities or…” The blonde trailed off, her teeth finding her fingernail as she anxiously chewed at the manicured tip.

Sofia agreed with Felicity’s assessment with a small nod. The influx in reports was odd. She could not understand the rationale of the orders coming in from the top of the chain of command. Moving Ms. Hale and Mr. Malkin, allowing the readmission of Mr. Martin, neglecting the needs of Dr. Bennet’s patients by...assigning them to Dr. Bennet. Sofia sighed. 

Felicity’s nervous behavior drew Sofia’s attention and careful scrutiny. “Erron? Hardly.” Sofia admitted. The man had immediately appeared vain to her, much in the same way her male colleagues had been during her doctoral training. The role of psychologist was often all too attractive to those who already considered themselves to be elevated above humanity. They presupposed a godly vantage point for themselves. “Don’t do that.” Sofia admonished Felicity softly, almost with the tone of a tired mother. Nail biting was a terrible habit. Sofia turned her attention to a red robin sitting on the branch of a tree outside her window. “Dr. Bennet appears to have quite a difficult personality, so it may be that you two do not get along.” She turned back to Felicity. “But I have some deeper concerns, and if you wouldn’t mind, just between us, I would be curious to know what you know.”

[sofiaverrat]

Stacked [Open to Patients]

[sofiaverrat]

i--dont--sleep‌:

Charlie didn’t know why, but his feet had carried him right to Sofia’s office. Maybe he just wanted to talk about nothing. But he felt a deeper part of him wanted to talk about the mess he had made during his birthday. And other than Noah Sofia might very well be the only person he trusted enough to actually be honest about what happened… He missed her being his therapist. Don’t ask him why because he would have no idea. But he just did. 

With a small knock, he had stood in front of the closed door. Hoping she had time for him in general… “H-Hey — “ He said peeking his head around the opened door. “Can I- Can I come in?” The young male said with a small smile on his face seeing the office being empty. “Or do you have appointments?”

“Charlie!” Sofia’s voice lifted the atmosphere in the office. The blonde was rarely relaxed, but seeing Charlie was enough to settle her thoughts. Her old apprentice had been transferred to another therapist, but Sofia still thought of him fondly. She set the files down and waved for him to come in. “I was just thinking about you this morning. It’s been a while since an update came across my desk.” She had begun to wonder whether Dr. Bennett was doing his job. 

“I don’t think I have any appointments this morning.” She replied to reassure him. “Dr. Bennett being around has freed up my schedule a little bit.” Sofia had been filling in the extra time by doing some deep research into the history of the hospital and its shareholders. “How have you been? Has Dr. Bennett been helping you?” 

[sofiaverrat]

Stacked [Open to Patients]

[sofiaverrat]

felicitymiller-thornewood‌:

After a more than unpleasant discussion with a colleague, some questions had weighed heavy on the nurses’ mind and she was in search of answers, going to Charles was out of the question, not only did she have an innate fear of the warden but he was not the right person to go to about prying questions. The next best person Felicity could think of was Sofia Verrat. 

Manicured fingertips ran down the length of pale blue scrubs before bringing a closed fist to the door of Dr Verrat’s office, knocking gently on the hardwood. Upon hearing a voice call out, the blonde crossed the threshold and offered a polite smile. “Oh, hello.” The nurse began before emerald hues noticed the stacks of paperwork littered upon the desk, she immediately felt guilt for her intrusion and was far too aware of the frustrations caused by mountains of work. “Sorry, you look busy. I can come back?” She politely offered, taking a small step backwards. 

Sofia was accustomed to observing the behavior of her colleagues. It provided her with information that she generally did not take the time to gather by socializing. Felicity seemed out of sorts today. The small stitch of a wrinkle appeared between her brows. “No that’s alright. Please come in.” Sofia offered as she set the files down. “I’ve just been trying to get my desk organized. It seems like everyday there is a new report to write.” 

The blonde glanced over at her computer and quickly clicked to minimize a few windows. She wasn’t sure who she could trust in Thornewood. “Did you have a question for me concerning one of the patients?” Sofia asked, refocusing her attention on the nurse.

[sofiaverrat]

Stacked [Open to Patients]

The files on her desk seemed to have multiplied. Sofia was not the type to lie to herself. She knew that she’d been neglecting her work in favor of some extra-curricular research. The past few months had produced some threads of investigation that were hard to put down. The people that ran Thornewood were more suspicious than she’d originally assumed. Once she’d started looking, the signs were everywhere. It was the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. She knew too much now, and things that would’ve otherwise passed by her periphery were highlighted all around her.

Sofia closed her laptop and sighed. The stacks of paperwork needed to be dealt with. They were beginning to obscure her carefully outlined calendar of appointments. A knock at the door startled the blonde and she looked up, papers still in hand. “Yes, come in.” She called out, tilting her head to see the figure in the doorway.

[sofiaverrat]

Daylight Savings 3.14

The longer days felt strange on the west coast. The cloudy afternoons seemed to stretch on forever. The light outside of Sofia’s window was grey, but it was enough to illuminate her office without the need for the overhead lights. It produced a hazy, cozy aura that made her pensive. Her research into the Forresters had only produced more questions so far. Meanwhile, the hospital seemed like it was splitting along every fault line.

Sofia glanced down at her planner just as the sound of knuckles rapped against her office door. The blonde looked up from her desk. “Oh, hello.” She seemed a bit startled, but controlled her expression very quickly. “You’re welcome to come in. I’m not busy.”

[ccallahann]

Standoff || OPEN [02/27/-20]

Bathwunk.

Bathwunk.

Bathwunk.

Bathwu-bonk-bonk-bonk-tap-tap-tap –

A loud groan echoed from the stair to the red floor when the bouncy rubber ball interrupted its course back to its thrower. The rainbow-colored little thing rolled around for a moment, insistent on staying out of Casey’s reach by rolling further away, to the edge of the carpet int he middle of the foyer. Of course, he could’ve gotten up from his position on the stairs, put his feet down on the yellow floor and walk over, but the guards had decided to be petty. And in return, Casey decided to be petty as well. One foot on that floor and you’re toast, Callahan.

He had no strength to fight them today, but his god damn bouncy ball was way out there. Blue eyes narrowed at the thing, trying its damnest to telekinetically get it to return to him. It didn’t budge, obviously, and Casey slumped in his posture. It wasn’t luxurious, sitting on the bottom rung of the stairs reaching out towards a rubber ball, but the boredom was enough to have him do it. Soon both arms hung over his knees, and Casey just stared at the opposite wall, occasionally glancing at his entourage, the guard that was endlessly fascinated by their nails. 

“Could yo–u ple–ase give me– my entertainme–nt ba-ack.” The noise was intentionally nasally, drawn out at every vowel Casey caught, but the guard paid him no mind. Of course. In turn, Casey turned to the shadow passing by his peripheral. 

“Hey! Hey, you - uh, yeah. Wanna be owed a favor? Toss me that ball over there, would you?”

[sofiaverrat]

Idleness warps the mind.

Sofia recalled the saying in German as she stood watching Casey Callahan slump forward with his forearms on his knees. It was a warning that her father used to give her during school breaks. If you aren’t working or studying, your mind will turn soft. Perhaps it was worse than that at Thornewood. The minds of those condemned to such damning idleness as this... were surely consuming themselves. 

“A favor?” Sofia strode over and bent down to pick up the toy. “Not necessary.” She straightened back up and ran a hand over her pencil skirt to smooth it out. “You already owe me some of your time, and its best we leave it at that.” The psychoanalyst approached Casey and examined his body language. She walked right up to him, despite the tensed posture of the guards. Sofia held out the bouncy ball for the man to take. “If you get tired of this game at some point today, you’re always welcome in my office. There’s coffee and biscotti too, so... I’d like to think its a competitive offer.”

[sofiaverrat]

Sofia’s Journal

06/01/2020

Still no word from the boss about recovery rates declining. I’m trying my best with my patients, but I’m not seeing the results I’m looking for. They seem to get along with one another for the most part though, which is good. Community should be helping them.

I am growing suspicious. I saw that the Forresters purchased the copyright for something called ‘Washington Cares’. I tried to search for the domain but the link was dead. It seems like Washington Cares is or was a charity, but I’m not sure what the Forresters’ plan is with it. Are we being incorporated into a charity?

Note: Ask Cam? She might’ve heard of W.C. Also- set google alert for articles about W.C.

 29/01/2020

I thought Callahan and Martin were both doing fairly well, but tonight has proven otherwise. The staff are all on lockdown because of the snow storm. It is freezing cold with the power out. Reminds me of Hamburg but with more ice. The wind is so loud outside that you almost could forget about the staff rushing around and dealing with the fight.

Callahan is going to solitary. I wish it wasn’t an option here, but the protocol at Thornewood is clearly in favor of confinement.

All the research points to solitary working against rehabilitation efforts. When Callahan returns to me, weeks of work will be undone, and that’s if he doesn’t injure himself in the meantime.

 01/02/2020

Martin is out of the infirmary. I noticed him limping around the hallway. Moore seems to have been affected by the conflict. She’s carrying a different kind of tension than usual. I know Martin and Moore are close. I should make sure she is doing alright. Martin seems to have lost any liveliness that he used to have. That’ll take some time to undo as well.

Note: Ask Barnes about Moore’s involvement in the fight. Is this a setback?

 06/02/2020

Callahan is still in solitary. I petitioned for his release and was denied. Don’t they know the damage this could be doing?

The whole building feels on edge.

Also, I walked past the library and Hale was in there looking at wedding magazines. I’m not sure this is the healthiest pastime.

Note: Make sure Hale and Malkin are still listed as flight risks.

 08/02/2020

Callahan is out. I should be able to speak with him soon.

Release reports seem to indicate that the damage is done.

Note:  Research protocol at other local institutions and propose changes to Forrester

22/02/2020

Requested increasing guard staffing. Young Forrester scoffed at the suggestion. If I’m not careful I’ll be written off entirely and the issues the patients are facing will never be heard at all. 

 02/03/2020

I’m worried about Swann. He seems despondent and exhausted. Worse now than before he came into our care. I’m not sure of the best way to help him.

I may increase sessions with several patients. There seems to be more darkness here than there was before.

 05/03/2020

More shouting in the library. The tension is this building is going to break it. At the very least, it will likely require us to hire a new librarian. I could hear the commotion down the hall. Forrester should’ve hired the extra staff. 

I’ve got a full schedule this week. Hopefully I can settle some of this unrest.

[sofiaverrat]

Out of Sorts~ 1.06.20

[sofiaverrat]

i--dont--sleep‌:

It had happened already but the young male still nodded as Sofia mentioned the guards patrolling the hallways during the nights. He had heard about the consequences, but something about being a green level patient, a former intern and not getting caught nearly enough kept him somewhat safe. “I know, I’m always looking out for my own safety whilst walking and won’t do it when I know it’s better for me not to.” Even though especially those nights are the nights he wants to run from everything. Also, the nights he usually makes a stupid mistake and runs into someone and most certainly the nights he finds himself an abandoned broom closet to sleep in.

He missed Brielle on a daily basis. Missed his friends, the staff he knew by heart, the coffee machine in the office of his therapist and Noah. God, did he miss Noah! Charlie would offer a leg just to be able to call her even if it would be for just a minute or two. He missed the safety bubble he had created for himself in Brielle. Missed feeling like he was climbing to becoming better instead of the constant feeling he was getting worse.

“It really was good back there~” The young male mumbled softly, lackadaisical blue hues glued to his intertwined fingers. Thornewood was good, but it would never feel as much as home as Brielle ever was. Brielle was home because of the people that still dwelled there. “I wish I could be proud of myself-” Charlie said as his eyes slowly traveled back up to the blonde opposite of him. “-but I made promises to so many people. I let so many people down, including myself, by giving Rose enough space to mess with me again.” He couldn’t remember her laugh on bad days. He couldn’t even remember the way her eyes looked like when she was happy. All he saw was the empty shell of his sister that followed him around. All-day and all-night. A small sigh escaped his lips as his head dipped back down, a defeated man that wouldn’t admit being defeated. “S-Sometimes I can’t help but be honest you know-” He said softly. “-it’s like I can’t stop myself when I talk and before I know it my biggest secrets are out and I don’t know if I messed everything up or if I’m just doing alright. It’s so- so confusing…”

He was oddly formal, Sofia noted mentally. It wasn’t a new quirk, but she still wondered what Charlie had been like as a child. Had he always been so precise and polite? Had he ever been reckless, spontaneous or mischievous? As he spoke, Sofia’s posture softened. She had very few maternal instincts, but something about Charlie made her want to envelop him in hug. He was carrying a lot of heaviness, and he did so silently. Maybe they were alike in that sense. She wanted to reach out and say that she understood.

“Don’t worry about saying too much.” Sofia encouraged him. “I’d much rather hear what’s happening with you.” She offered him a warm smile. “It is so much better to share the burden and have someone that you can come to and say ‘today is hard’ and have them know exactly why without you having to say it again.” 

Sofia moved over on the sofa and gestured for Charlie to join her. The warm blankets helped keep away the winter cold and she didn’t mind sharing them. “We’re going to make sure things get better.” She reassured him. “I know it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, but this is a great facility and I’m really going to try and help you the best I can.” She shut her laptop. Charlie didn’t need to see the things she’d been googling. The more she dug into the Forrester’s investments and paper trails, the more questions she had about their motives. “You like the staff here, right?” Sofia’s head tilted slightly, sending her messy bun bobbing to the right. “You trust them?”

[sofiaverrat]

Character’s name: Sofia Verrat

 Position: Psychoanalyst

 Alignment (bold choice): Team Forrester/Team Against/Uninvolved

 Explain (1 para minimum): Sofia came to Thornewood from Germany under the impression that the institute was exceptional and that she would have the pride of offering her care within these walls. The longer she stays the more suspicious she has become of the hospital’s methods, as well as the Forresters themselves. She continues to play the good soldier, but she is waiting for the tides to change.

 Bold relevant skills; italicize and bold 1 skill your character has mastered: stealth || intimidation || perception || deception || stealing || persuasion

 Relevant personality traits: Sofia’s stature is commanding and her wealth of knowledge is vast. Her ability to read people is both beneficial to her patients and a detriment to her enemies. She knows exactly how to sharpen people’s insecurities and play on their fears. She is used to keeping a calm demeanor while working with volatile patients and is thus quite adept at seeming perfectly at ease and friendly with those she hates.

 Relevant flaws: Sofia’s controlled personality often comes off as cold, and thus she is not very good at making allies. She is friendly with maybe two of the patients, but otherwise has not built strong relationships with them. It is possible that if she ever were to make moves to defend them, they would read her as disingenuous. It is not clear from her outward actions that she is on anyone’s side but her own.

 Ideals: Sofia respects human dignity and honor. She is a prideful person who believes in restoring and guiding people to their highest potential. She values self-awareness, growth, and hard work. The truth is important, but only if it does some good in the world. Practicality wins out over honesty.

[sofiaverrat]

Out of Sorts~ 1.06.20

[sofiaverrat]

i--dont--sleep‌:

The young patient understood the woman completely. He had wrapped himself into a long woolen open hoodie with his arms folded over his chest, just trying to make himself as small and compact as possible in the hope to keep some of the little body heat he still had left. “I take late night walks just because I’m scared my feet will freeze off if I don’t,” Charlie said with a hint of a smile in his voice. “I have experienced some snow and being kinda cold in Oregon. But nothing prepared me for this.”

“I have got to be honest. It does sound pretty interesting.” The young male said as he looked form his folded slightly trembling hands up to the therapist in front of him. It would be the thing he would dive into himself if he wasn’t to busy with being stuck in a mental hospital and trying to get out. It would be just the thing he would have been looking at between sessions if he would still be working here. “Well, Thornewood isn’t my first rodeo of course~” Charlie said as he felt his eyes travel back to the safety of his own hands. The young patient didn’t mind having eye contact with people, that was as long as the topic they were talking about was something light. Not his mental health or his past.  “It’s a double-edged sword of some kind I think. I like having friends here. In my previous– institute, I actually made friends I consider my family by now. I still text my old doctor, I met someone I really liked and made a best friend that is pissed as fuck that I’m back because Rose is still fucking with my brain. Part of me is hoping people grow in this place but keep reminding the people that helped them, staff or other patients.” Charlie rambled quietly. Taking a small pause trying to make sure he wouldn’t keep on talking or say things he would regret. “But yeah~ There are good people here, staff that cares about us, therapists that don’t supervise in the lounge but do like to talk with patients that come in here to sit as well. So it’s pretty cool here to be frank.”

Sofia smiled at Charlie and nodded along with his example. She’d never been to Oregon, but she’d heard that the weather was a little more mild than it was here. “Careful not to get caught on your walks.” Sofia reminded him. “Its probably hard to get used to all the restrictions, but they’re in place for your safety.” She hated the thought of Charlie walking around after curfew and running into one of the guards.

The psychoanalyst’s brow wrinkled when her friend mentioned that he’d been in other hospitals. She intentionally hadn’t read too much of his medical history beyond what was necessary. It didn’t surprise her, considering what he’d been through, but she was interested in talking about it further. Sofia made a mental note to bring it up another time.

“I’m so glad you made friends so quickly,” the blonde responded happily. “And it sounds like the place you were at before was good for you.” Sofia silently worried that Thornewood was not as good of a hospital as others. She’d come here because of the program and its promise, but her suspicions about the Forresters were getting the better of her now. “Don’t beat yourself up for being back. Be proud of yourself for knowing what you needed and not ignoring the signs.” She smiled kindly at Charlie, and embraced his compliments. She looked more relaxed than Charlie had probably ever seen her.  “Thank you for being honest with me, Charlie. I’m really glad that you’re here and I can see you every week. I know we aren’t supposed to get too attached in this profession, but even I make a few exceptions.”

[sofiaverrat]

Out of Sorts~ 1.06.20

[sofiaverrat]

camlinh-thornewood‌:

Camille had worked a partial overnight shift and into the morning. She was enjoying a brief break from her rounds. A well worn travel mug filled with black coffee warmed one of her hands. The bitter scent was a welcome wake up after working odd hours. Cam’s hair had been haphazardly braided partway through her shift to keep it out of the way and her scrubs were a bit wrinkled. Some quiet time in the second floor lounge sounded like the perfect break. 

Upon entering the room Cam noticed Sofia working on a couch and bundled up against the chill air of the old building. “No worries, I’m just on my break. I think Thornewood should be renamed The Ice Castle, it would fit better.” She replied with a quick smile, warm against the cold. Camille hadn’t spent much time getting to know Sofia, but she could tell that the therapist was a bit busier than usual. “Busy day for you?” She inquired as she took a seat in a nearby armchair. 

Sofia took in the sight of the disheveled braid in Camille’s hair and the look of an overnight shift. “Busy, yes.” Sofia replied, “But not the usual way.” The blonde looked over at Camille. “I’m not really working, but more... researching?” She shrugged and gave her coworker a soft smile. “How about you? Is your shift going well?” Sofia asked curiously. The heavily tattooed woman was a subject of fascination for Sofia. Her upbringing had been rather strict and her young advancement through university had left little time for living. Camille looked like someone who knew how to live for themselves. 

After a moment of small talk, Sofia paused and looked over at Camille and then back at her laptop. “Hey Cam...” Sofia added in a hesitant murmur. “When did you start working here?”

[sh-bambi]

Sunrise Blues || 01.05.2020

[sofiaverrat]

sh-bambi‌:

  To straighten his posture had been a good idea when a familiar accented voice returned the greeting. “Doctor Verrat,” Acknowledging her presence with a nod was all he could do, now that he recognized the woman. Although never vocal about it, Bambi could admit to himself that Sofia was intimidating in her own way; Strong, had an aura about her that made him recall the respect he’d harbored towards his superiors in the past. Knowing her position as neither a guard nor a nurse didn’t help the situation either, but Bambi was set on not letting those guarded thoughts through. Another attempt to rub last night’s sleep from his eyes brought the heels of his hands against closed eyes, the burst of starlight warding off some of it.

  The ease of dealing with another coworker helped some with the tension still lingering, and Bambi offered a brief nod at the question. There was no need to hide the heaviness of the morning near those who weren’t the guard or patients, so he let his chin settle in his hand, elbow sliding against the flat surface of the table as he settled. Head tilted to hear her better through the shrill note overlapping the words, he shrugged. “Feeling as well as I could after all the commotion. Heard one of the other guards didn’t even bother showing up today. Good to see nothing’s changed on that front at least.” A jab towards some of the lazier guards to ease the sudden apprehension the question caused. With a tilted head and a soft smile, he continued, “How about you? Expecting trouble now that everything’s back to normal?”

“Yes, I think a few people took sick days today.” Sofia nodded with a knowing grin. “I hope their night out was worth the hangover.” She took a sip of her coffee and thought back on her younger years of drinking in Berlin and dancing until the early morning hours. Those days had been few and far between at the time, but they seemed impossibly far behind her now. Sofia could not imagine herself letting loose like that now. 

“I never really anticipate much trouble, but the patients always find a way to cause it.” She smiled. “The New Years party was nice and drama-free, but I did not stay late. I don’t think romance is particularly helpful in these situations, and I knew there would be patients kissing at midnight, so...” She kind of chuckled and threw one hand up like she was brushing off the whole thought. “They will do as they please, I suppose. Scolding them won’t help anything.” She took another sip of coffee and looked at Bambi. “What are your thoughts on the rules around here? In some cases I think the leniency is better for everyone, but I get the impression that even the few rules there are are often broken.”

[sofiaverrat]

Out of Sorts~ 1.06.20

[sofiaverrat]

i--dont--sleep‌:

“Even with the heater?” Charlie said as he spotted the blonde woman sitting in the second-floor lounge. He had been wandering through the hallways himself. A styrofoam cup filled with coffee slightly warming his hands as the liquid grew colder by the second. Small sips which he drank without actually wanting to. Once more his body craved something more than the usual caffeine. Part of him had hoped he would have ran into Camille just so he might be able to get some nicotine. 

The night had been worse than it normally would have been. Maybe it made sense, with the month of February creeping closer and closer as well as the date that was branded into his mind for the rest of his life. Even with his whole mind screaming to sleep and not trust the memory of his sister following him around the halls. ‘She isn’t real Charlie, you know she isn’t.’ ‘But why does she seem so real then. I don’t fucking understand!’

But as far as he knew he kept a pretty good facade as he sat down opposite the woman. “Working hard as ever?” He asked softly as he saw the blonde sitting with her laptop. Part of him wondering what it was about. Part of him regretting he wasn’t in this place as a ‘professional’ any more. 

“I had it pointed at my feet for a while, but it just hasn’t been able to keep up with the drafts.” Sofia replied with a soft sigh. “I swear this building must lose hundreds in energy costs. The windows are all so drafty.” She nudged her feet underneath herself just a little bit more. The couch she was seated on was not under any windows thankfully. The blanket was doing an excellent job of keeping her legs warm, and her woolen cardigan was wrapped around her tightly.

“It is not really work, no.” Sofia admitted, looking up from the laptop with a gentle smile. She was developing a soft spot for Charlie, which was uncommon for her. “But it is keeping me busy. I am researching this area and the history of the hospital and I’m really into it.” She smiled and tilted the screen down so that it wouldn’t seem like a barrier between herself and Charlie. Sofia was the type to throw herself fully into something that had captured her interest. “I think the program here is really interesting. The sense of community is good for the patients I think, but I also wonder if the residents are staying longer than predicted because of that.” Sofia wasn’t going to tell Charlie, but she had her suspicions about the more negative elements of Thornewood. He was a patient here now though, and she didn’t want to make him distrust the process. “How do you feel about things from the patient side? Do you feel like your needs are being met?”

[sofiaverrat]

Out of Sorts~ 1.06.20

Sofia was seated in the second floor lounge with her laptop in front of her. A plush red blanket was tucked around her lap as she sat with her legs folded underneath her. The laptop slid a bit as she shifted, but she kept a hold on it. The soft scent of hazelnut coffee swirled around her, mixing with the scent of her complex, orange blossom perfume. The beverage sat just off to the side on a nearby table. 

It was nearly ten in the morning, but Sofia didn’t look put together the way she usually did. While she often showed up at work with soft, blown out curls and a dewy, glowing face of makeup, the therapist appeared too busy for that this morning. Her blonde hair was unstyled and pulled back in a low, messy bun at the nape of her neck. Her face was untouched save for a bit of chapstick and a quick coat of mascara. 

Sofia was looking intently at her laptop when she was suddenly startled by the sight of someone moving into her field of vision. “Ah, sorry. My office was a bit too cold this morning. I hope you don’t mind. I’m not here to supervise or anything, so don’t mind me.”

[sh-bambi]

Sunrise Blues || 01.05.2020

   With new years (thankfully) over, Bambi managed to get out of bed, shave, and get back to work. Like a dormant robot coming back to life, really, when he appeared in the halls of Thornewood as if nothing had happened. His body was still high-strung from the ordeal of fireworks, his mind hadn’t released its flight or fight mode, and it ached from the tension forced upon it. Even in the silence of pre-breakfast break- his body slouched over a distressed takeaway cup that was acting as a savior- it didn’t relent. Dull hazel eyes focused on the pattern of the table while a thumb rubbed lazy circles over his hairline. His eyelids felt heavy against the blaring lights overhead and he let them flutter shut, only for a moment. Five days since the zenith of it all, and only just had the nameless fear started to melt off, leaving only dark circles and pale skin in its wake.

   The huff that escaped his lungs matched that of a bored canine, likely about to turn into a throaty groan when he was cut off by a sudden clatter of chairs. It took painfully long for him to blink his eyes open and turn them towards the sound, the unforgiving light yet again making him squint against faux daylight. While the sight is still blurry against dry eyes his lips drew into a polite smile just as quickly as his posture straightened. “Good morn-” The cup that was held in a loose grasp toppled and he made a jerky motion to unnecessarily catch it before he offers a salute to the now clear figure, promptly following it with a full-body cringe.

   “Good morning. Sorry to mislead you by sitting here, breakfast isn’t up for another two hours. Don’t think the cooks have even dragged themselves in yet. Coffee?”

[sofiaverrat]

“Gute morning, Mr. Barnes.” 

Sofia’s voice was thick with her German accent, heavier than usual when she’d just been dragged from sleep an hour earlier. Her sharp eyes caught on every unraveled thread poking out of Bambi’s behavior: the tired eyes, the quick correction of posture, the nearly lost cup of coffee. It was early, she would grant him that. Even Sofia, who was so typically a bastion of proper dress code and formality, still had the dampness of her morning shower clinging to her hair. She offered a soft nod toward her colleague and approached the coffee station. She picked up the pot and slowly poured herself a cup, finishing it off with a small splash of creamer. 

“Coffee is exactly what this morning needed.” She smiled at Shiloh. “How are you feeling this morning? Ready for the day ahead?” She was unaware of Shiloh’s particular brand of fragility, but she knew psychological stress when she saw it. It was her job, after all. If the man wanted to brush everything off as a bad night’s sleep, she’d be fine with that, but talk therapy was her specialty and she liked to leave that door open.