Amanda and Topaz || Temporary Roommates
Aug. 6th, 2018 05:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsNo one is actually okay and everyone is surprisingly candid about that. Whole new world.
"Did Darcy not give you enough love or food?" Topaz muttered as Midnight wound around her legs. The cat followed her every single time she went to the kitchen, meowing loudly. "All right, come here." She knelt down to scoop up the cat, carrying her while she made tea. "It's hard to do this with one hand, you know." The cat seemed utterly disinterested in any inconvenience she was causing. She was saved from a lecture from a knock at the door. "It's open," she called, shifting Midnight. "You're getting heavy."
"'S not polite to point out when a lady's gaining weight," came Amanda's amused voice as she let herself in. While she was newly discharged from the medlab, she was still healing and still too pale under the variety of bandaids and swabs held in place with surgical tape. "You making tea? I'm dying for a decent cuppa after a couple of weeks of the medlab version."
"Everyone gives her too many treats when I'm gone." Topaz bent down to deposit the cat on the floor. "Go see Aunt Amanda." She straightened back up to get another mug out, focusing on the task at hand rather than looking at her guest. She had a good idea of how Amanda looked already. "How are you?"
"The same. Tired all the time and itchy as hell. Healing naturally sucks, but I'm not about to start asking for energy donors - everyone's already twitchy as fuck about magic." Amanda's reply was candid, knowing Topaz wouldn't appreciate her usual "I'm fine!" response. "How about you?" Midnight had jumped on the couch and now meowed at Amanda meaningfully. "Fine, moggine, I'll sit down."
Topaz made a noise that was almost a laugh, but fell a little flat. "Yeah, I can imagine no one's particularly fond of it right now." The bitter edge on her voice was obviously. "Honestly, I have no idea how I am." Amanda had told the truth. Topaz could return the favor. "Alive, I guess."
Lowering herself onto the couch with a soft grunt of effort, Amanda stroked Midnight's head. The cat curled herself up beside the witch, somehow aware that her usual lap-climbing wouldn't be welcome. "Alive is good, considering. But we both have recovery to do. I'm seeing the docs regular - are you doing the same with the Prof?"
"Twice a week," Topaz replied, giving the kettle more attention than it needed. "And he has full rights to add on more sessions if he thinks I need it."
"And if you need it?" Amanda was as direct as always. "You do know it's all right to ask for extra help when things get too much, right?"
"I think I've caused enough trouble." The words were supposed to stay in her head. But they were being honest. Topaz sighed, shoulders slumping as the kettle whistled and she took it off the stove.
"Topaz." There was exasperation in the words, but mostly love and concern. "I know it's hard, love, but believe me, it's more trouble for everyone, including you, if you don't work on this now while it's fresh. The longer you leave it, the more it festers and takes hold."
“I’m working on it.” Her tone was tired as she poured the water. “I’m doing therapy. I’ve got my journal. I’m not hiding in my suite. Much.” She couldn’t be faulted for needing a break. “I haven’t even gone to the library since... since. What else can I do?” The words weren’t confrontational. If anything, they were a little desperate. She didn’t know what else to do. She didn’t want to bother anyone.
"Well, going back to the library might actually be a good thing, since it's something you love to do and you're good at it," came Amanda's slightly wry reply. Her voice and emotions were full of sympathy, however. "I'm sorry, love, I don't want to push. But just remember, it's okay to call the Prof or one of the docs or even me when you're having issues, yeah?" She gave a slightly shame-faced smile. "I might have run into a little birdie who told me about what happened."
“Hope.” Topaz sighed a put out sigh. “Telling on me for my own since twenty-fifteen.” She didn’t deny that any of it had happened, or try to make excuses, because what was the point? She was broken. It wasn’t like she didn’t know. “I guess...” She frowned. “Jean said I shouldn’t, you know, be alone. Probably because of things like what happened with Hope.”
"Actually, that's the other reason I dropped by." Amanda radiated innocence. "I had my check up with Jean today before I was allowed to set foot outside the medlab, and she was saying that with the blood loss and the muscle damage and all, it would be good for me to have someone around to keep an eye on me. And with Angie still down there..." She gave Topaz the full hopeful puppy eyes. "You don't think I could stay here, do you? I can keep an eye on you and you make sure I eat my iron supplements and don't take a header in the shower?"
Innocent. Right. Like Topaz bought that for a moment. She finally turned to look at Amanda, raising an eyebrow. “I suppose if it’s for your own good....” She said dryly before reluctantly admitting, “and mine. Fair warning though, Midnight runs the suite.”
Amanda grinned, and scritched Midnight under the chin. "Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem."
"Did Darcy not give you enough love or food?" Topaz muttered as Midnight wound around her legs. The cat followed her every single time she went to the kitchen, meowing loudly. "All right, come here." She knelt down to scoop up the cat, carrying her while she made tea. "It's hard to do this with one hand, you know." The cat seemed utterly disinterested in any inconvenience she was causing. She was saved from a lecture from a knock at the door. "It's open," she called, shifting Midnight. "You're getting heavy."
"'S not polite to point out when a lady's gaining weight," came Amanda's amused voice as she let herself in. While she was newly discharged from the medlab, she was still healing and still too pale under the variety of bandaids and swabs held in place with surgical tape. "You making tea? I'm dying for a decent cuppa after a couple of weeks of the medlab version."
"Everyone gives her too many treats when I'm gone." Topaz bent down to deposit the cat on the floor. "Go see Aunt Amanda." She straightened back up to get another mug out, focusing on the task at hand rather than looking at her guest. She had a good idea of how Amanda looked already. "How are you?"
"The same. Tired all the time and itchy as hell. Healing naturally sucks, but I'm not about to start asking for energy donors - everyone's already twitchy as fuck about magic." Amanda's reply was candid, knowing Topaz wouldn't appreciate her usual "I'm fine!" response. "How about you?" Midnight had jumped on the couch and now meowed at Amanda meaningfully. "Fine, moggine, I'll sit down."
Topaz made a noise that was almost a laugh, but fell a little flat. "Yeah, I can imagine no one's particularly fond of it right now." The bitter edge on her voice was obviously. "Honestly, I have no idea how I am." Amanda had told the truth. Topaz could return the favor. "Alive, I guess."
Lowering herself onto the couch with a soft grunt of effort, Amanda stroked Midnight's head. The cat curled herself up beside the witch, somehow aware that her usual lap-climbing wouldn't be welcome. "Alive is good, considering. But we both have recovery to do. I'm seeing the docs regular - are you doing the same with the Prof?"
"Twice a week," Topaz replied, giving the kettle more attention than it needed. "And he has full rights to add on more sessions if he thinks I need it."
"And if you need it?" Amanda was as direct as always. "You do know it's all right to ask for extra help when things get too much, right?"
"I think I've caused enough trouble." The words were supposed to stay in her head. But they were being honest. Topaz sighed, shoulders slumping as the kettle whistled and she took it off the stove.
"Topaz." There was exasperation in the words, but mostly love and concern. "I know it's hard, love, but believe me, it's more trouble for everyone, including you, if you don't work on this now while it's fresh. The longer you leave it, the more it festers and takes hold."
“I’m working on it.” Her tone was tired as she poured the water. “I’m doing therapy. I’ve got my journal. I’m not hiding in my suite. Much.” She couldn’t be faulted for needing a break. “I haven’t even gone to the library since... since. What else can I do?” The words weren’t confrontational. If anything, they were a little desperate. She didn’t know what else to do. She didn’t want to bother anyone.
"Well, going back to the library might actually be a good thing, since it's something you love to do and you're good at it," came Amanda's slightly wry reply. Her voice and emotions were full of sympathy, however. "I'm sorry, love, I don't want to push. But just remember, it's okay to call the Prof or one of the docs or even me when you're having issues, yeah?" She gave a slightly shame-faced smile. "I might have run into a little birdie who told me about what happened."
“Hope.” Topaz sighed a put out sigh. “Telling on me for my own since twenty-fifteen.” She didn’t deny that any of it had happened, or try to make excuses, because what was the point? She was broken. It wasn’t like she didn’t know. “I guess...” She frowned. “Jean said I shouldn’t, you know, be alone. Probably because of things like what happened with Hope.”
"Actually, that's the other reason I dropped by." Amanda radiated innocence. "I had my check up with Jean today before I was allowed to set foot outside the medlab, and she was saying that with the blood loss and the muscle damage and all, it would be good for me to have someone around to keep an eye on me. And with Angie still down there..." She gave Topaz the full hopeful puppy eyes. "You don't think I could stay here, do you? I can keep an eye on you and you make sure I eat my iron supplements and don't take a header in the shower?"
Innocent. Right. Like Topaz bought that for a moment. She finally turned to look at Amanda, raising an eyebrow. “I suppose if it’s for your own good....” She said dryly before reluctantly admitting, “and mine. Fair warning though, Midnight runs the suite.”
Amanda grinned, and scritched Midnight under the chin. "Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem."
