frost_jewel | 16. [voiced]

[It’s been a long few days since the Kin’corrans went “home”; Mia doesn’t remember most of them. Since the 31st she’s been, for the most part, sound asleep in the battledome clinic, trying to recover from…well, everything. Dealing with the fire didn’t help, leaving her spent and dehydrated and coughing. The time she’s spent awake, though, convinced her that things in the village were getting back to normal.

So her first mission of the day, after waking and sorting herself out, is to find something to do that will alleviate this boredom and, just perhaps, help make her case for just going home to lie about there instead.]

I know it has been very difficult and busy in the village just recently. Given the date, it will only stay busy. If it is at all possible, though, I would ask a small favor: would anyone be willing to bring a few books from the library to the battle dome clinic? I promise to return them at the first opportunity. …Once I’m done with them, that is.

While I am thinking about it…well, I would not mind a little company either. I want to hear that everyone is all right.

[Missing out on more than a day always leaves her too disoriented for her liking.]

[[ooc: ~~We interrupt the delicious intro train to bring you~~ If you work in the clinic and would like to have that argument about going home, step right up! She's a patient woman.]]

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[Oh, yours too? Norma returns the grin and pulls up a chair to sit. Now that the pleasantries are over, she has to get down to real business.]

What happened, anyway? I mean...to wind up with you being in here.

Last week was very strenuous. Then...there was a fire, and between the Psynergy drain and the smoke and heat I...knew I could use some rest, when it was over.

[The explanation is a little different every time, but she strives for as much of the truth as she can. This is pretty much it.]

I'm all right, I promise. [And she's not a woman to take or make promises lightly.]

[Last week...yeah, she knows. She knows full well how tough that week was. Norma rubs her face, grumbling under her breath about Grune and a bunch of snooty kids and how they're not running a foster home or whatever. Seems like Mia had it loads worse though, if she wound up in the hospital.]

A fire?! Jeez, Mimi... I'm glad you're okay, but take it easy from now on, okay? How'd a fire break out anyway? Was it those ding-dongs?

I think it was a combination of the dryness and some inattention. [She flinched at 'take it easy.' What, exactly, is she doing now - been doing for the past several days - if not choosing to take it easy?] I wasn't hurt. And the fire was brought under control, as far as I remember.

Which I'm glad for! [Jeez, did she say something wrong? She was just trying to be nice - Norma was worried about the poor girl. While she wasn't hurt now, she very well could have been.] I mean, you helped me out a lot before, y'know? I'm just saying to be more careful, okay? I still haven't paid you back for kiiinda saving my backside from time to time.

[Oh. ...Oh dear.]

I'm sorry, Norma. It is...difficult to keep hearing that I haven't been careful. But that isn't your fault. [Mia shakes her head, for once not at all sure how to convey the complete sincerity of her apology.] I didn't mean to snap at you.

[Norma waves her hand dismissively, easily bouncing back with a smile on her face. She's never been one to be easily upset by the little things. Just so long as Mia's okay, she'll take a bit of cabin fever induced rage any day.]

Don't worry about it. I think I was feeling the same way when my leg was broken, remember? I wanted to chew off a few peoples' heads myself, so I don't blame you for that. But really, everyone's just worried about you, y'know? We just want you to get better as soon as possible! Take this time to just relax and stuff. It'll take a load off you and us both.

[Goodness, she could never rage at Norma. All of her anger potential is saved for villains and patients who disobey all day long.]

I am much better than I was after last week ended. [Please trust her on that; very few other people have.] I certainly don't want to...ah, chew any heads.

...It just gets hard to hear...that I'm being unreasonable. [Though she tries to maintain control over her voice, something in that sentence was quite sad. She can't understand where she's making the mistakes.

And she hasn't grasped that most of the people who tell her not to do so much don't really mean what she hears - that she is somehow being irresponsible despite all the rest and knowing her own limits; they just want her to feel better.]

Oh, please. Mimi, you are the most un-unreasonable person I've ever met! [Really. Mia's always been a sweetheart, even now when she's in bed and stuff. She seems a little irritated, and with good reason to be, but she's still keeping a level head and an air of calm and kindness about her. That's a quality Norma admires - she could never hold her temper like Mia could, even if she tried.] You know everyone's just saying that for you to get better, right? Like I said, we want you back on your feet as soon as possible, so we can stop worrying ourselves. It's no fun when anyone's in the hospital, especially your friends.

But I am glad you're feeling better! And hopefully all this stuff can entertain you a while until you're good to go, too.

[It's a rare day when Mia lets her emotions get the best of her this much. She's smiling at Norma, one of those smiles that can't decide whether it wants to be happy or sad or relieved.

Will she mind Mia leaning over for a hug in place of words?]

[Oh. Well, that's a little surprising, yes, but definitely not unwelcome in the least! Norma's always open for free hugs, being the cuddly sort that she is, and her mildly shocked face turns upward into a huge grin as she returns the affection right back. Good, that's good. Mimi needed to smile like that.]

[It's a longer hug than she intended. Suddenly she aches for her Weyard friends, who did not hug often but the invitation was always there; she wants someone who understands the things she thinks about when it comes to duty.

But this is okay, for now. Perhaps, better than okay - Norma is a good friend, too.]

Sometimes I think too much.

[Oh, Mia. Norma snuggles for as long as she's needed, and raises an eyebrow at the little comment added on at the end, her smile before a little more gentle. Think too much? Haha, that sounds really familiar. As she pulls back, Norma chuckles quietly, rubbing the back of her neck a little.]

I think we all do, sometimes.

Thank you so much, Norma. Really.

[Mia's a bit embarrassed herself. Restless fingers tug the edge of her clinic-issue blanket.]

Hey, don't sweat it, okay? It's what friends are for. Just rest up if you need to and all that. I can stick around here until you fall asleep if you're tired.

[Uh-oh. If she's saying that, does that mean Mia looks tired? ...She feels tired, a contented tired. Like she accomplished some small good thing. Unreasonable or not, all healers know you ought to sleep when you're tired.]

Would you? I'm sorry to take you up on that but- [Does the yawn answer the rest?]

[Norma just snorts and begins to laugh quietly and quickly. Yep, that just seals the deal now. Norma's here to stay until Mia's fast asleep. She's guessing the girl isn't like her - who can fall fast asleep in seconds - but she'll stay for as long as she can.]

Just don't ask me to sing to you and I'll stay for as long as you like.

I suppose you could sing if you like to, but I wouldn't ask. [Mia covers another yawn with her hand and shakes her head.] I'm so sorry.

Just rest, don't apologize. Jeez... [Norma's not upset, nor does she sound in any way condescending. She's just shaking her head with a friendly, warm little smile. Silly Mimi, rest if you need it, don't apologize for feeling tired.] I'll be right here until you fall asleep, okay? Promise.

Thank you.

[It won't take long. Sitting in bed entertaining people is surprisingly draining. Once she puts her head back down on that pillow, the clock's ticking; in maybe ten minutes, she's out.]

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