The nurse is in!

[wavesofjade]

WHO: Dolores Maryam and everyone!
TONE: General, probably varied
RATING: Let's say PG-13 to be safe
WHEN: September 18
WHERE: Hospital Wing
WHAT: Open thread for people to visit Dolores in the hospital for anything they might need
STATUS: Ongoing

----

[Welcome to the hospital wing! Perhaps you are a visitor to a patient, or an unfortunate individual who has managed to injure themselves in a Potions accident or an incident in Herbology. Maybe you just need a smile and a friendly ear for your problems, or a mild Calming Draught to help you sleep.

Whatever it is that you require, when the door to the ward is pushed open the first sound to be heard is that of a soft humming, and light footsteps moving across the room. Dolores Maryam looks fairly young, but there's a motherly atmosphere about her as she turns and smiles enquiringly]

Comments

[wwistful]

[He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, already feeling as awkward as he is tense.]

I have somethin' I need to discuss with you. [He glances around.] Do you have a moment?

[wavesofjade]

Of course.

[She doesn't draw attention to the awkwardness that's practically radiating off him, and offers him a chair]

What seems to be the trouble?

[wwistful]

Thank you.

[It's probably obvious now, considering the small wince he makes as he lowers himself into the chair.]

I have a condition.

[wavesofjade]

[Very obvious, and already she's working out how she might approach it.. but that will depend on what he tells her]

You will need to be a little more specific than that, dear.

[wwistful]

[He shifts a bit in his chair, clearly uncomfortable right now.]

It's my back. It's not a major problem or anythin', it just aches a bit.

[wavesofjade]

I think I will be the judge of that..

[She can see he's making less of it than what it is, just by how uncomfortable he looks]

Now.. is this recent, or chronic? I'm going to need to know how you did it, in either case.

[wwistful]

As you wish.

It was recent. [Recent is anywhere between now and five years ago.] It was a work related accident.

[If his back wasn't bad enough, now the conversation is making him uncomfortable.]

[wavesofjade]

[She looks a little surprised at that]

Work related? Dear me, what have you been doing to hurt yourself so severely here at the school?

[Still, that narrows it down some. She can probably fix it easily enough, if it's recent]

[wwistful]

[He's worrying his hands in his lap, fidgeting and fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt before he frowns up at the ceiling and sighs.]

I lied. It was over a year ago from when I was an auror. I haven't seen anyone since I left hospital....But it's gettin' real bad and I can hardly walk, let alone teach.

[wavesofjade]

[She makes a soft sound of disappointment and looks over at him, though there's no scolding in her voice when she speaks, just a gentle patience]

Professor, you should know not to lie to someone who will be taking care of your health.

[Settle a bottle down, she shuts the cabinet]

I will need to examine the problem. Take off your shirt, please.

[wwistful]

[He grunts in response to that, feeling stupid on top of guilty.]
I don't like talkin' about it. That's all.

[Because talking about how it happened brings up a whole mess of memories he'd rather not go through again.

His lip twitches at the request, but he rises from his seat to remove his coat before begining to undo his buttons, muttering quietly to himself.]

[wavesofjade]

[She just shakes her head, and that lightly chiding tone is still in her voice - not patronising, not entirely displeased, but just enough to make it clear she would have rather he told her the truth]

I might have made things so much worse had you continued to lie to me, professor.

[But she doesn't question it further, and while he does as she asked she picks up a book full of handwritten notes and quickly flicks through it]

[wwistful]

I can't imagine it could get much worse than it is now.

[He hesitates for a very short moment before he shrugs it off, folding it over the chair ontop of his coat before folding his arms over his chest, watching her.]

[wavesofjade]

Do not tempt fate, dear.. It can always be worse.

[Dolores simply smiles at him, and moves around behind him, resting one hand on his shoulder and running the fingers of the other carefully down the centre of his back]

Try to stand as straight as you can, and do tell me if I hurt you.

[wwistful]

If you insist. I shall keep my mouth shut.

[He watches her carefully, wanting to turn as she moves behind him but know that's foolish. He tenses as she lays a hand on him, not finding it difficult to straighten up. He stares forward, trying not to look obviously put out.]

Understood.

[wavesofjade]

I insisted no such thing, professor.

[Her fingertips move carefully down his back, and she finds the twisted, knotted areas of muscles easily enough, letting out a soft sound of sympathy as she does so]

Dear me.. this does feel painful.. but I can certainly help you.

[wwistful]

I'm sure.

[He's trying hard to remain stone faced through this, but it does hurt. It's hurt for a damn long time too. He feels stupid and sore for leaving it so long and he can't help wincing slightly. How pathetic it is that she can't so much as brush her fingertips over the area without him seething in pain.]

S'good to hear. [He needs to hiss that through gritted teeth.]

[wavesofjade]

[She knows it hurts, she can feel that it must, and she lets out a soft 'ssh', a quiet cooing sound when he winces and hisses through his teeth. It doesn't take her long to complete her examination though it must seem like forever to him, then she makes a thoughtful noise]

... I do believe that I can help you, though I find it strange this hasn't been treated sooner.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc will tolerate the ordeal, of course, because he really needs to. In his mind he's just trying to distract himself with busywork, thinking about classes and projects.]

That. [He pauses for a moment, not sure if he wants to say it.] Is entirely my own fault.

[wavesofjade]

Is it?

[She takes her hands off him and moves to find something that will at least work as a temporary measure until she can create something more effective. Dolores has always been hesitate to prescribe anything close to narcotics for pain, but she's sure she has something to use as an alternative]

I am.. impressed.. that you have been walking around like that for a year without proper treatment.

[wwistful]

I should have had it treated better, but I was too damn proud to go back to hospital after I'd just left it.

[He shrugs with a small wince.] I'm sturdier than I look.

[wavesofjade]

[She could say something, here. Something about pride coming before a fall, but she cannot imagine it being appreciated and besides, it isn't in her nature to make such snide remarks]

That is no excuse.

[Finally, she finds what she's looking for, and checks the label]

Have a seat, if you would.

[wwistful]

I never said it was an excuse, I know it was stupid.

[He hisses through his teeth, letting himself sink into the chair before him. He folds his arms over his knees and hunches forward, frowning at the ground.]

[wavesofjade]

Now, now..

[She moves back to him and once she's coaxed him to turn sideways on the chair she draws one up beside him, and presses her fingertips carefully down his back]

Sit up straight...

[It's half murmured, and there's a soft 'ah-hah' sound from her before she scoots the chair around to place herself behind him. What he'd feel next would be a deep, permeating warmth as she carefully applied the salve to the most badly damaged areas - a reprieve of sorts, until she could concoct something more effective. The pressure of her fingers against his skin is firm, but deft]

How does that feel?

[wwistful]

[He's somewhat obliging as far as being coaxed goes, but it's clear he's hesitant about it. He clenches and unclenches his hands and continues the crusade to distract himself. It's hard being awkward and in pain, it's hard and nobody understands.

He makes a soft noise of compliance as he straightens, quietly tensing as he awaits the hands on his back. He hisses quietly as the warmth seems to seep through his skin. It's enough to make him shudder, but he grits his teeth, letting his eyes drop to the ground.

As gentle as her touch is, his back is wound up so badly that the slightest touch makes him want to groan in pain. Instead, he's going to stay as silent as possible, keeping his back straight and his eyes down.]

S'good. [Ugh, slurring.] Good. It's good.