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Post by Austria on Dec 20, 2010 16:06:20 GMT -5
Sighing, Roderich shook his head. He knew better than to believe running tests would solve anything. Protocol said they had to monitor certain things in Gilbert's blood stream, as though something like an iron deficiency would answer the questions that surrounded the Prussian. Slowly, Roderich reached out and lowered Gilbert's arm, keeping his touch purposefully gentle. "Not right now. Maybe later, if my superiors insist on it, or not at all if I can get away with not taking anymore blood."
Withdrawing his hand, the Austrian rested his hands in his lap, watching the albino across from him for several seconds before he sighed and crossed his legs. "I was hoping you would talk to me today, and since you seem to be more open to the idea of conversation than you have been recently, maybe we can make some progress this way." In truth, Roderich's specialty was cognitive neuropsychology, but in most cases, like this one, there was a certain amount of psychiatry that went into assessing and helping a patient. That was really the part he liked best because, at least in his experience, that was the part that did the most good.
Tilting his head to the side slightly, still studying the silverette's face as though he could guess what his answer would be. "Do you think you would be up for talking today?" It was important not to assume the Prussian would be willing to talk. Hopefully, by now, there would at least be a small amount of trust between them; even the smallest bits of trust would help.
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Post by Königreich Preußen on Dec 20, 2010 16:15:27 GMT -5
A shot gasp tumbled from Gilbert's lips as he felt Roderich's fingers connect with his arm. His entire body tensed, the sudden sensation of a light electric shock shooting upward from the tips of his fingers to his shoulder. It was strange, a foreign sensation he couldn't understand, but didn't exactly unwelcome. He was almost disappointed when he felt the hand move away, but the moment the thought surfaced, he forced it away. He couldn't be thinking like that. He still had a game to win. Didn't he...? When... did I stop seeing the game? I'm too awesome to be falling for this. I'm...
Pursing his lips, the Prussian shrugged slightly, leaning against his headboard with a forced look of amusement. "I dunno. I might be. Depends on what you want to talk about." The albino shrugged, looking down at his nails with feigned interest. He wasn't going to let himself look like he he thought Roderich cared. He couldn't. The moment he allowed that to happen was the moment the Austrian would abandon him. He'd be sent to a new hospital, and the cycle would start all over. He didn't need that--he didn't want it. He was comfortable here. Comfortable.
Or that's what he tried to tell himself.
"If you want to talk about how ridiculously awesome and good-looking I am, I'm all ears, but if you're going to play your bullshit doctor mind-games, save yourself the trouble and fuck-off now. I'm too awesome to be looking at your grade-school ink-blot drawings and making up pictures I see in them. It's stupid, and doesn't prove a damn thing. Maybe we just make up depressing shit to make you guys panic."
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Post by Austria on Dec 20, 2010 16:27:38 GMT -5
Roderich smiled knowingly at his last few words and shook his head. "Unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten my Rorschach tests today. My cats have a bad habit of napping on my papers." Mentioning his pets had been the first time Roderich had given the albino any details about his life outside the hospital. Gilbert had a habit of sometimes asking obnoxiously personal details, so perhaps giving him something would make him open up a little more. Maybe they would find something in common to talk about.
"Actually, I'm pretty sure Chopin used the folder I kept them in for a scratching post just the other day, so it appears we shall have to skip that part of the process altogether. That's almost a shame... I would love to hear all the creative things you could come up with." Though he wouldn't come straight out and say he agreed with Gilbert's opinion on the inkblot test, his words and careless attitude about the test should have told the Prussian as much. He was perceptive, the Austrian thought. He'll figure it out without being told.
"Actually, I didn't have a specific topic in mind to talk about. So, I thought I would let you choose; we can talk about whatever you would like to. And as long as your questions are reasonable, I promise to answer them to the best of my ability."
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Post by Königreich Preußen on Dec 20, 2010 17:02:47 GMT -5
Snorting at Roderich's poor excuse for lack of ink-blobs, Gilbert allowed himself to relax slightly. At least the brunette had proven that he wasn't one of the annoying doctors that always seemed convinced they were correct and there was no other possible answer to be had. That was nice. Not to mention he'd got away with that dress prank over a week ago. He had to give the Austrian credit for that.
Shifting in his bed, Gilbert moved so that he was sitting on the edge, absently stroking the bizarrely realistic-looking plush chick in his lap. Every few seconds, his gaze would snap down to the chick and he'd murmur something in English that was too soft to be heard, before returning his eyes to Roderich. "You have cats?" he asked, interest suddenly perked. "Sounds like they have the right idea on how to treat faulty medical procedures." His trademark grin was back in place, and the look in his eyes suddenly warmer than normal. The gesture seemed small, but it was a big improvement compared to before. As ridiculous as it was, animals were a quick way to getting the silverette to speak. Especially if they were cute.
"...I can't believe you actually named one Chopin. I bet you have Mozart and Beethoven running around, too. Maybe Bernstein and Brahms floating around in a fish bowl? Or maybe Thibaudet is barking around in your yard. Better yet, I bet you've got Barenboim tweeting in a cage in your room." Laughing, Gilbert shook his head. Despite his jests, the names really suited Roderich somehow, and a sudden image of the brunette curled up in front of a fire with a cat in his lap and two others nestled at his sides appeared in his mind. It was adorable, he had to admit, but again, banished like many of the other thoughts he'd had that day.
What on earth was wrong with him?
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Post by Austria on Dec 20, 2010 17:24:20 GMT -5
Roderich actually looked taken aback when Gilbert spoke; not because he was actually speaking, but because he had been right. About the cats, anyway. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you were spying on me. I do have three cats, and they are named Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart. I don't have a dog or any fish, though. I do, however, have a bird. I found him when he was young; he had a broken wing, so I helped him heal. I didn't intend to keep him, but I got attached. His name isn't Barenboim, though. It's Liszt."
What Roderich didn't mention was that his ex-fiancee had named the bird after her favourite Hungarian composer. That was one of those things he didn't like talking about. Talking about animals seemed to appeal to the Prussian, so he hoped the discussion would be fruitful. "Did you have any animals when you were younger? Perhaps a bird, given how attached you are to your chick?" Roderich guessed, nodding to the bright yellow object in the silverette's hand.
This was... nice. Gilbert could be pleasant to talk to when he was more relaxed. The Austrian hoped this was a sign that they were on better terms, now, and that things would only improve from here.
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Post by Königreich Preußen on Dec 20, 2010 17:43:06 GMT -5
"Oh yeah, I installed cameras in your house when you were out shopping. Didn't they tell you? I managed to sneak out through the window the other day." Grinning, Gilbert's fingers ran over the chick's back gently, stroking the fake feathers that made up the chick's plush skin. He wasn't surprised to find that he had been right about the abnormally musical touch to the naming of Roderich's pets, though he was slightly shocked to find how accurate he'd been. Let alone how open the other was about it. The Austrian had never answered his questions about his home life before. But they were just talking about pets. Where was the harm in that?
"I did... His name was Lutz; a Saarlooswolfhond." A fond smile crossed the albino's lips as he looked off to the side, his eyes clouding over in thought. "I got him as a puppy. Cost a damn fortune, but my grampa bought him for me as a birthday present. I named him after my little brother... He was awesome--a pure breed, which made him half-wolf. Loyal as all fuck, and followed me everywhere..." The happy expression faded as Gilbert's look turned dark and his fingers suddenly went stiff around the chick in his lap. "But he was taken away from me. All the birds I had, too. There was a huge cage for them in the backyard. Too many names to give them all, but..." he trailed off and shook his head. "They were taken away... by the bastards that claimed to have brought me into this world."
As he spoke, it became obvious that the Prussian wasn't quite fully aware that he was saying this out loud at all. His gaze had gone slightly distant, and his voice was soft. Almost as if he were talking more to himself than Roderich. It took several minutes for his gaze to shift again, the crimson irises falling on Roderich. "...Are pets allowed in the hospital?" he asked, tilting his head. "For patients to keep? Isn't there some medical study that proves animals help people recover, or whatever? That means I could have one, ja?"
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Post by Austria on Dec 20, 2010 17:59:01 GMT -5
Raising an eyebrow, Roderich couldn't help but smile a little. "You're remarkably resourceful. I wouldn't put it past you to at least try such a thing." Normally, he'd imagine people wouldn't react fondly to the idea of someone watching them like Gilbert claimed to, but he knew it was harmless. He supposed he should have said something discouraging, as though the Prussian would actually be able to follow through with doing something like that. There was nothing wrong with joking and his superiors wouldn't need to know he wasn't following "protocol". If he did, he was certain Gilbert would still be refusing to speak.
"That's a rather large dog, isn't it? I've never been good with dogs; they don't seem to like me all that much." Even though Gilbert hadn't meant to, he had given away quite a bit of information. He had a younger brother and a grandfather he had apparently been close to, as well as a fondness for animals. Those are hardly the traits of someone born violent, as some of Gilbert's other doctors had suggested of the silverette. And then there was the mention of his parents. He clearly had no love for them, given the way he referred to them. Roderich wouldn't have been surprised if they were the cause of the as of yet undiagnosed problems plaguing the albino.
Wisely, the Austrian avoided asking further questions about Gilbert's family life. It was a process, and a slow one at that, for patients to feel comfortable talking about things that so obviously upset them. Instead, Roderich just made a small note on the pad of paper clipped onto the clipboard and left it at that.
Humming softly and considering Gilbert's words, Roderich was thoughtful for a moment before answering. "There's nothing against having pets to my knowledge, but it would be for the best to make sure it's alright with the director of the hospital. Until then, if you would like, I could bring Liszt in with me. He's quite friendly for a bird born in the wild."
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Post by Königreich Preußen on Dec 20, 2010 18:18:35 GMT -5
"It'd be awesome to have a dog again..." the Prussian said off-offhandedly, not meeting Roderich's gaze as he said it. "They're always fun, and maybe they might actually let me go outside to walk him once in a while. Better than being stuck in his cage they call a room." Gilbert would take any excuse to get outside. While he and the sun didn't exactly get alone--being albino did that--he much preferred open air to where he was now. And there was also the appeal of dogs. Germanic-stereotype it might have been, but he loved them as much as birds.
At the mention of Liszt, his attention snapped back to the Austrian with a small smile. "Ja...? That might be fun. I'm pretty awesome with birds. Most of the ones I had were wild at some point. Or handed off to me by people who couldn't take care of them anymore. Or eggs. I guess I just attracted them. Fuck if I know. I'm just good with animals; birds and dogs especially."
Leaning back, Gilbert allowed himself to flop against the back of his mattress. Gilbird, the chick, had somehow managed to make it's way to his chest and sat up perfectly, as if the animal had come to live and moved there itself. It didn't shake nor shift as he breathed, staying perfectly in place. "So, does the doctor have any more questions?"
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Post by Austria on Dec 20, 2010 18:32:54 GMT -5
Shaking his head slightly, Roderich sighed. "I doubt they would allow a dog to live here. If anything, you would be able to have a caged animal. Most likely a bird, if that's your preference." It was a good sign, though, that Gilbert was asking questions like this. It spoke to the possibility of the hospital being more permanent than the others had been for him. The idea of having a pet spoke to some semblance of comfort, too, and that relieved the Austrian; at least his work had not been in vain.
"I'll bring him in, then. Have you ever heard of a European Roller? They're very colourful; Liszt is quite a beautiful bird." There was a fondness in Roderich's voice as he spoke about the bird. It had grown attached to him, and he to the bird. He even kept it in his room despite the way Liszt liked to wake him up at odd hours of the night and would then pretend to be asleep when Roderich lifted the blanket that covered his cage to see if he needed food or water. The brunette had a suspicion that his pet and his patient would get along well.
The mention of going outside caused Roderich to glance to the window; it was a nice day and the hospital had a large courtyard in the back. It wouldn't be such a bad thing to allow the Prussian to leave; if he decided to try and escape again, it wouldn't be hard for the security around the perimeter to catch him. He hoped, though, that trusting Gilbert not to try would be enough to make him stay. "Ja, I do, actually." Rising, Roderich removed the notepad from the clipboard and slipped it in his pocket before setting the clipboard down on the desk. "Would you like to take a walk with me outside?
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Post by Königreich Preußen on Dec 20, 2010 18:47:24 GMT -5
"Of course... a caged animal for a caged person. How nice of them. You got a philosopher around here that thought up that rule?" Gilbert's lips pursed in distaste at the idea, but he didn't press it. Arguing would only lose him the chance at the animal he was so close to, and if it was between a bird and nothing, he'd take the bird. His room was always too damn quiet whenever Roderich wasn't there, and it was often maddening. Having something around to make a little noise would be a relief--and it'd work wonders for his slowly deteriorating sanity.
Nodding absently, Gilbert turned over in the bed, looking at the Austrian with a small smile. "Ja, I know them. I've seen pictures on the internet. They're pretty nice... Didn't think they took to humans well. You must have been a pretty good doctor for him to get attached so easily. That, or he was still young. Still, I'd say you've impressed my awesomeness. Congrats." It came out sarcastic, but it was true. Wild birds didn't often take to humans--not that kind. Geese and ducks were easy to domesticate, as if one was fed by a human, it was likely that many humans fed the same bird or the ones around it. That's just how it worked.
When Roderich offered to take a walk with him, however, the Prussian shot up almost immediately. It wasn't worth hiding the surprise on his face, though he wouldn't have bothered to try. It's not like his shock would be unusual. "Seriously? I'm allowed out of the room? Shit, I'm surprised they don't have me on lock-down. That'd be pretty awesome." He grinned, standing up. "What the hell are we standing around here for? The awesome me wants to get out of here. I can't stand being kept in tiny places. My awesomeness cannot be contained in one room."
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