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[amicably_absent]

Glitch had swum for hours, chasing fish and insects and bubbles and sunbeams. Eventually, worn out and tired, he had swum to shore and curled up on the bank on the sun warmed pebbles, grumbling about his lack of coat until he fell asleep.

He woke up with Rennie shaking him, a scolding voice telling him he had to come in, he was all wet and dirty and needed a bath and clean clothes, and was she going to have to strap him in the chair.

Glitch reacted predictably.

He screamed at her, judo flipped her while sitting down, dove into the water, swam to a far edge and took off.

Rennie asked Cain to go find Glitch and bring him in before he froze or hurt himself.

Glitch had retreated to the rotunda, sitting on the seat and swinging himself back and forth, watching the sun setting on the lake. He was soaking wet again, but his trembling didn't seem to worry him at all.

Comments

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Hands clasped behind his back, he waits for her to come stand before him. Then, and only then, does he speak.

"First of all, you're here to tend to Master Ambrose's every need during his convalescence, correct?"

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"Sir? I am here to provide the care he needs, even when he doesn't want it. For his own good."

Ambrose is chewing on the sleeve of his shirt.

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"And does that involve treating him like an invalid? Threatening to strap him down?"

Everything about him is set in hard lines, and there's nothing in his eyes to reveal the outrage within.

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"He is an invalid, sir," she said firmly. "And I said it in a light and teasing manner." Just like the text books probably told her to.

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The hinges of his jaw tense, and stay that way. "He's a man who survived years on his own, with nothing but half or less a brain to guide him. I get that you want to do your job right, but even if you use a light and teasing manner, you should have been informed not to talk about strapping him to anything."

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"He was injured and should have been in the chair anyway. I understand that he has shown tenacity and an amazing ability to survive, but he recently went through major surgery." She drew herself up. "I was top of my class at nursing school, I know when I patient needs care."

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"But you don't know how to see the man. All you see is the patient. You didn't even stop to think that a man whose most horrifying moment in life involved being strapped down, wouldn't just smile and come along if you said something like that."

He's standing his ground. Maybe he doesn't have a medical degree, he knows all about dealing with people, even if he's perfectly livid beneath the surface. Most of all, she's young.

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Rennie does pale a bit at that. "I- I hadn't realised that." It's possibly something like an apology. "I didn't think of it. I just wanted to get him in before he wound up sick or with his feet infected."

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Cain inclines his head, the expression around his eyes softening by increments as the young woman goes on.

"He just had his brain partially reinserted. He isn't going to react to things the way you think. Half the time I say the wrong thing, and we're friends."

...and with that, his resolve weakens as he realizes his own mistake. "There's no text book on how to deal with headcases, because they usually don't live long enough to get to know people." He takes a step closer, unclasping his hands and letting them hang at his sides.

"Which is why we need to treat him like an individual. He isn't going to react like your regular patient."

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"No. No headcase has survived past five years, let alone go through and survive rebrainment." She sighs and brushes off her skirt. "I'm sorry I scared him. I don't know how to treat him though. He is a patient. I should treat him as one."

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"Try listening to him. Figure out what he likes or doesn't like. Gain his trust so he can start remembering who you are."

He gestures at the door, for them both to head back inside. "He's fond of red apples. It's as good a start as any, don't you think?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

There's a flash of white shirt and muddy feet as said patient takes off running. Then a shriek and a crash from inside as his wet, muddy feet make him slide on the tiles and he skids and crashes into a cabinet and hit the floor.

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Cain does sigh this time around, but sets off not even a second later. "Glitch?"

He skids to a halt beside the clumsy former Advisor, kneeling on the floor to check him over. Nothing broken, he hopes.

"Glitch, are you all right?"

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His legs were tangled against the wall, on his back and rubbing his head. "Ow. I think I bumped my head and my bum hurts."

Rennie stops behind them and sighs.

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"Let me have a look," he says softly, lifting his hand to brush away tousled, dark curls, trying his best not to linger. Especially not with an audience.

Sure enough, there's a pale pink splotch of color on Glitch's forehead, closer to his zipper than Cain cares to think, and if he knows anything about bumps, it will raise before long.

"I told you to draw a bath for yourself." He only musters a slightly reproaching tone of voice, before hooking his arms under Glitch's, heaving him up off the floor. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up." Looking at Rennie.

"Shall we?"

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"You said you were going to give.... someone a piece of your mind, and I came to stop you, because even missing a little of your noggin is bad!" He staggers and then balances, rubbing his head, then his butt. "I think I slipped because my feet are wet."

Rennie sighs. "Come on, Mister Ambrose. I'll run a bath and then come and get you both some dinner."

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"It's a figure of speech." Helping him on his way, Cain heads back to Glitch's rooms. Then, giving Rennie a look as they walk along.

"What would you like to eat, Glitch?"

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"I was worried." He walks with soft slaps, tracing back the muddy footsteps.

"Um... An apple. And some bread. Oh, do we have muglug?"

"I can rustle up some muglug," Rennie offers.

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"Just some coffee for me, please." He ventures a small smile, glad to see the nurse's effort.

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"And coffee for Mister Cain. I'll just go ahead and get the bath running then and you can make sure he gets in while I get dinner."

Well, it's a start from her. She hurries ahead of them.

Glitch leans in. "Wyatt? Who is she?"

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"She's your caretaker. Nurse Rennie." Cain watches her go. "She's a very nice young woman, who's going to fuss over you while you get better. Top of her class at school, and everything."

He suspects he might be something of a culprit, with his negative view of her, and Glitch's inability to remember who she is. He'll make an effort to change that.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"I don't need a caretaker," Glitch protests. "I'm plenty better, even since they put my marbles back. They said if it goes well, a viewer might come down with Ambrose," he states happily. "Though... it would be useful to have... a doohickey, that simulates the viewer link..." He pushes his fingers together, stopping and staring off into space.

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"Some sort of interface?"

What? You pick stuff up when you spend time with a former engineer. "I'm sure you could invent something suitable."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He looked up, the bright, almost manic energy subdued as he watches Wyatt. "I'm sure I can sort it out eventually. Just a bit of an uphill fight some days." He sighs and starts walking again. "It'll be worth it though, not having to lug around the jar and a viewer everywhere."

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The small, infinitesimal hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up, but it's not an entirely bad feeling. Just...something crackling in the air.

"Yeah... No one to invade your privacy by necessity."