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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 3, 2007 12:03:09 GMT -5
I hurriedly made my way to the clinic. If only Deleuze had come forth earlier ! The poor man was obviously suffering badly with gout.
I got to the clinic and opened the door hastily. Inside, Joelle, our assistant, was busying herself with cleaning the examination table in the back.
I told Joelle to bring me the list of expected patients for the day and walked to my desk, leaving the door open.
"If anyone comes in for Docteur Deleuze, send them to me," I instructed her from my office. "Of course, Docteur de Strasbourg," she replied as she hastily made her way to the front.
I setlled in and waited, getting my self ready mentally as I reviewed some notes from the previous nights.
The first patient would soon arrive.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 4, 2007 14:57:59 GMT -5
Even though I had used the healing salve I had begun keeping, one of the marks from the rope Idaeus had used was not healing as it should. It was on my right shoulder and after seeing that it just wasn't getting better like it should, I decided to see a doctor about it.
Dressed in a gown of soft brown wool, I stepped out of the carriage and entered the doctor's office. I gave my name to the woman who seemed to be running things and then took a seat by the window so I could watch the people going by as I waited.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 5, 2007 5:18:32 GMT -5
I heard a soft voice speaking to Joelle and thought it must be a patient coming in. Joelle came in and announced "Mademoiselle Reagan Brice is here for a consultation, Doctor de Strasbourg."
I looked at the list of patients. She wasn't on Deleuze's list, and I had never seen her. Probably an impromptu visit. Since noone was showing up, I could take time to see her.
I stood up and walked to the door of the office. A pretty little thing was sitting by the window, patiently waiting. Her demeanor was humble and I couldn't help but be moved by the softness of her posture. I called her gently : "Mademoiselle Brice, I am Siegfried de Strasbourg, the medical doctor on duty. If you will join me in my study?"
*edited for spelling Apr 5, 2007, 11:37am*
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 5, 2007 11:18:22 GMT -5
Looking up at the sound of my name, I smiled and rose to follow the doctor. He was very different than the doctor I had seen back home, who had been a small man of nearly fifty years.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 5, 2007 11:37:05 GMT -5
This patient was a quiet one, I smiled to myself. I waited for her to enter the study and after she did, I went around to stand behind my desk, gesturing her to sit on armchair across from me, I tried to start an easy interview.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle Brice. What ailment brings you to me this morning?" I asked as I picked up my quill, ready to take notes.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 5, 2007 11:40:50 GMT -5
I sat in the chair, smoothing my skirts with an ingrained movement before folding my hands in my lap.
"I have a place on my right shoulder that is not healing as it should," I told the doctor. "I thought I should have it looked at before it festered."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 5, 2007 11:48:20 GMT -5
Straight to the point, though quiet, I thought to myself, as a vague feeling of intrigue passed through me. "A wise idea. Well, if you would follow me to the examination room, then, I will have a look at it."
I stood from my chair and opened the annex room. On it, a very clean examination bed was set in white sheets. "If you will prepare for examination by rendering the wound accessible, it would be very helpful. Just call me when you are ready," I explained.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 5, 2007 11:56:13 GMT -5
He had a somewhat odd way of speaking, and I wondered where he was from. Not that it mattered to me, but I was curious.
Nodding at his instructions, I went into the side room. I had worn this dress specifically, knowing I would need to expose my shoulder. I undid the lacings on the bodice, which loosened the material enough for me to slip my right arm free. I sat on the edge of the examination bed and pulled my hair over my left shoulder.
"I'm ready, doctor," I called softly.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 5, 2007 12:46:13 GMT -5
I walked in the examination room. She had undone her bodice just enough to expose the wound to me.
I walked over to a nearby basin and washed my hands, and I removed my coat for better comfort. I looked at the wound and winced a little.
"This must be painful but it could have turned out much worse," I said as I pressed around the area to test for nodes. "How long have you had this wound?"
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 5, 2007 13:34:27 GMT -5
"Since Longest Night," I answered, holding very still for him. "It only hurts a bit, I just didn't think it was healing fast enough."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 5, 2007 16:24:24 GMT -5
She couldn't see my face. When I examine a patient I always try to stay professionnal, not to be too expressive. Anyway it is as it should be. It is usually how it is for me one way or the other. Science is my spouse after all.
I did find fascinating that such a frail, delicate thing as Mademoiselle Brice would get a wound on the Longest Night. So although it was to my own benefit, I cocked my eyebrow in surprise.
I swallowed my saliva and coolly replied "I see. It is somewhat recent then. Does it hurt when I do this?" I added, pressing the skin around the wound to see if she had additionnal bruising, though her milky skin was flawless.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 5, 2007 21:45:37 GMT -5
"Only a little," I told him truthfully. Without thinking, I tilted my head to the left, giving him even easier access to the spot. His hands felt capable and skilled and the little bit of worry I'd had at seeing an unknown doctor melted away.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 6, 2007 4:19:59 GMT -5
"I see. Well, it looks like you have a hint of underlaid bruising," I advised her. It seemed to me the wound should have been sceptic, as this bruise and sensitivity would have indicated a slight infection, but it appeared to have been somewhat contained. As I walked back to the counter, I asked my patient: " Have you been using a healing salve?"
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 6, 2007 9:27:25 GMT -5
"Yes," I told him, turning my head slightly so I could see him. "The salve worked on the other places, this one just hasn't healed like they did."
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 6, 2007 9:48:30 GMT -5
I dabbed some ointment on a fresh white linen cloth and walked back, commenting to her "It's a good thing you used it. It might have gone sceptic if you hadn't used the healing salve. I will put on something more powerful. It will sting a little. Are you ready ?"
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 6, 2007 9:50:48 GMT -5
Tilting my head back out of the way again, I answered softly, "Yes." I held very still, but didn't tense, the sting of medicines had never bothered me.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 10:07:48 GMT -5
Very gently, I started dabbing some ointment on her wound. It was a greenish-white cream Deleuze and I had devised to accelerate healing. Through some lengthy processes, we had found that a cacti brought in from Menekhet had wonderful healing properties. Although we were still looking for a way to import it, I had enough to treat Mademoiselle Brice and to even give her some to take home. I made a mental note that I should drop by Shahrizai and Sons to discuss the matter eventually.
"Here", I said, "this will accelerate the healing process. It is a new ointment the practice is developping. I will give you some to take home, and you are to repeat the treatment tonight and tomorrow morning."
I was done with the dabbing and walked back to the counter. Washing my hands, I added "Please do not cover up your shoulder just yet. I will bandage you to prevent the ointment from staining your gown."
"I hope it didn't hurt too much?" I asked as I prepared the bandage.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 10:26:38 GMT -5
"Not at all, doctor," I said truthfully. Careful not to let my hair get in the salve, I looked up just enough so that I could see him.
"You were very gentle," I told him, smiling softly.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 11:48:12 GMT -5
What a lovely smile she had ! I could not refrain from stopping in my tracks a short moment to contemplate it. I faced her this time, and it took me a short moment to get moving again.
"Thank you", I smiled back at her a bit more coolly then I wanted to. "Being gentle is part of the treatment, if I may add." Softening up a little, I added "I would advise you to stay away from bondage experiments until this has come to pass."
I went around her again and proceeded to applying the dressing on the wound, making sure it would stay well in place. It occurred to me that she would need to put a new dressing on after she put the second round of ointment on.
"Is there someone in your household who can help you put the dressing back on?" I inquired.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 12:00:01 GMT -5
I blushed slightly after the word 'bondage' left his lips and looked back down again. It wasn't as if I was ashamed of how I had happened by the wound, it was just…. I wasn't sure exactly what it was. Perhaps it was just that the doctor was almost a stranger and the wound had come from a very private and personal encounter.
"Yes," I answered his question.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 12:16:50 GMT -5
"Great. I will also provide you with the appropriate dressings if you need them," I replied.
I noticed she was looking down and couldn't help but feel a hint of guilt. Gently, I pulled over and stood across from her a moment.
Very softly, I spoke. "My lady, I lacked delicacy, forgive me. That last part of advice was strictly offered from a professionnal point of view, and you can rest assured that anything that transpires in this room or in my study is held in professionnal confidence."
Besides, as her consulting physician it was my duty to encourage a behaviour that would promote a speedy recovery, I thought to myself.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 12:24:43 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, meeting his gaze again, a whisper of a smile touching my lips again. It really wasn't as if he had done anything wrong, I was just not a person to be overly forthcoming about personal things. Truthfully though, he was a doctor, not a passerby on the street, I should be able to be more open about things with him.
My smile grew stronger. "I promise to be very careful until it is well healed," I told him.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 12:43:42 GMT -5
I smiled quickly. "I will hold you to that promise," I replied with an inkling of laughter in my eye. She was adorable, and I may have been a bit gruff with her. I am not a man for social encounters. It was strange that she would endear me this way.
As companionably as I could, I asked her "Is there anything else you may need? Otherwise, I will step out and let you get dressed."
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 15:06:16 GMT -5
I was struck by how completely different he looked when he smiled, no longer a stern doctor, but a very handsome man.
"That was it," I said, strangely sorry I didn't have another hurt for him to see to.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 15:11:53 GMT -5
I kept a stern face when she said there was nothing else. It was unlike me to be so affected, but I was slightly sorry the consultation was coming to an end.
"Very well then. I will step out and prepare your prescription. I will be waiting for you in the study."
With that, I smiled a bit stiffly and quietly exitted the room.
In the study, I prepared with care some dressings and a small pot of ointment. I then sat at my desk and started writing up the consultation notes.
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 15:16:03 GMT -5
Carefully, so as not to ruin the dressings, I slipped my arm back into my sleeve and then did up the ties on my dress.
Standing, I smoothed my dress into place and then brushed my hair back over my shoulder. Then, I went into his study and sat in the same chair I had occupied before, quietly watching him as he wrote.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 15:21:29 GMT -5
I heard her thread softly back to the study and continued to write the note. I had realized that I hadn't even filled out the usual blanks. Then again, this should have been my day off, and I was never the one for administrative tasks.
Lifting my head absently, I asked her, "Forgive me, my lady, it appears our files are somewhat incomplete and your age has not been noted." I smiled a little teasingly as I added : "It is a bit indiscreet but we keep this in confidence as well, no need to worry."
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 15:24:23 GMT -5
I laughed genuinely, caught off-guard by the thought that I would worry about anyone coming across my age in his files.
"Twenty-two," I told him, smiling.
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Post by Siegfried de Strasbourg(D) on Apr 7, 2007 15:31:55 GMT -5
I looked up when she laughed. What a transformation ! She was really a lovely thing. I smiled back at her and said, "Laughter also is a great medecine."
I turned back to the paper and eagerly scribbled the two digits. She had the poise of her age, but somehow I would have thought her just a bit younger, maybe because the smell of innocence was on her. Women are deceiving creatures, I mused to myself.
"Thank you. Here, this is your prescription," I said as I handed her the package. "Do not hesitate to call on me if I can be of any assistance."
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Raegan Brice
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Post by Raegan Brice on Apr 7, 2007 15:36:30 GMT -5
"Thank you, doctor," I said, taking the package. I figured the woman out front handled the fees perhaps, and it seemed there was no further reason for me to stay.
Standing, I held the package carefully. "Thank you," I said, feeling a little awkward that I couldn't think of anything else to say.
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