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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 6, 2008 2:19:27 GMT -5
It was a couple days before Dieter could actually gouge out time to bring his apology card and fake plastic flowers this time. Haha beating out the natural undeath wilting effect, thank you plastic. There were two cards and two bouquets. One was for the hospitalized Seraph. His wounds were apparently on the mend. The doctors did a good job. Finding Naolin's name was a little bit more difficult to find. But the new additions newsletter snatched from the hospital made her an easy find. It wasn't stalking. It was just getting a name.
He dropped the first bouquets and card signed by the office by the first room. He decided he'd stick to his costume using alter self. He knew his comrade would recognize him upon awakening but Naolin most certainly wouldn't. He exchanged his pleasantries with the hospitalized seraph and decided a little good natured humor would go a long way. He seemed to be quite happy of his recovery although functionality still hadn't returned to one of his arms. Dieter hated it when good people got hurt. Sure a little pain goes a long way and makes people stronger. However, there's pain for growing and the pain that leaves scars on many levels. Pain that Dieter couldn't easily heal. These kinds of pains were disturbing to Dieter. A firm handshake later it was off to Naolin.
Dieter appeared as a volunteer he noticed in one of his favorite novels. Dieter was always a fan of Sherlock Holmes. He decided to upgrade the look beyond 18th century London fashion. Thus in a comical artist experiment this was a form that he would often use as an incognito alter ego. The form took a lot of concentration, especially since it was daylight. He had to stay specifically in areas of no sunlight. The tinted windows definitely provided cover. He approached the front desk, he authoritatively approached an apathetic secretary, "I need to speak with a Mrs. Naolin."
Dieter didn't know exactly what bothered him so much about his brief moment with the girl. He didn't like that he caused her to pass out but more prodigious was that he was seen as a heartless monster. Not all vampires took as much interest in taking life as many thought. In point of fact, Dieter always prefered to preserve life whenever possible. Part of his desire to be a Seraph stemmed from this belief. He hoped that he could get rid of the prejudice somewhat. If vampires could be seen as much more compassionate creatures then they'd be much more inclined to share such compassion. After all most vampires don't kill their so called victims, but take a small quantity of blood for nourishment. Not to say there weren't callous and nasty vampires who harmed innocents. It was equally important to know there were ones there to protect them.
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Post by Thaumaturgy International on Jun 10, 2008 3:40:50 GMT -5
"It's 'Miss'," said the secretary, without looking up, "not 'Mrs.'" While she had no love for 'Miss Lumiire', it really bugged her when people got the titles of women wrong. Was it really that difficult to remember a few short words? Or did Naolin really give the impression that she was married? The secretary found this hard to believe; the girl acted like a child, she was clearly not ready for that sort of thing.
"You can probably find her in the psych ward today," she said, pointing to a directory in case the vampire didn't know which floor it was on, but she still didn't look up from her filing. That is, until she shot Dieter a sickly sweet smile that was more of a pursing of her lips and clearly communicated her desire to end the conversation now.
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 10, 2008 14:31:40 GMT -5
Dieter knew the psych ward pretty well. Because vampires and demons were somewhat prone to breakdowns there were psychological evaluations each year. Dieter required all his seraphs to go. Those that had seen action could suffer some post traumatic stress from what had happend to them on the job. Those that hadn't seen any real action had to go because a surpising amount had PSD symptoms. The goal of the training was to make you paranoid but not unable to function. Fine lines aside Dieter did reward his seraphs for good performance and he'd be damned if the good health care was passed up.
Dieter got in the elevator. Walked to the psych ward. He was glad the windows were tinted. He softly rapped on Naolin's door. He readied a shield and stood to the side of the doorway in case a window was open. It'd really hurt if he got hit with pure daylight. He was feeling terrible as it was. The spell keeping his appearance drained was draining, but he definitely had more than enough in him to shield himself and jump back into the hall if something surprised him.
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Post by naolin on Jun 12, 2008 0:33:12 GMT -5
Naolin's episode interrupted her first day of work. She spent the majority of the day in a hospital bed. First, she was unconscious. When she awoke, she was questioned. Examined. Finally, she was told to get more rest; the doctors assumed she had passed out due to stress, rather than a severe panic attack.
Lorelai was none too pleased. She did not find out about her 'little sister's' episode until several hours after it occurred; since she wasn't related to Naolin, and the freshly-hired restorer had no family left, they could not notify anyone of her condition. It was only when she came to pick her up that night that she heard the news.
The secretary hated Lorelai, Naolin was sure of it. Lorelai was not a good person to make upset. She stormed into Naolin's room complaining about how she was trying to convince a bratty secretary to contact her if something happened to her little apprentice, and then proceeded to argue with her caretakers until they let her take Naolin home. Maybe more than just the secretary hated her; everyone was giving the overprotective elf dirty looks as she took her leave.
Day two was to be her real first day, and she was assigned to help an older restorer in the psych ward. The first couple stops she spent watching how the older restorer acted, and listening to his advice. When Dieter knocked on the door, she was about to leave for her next destination.
She gave the older restorer a nod and a shy smile to let him know that she would get the door, and swung it open as quietly as possible. "Hello? Are you here to visit?" She asked politely, surprised that her words came out so clearly and confidently.
She didn't recognize Dieter at all.
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 12, 2008 1:06:15 GMT -5
Dieter kept on his altered self charm. He kind of liked playing the old detective Sherlock Holmes, not only did he have the 18th century British Dialect down from a few years he spent there, but he also recite a lot of the stories from memory. However now was not the time to be a pompous know it all. Now was the time to act as an apologetic representative of himself. He liked acting the part and so long as Naolin didn't open a window to let some of the nice summer light in, he'd be able to keep the act up without her flipping out over his nature.
Dieter bowed and handed her the plastic flowers. He made sure there were a varied assortment of flowers and even went through the effort of having a Japanese flower arranger go through the selection and order to make it look right. She didn't like that they weren't real flowers, but Dieter couldn't have them all wilt within a few minutes of him picking them up if they even lasted that long.
"Mrs. Naolin I come here on the behalf of a Mr. Dieter who is most appologetic about the incident in the elevator. You see," Dieter pulled out a scrap piece of paper that he found lying around. There wasn't anything written on it but he wanted to look the part of a third party. "He would like you to understand how he never intended you any harm and that he feels somewhat responsible for disrupting your peace. He would like you to know that many vampires are civilized, compassionate, kindhearted, and over all decent fellow beings. He also mentions that he never thought of you as food." Dieter paused, there was something more he wanted to say but since he was actually doing this off the cuff had to pause to come up with more. Crap it might be a tell, make like you had to, what's it called, that's right sneeze. "Achoo." Dieter feigned. He did the sneeze really well but there was a moment he was obviously thinking.
"He would like to know if there is any way he could find some retribution for the trouble he's given you. These flowers and his lack of presence are tokens of his goodwill. He has also instructed me to go back to him with a reply." There at least he might get her talking if only briefly.
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Post by naolin on Jun 13, 2008 21:56:25 GMT -5
Naolin took one look at the flower-weilding man and immediately blushed. She never had guys come up to her and give her flowers before, not even when she was in school. Not even for Valentine's Day! The most she got was a weird look, if that.
How does he know my name? How did he know where I work? What do I do? I've never had this happen before! It's kind of like in a movie! Oh my gosh! I'm supposed to be working! What do I do?!
She was so overwhelmed by the presentation of the plastic flowers that she nearly missed his following explaination - nearly. She stiffened again as she entertained the possibility that he might actually be a bad man. It was daylight, and she never expected to see a vampire in the day before...but then she did! What if this man was another one? She couldn't tell...why would a normal man be friends with a vampire, anyway?
But bad men don't give people flowers! She concluded. It made perfect sense!
"T-thank you, s-sir. That's very...kind...of you..." She offered in reply, graciously accepting the plastic flowers. She gave a nervous glance to the older restorer who was training her, wondering what she would think of the whole ordeal.
The poor man! The horrible vampire creature is manipulating him! Maybe I should tell Thaumaturgy International, they can help him, can't they?
"I really have to get back to work now...I-I'm sorry..."
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 13, 2008 22:31:04 GMT -5
Dieter did read her mind. It wasn't to search through her thoughts and invade her privacy. He didn't want a panniced girl sending a sunlance straight through him with no warning. A sunlance during the day could leave him helpless or dead. Either of which did not seem like a very good option to him. Dieter sighed and posed that he should do something to assuage prejudices and keep someone from showing up from ethics asking after Holmes, Sherlock. It would save himself and the girl a lot of trouble.
"Well those flowers are scented and he was sorry he couldn't deliver them himself. Also the man I work for does not have any hold over me except in the sense of monetary compensation. I swear to you, I myself am no slave to anyone's will. I could read in your face that you were concerned and felt I should address that. If you wish I could sit and have tea with you over lunch in the Cafeteria," thank God for tinted windows, "and we could discuss any of your questions or concerns there. I would hate to interrupt you from work." Dieter knew his concentration on the spell would hold for now he hoped he had a moment to rest before he'd have to hold it up for however long tea would take. That is if she accepted.
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Post by naolin on Jun 16, 2008 21:32:34 GMT -5
Naolin blinked at Dieter. Slowly her brow furrowed, and her lips tilted downward in a slight frown. She wasn't the smartest girl around, but by no means was she stupid. She found something fishy about how he just commented on something she thought.
Oh, am I really that easy to read? She thought to herself, worried. Maybe my expression changed all of a sudden and it got really easy to tell what I was thinking? Oh dear...
"I don't have my lunch break for another half hour." The teen explained gently. The last thing she wanted to do was offend a poor man who was being manipulated by a vampire. And all for money, did he say? "But if you really want to...I-I mean...that is...you know...I could maybe meet you there?"
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 16, 2008 22:18:00 GMT -5
Dieter had his afternoons off more often than not. He really did spend most of them sleeping but he felt he owed Naolin something for making her faint. So he said, "of course I will wit for you. Meet me at the second booth in the corner." That way she couldn't just open a window and incinerate him on the spot. Dieter also was so tired of misconceptions relating to civilized vampires that he had to do this. It was a matter of honor.
Dieter bowed graciously and then relocated himself to the second booth in the corner. It wasn't a shadowy place, but it didn't have a million windows pointed at it either. It was well lit and had a single window that went outdoors and was locked and carefully had safety traps to keep people from traumatizing patients who saw in the dark.
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Post by naolin on Jun 25, 2008 13:15:10 GMT -5
"Okay. See you later." Naolin gave Dieter a pleasant smile and a short wave before exiting the room and heading down the hall for her next assignment.
What a caring man. Too bad he's being manipulated by a vampire.
_
A little over a half an hour later Naolin stepped into the cafeteria. It was only her second day working, and her first at the cafeteria, so she got a bit lost. In order to make up for lost time, she power walked the way there, but entered walking normally so she wouldn't accidentally rush into someone. People didn't pay much attention to where they were going in a hurry.
She glanced around the room and went straight toward the food, not because she was starving, but because that's what everyone else was doing. Maybe she was supposed to get the food, and then sit down? If she sat down first would they think she already got the food and not let her in line, so she'd be hungry for the rest of her shift?
The blonde was compiling a lengthy apology in her head for being late as she pondered whether she wanted ranch or thousand island dressing with her grilled chicken salad. She settled for ranch, grabbed a bottle of water, and continued down the line.
It's kind of dark in here...natural light is so much better than electric lighting. Naolin noted, glancing around the room to find there was only one window...and it was all closed up. That doesn't look very hospitable. Anyway, where was...second booth in the corner? There were a lot of corners, and a lot of possible second booths.
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jun 25, 2008 21:20:58 GMT -5
Dieter stood up and waved to Naolin, "I've got the tea!" He stated so that he was obvious for her to see. Dieter sat back down in his booth and grabbed a handful of sugar packets and made the entire set ready. Tea was somewhat palpable despite his food allergy. Dieter liked tea ever since his first trip to China although it didn't even come close to the taste of blood. It took a bit of prep and a lot of concentration to keep the alter self from slipping. He was more than capable of defending himself, however he would prefer a chance to defend his race at large.
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Post by naolin on Jul 5, 2008 19:55:28 GMT -5
Tea? She thought to herself, glancing at her water in confusion. She remembered that they were going to eat together well enough, but she forgot all about the tea. Instead of putting the water back, she kept it, deciding to have tea now and keep the water for later, just in case. It wouldn't do to get herself dehydrated on the job, and she doubted she would be allowed back in the cafeteria after she left.
Naolin sent Dieter a short, timid wave of acknowledgment, just to let him know that she saw him. If she shouted at him across the room, she'd surely upset someone. She never liked upsetting people. When she upset people, she got twice as upset herself, and all in all, it was very stressful. Her day was stressful enough without all the drama.
She never realized that being a restorer could be so taxing. She had a talent for healing, and she wanted nothing more than to use that talent to help people. She did very well, and it was a simple job, for the most part. She glanced into one of the more serious rooms in passing, and all she could see was blood everywhere. She didn't like to see people dying in front of her. She didn't like having a helpless person's life in her hands. What if something went wrong? What if she messed up, and they died because of her, when they were relying on her help? Trusting her to heal them?
It was a good thing she didn't sign up to be a field medic. She didn't think she could handle fighting on top of it. She'd probably panic. They won't have me doing stuff like that so soon, anyway. She told herself reassuringly, as she grabbed her cutlery. But her nerves didn't die down so easily. Lorelai said she had talent...what if they really did move her up to that so quickly?
She gave Dieter a friendly smile as she made her way over. She carefully set her tray down on the table, so as to not spill anything or knock anything over. "Hello again. I'm sorry I'm late, I got a little lost on the way..."
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jul 6, 2008 0:39:26 GMT -5
Dieter seated Naolin and then put a sandwich in front of her. It was a vegetarian sandwich but had plenty of egg and other filling things. The bread was organic and it was overall an appealing sandwich. He put the tea in front of her and then smiled. He took his seat after he helped Naolin into hers. Took a sip from his cup and then asked, "well why do vampires frighten you so much?"
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Post by naolin on Jul 8, 2008 13:16:04 GMT -5
"Oh, um...uh...thank you..." Naolin responded awkwardly when she was presented with tea and a sandwich. She tried to give Dieter a polite smile for his trouble, but she was clearly flustered and nervous. She may have forgotton the inclusion of tea, but she was sure that he hadn't said anything about getting her lunch. She glanced from the sandwich to the salad in confusion, unsure which one it would be more polite to eat. The salad's lettuce would get soggy after sitting a long while covered in dressing, so it made sense that she could eat that first...but would that count as denying his gift of sandwich? She poked at her salad with her fork, but refrained from actually eating anything.
Selecting 'vampires' as the topic of conversation did nothing to settle the blonde's unease. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and even went as far as to look around, as if expecting a vampire to leap out of the shadows. She never considered that the men she was eating with could be one of them.
"I'd...rather not t-talk about it...if that's okay?"
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Post by Dieter Helyanwe on Jul 9, 2008 16:18:07 GMT -5
Dieter sighed, "well the thing is that my master wanted to at least present the possibility that a vampire could be benevolent. I guess it'd take a lot more than buying you some lunch to convince you. I cannot stay for long but what would you like to talk about Mrs. Naolin?"
Dieter looked at the salad and then his sandwich. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't know you already had lunch with you. Well there's a sandwich if you want it. If not you can give it to a patient. I'm sure it'd be better than most hospital food." Dieter had heard that hospital food was bad. The only thing that Dieter really ate out of a hospital was blood and he didn't complain. However the tastes of humans differed from vampires in many ways.
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