Fancier Than You.

Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the fuck you were gonna do anyway.

“A different cocktail?” the young girl questioned out loud, twiddling her thumbs as he named off a bunch of medications she didn’t recognize. Instead of questioning, she simply nodded and took the prescriptions in trembling fingers, holding onto them as if her life depending on it and giving him a stern nod. She then bit on her lip as the voices came up once more and nodded, parting her lips to speak before snapping them shut. You can’t trust him Cora. You can’t trust him or these medications- you can’t trust anyone but us. “They are very loud and demanding.” She started, frowning as she looked up at him, quickly looking away. 

Holmes nodded, “Yes, sometimes, with schizophrenia, finding the proper mixture of medications can be a bit of a challenge. But, when one doesn’t work, we look for more. Now, have you noticed any side effects from your first cocktail?” He asked, his face calm as he continued their discussion. He didn’t mind her -- she wanted help, she came and asked for it. And, that was where his speciality lied. 

Took a deep breath as he responded in a humane manner, lifting her eyes as she scrunched her brows. “Um- I take.. I’m pretty sure I take Aripiprazol and- and something called Budeprion XL.” She had tried to remember the names incase someone- mainly staff- ever asked her. It came in handy knowing it now. “I- They tell me to take- to take 1 of each in the morning, I’ve been taking them since I got here so- since July..” She rubs her arm, the skin itching as she frowned, thinking he meant doctors. Then as she thought, she realized otherwise. “Oh- do you mean..do you mean them? the-” Us? Is he talking about us? Don’t trust him Cora, he’s going to take us away…You need us. You’ll die without us- die.“-the voices?” 

Holmes was very capable at his job -- it was the patients who refused, who fought with everything they had that he didn’t waste his time with. They could linger as long as they wanted, but until they showed him they truly wanted help.. he just ignored their antics. “Okay, well, I’m going to try a different cocktail for you. I think we’ll increase the dose of the Abilify, I like that one, but I’m not as big of a fan of the Wellbutrin. I’ll prescribe some Seroquel, and also a bit of Clozapine. We’ll start in small doses, and I’d like for you to come see me in two weeks, so we can determine if they’re working. You’ve been on your own for long enough, they should have made somewhat of a change in your wellness by now.” He explained calmly, writing down each prescription and handing it over to the girl. “Take the Seroquel at night, and the other two in the morning.” He added, before nodding carefully, “Take your time. But, yes. The voices, I’d like to know if they are wanting you to harm others or yourself. It’s okay. You’r e in a safe place.”

Cordelia was tempted to turn away, her eyes immediately welling with tears as the man spoke to her. She tried desperately to speak to him, clearly and determined but the noise in her head made her voice come out weak. She had never spoken to him before but someone she had talked to recommended she go and see him. “I think I’m crazy. I hear things. I take- I take medication for it but, they don’t stop talking to me. They tell me mean- mean things and tell me to do things..and they-” She took a deep breath, squinting her eyes a bit before she looked down at her hands, unable to look at him or finish her thought. She refused to cry, though it was growing harder to hold them back.

Holmes was about to say something further, but then instead of moaning and groaning some more, she actually had a problem. Something they could work with. “What medication do they have you on? Because, there are dozens of different kinds and combinations.. Also, how long have you been on it? Because, often.. antipsychotics take longer to build in the system.” He explained, leaning back in his chair, “What exactly do they tell you to do?”