Paging...Dr. Sankara

“Your dancing is wonderful,” Aalis complimented the young man who had asked her to dance with a wide smile. She had been taking some time to enjoy the spring festivities before some performances later in the day for the people. She let out a laugh as the man spun her quickly, making her go up onto her tiptoes for a moment. That was when everything seemed to dim and her vision was replaced with something else. She stood in a strange stage-like place, twirling on shoes that helped her to stay on her toes, with music that she didn’t recognize. The vision was gone as quickly as it came but it was long enough for her to stop dancing, a look of confusion on her face. “Excuse me,” she told her partner quickly as she dashed out the the square and into one of the small alleyways that ran adjacent. She wasn’t really paying attention to where she was going when she clipped someone’s shoulder, “Sorry!” Aalis exclaimed, apologizing quickly. 

Instinctively, the doctor placed her hands on the woman’s shoulders to steady them both. “Honestly, it’s fine,” Natalya reassured, giving the young woman a light smile. “Are you alright, though? You seem a little flushed,” the shapeshifter commented, absentmindedly looking the girl over. She could easily hear the elevation in her heartbeat.

“Do I look like I worked a day in a clinic?”, he cast her a glance as he made his way over to a chair that had enough space on it for the leather breast plate of his light armor, “Well I did, but that was just forced labor. Can’t blame a man for being used to no basic supplies.” He hadn’t noticed she followed him until he turned around, looking briefly down to his arm where the blood had soaked through the bandage, “Would you believe me if I told you I was the one attacked? More or less… It was a scrawny petty thief, didn’t expect him to have a dagger, or know how to use it.” He wasn’t one to admit it, but he actually liked Nat - she was the no-nonsense type, which was essentially the only type of a doctor he could stomach. And she didn’t sneer at him, not in that way anyway. “Don’t let me stall you, I just need the supplies and I’ll fix it myself.”

She gave the knight a deadpanned look as he explained the circumstances of his injury. Somehow the man always seemed to find himself in the dampness situations. Of course, Natalya was always happy to help but it honestly baffled her most of the time. “I do believe you because you seemingly have the worst luck and yet somehow are still alive,” she snorted, moving to grab the necessary supplies from the front cabinet. “Hush and sit down on that stool, would you? I’m not going to make you patch yourself up.”

To Astor, the wound was more like an annoying inconvenience than an actual problem. He’d only decided to go once the blood had started to drip from the make-shift bandage on his arm and he realized he was both out of thread and usable needles. Dissatisfied with the short ride from the station to the clinic, his huge black horse was stomping the ground when its rider jumped off, casting only a sharp glance towards Astor before tugging at the reins - just in case Astor hadn’t tied it tight enough. Fenrir, a huge black hound that loved to ignore commands about staying put, followed Astor towards the clinic. It seemed like every animal Astor owned was hell bend on being wildly uncooperative. 

“Tell me you have a thread and a needle lying around. Also alcohol would be just great.”, he exhaled the words irritably as he entered the clinic, confident Nat would be around there somewhere - somehow, she always was. “Didn’t I just tell you to stay out?”, at his words somewhere behind him the dog came to a halt by the door, silently sitting down but still refusing to budge. “You’re welcome to try to shoo him doc, but I make no promises.” 

@natalyasankara

“Honestly, Astor this is a clinic of course I have those things,” the doctor replied with a bit of exasperation. The woman finished tucking in the elderly woman who was suffering from a high fever. She shook her head making her way over to the knight with a light frown. The woman wans’t bother by the dog’s presence as along as it stayed in the doorway. She was fastidious when it came to keeping a sterile environment. “What in God’s name did you do this time, Sterling? I’m going to start just leaving a bed open for you.”

“Every country is fucked up. Look at the world news and you will see everyone falling apart par Canada. Legalizing marijuana and not having fucking idiots in office,” Laurel said. “Life is fucking insane.”

“You’re right. To some extent every country is going to crap. That’s what happens when people are more worried about what will put more money in their bank accounts than the people their policies will effect,” the doctor nodded.

“It’s so lovely. Never lose that. That is a wonderful commodity to have” Ramsey mused for a moment, before smiling back at the other woman. She was happy to see anyone smiling despite how crazy thing’s were lately. “ Oh? Well okay” She added before scribbling her name in the same haphazard way she drew. Ramsey pulled the paper from the sketch pad carefully though as she handed it over to her. 

“Thank you.” Natalya couldn’t help but smile wider at the woman’s words, taking the sketchy from her happily. “My name is Natalya. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Thank you, I will.” Josie smiled brightly, stepping away from the woman. “And you enjoy whatever the rest of your day holds.” She wished the woman well with a grin, turning on her heel and sending a wave behind her as she walked away.

“I’ll do my best, hon. I’ll see you around,” Nat said, grinning at the young woman as she walked away. The surgeon waved back before turning to delve into the rest of her day.

“Wow really, that’s amazing!” Shira exclaimed. “And my mom is one. And my grandma,” she admitted with a shrug, smiling shyly at the older woman. “It’s kinda in my blood.” Something of an understatement. 

“Then why are you working at the clinic as a receptionist instead of clocking hours?” Natalya questioned, tilting her head at the young woman. Ivy had hired her and she valued the woman’s opinion but Nat was genuinely curious.

                   Happy International Women’s Month!

“Before the moon I am, what a woman is, a woman of power, a woman’s power, deeper than the roots of trees, deeper than the roots of islands, older than the Making, older than the moon.”                                                                                                                                                                                                              —Ursula K. Le Guin

“Yes, of course. You seem smiley over it and that makes me happy too “ Ramsey said in a somewhat dreamy voice. She didn’t always get people thinking what she did in life was ever special. This was eye opening and lovely for her. “ Yes to one. My name? to two” She asked a little surprised

“I suppose I am a bit smiley,” Natalya agreed, shaking her head. She’d just received clearance to go back to work after an annoying long break. “Of course, your name. It is your work after all.”

“Right?” Josie nodded, putting her thoughts into a cemented plan in her mind. “I haven’t had a nap in quite awhile and today’s been kind of a lazy day.” She didn’t have a lot of them but cherished them when they came. 

“Self care is important,” the doctor smiled. She’d taken enough naps the last couple of weeks to last her the rest of the damn year. “Enjoy your nap and your lazy day. They don’t come around often in this city.”

She smiled a little, seeing the value of her questions. She thought them through, picturing her closet. “I can afford it, but I have a pair that looks really similar. I don’t have any pair that color though. It’s split. There are pros to getting them and not getting them.”

Natalya’s smile didn’t waver as the younger woman spoke. “I say treat yourself then. One can never really have too many pairs of shoes in my opinion,” she chuckled.

“It’s my lucky night. Other than..” He trailed off, motioning to the injuries she just patched up for him. “Eased back in? Ouch. Unless…do we want to take things slow, or are you ready to jump right back into it? Cause, I feel like it’s the latter.”

“It’s absolutely the latter,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “I’ve been on bed rest for weeks. I’ve been cleared by their physical therapist and they’re still treating me with kitten gloves. It’s making me antsy,” the surgeon confessed. Taking a deep pull of wine, she nodded slightly. “But you’re right. You’re are lucky. I’m great.”

“Not as energized as I usually am, admittedly.” She sheepishly smiled, staving off a yawn. “I thought I might go back home and take a nap in the hammock; keep the windows open if it gets nice enough outside.” 

“Alright, now I’m jealous. That sounds absolutely incredible right now,” Natalya chuckled, shaking her head. She had twelve more hours left of this shift and they wouldn’t be spent sleeping.

Olivia laughed, her nose scrunching lightly as she shook her head. “Sorry, sorry!” She apologises. “I don’t know why either. I suppose it’s true what they say… money talks. It’s unfortunate what people will do for a quick buck.” She shudders. Perhaps her age prevents her from seeing the appeal, but then again, when she was human, she grew up in a society that married her off at sixteen for wealth and a title. Not much has changed, it seems. Olivia hummed, nodding her head in agreement. “I’d say less snake and more cockroach.”

“Honestly, the thought of it is going to give me nightmares.” A shudder of disgust ran through through her. There wasn’t enough money in the world for her to sleep with that man. Much less marry him. She’d sell her soul before she’d let that happen. “How about a hybrid? I think that would be a rather sufficient depiction. No?”