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Post by Leda on Aug 31, 2009 13:11:26 GMT -5
Catching the veterinarian's eye, Phoebe patted Dash's belly before hoisting him onto her hip once more. "Looks like they'll see us now."
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Post by DB on Aug 31, 2009 14:34:48 GMT -5
@silvia@ Reaching down to give the hybrid hiding at her side a gentle scratch behind the ear, Silvia glanced idly over the bill. Not a bad price for peace of mind, at least. Giving the larger woman a momentary annoyed glance, she shifted to one more pleasant. "Well, we'll be going now. Busy busy, you know..." Not really. This was another situation where Dash would normally protest at being picked up, but seeing how all the other... 'beasts' around here behaved, he just didn't care at the moment, instead sighing and burying his face in Phoebe's shoulder.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Aug 31, 2009 16:07:00 GMT -5
@luke@
"In that case, I won't keep you waiting any longer. Goodbye, Ms. Corona, and you take care, Venice."
With that done, Luke put the hedgemink's patient info aside and approached Dash and Phoebe.
"Ah, good to see you again... Uh..." there was a short pause as Luke realized he couldn't quite remember the tenrec's name, "... Forgive me, I can't seem to remember your name... Was it Duke? I'm pretty sure it began with a 'D'... Derek?..."
... Yeah, real professional, Luke.
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Post by Leda on Aug 31, 2009 19:41:07 GMT -5
The florist blinked. "You know my beast?" Phoebe glanced to inquire on the issue with Dash himself, but finding his face buried, instead she simply patted his back and rocked him from side to side. You're not scared of the vet, are you? "His name is Dash. My name is Phoebe Thalia."
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Post by dcbishigirl on Aug 31, 2009 20:14:07 GMT -5
While normally she loved affection from the large woman ... on certain occasions it was.....
*GASP* "Mama.... Cant... Breathe..."
.... Unhealthy for her....
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Post by SHM 128 III on Aug 31, 2009 21:37:33 GMT -5
@luke@
"Ah, right! Dash!" Luke exclaimed, "My apoligizes, it's been a long day..."
After a short pause (and looking down at his growling stomach), Luke looked back at Phoebe.
"A pleasure to meet you Ms. Thalia. I actually inspected Dash when he was first brought into Eden, as well as fixed his broken jaw. I'm glad he was able to find a home so quickly."
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Post by Leda on Aug 31, 2009 21:53:16 GMT -5
"Really??" Her face lighting up, Phoebe enthusiastically invaded the good doctor's space and hugged him with her free arm. "Thank you so much for that, then! His jaw's bothered him as it's been healing, but I can't imagine how much worse it'd have been if it was never fixed! At least this way the worst he has to deal with is constantly sounding like a drunkard." Turning her attention back to the unhappy tenrec, she smirked and resumed patting his back. "I'm sorry he's not up to talking right now; he's had a long day, and he's a little upset at the moment."
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Post by SHM 128 III on Aug 31, 2009 23:19:30 GMT -5
@luke@
"!!!"
Luke was... Not expecting to be hugged so suddenly. Trying his hardest to remain professional (and keeping his brain from blowing multiple synapses), the doctor took a step back as soon as he was able to in order to give himself a little more personal space.
"Yes, well... You're very welcome," he was finally able to get out (albiet still looking a bit flustered at the sudden display of affection) before turning to the tenrec, "And... I'm sorry to hear that, Dash. Is there anything I can do to help?"
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Post by DB on Aug 31, 2009 23:28:25 GMT -5
The tenrec remained turned away, though one ear did swivel as he was addressed. Muffled by Phoebe's shoulder, he replied. " Tell me why thish place is so messed up."
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Post by Leda on Aug 31, 2009 23:41:14 GMT -5
Chuckling softly, Phoebe nuzzled the stressed thrope with her forehead and turned back to the veterinarian. "Like I said, he's had a long day. Anyway, I know we don't have an appointment, but I was hoping someone could take a look at Dash's stitches? ... If it doesn't cost too much, anyway. If I can't afford to have them removed I'll have to do it myself with a pair of hedge clippers, and I don't think he'd enjoy that much." Smirking to herself, the florist tussled her pet's quills. "Would'ja, Pokey?"
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Post by DB on Aug 31, 2009 23:45:04 GMT -5
" No", came the aggravated, muffled reply.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 1, 2009 1:25:11 GMT -5
@luke@
Luke frowned at the tenrec's reply. It seemed like he still wasn't quite comfortable with life in Eden, despite having what appeared to be a rather kind owner. After making a mental note to discuss it with Dash in private, he began walking towards one of the exam rooms, motioning to Phoebe to follow.
"Well, Ms. Thalia, I believe enough time has passed that removing the stitches would be possible. In fact, I can do it for free, since his entire opperation was taken out in advance from the paycheck of the hunters who brought him in."
He then paused and looked back at the brown-and-yellow kooshball known as the back of Dash's head.
"It would also give me some time to speak with Dash one-on-one to discuss how he's been adapting to Eden."
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Post by Leda on Sept 1, 2009 22:32:00 GMT -5
"I think 'free' is probably the only word more beautiful than 'clearance'." Smirking and rubbing briefly at the testy tenrec's (or testrec, if you will) ears, she added, "Hear that, Dash? We get to eat for another week!" Arriving at the exam room, Phoebe carefully disentangled herself from the thrope's grasp and kissed him on the forehead. "Come on, cheer up; you're finally going to get your stitches out! I'll see you in the waiting room before you know it." Giving him one last scratch, the florist then made her way back out, leaving Dash and the doctor alone.
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Post by DB on Sept 1, 2009 23:01:55 GMT -5
Cue the awkward silence.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 2, 2009 11:14:16 GMT -5
@luke@
Once he was alone with Dash, Luke walked over to one of the cabinets in the room and began taking out the tools he'd need to remove the stitches. As he did so, he began what could probably be best described as a pretty generic doctor conversation.
"So, Dash how are you doing today?"
The doctor paused when he realized that, considering how clearly unhappy Dash was at the moment, that question was probably a bit condesending. Abandoning the 'standard' question, he turned to look at Dash.
"... I mean... How have you been handling Eden? It isn't... too bad, I hope?"
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Post by DB on Sept 2, 2009 11:16:22 GMT -5
The tenrec somewhat glared at the doctor, before finally replying. "They call thish place civilized. It ishn't."
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 2, 2009 11:34:37 GMT -5
@luke@
Luke let out a sad sigh at the tenrec's response before turning back and searching for his tools again.
"I know, Dash. Nearly every thrope brought in from the outside world tells me that. And yet, I never seem to get that reply from any thrope that has been raised here all their life."
Eventually, the doctor managed to find his forceps and surgical sissors. Now if only he could remember where he put the antiseptic...
"Is it possible that the difference between us is not a matter of being civilized and simply a case of culture shock? I mean, with all due repect to your opinion, I don't consider myself barbaric..." short pause as he looked down at the sharp instruments he was holding, "... Equipment that I use aside, and Phoebe hardly appears uncivilized, either."
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Post by DB on Sept 2, 2009 13:14:25 GMT -5
The tenrec's ears remained flat against his head as he continued to eye the human. "I'm not talking about you or Phoebe. I'm talking about the 'beasth' here. You call them civilished when they act more... more uncultured than any from where I come from."
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 2, 2009 15:12:12 GMT -5
@luke@
Ah, so that was the issue. To be honest, it was something that had always bothered Luke as well, but that might've been due to having seen a couple of beasts "do it" in the park when he was a kid and was understandably tramatized by it... In any case, after finally finding the antiseptic, the doctor gathered his supplies and made his way over to Dash.
"Ah, I've noticed that too, at least in the way that most thropes from the outside seem to behave much more like humans than the ones raised here. It's... apathy, I suppose. I don't have a clear picture about what life is like out there, but it apparently drives you to function on a more intelligent level rather than to simply act on primal instincts. Here... There's no drive for that, and most owners seem to find their thropes indulging in their instincts to just be amusing. I've tried to encourage them to expand their interests, but when one is usually treated like a pet, why bother exerting yourself when all you have to do wag your tail and look cute to get all the food and shelter you need? Not to mention that some owners seem to resent me encouraging them to behave more like them..."
Luke sighed and shook his head while he began to use the antiseptic to clean the area around Dash's stitches.
"I always tell myself that at least thropes have a better chance at surviving here than on the outside, but... what's the point of surviving if you aren't living?"
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Post by DB on Sept 2, 2009 17:21:57 GMT -5
The tenrec's gaze averted, and he instead stared at the floor, no longer having anything to say. Ever since he'd arrived here, he'd been trying to understand this strange, distorted place. And now, now he felt he had a little more insight. And he didn't like what he saw. The people here... not just the thropes... they lived a strange, sheltered existence in a strange, skewed version of reality. The thropes here acted like animals because they weren't expected to be anything else. And the humans encourage it. So the thropes act like basal 'beasts' (the word, in this case, he believed fit), and the humans believe that this is all thropes are capable of, all that a thrope is. Just a particularly bright, amusing animal. Dashiel didn't look pleased.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 2, 2009 18:09:09 GMT -5
@luke@
With Dash now quiet, Luke went to work removing the stitches, using the forcepts to pull the knots up far enough so he could cut them with the sissors. The tenrec didn't say anything, but his body language was enough for Luke. After removing the last stitch, he cleaned and bandaged the area before putting a hand on the beast's shoulder.
"Listen, Dash... I'm here for you, okay? I'll talk to Phoebe about treating you more like a person than a beast, and if there's anything else you need, don't hesiate to let me know."
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Post by DB on Sept 2, 2009 21:19:57 GMT -5
In reply, the tenrec only nodded slightly, his gaze still glued to the floor. His... revelation troubled him deeply.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 2, 2009 23:54:50 GMT -5
@luke@
The silence did little to reassure Luke, but at least he nodded slightly. It wasn't a lot, but he'd take what he could get.
"Good. Come on, let's take you back to Phoebe so we can discuss it with her."
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Post by DB on Sept 3, 2009 11:30:58 GMT -5
Giving his cheek a slight rub (it was odd to be rid of the stitches after so long), the tenrec slid from his seat to the floor, waiting to be led out by the doctor. Well, vet. Those that care for thropes aren't doctors, after all. They're vets.
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 3, 2009 22:10:06 GMT -5
@luke@
The doctor led the tenrec back out to the lobby without further comment.
"Ms. Thalia?" Luke called out, "I removed Dash's stitches. He's all set to go."
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Post by Leda on Sept 3, 2009 23:49:38 GMT -5
"Great! That was fast." Rising to her feet, the florist approached and lovingly scratched at Dash's ears with both hands. "See, ya big grump? That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
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Post by DB on Sept 3, 2009 23:51:08 GMT -5
Well, as grumpy and disturbed as he was, he STILL did enjoy a good ear rub, and found himself leaning into it without thought. "Hm <3"
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Post by SHM 128 III on Sept 4, 2009 0:12:44 GMT -5
@luke@
As he watched Dash recieve his ear scritchings, Luke let out a sigh and looked back at Phoebe. This was gonna be fun...
"Ms. Thalia, if you don't mind, there's something I want to discuss with you in regards to Dash's treatment at home."
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Post by Leda on Sept 4, 2009 14:14:42 GMT -5
The relieved expression quickly morphed into one of wounded anxiety. "...His treatment?" Despite that she was about to pick him up a second before, Phoebe raised Dash's face to meet her own, but failed to say anything. Instead, she just looked into his eyes, her own projecting her silent questioning. Do you think I'm abusing you...?
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Post by DB on Sept 4, 2009 14:25:17 GMT -5
The tenrec's own eyes averted, and he pulled away slightly from Phoebe. "It's not like that."
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