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DOC'S OFFICE - PATIENT ROOM - AFTERNOON
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Maybelline is laying back in bed, her good arm above her head as she traces patterns to herself, explaining the basics of power routing through generators. As she concludes the explanation, she sets her arm down across her chest and shifts her head towards Brunilda. "Okay... that was... a lot. But does it make any more sense now?"
Brunilda is sitting on the mattress on the floor as usual, leaning on a wall: "...yeah, it does." She offers the stoat a smile: "I feel like I'm getting somewhere, or at least understanding better as I stumble to that somewhere."
Maybelline smiles, "It's a lot to take in, even just the basics, let alone how the systems all start to interact, so don't feel too bad of some parts of it don't make sense yet. It takes time, and a bit of experience. I... sadly can't offer much of the latter right now."
Brunilda shrugs, giving a lopsided smile: "It's not like I could do much of it either, at the moment."
Maybelline gives a half shrug, then turns her head away, "Guess not. Heh. Maybe you'll get to see one built first hand... since I might sorta have to do that."
Brunilda considers this, then nods: "Well... I will be happy to help. For as long as I am recovering, I do not need to worry about doing any guard duty, after all." She looks down: "...if I'll even continue doing that."
Maybelline hums. "We'll see. My side isn't gonna recover all too quickly either." She ponders a moment, "So... you're actually thinking of quitting, eh?"
Brunilda nods slowly, her expression deeply thoughtful as she looks down: "I... I guess I've had enough sense spoken to me, that there's at least no harm in trying. Tradition or no tradition."
Maybelline chuckles quietly, "I'd like to meet the person who finally got through to you. Those kinds of traditions just seem like they hold people back. You should be allowed to pursue what makes you happy."
Brunilda smiles: "Wasn't really one person so much as a lot of folks..." She then gives Maybelline a wink: "Although, if you insist I name one, it's the one who I'm talking with right now."
Maybelline blinks, then turns her head to Brun and smirks, "Well, that's probably a mistake. I've not exactly made the best choices to lead me this far."
Brunilda gives a bit of an amused, trumpeting snort: "Like I have."
Maybelline laughs again, "Okay... fair. Guess we both earned our positions here. Heh."
Brunilda laughs a bit, smiling: "Perhaps. I guess... it's up to us to make the most of it."
Maybelline sighs, "Yeah... I think I'm pretty dead set on staying here... Respite Falls... the ass end of nowhere. But... it's home now." She slumps, "I still miss my family though..."
Brunilda likewise deflates a bit: "Yeah... me too. Even with the thorns, they are... well, family." She looks at Maybelline with an understanding half-smile.
Maybelline nods. "I love my parents. I wouldn't be here without them." She blinks, "Not here, just... you know. Education and inspiration."
Brunilda nods: "I understand. And I don't hate my parents... just maybe the ideas they stick to regarding... you know, what I should do with my life."
Maybelline: "Yeah... my parents said I could be or do anything I wanted. I wanted to be an engineer, and my Dad did everything he could to get me there." She frowns a little at Brun, "You're smart enough, Brun. You could do whatever you want. Your family might be disappointed, but if you're happy, they'll understand. I think."
Brunilda nods slowly, thinking on this: "Yeah... I think my family would... mostly understand." She shrugs: "Not that I am likely to see them again anytime soon. I won't leave Respite, and I don't think any of them can up and pick their lives either to come here just to check on me. Not even my crazy grandpa."
Maybelline sighs, "Yeah. I'm a long way from home. I sent a letter after my first week, but... I don't even know how long it'll take to deliver, let alone get a response."
Brunilda looks at Maybelline, musing: "I wonder if I should write. I haven't, but... until now, I really haven't wanted to either. What would I write?"
Maybelline hums, "I just wrote about everyone I'd met... everyone who was so nice to me here..." She sighs. "I mentioned Vix, and Doc, and you. Hadn't met Annika yet when I wrote... probably best I didn't mention her, in the end."
Brunilda gives a small sympathetic smile: "Yeah... probably. Maybe I should write, then. Give them a reminder their less-favoured heir is still alive and kicking, at least."
Maybelline nods. "At the very least, yeah. I think it'd be good."
Brunilda lets out a bit of a sigh: "I don't think just that would be enough to make anyone come here. Although might still be best if I don't mention... you know, what happened."
Maybelline: "If you think it's best... I... am trying to decide if I should write another letter to explain this, or just wait to respond to whatever they write back."
Brunilda looks at Maybelline: "If it were me, I'd wait, probably. You might... we both might, think differently of this thing in a month or two."
Maybelline hums in thought. "Maybe..."
Brunilda shrugs: "Though, that's just me. Obviously I haven't even written back yet."
Maybelline shifts in her bed to think. "Maybe. But I think they'd want to know."
Brunilda leans one hand on the ground, shifting her sitting weight: "...yeah." She is quiet for a brief moment, before shaking her head: "...anyway. Not a concern for this very moment, I think."
Maybelline hums, "Yeah. Probably not an immediate concern, no."
Brunilda shrugs, looking at her book... before shaking her head. "I don't think I can understand more 'tech either today. Humh."
Maybelline nods, "Let it sink in a bit. Take some time to think it through."
Brunilda nods, thinking. She then looks up at Maybelline: "...since we don't have basically anything except time to waste... would you mind telling me about your family? I'm curious, I admit."
Maybelline smiles, "Sure, I mean, there's not much to tell..." Despite that lead-in, she proceeds to talk about her parents in loving detail...
Brunilda listens with curiosity, and soon starts adding her own family experiences to the mix as the two talk.