Everybody hurts (Part 1), IC: Frankie ISO: Corri, open!

Frankie was woken up that beautiful Spring morning by the sudden pain in her…everything. With her shack being the stuff made of nightmares the brunette was left with little options when it came to living arrangements. She didn't know anyone on this little spit of land, and it wasn't like she could cough up the money for a room at the local inn. Instead the girl had little choice but find a nice park bench and claim it as her own for the night. Hopefully no cops caught her sleeping in the local park. If she had any other choice she wouldn't have been there, really. Originally she planned on sleeping on the sandy beach next to her would-be home, but that plan was foiled the night before when she realized sand loved to sneak it's way into everything. EVERYTHING. So park bench it was.

Unfortunately benches had their downsides too. While she was out of the dirt and away from random critters and creepy-crawlies, the wooden slab was probably the most uncomfortable thing she could have possibly slept on. This was also a major problem seeing how the girl had bruises on her bruises. What with the shack collapsing on her and Mimi assaulting her with that god forsaken umbrella…oh, oh! And she couldn't forget tripping over someone only to promptly get tripped over as well at the flower festival!

...Wow. Frankie couldn't tell if she just had a shitty week or this was a shitty island, but that was besides the point.

On top of that the stiff board was narrow as well, Frankie often waking up from her unsatisfying slumber just in time to catch herself from falling to the ground. Suffice to say it was a restless night, and it was only around three or four in the morning that she actually managed to get to sleep. Once she was out cold though she couldn't have been aware enough to catch herself. So that's how her morning began. With her face in the dirt. Being half awake Frankie couldn't really process why she was hurting so badly, trying to sit up only to remember she was a severely battered woman. The fall had her nose bleeding again, and the painkillers she got from the clinic were all but spent. He told her he gave her enough pills to last two weeks, but Frankie begged to differ. Sure she might have abused them just a little, but she didn't think that doctor understood how much it hurt to move when every inch of you was black and blue. Well, if he didn't understand before, he was going to get another chance. Because he was about to get an earful of it.

It took her a while to waddle to the clinic but she managed to make it there just before lunch time, after making a few pit stops of course. First she naturally needed to find a place to tidy up, the restroom at the local restaurant being a fine choice. Then she needed to find food, and the bread they serve you before your meal at the restaurant fit the bill perfectly. After all, they don't make you pay for the bread. They also don't expect you to leave right after eating it but that was besides the point. Wobbling into the clinic Frankie made her presence known by swinging the door open dramatically. It was unintentional of course, but she was just in so much pain she didn't really care. She tried to go to the front desk to explain her plight, but the nurse pointed to the waiting area: a row of chairs along the hallway. She tried again, the nurse this time ordering her quite audibly, "SIT. You'll get your turn." Not one for arguing Frankie just sighed, defeated, and hobbled over to the chairs. Collapsing in the one farthest away from the cranky nurse the brunette ran her boney fingers through her hair before muttering, "…Balls."

corriander saw better days gone past
c o r r i a n d e r

Corriander was pacing -- badly. Really badly. With each step on her left, she either winced, wobbled, limped, or a combination of all three. The clicking sound of her boots, normally a calming sound, only amplified the fact that she was terrified and did not want to do this. Such a clean sound, such a clean floor, the doctors' office. Nothing was worse than that place -- the santiary conditions, the tongue depressers, long swabs, the needles... ugh. She was fearful of all of that, but even worse, Corriander was alone.
Sure, she was twenty-four years old. Anyone else would probably have had a normal grasp on this -- but not her. Corriander couldn't recall a single time she had ever been alone at a doctor's office... weren't there like, daytime specials on the women's channels about that, anyway? Doctors could be crazy and gas you or something? Well, she didn't believe that, but she did believe that if you were hurt, you needed a support group. Only, she wasn't hurt anymore. She was on the mend actually, here for the last steps of her process: getting the stitches in her ankle pulled out. Maybe she didn't believe in anything except not being alone.

"Ma'am," the older woman from across the desk spoke sternly, "I'm going to have to ask you to sit down." She was tapping her long nails against the counter, glaring at Corri from behind the safety of her plastic-glass partition. Probably keeps people from strangling her when she's being rude, Corri thought to herself, but she obediently slouched in a far chair, near a sad looking spider-plant and today's newspaper, folded neatly on the table. Reluctantly, Corriander picked it up, knowing exactly what she'd find on the front page.

The front door chimed open, and Corri set the paper down again, not being able to help herself from people-watching. Another girl, relatively young, relatively plain. It was that plainness that offered a very charming quality to her, though. Corri couldn't help but smile at her. It was a shame she was alone too -- where was her support group, anyhow? With a little huff of a sigh, Corri left the girl to her business (unsurprisingly, her business was being barked at by the nurse) and opened up her newspaper. The woman sunk into the chair next to her.


I must be clairvoyant, or something. Corri thought, seeing the front page:
Mad Man and Wild Woman Destroy Forest With Dirigible.
"...Balls." the girl next to her muttered. Corri, without thinking, figured she was responding to the news article.
"Tell me about it. It's not like we meant to or anything." Instant regret. "Uhh, I mean... what was that?"

[font=tahoma]how long will she last?

A woman moved to occupy the seat next to her, Frankie nodding a hello. She didn't want to invade anyone's privacy though, not in the mood she was in. So instead she just placed her face in her hands and tried to look occupied. In reality she was extremely bored, and the pain only seemed to increase with the lack of stimulation. So when the woman responded to the brunette's cursing she was more than happy to reply.

"I know right?" She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. Did she know about Corri's plight? Had she heard of the dirigible crash? "I mean, it's not like I ASKED to get beaten with an umbrella." apparently not. Completely overlooking the newspaper headline, Frankie simply assumed the blonde was complaining about the accidents that lead to them being in the clinic today. "And I doubt you asked to have whatever happened to you…happen to you." Well that wasn't very well spoken, but the girl was in too much pain to be eloquent. The nurse eyed her skeptically, though. Not that she cared, she was doing her best to ignore Nurse freaking Ratched until her name was called.

Eyeing the girl next to her for the first time, she decided to carry on the conversation. It wasn't like she was going anywhere anytime soon. "So what are you here for?" She didn't see any noticeable wounds, maybe she was sick or something? It would just be her luck if she caught it, too. No, no that didn't seem right. She didn't look sick at least. Maybe her injury was hidden by her clothes or something?

This thought suddenly made Frankie incredibly self conscious, and for the better half of a minute she tried to inconspicuously cover up the bruises on her arms with her sleeves and hands. Trying to look anywhere besides her battered skin, Frankie noticed the newspaper in Corri's hands. "A Dirigible crash huh? Can you believe it?" She leaned forward to get a better look at the paper. "I didn't even knew people flew those anymore." Combing her fingers through her ponytail she only sighed, "I'm so behind on the news since I came to this place.

corriander saw better days gone past
c o r r i a n d e r

I know, right? Corri glanced at the girl curiously, nose-half buried in the paper. She didn't want to seem like a total creeper, right? None the less she was interested in why the girl chose to respond that way -- maybe she didn't like the forest. Maybe she really liked crashes, maybe she -- It's not like I asked to be beaten with an umbrella. And I doubt you asked to have whatever happened to you... happen to you. maybe she just didn't understand, and that was fine by Corriander. Better to just shrug it off. She put the newspaper down, studying the girl. Beaten with an umbrella seemed to be true, as weird as it was -- she was covered in bruises. Whoever did it must have been very strong -- and very angry. Realizing she was staring, Corri turned back to her paper, embarrassed.
"Sorry," She muttered, unclear if it was about the staring issue, or just the fact that people seemed really keen on assaulting Frankie. She was really saying sorry over both of them being stuck in sorry states in a sorry place. At least they had company now. Loneliness had to be the worst sickness of all. Corri suffered horribly.
So what are you here for? The girl asked again, and Corriander laughed. "It's a long stupid story," She said, smiling to herself. The crash seemed like a bad memory, but it was so distant now, despite only happening a few days ago. She had been distancing herself with anger and shock so well it didn't even seem real anymore.
Leaning over, the girl unzipped her left boot, rolling her pant leg up her calf. Vertically from her ankle to halfway up her calf, a deep gash was sewn back together with dark, thick, chalky looking thread. Though her leg was healing nicely, just a flushed pink scar, the stitches were still dark with blood. "I had an accident a few days ago, this is all I came out with though -- oh, and a minor concussion." She smiled a little, stuffing all her clothing back where it belonged. "They're coming out today... got lucky, I guess."
With that, she flipped the pages of the newspaper, following her own horror story right on page H2 -- Dirigible Crash headline. The reporter really had done a great job stretching what had really happened; writing that a great fire had ravaged around and nothing was salvaged. She could imagine his job was long gone by now -- the village was small enough that anyone could see it was untrul.
A Dirigible crash, huh? Can you believe it? Her patient-friend leaned forward, and Corri worried for a split second if she was in the front pages' picture. I didn't even know people flew those anymore! I'm so behind on news since I came to this place.

"Well, Dirigible really isn't the right word for it," Corri began absent-mindedly. She usually launched into this when speaking about the Tesseract, and normally when it was in better shape and she wasn't part of a townwide scandal. Habit sometimes has horrible effects. "It's more of an airship, really. The Tesseract is an adapted ship from Arroyo harbor down south and across the ocean some ways. The captain just used lighter wood and an helium and hot-air mechanism to make it float." She ran a hand through her hair, still staring at the page.
tick-tock-tick-tock. Corri let a whole minute pass before she realized what she had said.
"Oh, um, yeah." She said, looking up at the girl, praying for any expression that wasn't absolute shock or horror. "I'm the first mate. Well, was the first mate. Corriander." Holding out her hand, "Better to behind in the news then be plastered all over it, right?"


"Corriander? Francesca? The doctor will be seeing you now."

how long will she last?

Yeah. She saw the bruises. It was too late at that point to hide them. Sighing Frankie just slumped in her chair and rolled up her sleeves again, seeing how it was far too hot to cover her arms in the first place. And seeing how Corri already got an eyeful she decided to favor practicality over vanity. It was only when the blond unzipped her boot that Frankie realized the girl had it much worse that her. "OHMY-" She slapped her hands over her eyes when she saw the gash, always being a little on the squeamish side when it came to injuries like that. Although it was nearly impossible to recover from a fumble like that, Frankie decided to try anyway. "Oh-oh my! That doesn't look so…bad!" Who was she kidding? The nurse looked up at her irritably. "Okayit'sprettygnarlyI'msorry." She leaned back in her seat when Corri mentioned that today was the day she would be losing the stitches. "Gotta be excited for that, huh? It'll be a lot more bearable to look-" Her face blanched. She REALLY needed to start thinking before she spoke. She stuttered out another apology, "-I'm really sorry. I'm bad around…cuts. Or uh...pain in general, really." She could feel her cheeks flush and more than welcomed the change in subject.

"Well, Dirigible really isn't the right word for it,"

It was at this point Frankie's curiosity was piqued. Unfortunately it wasn't ten seconds later before that same inquisitive nature crashed harder than Corriander's Dirigible. She really tried to keep up with the blond's explanation, she really did. In fact when Corri described the original location of the airship Frankie was quite interested. Having a wander lust the brunette naturally loved hearing about exotic destinations in detail. It was when she started talking about the specs of the aircraft that Frankie became irreparably lost. She couldn't even understand the mechanics of an automobile, let alone an airship.

She blinked a couple of times when she felt her eyes glazing over, deciding to elaborate on one piece of the conversation just to prove she was actually paying attention. "The Tesseract, huh?" she smiled as her mind mulled over the word, "Sounds really fitting." Corriander held out her hand and introduced herself as first mate of the airship. After her little spiel Frankie wasn't all that surprised at the reveal, but still felt it deserved recognition. "First mate huh? Sounds impressive." She took the hand and shook it as firmly as her boney arm would allow. "I'm Francesca, you can call me Frankie. No titles or anything." Corriander next comment forced a genuine laugh from the girl, but before she could reply the nurse called out their names.

"Ah, good timing!" Frankie hopped up, feeling revitalized after such an amiable discussion. Looking to Corri she smiled and decided to wait for her to stand. "You ready, Corriander?" It was a miracle she remembered that name. She held out her hand once again, this time to help her up. The nurse lead them to the doctor's room: slightly bigger than the waiting area. Instead of stiff chairs there was equally stiff beds, divided by nothing but thin curtains. Well, that was a good thing at least. Frankie couldn't stand to think of watching Corri as the stitches were taken out. Hell, she couldn't even stomach looking at them while they were immobile. Taking one last look at Corri while the nurse ushered her to the first bed, Frankie smiled once more. "Good luck with the stitches," Figuring she'd be long gone before Corri had finished her procedure. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Love to get a look at the Tesseract." With a nod Frankie then followed the nurse into the first bed as the doctor greeted Corri. Clearly her stitches were of higher importance of Frankie's complaints. And even though the first mate's appointment should have taken far more time than a simple prescription, it was clear by the raised voices that the brunette was still behind her curtain by the time Corri had finished. While her stitches were being taken out she must have been entertained by Frankie and the nurse's conversation.

"What do you mean I can't get more pills?"

"You're not getting your prescription refilled."

"Well isn't that up to the doctor?"

"I don't need the doctor to tell you no. You used up two weeks of pills in two days."

"…It was five."

"YOU'RE NOT GETTING MORE."

(OoC: I AM SO SORRY. THIS POST IS WAY TOO LONG.)

(No apologies!)

corriander saw better days gone past
c o r r i a n d e r

The airship was easily received in terms of subjects, but after the explanation was done it was no surprise that Frankie was confused. The Tesseract, huh? Sounds fitting Her friend responded, and Corriander couldn't help but chuckle at that, too. This girl was a riot -- her mannerisms, her weird injuries....Corriander was a bit interested in how she ended up being savagely bludgeoned with an umbrella. Hell, Corri had seen some pretty rough bruises in her time: Svaatsi was a nightmare at bars and brawls. But poor Frankie, hell, it looked like it hurt to breathe. Corriander couldn't help but imagine a barbarian attacking the girl. Corri made a note to ask more, but she quickly occupied her mind with an easier way to explain the Tesseract. She just couldn't seem to get it down right. When you work on the ship for 2 years and spent most of your time repairing machinery on it, you tend to forget most people haven't. But you're the first mate, huh? Sounds impressive. Hardly, Corri thought, grasping the girl's hand as gently as she could -- there were bruises everywhere, she didn't want to cause another. --Frankie. No titles or anything.
"Professional punching bag?" Corri offered sheepishly, smiling kindly. She was only kidding, she was hoping Frankie could handle a little punch in pride, too. "First mate really wasn't that big of a deal, though. Don't cut me too much of the cake -- it's not that great. Past tense now, anyway." She said with a flash of frown.

"Corriander? Francesca? The doctor will be seeing you now."

"`bout time," Corri said, glancing at Frankie, who had said a similar sentence at nearly the same time. The bruised peach held out her hand, and Corri took it, using it as leverage to stand up. You ready, Corriander?
"No more than I was 20 minutes ago. Never been to a doctors' alone." She told Frankie, with a little shrug.
Following behind Frankie with a little limp, the two came into the clinic's main work room -- a wide area, with a few beds separated by curtains. Is this where she was that day? Corriander couldn't even remember. She was beginning to wonder if it was really a doctor who did the work on her leg, or just Svaatsi with a needle, thread, and some alcohol. She cringed. It was probably the latter. Good luck with the stitches! Frankie said, being pushed away to her partition. Corri was only one down. Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Love to get a look at the Tesseract. Corri nodded at her frame through the curtain "`Course! It's an interesting ship, you'd be ama-- Oh, hey doc." And the two were separated, and Corri felt a little sad. It was nice to have someone there for her, at least for a while.

She and the doctor exchanged their pleasantry before he started getting to work. Having the area rubbed with a bit of salve, Corri could feel the sensation in that leg slip away, and soon enough the doctor was slicing at thread, picking it away and dropping it into a petri dish. Corri watched it, wondering why he didn't just use that nifty dissolving stuff they had nowadays, her mind wandering-- What do you mean, 'I can't get more pills?'

It was Frankie again! Corri was sure she'd be in and out by now -- just a quick checkup and a perscription, and she'd be gone. But sure enough that witchy nurse was being a pain... Wait what, five weeks? Damn, girls' a party for sure. she thought, giggling a little.

"Don't move, Ms. Cavanaugh."

"Oh, sorry... It's just..."

"I'm sorry you have to listen to a dispute between patient and practitioner. You're almost finished, just two or three more."

"Oh, good. Hey Frankie!" Corri said loudly. She thought about pulling the curtain but decided against it -- a dish of bloody stitches was the last thing Frankie needed. "Y'wanna grab a drink after this? It ain't pills or anything, but it's some kind of medication." She offered, cheer in her voice.

"There is no way I will allow you two to walk out of here just to get hammered." The nurse warned Corri, sneering over the curtain.

"Stuff it, Wicked Witch of the West. We're adults." Corri sneered back. "How `bout it?"

how long will she last?

Frankie was actually enjoying herself at the clinic. Who would have thought? This place seemed like the opposite of a good time, but it was the first place the brunette had found where she didn't have to be BRUTALLY ASSAULTED before having an amiable conversation. This island was a dangerous place after all. In the span of a few weeks the girl had been tackled, punched, tripped over, chased, and most famously beaten with an umbrella. Before the island she probably wouldn't have gotten this many injuries in a year. It wasn't just the clinic though, Corri was a fun person to talk to. Everything was casual, and even though some things went over her head, Frankie could easily say it was a pleasure to make her acquaintance. When she stated she had no fancy titles to go along with her name, Corri suggested one herself. "Professional punching bag?" if she had any amount of pride she probably would have been insulted. Although by the looks of her pride was thrown out the window a long time ago.

"HA." She guffawed far too loudly, it actually hurt her ribs quite a bit. Hugging her side, Frankie tried force a smile despite her wincing. "I might as well be. If it pays I'll take it." She was dead serious, too. With her current gig going south it would be months before she could get off this god forsaken island. While they were all jokes and jabs at Frankie's profession, (or lack there of,) things seemed to get a bit more sullen when Corri spoke of hers. It was only for a brief moment, but it looked as though the young woman was lamenting the loss of her occupation, her airship, or maybe something more…Thank God it was only for a second. Frankie SUCKED at the touchy feely...emotions. And when their names were called this sensitive subject would no longer be an issue.

They shook hands and walked together into the doctor's office. Despite the pain that was looming in Corri's future, she seemed content talking to Frankie until the moment the curtain was shut. The smile lingered on Frankie's face as she hopped onto the sheet of paper that lined the stiff bed. And while Corri would be subject to discomfort with her stitches, Frankie was almost certain her fate would be worse when the nurse stood by her bed. Eyes like daggers, thin lips turned into a frown. She was hoping she would be able to appeal to the doctor's better side, but it didn't look like this lady HAD a better side.

The argument was inevitable, and grew in volume the longer Frankie carried it on. Sure the lady HAD a point, but that didn't stop her from trying. And trying. And still trying. The conversation played out like a child poking a bulldog with a stick. Poking and prodding and PRODDING AND POKING. After twenty minutes of this the Nurse really did look like she was going to bite Frankie's head off, the brunette whittling what little patience she had into nothing. The conversation was thankfully interrupted though when she heard Corri's voice pipe up from her private conversation with the doctor. Ears perking up and looking away from the red faced nurse Frankie gladly responded. "Yes?"


"Y'wanna grab a drink after this? It ain't pills or anything, but it's some kind of medication."

"Are you kidding? I'll take what I can get." Sliding off the bed Frankie tried to walk past the nurse only to be stopped by her once again.

"There is no way I will allow you two to walk out of here just to get hammered."

"Stuff it, Wicked Witch of the West. We're adults." For once Frankie was glad she didn't have to speak up for herself, because the look the nurse had in her eyes made her heart run cold. They had seriously pissed off this woman, and if Frankie was any judge it wouldn't be the last time. When Corri asked a second time Frankie just laughed weakly and scooted passed the enraged woman before saying, "Hey, yeah. Totally. Better than here, right?" And as if on cue the doctor and nurse both scowled in unison. The doctor, still trying to be civil asked, "Could you please leave?" Apparently he had had enough as well. Couldn't blame him. "I'll just..wait for you outside the-"

"GET OUT ALREADY."

"I'M GOING, I'M GOING."

Stepping out of the office Frankie heard the nurse get called over as he wrapped things up with Corri. Well, that meant she could chill out in the waiting area without being under the scrutiny of that marvelous woman. That, and her desk was left unattended.

…She was alone. And the desk was left unattended.

***

As Corri made her way out to the entrance of the clinic, Frankie shot up like a rocket from the nurses chair and dropped whatever she was doing. "WELL, EVERYTHING GO ALRIGHT?" She wasn't very good at being inconspicuous. Thank goodness it was only Corriander who saw her lurking by the nurse's belongings. But it wasn't long before the nurse entered the room behind the blond, eyeing Frankie with justified suspicion. Knowing it wouldn't be long now until the jig was up, Frankie grabbed her new companion by the arm and started leading her towards the door. Quickly. "I don't really know where the bar is around these parts but I'm sure we can find-"

"What the-Why can't I--WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY DESK?!"

Unfortunately when left unattended, the brunette had discovered a roll of waterproof medical tape: sticky and strong. Instead of leaving well enough alone the girl proceeded to tape the woman's desk drawers shut, looking almost mummified in nature. Frankie's grip tightened, swinging the door open quickly.

" UH- I'M ON MEDICATION."

"I DIDN'T GIVE YOU ANY YOU HORSE'S ASS."

"RUNAWAYRUNAWAY" She paused when she realized neither of them could really run. "HOBBLE. HOBBLE AWAY."

(Sorry if this post is a bit short. @__@ I am feeling super tired. Also, I'll make the bar topic!)

corriander saw better days gone past
c o r r i a n d e r

Could you please leave? The doctor spoke, still staring at her leg. Although Corriander couldn't feel a damn thing, she could see he was working a bit harsher than he had before.
I'll just wait for you outside the--
GET OUT ALREADY. Corriander was shocked at how rude he was being! Regardless of the duo's behavior, they were still patients. If he ever wanted Corri to pay back her bill he'd have to be much nicer. She never intended on paying him to begin with (what gold!? Everything she had was saved up for drinks), but his behavior was at least a scapegoat now. Corri stuck her hand out from the curtain, gave Frankie and wave and a thumbs up -- she'd see her outside.

The last few stitch was finally being pulled, and by this time the doctor was so hot and angry that he was actually fuming. Corriander could see the hot splotches of blood boiling up on his bald head, so she quickly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh -- but he knew.
"Ms. Cavanaugh," he sputtered vitriolically, slapping a gauze pad over her wound. "Your leg is finished. However you might want to look into attempting to finish your manners." He spoke with his back turned to her, cleaning up. "You may go."
"Right, doc." She said, now giggling through her teeth. "I'll be sure t'apply for the first boarding school in town." The sarcasm was thick in her voice as she wobbled out the door.
"Get out." The sigh was also thick. The doctor would most likely not return from his lunch break.

Outside the clinic room however, the waiting room was even more wild. Swinging open the door, Frankie was no where to be-- oh, no, there she was, popping up like a whackamole game. Corri couldn't even differentiate her words she was speaking so fast, and sidling away from the desk. What did she do? Corri sauntered over messily (the bar would most likely believe she already was drunk. This numbing cream was awful!) Frankie grabbed her and the two were making their way for the door, as rushed as their bodies would allow. The Nurse was already screaming though.

Glancing over her shoulder, Corri saw the matter. The desk looked like a bad horror movie from the 1940's -- wrapped head-to-toe sloppy with white medical tape. Corri couldn't even contain herself. This visit went from 0 to 60 in record time, and she couldn't stop laughing.

RUNAWAYRUNAWAYRUNAWAY! ... HOBBLE. HOBBLE AWAY!
"Ah let's go!" Corri squealed between laughs, grabbing onto Frankie and attempting to charge out the door. The nurse was hot on their tails up until the door swung open. She didn't follow them into the light -- most likely because she was clearly a troll or vampire in disguise. But Corri didn't stop -- just in case -- for another block or so, until they were safe.

Safe, and at a bar.

how long will she last?