Values

[workthroughit]

The desk is back in the Nexus again. And the owner of it is once more behind it, hands folded primly in front of him. Set off to the side is a fountain pen and a pad of paper. The banker's light and the metronome rest on the desk as well, though both are turned off. The snow is cleared in a neat three foot circumference around his seat, and though he's in just a dress shirt and sweater vest, the cold doesn't seem to bother the doctor one bit.

"I wonder," Dr. Hill begins in his usual northern European accent, "What do you, as a person, value more? Honesty? Or loyalty?"

A simple question, really.

Comments

[workthroughit]

"Ah, so the reasons vary as much as any calling would. Except yours, it seems."

He's silent a moment, observing the Doll in consideration, blinking slowly once or twice. "You do your job because you were made for it. Is that correct?"

[emboldsursicklyspirit]

Her head dips down slowly and surely, as mechanical a motion as possible, as can be expected. "Indeed."

[workthroughit]

"Then you have my condolences. I hope you are at least comforted by any success you have in the effort."

The odd thing is he sounds quite sincere in this.

[emboldsursicklyspirit]

"As do I you. I do earnestly hope that you find your worth in the waking world, Doctor, now that you cannot look within the inside," the doll replied, quickly, as if she did not think of what to say for her answer so much as the words came tumbling out.

[workthroughit]

His lips press into a thin, straight line briefly, before he nods once. Acknowledgement of their curious similarities. Their unhappy circumstances of purpose.

That expression is soon replaced by a halfhearted smile. "The Nexus allows us all manner of opportunities, doesn't it? Maybe finding our own way will be amongst them."

[emboldsursicklyspirit]

A finger rests curiously upon her cheek as she mulls over the doctor's statement. There were...things that she desired. Rare things that were swiftly smoothed over but never truly forgotten. A promise, a longing, a new birth

She turns back to A.J. Hill and smiles, not a faint one but an full honest one. Her sculpted eyes even seem to sparkle as she smiles. "Perhaps...." she answers seemingly non-noncommittally but both knew better, knew better than to give voice to their secret hopes lest they vanish like dust in the wind, tears in the rain.

[workthroughit]

He stands at his desk and holds out a hand. In it, he offers the Doll a business card. He never retrieved it or pulled it from a pocket; it simply just was because it was needed.

"I have an office here in the Commercial District. You are always welcome to visit. For respite. For advice. For commiseration."

Indeed, on the card is his name, Dr. Alan J. Hill, his qualifications and an address, as well as a phone number.

[emboldsursicklyspirit]

She takes the card in hand and, after looking it over, nods and puts it into a pocket.

"We shall see. Good bye, Doctor Alan J Hill. May you find your worth in the waking world."

And with that, the Plain Doll leaves, off to heed the call of her duty once again.