Walk A Mile: Epilogue (Nexus LOL Conclusion)

[workthroughit]

While these meetings would perhaps suggest the formality of his desk, Dr. Hill instead is strolling through the Nexus, smiling as he watches the snowflakes drift down from the sky. A take-away cup is held in both his hands, the drink gently steaming.

He seems content to just wander for a time, more interested in his coffee and the falling snow than addressing anyone just yet. The psychoanalyst seems perfectly unaware how bizarre his previous appearance ended up being, or that his prolonged absence since then was also sorely noted. Unaware or uncaring.

Finally, after one last sip of coffee, he simply asks, tone light and conversational: "Well? What did we learn?"

((The conclusion post for the bodyswap event! Get yer details here before tagging in! Also, feel free to tag in if your character just wants to talk to/yell at the doctor in general. And don't hesitate to comment on the OOC post or send me a PM if you have any concerns or questions!))

Comments

[red_room]

"I've found a few small holes in my defenses I need to work on." Natasha and Vanyel really didn't embark on any grand adventure during the course of this, mostly because neither one of them could really bring the other home realistically.

Sparring and basic magic lessons have filled much of their time. Let it not be said that Natasha did not take this opportunity to learn something from this endeavor.

"Otherwise, it's not much different. Distracting, mostly."

[workthroughit]

"Very pragmatic! I like that. What better way to get an outside look at your capabilities and defenses?" He just assumes that this revelation came about because of observation and isn't directly referencing the event of the swap itself. Or he's just being coy about it.

"And did your partner come to similar conclusions?"

[red_room]

"Well, there wasn't a whole lot else either of us could do, given the circumstances. Neither of us was about to let the other out of their sight." Empathy and trust are two very different things. Though Vanyel has garnered some measure of it from Natasha throughout the course of this.

"He refrained from touching himself so I'd call it pragmatic." Might have also been the unspoken threat between them, but Nat likes to think it was out of respect. Or fear. She doesn't care which, actually.

[workthroughit]

"Ah. Always a present danger with these sort of things. Knowing to respect one another's bodies and privacy. Glad to see your partner was so thoughtful in those regards. It should go without saying, honestly, but not everyone is as decent as they claim to be. Always enlightening to see who realizes that, but maybe not always in a good way.

"Though it sounds like you still lacked proper trust in one another, not allowing the other to wander far. Afraid he'd run off with his new body?"

[red_room]

"I'd be more concerned about one of my enemies finding him." Pragmatic, remember? You don't live long in Natasha's world by trusting other people. Vanyel had less of a concern considering she was holding his own body hostage.

But it's the principle of the thing.

"But he's surprisingly skilled in combat. It was fun."

[workthroughit]

"Fun! Excellent. And where is the young man currently piloting your proper body? It sounds like, despite the fun you two have had, it's time to return you to where you belong."

[drehnifusbahi]

And as if the words summoned him, here he comes now with a paper cup of akh in each hand. He offers one to Natasha, but his eyes are locked on Hill. "Present and accounted for."

It's said calmly enough; he didn't appreciate being roped into this against his will, but he's not about to start a fight and risk being swapped again with someone or something far worse. Besides, it's been... rather educational.

(And, to answer the earlier question - it was a mixture of fear, respect, and basic manners that saw him keeping his hands off while in her body.)

[red_room]

"Thanks." She even raises her cup up in a mock toast before taking a sip out of it. She's willing to drink something he gave her without watching the drink being made. That is trust.

Then again, it'd be his own body he'd be drugging. Makes it easier to trust.

"The doctor was just talking about getting this sorted back out, Vanyel. I'd say this has been fun but...why don't we stick with 'interesting'?"

[drehnifusbahi]

"You're welcome." He returns her mock toast and takes a sip of his own - and his willingness to drink the stuff himself probably helps too. (Even if he were inclined to do so, there wouldn't be much point to drugging her body while he's still in it.)

"'Interesting' is a good word for it," he agrees, his gaze drifting back over to the doctor. "But even so, I'm more than ready to switch back."

No offense meant, of course; but he and Natasha both have things they need to do in their own worlds, and that's just not possible while the swap is in effect.

[workthroughit]

"But what of you, Mr. Greyjoy?" He inquires with a brisk chirp in his tone, flashing a brief smile after the question. "We've not heard your thoughts on this exercise. What have you learned? Oh, and before we continue, may I commend you on your, ahhh, respect of being in a body of the opposite sex. I feel a great many wouldn't have the same discretion, which is a shame."

[drehnifusbahi]

"That I can never complain about only seeing eye-to-chin with most Nords ever again," he deadpans in return. He's not a particularly tall man normally -just about 5'11"- but Natasha is quite a bit shorter than that. If he's honest, the height difference gave him more trouble at times than the change in gender. Still, he does have a more serious answer as well. "I also found some holes in my defenses that I need to work on."

As to the point about discretion, he simply shrugs. "It would have been disrespectful in the extreme to do otherwise."

[workthroughit]

"Both of you so combat-minded!" Dr. Hill chuckles. "But I suppose that's a good a outcome as any. Now, brace yourselves."

There's a snap of the fingers and a familiar wave of cold and nausea should wash over the pair. Soon followed by a very abrupt shift in perspective. Back in their proper bodies! All's well that ends well, right?

[drehnifusbahi]

The remark about them both being combat-minded earns Hill a flat look - is that really such a surprise, given how big a part of their respective jobs it is?

But before he can say anything, that familiar bone-deep chill overtakes him and has him curling in on himself a little. But once it's passed and he straightens up again, he finds himself able to look down at the top of Natasha's head, and can't quite help a small sigh of relief.

[red_room]

The drink Natasha had been sipping on clatters to the ground when the feeling strikes again. She'd forgotten how absolutely wrong it feels to be taken out of yourself and deposited elsewhere.

She blinks rapidly. Staring at her own knees. A sharp inhale. A quick glance upwards.

Vanyel is staring down at her and they share a moment of complete and utter relief before Natasha is straightening up and tucking a hand through her hair. Vanyel did a good job of keeping her looking sharp.

"I've done worse, but let's not do this again." She trusts he'll agree there. Dr. Hill gets a glance now. "Neither one of us is slow enough to need repeat lessons, after all."

[drehnifusbahi]

He managed to keep hold of his, but only just; having it in hand helps a little, giving him something to focus on as the chills and nausea subside. It also helps that he's able to reach for his magicka again, even if he's not about to cast anything.

His hands drift to his belt, taking stock of the weapons there - not that they were swapped long enough for any of them to get lost or damaged, but old habits die hard.

"Agreed, on both counts." He, too, has done worse, but that doesn't mean he's eager to repeat this experience.