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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 14:18:01 GMT -5
**DOCTOR**
With the patient eying them suspiciously, the doctor left the room, waiting for Beatrice to shut the door behind him.
"As you've no doubt noticed," he began, "I can find nothing wrong with him. He's uninjured, though there may be lingering weakness from a previous, recent illness. But it shouldn't be affecting his movement. He seems to genuinely believe himself to be maimed. Judging by his right foot and left hand, it strikes me that this may be a persistent fear of his. Though I'm merely a doctor."
He spread his hands.
"Do you know anything about the patient? You are not his wife." The last was not framed as a question, but merely a confirmation.
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 14:39:47 GMT -5
*Beatrice looked aghast for a moment at the thought, then confirmed it with a firm shaking of her head.*
"Nay. He..." *Should she mention that he was the king? Would it bring more trouble?* "He has, s of late, found himself removed greatly from his position. Twas a notable one and I fear that the loss might have left him ill."
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 14:55:25 GMT -5
"Hmm." The doctor pondered this. "Great stress is not unknown to cause a severance of the patient from reality. But in that case, I am afraid there is little a physician can do. He must either come to terms with reality, or be committed to an institution where they might care for him. Has he no family?"
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 15:03:17 GMT -5
*Beatrice's lips tightened briefly.*
"He has a wife, sir. But alas, she is missing." *Could she help? If Beatrice brought her to his side, would it renew his faith in himself or some such remedy?*
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 16:11:52 GMT -5
"That is unfortunate," the doctor mused. "It would be best, if she were to be found. And if he could be made to feel, in time, that his fears are groundless. I presume you were, at least, acquainted with the patient before his... accident? How were his movements, the use of his limbs, then?"
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 16:24:26 GMT -5
*Beatrice wrung her hands, unthinking. At the question she looked up at the doctor.*
"Oh! Yes, well....he did always have a bit of...encumbrance. But ne'er so that he was unable to walk on his own power."
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 16:40:38 GMT -5
He nodded.
"I see," he said. "Well, that is what I suspected."
He pulled something from his bag; a packet of powder. "Mix this in his drink or soup if he has trouble sleeping," he said. "As there is nothing physically wrong with him, there is not much more I can do, though I can recommend an asylum if you wish it. If not... it may be best to play along with his delusion for now, and convince him that in time, his injuries will heal. With enough conviction, he may mend himself."
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 17:14:47 GMT -5
*Beatrice took the powder from him with a frown. How long would it take? What if she couldn't find the Queen? Or...whatever she might be at the moment. Did she have the resolve to commit him? The thought was a little overwhelming. She pursed her lips for a moment.*
"Thank you, sir. I shall do what I can in the meantime." *Not that she was excited about it.*
"How much do I owe you." *She continued softly, fingering her small purse instinctively.*
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 17:24:06 GMT -5
The man's eyes slid back to the door.
"That's the deposed king of France, isn't it?" he said, his voice low. "In that case... he will simply owe me. Good day, madame."
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 17:36:44 GMT -5
*Her jaw tightened at the question. It wasn't so much that she was hiding him, per se, but she wasn't sure how safe it was to be around him. So instead of answering him directly, she merely forced a smile and a quick 'Good day, sir.' to him as she slipped back inside. Once there, she sighed and hurried to put the powder on the bedside table.*
"I truly must run, my lord. I will be late as it is now." *She rushed about, trying to make sure she had everything she needed for work.*
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 17:50:19 GMT -5
Richard's expression darkened.
"What did he say?" he demanded. "What could the physician have to tell you, and not I? Will I mend? And why go? Do not leave me, I pray you."
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 18:00:26 GMT -5
"I must to work." *Beatrice insisted, pausing only to catch his eyes sternly.*
"Or neither of us would have a roof over our heads."
*She used the urgency to avoid the other questions. That was something she wasn't ready to deal with.*
"You should be well enough. I will return posthaste when I am finished."
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Post by Richard III on May 11, 2009 18:08:17 GMT -5
"But you need not work any longer," he said haughtily. "As long as I am Richard, and have breath in my body. I have money enough." He spoke with the assumption of privilege--an assumption that was part inbred, and part his own invention over the years as he sought power by exuding the image of power.
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Lady Beatrice
- Ingenious Pilot -
A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Posts: 246
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Post by Lady Beatrice on May 11, 2009 18:38:49 GMT -5
"Well, you had me work when you were Richard, sure enough." *Beatrice rebuked frankly.*
"Seemed to suit you well enough at the time."
*She drew the shawl up over her head, readying to leave.*
"Besides, how would it that you should secure your wealth, things being as they are?" *It was a true enough question, him confining himself to that bed.*
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Post by Richard III on May 12, 2009 12:06:34 GMT -5
"A king... has responsibilities," he said. "There are divisions which must be observed. A disgraced king whose coffers he was prudent enough to see placed where he might get at them is a different matter. For proof you may check the purse at my belt."
To be sure, he had coin enough on him, and a prudent--though not obscene--amount hidden away.
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