Mute on a Stretcher; This isn't Wonderland anymore. (Backdated)

[psyd_seward]

Who: Dr. Seward and Alice Liddell
When: Backdated to the 18th, the day after this conversation.
Where: St. Theresa's Asylum, private office
Summary: To Dr. Seward's surprise, Alice has requested an appointment with him.
Warnings: Not sure yet. Possibly power-triggers but there shouldn't be anything more than victorian mannerisms to be seen here. Will

Comments

[cruelwonder]

She had promised herself that she would never set foot in another asylum again for as long as she lived. It was only under the pretense that things would be inherently different this time that kept her going, kept her from turning around and going right back home. She didn't need to do this. But as she walked, she could see the mushrooms and the flowers, the dice and the dominoes. She knew that things were still not quite right about her. She had embraced it, certainly; this trip was not to get rid of Wonderland.

No. It was to cope with the other things that lay heavily on her heart and mind.

She had lost her family. She had been left alone by her nanny. She had been living with a man who had been using children-- Yes, there were things she needed to cope with. She needed an outlet that wasn't violence, madness, and rage. She had killed someone and she couldn't do it again. She couldn't let that happen to her again. Perhaps Seward could help, and while she knew little about him, she also didn't believe it likely. It wasn't because

[psyd_seward]

The man known as John Seward eased himself from his desk with all the grace of a gentleman and stood as he heard her soft footfalls reach the door

[cruelwonder]

For just a moment, she could swear he looked like Agnus Bumby. He was tall like him, a man of good stature and pale skin. His hairstyle, too, was reminiscent of the man she once knew back in London. And for that moment that she had to check, to remind herself that it wasn't him, she truly believed her heart skipped a beat in fright

[psyd_seward]

Alike, but not the same. Seward was quite a bit younger, somewhat more cultured in the ways of modern society since living in the City here, among other things. The resemblance was, to an extent, probably uncanny. And had they met they possibly could have been mistaken as relatives in the sense that Doctor Seward could have passed for his son, or nephew.

"Not at all."

He took in her appearance with less of a scrutiny than one might expect of a psychiatrist, though his gaze did linger when he saw her face flicker with what he was almost certain had been fear. Was it past memories of the asylum that haunted her so? He couldn't be sure.

Seward had taken measures to keep the space around them was fairly open, with the window open to allow for a faint breeze, and the lighting kept at a comfortable brightness. It did not have the same feel as his former office at Skye Medical, but it had its own charm to it. More personalised than that of the former, perhaps. A little less confining, too

[cruelwonder]

She threaded some of her long hair behind her ear, still unused to its length. She'd gone so long with shorter, razored hair, unkempt from her time out of the asylum. It had once been a testament to her recovering madness, as her hair had grown long after being once shaved and then allowed to grow without deterrence in the asylum. It was a time she didn't like to linger over. Perhaps Seward could alleviate some of the pain without her losing what made her...well, AliceShe looked around the office, finding it somewhat comfortable. It was nothing like home and for that, she was grateful. Terribly grateful

[psyd_seward]

The modern bedside manner was certainly more personable, more friendly, than that of older times. Seward rather enjoyed it. He found it refreshing in that he could relate and be more open with those he treated, though he was very careful not to disclose too personal information for both the safety of patient and doctor. The less they knew of his background the better. Coming from a Victorian background would be dreadfully upsetting for modern folk, squeamish as they were about leeches, dank asylums, and what they considered to be "primitive" treatments

[cruelwonder]

"I do hope they won't be." She hadn't seen any as of yet and that was for the best. Science had come by leaps and bounds, it seemed. It was a welcome sight and far worth the trip, if only to see how she wouldn't be oppressed should she need to come here. Better, still, that there was a doctor that understood the situation she was coming from, as he'd seen a great deal of the practices firsthand.

Alice turned her head to look at him and then to the window. After a moment, she nodded. "That's a very generous offer, Doctor. I'd like that." It would keep her from being caged in, after all.

"If I might be frank, this visit is in part to satisfy my own curiosity of this place and what it's like now...but also to speak with you in regards to treatment options." She didn't think she'd need them, but after the things Jack has gone through, it wouldn't hurt to be prepared.

[psyd_seward]

No. Restraints would never be necessary here. They were quite frowned upon in modern use, it would seem, except in the most extreme of conditions, or if the resident in question posed a danger to himself and others. But certainly, the sciences of the brain and study of psychological illness had made quite the progression within the few centuries that had passed. Seward himself was more modern than his fellows in the sense that he saw the benefits to technological advance, as well as their limitations

[cruelwonder]

She nodded and walked with him outside of the room, settling her arms around her middle as she looked around. Slowly, the anxiety was fading away and she didn't feel like there was anything particularly threatening about where she was. A curious thing, really. She should have felt something more.

It's been over a year now since Rutledge... Perhaps I'm finally rid of those insecurities.

But that didn't explain the nightmares and the trouble she had otherwise. And that was something she wanted to speak to him about. "I can certainly do my best, Doctor, but you'll excuse me if my explanations fall short of what you may find useful."

Alice brushed a piece of her hair over her shoulder. "It's been some time since I've been in an asylum and I still find myself suffering from time to time. There are nightmares. I find myself questioning my sanity at times. I am no stranger to madness, Doctor, and it is not that I welcome it...so much that I am not afraid of it. Not any longer. But I still wonder how healthy that might be."

[psyd_seward]

The staff hall was fairly quiet that morning, doctors and nurses alike doing their rounds about the wards. Depending on the wing the patients were set to a certain schedule: some meeting with their doctors and nurses; some preoccupied with the tasks given to them; others in the library or cafeteria