RP: Off to the Hospital

[shh_su]

Date: 27th January 2005
Character(s): Su Li, Gilderoy Lockhart, Luna Lovegood
Location: 1A Copper Towers, the Hospital
Status: Public
Summary: Su visits the hospital
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_su]

"It has been rather painful," Su admitted. "I came in today because I couldn't sleep last night." Su listened, interested, as Luna explained her injury. "Did I really? Clearly you're the expert; I didn't even know there was a difference."

Su laughed at Luna's comment about heels. "That's a good point, but I got through that time by focusing on how nice it was to be eye level with people's shoulders, which is a definite improvement over being nose-to-belly button with everyone. You're so lovely and tall, it must be nice."

"I'm not quite sure when I got the sprain, actually. It could have been wearing the shoes, while falling, or while landing shoeless. Needless to say, I'll be more careful in the future. It was a bit embarrassing. Do you remember Blaise Zabini? Slytherin, from my year? I had a big crush on him back then, and he saw me fall and helped me inside, healed the cuts on my hands, the whole nine yards. He was very nice, but that's not exactly how I would have wanted to make an entrance."

Su realized she was blathering. Luna had changed since Hogwarts; she was much mellower now, with a wonderful bedside manner. Su found it easy to confide in her, and relaxed as Luna examined her. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm hoping to find a job soon, but I'll definitely be able to stay off it and heal for a few days, if necessary."

[shh_luna]

Luna laughed at Su's exaggeration. "Well, you aren't exactly that short," she pointed out teasingly. "Thank you for the compliment. I don't get many of those. I suppose it's nice, though I've always wondered what it would be like to be more petite and ladylike the way you are. I'm tall and skinny, and sometimes I feel a bit gangly, even though I'm not as tall as many."

She looked up from Su's ankle with interest. "Blaise Zabini? Well, of course I remember him. He's rather gorgeous, isn't he? I don't think I'd have minded running into him under any circumstance," she said, nodding soberly and smiling slightly.

"That's good, you'll need some time off of it," Luna said, finishing the scan and finding no unexpected problems with her ankle. "I think you'll be fine. There's an incantation to reset it, and unfortunately, a potion that tastes rather dreadful but will help with the swelling."

She went quickly into the storeroom across the hall and retrieved it, handing the small phial to Su as she put a mild numbing charm on her ankle. What sort of work are you looking to get into, Su?" she asked lightly, wanting to get the other woman involved in conversation so that she'd not be as aware of the pain of resetting the joint. Even with the charm, it wasn't exactly comfortable.

While Su talked, Luna performed the charm wordlessly, which made the other woman pause from the discomfort. "Sorry," she said contritely. "Only it usually is better when you don't expect it."

[shh_su]

"No, I suppose not, but it does feel that way at times. I've wondered what it would be like to be tall." Su giggled, a sudden thought. "Maybe one day we should Polyjuice each other, find out what it's like!" She assumed Luna would know that she was joking; the woman had always been perceptive. "And you're welcome, although I don't know why you wouldn't get compliments."

"Yes, I think all the girls remember Blaise. Still as gorgeous as ever. It was a bit embarrassing, he practically carried me into Five Alarm. Still nice, though."

Su was relieved to hear that waiting an extra day hadn't made things worse. "Are there any medical potions that don't taste vile? It's the same in China, actually." When Luna returned with the phial, Su drank it, pulling a face. "You were right. Oh, and you should have heard Gilderoy Lockhart in the waiting area. He suggested I put a glamour charm on my ankle to get it back to 'a bright and cheerful fleshy color.' As if that was the real problem." Su laughed.

The numbing spell was wonderful; her ankle was quite sore. Su smiled at Luna. "I've always been interested in international cooperation. My parents were diplomats, so I guess it's in my blood. I'm hoping to get involved in the new Ministry in some capacity. I also studied--" Su paused, sucking in a breath. That had hurt. "I understand. I do appreciate being fixed up. Anyway, I studied art history at university in Shanghai, so that interests me as well."

Su tentatively wiggled her toes. Her ankle seemed a bit less swollen, and not as painful as before. "How long will I need to rest to fully heal, do you think? I don't want to reinjure this. It's been lovely meeting you again, but I think I'd rather avoid this place in future."

[shh_luna]

"I thought I recognised Mr. Lockhart sitting with you," Luna mused. "He was a rather funny sort, wasn't he, at school? I mean, even before he, well, sort of lost it. It would seem, from what you're saying, that he's just as silly as I remember."

"Those are two very different career paths," she commented. "I can understand that. I have an interest in journalism, as well as medicine, so I expect when I start to pursue that I'll have to make a choice."

Luna watched as Su moved her foot and wiggled her toes experimentally. "So far, you've good range of motion. I expect you should stay off it for about two days, and you should be fine. You can be back in your heels in not much time at all," she added with a smile. "Yes, people generally don't like seeing me here at all, as it usually doesn't bode well for them."

She looked up at the other woman curiously. She'd been very friendly, Luna thought. And quite easy to talk to. Perhaps if she invited Su to lunch, she wouldn't look at her as if she had wo heads. That had happened to Luna often enough in the past.

"It's been lovely meeting you again, as well. Perhaps sometime in the future, we could have lunch, when neither of us is incapacitated or in any sort of pain. If you don't want to, that's fine, of course." There. She'd leave it open to give the other woman an out if she wanted one.

[shh_su]

A funny sort? That was charitable. "Yes, he was quite the funny sort back then. I don't think much has changed."

"It's nice to know I'm not the only one who struggles with what path to follow. Sometimes I feel so foolish, when everyone else has these wonderful careers. I'll find mine eventually, I suppose."

"Two days off it? I can handle that. Thank you so much for fixing me up. I know it's your job, but I really do appreciate it." Su smiled at Luna.

When Luna invited Su to lunch, she suppressed a laugh. She had been planning to invite Luna. The woman sounded very tentative about it. Su wondered why, but decided not to say anything.

"Lunch? Of course I want to! I was actually hoping to ask you, but you beat me to it. Great minds think alike, I suppose. Ravenclaw, and all that. But yes. My schedule is very open at the moment, so do you want to owl me when you're free?" Su smiled broadly, delighted to be making new friends after so long away.

Su slipped off the examining table, gingerly putting weight on her ankle, then more confidently as it supported her with no pain. "Wonderful," she sighed. Then she realized they hadn't discussed payment. "I don't have a lot of money, so I'm not sure how I should pay for this. My mother just sent me some Chinese herbs for potions, things that are rather rare in England, so would some of those do?" She offered Luna the package as they walked back to the reception area.

[shh_luna]

"Oh, yes, you'll find it. Or rather, I think those sorts of things find us, you know?" She smiled.

"It's no problem. Thats why I'm here. Just be careful with those heels, Su. As for payment, we realise that not many people have the money to pay us. We do take money, of course, but it's mainly whatever you can trade. And these herbs are wonderful. I've only read about them, as you're right; they're quite scarce here. Thank you." She took the package from Su.

"I'll send you an owl soon, Su, and we'll go out to lunch. I daresay I could use a reason to leave this place some times. I like working here, but it's nice tot take breaks." Luna smiled wryly.

[shh_su]

"Very true. I'm just hoping mine finds me soon."

"I'll be careful in the future," Su promised. "And I'm glad the herbs are useful."

Su smiled. "Wonderful! I'll look forward to your owl. And yes, breaks are good."

"Thank you, Luna. I'll see you soon!" Su smiled at the kind lady at the reception desk before walking outside and apparating home.