Small Steps [6/?]mikkary_bonesOctober 7 2011, 18:05:47 UTC
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It's selfish, but Francis makes a catalog of everyone who would miss him if he died. He thinks Ivan would miss him, even though the big Russian man is undoubtedly the new danseur noble of the company. He thinks Natalya, Ivan's sister and the grand ballerina, will miss him as well.
Marguerite and Marie, of course, would miss him; they are like his little sisters.
The audiences might miss him for a few weeks, but Francis is sure that Ivan's grand style will win them over in no time, and so he does not put them on the list.
Elizaveta will miss him greatly, he imagines; Roderich, less so, but he will still mourn.
His old high school friends, Gilbert and Antonio, will miss him, even though he has not seen them in a few years, being so busy with ballet.
Gilbert's little brother Ludwig will probably not miss him, because he likes things orderly and predictable.
Arthur... Francis wonders if Arthur will miss him. Probably not, so that's eight people on the list.
Eight people will miss him.
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Elizaveta comes back the next day to take Francis to a doctor's appointment about which he had forgotten. When he stands up, she gives him a hug before handing him his crutches.
It's the first time in a long time that someone has touched him like that, and even though he does not want to, Francis leans into her embrace and closes his eyes. Here, he can pretend that he is safe and whole and loved again.
"Are you a mother yet?" Francis asks in the car. He was nervous stepping outside and feels much better sitting down under a roof, where he is protected from the open sky. "Because I think you would be a very good one."
Elizaveta is surprised at the question and also, Francis imagines, surprised that he is asking such questions in the first place. "No!" she says, and blushes.
"I think you should fix that," Francis replies, with a shadow of his old, insouciant smile. Her blush deepens.
At the doctor's office, they x-ray his foot. Doctor Honda is pleased by how it is healing. It has been a month since the injury and the corrective surgery. "Can you see those cracks, there, in the talus and the calcaneus?" he asks, pointing out whispery lines on the x-ray. "That's where your bones are healing."
Francis feels faintly sick. They give him more medication, though it's not as strong. The risk of infection is lower, now. They leave his cast on. Dr. Honda tells him to wiggle his toes; he doesn't try very hard.
Then Elizaveta takes the doctor aside. Francis listens and only catches bits of their murmured conversation: depression, an unhealthy outlook, understandable, psychiatrist.
"I don't need therapy," Francis says as the car pulls to a stop in front of his apartment. "I refuse to see a therapist."
"I never said you should," Elizaveta says, but she looks sad as she helps him out of the car and back into his flat.
It's selfish, but Francis makes a catalog of everyone who would miss him if he died. He thinks Ivan would miss him, even though the big Russian man is undoubtedly the new danseur noble of the company. He thinks Natalya, Ivan's sister and the grand ballerina, will miss him as well.
Marguerite and Marie, of course, would miss him; they are like his little sisters.
The audiences might miss him for a few weeks, but Francis is sure that Ivan's grand style will win them over in no time, and so he does not put them on the list.
Elizaveta will miss him greatly, he imagines; Roderich, less so, but he will still mourn.
His old high school friends, Gilbert and Antonio, will miss him, even though he has not seen them in a few years, being so busy with ballet.
Gilbert's little brother Ludwig will probably not miss him, because he likes things orderly and predictable.
Arthur... Francis wonders if Arthur will miss him. Probably not, so that's eight people on the list.
Eight people will miss him.
xi
Elizaveta comes back the next day to take Francis to a doctor's appointment about which he had forgotten. When he stands up, she gives him a hug before handing him his crutches.
It's the first time in a long time that someone has touched him like that, and even though he does not want to, Francis leans into her embrace and closes his eyes. Here, he can pretend that he is safe and whole and loved again.
"Are you a mother yet?" Francis asks in the car. He was nervous stepping outside and feels much better sitting down under a roof, where he is protected from the open sky. "Because I think you would be a very good one."
Elizaveta is surprised at the question and also, Francis imagines, surprised that he is asking such questions in the first place. "No!" she says, and blushes.
"I think you should fix that," Francis replies, with a shadow of his old, insouciant smile. Her blush deepens.
At the doctor's office, they x-ray his foot. Doctor Honda is pleased by how it is healing. It has been a month since the injury and the corrective surgery. "Can you see those cracks, there, in the talus and the calcaneus?" he asks, pointing out whispery lines on the x-ray. "That's where your bones are healing."
Francis feels faintly sick. They give him more medication, though it's not as strong. The risk of infection is lower, now. They leave his cast on. Dr. Honda tells him to wiggle his toes; he doesn't try very hard.
Then Elizaveta takes the doctor aside. Francis listens and only catches bits of their murmured conversation: depression, an unhealthy outlook, understandable, psychiatrist.
"I don't need therapy," Francis says as the car pulls to a stop in front of his apartment. "I refuse to see a therapist."
"I never said you should," Elizaveta says, but she looks sad as she helps him out of the car and back into his flat.
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I meant to have this up like, months ago, yep, but got stuck on the ending so at least I can use it here. (Should be done soon?? /crosses fingers)
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