052 ][ VIDEO

[worksmart]

[These videos play on a loop from 10am until 5:23pm, at which point they shut off abruptly. No replies come before the shut off.]

Memory OneThe room is golden with hazy afternoon light as it filters through half closed blinds and across to the couch where the woman is laying. Head tipped back, her fair hair spreads along silk cushions, and she

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audio }

[quiesquietis]

[It's a shallow, softly drawn breath, and whether or not Chase hears it is a matter of his inclination entirely.]

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[worksmart]

[The connection opens back up, just as silently. The breathing on the other end is regular, if a little slow.]

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[quiesquietis]

I suppose you're probably quite tired of hearing apologies for people witnessing what was none of their right to witness, Dr. Chase, so perhaps it would be better if I skipped that and simply told you I will repeat nothing of what I saw?

[But she still sounds apologetic, in her very quiet little voice.

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[worksmart]

You can repeat it. [Now the slur in his own voice is audible, if kept light and faintly amused at her efforts.] I don't care. Don't think anyone else here's going too either. Things... blow over.

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[quiesquietis]

[Charlotte is briefly quiet, as if shocked into silence--or preparing herself to speak.]

With all due respect, Doctor, I find it unlikely that you don't care, and even if that is the case you're underestimating--I care.

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[worksmart]

Why?

[There's genuine confusion now, as much as he's opened himself up to all comers by this point with the abandon of lower inhibitions.]

We've spoken a couple of times, but we barely know each other. Why would you?

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[quiesquietis]

In a general sense, because I like to imagine I have at least the basic empathy of a well-adjusted child, and so I care when I see someone else hurt regardless of how well we know each other. More specifically, I'm a teacher, and I--know students in not an entirely dissimilar position to yours. Third, we may not have spoken often, but--you've always been polite, and that has less to do with why I care and more to do with why I'm talking to you now. If that's not far too many words.

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[worksmart]

You have students in a not entirely dissm-- different position to mine sixteen years ago. That's what nobody seems to get. This is all done with now. Pretty sure you'll have students in worse positions, too. Everyone's got a story.

[There's a pause. For what isn't entirely clear by the sounds at his end.]

You seem nice.

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[quiesquietis]

Because of course anything that happened sixteen years ago doesn't matter anymore.

I--[she pauses also, in a rustle of cloth]--I'm not here to try to convince you to have a heartfelt talk, but I wonder if you might--I have tea. And a thermos. If you'd like anything else to drink.

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[worksmart]

It can't be changed, anymore. small>[He sighs, heavy and tired.] Think I might have overdone it on the drink, for one night.

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[quiesquietis]

Of course you know to drink water, you're a medical man...and just because a thing can't be changed doesn't mean it can't be alleviated afterward, which I imagine someone as bright as you would also know.

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[worksmart]

I'm drunk. [As if this is an admission.] I can still tell when a girl's trying to get around me with flattery. Actually, that might work better when I'm sober.

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[quiesquietis]

Dr. Chase, I am hardly a girl. [At the advanced spinsterhood of 24.] It's not flattery, unless medical school is much easier than I thought, or you cheated--in the latter case that still shows some cleverness, and you certainly behave like an intelligent person.

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[worksmart]

Strange, you looked like a girl to me. Are you a boy?

[Allow him to disprove your theory, at least while wasted.]

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[quiesquietis]

I'm a terrifying fey creature of nightmare, and I'm also too old to call a girl. You may be drunk, sir, but that is no excuse for improprieties and liberties.

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[worksmart]

Right, I've had all kinds of nightmares about gir-- women who look like you. Or do you prefer to be addressed as 'terrifying fey creature of nightmare? How old are you, terrifying girl?