things I don't understandtreadingdawnApril 12 2010, 01:55:07 UTC
"Yes it did," he nods to Chase, not paying much mind to his reaction because anyone who is human should feel a little unsettled upon looking at the photograph. Then Caspian shakes his head. "It is no one I recognize, the girl anyway. I don't recall her," he explains only to add, "but it came with many other photographs of people I do know."
Claire. Ginny. Rosella. A handful of others. Of all the pictures this is the one he cannot seem to connect to anyone else and that worries him. What if it fell into Caspian's possession for a reason? What if he does know the girl or worse, knows the shadow standing above her? This is what he needs to find out yet even in the case that he doesn't know either party, whoever it is has every right to say if the photo should return to them or be destroyed. Above all, Caspian X is not the kind of person to see this and do nothing about it. He would not feel right.
"Only Claire has seen it. We thought perhaps whoever this is," he gestures to the picture, "they may have come to the hospital."
If they survived. While he acknowledges the half chance of that possibility, he won't say it aloud.
things I don't understandworksmartApril 12 2010, 09:34:39 UTC
"Less than forty percent of rapes are ever reported," Chase says, feeling more comfortable with the anonymity of statistics and this girl now that it's less likely he'll ever be asked to talk her through it, "the number who show up at the hospital for aftercare is probably even less. If she's been living with this, the chances are you could be the only other person who knows."
If she's living with it. The faint emphasis goes over the same possibility Caspian is not mentioning, something Chase is grateful for only in it's dulling the already stark incongruity of someone from a fictional morality tale knowing and understanding what's happening in this picture. For the doctor's part, he doubts anyone will be wanting their kodak moment back in the family album.
He pins his elbow to the table and hunches over it, taking in what details there are of the girl's face. She's almost as blank as her expression, that nondescript prettiness all young girls have until you find the personality that adds expression to their features. "I can check admissions for anything that got flagged up, but we have no idea of the time frame, or even if it happened here. And," he glances across at Caspian again, "I wouldn't be able to tell you if I came up with anything."
things I don't understandtreadingdawnApril 13 2010, 00:46:29 UTC
The same morality tale (his life) has had them bearing sword and shield at an age when most would still call them children, but even so Caspian has always remembered to clean his sword. That same moral compass leaves him incapable of leaving this matter alone no matter how terrible. He doesn't make any comment on the low number of reports on such violence and even lesser aftercare, though if he did it would be why and shouldn't the hospital fetch an injured person if they can't make it on their own. He keeps quiet, well aware of the difference between what should be done and what does happen. These things happen and there's only so much one can do about it. Were he in his royal position, by gift, prescription, and conquest, this would be dealt with immediately as an order. No matter how different their worlds can be there are some things which stay the same; that's one.
"Why not," asks the Telmarine who remains only half-comprehending of the concept of patient confidentiality. He shakes his head, deciding he doesn't need an answer to that, "but you can do something?" He turns his focus to what options they do have, however minimal. "See if she is well," assuming she lived through the ordeal, is living in the City, is willing to talk about it. Perhaps it's unkind of Caspian to share the weight with Chase but he didn't believe he would refuse to help someone who might be in need. Robert Chase is not that kind of person, right?
things I don't understandworksmartApril 13 2010, 01:02:39 UTC
The hospital can't fetch in the hurts they don't know about, even by royal command. Caspian must have some idea of shame; Chase knows he's familiar with secrecy in some matters, just or unjust as the need may be.
"I can't force anyone to get treatment. Can't even force them to speak to me about it if they don't want to." and God, he'd hope they didn't want to. If he found anything buried in the admittance files maybe he'd put Cameron onto it; now there was someone who could pity even the stubbornest of souls into submission. It's not a weight to Chase now so much as a feature on a to-do list, having already checked off any immediate forms of help as impossibilities.
"I'll look. And if I find anything out I'll let you know someone's tried to talk to her. If she came in through the clinic, they would have tried." How successfully, of course, depends on the doctor.
He sets the picture back down, thoughtful over it but still unable to take in the details without a grimace. "Meanwhile you could take this to the police. They'd file it but I doubt it would make a case. There's no proof of any crime in this."
things I don't understandtreadingdawnApril 13 2010, 01:39:52 UTC
Well. Yes, he does sort of. Except. Um. Look Caspian's never been injured in any kind of personal situation bordering shameful, not enough to require a visit to the hospital. One hopes that never happens, by the lion's mane.
"All right," he nods and thinks about adding thanks but chooses not to. It's the right thing to do in his opinion, gratitude not having a solidly appropriate place in this situation. Caspian's gaze drops down to the photo when he considers going to the police. "I should try," again he nods, "I could have gone to them first." But the prison sank, the courthouse turns out strange verdicts, people still eat people on video.
things I don't understandworksmartApril 18 2010, 04:44:33 UTC
And, as Chase said, Caspian doesn't even really have anything to present. His photograph could gather dust in someone else's filing cabinet, or Chase could carry it around with him for a few days and at least make some effort before letting it gather dust in his own. He folds his arms across his chest, teeth worrying at a corner of his lip before he settles on a final suggestion.
"Let me hang onto it for now. I can show it to the admitting staff, see if the face rings any bells. After that I'll take a copy down to the station. Best I can do."
things I don't understandtreadingdawnApril 18 2010, 04:54:16 UTC
Thank you. Because doing anything is better than doing nothing.
"As long as something is being done," Caspian nods before adding, "and if you must keep it private I understand." He may feel as if there is a reason this photo landed in his possession but that doesn't mean he feels in any way entitled to hearing someone else's story.
things I don't understandworksmartApril 18 2010, 05:25:35 UTC
"I'll give you an idea if anything comes of it."
Palm flat over the picture, Chase slides it off the desk and clips it under the first leaf of paper on the pad of today's notes. Later it will find itself transferred to his briefcase or a pocket as he waits to catch the various shift workers who might have checked in someone memorable. He won't go too far out of his way, but he will try.
"If nothing does, it's not your fault. Something like that picture happens over a thousand times per day in America. Most go unreported, more unconvicted. Having some stranger care about her isn't the worst outcome."
things I don't understandtreadingdawnApril 18 2010, 06:14:50 UTC
"I would appreciate that," he says while watching Chase slide the picture away, out of sight for now but not completely out of mind.
"Numbers do not matter." Caspian shakes his head. "Here or in America," or anywhere else. At home he has the power to overthrow harsh regimes and abolish unjust practices. He knows it doesn't mean he can process and punish everyone who commits an atrocious act, but building (rebuilding) the means is doing his part as a leader. In this world Caspian X is mostly just a man, a boy even to some, and the best is doing his part as a Son of Adam. There's a specific space he's made for himself between what should be done and what usually happens to keep things like this from keeping him up at night, without becoming jaded or passionless for what's right. He straightens his posture as he stands. Hey, that probably means he's looking down at the shorter doctor.
"I promise you the next time I see you it will be under lighter circumstances." Not for needing to bleed on Chase or hitting Chase either. Claire's birthday comes to mind or who knows another curse.
things I don't understandworksmartApril 18 2010, 06:44:18 UTC
"Don't. Don't jinx it." An amused crease works it's way into Chase's forehead to couple with his attempt at a scolding frown. "Come and see me when you need to. Though we could think about trying out the beach again before too long. Kept your board in good nick?"
Claire. Ginny. Rosella. A handful of others. Of all the pictures this is the one he cannot seem to connect to anyone else and that worries him. What if it fell into Caspian's possession for a reason? What if he does know the girl or worse, knows the shadow standing above her? This is what he needs to find out yet even in the case that he doesn't know either party, whoever it is has every right to say if the photo should return to them or be destroyed. Above all, Caspian X is not the kind of person to see this and do nothing about it. He would not feel right.
"Only Claire has seen it. We thought perhaps whoever this is," he gestures to the picture, "they may have come to the hospital."
If they survived. While he acknowledges the half chance of that possibility, he won't say it aloud.
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If she's living with it. The faint emphasis goes over the same possibility Caspian is not mentioning, something Chase is grateful for only in it's dulling the already stark incongruity of someone from a fictional morality tale knowing and understanding what's happening in this picture. For the doctor's part, he doubts anyone will be wanting their kodak moment back in the family album.
He pins his elbow to the table and hunches over it, taking in what details there are of the girl's face. She's almost as blank as her expression, that nondescript prettiness all young girls have until you find the personality that adds expression to their features. "I can check admissions for anything that got flagged up, but we have no idea of the time frame, or even if it happened here. And," he glances across at Caspian again, "I wouldn't be able to tell you if I came up with anything."
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"Why not," asks the Telmarine who remains only half-comprehending of the concept of patient confidentiality. He shakes his head, deciding he doesn't need an answer to that, "but you can do something?" He turns his focus to what options they do have, however minimal. "See if she is well," assuming she lived through the ordeal, is living in the City, is willing to talk about it. Perhaps it's unkind of Caspian to share the weight with Chase but he didn't believe he would refuse to help someone who might be in need. Robert Chase is not that kind of person, right?
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"I can't force anyone to get treatment. Can't even force them to speak to me about it if they don't want to." and God, he'd hope they didn't want to. If he found anything buried in the admittance files maybe he'd put Cameron onto it; now there was someone who could pity even the stubbornest of souls into submission. It's not a weight to Chase now so much as a feature on a to-do list, having already checked off any immediate forms of help as impossibilities.
"I'll look. And if I find anything out I'll let you know someone's tried to talk to her. If she came in through the clinic, they would have tried." How successfully, of course, depends on the doctor.
He sets the picture back down, thoughtful over it but still unable to take in the details without a grimace. "Meanwhile you could take this to the police. They'd file it but I doubt it would make a case. There's no proof of any crime in this."
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"All right," he nods and thinks about adding thanks but chooses not to. It's the right thing to do in his opinion, gratitude not having a solidly appropriate place in this situation. Caspian's gaze drops down to the photo when he considers going to the police. "I should try," again he nods, "I could have gone to them first." But the prison sank, the courthouse turns out strange verdicts, people still eat people on video.
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"Let me hang onto it for now. I can show it to the admitting staff, see if the face rings any bells. After that I'll take a copy down to the station. Best I can do."
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"As long as something is being done," Caspian nods before adding, "and if you must keep it private I understand." He may feel as if there is a reason this photo landed in his possession but that doesn't mean he feels in any way entitled to hearing someone else's story.
Reply
Palm flat over the picture, Chase slides it off the desk and clips it under the first leaf of paper on the pad of today's notes. Later it will find itself transferred to his briefcase or a pocket as he waits to catch the various shift workers who might have checked in someone memorable. He won't go too far out of his way, but he will try.
"If nothing does, it's not your fault. Something like that picture happens over a thousand times per day in America. Most go unreported, more unconvicted. Having some stranger care about her isn't the worst outcome."
Reply
"Numbers do not matter." Caspian shakes his head. "Here or in America," or anywhere else. At home he has the power to overthrow harsh regimes and abolish unjust practices. He knows it doesn't mean he can process and punish everyone who commits an atrocious act, but building (rebuilding) the means is doing his part as a leader. In this world Caspian X is mostly just a man, a boy even to some, and the best is doing his part as a Son of Adam. There's a specific space he's made for himself between what should be done and what usually happens to keep things like this from keeping him up at night, without becoming jaded or passionless for what's right. He straightens his posture as he stands. Hey, that probably means he's looking down at the shorter doctor.
"I promise you the next time I see you it will be under lighter circumstances." Not for needing to bleed on Chase or hitting Chase either. Claire's birthday comes to mind or who knows another curse.
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And.
Well, okay.
Thinking himself unfamiliar with the term he just offers this: "I kept it in good shape? I am sure it hasn't changed in seaworthiness."
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