Fifth Thesis | [Action] | Backdated to a more reasonable hour

[intangible_girl]

[Ingrid stares at the bubble in the Battle Dome clinic where the droids have dropped her off. She's clearly supposed to go back in there, and should really do so post-haste. But...

...she can't bring herself to do it. Can't even bring herself to call up Aella for the magic cleansing first. Aella will be there in a few hours. But who knows when she'

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[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Yes, Robert is home, and he is... not expecting Ingrid, by any means. At the knock on his apartment door, he opens the door - and sees Ingrid.]

... Ingrid! [The first reaction is that of joy. She's back! She's back and... not wearing her device. Panic mixed with some well-intentioned annoyance takes over.]

What are you doing outside of your bubble? Did the Malnosso drop you here?

[... They're gonna need Aella again, aren't they.]

after all the other threads

[intangible_girl]

No, I... [And the last several hours (and the last week) catch up to her all at once, and her face crumples as she tries not to cry.]

\o/

[semper_cogitans]

[... That's a punch in the chest if there ever was one. Robert's face falls as anything short of concern dissolves away at Ingrid's expression, and he uncertainly approaches her.]

... I am sorry. I... h-have they done something atrocious to you...?

[He stops a few feet away from her, unsure if he should take her inside his clean-but-probably-still-germy-to-some-degree apartment.]

[intangible_girl]

[She just shakes her head helplessly, tears falling freely. She thought about you a lot during the past week, but now that she's here, it's hard to figure out what to say, and she's embarrassed by her tears.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert is the last person who would judge Ingrid for crying. He takes another few, halting steps, almost close enough to embrace her, and hesitates, biting his lip gently once.]

Ingrid, if I may help you somehow... then I wish to.

[intangible_girl]

[That's enough to break down her pride and fall into his arms, sobbing like a child.]

[semper_cogitans]

[His embrace may be clumsy, but it's genuine. Robert holds Ingrid gently against his chest, trying not to mentally berate himself for getting close to Ingrid a second time when she's outside and probably sickened.]

... You... d-do not need to tell me what happened. But if it would help... I, I will listen.

[intangible_girl]

[She clings to him, equally clumsily. When she's gotten her tears enough under control, she haltingly tells him of needles and incisions, harsh lights, cold examining tables and even colder eyes above surgical masks accompanied by ungentle, latex gloved hands.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Every word makes Robert sick to hear. It's not even a parody of science, it's science twisted into an unfamiliar nightmare. There shouldn't be any excuse for that disgusting kind of behaviour... none whatsoever.

When her story finally ends, he simply squeezes his eyes shut and holds her.]

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Nobody deserves that treatment. [Not Raph, not Ingrid, not Helios, not Giles, not anybody. Not even the Malnosso themselves.]

[intangible_girl]

[That only makes the tears start up again.]

I kept- thinking- the whole time- [Hiccup.] This is- just- exactly like- back home- when I was little- [Sniff.] They said- I looked like a porcupine- there were so many needles.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert gently pats at Ingrid's back, with an anxious precision. He doesn't have a clue how to comfort her.]

... Do... do you need medical attention of any kind, or... or are you a-alright, at the moment?

[Obviously Aella's going to be needed, but not right now.]

[intangible_girl]

I-I'm fine. [See? She's wiping her tears away.] We sh-should probably call Aella though.

[semper_cogitans]

Yes... yes, we c-certainly should.

[Softly:] Can... can I get you something in the meantime, perhaps, Ingrid...? [He's already going to get his journal, to try to get Aella's attention. But he could make Ingrid something minus peracetic acid for once.]

[intangible_girl]

[She wipes a few more tears away and smiles.]

I'd like to try some of that tea you keep telling me about.

[semper_cogitans]

Vanilla chai, maybe...? [Robert's smile is still a bit shaky. Helios... has yet to talk to him. And it's bothering him a lot.] It... it is Helios' favourite.

[It may be obvious that mentioning Helios is a bit painful right now.]

[intangible_girl]

Sure. [She sniffs again, and sits down on Robert's couch.] How have things been while I was gone?