Hiding in Madness
The world melts and falls into chaos, an aurora borealis painting. Even when she stops, frantic pirouettes losing steam, reality still crumbles. Hidden behind prison bars of bone, her lungs flutter frantically. The universe, her universe of blank rooms and fluorescent lighting, falls back into place. In a doorway, he waits. When she smiles, her scars ache. "Is it lights out already?" Her words crack at their ends. He nods. Oh well. she had hoped to dance a bit longer. Just a bit longer so that the images would leave her alone.
Everyone has scars here. So many bad things. Tai doesn't like to think about them. They bring things to mind, things she hates and rages at and Riku is still recovering from the black eye she gave him, isn't he? He deserves it, for having hair like him. But back o scars, nightmare scars, Brothers Grimm scars, hate scars...
Doctor Lexaeus has scars too, rough and jagged to her fingertips when she takes his hand. They're not bad scars, however. They're 'took a bullet for a friend' scars. They're 'putting back other peoples pieces even when it hurts him' scars. That's what Leonie, with the pale thinness and fairy-tales and eyes like Tai's lips, that's what she says. The description flows so perfectly, like well practiced ballerina steps. Some might not think of it as a suitable comparison, Lexaeus and dancing. Tai knows better.
Some of the best dances require a partner who can hold her up. That's why she knows she can trust Lexaeus... and one other as well.
He tries to keep her from dancing on the way to her room; every grapevine is gently corrected and every twirl halted before it can begin. She's getting better, 'ho. They give her a personal time just for dancing, now, so that she can 'get it all out'. The urges still come... But she's getting better. She wants to get better.
A surprise is waiting for her when they turn into her hallway. Fiona stands outside her door, somber as always with her hands clasped down before her. Besides her is Doctor Aerith, a gentle smile on her face. When they're close enough, the female doctor says, "Fiona wanted to say good night." Instantly, Tai detaches herself from Lexaeus and loops her arms about one of Fiona's. Her smile is positively radiant as she looks up to the taller woman. "Don't take too long," Aerith calls softly as the pair disappear into Tai's room. The pair of doctors let the door swing almost shut; only the most extreme of cases have their every move watched. Together, they wait outside against the wall.
"Has Fiona had any more recent outbursts?" Lexaeus asks softly, as not to disrupt the pair inside.
"No." His wife's reply is just as soft. "She's been perfectly fine and has been helping the staff with the chores she's allowed to do."
"I see." Gently, from deep within the room, a soft voice begins to whisper a lullaby; it is a stranger to the walls of Oblivion. Lexaeus closes his eyes. "Fiona is actually in good health, isn't she?"
Aerith's smile is sad and respectful and so very kind. "Yes."
Inside the room, the lullaby goes on.
