[Open] At Least The Hospital Isn't Haunted?

[work_wife]

WHO: Robin Buckley, Open
WHERE: Temba Hospital
WHAT: Post Attack Threads
WHEN: September 12th Onward
WARNINGS: Discussions (potentially detailed) of strangulation and attempted murder

I. Bedside Manners Please | Daytime - Good for Interviews

The hospital room is at least a nice one. One with a window so there is light coming in from outside. Right now the dog that had come rushing up when Billy Loomis was helping her to the hospital was stretched out in that pool of sunshine. Robin watches the dog in his happy resting.

At least one of them was happy.

Robin's fingers come up o touch the swath of bandaging around her neck, holding the salves that the hot doctor had worked into her skin before putting the bandages on. It's still painful. At least breathing wasn't too much of a problem right now. She sighed, something she immediately winced over the pain over. Then she looked back down at the communication device in her lap. She should do something to entertain herself. Or maybe message her friends to let them know she could really use some company.

No, though. There were reasons not to do that. Maybe later. So she puts the device back down in her lap.

When she heard someone at the door, though, she turned her head slowly to regard them. Nods briefly to them, because pain for a greeting wasn't worth it right now.

II. Friend Time | Afternoon/Evening - For pre-existing CR peeps not after questioning her

If there was one time that Robin absolutely refused to put up with questions during, it was meals. The food was better than the hospital in Hawkins, so there was that. But mostly, she doesn't want to try both the strain of talking to people about the new trauma and eating at the same time. So when lunch and dinner happen, she glares hard at those she doesn't want around until they figure it out and head out for a while.

It's different with her friends. Different with the people she already knows and trusts and believes could have had nothing to do with hurting her. Then when meals come up she shoos Little Bear from the bed, pulls the rolling tray closer, and scootches over so her friend can join her in the bed. Because being close to someone so she can keep talking is nice. Especially when she has to whisper even more quietly while trying to eat. Nothing like trying to swallow with a damaged throat and still trying to hold a conversation. Especially with her hands too taken up to be typing on her comm or writing on paper to answer.

III. The Night Shift | Nights - For Guards and/or Comforting a scared Robin | Please No Additional Here - Have A Lot Of These Now

Fear was something Robin was used to living with. Had been since things went wrong back at the mall. But that had never felt personal. That had never been so direct. It had never made her so afraid of being alone in the dark. Not that the hospital is fully dark. The lights in the room are just down low. And she's not alone either.

The dog that used to belong to the clothes lady was lying in bed with her after all, carefully stretched out on her good side and resting his big head on her stomach. His tail beat a slow rhythm as she lets her fingers stroke over his soft, curly fur. But her eyes... they're always on the door. Wide. Watching. Fearful.

She hates this. Having a new reason to fear the night. It was better when it was monsters. It was better when evil people were the government or bigots. It was better when she knew what people who would hurt her looked like.

Comments

[playingtough]

"No shit, Buckley," he retorts with a glare. "What happened to get you strangled?" Was it like when that Richie guy got hurt? Maybe they tried to lure her into wherever she was attacked.

"Some guy in a mask that did it, right? Did you see how tall he was or anything? Just one guy?"

[work_wife]

"Creepy face robe guy," she says with a shrug. Yeah, she got attacked by the same thing.

Though with the question of height she has to consider. Because with what the attacker wore it's hard to tell exact height.

"At least taller than me. Not sure beyond that."

Which meant at least Billy's height, which isn't saying much because he barely has any height on Robin himself.

[playingtough]

"I know a lot of people are working to figure this out. I'll pass it along." Maybe it’ll be helpful somewhere down the line. "So taller than you. Maybe mine or Eddie’s height.

But there was something else he wants to know. Because it was important. "…why were you out there by yourself, Buckley?"

[work_wife]

A lot of people? Concerned about her? Wow. That's not expected.

"Or taller," she manages to say. But then she sighs.

Her throat hurts so much. And so she gestures toward her communication device.

[playingtough]

A lot really meant at least five or more. Max, going by her message on the network, and he knows that Eddie and Steve would be upset about this. Chrissy, if his last interaction with her was anything to go by. People investigating.

"Or taller," he repeats with a nod. Billy almost misses her gesture to the device, then grabs it to hand over. Then he notes the dog and how he doesn't remember it hanging before. "New pet?"

[work_wife]

It was turning out to be a lot more than just those people from Hawkins. There were others she'd forged connections with after all. Not that she'd expected that fact.

"Found us when we were walking here," Robin explains, petting the dog's head before she takes the device and opens the notation program. Enjoy hearing Jon's synthesized voice.

'He hasn't left my side since then. I think the lady that made the clothes owned him.'

[playingtough]

Billy eyes the canine companion with some wariness, like it's trained to jump at the slightest command. Robin seems to have it tamed for now, so he doesn't move away from his spot on the bedside table.

A brow goes up hearing the new guy's voice, then he's paying attention to what the voice is saying. "Miss Lark? She's nice; I haven't seen her since I got my hammock made from her though."

Why does it feel like she's dodging the question about her attack? Maybe she was. Maybe it was too soon to talk about it, so Billy decides to not ask again about it for now.

[work_wife]

Robin has no clue what the dog's behaviors are. At all. Though a big wolfhound has reasons to look intimidating even if he is just a lapdog.

'She hasn't been in the hotel. I think she's gone. Shame. She could have made decorations for me. Then I wouldn't have been out there. Max is going to be so mad at me.'

[playingtough]

Lapdog or not, he could be useful to guard Robin almost as much as Billy was. A quick read of the message.

"Damn. She was nice," or maybe she was nice to Billy because he was very polite at first message. Billy scoots closer towards the bed from his perch and leans forward to brace his elbows on his knees. "Damn right Max is gonna be mad at you. She's gonna be even more pissed off at the guy that did this to you and I would hate to be him whenever he's found because he's gonna have to deal with at least her and me."

Robin heard what he was capable of. Just because he was more on the side of good now didn't mean he couldn't beat the shit out of someone again if he wanted to.

Tommy's disappointment about it aside, if that happened.

"I just don't get why you went out there, Robin." Robin. Not Buckley.

[work_wife]

Was this dog even a guardian? Robin didn't know. But Little Bear had refused to leave her side since he'd found her and Billy Loomis.

Still, Robin takes the moment to stare at Billy. Like she wasn't expecting that from him. Which might be because she wasn't used to expecting that from anyone but Steve. It's... a whole new experience.

"Thank you," she says with her messed up voice, because it matters to say it for real.

As for the rest, well, she looks tired and annoyed.

'Decorations. I wanted decorations. I already said that.'

[playingtough]

Billy finally turns to look at her to see her staring. There's a little moment, wondering if he's magically grown a second head. "What? You think I wouldn't come around to defend you? Whenever this prick is found, they'll probably have to cuff me too to keep me from braining the hell out of whoever it is."

He huffs, and relaxes at her soft expression of gratitude. "...You're welcome. Court of Hargrove will protect the Court of Buckley so she can keep the Dinguses in check for longer. And sorry. You said it and I probably didn't hear it being all worked up about you getting attacked. What were you going to decorate for? Whenever we catch the one responsible for this, we'll get people to go with you to get some."

[work_wife]

Of course she hadn't thought that he would do that. At least he doesn't get upset over it though.

'Want a nice room. Is that so bad? Chrissy's room is so nice.'

[playingtough]

"No, it's not bad. Look, I'm just fucking worried, okay?" Billy's voice raises on that last part, because he is worried. It's weird being worried about someone else like this, over someone from his world, but he is! "When you're all healed up and this bitch is caught, we'll all go out and help you get decorations. I don't think they have any band nerd decorations, but maybe we'll make you some shit."

[work_wife]

Band nerd decorations? She rolls her eyes.

'I like movies. And music, but not band music. One can play in school bands and not decorate their life from it.'

[playingtough]

"I think movie posters are right out. Maybe you could ask the aliens for some. Or maybe for a tape player with some new tapes." That would be a good start. "I... I know I haven't been in there in a long time, but I saw someone had paint in the hotel lobby. I saw some cans in a corner capped up again."

Billy looks at her. "Maybe we could at least paint your room for a start?"

[work_wife]

She snorts as she considers what the Agrii would consider movie posters. Probably just snapshots of their lives.

'Guess I need a tape player given I lost the music device Donnie gave me.'

Tens of hours of music, all on one device. It's so sad.

But paint... She nods. That's... an option. But is there even paint that isn't used for graffiti.

[playingtough]

And no one wants horror posters because more than likely those would be the snapshots the Agrii would pick.

"You lost it? Damn, Buckley, what a crime against humanity. Unless you lost it in the department store, then you're excused this one time." He didn't even know about the device or that it was probably something more future-based. He thought it was another tape player like his own Walkman.

He sighs and leans back far enough that his head thunks against the wall behind him. "I didn't see any brushes, but I bet we could make some. Paint your room that nice green color I saw."

[work_wife]

Oh god, that would be true wouldn't it? The Agrii were so impressionable.

'Okay, I get it. It's not entirely my fault I almost got murdered. But it held almost DAYS worth of music. It was nice. And what green color?'

[playingtough]

Very impressionable. Better to not tempt them into that. Billy reaches over and messes up Robin's hair with a smirk.

"I'll see if I can't get someone to go with me to search the department store to find it. Maybe Donnie since he knows what to look for." Music was important to the Hawkins kids after all.

Billy gives a shrug. "I don't know. It's green. I don't like green like I now blue. There's blue, and then there's Camaro blue, my eyes blue, and the different ocean blues. But I don't know green."

[work_wife]

Donnie. Who hadn't looked in on her. Robin sighs. That seems unlikely.

'Thank you very much.'

Still, he makes the observation and Robin smirks.

'Ask that Tommy guy Steve mentioned you know?'

[playingtough]

"Almost anything for the Court of Buckley. I haven't even been a dingus lately. So much so that Harrington's offered for me to partake in some... green activity." Look at that, Billy Hargrove actually being on Steve's good side for a change.

Something else Robin would probably notice - how Billy's eyes light up at the mention of Tommy. "Yeah, I guess he'd know all about the color green. He looks good with some blue on him." He turns his head and lets the earring dangling at his ear catch the light. Billy is all grins just thinking about him.

[work_wife]

Almost anything for the Court of Buckley was it? God, that was so strange to consider. All the friends and support she has now. Who would have ever thought she'd befriend the two guys who were literally the most popular her school had seen in her time there? That they would want to protect her? That they wouldn't judge her for who and what she was?

'You're always a dingus. You all are. I'm the smart one here. And yeah, it's probably going to be good for you to do so. To relax.'

Though she's shocked Steve offered.

What she's more shocked by is the open fondness Billy is showing about this guy. The comment about the guy looking good in blue is intriguing too. She's got to investigate when she feels better.

[playingtough]

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’ll keep being the one that tries to protect the rest of you." No matter the cost. "And I’m gonna stay right here until you’re healed up."

Until a certain speedy someone needed him more in a month.

He looks at Robin, grinning. "Does that mean you give your approval for me joining the next hot box session?"

[work_wife]

Steve tried to protect them too, but Robin wasn't going to argue.

'You better sleep, or Max will yell at us both.'

A reminder that she wasn't the only one that needed protecting.

As for the other thing, she just nodded. Of course he was welcome.

[playingtough]

"I'll sleep, don't worry about that," Billy seems to brush that aside because as long as he doesn't perish, he's sure he can win his sister over. "There's coffee; I'll see if I can ask Tommy to bring me some so you can sleep. You need it more, since you're healing." Billy would at least understand about that, having been what he's gone through.

He looks at Robin, then lets his gaze track to the opposite wall. "All the shit the Hawkins people have gone up against, you deserve to sleep well enough."