[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

[snowblindmods]

Welcome to Norfinbury. The time is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R and the date is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R. This network has been provided for your use. Please interact politely with everyone else on this network.

Comments

[private]

[nursetemple]

I would.

[private]

[devoutish]

All right, then. No business talk.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Excellent. Business talk is only boring anyway.

[private]

[devoutish]

You prefer personal conversation?

[private]

[nursetemple]

I prefer whatever conversation that doesn't incriminate anyone. If it's got to be personal, then so be it.

You know, lots of people talk about the best people to talk to are bartenders, but they're wrong. The best are nurses; we've got the same kind of oath as doctors do, but without the superiority complex.

[private]

[devoutish]

Are superiority complexes a problem with doctors where you're from? Must be a twenty-first century thing.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Very much is. Not all of them have it, mind you, and they certainly know how to hide it in front of patients, but in front of us...it's another story. We're only lowly nurses. Some of them even talk around us like we're not even in the room.

[private]

[devoutish]

Because you're a nurse, or because you're a woman?

[private]

[nursetemple]

Good question. Both, I think. It tends to be men that act this way, although women are not immune to it. Some of them treat us perfectly right, though.

Should this count as business talk? [She raises an eyebrow, smirking.]

[private]

[devoutish]

Mm, a bit. You can pick another topic, then.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Is there anything personal you'd be willing to discuss?

[private]

[devoutish]

Ask and you'll find out.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Do you still pray? Do you find time for religion, here?

[private]

[devoutish]

I pray every evening. It helps, saying the same words that we say together at home.

[private]

[nursetemple]

[She nods.]

I feel I'm going to miss confession soon enough. From what I understand, this place can bring the darkest in people to the outside.

[private]

[devoutish]

You're religious? Catholic?

[private]

[nursetemple]

Yes. Hispanic mother, you see. Mass every Sunday, Sunday school, confession every week by the time I hit puberty, the works.

[private]

[devoutish]

[Alfie knows nothing about Hispanic culture, oops.]

Mm. It's important to you?

[private]

[nursetemple]

It was more important when I was younger, but yes. It is.

[private]

[devoutish]

Why did that change as you grew up?

[private]

[nursetemple]

The usual, I believe. Life knocks you down, and you feel like God isn't actually listening to you anymore. Especially as a teenager, when you're at your most selfish.

[private]

[devoutish]

And you still feel that way now?

[private]

[nursetemple]

I don't believe I have a direct line to Him, but I think He's here. I pray. I go to church when I can. It's - it's a comfort.

[private]

[devoutish]

You don't have to feel like you've got a direct line for it to be important.

[private]

[nursetemple]

Which is what I've discovered with age. The kind of thing that came to me with the job, and the experience, and celebrating being 30.