Ten to midnight, Fourth Floor. Breakroom.


It was drawing close to the dead of evening now, the start of Vivienne Thorpe's final night shift of the week. It was not a shift coveted by most of the Healers at St.Mungo's on account of the unconventional sleeping hours and the number of odd cases that came in just before dusk; but everyone had to have a go at it, at least once or twice a week.

Even with her auror sleeping over every now and then, she usually took the shift more often than that. It was good time to do observation rounds in the Janus Thickey ward.

But that was still an hour away and Viv now found herself alone in the Healer breakroom, brewing her first coffee for the trials ahead. She was dressed warmly underneath the lime green robes-- snug in a beige sweater and corduroy slacks. London weather had taken a turn for the chilly today and rain fell softly outside, only barely audible.

The witch suppressed a yawn as she picked up her mug in both hands and moved over to one of the couches, scent of the drink gradually beating away lethargy. She sat down and leaned back with a soft sigh. "Mon dieu..." she murmured to herself sleepily. Just then, the breakroom door creaked open and one of the trainees came strolling in; Vivienne glanced up and smiled at them warmly.

It was Jenkins, the American. One of the nicer ones. Not all the younger witches had a good bedside manner. "Bonsoir, Anna. Are you on the night shift as well?"

Anna was starting to feel frustrated. She'd been in London for almost four months, and had so far not had to treat anything major nor interesting. What little work there had been was left to the older, more experienced healers. Now Anna was wondering if she really belonged in London, or if her skills were not needed. In a desperate act to see if anything would turn up, Anna had volunteered for as many night shifts as possible.

She had made her usual rounds, checking up on the few over night patients they had, bringing one of them a book to read. Now she found herself at a loss for what to do with herself, and so she wandered into the breakroom, pulling her thick hair into a ponytail as she went.

Healer Thorpe was seated on the couch, a mug of steaming coffee in her hands. "Good evening, Mrs. Thorpe. "Anna replied, her upbringing not allowing her to call her superior anything less. She thought that the older woman would not mind her calling her by her first name, but Anna wasn't completely comfortable with that yet. "Yes, again. I don't mind it so much."

She glanced out the window, eyeing the rain that trailed down the window pane in rivets. "Nasty weather we're having,"she commented lightly, moving over to the corner and making herself a cup of black tea, which she added a bit of sugar and milk to. "You look tired." Anna noted, taking a sip of her drink.

"Good evening, Mrs. Thorpe," Anna Jenkins said in a polite way and Vivienne nearly dropped her coffee.

Mrs?

The Healer frowned to herself and glanced briefly down at her fingers, encircling the mug. No ring today. Did she look older than she realized? Several similarly vain thoughts crossed her mind as the younger colleague spoke, and she quietly resisted the urge to find herself a mirror. Mrs. That was worse than Mrs.Healer.

"Nasty weather we're having," the trainee continued and Viv's grey gaze followed her to the tea station, "You look tired." Mon dieu... full of compliments today. Anymore of this and she would begin to feel quite ancient.

On the other hand, she didn't only look tired; she felt weary as well. Between shifts, potion brewing and her teddy bear of an auror, life was picking up its pace. It had been some few weeks since she was able to lay down with a good book and doze off mid-sentence. She needed a rest. Not yet, maybe, but sooner or later.

Vivienne smiled dryly at the other witch: "Oui, these have been busy days," she replied: "Busier than I would like. How has your work been? It must be exciting, training on this floor." Years ago, she had trained on various other levels before settling down. Tackling the Janus Thickey ward back then would have been a disagreeable challenge.

The pitter-patter of falling rain grew heavier and a very weak rumble of thunder sounded in the distance, followed by a flash at the window. A storm? Unusual for the city. Before Anna could respond to her question, Viv promptly added: "Oh, and please... it's Vivienne, or Healer Thorpe. Mrs Thorpe is my mother."

Anna took another long sip of her tea, still staring out at the rain. She vaguely noticed that the other woman had a frown on her face, but didn't think much of it, assuming that Vivienne was simply tired.

Anna groaned softly at the question; she really didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to give Healer Thorpe the impression that she was unhappy but well...she was. Before she could reply, Vivienne went on to tell her firmly that she should call her by her name, not her mother's. Anna flushed for a moment, trying to will the red away.
"Forgive me...Vivienne. My mother raised me to always use the most formal titles while I was growing up."

"My work's been..." Anna sighed, setting her mug down and crossing her arms. "To be honest, it's been downright dull. I came to London expecting myself to be needed...And I'm not. At all." She shook her head slightly, running a hand down the window pane, watching the rain drops race each other for a moment.

"I've lived in London for nearly four months now, but I still haven't seemed to find a place for myself here. Maybe coming here was a mistake," she murmured softly.

It never ceased to surprise Vivienne, the difference in attitude between hospital trainees and most other adults of similar age. To be young and alive and magical in Londontown... that was a pleasure almost unequalled by any other, non? Her own years in training, after the War, had been brimming with as many parties as she had patients to treat.

Comparing her younger self to Anna, she couldn't help but want to smile. What an uncommitted little hellcat she'd been.

"I've lived in London for nearly four months now, but I still haven't seemed to find a place for myself here. Maybe coming here was a mistake," Jenkins continued in a soft voice and Viv sat up straighter on the couch, turning slightly to look over at her colleague by the window.

A sympathetic expression crossed her face: "Non, four months isn't very long. You're only at the start. You'll see what I mean," the Healer smiled wryly, "One evening there will be so many challenges that you'll wonder how it is you ever complained of their absence."

There were months or even years where that evening felt like it was every evening but Vivienne didn't mention that. This was not an ideal time to relay hospital horror stories. "Besides, the patients appreciate all that dull work. You could use your free time now..." she raised her eyebrows playfully: "Have some fun. Vous êtes à Londres."