Quarterly check-ups from hell [Melody, Davon & Samuel]

Monday May 22nd, 08:30, sunny with some clouds
At the ICH (Ilomar City Hospital)
@Davon @Samuel

The waiting rooms in Energology Department of the hospital had been designed to be as pleasant as possible for warlocks in energy imbalance. Very clinically set up with as little possibility for affinity-connected influence - no sinks and only bottled water, only clear ceiling lights, the doors only opening slowly to not create even a gust of wind. For a Godia Warlock this could possibly be the most calming place in the entire city, as it was specifically created to be so.
Yet, Melody didn't feel calm at all. Her body was itching, her blood was pounding, her ears were ringing and all she could do was to restlessly trip her foot with her leg jumping up and down. Her dark brown eyes kept glancing towards the clock on the wall. Even though it made no sound, she could almost hear the mocking 'click' every time the second hand moved. She really felt like she was about to explode from the inside out.
Which probably justified why she had to be here today. Even if she wouldn't admit it herself.
At least she wasn't the only one sitting impatiently and uneasy. The waiting room was filled with Godia Warlocks from different sectors. The day and the day after this had been booked for their quarterly check-ups. As Godia Warlocks that constantly took use of their powers, the government made it mandatory for them to check their energy levels and make sure, that no one them were at risk at experiencing critical hyper-energia - as to avoid the risk of a Godia Warrior actually exploding amongst civilians. If a Godia Warrior were at risk, they would be forced to go on a sick leave, possibly lose their job and status. None of them wanted that, so even some of the warriors who didn't show any symptoms felt nervous going into this.
Melody would probably feel nervous if she didn't just feel agitated. Having had yet another bad night of night terrors and hating being stuck in one place, she was in a bad mood. As she sat in one of the chairs, next to Davon, who luckily received the same booking time as her, she fidgeted with the sleeves of her uniform, frowning and pouting, breathing heavily through her nose.
No one in the waiting room spoke, unless they whispered a few words to each other or if a nurse came to collect one of them. Usually, Melody were one to break the silence, saying whatever came to mind. But right now, her brain was too stuffed with unease and chaos that there was no sentence to say out loud. Instead, she just kept on waiting, fidgeting, tripping and hating every second of it. They just had to get this over with.

Davon sat, one leg crossed over the other eyes scanning over a golf magazine, a stark contrast to the fidgety woman besides him. He glanced at her every so often. This wasn’t anything new. Melody often seemed agitated and on edge, he had noticed, but he usually brushed it off. If she wanted to talk about it, she would. But it was concerning, giving their status as Godia Warriors, an elevated energy level could mean trouble.  And he certainly didn’t want his friend to be forced on leave or have to endure the stigma that was to be medicated as a Godia. Besides, it wasn’t all the time she was like this. He had never seen her truly so agitated that she posed a threat to anyone around her. Usually, she was just like this: fidgety and on edge. Davon knew better than to comment on it at this point.

He himself had never had to endure the worst the Godia skills had to offer. He figured it was due to the fact that he prioritized his self-care and self-maintenance extremely highly. His results had never come elevated to a point where it was a problem. He had considered before teaching Melody his ways, but the idea of her and mindfulness seemed comical. Although it could probably be hugely beneficial to her to plug out every so often, to deactivate all power and seek out a place with no sensory input. That was at the very least what kept him sane at the end of the day. But he also knew her well enough to know that what worked for him would not necessarily work for her.

He glanced back down at the magazine before shifting, checking his watch. The booking before them had been called in about 20 minutes ago, which meant it should soon be their turn. Perhaps the medical professionals had some advice to Melody that might actually help her. As much as he didn’t voice it, he didn’t like seeing her like this.

Samuel was one of the nurses that was in every department of the hospital, he liked to work with different things. Though he was often placed at the understaffed departments such as the ICU, ER and of course, the Energology Department. Which he actually was placed today. It was check-up day for the Godia warlocks and the department really needed the extra hand. Most nurses avoided this department during check-up days, scared of the godias, though Samuel didn’t understand why. They were just people like the rest of them were.

“Alright, everything looks perfect for the both of you,” Samuel said with a kind smile to the two men in front of him. He showed them out to the waiting room, waving a small goodbye as the man left. Just as they left, Samuel felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. A quick check of the notification revealed that it was just his brother being on his case again. He then decided to ignore him and look down on the list checking who were the next two, though just as he did one of his coworkers spoke. “Samuel! thank you so much for helping us out here” a mature woman said to him with a smile. "You don't have to thank me,” Samuel responded, a smile still on his face. They chatted for a bit before he called out to the two next godia warlocks for their check up. “Davon Heliot and Melody Rhodes? It’s time for your check-ups” He said, his voice professional, yet friendly as he scanned the room for the two warlocks he had just called for.

Melody could feel Davon's eyes turning from his magazine and towards her every now and then. At least he didn't comment on her energy, but every time his glance fell on her, it was like she was seeing herself from his point of view. How exhausted, restless and unbridled she looked. The extra layer of self-consciousness made her twitchy heart pound even faster, and she made sure to stare down at her fingers, fidgeting with her nails in a tense manner.

After a while it was all too much. Having to sit still and just wait for something she didn't want to do at all and Davon's glances that might not be as judgmental as she knew he could be, but that didn't make them any less agitating. Suddenly, Melody sat up in the chair - as she had sunk very low in her seat - and her head snapped towards Davon, her mouth already open and ready to bite at him.
"You know, you don't have to stare me down," she said, her voice irritated and her whole demeanor overwhelmed. Then, regretting her reprimand of him, she sighed frustrated and sunk down into her chair again, crossing her arms. "Seriously, when is it our turn? We've been her all morning," she complained, "I'm sure they're not even doing anything in there. Just chit-chatting until some old fart comes out and calls-"
The door to the doctor's office opened and it was very much not some old fart who stuck out his head and upper body. No, he must have been around their age, with dark hair, brown eyes, a gorgeous smile and- wow, he was hot. Melody might just be cured simply by looking at him.

Realizing she had forgotten to finish her sentence, her mouth still open by the sight of the man, Melody quickly closed her mouth and sat up.
"Present," she said as she got up from her chair - a bit quicker that what would be expected of her - and raised her hand to catch his attention. As he turned to enter the office again, she swiftly smoothed out her uniform and puffed her curls. She then turned to Davon. "Come on," she said, trying to act as if she was just as bothered about going into the office as she had just been, "Let's get this over with."
The energy still pumped uncomfortable through her whole body. But when mixed with the adrenaline from a cute nurse, it could almost feel as if it was normal.

Melody suddenly reprimanded him. He turned his head, looking at her with a raised brow, a silent question if she really wanted a conflict here. She then sighed and started complaining about the wait time. Davon returned his interest to the magazine and absentmindedly flipped a page calmly. “I’m sure they’ll call us soon,” he pointed out, but she didn’t listen, didn’t notice or didn’t care as she continued complaining. Either way, he knew Melody wouldn’t let him help her anyways, so he chose to not care for now. He decided he could wait with worrying till later, once they had both gotten their results. Chances were that her numbers weren’t even heightened and that she was simply in one of her moods. Then, the door opened just as Melody complained that their nurse would likely be some old fart.

Davon pushed his lips together to avoid laughing at Melody’s sudden change in demeanor upon discovering that their nurse was, in fact, not some old fart. But a young attractive man around their age. He closed the magazine and put it aside on the side table beside his chair as Melody tried to play it cool by telling Davon they should just ‘get it over with’. He was just about to raise her brow at her again, but decided against it, standing up with an innocent “sure.”

The three entered the doctor's office and subtly, Davon leaned in and whispered in her ear, low enough so that the nurse wouldn’t hear it. “You know, you don’t have to stare him down.” Then he stood back, innocently, with his hands folded behind him.

When Samuel spotted the two warlocks, he gave them a smile before turning around and went back into the office. “Now, how are you two today?” he asked politely, a lil thing he always did with his patients. He gave them time to respond as he got everything he needed ready. Once he had everything Samuel turned to the two. “Okay, are you two ready? We will start with mr. Heliot” He said as he still smiled.

"Now we are just going to measure your energy levels, not much else if they are within normal range” Samuel explained as he gestured for the other man to sit down in the chair as he readied the device that he would use to measure the energy levels. Though suddenly his phone started vibrating again with one notification after the other.

“I’m sorry, let me turn that off real quick” Samuel apologized with a slight nervous chuckle. He quickly took out his phone from his pocket looking at the notifications for a second before turning his phone on the do not disturb mode. Some of the messages were from Jason, his brother (who really should start to realize Samuel was at work and thus not at his beck and call) and the others were from an unknown number Samuel would rather ignore than read.

“I am so sorry” He apologized once again as he put the phone back into his pocket. “Now, shall we get started?” He asked with a smile, not starting the measuring until he got the consent from his patient.

Damn Davon and his perceptiveness. As nice as it is to have him as her partner-in-crime, it was just as excruciating having him as a friend. Nothing went over his head. Especially not regarding Melody, either because she was too easy to figure out or because he had had enough time to do so, because it seemed like she couldn’t hide anything from him without him finding out immediately.
Except for her one secret, it seemed. Possibly because a thought like that didn’t even strike Davon; that a Godia Warlock – a Godia Warrior – would ever need to use a Zeal to help with their powers and even worse, would actually do so. Davon was the most judging person she knew, and even when not stating it directly she knew that he was judging her too, but at least he didn’t think that low of her, that he would ever consider that she would do such a dishonorable thing. Melody should probably feel good about that. But she didn’t and because of that, she tried not to think too deeply about that. It was a lot easier – and a lot more fun – to think about cute hospital staff instead.

She had naively thought that she for once had gotten away with her discretion, as she and Davon followed the cute nurse into the hospital office. But then Davon’s whisper snuck into her ear: “You know, you don’t have to stare him down.”
Melody felt her cheeks burning and she quickly, although still trying to be discreet, turned halfway towards Davon and shushed him, smacking him away from her with a loose hand. However, it was with a smile in her offended glance, the smile being that of a child that had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
“I’ll kill you,” she whispered back with high speed, clearly meaning it as ninety percent a joke and only ten percent a threat.  

She turned her attention back at the nurse, instantly changing her posture, now with her hands behind her back, and controlling her smile, so it was less goofy and more so cool. Or at least she tried to – her dark eyes examining the man while he explained the procedure might possibly have betrayed her attraction. She held her breath but that was more so due to the pulsating energy, that connected with everything in the office from the still air molecules around them to the water in the pipes under the sink. Somehow, she was still able to concentrate on the man’s explanation or at least on his face while he talked.

When the nurse had to check his phone, Melody quickly and quietly turned her upper body towards Davon. She let go of her hands behind her back to make small but cramped gestures in front of her face, showing off how frustratingly attracted she was to the nurse, whose name she still didn’t know. Whilst doing this, she mouthed ‘oh my Iosta’, because even Davon must understand how she wasn’t able to comprehend that hotness. Davon knew her type and also, he had eyes. You didn’t have to be into men to see how that was a finer example of one.

She was in the middle of making as big of a deal as she could out of her mimicking without making any sounds, but as soon as the nurse turned to face them again, she put her arms behind her back and closed her mouth, smiling innocently, acting as if she hadn’t been doing anything.
“Sounds good,” she said, even though Davon was first and probably the one the nurse was talking to.

Davon had to bite his cheek in order not to laugh when Melody blushed at his joke and turned to shush him – a feat that got harder as she jokingly threatened to kill Davon. She was probably the funniest person that he knew. And most likely the only person in the world that could make Davon laugh even when he tried his hardest to remain serious and stone faced. So it took some effort that the laughter was not audible when he responded to the nurse: “We’re good, thank you.”

He side-eyed Melody as the nurse started getting his tools ready and he saw the way her eyes scanned the man in front of him. Indeed, she was more than good at this moment. Then the nurse said that Davon would be up first and he moved to sit as he explained the procedure, which wasn’t much news to any Godia Warrior who had ever been to the obligatory check-ups. Then the nurse's phone started vibrating and he excused himself. Meanwhile Davon turned to Melody who was gesturing wildly to show exactly how attracted she was to this nurse, and once again it took effort on Davon’s part not to laugh at her antics. He moved a hand half infront of his face, pushing his lips together and just hoped that the nurse would not notice.

The nurse apologized once more and Davon tore his attention from his friend to look at the man who was currently putting his phone away. And he was a beautiful man, he did agree on that, but of course he never really understood what all the hype was about with beautiful people. He was beautiful, that was that, full stop.

And the beautiful nurse, thankfully, seemed fairly oblivious to the interaction that had been going on behind his back. That, or he was simply ignoring it as he asked Davon if they should get started, to which Melody answered before he had the chance. To this, he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the way she smiled innocently with her arms folded behind her back as if she hadn't been putting on a whole perfomance mere seconds before. He gave a confirming nod to the nurse. “Let us.”

Samuel’s friendly smile never left his expression, it might as well have been glued on. He let Davon sit down at the bench in the room before he started. Samuel told him everything he was about to do before he did them, a habit he had gained in nursing school and never stopped. The quarterly check-ups were actually quite simple. It was mostly measuring the energy levels of the warlock and once a year it was also a general health check up. Today was just the energy level measuring, which usually took a minute at most.

“Your energy levels are perfect, right where they should be, Mr. Heliot” Samuel said, his tone chipper as he smiled at the other man. Samuel then proceeded to write down the number on a piece of paper. Once done his glance went to the other woman. “Miss Rhodes, take a seat if you’d like while I disinfect the instrument” He said to her as he grabbed some paper towels and the disinfectant spray, and then thoroughly disinfected the energy level measurer.

Once everything was ready for measuring once again his attention went back to her. “Are you ready?” He asked patiently, it was a simple and quick procedure, though he never knew when someone had a fear of hospitals or doctors, even though he wasn’t one this situation might as well feel like he was one. He can still sometime remember the day he narrowly escaped being punched by a unnamed warlock who turned out to have a phobia against hospitals.

Melody loved making Davon laugh. Especially in public, around other people, where Davon preferred keeping up his brand of being cool and collected. Melody would never describe herself as either cool or collected, and she felt a tinge of victory every time she stripped those traits of Davon as well. Not that she disliked them on him – actually, she loved how he contrasted her and forced her to restrain some of her hyperactivity – but it was always fun when she could see how her energy affected him.
Besides, it suited him. Davon was a good-looking man as well, obviously. He rocked that intellectual, brooding look, which some people would describe as resting bitch face – a term that Melody was fifty fifty on whether Davon would hate or love it.
He was a handsome man all around. But in Melody’s opinion, he was the prettiest, when he smiled.

She had to work hard to contain a proud smile, when Davon had to half-cover his face with his hand to hide his laugh. She kept standing innocently by while the nurse examined Davon. Her body was still pulsating and shivering inside of her, and she had a hard time standing still, her left index finger tapping away on her arm, both kept behind her back. While the nurse was busy doing the examination on Davon, Melody had great opportunity to admire his looks and think strategies for how she could get his number. She didn’t even know his name, did she? She hadn’t been listening if he had told her, but she was pretty sure she would have remembered it, if he had mentioned it.

Of course, Davon’s energy levels were perfect. They always were or at least always close. Melody can only remember one time, which was two-three years ago, where his levels were a bit too high, and Davon instantly took all measures necessary for the number to decline.
Whereas Melody rarely had her energy leveled. It had never been high enough levels to cause a warning, but they were never quite good. Kind of like how her dentist would tell her each time that she had to remember to floss daily. Melody still didn’t floss, and she had no holes, so what difference did it make?

A rush of anticipation fluttered through her, when the nurse turned to face her and she instantly smiled at him, propping up her posture.
“Sure,” she said, trying to sound cool and collected, despite knowing she was anything but that. But at least she managed to sound casual. She sat down on the bench, knowing very well that Davon kept his eyes on her behavior for good material to tease her about later. She didn’t look his way but kept her eyes on the nurse, accidentally – or maybe not so much accidentally – giving him a flirty look.
“Go ahead,” she said and changed her way of sitting to make it more accessible for him to do the procedure. While he was working, she said: “I don’t think I got your name before?”
For sure, it was something pretty. Or at least she hoped so. She would die a bit if he was named something like Norbert.

Davon’s energy levels were perfect, of course, but he hadn’t expected anything less. He had pride in the fact that he took care of his own health and didn’t act irresponsibly. It spoke volumes of his disciplined nature.  So, he smiled proudly as he thanked the nurse and took Melody’s spot, as she took her seat on the bench. He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms as he observed  Melody flirt. The way she propped herself up and used that voice she did whenever she tried to sound cool – Davon couldn’t help but shake his head and smile fondly, as that voice only conjured images in his head of Melody impersonating her favorite characters in those cliché spy movies they would sometimes watch together. To him it was mostly just another silly quirk, but it sometimes worked, he supposed. She was charismatic, which was a trait Davon could only envy. Where she was naturally likable and sociable, Davon was reserved and guarded. There was a reason she was more popular than him. He tried not to be jealous of his friend – Davon was just picky about the people he wanted in his life. But had he been more outgoing, would he have more people in his life?

He had never seen much value in shallow relationships or flirting or partying or whatever else people their age spend their time on. It seemed anything everyone else needed was attention without having to earn it. Davon told himself that he didn’t need that and therefore, he was better than them. But perhaps everyone else understood something that he did not? Should he try it, the mindless small talk, the purposeless flirting? He just didn’t see why he should.

She told the nurse to go ahead and then asked for his name. Davon, of course, saw the reason why people dated. And to some people, sex was close to a basic need. He knew that, on paper, though it had always sounded false to him. It wasn’t that he couldn’t see when someone was beautiful. The nurse was handsome the same way that Melody was gorgeous. But he could also appreciate a well-designed vase or the aesthetics of a particularly well decorated room without losing his mind. And he himself knew that he was beautiful, he had turned down plenty of advances, so he knew. But the world of dating seemed artificial to him. Which could be considered anti-social of him? He would like a family some day, or at least he thought he would, or maybe it was just that he wanted the status that came with that. It was expected, even, from his own family. So maybe he should just give it a shot? But that sounded like it would be so forced. And whenever Melody flirted, it didn’t seem forced. Not that he would ever voice that out loud to her. There was no need to. He had a handle on it. Davon was, like his energy levels, perfect. He didn’t want to worry about it and so, he didn’t.

Once she let him know that she was ready, he picked up the measure instruments. He got ready and started measuring her energy levels, his work quick and fast, mostly due to him having done it countless times already that day. It felt like he was on autopilot doing it. While Samuel measured her levels, she suddenly asked him a question. He glanced at her. “My name? Did I forget to introduce myself?” He asked with a chuckle, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, I do that a lot,” Samuel said truthfully. He couldn’t count on his fingers anymore how many times he had forgotten to do that, despite getting the occasional lecture to remember it next time. “
I’m Samuel, Samuel Hart, your nurse” He introduced himself with his full name out of habit.

When the realization hit him, a part of him hoped they wouldn’t start asking questions about his family, why he didn’t go into politics like his father and brother and so on. Though his mind quickly forgot that when he read the number for her levels. He suppressed the frown, letting his face have a professional smile on. “
I will measure your levels again, just to be safe” He said and did just that. Though the results were just the same, no measurement error or something like that. So, with a deep breath he prepared himself to tell her the news, what she should do and what to consider. He had never before had to tell a godia they possibly had Hyperenergia. He had a nursing friend who used to work in this department, she had several times had to deliver such news and sometimes they had not reacted well, the way those godias had acted towards his friend had made her transfer to another department. It was just a slim chance for that anyways, Samuel had yet to have any reason to believe that Miss Rhodes would act like that. He pondered a while on how to say it.

“I’m sorry, your levels are too high” He started, voice calm, yet empathetic, not too loud and not too quiet. “For now, I will note the result in the database and you will get an appointment with a doctor specialized in this field,” He continued, explaining what would happen next. As a nurse, he couldn’t diagnose her, that was a doctor’s job. “In that appointment the doctor will do some more tests to determine if it’s something to diagnose,” He added. “I suggest you start thinking already about whether you want to continue your career or retire” He said, his voice nice, no mean tone nor judgment. “Any questions?” he asked, not wanting to leave her confused if something was unclear or if there was something she wondered about, or even if he forgot something, which Samuel really hoped he didn’t.

By Iosta, he was so cute. How he chuckled sheepishly when realizing he had forgotten to introduce himself. And was that a faint pink emerging on his cheeks? Melody might have been fooling herself, but she enjoyed her presumed victory in making the handsome nurse blush. Her smile grew complacent.  
And of course his name was as pretty as he was. Samuel. Hart? Like the politician? Melody briefly thought of Jason Hart, the conservative politician her mother was completely in love with. They looked alike, the handsome Nurse - Samuel- and him. Maybe they were related? Oh well, that didn't matter, really. Melody wasn't into politics, but apparently, she was into nurses.
"Well, nice to meet you, Samuel," she said while looking at him with doe eyes and holding back a giggle.  

Samuel had to remeasure her energy levels, which Melody didn't think much of. This was more the rule than exception when it came to her check-ups. Besides, it just gave her more time to sit and admire Samuel while he examined her. The only downside was the energy pumping through her veins, screaming at her to move, as if sitting down for just one more second would kill her. But by the power of romantic daydreaming and carnal attraction, she stayed in the chair and let the nurse redo the tests.

When Samuel delivered the news - that her energy levels were too high - her smile only faltered slightly. It stung to hear and it was a bit embarrassing hearing it from the cute nurse's lips, but she had heard that before. But then he kept talking, and Melody slowly registered that this wasn't like other check-ups. This was serious.

The gravity of his rapport left her speechless. The cheeky, flirtatious look on her face was gone, and her mouth opened slightly, as if she had something to say, but she didn't.
A diagnosis? Retirement? This couldn't be real. She was only 22 years old, how on earth could she retire now? How could this be happening? Sure, she hadn't been good at treating her high energy levels, but when did it become bad enough for her to might be sick?
Melody's mind was riddled with questions, but none were said aloud. Instead, when the nurse asked if she had any questions, only one left her lips, shaky and feeble: "What?"

He stood idly by, arms crossed, watching Melody flirt with the nurse. Samuel Hart, the nurse introduced himself as. Davon paused for a moment, considering if it had any relation to that Hart family. But then again, would anyone from such an elite family go into as ordinary a field as nursing? He didn’t think too much of it, perhaps Hart was a more common surname than Davon was aware. Surely no relation, he figured.

When Samuel said he needed to measure again and a brow rose disapprovingly on Davon’s face. And then when the man proceeded to take a deep breath, he knew something was up and he frowned in anticipation for the news that Melody’s levels were elevated again, which wasn’t a surprise, really. It wasn’t the first time. It was never serious, though, he told himself but that was only until the nurse spoke again.

I suggest you start thinking already about whether you want to continue your career or retire

His arms dropped and he looked at the nurse in halfway shock. That just couldn’t be true. The kinds of people who had to retire this early in their career, well… Melody wasn’t like that. She wasn’t weak, he knew her. So there had to be a glitch in the system or maybe Samuel was incompetent. That had to be it. Because there was no way his friend was the type of person who couldn’t handle her own powers, because such people were weak and she was strong and– when Melody spoke, his frown deepened at the shakiness in her voice. This was nonsense and he had to step in. He pushed away from the wall he was leaning on to look properly at the nurse.

“You can’t be serious,” he said, brow raising yet again. “There must’ve been some kind of mistake. Is your equipment malfunctioning?”

Samuel kept the professional nursing smile on, the one he always used whenever bad news were delivered, the one filled with empathy. Melody, having been the more chatty of the two, only replied with one word, Samuel could see it was a lot to take in, he could only imagine so. Davon had been the one to start questioning him.

“The equipment has been tested beforehand on test days like these, and I double checked in case it was” Samuel replied to his question while glancing at him, careful not to accidentally sound annoyed or anything like that. He then turned his gaze back to Melody.

“Now, a specialist will reach out to you for an appointment, where they will do a more thorough check up as well as answer any questions more clearly than I can” He said. "Unfortunately, I will have to say goodbye for now, I have to continue with the rest in the waiting room or else my coworkers will get pissed” He said sheepishly with an awkward chuckle after. Maybe it was an attempt to lighten the mood while also letting them know time is up and he had others he needed to measure levels on. He always hated having to do that after bad news had been delivered.

Once the two of them left, Samuel gave them both a quick goodbye with a small wave and smile. Once they had left the room, he started cleaning up and disinfecting any used equipment as well as every surface, readying the room for the next person. He went out in the waiting room, calling the next person on the list, and after that it was the same process over and over again.