http://drlambert.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
drlambert.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandom_clinic2006-08-01 09:13 pm
drlambert.livejournal.com) wrote in fandom_clinic2006-08-01 09:13 pm
Entry tags:
FTEC, Tuesday Night
Her shift had been quiet since arriving. No schizoid types, no snow, and no strange statues to hide behind screens. There was, however, a ham sandwich sitting on a plate before her. It wasn't just any ham sandwich -- no, she had gone to the trouble of picking up some fresh, shaved Virginia ham, crispy lettuce, tomatoes, some Italian dressing and those really soft and tasty hoagie rolls. The remainder of the packages were now in her fridge, keeping the bottles of bovine blood company.
And still the sandwich sat on the plate. If she didn't know better, she'd swear it was mocking her.
She sighed. What was it about food? This used to be one of her favorite sandwiches before she crossed over. She wanted it -- wanted to remember what the smoky ham tasted like, and the fresh tomato. Instead, her insides were roiling at the scent of the real food.
Her attention drifted right, to the protein shake she had standing by. She could still wrap up the sandwich and try again another night, have the protein shake, and probably be okay. But was she willing to push it just a little further? To test her theories about mind over matter?
Nat drew in a deep breath. Determined, she picked up the sandwich and squeezed it slightly, so that the first bite would fit into her mouth. And then she bit down, human teeth alone tearing into the bread, vegetables, and the meat. She lowered the sandwich as she chewed. Chewing wasn't so bad, actually; she found the the flavors were still there, but were muted, almost beyond recognition. Probably because of the vampire drive for blood as sustenance, she thought.
She swallowed slowly. She felt the bits and pieces slide slowly down into the stomach, the first real food she'd had in over a year. The last time had been a rare steak -- something which settled, but not well. Now she sat, waiting, to see if her system would accept the real food.
For thirty seconds, she thought she might be okay. And then she dashed for the ladies' room.
As she emerged a few moments later, Nat smoothed her hair back into place and resumed her seat. The ham sandwich was wrapped up once again and went into the garbage...along with the protein shake.
[Cut because it's a little longer than I thought...]
And still the sandwich sat on the plate. If she didn't know better, she'd swear it was mocking her.
She sighed. What was it about food? This used to be one of her favorite sandwiches before she crossed over. She wanted it -- wanted to remember what the smoky ham tasted like, and the fresh tomato. Instead, her insides were roiling at the scent of the real food.
Her attention drifted right, to the protein shake she had standing by. She could still wrap up the sandwich and try again another night, have the protein shake, and probably be okay. But was she willing to push it just a little further? To test her theories about mind over matter?
Nat drew in a deep breath. Determined, she picked up the sandwich and squeezed it slightly, so that the first bite would fit into her mouth. And then she bit down, human teeth alone tearing into the bread, vegetables, and the meat. She lowered the sandwich as she chewed. Chewing wasn't so bad, actually; she found the the flavors were still there, but were muted, almost beyond recognition. Probably because of the vampire drive for blood as sustenance, she thought.
She swallowed slowly. She felt the bits and pieces slide slowly down into the stomach, the first real food she'd had in over a year. The last time had been a rare steak -- something which settled, but not well. Now she sat, waiting, to see if her system would accept the real food.
For thirty seconds, she thought she might be okay. And then she dashed for the ladies' room.
As she emerged a few moments later, Nat smoothed her hair back into place and resumed her seat. The ham sandwich was wrapped up once again and went into the garbage...along with the protein shake.
[Cut because it's a little longer than I thought...]