[R] Ghosts?! IC (ZeeZee and Girly Woman)

[Girly Woman]

This RP is rated R for language and other R-rated stuff.

Sami pulled into the parking deck in her silver 20-something Camaro. It had been a labor of love: her parents and older brother, a mechanic, had fixed it up and given it to her as a graduation present. It ran very well and actually looked pretty good! Sami was actually very nervous driving it, but she couldn't take any kind of mass transit to the hospital and it would break her family's collective heart if she didn't use the car. She navigated slowly and carefully into an open spot, one with no cars on either side!

She checked her appearance in the mirror on the back of the sun-blocker...thing. Her long blonde hair was pulled safely out of her face into a simple ponytail. She wore very little make up. She stepped out of her car, wearing cute and sensible flats and an above-the-knee, modest, print, sleeveless dress which she'd gotten on clearance. Fortunately, she would be wearing a lab coat, so, after today, it didn't really matter what she wore. However, today she and the other new employees were to meet with the director and the other employees, so she had to look good. The hospital had received extra funding from the state, so a few employees had been hired at the same time. Grabbing her "briefcase", which was basically a big purse which she'd gotten on clearance, she walked out of the parking garage and into the building.

As she entered the building, she felt...something. She looked around, a little unsure. It felt like she should be seeing more people than she was actually seeing. A nurse approached her, smiling, and asked her if she was looking for the director's office. Sami shook off the feeling and smiled her large smile, thanking the woman and, after introducing herself, saying that she was indeed looking for the director's office. The woman directed her.
****
Liam was also stationed in the area outside of the parking garage. He wasn't the only one. Many of the ghosts were curious about the new arrivals. The ghosts had already seen the files of the new hires, of course! Two had already arrived: a stern woman who was surely one of the new doctors and a guy who was nerdy-enough looking to be the new IT hire. When Sami entered, there was a somewhat collective stir amongst the ghosts. She was not only beautiful, but there was something else about her. Something beyond the rest of the humans who worked here these days. The older ghosts were reminded of the pure, good Christian nurses from the old days. The nurses who could actually see them.

Liam felt very drawn to this woman. He wanted to reach forward and run his fingers through her long, thick, and smooth ponytail. However, he knew that it would only make her uncomfortable. So he had to work really hard to squelch his urge. He chuckled, "If I were a few decades younger...and, you know, alive..." Several of the ghosts chuckled.

[ZeeZee]

This morning felt like a rush, Jason had always hated new beginnings, but hopefully this was the last one in a long time. He had gotten the call only a week ago, stating he would have a job and that there was a large group starting today. He threw on a decent gray suit and purple tie, but had realized half way to his new job that he had forgotten to iron his shirt, and had forgotten to shave. His hair was a mess, but he liked it that way, hopefully his resume overlooked his appearance. When he finally got to the building he circled the building three times before realized where the parking lot was where he pulled in a spot. He stepped out of his blue Ford truck and took a deep breath. Brushing himself off, he gave himself a once in the reflection of his window, running his fingers through his hair, wondering when he needed a hair cut again. He blinked and felt as if he was being watched and he turned quickly to look around but no one was there. He shrugged it off, and closed the door to his car.

It accidently slammed, and he griminced hoping that his day wasn't going to be as bad as his morning was. A quick glance at his watch and realized he was running late and only had two minutes until he was supposed to be there. Jason took of in a mid sprint, until he almost ran into a woman, "Hi, um...the director's office?", she pointed him in the right direction and he took of in a mid sprint again, hoping he didn't look too bad.

-----

Cora was inside the waiting area, there were three kids there waiting for visitation with their family member. They were playing with some toys and Cora was smiling while watching them play, always wishing she could play with them, or hug them. A short breeze passed by her that caught her interest and it was a young man who rushed in, asking for the director's office. Raising a brow, she took one last glimpse at the children and followed him slowly to where he was rushing to. She had a weird feeling about him, but she couldn't place her finger on it.

[Girly Woman]

The rest of the employees were gathered at the director's office. Sami had been chatting stern-looking female doctor, who was looking much less stern-looking while in eager conversation about the inner workings of the damaged brain with Sami. Several others had joined in on the conversation. Everyone looked up as the disheveled Jason blew into the room. All assumed he'd been hired for some low-level position. No self-respecting doctor would show up in such a mess. Well, outside of academia, anyway. Sami pitied the man for his poor first impression. She knew that it took a long time for people to get over a bad first impression. However, like the others, she also thought he had been hired for a lower-level position. A disheveled medical doctor would never command the respect of his patients! The director settled them all down and then welcomed them. The meeting was brief. Next would be a tour of the hospital.
***
Liam and many of the other ghosts had also followed the last arrival to the director's office. Many greeted Cora and waved at the children. The children smiled and waved back. Children were still pure enough to see them, so it was always a pleasure when children were around. Liam, however, was fixated on Sami. He listened to the conversation in the office. He didn't understand...well...any of it...all he could tell was that it had something to do with the brain and brain damage. He had picked up a few things at the hospital about the brain and how physical damage to the brain causes these mental disorders. He watched as Sami spoke with enthusiasm about the topic. He had long ago grown accustomed to seeing female doctors and well-educated females. He was actually quite happy with this development. Others he was less happy about.

[ZeeZee]

Jason gave an apologetic smile to the director as he came in, pushing off the looks that everyone else had given him. He was used to getting looks, whether it was because of his lack of caring, or because once he had proven that he was smarter than he looked. Jason ran his fingers through his hair and scribbled down what the director was saying in his notebook. He wrote down everything in his notebook, then later transferred it the computer to keep it neat and tidy.

As they turned to go out the door for the tour he drew a small little map to keep track of where everything was located. After the tour was finished they ended in the employee break room, "And this concludes the tour. Does anyone have any questions before we go around and introduce ourselves?"

-----
Cora followed throughout the tour, finding it interesting about what things had changed to since she was working there before. They made a lot of new sections and she couldn't really ask someone what the were now. A few of the other ghosts had followed them to in order to see what was going on, but some of them were getting bored and walking away as the conversations went on. Cora saw that the one man was taking a lot of notes, and wondered what they were about, she walked over towards him and tried to look at his notes.

[Girly Woman]

Throughout the tour, Sami couldn't shake the increasing feeling that someone was behind her and watching her, interested in her. It was like she was at a bar and some man was checking her out, ready to pounce the moment she separated from her friends. She could swear she even caught a whiff of alcohol every now and again, which was probably triggering the bar reference. The effects of scent on memory and thought are fascinating! The slightest smell from childhood will bring back a flood of childhood memories that one could otherwise not recall. The feeling of being followed disappeared as Sami thought about scent and the brain, while also attending to the tour.

They reached the break room. That last bit was said more for Jason's benefit. Everyone else, who had arrived early, had already introduced themselves to each other. Trying not to look especially at Jason and trying to look as if they hadn't already done so, the others again introduced themselves, stating much of the same things they had already said to each other in the office. Sami said, "My name is Dr. Samantha McPherson. I received my doctorate in pharmacy from X University. I specialized in neuropharmacology."
***
Liam also followed the tour group, keeping somewhat close to Sami. The new parts of the hospital were no surprise to him, since he'd been at the hospital since his death. He had heard the plans being discussed and had watched each one being built. It was the standard tour given to newcomers. Liam didn't usually bother following around, but he felt drawn to Sami.
Liam sniggered at the introduction bit and the reactions of the others. The disheveled guy just couldn't catch a break. Well, it was his own fault for rushing in at the last minute looking so harried and disheveled.

[ZeeZee]

Jason had written down the names and small description of each individual who spoke and when it was his turn he cleared his throat, "My turn? Oh, well, um...I'm Dr. Jason Fillion, I have my doctorate in psychology and psychiatry graduated from Stevenson University."

He heard a few people start to mutter but ignored it, the director nodded knowingly, not surprised at everyone's reactions. Jason remembered their conversation where she had given him a disapproving look when they had first met and he had handed her his resume letting it do the talking. That was one thing Jason was always bad at, appearances. It was just easier to let his work to do the talking for him, then he was at talking. That's what was great about his field, he didn't have to impress anyone with his looks, and a lot of his clients actually felt more comfortable talking to him because he wasn't always dressed up to impress.
---------
When Cora heard the man say he was a doctor she raised an eyebrow in surprise while the others muttered. He did not look like any type of doctor from when she worked, they were all well poised, properly dressed and groomed, but there was something about him that she liked. He seemed smart, and knowledgeable. The man seemed to pay attention to details, while other doctors she had met were stuck in their own little world. Dr. Fillion was different, and it wasn't just his lack of professionalism, there was something else.

[Girly Woman]

Sami watched Jason write everything down. She wondered if he were OCD. Taking notes about the tour made some sense, but writing down everyone's name and description was borderline OCD behavior. Sami had picked it all up and stored the information away during the previous conversation. Like the others, she was also surprised that this man was a medical doctor. He was more like those academic doctors, like philosophers and research psychologists. His sloppy appearance smacked of affectation. She figured he showed up looking more professional to his interview. He was technically dressed according to the appearance standards of the hospital, but the wrinkled shirt and scruffy beard were pushing it. She glanced at the female doctor, their eyes communicating, "If a woman had shown up like that, she would have been judged MUCH more harshly." Not that Sami would ever show up looking so disheveled. She had too much appreciation for this opportunity to disrespect her employers, coworkers, and patients by showing up looking sloppy. Sami lightly shrugged. It was a double standard and they had simply had to live with it. They would have to give this guy more concessions than they, as female doctors, would ever receive. They would have to smile at him as a fellow colleague.

The person who had given the tour had pretty much expected that reaction. He concluded by asking if they had any questions. He then told them they would have some time to themselves to go over the information they would need to start out their first day. The doctors would look over the case studies of the patients whom they would be taking over. The IT guy left to meet with the few other IT employees. Sami would be looking over the specific medications prescribed at the hospital. They were told they could go wherever they pleased. The doctors elected to go to their offices. Sami also had an office, but she wanted to first have some coffee. She had had a hard time sleeping the night before due to her excitement, so she needed a brain stimulant! She also rather liked the cozy break room. She obtained permission to stay there and make coffee while looking over her information. It was, of course, granted. The room began to clear out as Sami put the coffee on and put her lunch in the refrigerator. Thinking everyone had left, Sami began humming. Sami always hummed, but this time it was in part to shake that "someone staring at me in a bar" feeling that had creeped up on her again.
***
Liam sniggered again. He said to one of the other ghosts, "So, this is one of those guys who thinks he's so smart that he doesn't have to worry about his appearance!" He'd seen some of those types. They were generally the research psychologists who came here to do some kind of research on patients. Some looked as if they simply spent all of their time working and drinking and doing drugs and therefore didn't remember their appearance. Others appeared to be looking weird on purpose!

Liam watched as the room began to clear out. The ghosts also left, except for Cora, who appeared to have an interest in the disheveled doctor. Well, she liked children, so it made sense. Liam leaned on the counter near to Sami while she was making coffee and putting away her lunch. He enjoyed watching the graceful movements of her hands as she performed her actions. Her humming only added to her adorableness.

[ZeeZee]

Not haven slept well the night before, Jason patiently waited behind the girl that called her self Dr. McPherason, "Do people really have nothing better to do then talk gossip about others? You would think someone had walked into the room in their birthday suit.", he chuckled to himself.

Jason knew that the women would talk gossip, but he got a slight different vibe from Dr. McPearson, granted he could be completely wrong and just be digging his own grave. He honestly didn't care what people thought, he just liked to make people think.
----
Turning around Cora realized that only she and Liam were still there, "People sure have changed...it's so interesting though to see how different people are now though, isn't it?"

[Girly Woman]

Sami jumped about a mile when Jason spoke up. She turned around, blushing, her hand on her chest. She thought she'd been alone. She had been caught by a new coworker humming! She said, "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize anyone else was in here!" She giggled at her own fright. She shrugged and said, "I didn't hear anyone gossiping." She couldn't very well lecture this man on proper appearance and respect and gender-based double standards. It would likely fall on deaf ears. She therefore abruptly changed the topic. She said, "I noticed when looking through the patient files last night that many of them are on medication for seeing people who aren't there. Is that normal?" Sami cocked her head curiously. This was her first job outside of school and she had interned at a regular hospital, so she didn't feel qualified to say what was normal and what was not normal at a mental hospital.
***
Liam said, "I rather like it." He took a sip of his whiskey. "I never thought it was right that clever women were locked away in their houses while foolish men ran the world. My mother was devilishly clever. Many said the Great War, excuse me, World War I, never would have happened if she'd had any power!" Liam was careful to try and speak the same way the people currently spoke. He did not want to be stuck in the past like many of the other ghosts. What was the point of this apparent eternal existence if one did not somehow actively engage in this world?

[ZeeZee]

Jason noted when she changed the subject, wondering if she was one of the girls that were gossiping, but he decided against saying anything to her about it. When she mentioned the medication he scratched his head while thinking for a moment, "There was a study that out of thirteen thousand people 39% reported to have seen hallucinations, about 3% of those were caused by drugs, but this was over the course of three countries. It sounds strange that there would too many causes in one set location.", he read through pages in his mind to try to remember any more facts, "Unless perhaps they are caused by the drug they are taking, which is more likely."

He chuckled softly, "Or, if you believed my grandmother, they could be ghosts."
-----
Coras eyebrow raised when she heard them talking about hallucinations, and Dr. Jason Fillion suggested ghosts,could it be that he believed in them? Then he heard him laugh and she wrinkled her nose and walked up to him touching his shoulder, "You should believe."

-----
Jason suddenly shivered, why did he suddenly feel colder.