May 2, 1895 — St. Mungos Staff Break Room

Richards promotion found him often quite busy, both in his office and outside of it. He felt like he had not spoken to some of his coworkers outside of being an authority figure to them in quite some time. He would be lying if he said he did not miss the camaraderie.

So he was pleased to find a familiar face when he ventured into the break room for a spot of tea. Miss Jenning and he had been coworkers for a time before Richard had been promoted into being an authority in their department. She had been through the wringer and seemed to have as much a lack of luck in romance as he did.

"Miss Jennings! I feel like it has been forever and a day since I had the pleasure of your company," he said brightly as he poured himself out a cup of tea.

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Nathalie Jennings

  

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Nathalie had always been the kind to have a hard time saying no. She'd worked overnight last night, but an urgent owl from a colleague asking her to take half of the day shift had come in shortly before she was set to leave and she had of course agreed to stay on. She didn't usually head to bed until a little later in the morning, after eating and tending to her gardens, so she would manage to still get some decent sleep before her next shift.

Still, her ward was quiet and she was fading, so she thought a spot of tea would do her some good. Upon arrival she found Mr. Gladstone in the break room already. It was strange to go from working nearly every day with someone, to having them as a supervisor and then the head of the whole hospital. Nat felt like it had been forever since they'd had a chance to have a conversation. "Perhaps forever and two days," she chuckled as she moved to fix herself a cuppa. "I've been working nights, I feel like that plays a large part of it." She didn't mind, but it would be a contributing factor.

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"Perhaps, he chuckled in easy agreement. It really was a shame. There were coworkers he had gotten along so well with (such as Miss Jennings) whom he now barely had a chance to speak to. "That could be it. When I work nights, it is generally in my office." After all, he had little cause to be out among the wards aside from his occasional check in at nights. And patients were usually asleep then so he tended to glide through each ward quickly or the healer in charges occupied his time there if they were also on shift. "I hope they are not running you too ragged?" He doubted Mrs. Hart would do so of her own accord but sometimes the healers traded shifts.

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"Not at all," Nathalie assured Mr. Gladstone with a warm smile over her shoulder. "I took this half-shift to cover an emergency." Things like that never bothered her; she was just going home by herself. Her cat certainly would be fine for a few extra hours.

After fixing her tea the way she liked it, Nat plucked a scone from the tray on the counter and situated herself at the table. "I work nights because it's just me and I know the day shift is easier for those with families." She could not imagine trying to work nights and have any time with a spouse or children! It must have been terribly hard to balance that way.

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That was reassuring though now Richard was worried about the healer who'd had the emergency. Well, if it was something he had to know, the healer would come to him sooner or later. Either of their own accord or via their superiors in the department.

Richard got himself his own sweet treat and continued listening to his fellow healer speak. "That is very generous and thoughtful of you," Richard said genuinely. Working life was not always bedfellows with being a person with a family but it was a necessity for most. "But then again, you have always struck me as the thoughtful type."

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Nathalie felt her cheeks turn pink and she tried to hide it behind a long sip of her tea. Which was just a smidge too hot and had her yelping quietly in surprise. "That's kind of you to say," she managed after she recovered, blush intensifying in embarrassment now. "Just trying to be part of the team." It took everyone's best to ensure the department, and therefore the hospital were running smoothly. It was really the least she could do. It wasn't like she out in society anymore either. Her friends consisted of Phyri and her sister, both of whom had plenty to occupy their time without her around. Sleeping during the say was probably what kept her mostly sane these days.

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"Are you all right?" Richard immediately asked when the young woman yelped. He assumed from a too-hot drink. He smiled as she modestly said she was just trying to be part of the team. He did hope she would not end up overworking herself. Balance was important for a healer as well as not neglecting their own health. But sadly, there was a saying that healers made the worst patients.

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Nathalie nodded, covering her mouth with her hand while she felt around with her tongue to make sure nothing had suffered anything more than the burn of embarrassment. "Yes, yes, just a smidge too hot, thank you." Her cheeks were flushed pink still, but there was nothing to be done about it now. "Always in a rush of some sort." Though she was in one of the more mild-paced wards, she did help out with emergencies when strictly needed. "I'm sure you remember." It was not so long ago that he was still one of them.

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He clucked his tongue in sympathy as Miss Jennings shared that her drink had been a tad too hot. He chuckled in commiseration as the other spoke of always being in a rush. He could certainly understand that! As hospital director he now had duties both inside and outside the hospital. "With bittersweet fondness though I assure you I am no less rushed these days."

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Nat set her tea back down on the table so she wasn't tempted to take another sip. "I'm sure, just a different sort of hurry." She had never thought of advancing at the hospital, quite content with where she was, but she imagined that it was still busy on the administrative side. It was paperwork and fundraising instead of patients. Nat certainly would not like that over what she did currently.

She was about to say something further when a trainee burst into through door, "Mr. Williamson is vomiting again and it's bad." He informed Nathalie with wide, uncertain eyes. Nat sighed softly and left her tea on the table. "And off we go, have a good day Mr. Gladstone."

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