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[@HereComesTheSnow] [@Write] [@PlankSinatra][/center]

"Blood pressure is good, still underweight but I'd say you're much better off than you were. You're starting to actually [i]look[/i] a bit healthier, though considering the state you were in when you arrived don't take that as an all clear to be reckless. I swear, whoever let you out of here last week-" The doctor shook her head as she continued looking over Skye's latest vitals.

[b]"It wasn't their fault, ma'am. I was very insistent."[/b]

The tall girl sat hunched over, ears down under the withering gaze of the no-nonsense doctor assessing her health. She was already ashamed enough to have caused everyone so much trouble, her new friends, her team, and most especially the medical staff of the hospital. Following her first day of classes Skye had gone out into Vale with Ashe. Sometime during that she had hit her limit and stopped speaking, only barely responding verbally and with no real comprehension of the conversations themselves. Emotionally and mentally she had slipped into functioning at the bare minimum, only reacting to potential threats like Grimm or wild animals, of which there had been none. It was a state Skye had slipped into often when pushed past exhaustion. It had happened enough that she considered it normal, but apparently her condition had scared the shit out of Ashe. She had been brought straight to the hospital where, as she was disappointed to learn later, she had immediately been sedated.

"And I see here you are still refusing sleep aids." The silver haired doctor added, looking at Skye again over her glasses. "Young lady, before you argue this particular matter I will point out that an improvement from an average of two hours to four a day is hardly any improvement at all. As you are adamant about not taking the medication I cannot force you to take it, much as I wish I could. But I insist you reconsider that decision. Otherwise you're just going to end up here again and again and next time I may not be so easy to convince regarding your discharge. Do I make myself clear?"

[b]"Y-yes ma'am!" [/b][i]Easy? She's kept me here almost the entire school week! I've missed all my classes, I'm even farther behind now, my team has been short a member all this time, and I might be late for the mission if this goes on any longer! If this is easy...[/i] [b]"M-may I... go now?"[/b] She asked tentatively, afraid that she might still be denied discharge.

The doctor leaned back into her chair and sighed. "Well, I don't think it's a good idea, but you have made improvements. I'm not as worried about you falling over at any moment. Still, if you push yourself too hard you are going to get it from me, miss Skye."

Skye flinched and silently nodded that she understood.

"I hear you will be conducting missions today. I am definitely not happy about this but if you promise to rely on your teammates and pull out if it gets too dangerous, I will sign for your release. But so help me if you come back here a mess..."

"Y-yes ma'am, I pr- I-I... I will do as you say." She stuttered, unable to use the word that had first come to her tongue. Clearly still not pleased but willing to accept the girl's assurance for now, the woman signed the paperwork and handed it to Skye. She stood, bowed, and quietly left the room.

As she walked the still confusing corridors she caught sight of herself in a mirror she passed and stopped. She did look better, she had to admit, though her visage was still haggard. She flicked her tail forward to see the fur looked a bit fuller, though the dye had started to fade slightly. She pulled her mask back down over her face and continued on her way. A few minutes later after several stops to ask for directions Skye stood outside the hospital at last, feeling the sun and wind for the first time in days. She breathed deeply and relaxed ever so slightly. As usual there were far too many people around, the city was foreign and confusing to navigate, and she was short on time to make it to where she needed to be, but despite all that she felt better than she had since arriving in Vale. She looked down at her arm and flexed her muscles, vaguely remembering the lesson in Dust Applications shortly before everything went blank. 

[i]Dust acts because we will it to act?[/i]

The concept had seemed simple enough to grasp, even for her. Yet when she had tried to stop using the Dust in her body she had gotten no results. Even now as she tried again she could feel no changes in the raw power the tattoos provided to her body. She supposed she must be doing it wrong, or perhaps the tattoos were such a crude and chaotic mix of Dust they were beyond controlling precisely? It didn't make much sense, it should not be so difficult to simply [i]not[/i] do something. But there it was. As long as her aura persisted, so too did the power of the Dust. She decided she would need to ask the professor what she was doing wrong when she could.

"Young lady? Do you need a ride?" A voice called from somewhere behind her. She turned to see a taxi driver smiling at her. He gave a little wave and she nodded yes to his question before approaching him and bowing.

"Yes sir, I need to get to Beacon Academy right away."
[hr]
Not too long after, but much longer than she would have liked, Skye stood in front of the JBLS dorm room in a long sleeved maroon shirt and jeans one of the nurses had given to her. Her hand hovered inches from the door handle, an irrational fear that she was at the wrong room making her hesitate, despite numerous people all generously giving her directions that led here. Or maybe that fear that she was in the wrong place came from something deeper than a concern over her ability to navigate such a place as this? If that was the case she knew she definitely needed to open this door and move forward. At the same time, she had yet to see the inside of this room once, and the idea of just casually walking in was very uncomfortable to her. 

So she pulled her hand back before raising it again in a loose fist, taking a deep breath, and gently knocking.