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[higginbottom]

Esther has, well, only sort of gotten used to the Mansion and its ways. She's still frustrated by being stuck there - after all, she survived almost dying. Doesn't she deserve something better than a small room with a small window?

Still, she's thankful to be alive. One morning, when she opens her window and looks out over the Mansion grounds, the air comes in, shockingly cold, and Esther remembers - she's here, alive and awake and ready for anything. She breathes in and out, and sighs with a sort of strange contentment that probably won't last long, but hey. She'll take it.

She gets dressed, wearing slacks for once (she decided to try it out, as she is in fact, a very modern woman, thank you very much) and a pretty floral blouse. She makes her way downstairs, her saddle shoes tap-tap-tapping against the stairs.

"I feel very much in a good mood today," Esther announces, to no one in particular. "Is that strange? Should I be worried?"

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Well, chipping away at it every day ought to move you along expeditiously."

[higginbottom]

"Oh God, one would hope."

Esther doesn't have much faith in herself in this arena.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I believe that's the nature of any project."

[higginbottom]

But it's hard, Susan!

"Yes. I suppose it is?" She shrugs, as if helpless. "I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose that might make it difficult to keep a steady pace."

[higginbottom]

No kidding, oof.

"I'm trying my best - that's what I keep telling myself."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Very good. Routine is, I imagine, important for such pursuits."

[higginbottom]

"Oh God, I am absolutely appalling at routine," she admits. "But I'm trying, like I said."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan, who has never once in her life struggled with routine, says, "I find this place is tremendously conducive to establishing one."

[higginbottom]

"Well, I sure hope so."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"What sort of routine have you established thus far?"

[higginbottom]

Hoo boy, Susan.

"Um." Esther pauses. "Well, I try to get up at the same time every day," she says, weakly.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan waits for a moment, and then says, startled, "Oh! Is that all?"

[higginbottom]

"I mean, I did say I was trying..."

Sigh.

"I, um...can I tell you something?"

Prepare for mental health trauma dump, Susan!

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes, certainly."

[higginbottom]

"I...I get sad sometimes. Really sad. And then I can't do anything. I'm like a slug, just lying about. And I got treatment for being so sad, but sometimes...it comes back."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah. Psychoanalysis for depression, then?"

[higginbottom]

"...Yes. And electroshock therapy." She grimaces.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Goodness! How dreadful. Was it terribly painful?"

[higginbottom]

"It was pretty awful," she says. "The nurses weren't very nice at the hospital I was at. When I went home I arrived here."

She counts herself lucky, in that regard.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Goodness! What a time to make the transition from Earth to here."

[higginbottom]

"Yes," she says. "Tell me about it. It was pretty rough."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"At least you aren't there any more," says Susan, firmly, though there is an air of a question about her words, as well.

[higginbottom]

"Yes," she agrees, nodding. "I feel a lot safer here."

Still, Esther does worry about having another breakdown.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Good," more firmly. "It mightn't work for you, but I find it tremendously helpful to have a strong routine with regular tasks."