Chapter Text
Intern's head felt so so blurry.
It's been a common result of the several medications and probably sedatives coursing through their body, but still, they struggle to get used to the feeling.
The cream-colored bunny sits in the corner of the small bedroom-like room they've had to call "home" for.. well, they don't know how long. Maybe a month, maybe years—who knows at this point? Intern certainly doesn't.
..Probably not years, you're just exaggerating... They think it almost blearily, but with a surprising amount of clarity given how long they've felt detached from reality. Maybe the medicine is wearing off after all.
Just as Intern thinks this however, the small door of the white room opens to reveal none other than Dr. Harlow. He seems almost full enveloped in his clipboard and pen as he furiously writes down what Intern assumes to be his notes.
They've tried to get a look at these notes several times over in their stay, and they've certainly gotten much more than just a few good looks. The real problem however, is the Doctor's handwriting. It's almost entirely impossible to decipher for anyone who simply has eyes. Intern has certainly heard that more intellectual people tend to have messy handwriting, but they never thought it could be that bad.
Despite this, the Doctor finishes his vehement scribblings and sets down the clipboard on the lone desk table in the room. Once again, the words prove unintelligible.
"..I still don't understand why you choose to put yourself in such a seemingly uncomfortable position," the Doctor mutters. "You have access to a moderately comfortable bed and yet you have only ever chosen to use it about 13 times during your stay." Of course he would have an estimate of something like that. Intern has speculated that there was at least one camera hidden around the room somewhere.
Intern simply shrugs in response, seemingly unbothered by their own choice in seating. It's not like they were given much choice in being here in the first place.
..Plus the corner is more comfy for them.
Dr. Harlow sighs, seemingly in resignation. "..Of course then. I'm not one to judge your habits anyways." He inches only a bit closer—causing Intern to slightly worry about what might come next—before sliding out the wooden chair at the desk and twirling it around to face the curled-up bunny.
"So then," he takes his clipboard into his hands once more as he flips through the sheets contained on it until coming to the one he'd been searching for. "How are you feeling today?"
The Doctor starts almost kindly, like it was just another patient checkup on a normal hospital day. And not some sort of twisted confidential experiment that took Intern away from their home. They only stare the the Doctor before he once again let's out a signature sigh.
"I'm afraid that today you'll have to cooperate with a verbal interview with me, unless of course you choose to completely refuse, in which case you will likely either be promptly terminated or moved to another location with different doctors who I'm certain would give you a much harder time than I'm giving you." They've heard similar ramblings several times before, and all other times Intern had quickly decided that just going along with it would be better than being moved somewhere completely new, or death.
..How bad would that really be at this point though..?
Dr. Harlow seems to notice the bunny's internal conflict, as he hastily starts again, "However.. I think that this time you will want to cooperate with my check-up. There's something I have to tell you that I'm sure will interest you once we have concluded, Intern."
..What? When was the last time the deer had called them by their job title? He hadn't done that since the day they were taken to this dreary place. Not once had he chosen to refer to Intern by a proper moniker or even their name.
Stunned by the abruptness of such an act, the bunny almost forgets to respond for a few moments before they notice the Doctor becoming increasingly restless at their silence.
They open their mouth almost too quickly for how long it has been shut. "..I feel-" A cough interrupts them and they noticed how their throat felt way too dry to allow proper speech. They gulp, effectively allowing their saliva to wetten their throat, and try again. "I feel.. fine. Tired. Really.. tired, but fine."
The Doctor nods in approval. "I see. Well that's to be expected, I did accidentally administer a bit too much sedative agent through your IV a few hours ago. I apologize if you were bothered by a more overwhelming tiredness than usual, I simply got too busy with other patients at the time."
Patients, he says. Intern could almost laugh at use of such a word in this scenario. Almost.
Meanwhile, Dr. Harlow writes as he speaks almost like it's second nature for him. "Furthermore, bodily fatigue is also a common symptom given you haven't had the most physical exercise this past month or so, and it likely hasn't helped that you've spent most of your time in that corner." He finished his writing only a few seconds after his speech and looks up at the other once more.
The bunny realizes a bit too belatedly that he's waiting for a response from them. "..Haha.. likely," they manage to rasp out. "I guess I'm not in the best of.. spirits..." They can't bear to actually glare at the deer with all the venom they wish to, but they do manage a disgruntled look up at him. Clearly displaying their disdain for their situation.
"Mmm. Of course you wouldn't be. I do not blame you. Nor do I blame you for any hatred you harbor for me. Although I have my goals, I truly didn't want to have to do this to you." It's surprises Intern just how much sympathy the Doctor shows towards them. He's never bothered to show too much care for their other's feelings at any point before this, even when they worked in the hospital under his charge. Then again, there's still something off about his demeanor. Like he understands what he's doing, how much pain he's inflicted on so many animals, but chooses to do it anyway.
Intern doesn't think he could ever understand such a sick mindset.
"Nevertheless we are here now and tasks must be completed. Second question, how have your tendencies been?"
When the Doctor says 'tendencies' he really means to say something like, "How badly do you wanna bite into the nearest animal to you and eat their flesh?" He always says to be honest during their interviews, but Intern finds it a bit hard to be talking about their newfound cannibalistic tendencies.
"..I don't know. They're fine I guess. I ate an hour ago.. I think. And I don't want to lunge at you at all.."
"Hmm. I see. That's good. Would you say you have a bit of control over dealing with said tendencies when they do arise?"
The bunny has to think it over. ..How am I supposed to know that Harlow? It's not like they've been in any social situations in a while..
"..I don't think I can answer that." Dr. Harlow perks up, "Why so?" "..Haven't had any practice."
The deer seems to understand quickly what they mean. "Aahh, I see. I understand then. Well given you have not pounced onto me during any point in your time here — even when you voiced being, quote 'so hungry I could eat a deer' on one of our walks to an examination room — I believe you have a decent control over such tendencies. You have a stronger will than most you know."
Intern doesn't have a good response to this. They almost try to shuffle farther away from the Doctor before remembering they're already against two walls.
..This is uncomfortable.
"And moving on to my final question. How do you feel you've acclimated to your new physical characteristics thus far?" Intern freezes, only for a moment. He's never asked about their anomalous traits before.. usually something would just appear overnight, and the Doctor would write it down on his clipboard without another word about it. Like when they started to violently twitch in ways they were sure their body wasn't supposed to. Or when they first noticed their vocal cords becoming different, more flexible to better mimic others' voices. Or even when their tongue lengthened and their teeth became as sharp as knives.
"...I'm. I'm used to them now." What an upsetting thing to admit. "I've.. gotten better at hiding the things too. Like my.. mouth." Their mouth. Probably their least favorite trait nowadays, they usually cover it with a hand when they have the courage to look at themself in the small wall mirror provided for them.
Dr. Harlow seems entirely uninterested in the bunny's strife, choosing to once more scrawl down notes on his clipboard with an indifferent expression. From what they can see at least, given the surgical mask he dons at all times. The deer mutters a small "I see," then seems to finally do away with the pen and clipboard as he sets the former into his jacket pocket and the latter to the side of his body. "Well then, if you wouldn't mind taking the time to stand up and follow me, no time to waste after all." The deer is almost halfway out the door before he turns back.
Intern must have turned their head in confusion much more obviously than they thought they had, as the Doctor seems to realize that an explanation has yet to arise for them. "Ah, yes, I should explain shouldn't I..." He clears his throat and turns to properly face the cream-colored bunny.
"It seems that today is the day you will be permitted to leave this place, Intern."