bakerstreet | [florence nightingale effect meme]

Florence Nightingale Effect Meme

1. Previously aloof tough character gets injured, lets the love interest treat their injuries, and reveals a newfound trust and intimacy. This might or might not involve the tough person making that hissing sound when the love interest touches their injured face, but not quite pulling away...

2. The love interest gets injured, and the tough character treats them and suddenly reveals a tender side.

It's an old trope, admittedly, but an understandable one. You're hurt - physically or emotionally - and perhaps even on the brink of death. And then, out of the blue, someone saves you and brings you back. They heal you, they feed you, cloth you, wash you. In the human mind, the intimacies can bring up warm feelings, even in the hardest of hearts. Will you fight them or let them grow? And what about when it's time to leave? You may not feel like leaving your angel...

HOW TO PLAY
1. Comment with your character and preferences. Mention if you'd prefer to play the healer or the healed - or both, for greatest versatility!
2. Reply to others.

NOT EXACTLY PROMPTS, BUT IDEAS

- The finding and saving
- The hurt/comfort care process, I.E. cleaning wounds, bathing, wrapping bandages, etc.
- Feeding, finding clothes, etc.
- Mother hen behavior ("you're still hurt, don't do that!")
- Comforting from trauma
- Unwilling patient
- Pulling away, trying to be all aloof
- Realization of growing emotions
- Denial
- Attempts to instigate something more
- Jealousy at seeing your savior with someone else
- Confessions
- Mutual attraction
- First (accidental or no) kiss
- Obligatory sex scene option
- Make your own scene

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[Joan had been asking the bartender some questions about a bar regular when she saw the altercation. She spoke with the officers when they came, telling them what she had seen, promising to give a statement if they needed it. Then she caught sight of Johnny fighting the EMTs and decided to see if he'd react better to her. She came over, told the EMTs she'd take a look at him, and then turned to him.]

Hey, my name is Joan. Will you let me take a look at you and make sure there's no glass in there?

[He just wanted to get out of the bar. The sooner he could put some distance between himself and everyone else, the better. He was about to push the next EMT away by the time Joan showed up, and he looked over at her, faltering for a moment]

It's... nothing. I'm used to getting hit.

[But he isn't pushing her away at least]

Then it will only take a minute.

[She noticed that he was trying to get out of the bar and away from everybody. She wondered why, but at the moment was focused on getting hi taken care of.]

Would you like to go outside?

Yeah, actually. I'd feel a lot more comfortable. ... Fresh air.

[That worked better than the truth. He headed for the door, wiping a droplet of blood off his brow]

[She followed him out. There was a bus stop nearby with benches, so she directed him toward them, pulling latex gloves out of her pocket as they went.]

What's your name?

Johnny Blaze. Not from around here, I just blew in from Texas.

[He sits down at the bus stop, feeling his head himself for any pieces of glass. Of course, he has no idea what he's doing]

What's yours?

Joan Watson.

[She takes his wrists gently and guides his hands away from his head. Then she starts to examine the wound.]

Not the best introduction to New York.

I was kind of expecting it, I did run my mouth at him, like he said.

[She spread the edges of the wound open gently to get a closer look inside]

Were you trying to get him to brain you with a whiskey bottle?

[He winces a little, grunting and squirming]

Not really, but he was... just pissing me off, so I told him.

[She sighed, stepping back a little.]

You have glass in the wound. You need to have that removed.

Can't we just run it under some water?

... I don't have to cut my hair do I?

No. And no. Water won't get them out, they're embedded. You need someone with tweezers.

Okay...

[This sounds like this is going to be very uncomfortable]

Do you have tweezers or does this mean I have to take a ride in the ambulance now?

Not with me.

[She considers him for a moment. She doesn't know him, clearly, but she feels good enough about him to bring him to the Brownstone.]

If you'd like, though, I don't live far from here.

[Probably safer than the bar]

My bike is here, I'll go get it.

No, leave it. You just had a blow to your head. Even if you don't have a concussion, chances are your balance is off. We can come back for it.

[It's against his every instinct to leave that damn bike behind]

...

[But the bike can find him if things get difficult]

Right. Come back for it. You're the boss.

Come on, I'll hail a cab.

[She steps to the street and raises her hand. A cab pulls up, and she waves Johnny over.]

[Wow has it been a long time since he's been in a cab. He edges in, clearly uncomfortable in it, and just rests a hand against his head injury, rolling his shoulders a little]

How far away do you live?

About ten minutes. Not far.

[She gives the address to the driver. He pulls into the street, and Joan turns to look more closely at Johnny.]

You're probably going to want a couple stitches, too. I can do that.

That bad, huh? Well it wouldn't be the first time I've hit my head... Never got stitches before though, this is gonna hurt, isn't it.

Not going to lie. I have some topical anesthetic, but that will only go so far. How are you with pain?

If we pick up some whiskey before we get there, I'll probably complain less.

Sorry, I'm going to have to ask you not drink in my home.

[She says it matter-of-factly, hoping he won't push. She'd rather not have to explicitly label Sherlock an addict if she doesn't have to.]

(no subject)

ballsoffire - 2014-08-21 02:05 (UTC) - Expand

formersurgeon - 2014-08-21 19:54 (UTC) - Expand