(no subject)

[bahbie]

Who: Barbie and Maya
When: Leap Day
Where: Maya's exam room
What: Barbie learns what being human really means
Warnings: n/a

Barbie in theory knew where the healing department was but she had never had reason to visit officially until now.

She didn't wake up funny. Because she didn't sleep...but something had been happening, and the sensation of wanting to just lie down and close her eyes had been creeping on for hours now. She hadn't noticed it at first but then her eyes had a sharp feeling, and she found herself rubbing them constantly.

Then the sharp feeling as best that she could name it started in her stomach region and only grew from there. Something was wrong!

Even as she waited for the doctor, she found herself curling up on the exam table hugging her middle in a very unfamiliar way.

Maya was surprised when Petra, the receptionist, informed her that Barbie had arrived. While Maya had to focus in order to actually hear Petra and understand she nodded her head and made her way over to the exam room. Though she was completely uncertain how she was going to heal a not-exactly-a-doll being.

It was weird not having to be gentle with doorknobs again but after a little more effort with the twist of it she was inside.

Maya was alarmed to immediately find Barbie in the fetal position. “Hey, Barbie? Can you tell me what feels wrong?”

Barbie heaved an uncharacteristic sigh and sat up slowly. Her face was molded into a distressed frown, an expression that had always been fleeting before.

"I'm not sure! Maybe my medallion power is not working? I've never felt this way before-" she explained, trying to keep her usual vigor and cheer but failing miserably.

“It seems like most of our powers don’t exist today, it wouldn’t surprise me if medallions were on the fritz too.”

Maya wasn’t entirely sure how she was going to explain how to describe pain to Barbie when she probably had never suffered from it before. “Sometimes what we’ll ask people to do is describe their pain from one to ten with ten being so unbearable you can hardly move. On that scale where do you think you fall right now?”

Pain was a word that only existed as a concept to Barbie, but she knew what Maya was asking. She gave the question a thoughtful pause before answering, "Well. It is here-" she pointed at her torso around the waist, "And I don't think it is pain but I also keep yawning and wanting to close my eyes. I think...that is wanting to sleep?"

At least that fit the descriptions that she had heard and read before.

“Have you tried sleeping yet?” Maya asked her. She stepped closer to Barbie and put her hands on her stomach, checking Barbie’s reaction to see if there was anything more tender than any other spot.

The question was innocuous and Barbie only blinked in reply, like a proverbial deer in the headlights. Oh. Of course. Humans slept. And at least for now, she was human, wasn't she? Her frown turned confused and the not-quite-doll asked, "Sleep? How do you sleep?"

“Well, I can’t say anyone has ever asked me that before.” Considering the fact she didn’t know how to sleep, Maya imagined that Barbie also didn’t know how to eat. “Give me one second, I’ll be right back.” She exited the exam room to grab the muffin she was supposed to be saving for a snack before she headed to the library but she imagined she was going to have to teach Barbie how to chew as well.

“Alright,” She said once she slipped back into the exam room. “Let’s start with sleeping. It’s all about closing your eyes and just letting your mind rest. It’s best to do it somewhere comfortable, like a bed. Does your apartment have one of those?”

"Oh yes, it is a very comfortable one with many pillows." Barbie answered. Her eyes fell onto the muffin that Maya had brought in. Oh.

"Is this... hunger?" The question felt very rhetorical as soon as she asked. Of course it was. "I guess it all seems very obvious now. I'm so sorry for wasting your time. I guess I can look all this up on Youtube. There is a tutorial on literally everything so I'm sure I can figure it out."

Maya smiled and nodded. “Yea, for as long as whatever this spell or curse is doing to us all exists you’re going to have sleep and eat and drink like a human. But don’t worry, it’s not a waste. You’re not a human, this is all new to you,” She broke off a part of the muffin and held it out to Barbie. “There are lots of sleeping apps that can help with this but do you want to watch me chew and swallow and practice so we make sure you don’t choke when you try to eat on your own?”

"Okay!" Barbie chirped, mustering up her last ounce of energy in preparation. Who knew that being human was such a chore. No wonder so many of them were mean and horrible...