Work Text:
It has been a wild ride, Syd thought.
What he thought was a normal disease turned out to be something more sinister. It changed him in ways he never thought he would go through. He had to uncover a mystery surrounding Hannah Geist’s death, while dealing with the disease’s symptoms. However, he didn’t seem to mind them at all.
Why was that?
He thought back to what Dr. Abendroth asked him… Why? Why did he inject himself with Hannah’s blood?
Was he really just another fan? Or was there something more?
He thought about this while at the Vole & Tesser clinic, and came to an eye opening conclusion.
Now he was sitting there, in the hallway of that large undisclosed mansion, waiting. Dr. Abendroth and Dev Harvey were there, too.
Mira Tesser and a nurse walked into the hall, Mira being the first to talk.
“Well, this is certainly a heartbreaking turn of events.” She started. “I mean, this really puts things into perspective, doesn't it? You know?”
She then continued. “Now, I would happily do something if I could, and the thought of a collaboration between Miss Geist and our company is very appealing.” Then her tone turned faux somber. “Unfortunately, my specialist here has advised me that she's too far gone to be saved.”
“You’ll be hearing from our lawyers.” Dev replied.
“I think you'll find we've taken the necessary precautions.” Mira responded. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She was about to leave, when suddenly…
"You know, while I was a guest at your clinic…” Syd started to speak, Mira and the nurse turned back to listen to him.
Syd looked up at the two, continuing. “I... I had some time to think things over.”
Quietness filled the air.
“I've been seeing… a little more clearly, since then.”
Syd parted his lips slightly, taking a breath before continuing.
“For example, I can see that… this is an important moment.” Syd stated.
“I can see… an opportunity, here…” Syd looks to his right for a moment before resuming. “Even in the face of such a devastating tragedy.”
Syd closed his eyes, quickly opening them back up again. God, he felt nervous yet brave. “We... have a chance to innovate, and… to do it in a way that will benefit… you both.”
Syd looked to his right again. “The technology already exists...and I know where to find it.”
She paused, taking a deep breath.
“Allow me to take a moment of your time."
This is it, Syd thought. There is no turning back.
“I… I don’t want to be a man anymore. I want to become a woman.”
Then there was silence.
Well fuck, Syd thought to herself, no one’s going to accept me.
Mira thought for a moment, then she quietly told the others to leave. Dev had a look of disdain on her face, while Dr. Abendroth and the nurse had more accepting looks. As soon as they left, she broke the silence.
“That’s wonderful, Syd.” Mira replied, sitting down next to Syd.
Syd looked at Mira, tears filling up her eyes. “R-Really?”
“Yes, I really mean it.” Mira reassures Syd, giving her a soft and comforting look.
“I-I… I was also thinking about working at Vole & Tesser…” Syd added. “...Because I felt safe there, then at the Lucas Clinic…”
Syd couldn’t believe this was happening. She was already being accepted for who she truly wants to be, by someone whom she feels safe around.
“Speaking of Vole & Tesser… we have resources for you there, to help you with your transition.” Mira explained.
Syd just sat there smiling, on the verge of happy crying.
Mira took note of her face. “It’s okay Syd, just let it all out. You’re safe with me.”
Syd quickly hugged Mira, sobbing into her shoulder. “Thank you!”
For the next few minutes, the two sat there in each other’s company. Syd was feeling ecstatic, sobbing endlessly into Mira’s shoulder. Mira was holding her tightly, feeling happy for her newly discovered part of her identity.
“So, about the technology you mentioned earlier…” Mira thought back to what Syd said moments before coming out as trans. “...What did you mean by that?”
Syd was done crying by now, so she looked at Mira. “Well… You know how celebrity steaks are grown from their cells?”
“Yes, I know about that… What about it?” Mira was already familiar with the whole celebrity meat craze.
“I was thinking we could take parts of Hannah’s body and preserve them, even expand them.” Syd began to propose her idea to Mira. “We could expand them with her cells, so it’ll look like a small garden. I was thinking about calling it “Hannah Geist’s Afterlife”, with the main technology to preserve her body being called “CellGarden”.”
Mira took a few seconds to process all that information. It all sounded kind of morbid, yet fascinating at the same time. “That sounds like a great idea, I’ll definitely have to talk about this with the Vole & Tesser staff.”
Syd smiled warmly at Mira, hugging her yet again, sighing. “Thank you so much…”
“No, thank you for everything you said.” Mira replied, hugging Syd back.
And so, the red tulip blooms.
***
Syd was now lying down in a hospital bed, a soft blanket covering her naked figure. There were many lights on the ceiling, as well as surgical tools on the table beside her.
However, she wasn’t concerned nor was she scared about all of that. Instead, she was thinking very pleasant thoughts about the past few days.
She remembered the day she came out at the Lucas Clinic, which was during a lunch break. The employees were surprisingly fine with this, even supportive of her. Even if she said she’d rather work at Vole & Tesser than at the Lucas Clinic, they still accepted her. She later resigned from the Lucas Clinic, bidding farewell as she was hired as chief technician at Vole & Tesser. They welcomed her with open arms, as well as open ears. They were on board with her “Hannah Geist’s Afterlife” idea after Mira told them about it. Syd also learned that they would help her fund her surgery, which made her extremely thankful for them.
She remembered going out with Edwad Porris, specifically shopping for clothes. Edward was surprised at what Syd had gone through, but he was supportive of her nonetheless. She was interested in the more “delicate” clothing in the female section. She also got herself a new work outfit, which was mostly the same uniform she usually wears. However it had a black pencil skirt, white stockings, and black chunky Mary Janes. When Edward asked her why she wanted two work outfits, she said that she identifies as futch. He was completely fine with this.
She was snapped out of her deep thinking, as Mira and a few surgeons walked in. Mira sat beside Syd, taking her arm out and holding her hand.
“Are you ready, Syd?” Mira asked, giving Syd a comforting and reassuring look.
Syd turned her head towards Mira, replying in a relaxed tone. “Yes, I am ready.”
Syd faced the ceiling again, as the surgeons surrounding her put a crystal clear mask on her nose and mouth. She slowly breathed in and out, feeling tired yet relaxed as she exhaled. She suddenly felt a tiny pinch on her arm.
And like that, she was asleep.
***
When she woke up, she was in a different room.
She was in a regular hospital room, but she was surrounded by a lot of people. Aside from the Vole & Tesser employees, there were other familiar faces. Mira, Edward, Topp, Mercer, Dr. Abendroth, Michelle, even her grandmother/landlady were there. Some of them were holding bouquets, which had fully bloomed tulips in different colors.
She noticed that a few certain people weren’t there. They were Arvid, Levine, and Dev. Whatever, she didn’t care about them, not after their negative involvement in what she’d been through.
Syd sat up on the bed, looking down at herself. She was now wearing a hospital gown. She quickly patted parts of her body, the differences were very noticeable to her.
“How are you feeling, Syd?” Mira asked, sitting down beside Syd.
“I’m feeling fine, Mira.” Syd replied, throwing her a warm smile.
Mira gave the same look to her, saying. “Good, I’m glad you’re who you want to be.”
A few people from the small crowd gave her the bouquets, putting them in a big flower pot on her night stand. Syd took out one tulip from the bouquets; a red one. She held it gently in her hands, smiling as she happily teared up.
She was finally free, happy, and at peace.
She was fully bloomed.