Adelle can still picture a time when Dr Saunders was just a doll. Walking around downstairs without a care in the world. Occasionally talking with a few other dolls and staff.
Adelle can still remember when her eyes used to meet hers and a smile used to tug on her lips. The blush that would soon follow after she would realise that she was staring too much.
Sadly she can't quite meet the eyes of Dr Saunders.
The eyes that hold confusion about why her new boss is often cold or short towards her for no real reason. The scars of cuts still clinging to her face as she blames herself for making things awkward between them. The tense environment that sometimes lingered in the air each time they were in the same room. The look of disgust that would occur each time Topher won an argument with her and Adelle would agree with him.
The truth is that Adelle wishes she could rewind the past few months. Could remove Alpha away from the others, or at least warm Whiskey about the dangers yet to come. She wishes things would be different, that the active's first instinct was to trust her instead of question her.
Dr Saunders is not the ideal doctor in Adelle's opinion but the persona was needed and they had a doll that could no longer be of much use.
The thought made a metallic like taste in her mouth.
Whiskey would always have a use in the dollhouse either as a doctor or a date. Adelle could remember those days or nights when the active would become her date for a few hours. She would become Claire. Sweet, innocent, caring, complex and intelligent Claire. Someone that made her think, move on her toes and forget the world in an instant.
Now she was a taking on the persona of the former doctor and was nothing like the woman she would spend hours with. But Adelle insisted on keeping the name Claire, trying to remind herself to be less harsh towards the woman who had no idea she used to be her lover or an active.
Adelle looked down from her perch as Boyd approached her and mimicked her actions. The way Dr Saunders smiled somewhat hastily at Echo as they crossed paths made he smile. Made her think back to the time when both were somewhat friends in their doll-like-state.
Maybe in time the scars that reminded her of failing, the eyes that sometimes didn't show disgust or distrust, the smile that she remembers might stare back at her. Maybe in the morning thins would be as she imagined. And with that small ray of hope, Adelle turned her head and walked away.