Author's Note: I decided there aren't many 'pure' Eunice fics out there, so why not write one to fill that void. This fic is set before the season began c.1962/63, so there will be no Kit Walker, nor Lana Winters, there will however be characters such as Shelley, Leigh Emerson (Bad Santa), and The Mexican. I also need to give thanks to Anissa for helping with a bunch of things during my writing!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and the FX network.
The Catholic church had taken over Briarcliff in 1962, and had already turned the largest Tuberculosis ward on the east coast into a sanitarium for the criminally insane, when a young, blonde had caught word through her convent that the asylum were recruiting more nuns, after having several leave to return to their safe sanctuary of their convents, not able to handle the inmates nor the corporal punishments the staff were dishing out.
Sister Mary Eunice had been with her convent for a little less than a year, and wanted nothing more than to progress, going forth with God and completing his work. And, she saw Briarcliff as a perfect opportunity to do so. She had left the convent early that morning and took a bus across town before walking the half mile or so to get to the grounds of Briarcliff, where she met the guard stationed at the gate. He allowed her access and smiled brightly to her. She didn't notice how he checked over her appreciatively, she was not 'in uniform' so to speak.
By lunchtime, Mary Eunice was awaiting outside Sister Jude's office with three other women, all of whom were considerably older than her. She was next in line, to be interviewed by the acting head of the asylum; Sister Jude. As she thought about it, the door opened, and the previous nun exited, glancing down the line, looking decidedly worried that she had been unsuccessful. Mary Eunice bit her lip, she didn't know if she could do it, and it was her time.
"Sister Mary Eunice..." a voice called out to her, beckoning her inside the office.
Standing and entering the office, the blonde swallowed before turning as she clicked the door closed behind her. It was not going to be a regular interview. Mary Eunice saw that Sister Jude sat at her desk, flanked by a younger male member of the clergy, an older female who looked to be a Reverend Mother and a bald, skull-like man. She was beckoned to the seat in the center of the room, facing the panel.
Taking her seat, she glanced along the interview panel, regarding each face and wondering what their role was at Briarcliff. She placed her purse at her feet and clasped her hands nervously in her lap, to stop her fidgeting with the hem of her dress during the interview.
It was the nun in the center who spoke first, "So, Sister, we have read over your letter of application..." it was Jude, she recognized the voice from the telephone call she had received back at the convent, "...and, you've only recently entered your convent, is that correct?"
"Y-yes, Sister, not even a year ago." Mary Eunice responded almost immediately, her cheeks flushing instantly. She had always been taught to never speak unless addressed, growing up with seven brothers and sisters, the family home would have been in constant raucous had this rule not been followed.
"And, why Briarcliff Manor?" Jude asked her.
"W-well, Sister, I would very much like to learn about the community here. Develop a deep understand of my vocation, my charism." Eunice nodded, hopefully, giving a sweet smile to Jude.
"That is your intention, child? To take your vows at Briarcliff?" the Reverend Mother, Sister Claudia asked her.
Nodding wildly, the blonde beamed, "Oh, indeed, Reverend Mother. I do hope to."
After several more questions, mainly from Sister Jude and Sister Claudia, about her background and why she had turned to God, Sister Mary Eunice was dismissed. Collecting her purse from the ground beside the chair, she gave a nod to the panel, noticing the Father beside Jude had not bothered to ask her anything, but had listened to her intently. He even offered her a soft smile as she was leaving.
Clicking the door closed behind herself, Mary heard a conversation strike up from within the office, and the click if a lighter before the puff of smoke being exhaled. Finally she heard a voice she had not heard whilst inside the room, the Father's; "What do we think?" he questioned his colleagues, his accent not native of Massachusetts or even the Americas. He was British. There were a few moments of silence.
Finally he spoke up again to fill the elongated pause, "I think she's very sweet. A sweet, sweet girl. Something the patients would find comfort in."
"If you ask me, Monsignor, she's too sweet." Sister Jude spoke up, "The patients they'll- I don't think she'll be able to handle it here, Timothy..."
Mary Eunice felt that dread deep down in the pit of her stomach, and it was rising, overtaking her senses. She was being rejected, a common occurrence in her life. It was nothing new for her, but still she always felt the same sensation rising within her.
"She seems very diligent, Sister..." the bald man spoke up now, "I'm sure she would easily pick up the basics of first aid within days."
"Yes, I do agree Doctor Arden. Jude, give her a chance. If she's not suitable, you can send her back to the convent..." Timothy suggested. Another silence, "I promise you, she'll be a good candidate for you. You were always looking for that perfect girl to mentor, were you not?"
"Yes. Yes, Timothy she seems perfect, but she seems so...simple..." Jude stated, eliciting a gentle chortle among her colleagues, at which point Eunice who was eavesdropping decided it was time to leave, and turned to head back along the corridor to return her visitor pass to the guard on security in the lobby. As she passed the last unoccupied seat on the corridor, the door was flung open and Jude peered around the frame, looking to Mary Eunice, "Sister Mary Eunice, where are you going?"
Turning, Mary Eunice swallowed and glanced back to Jude with a slight confusion etched across her face, and before she could respond, Jude spoke up again.
"We would like to offer you the position here. Doctor Arden will show you to your quarters."
Mary Eunice stood in the middle of the corridor, clutching her purse, beaming. She didn't care, at that moment that the other sisters were watching her, glaring at her, for she had beat them out of employment. She awaited Doctor Arden and raised her brows slightly when she saw how tall he was as he came striding along the corridor toward her, "Welcome to Briarcliff, Sister." he smiled to her, "I trust you will be settled here in no time at all...come, I'll show you to your quarters. Did you bring your belongings?"
The blonde found she could not speak, she merely nodded and smiled. She had done it. She'd finally been accepted.