Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Vertigo
Paid publication
Book #1	Welcome to Dorley Hall
Chapter	9
Free publication
Date posted	Jan 26, 2022
Word count	12,473
Points of view	Christine, Stefan
AO3 Scribble Hub
Chapter 8 ← Previous	Chapter 10 Next →

Chapter 9: Vertigo is the ninth chapter of the first book of the series. It's Aunt Bea's birthday. Stefan and Aaron are attacked by Declan, and they bond afterwards. Abby helps lay smoke for Stefan's sponsor, Pippa. Christine bonds with a second-year, Faye, and starts to solidify her views on the necessity of the programme.

Plot

2019, Christine

Indira's childhood friend and now boyfriend Hasan is visiting Dorley Hall. Indira reminds the second-year girls that Hasan believes Indira and Christine are trans women, and that any allusions to being in the know are not about the truth behind Dorley hall. A second-year asks if Indira is a trans woman, and she confirms that that's how she views herself. Christine is also asked, and Indira tells the second-year that Christine hasn't decided her NPH yet.

Faye asks if Hasan is coming to evaluate the second-years. Indira tells her no. Christine thinks about how the second-years are freshly out of the basement. They find it difficult to believe that any Dorley girl can date someone from the real world, and even have sex with them. The sponsors remind the second-years that their freedoms are fully restored to them after they graduate.

Faye asks if Christine likes her name. Christine responds in the affirmative and compliments Faye on her appearance. They share a gentle hug, and Christine hopes it conveys that it's okay to have emotions, to stop fighting the programme, to enjoy being beautiful.

2019, Stefan

Stefan and Aaron bicker about the telly. The common room now has bean bags. Stefan thinks about how Aaron is surprisingly likeable from time to time. Him, Aaron, Will and Adam have formed an informal coalition against Declan, Raph and Ollie. Martin stays in his room, and it's obvious that his sponsor, Pamela despises him.

Aaron and Will have been talking to Adam and trying to figure out where he comes from. It's some church named the New Church that is very rigid in its beliefs and isolationist. However, when Stefan tried to probe whether Adam is homophobic as well, the results were inconclusive. He's hard to pin down.

On the other hand, Will is like a walking Reddit post. Avowedly atheist, know-it-all, and homophobic. He's in the basement for hitting his brother when he discovered he's gay.

Aaron and Stefan go shower. Aaron asks if he's growing breasts. After a short discussion Stefan stops engaging and thinks about Aaron being changed against his will and whether he deserves it. Declan arrives and shoves Aaron to the floor. He antagonizes the two, and Stefan tries to stall until a sponsor notices. Declan shares his plan to hold one of the other boys hostage so he can escape. He seems to think that Stefan is working for the sponsors, which is why Aaron and Stefan are his targets. They tangle a bit, before Monica finally intervenes.

Aaron stumbles into Stefan's room. They banter a bit, then Stefan discovers that Aaron has an injury and fusses over him. Pippa tells them that they are having a physical exam the next day. She sends Aaron away and tries to figure out what Stefan's "deal" is. She points out that he's basically adopted a stray puppy, and questions his decision to let him into his room. Pippa says that she believes Aaron is flashing Stefan. She then reminds Stefan that he, too, is a dangerous person.

2019, Christine

The second-years are busy making a meal for Aunt Bea's birthday, as per tradition. It doubles as an opportunity for Aunt Bea to assess how they are doing in a stressful situation. The kitchen is hot and cramped.

Christine and her friends, Abby, Vicky, and Paige reminisce about their own rotation in the kitchen not a year ago. Nell bursts out of the kitchen in a rage about her charge, Faye. Christine offers to try to talk to her. Nell is not very receptive, but Abby convinces her to stand down. Pippa, meanwhile, is having her own minor breakdown about how normal and kind Stefan is, and even points out how he's started throwing Aaron's previous acts in his face, as if he's a sponsor too. Christine suggests letting Abby have a talk with Stefan.

2019, Stefan

Stefan tries to figure out what Pippa's deal is. Abby arrives. She's dressed up, which makes Stefan feel dysphoric by comparison. Abby promises a private chat. She chats a bit about the basement, then thanks Stefan for keeping the secret. He's too dysphoric to properly talk about it. Abby puts an arm around Stefan's shoulder and holds him as he has a cry.

Abby relates the reason she's here for a visit, then tells him about her experience with Melissa, and Stefan shares some of his own. Having a normal conversation makes him feel much better. Abby promises to take back the story that Stefan's cooperating out of self-interest, and hearing it from a peer should make it more convincing.

2019, Christine

Christine locates Faye in the back rooms of Dorley Hall. She's a mess. Christine asks if Nell picked out the ridiculously tall heels she's wearing, and criticizes them for being impractical. Faye talks about what happened. She was stressed and stirring batter, was startled by someone who was angry and tripped on her heels, sending the batter everywhere. She feels like Nell is still treating her like she's the enemy when she's changed. Christine relates, surprising Faye.

Faye vents about how Nell seems to make her regress to that angry boy the basement. It worked in the early stages, but now it's actively detrimental. Christine says sponsors are supposed to adapt their approaches as their charges change, and that it seems Nell hasn't. She tells Faye about her close relationship with her Sister and sister, Indira. She promises to speak to Abby to make Nell change her approach.

Faye tries to go for a kiss then immediately regrets it and spirals, thinking she's a terrible pervert. Christine calms her down, relating her own experiences with another member of her intake and reassuring her that it's normal to explore one's sexuality. They then talk about future plans, and discuss if the programme is necessary. Christine says that regardless of the process, she's now a better person, showing signs of being dorleypilled.

Christine sneaks Faye back upstairs to fix her makeup using her hacking skills.