Roleplaying
2004 Archive
2005 Archive
Seminars
| When: | 23 March 2005 |
| Who: | Kacela, Nicodemus, Noah |
| What: | Getting Nicodemus patched up. |
Brackenridge Hospital
First opening its doors in 1884, Brackenridge Hospital is the oldest public hospital in Texas. Under the management of a non-profit Catholic healthcare network and newly renovated, it stands as a testament to modern medicine at its finest. The building itself is tiered beige concrete structure with blue-glass windows standing some fifteen stories tall. It hosts all of the standard services one might expect from a hospital and is the region's only major trauma center.
The hospital lobby is laid out in a very orderly fashion. Across the room from the double-glass door entrance is a long sleek wooden reception desk. Hospital staff hand out forms to patients, prioritize patient care and answer questions. To the right, behind a set of blue double metal doors, is the entrance to the emergency room and trauma care units. To the left of the reception desk is a hallway leading to the elevators and the other departments on the floor.
The hospital is decorated in the simplest of styles. The walls are two-tone white and pastel blue, split in the middle of the wall by a divider that can serve as a handrail for those in need of such assistance. The floor is a tile checkerboard of white and gray squares. The reception area though is carpeted in a functional dark gray carpet with plastic chairs for visitors to sit upon. What makes the hospital stand out as something other than a cold antiseptic facility is the staff.
The nurses and receptionists joke and laugh together as they go about their work, employees sit with patients in the reception area and assist them with their paperwork or assuage their fears and hospital clergy comfort the friends and family of the sick and dying. The walls of this place house souls of great compassion and sacrifice caring for those who are need of healing and rest.
The past week hasn't put Kacela in the best of moods. As the woman, dressed in casual wear, paces down the more public hospital corridors, she casts her eyes over those present, sizing them up, and looking over areas that look to be the least busy, and still possessed of somewhat capable looking staff. Knowing first aid and swiping antibiotics from veterinary supply offices only worked so well when treating the severely injured. The angry redness of a still-healing deep muscle cut along her right back is visible from time to time at the hem of her shirt, but she doesn't seem too interested in her own welfare at the moment. She looks over the chromed frames of her sunglasses, and purses lips in thought.
Noah stands behind the counter at the receptionist area. It's near lunch time and currently the ER is populated with patients with seasonal colds, the occasional bump and bruise, nothing really major. Noah has a chart in front of him and is transcribing some information into the computer.
In the lobby, Nicholas Lyman lays hunched in a chair, draped by a black overcoat. Those visitors that pass and recognize his famous yet ailing features are quickly herded away by two large men in basic black suits. It was thought that Lyman's health was improving, so much so, that his men raised little protest when he took them to a museum exhibit the other night. Not that his employees are allowed much leeway on talking back, but his arm was miraculously regenerated, these two guards saw it. But unfortunately, some physical exertions at the museum has aggravated a number of wounds, patch worked with basic home supplies.
Noah still types away at the computer, randomly reaching for a disposable cardboard cup full of coffee now and again.
Kacela canting her head to the side, Kacela sidles up to the receptionist desk, and flicks her gaze over towards the entry way and the various doors, sizing up just which one provides access to the office. She leans foward, bending at the waist, as she crosses arms and asks in a svelte alto voice, "Tell me, are you just data entry, a medical transcriptionist, or do you have nursing training under that poly-cot drawstring belt of yours?"
Thought to be unconscious, Lyman stirs in his seat, looking down the hallway after Kacela. He issues a low grumble to his men, indicating that he is going to try and get up. Sure enough, he manages with only one hand, a side of the over coat slipping away to reveal an arm wrapped in a make shift sling. "I'm up," he mentions to the guards that try to assist him, his voice straining from the effort, yet strong enough to imply "Stay away". On his feet, Lyman stalks off after Kacela, having healed enough to work out the limp from his step...his pace is simply laboured. "Any luck?" he rasps when he arrives at the desk.
Noah looks up from the terminal, blinking once or twice for his eyes to adjust. Oh not another one? A look of concern crosses his face for an instant as he remembers the conflict at No Dinero. Pushing it aside, a warm smile takes root. "Yes. I'm a nurse. I've seen you before though, haven't I?" he asks politely.
At the sounds of movement to her left, Kacela looks down the hallway. A brief flash of disbelief crosses her features as she looks askance, before it melts into an authoritative glower at the parties out of Noah's line of sight. The message is clear enough, forbidding the arriving party from drawing any closer... "Not yet... Stay." She rumbles out, giving Nicodemus a look to freeze supernovas, suggesting a definite history of being used to having others listen to what she said. Back to Noah, she laces fingers together, and a sunny, radiant smile spreads across her face, voice just a little bit TOO sweet. "Really? That's positively wonderful. I'm sure you must enjoy helping others." At that point, she abruptly steps away from the counter, circling around to the office doorway.
Noah nods, his own smile broadening in response to Kacela's. For the moment, his own question falls to the side as he replies to hers "Definitely. What can I do for you," he asks in an eager tone. Such a good puppy, this one.
Lyman does not stall as immediately as Kacela would like. But as she rounds the desk and starts into the office, he is left to linger there and makes an effort to move out of the way. Meeting her icy gaze, Lyman sneers and calls after her, "My dear, you have sustained injuries of your own. You need medical assistance. I...I will heal."
Empty air meets Noah's inquiry regarding assistance, although the words can easily be heard by him. Kacela sasses back over her shoulder, "Like I won't either on my own! And I lost less meat!" At that point, she throws the office door open, and tromps right up to Noah, snatching out a hand to pull him up off the chair. She hisses into his ear, holding him from behind, "I'm sure you've heard the phrases 'bad things happen to good people,' and 'desperate times call for desparate measures'. I have a job for you. No... a... need. We can't go through the usual channels that most people in Austin enjoy. I assure you, our cause is right, and you will be returned to your work unharmed. You like medicine, mm? Better than typing on a keyboard all day, mm? Consider this your lunch break." She's trying very, very, hard to be nice.
Noah opens his mouth, at first to speak an objection. Then that whole 'love your neighbor' thing weighs down on him and he starts to concider what would make somoene so desperate as to behave in such a way. His mouth closes, his lips tighten around his teeth for a moment in a look of intent concentration as he thinks. Finally, he says, "What can I do to help?"
Staggering to the nearest wall, Lyman props up against it with his good shoulder, or rather, his better shoulder, the one in the sling. The other, though the black overcoat denies it, is still an open wound courtesy of Tyrr's axe. From his position on the wall, Lyman catches sight of his guards, still keeping close by. At this, he smiles thinly...an expression that holds when he catches Kacela's exchange with the nurse from within the office.
Kacela had, in her mind, already committed herself to some kind of violence At Noah's inquiry, she starts as if she had walked into an electric fence, and blinks at him a few times. "Are you sure?" She does a double-take around her, to make sure the hospital security wasn't bearing down upon the lobby. "Stitching and wound-cleaning, using sterile technique, and proper administration of antibiotics," she says as she bears down upon Noah, chin tucked to her chest as she sizes him up, each motion punctuated by her words. It culiminates into what can only be considered a sign of gratitude as she plants a sultry kiss upon Noah's lips, fist still clutching the collar of his shirt, her usual slightly ginger-tinted scent present for a brief moment before she withdraws, allowing the coolness of air to rush in and replace her presence. She waits for him to evacuate the office.
Noah looks...um...stunned. Though he's seen a good deal of unusual human behavior while working in an emergency room, that took the cake for him. He plays it over quickly again in his mind...woman comes in asking for help, woman throttles you and demands help, woman kisses you when you agree to help He's about to go over all the reasons in his head as to why this could be very illegal but overanalyzing was never Noah's strong suit "Do you have supplies," is all he asks as he reminds himself that all that matters is someone is hurt and in need of care. His expression throughout the process is one of concentration and deep concern.
Scuttling along the wall, Lyman gets into a position so he can watch the exchange between Kacela and the marked nurse. At the kiss, a brow rises, not out of surprise, but out of admiration for her handiwork. Still, he cannot help but stalk up to the desk and poke his head inside the office, a smile brightening his grim, pained expression once again, "Ms. Howard, I'm pleasantly surprised. How far would you go to garner medical attention for yours truly?" The tone, of course, lacks any gratitude, just the playful sarcasm that is spent between the two. It seems nothing can take that bite out of Nicodemus.
Kacela casts another one of 'those' looks towards Nicodemus's inquiry, as she says, "The prospect of being tended is making you feel better already, I see," she says dryly, before returning her attention to Noah as she escorts him out the doorway. "We have our own supplies, sterile. The instruments are in place, we merely need a musician..." Another glace is cast Nicodemus's way, insisting that the prior display be kept quiet, as she extends a hand towards the more severely injured of the two, "I'll allow your assessment and performance to begin when you desire. I think that I am not the one you would have to worry about, anyway," she murmurs to Noah in regard to the body men flanking Lyman.
Noah doesn't really seem to think twice about the guards. Then again, Noah doesn't seem to really think twice at all "I'm just a nurse, you know thta..right? Not a doctor." He looks at the two and asks, "Give me a moment." And with that he picks up the phone and dials an extension. If left undisturbed, he calls down to another department "Ida, I need to take my lunch break early...personal emergency. Can you send someone down from Crit to cover for me? It's pretty slow going. Really? You're a doll. Lunch on me tomorrow," he says in a chipper tone.
After throwing that first verbal jab into the office, Lyman is forced to brace himself against the desk, his smile abruptly taken over by a grimace. From that awkward sneer, a muffled reply escapes, "Might we be moving on to an operating room?" This time there is more of a mix of manners, urgent sarcasm, and of course...pain. "I'm sorry, my dear. You know, I just can't help myself sometimes." However, those last words abruptly freeze as Noah makes for the phone. His jaw tightening, Lyman eyes the man dangerously. In spite of his injuries, the possibility of doing the nurse physical harm is now very real. Fortunately, Noah says all the right things and with medical attention assued, Lyman shifts off of the desk, using the arm that can move to call his men closer.
Kacela rolls eyes, and although she would have been happier having all of this done elsewhere, she gives a sharp nod, and surges down the hallway, looking into a few of the rooms, until selecting one she seems satisfied with. In response to his apology, she responds coolly, "Wouldn't YOU like to know what lengths I'd go to?" She snaps the door open, and waits for the group to meander in.
Noah looks around. Hey! He's still in the hospital...now all of a sudden things have gone from dangerous to risky "This...isn't..really what I thought was going to happen," he says, bewildered. Noah shakes off the confusion. The sooner he treats the Lyman, the sooner he'll be in the clear. He gestures to the bed "What's wrong," he asks of the man.
"I meant nothing by it," Lyman says soothingly, stalking after Kacela as his men fall in behind him, "No, you know I trust you." Flopping down on the bed with the assistance of the nearest guard, he removes the overcoat to reveal his suit, wet with blood around the shoulders and chest. The various wounds, while deep, are not fresh. There have been attempts to patch them, but they continue to bleed from lack of professional help and proper supplies.
Kacela allows Noah to slip into his handiwork, still looking rather irritated with herself over having to show up in public like this at all. It's a wonder nothing's been infected as of yet, but there's been a past few arguments followed by antibiotic injections helping out with that. She keeps watching the hallway, pacing like a caged animal.
Noah stares at the wounds "Oh...my...God." He doesn't ask. Noah pushes his curiousity out of his mind as it doesn't really matter how it happened or how primitive attemps have been to patch him up. He looks shocked "I don't know how I can manage the pain...." With that he begins to head towards the door "I need to get something," he says. "I'll be right back."
"The pain," Lyman asserts, wrestling his grimace into a neutral expression, "I will manage it. I cannot risk being found here..."
"There was a run in with a cuisinart," she states dryly. The woman hmms to herself, and then tenses slightly, looking over her shoulder and rolling her own damaged shoulderblade to keep the stiffness settling in. Her eyes are bright, and she insists, "No painkillers, stop stalling."
Noah looks wounded by the statement, his cheeks reddening and his expression pained "This is going to hurt him..a lot," he says with emphasis, gesturing back to Lyman. He opens his mouth to give further argument and instead lets out a sigh. He weighs the chance of his protests being listened to versus the fear that the two will leave and the man will end up being treated by some hack with sewing needle. Noah tightens his jaw together in grim determination before setting about his work.
The young nurse, now looking like a wounded puppy, dons a pair of surgical gloves. He gathers a good deal of gauze and a clear liquid and begins to clean the wounds. The fluid doesn't sting much at all but it bubbles and froths as it enters the wounds. He spends a good ten minutes making sure the wounds are properly cleaned.
"I will endure it, I assure you," Lyman spits back, growing impatient with the stalling nurse, "Now, by all means, get to work." He quickly falls silent as the nurse sets about cleaning his wounds.
Roll by Noah: (5) (1) (4)
Kacela watches sharply, as if the man handling chemicals and sharp objects were wielding them to injure, and not heal. This was someone who had not heard, or at least, did not believe in, the Hippocratic Oath. She keeps up her sentry position, although a quiet "Thank you" does escape her in Noah's general direction.
Noah then sets about suturing the wounds. Tears well in his eyes as he realizes the pain he must surely be inflicting. He stops more than once to regain his composure and to wipe the sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he continues. In the end, he does the best he can given the circumstances, neatly stiching each wound shut. Now finished, He leans on the bed for support In a soft, strained voice he says matter-of-factly "There's going to be some scarring. Not much can be done about that. Keep the wounds clean and change the bandages daily. God forbid the wounds turn red or get hot, come back and see me." In response to the thank you he simply nods. Noah looks...shaken.
Roll by Noah: (2) (3) (5)
Through out the procedure, Lyman grunts and groans, clearly wishing to twist away from the nurse's handiwork. But, as he said, he endures without complaint. He nods gratefully once the man's work is done, "Thank you."
There's something to be said about the kind souls of this planet, namely that they're Heaven fodder. As Noah sits, quivering, Kacela just shakes her head. "And thank you for not making me get ugly about it." At that point, she stands, and allows the body men to usher Nicodemus out the door. She pauses, thinking for a moment, as she glances back over her shoulder at Noah. "Maybe I'll fill you in later," she states, "Or send you a fruitbasket." She smirks slightly, before stalking out the door, leaving Noah to file any reports that he may choose about the matter. Their descriptions were sure to come up sooner or later to others.
Noah watches as Kycela and Nicodemus leave the room. Left alone, he removes his surgical gloves out of habit and then buries his face in his hands. Who knew kindness could hurt so much?
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