Stephen Vincent Strange (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thewarningafter) wrote2016-12-02 02:06 pm
thewarningafter) wrote2016-12-02 02:06 pm
Entry tags:
IC inbox for Snowblind
You've reached Dr. Stephen Strange. Leave a message and my secretary will get back to you.
You've reached Dr. Stephen Strange. Leave a message and my secretary will get back to you.
And I will, but you're allowed to upset people when you're --
[Deep breath. Couple of deep breaths.]
If there's any time to be selfish, I'd say it's now.
[Deep breath. Couple of deep breaths.]
If there's any time to be selfish, I'd say it's now.
[By god, such insight. He is astounded by your medical acumen. Also, unspeakably bitter that he can't say any of this aloud because the last thing he wants is to piss off the one sane doctor around who's apparently able and willing to assist him, but maybe he can get a few parting shots off once he's a safe distance away or something. Ugh.]
Thank you.
[His voice is as dry as he can make it without giving offense, except he probably fails miserably because what the fuck is not offending people, does not compute, the only way his tone could be more arid is if it were actively on fire, but anyway.]
I'll do that. Anything else?
Thank you.
[His voice is as dry as he can make it without giving offense, except he probably fails miserably because what the fuck is not offending people, does not compute, the only way his tone could be more arid is if it were actively on fire, but anyway.]
I'll do that. Anything else?
It's really not, but thank you. You're very kind. Good night, Stephen. Please take care of yourself.
[And he'll disconnect.]
[And he'll disconnect.]
It is, but it's still nothing fresh. I guess the admin doesn't want to waste resources on stocking produce that would go rotten.
[It's sensible, but Claire has never craved vegetables as much as she does here. They all have so many deficiencies with what they eat here.]
Two. Angel and Rhys. Have you met them before?
[It's sensible, but Claire has never craved vegetables as much as she does here. They all have so many deficiencies with what they eat here.]
Two. Angel and Rhys. Have you met them before?
Constant. [ Clint mutters. A little louder: ] Just an ache all the time, with random pulses of really intense pain every once in a while. The stuff I've been taking isn't working anymore. Medium grade painkillers.
[ At least this is making it easier to not concentrate on what happened. ]
[ At least this is making it easier to not concentrate on what happened. ]
We could try a different prescription. [He doesn't want to take that off the table entirely, low supplies or no. He has a feeling Clint would already have asked whoever wrote the original prescription if that's what he's after, though...unless, of course, it was the (currently) late Dr. Watson.]
Have you ever tried meditation? It helps more than you might think.
Have you ever tried meditation? It helps more than you might think.
Edited (I accidentally a word) 2017-01-31 21:00 (UTC)
[ It is Watson - and Clint doesn't want to bother him at all. John has so much on his plate that he feels like garbage for asking the guy for medical advice. ]
I don't want to waste more medicine. [ Clint mutters. ] Meditation? Like the whole ohmmmm thing?
I don't want to waste more medicine. [ Clint mutters. ] Meditation? Like the whole ohmmmm thing?
[Stephen would probably think it was funny if he did say that out loud. This is him trying for levity, and if he were on video Karkat would see the little grin that comes to his face at the dryness of the response he does get. He's business-like, though, in his tone.]
The next step is to get it back in alignment and splint it, but unless you have someone with you who can help it'll be better not to try until we get there in the morning. Have you been warming those fingers?
The next step is to get it back in alignment and splint it, but unless you have someone with you who can help it'll be better not to try until we get there in the morning. Have you been warming those fingers?
No. Two's not bad, though.
[He'll just casually pull up his census in another tab while the video's still running, pausing a moment as he scrolls through and --]
Oh. Rhys is that dickcheese guy, huh?
[He'll just casually pull up his census in another tab while the video's still running, pausing a moment as he scrolls through and --]
Oh. Rhys is that dickcheese guy, huh?
["Wasting." John's reluctant patient, then?]
I mean, you can chant Om if it helps you. It's gonna be easier to start off with focused meditation; a lot of people use their own breathing as the focal point instead of a mantra.
I mean, you can chant Om if it helps you. It's gonna be easier to start off with focused meditation; a lot of people use their own breathing as the focal point instead of a mantra.
[He heaves an exasperated sigh.]
Yeah, I was told pretty explicitly that I need someone with hands for that, but whatever. I'm with the Cat, and yes, I was a good little wiggler and listened to John's medical advice. Do I just keep doing that now or what?
Yeah, I was told pretty explicitly that I need someone with hands for that, but whatever. I'm with the Cat, and yes, I was a good little wiggler and listened to John's medical advice. Do I just keep doing that now or what?
[She has to laugh again, a small chuckle.]
Yes, he is. Angel is @guardian, I believe. Good eggs, the two of them. They helped me a lot when my hands didn't work. I owe them.
Yes, he is. Angel is @guardian, I believe. Good eggs, the two of them. They helped me a lot when my hands didn't work. I owe them.
[That declaration is met with a long, thoughtful silence. Theoretically a hollow metal person should operate fine without the nanomachines if he did so before coming here. From examining the cloak, though, Stephen's aware that whatever physical changes have been made to ensure compatibility must be systemic. If Al can bleed, that indicates that something in him is organic, possibly within his metal 'skin' itself.]
And...other effects? Have you been sick at all since you came here?
And...other effects? Have you been sick at all since you came here?
[ The one and only. ]
Okay, I think I can try that. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it, though. Is it just -- [ A beat, and he has to mute the audio at the flare up stab of pain that hits him. He sounds sort of winded when he comes back: ] ... Is it just emptying your head?
Okay, I think I can try that. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it, though. Is it just -- [ A beat, and he has to mute the audio at the flare up stab of pain that hits him. He sounds sort of winded when he comes back: ] ... Is it just emptying your head?
Well, yeah.
[Okay, Karkat is grating on him a little bit. He's just trying to be helpful; it's not his fault he was the second doctor called and can't be there yet to actually do anything more than rehash John's advice.]
Yeah, keep doing that. If they re-freeze it'll be worse the next time.
[Okay, Karkat is grating on him a little bit. He's just trying to be helpful; it's not his fault he was the second doctor called and can't be there yet to actually do anything more than rehash John's advice.]
Yeah, keep doing that. If they re-freeze it'll be worse the next time.
Right, there she is.
[Your database of people is not weird at all, Stephen.]
Yeah, that's fine. Four people shouldn't be too many and you've already gone far enough out of your way.
[Your database of people is not weird at all, Stephen.]
Yeah, that's fine. Four people shouldn't be too many and you've already gone far enough out of your way.
[... What, really? Ugh.]
How long do I have to keep doing it? Until it heals all the way? How long does that take?
[Don't worry, Stephen, John didn't tell him everything and he really doesn't understand how this works.]
How long do I have to keep doing it? Until it heals all the way? How long does that take?
[Don't worry, Stephen, John didn't tell him everything and he really doesn't understand how this works.]
It's my job to come to people. I don't exactly have a plan, you know. I just go where I'm needed, alone or not. I don't mind.
No, never.
[If that answer sounds a bit clipped with annoyance, it's because it is. He hates that he's never been sick and still Dr. Watson won't let him help.]
I've never had any symptoms of MN poisoning, I've never been sick, not even once.
[Hurt? Yes. Sick? No.]
[If that answer sounds a bit clipped with annoyance, it's because it is. He hates that he's never been sick and still Dr. Watson won't let him help.]
I've never had any symptoms of MN poisoning, I've never been sick, not even once.
[Hurt? Yes. Sick? No.]
That's the general idea. In focused meditation you let yourself focus on some kind of stimulus instead of trying to completely clear out your head. It's easier. You can start doing it for five minutes at a time; shorter is better when you're not used to it.
What I want you to do is to get yourself comfortable, close your eyes, and relax your body. Focus on your breathing. Don't think about it, just experience it. If your mind starts to wander, just bring it back in.
What I want you to do is to get yourself comfortable, close your eyes, and relax your body. Focus on your breathing. Don't think about it, just experience it. If your mind starts to wander, just bring it back in.
If you've thawed the tissue out you shouldn't need to use warm water to bring it to temperature again, but you're going to need to keep it warm and clean so it doesn't get worse. It's probably going to be a few months before it's fully healed.
[Oh for fuck's sake.]
Keep it warm. Right. That won't be a challenge at all. Should I just cut off my limbs now and get it over with? It amounts to the same thing anyway. Hell, I could even donate them for science, or maybe use them as emergency rations if things get really bad! Why didn't I think of this sooner? You know what, fuck it, where can I find a saw or something? Or maybe if I stay out in the cold long enough, they'll snap off on their own! What's your professional opinion, Doctor Strange? Should I go for it?!
Keep it warm. Right. That won't be a challenge at all. Should I just cut off my limbs now and get it over with? It amounts to the same thing anyway. Hell, I could even donate them for science, or maybe use them as emergency rations if things get really bad! Why didn't I think of this sooner? You know what, fuck it, where can I find a saw or something? Or maybe if I stay out in the cold long enough, they'll snap off on their own! What's your professional opinion, Doctor Strange? Should I go for it?!
Well, I was going to suggest wrapping your hands with the spare clothing I've been picking up for this kind of situation, but if you're set on eating your own arms I'm sure we can arrange something.
[Why are you such an asshole, Stephen.]
Why didn't you say that to begin with?!
[Also, why. Just in general. Why.]
Why didn't you say that to begin with?!
[Also, why. Just in general. Why.]
Page 5 of 38