If You Need a Doctor, I'll Examine Every Inch of You [Phys Evals; Open]

[meat_mooks]

Ever since the medical briefing on the comms, the medical bay staff has been preparing for an influx of appointments for physical evaluations, as well as a few walk-ins. After that, the hunt will be on for those who've been skipping such appointments.

A few of the staff members are going about their regular duties, expecting patients or simply biding time at the coffee machine until they're called on.

[OOC: please state the name of which med character(s) you want to administer the evaluation in the header to your comment. If you're fine with anyone tagging in, please indicate so. Available characters are Sakura, Howard, Dr. Faiza Hussain, Soren and Dr. Carson Beckett.]

Comments

[first_in_time]

"Practice and looking for ways to improve," she wanted to tell him that he had to get others to read his writing in order to receive constructive criticism he could then work on but that would be asking for trouble.

"Why would I laugh at you?" that actually hurt a little. Barbara had been nothing but kind from what she could remember, even if they hadn't entirely agreed on everything. "It isn't weird. I think it's noble. Most of Earth's greatest men were writers, or wrote on the side of their work. Like Poe, Verne, Wilde, Doyle, Plato and Aristotle, Stoker..." admittedly, Wilde didn't have the most favourable reputation during his time, but that was mostly forgotten about in the history books.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard shrugs. "Because writing's one of those things you don't tell other people about unless you know them. You might as well tell people you play Dungeons and Dragons or are a mathlete. Or, you know, just make it really obvious and paint a red bullseye on your nose."

He squints and chews on the tip of his thumb. "I don't know who any of those people are. I mean, um...I guess I recognize Poe. I don't read much poetry."

Try not to despair in the youth on this ship, Barbara.

[first_in_time]

She wasn't certain exactly what Dungeons and Dragons was, but she had an idea of what a mathlete might be and got the message loud and clear. Barbara hesitated a moment, thinking through her phrasing and word choice. "...if you would like, I could recommend some authors for you," she managed to stop herself from using the phrase 'English lesson', "we could do it somewhere discreet if you'd prefer, somewhere of your choosing."

She wanted to emphasise that it needed to be Howard's choice, and that he was welcome to decline. "It's entirely up to you, of course."

It wasn't as if Barbara had much else to do on the ship for the moment. She felt like a loose end more than anything else. As it were, Barbara would have even been happy cleaning up after people. Just something to be busy.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard bites down on his thumbnail, considering. Just having authors recommended is one thing, but the fact that Barbara's emphasizing a discreet location means it's a little more than that. "What if I don't like reading, I just like writing?"

Which is partially true. He doesn't mind reading, but he'd be lying to say he had any great interest in it. He mostly writes because without a therapist or anyone who really knows how to deal with things, it's one of the few coping mechanisms he has. The idea that someday he could make a living out of something he does naturally is mostly a bonus (if he's even any good at it, which he's not sure about).

But from the way Barbara's hedging around the idea, Howard thinks that maybe she would get something out of this too and well, he may think Barbara needs to get a little common sense, but he likes her more than most of the people on the ship.

And God knows he understands the desire to keep busy.

"I guess we could do that, yeah. As long as it's not like, Shakespeare. That's hardly even English."

[first_in_time]

"If you don't like reading, then I suppose you don't have to read," she shrugged, "I just thought I'd try and be helpful. And I promise no Shakespeare." Barbara held a hand up while her other pressed against her heart, as though she were taking an oath.

She could have argued that Shakespeare is English, and prattled on about how he'd driven some of the great developments in their language but decided against it. There were other authors she could try.

After hopping down from her perch, Barbara Wright smiled warmly. "So, am I fit to be on board Stacey or do I need to be quarantined until further notice?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I don't hate reading," Howard clarifies. "It's just, you know. I don't like reading for book reports or essays or anything like that. And the books we got assigned back home were usually stupid books where nothing happens. But if you know some interesting ones, I guess I could try them. I like writing horror stuff, so..."

He shrugs.

He checks a few more things off her form and nods. "You're good to go. You'll probably hear back from us about your vaccines in a few days. I mean, if you had any serious health issues Stacy would have found out in the pods. She jacks you full of whatever you need while you're sleeping. I woke up twenty pounds heavier, even."

[first_in_time]

"Howard, if I ask you to write an essay or a book report, then I'll have to mark it and while I have a great deal of free time at the moment, I don't really want to spend it marking." Nor would she want to spend her time wrestling with Howard to complete work. "Reading's better when it's for enjoyment and besides, I trust that you understand what you read and if you don't, we can talk about it. Verbally."

"It's odd, don't you think, that Stacey cares for us, in that we get our nutrients, we have clothing, we're vaccinated, fed, washed and everything else, but at the same time punishment is given out rather...easily. It's like we're being kept alive just because she's content enough to tolerate us for the moment."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh, good. So, um. Maybe you could think about it and recommend me some good horror books in a few days? I mean, the Media Library's got all kinds of stuff."

"I think it's so she can keep us content and on her side. That way she can manipulate us through fear, with Punishment, or through trying to appeal to us nicely." And yes, Howard is incredibly cynical about this. He doesn't believe resources ever come free. The fact that Stacy feeds them means there's a catch, to him. "I'm always worried that Stacy's going to decide to stop giving us all this stuff and just let us kill each other off for the last tray of slop."

He says that lightly, but his forehead crinkles up in concern, communicating that he is, in fact, completely serious about worrying about that.

[first_in_time]

Barbara nodded but watched the young man. He talked like that so much and it made Barbara's heart grow heavy with concern.

"It won't come to that," she smiled warmly, "I can understand the fear but I don't think that will happen. We're all too carefully chosen to have that happen to us." And that was what Barbara truly believed. If GLaDOS was right (and she had no reason to doubt the AI), each person on board had a reason for being there.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"We don't know that. If famine only happened when people were expecting it, no one would ever starve to death." And that's why, to Howard, the best idea is to always expect it. Store food and prepare for the worst.

He gives Barbara an irate look like he doesn't appreciate her implication that his fears are for nothing - it doesn't read to him as comforting, but patronizing.

"Anyway, you're free to go whenever. Good luck house hunting."

[first_in_time]

"Howard, when will you realise that I'm not trying to attack you or be condescending toward you, or that I don't think you're less than I am?" her tone wasn't harsh but it was firm.

Barbara was growing a little tired of walking on eggshells. She knew just from talking to him that he had a whole heap of issues which influenced the way he saw things, situations, people. But she did want the mere idea to dawn on him that she had no intention of hurting him in any way, or holding herself higher than him.

"If I had wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have done so by now? I'm sorry if my want to help you and comfort you isn't what you want. I realise that you've been through an awful lot for someone of your age, and from what little you've told me, none of it is anything I would wish upon my worst enemy - the fact that you've pushed above it and carried on is highly commendable. I respect and admire you, Howard and I would love nothing more than to stand with you, and learn from you but you're making it immensely difficult."

She stood watching Howard a moment longer - displeased teacher face on - then turned on her heel and walked out. Perhaps at a later date she'll make up for the small outburst.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Howard grits his teeth and listens, although he adds his own cast of negative interpretation onto everything Barbara says still. He can never swallow people saying they admire him for living through the FAYZ - it's just a reminder of how they weren't there, how no one was there, and how separate he feels from everyone else for not sharing their rose-tinted view on surviving.

But he doesn't snap back at Barbara. What is there to say? It's not her fault. He'd be sick of him too. And it's true, she has only tried to be kind to him, kind to someone who's forgotten that kindness can simply be that instead of covering for ulterior motives.

Once she's gone he slams his textbook shut and grabs some Med Bay coffee, stewing in his peevishness for a solid twenty minutes before the next evaluee comes in.