rocks rocks rocks

[theguideless]

Date & Time: 4/24, late afternoon/early evening? whenever this joint closes mang
Location: Outside the clinic
Characters: John Watson + Martin Darkov
Summary: Marvel at how one boy can make asking a favor tooth-pullingly awkward
Warnings: 800 apologies for no reason



Martin woke up early enough to be late for the day, as his sleep pattern encouraged and practically needed on the sunniest of days. If ever he needed reminders he was nowhere near Olvoski, he had to just take a glance outside and see how close the sun was in Exsilium. Summer was never so warm where he was from, though it was still a kind of spring there. He had hardly thought of it being any hotter until that excursion in time.

And that was why he'd stopped moving altogether, only to be so repulsed by his inaction that he moved doubly so. Practice. Fight. Make himself better, stronger. Faster. Not for the sake of the Initiative's missions, but for his own. They'd told the other Martin – the better Martin – time stood still at home. There was a chance, then. If he could make himself better here, he could survive back home. Just enough to save her, and that'd be perfect.

He hit a speedbump very early, however. It was hardly so simple as taking the weapon and practicing as others would; waste had to be managed, and it wasn't something he could do without a little help. His supply had been running long before arriving at the Initiative; how would he have known to stock up?

That not knowing was what brought him to the clinic near its close. Not that he knew that; there was still a little light out, wasn't there? That meant people were still awake.

Comments

[theguideless]

Martin blinked, watching John move about. Huh-?

"Wuh–" He shifted his weight to a side, leaning to peer past the doctor and see as much as he could without having to move. "Bottle? It's...you drink it?"

[doctorly]

This gets him to stop short, "Well, there is a liquid. Unless you prefer taking pills." The liquid was usually for kids since it's easier to take. But if he's able to swallow pills, and those that he had seemed like the case, John's sure the Initiative would have some in stock.

There was plenty of medication that once a time weren't entirely good for what they were made, and yet seemed to be better made in this time. The doctor hovers by the cabinet once he's inside the room to await Martin's reply.

[theguideless]

Impulsively, Martin scratched at his cheek, looking confused. He'd never heard of whatever a pills was, so having to take one or many was hard to envision. Was that going to be better or worse than drinking something he truly ought not be even asking for? Either way, he figured, it was going to be something he'd be in big trouble for back home.

"Uhh, I...I suppose it'd be..." He squinted a little, seeking some inaudible clue from John as to which he ought to pick. In the end, he shrugged helplessly, letting his hand fall to his side. His mouth tugged a worried, sheepish kind of half-smile. "Whichever one you want. I mean, whichever's better...I don't think I mind. So."

[doctorly]

John nods, before he shows a smile and goes back towards the medicine cabinet. "I'll show you, you can decide for yourself then which will be easier for you." He shifts through the collection before he finds the bottle of the liquid version along with the pill case. Slowly, he turns over and holds them out.

"The liquid is simple, it says how much to take. Not the whole bottle. And the pills.." He opens the case, just to drop one into the palm of his hand to show. "Are these. Bit different from what you had, you only have to take one. Once you run out you can come back to me and I'll refill it."

[theguideless]

By then, curiosity and necessity moved Martin closer, hovering just near arm's reach. Whereas he'd regarded the bottle with unease, he appeared to perk up when he'd been shown the little pills. They were much closer in appearance to the stones he knew, which all but absolved them of the sin of being foreign.

"Just eat one?" he asked, looking up at John. "And it works the same?"

[doctorly]

John gives a light shake of the head, rolling the pill in between his fingers, "Not eat. You have to swallow them whole. They're really easy to take though, just drink a glass of water when you take it."

He slips the pill back in its case to hold it out for Martin to take. "Or without, doesn't matter how you swallow it. Just try not to chew or bite it."

[theguideless]

For how the doctor emphasized it, Martin started to worry again. He took the case, turning it gingerly in his hands as though it were porcelain.

"What would happen if I did?" he asked, flickering glances between the case and John. "On accident, I mean. Would something bad happen?"

[doctorly]

Oh right, should have cleared that up instead of leaving it off like that. John quickly waves a hand as though to push any bad thoughts away. "No no, nothing bad. It just won't have the same effect. Plus it doesn't have a very good taste so you wouldn't want to bite or chew it."

[theguideless]

"Oh."

Well, that wasn't nearly as bad as Martin had thought! Bad tastes? He could handle that in a pinch, certainly. He already did enough of that.

"That's fine," he mumbled, settling the case into one hand while the other patted down and pulled open a pocket on his vest. "I'll remember."

He stopped, halfway pocketing the thing before he remembered the manners he had forgotten in that moment. Face pinking, he looked back up.

"And...I mean, thank you. Sir. This helps a lot. A lot. Thank you." He briefly pressed his lips together into a thin line, trying to think fast.

"Uhm...How do I...I mean, is there something I have to trade for it?"

[doctorly]

"Of course Darkov, anything to help. It's my job. I'm just glad we had something in stock that could help." It's the truth, plus he doesn't mind helping out the boy, he knows how skittish he can be. So coming to him at least shows he has an idea now who he can rely on if he needs help.

..Trade? Ah. "Oh no, don't worry about it. You need it so keep it. You don't need to give me anything for it." Truthfully people would pay for medication, but the Initiative are already paying the clinic for doing this. He feels he doesn't need to charge everyone or for everything that happens here. Sometimes, it feels better just to help out like this than be a doctor who does the job and charge then carry on daily like that.

[theguideless]

Nothing?

Martin's face, all red, pulled a worried, embarrassed expression, as though he'd definitely expected to be a bother, to somehow make up for it if he could. It wasn't normal, taking things from people. Non-Darkovs.

The case went quickly into his pocket, then. He looked up, shoulders lifting with a deep breath, and he nodded.

"Thank you, sir. Doctor, I mean." His head dipped down. "You're...very generous. Thank you."

[doctorly]

His gaze never removes from the boy, keeping that small smile as he gestures with his hand that it was fine. "We're all in this together, I'm just trying to do my part to help out in any way I can. But you're welcome. If you don't get good results or get sick, return back to me."

His gaze is more steady now as he tries to hold Martin's gaze. "All right?"

[theguideless]

"All right," Martin repeated, nodding quickly. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." He grimaced. "Doctor, I mean. Sorry."

He started backing away, head dipping down in a little bow. "I...I should go. But thank you."

[doctorly]

John simply nods, quirking a smile. "It's fine. You're welcome, I'll see you around."

And adding a bit quickly, "Watch out for the door." Cause you know, you're backing up into it.

[theguideless]

"Oh-!"

Good advice. Martin started to turn and startled at the sight of the door, shuffling back a little to open that up before going any further. Embarrassed, he slipped out with only a few muttered sounds following him out.