High Heels And Broken Streets

[butterfly_kiss]

WHO: Tae Takemi, You?
WHERE: Hospital, Hotel, Whale Comb Sent Her
WHAT: Hospital Evaluations, Residence Consideration, Replicator Poking
WHEN: February 20th-25th
WARNINGS: None

I. A New Workplace | Temba Hospital

The map had led her here, across the snowy city, out in the cold in only a short dress, a leather coat, and high heeled platform shoes. Really, Tae was not often the sort to regret her fashion choices, but as she entered the hospital, shivering, she was already mentally aching for any of her pairs of leggings to help. And socks. Oh her kingdom for socks.

For now, though, she walked slowly through the hospital the map on the communicator had led her to. Even now she had it in hand, taking notes.

"Could use a couch for the waiting room. Chairs are too uncomfortable."

Then she moved down the hall and through a door, inspecting an actual exam room. This earned some nods and more notes. And, with time, she entered something that made her pause, lowering her communicator, to stare.

"Well well, somehow I wasn't expecting a proper lab in a place like this," she said, and yes, she was almost cooing as she looked at some of the machines in here. "It's almost like someone was preparing for me."

II. Temporary Residence | Temba Hotel

"These stairs are ridiculous," Tae grumbled as she made her way carefully up the stairs from the lobby of the hotel. "Who lived in this place, seven foot tall people? Ridiculous."

Even with her heels these stairs were definitely going to work out her legs some. That was, in its own way, a good thing. Tae had always been proud of her legs, but even this was ridiculous.

"And there's not even a subway to get around. How can people even consider this as a reasonable city for a supposedly advanced species?"

III. What's This Do? | Whale Comb Sent Her

Research was important in a situation like this, and Tae had done her research. She'd gone back through the social network here, something like a forum system she thought. Which didn't matter so much as learning the important thing which was that there was supposedly a device that could be used to synthesize other devices. It was that knowledge that brought Tae here today.

And of course she hadn't tried to interact with the machine yet, paused as she was in looking at the way it appeared.

"Seems like someone is stuck in victorian era sci-fi styles. I wasn't expecting a steam-punk horror here."

Comments

I

[wearingthestars]

Billy backed into the room carrying a load of supplies, nearing dropping them when he turned to find a stranger occupying the room, stopping short of running into her.

"Oh- sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here-" he apologized, struggling to readjust his load so he could find space to set it down.

[butterfly_kiss]

Ah, someone else. Another one of these alien selected He Rows. The woman smiles at him, watching him seem so awkward. Like her guinea pig when he was lying after they first met.

"And you're what, the delivery boy?"

[wearingthestars]

"No, um, doc...tor?" Billy supplies lamely, looking especially uncertain about claiming that roll under that gaze for some reason, setting the supplies down and straightening.

"Sort of, at least. Um. Hi. I'm Billy," he offers.

[butterfly_kiss]

Doctor? Was he addressing her, or claiming the title? He sure didn't have the presence for it. Tae crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight to mostly on her left leg to consider him.

"You look a mite young for it. Pre-Med student? It's not quite the same thing."

Then she holds out a hand toward him for him to shake.

"Dr. Tae Takemi, lately of the Yongen-Jaya district of Tokyo."

[wearingthestars]

"Not even. Just...someone trying their best? We're kind of short of people with a medical background" Billy flushes, and looks uncomfortable, but shakes her hand apologetically.

Then that flush deepens. An actual doctor??

"...Holy shit."

Shit.

"Sorry-! Um-...I've just...uh...we've just been waiting so long for an actual Doctor, doctor. It uh...hi." God. Swallow him up now, please.

[butterfly_kiss]

Holy shit? The doctor scowls briefly, because that seems a bit extreme. Though then he makes it better by being amazingly flustered after.

"It seems our keepers have not supported you well with experience, though the tools are nice," she says when her hand is free so she can look around. That said...

"If you've been learning, you can show me around. How many people work here?"

[wearingthestars]

It's been years. He can't help it.

"Um, well...there's me. And Omega-" An actual child. But she probably has more medical training than Billy. "And uh..." Is that it? Billy's not sure. "...we've been doing our best," he offers sheepishly, "But I'd be happy to show you around, of course."

II.

[ashwantstobattle]

Ash and Pikachu come out of a nearby room and seem to be in a hurry as Ash is off at a run the moment the door's closed, Pikachu dashing on ahead. Apparently, the two are having a race Pikachu is able skillfully sprint around Tae and takes the stairs several at a time.

Ash however needs to twist somewhat awkwardly to avoid running into her and starts to take the steps three at a time to try and catch up with Pikachu. Never good idea with steep stairs and he lands somewhat awkward on that last hurdle. He lets out a noise of surprise as he realizes he's about lose his balance. For a blessed moment it seems like he's managed to regain it but over balance at the last second, let's out another noise of surprise and then tumbles the last few steps down, landing with a loud crash on the floor.

[butterfly_kiss]

If there was one thing that any doctor could predict of any child (including those with strange yellow rabbit-rats running around with them), it was that they would invariably hurt themselves. For a moment, as she saw him running down the stairs she was going up, Tae was tempted to lecture him, and demand if his parents were around. Except, of course, it was likely they weren't.

The moment of hesitation was all it took for the boy to be past her, then loose his balance, then tumble down the stairs. Which was of course a predictable result of his rush. But being the only one around, she knew what the right thing to do was, which was turn around and hasten her own way (carefully) down the stairs and to his side.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice... Well, it wasn't quite soft, and it wasn't fully agitated, but rather walked a very fine line between concerned and annoyed. If he was alright, it would probably quickly swing toward annoyed and reprimanding.

[ashwantstobattle]

"Pikapi!" The yellow mouse rushes back over to the boy. "Pikachu?" It sure sounds concerned and pauses just a few feet away from Ash just incase.

Ash lets out a loud groan and needs a second to figure out where he is and why. It comes back in a flash and he's already trying to push himself into a sitting position.

"Y-yeah.. I think so." He manages. He's probably got a few extra bruises to worry about later but he can worry about those-later. For now his priority is getting back to his feet to prove he's okay and nothing's broken. He's a little wobbly but he manages it.

[butterfly_kiss]

He's on his feet, but that seems a bit early. Of course children are like that.

"How's your head?" she asks as she considers the boy. Better to be sure of concussions early on.

[ashwantstobattle]

"My.. head?" Ash blinks and then gives it a shake. "It's fine." He assures her. Pikachu takes the moment to jump up to Ash's shoulder to get a look at the adult assessing Ash.

"Hey buddy." Ash offers.

"Pi-kachu!" He greets happily before eying eying the woman carefully.

[butterfly_kiss]

Well, he's not wobbling. Still, she does reach into her pocket to pull out a small flashlight.

"How about we go with you humoring the doctor who just watched you fall down some stairs?" she counters, not even looking at the strange talking rodent thing.

I

[sunglassesincluded]

"No." Comes the very matter-of-factly response from the man clad entirely in black leather entering the lab from a door at the other side of the room which leads to a an additional office space. Wesker moves over to one of the sinks and proceeds to clean the tools he has been working with. "I just made sure some actual work can be done at this place."

The tools, once clean again, are being returned to the cabinet they belong to before Wesker turns to head towards the door Tae has entered the lab through where his coat is hanging on a rack. "Don't leave a mess." Is all he has to say. Instructions that shouldn't be necessary, but Wesker has been in enough labs to know just how actually necessary they happen to be.

[butterfly_kiss]

"Well, they look useful," Tae noted, her voice going a bit more flat. She didn't have the measure of him yet, so she wasn't going to be anything but business like.

Though she does roll her eyes at the statement of not leaving a mess.

"I'm not in undergrad chemistry."

[sunglassesincluded]

"Maybe not." Wesker shrugs and pulls his heavy coat on. "In my experience it’s usually the geniuses that leave the most vile messes behind." Birkin hadn’t exactly been an exception to that rule.

He finishes adjusting his coat before deciding to offer a hand in introduction. "Dr. Albert Wesker. Virologist. For your own safety I request that you don’t touch any samples I leave here for observation."

[butterfly_kiss]

Virologist. Well that's useful. At least he still would have likely had some degree of general rounds and GP work.

"There's nothing more foolish than to touch unknown samples. I presume you're wise enough to keep them secured away from casual access."

She takes his hand and shakes it.

"Dr. Tae Takemi. Medical research, specializing in respiratory illnesses. But I've found myself coming round to GP work. Which leads me to questioning whether this place has an X-Ray."

[sunglassesincluded]

He won't even answer to that initial comment. Of course he knows how to properly store away samples he is working on.

"Hardly. From what I was told, magic is the dominant way of treating injury and illness in this place. Convenient, maybe, but it leaves you to wonder what will happen once no magical healer is at hand." The way Wesker crosses his arms may make his thoughts on that matter clear. It shouldn't be his personal problem, at least. He only requires a lab for his own needs and that's what he had ensured is present in this place now.

[butterfly_kiss]

Magic. Magic treating illness. That seems so improbable, and definitely not scientific. She sighs at the observation, because that doesn't make their lives easier.

"It does make me wonder, and worry. Wasn't expecting a new concern."

I

[the_freak]

Within one of the rooms Tae explores:

Eddie froze as the door opened, quickly blowing a stream of smoke out of the open window and waving his hand to dismiss it, attempting a nonchalant look to cover that initial look of guilt.

The wizard doctor had told him off a thousand times for smoking in here all ready, but a) this lady didn't know that, and b) if he played it cool maybe she wouldn't even notice he'd been sneaking a smoke to start with.

"Hey," he greeted, moving back towards his bed and perching casually on the edge of it, arms crossed over his chest, clearly a patient of some kind given all the bandages. "You here for the tour, or...?" he teased, a little intimidated by her stance.

[butterfly_kiss]

She steps in and immediately her nose picks up the traces of the smoking. Oh there was no attempt to cover that up that was going to work with her. Tae pockets her comm, strides quickly across the room, and plucks the cigarette away from the boy. Then she moves to the open window, stubbing it out against the exterior of the building before tossing it away.

Only then does she return her eyes to the youth, her gaze definitely what one might call baleful.

"Given you've clearly been attended to by one of the medics here, I am certain you've been informed that there is no smoking in the hospital. There are no exceptions to this. If I see or smell hints of it again, I will ensure your next dose of medication is so bitter that your tongue shrivels up."

[the_freak]

"Hey-" Eddie's shoulders slum, looking after the cigarette with a huff. Those weren't cheap. Or...not easy to get, now. He doesn't have to pay, but he doesn't know how easy it will stay to get his hands on more.

"There's like...3 people here on a good day," he protests, "Who am I hurting?

[butterfly_kiss]

"Those things will kill you, and I'm not wasting good medicine on some child who decided to get it into his head to run head first into lung cancer," she said to his protest, then gestures for his shirt.

"Off. I don't know what those are covering, but I want to check the bandaging. And the answer of who you're hurting, other than yourself, is everyone. There are oxygen tanks here. I've seen them. Those are highly flammable, and explosive. Most cleaning agents used to keep bacteria down are also highly flammable. There is no smoking in my hospital."

Or maybe she'd get Dr. Wesker to tell the boy. He's got more intimidating presence.

[the_freak]

Child?

He holds a hand to his heart like he's been wounded by her words, and grins playfully, clearly not taking the warning too seriously. Of all the things that could kill, cigarettes ranked low on Eddie's list.

He blinks then, that voice speaking with such authority that he doesn't really feel he can refuse, but also...who the hell is this??? He glances around, ultimately shrugging and unabashedly moving to take the shirt off. Why not?

He hisses, movement not as easy as it used to be, and he absently smooths his curls back down. "Your hospital, huh? I musta missed you earlier."

[butterfly_kiss]

She isn't even going to dignify his having 'missed her' with a comment. Instead she waits for him to finish, takes out her comm again, and sets on the audio recorder. Time to take notes.

"Tell me, aloud, your name, age, species, planet of origin, and how you came to be injured," she instructed as she moved to start by looking at his arms.