Mar 06 16:11:11 106 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Sun Mar 06 16:11:11 106 PA.
This room is the same as thousands of other waiting rooms, reverberating back through the history of the multiverse. If it were empty, one would be able to look it over - one of the overhead fluorescent lights flickering in the corner - and see a place where injured people are crammed until somebody who might be able to help becomes available. The speckled off-white linoleum tiles stretch across the room, with several rows of somewhat uncomfortable looking chairs occupying a large portion of it. Reinforced to support a wide-range of weights and sizes, the chairs themselves lack any sort of padding for ease of cleaning, while their dark blue colour clashes slightly with the greenish hue of the walls.
The room is rarely empty, however, with injured and sick people from all over the dregs and less fortunate of Kingsdale coming and going with a (relatively) quick turnover. Though many of the chairs are bolted down, the few that aren't are oft pulled out of place to accommodate a hobo's broken and bleeding leg, or ragged mother's sick child. One in the know of current gang relations in the dregs might also be surprised to see opposing gang members avoiding eye-contact in opposite corners of the room, waiting for their most recent gunshot wounds to be tended to - possibly from the same shootout.
The pressure valve of the room lies through two aqua double-doors that are flanked on either side by desks. One of the desks is manned by constantly rotating secretaries who both handle the mass of paperwork that the hospital generates, and make sure the flow of patients remain constant. The other desk is often manned by large, burly men, who - despite the fact that they are presently only wearing nondescript black MDC armour - one might see leaving the building wearing a plethora of Colours, and one might do well to avoid just a few meters away from the hospital. In fact, they would likely do well to avoid them now as well, as it might be a Long Walk Home otherwise.
Joachim is busy flitting from file cabinet, to Head Nurse, to files trying to get everything sorted. With the occasional muttering about needing a computer system, he seems to be trying to handle a few inconsistencies. As Maya enters the room he'll only glance up briefly, no recognition in his eyes or smile on his lips, before turning back to the forms.
That lack of recognition brings true hesitation and she stops by the doorway, her fingers fidgeting with her umbrella. "Director?" She addresses him, the uncertainty in her voice obvious. "You told me to come back this morning, to make the pathology lab for you..." She glances around, aware of the figure she would cut, should he not remember.
Joachim frowns over a paper for a few more moments, mumbling something under his breath before looking up again, his expression lightening considerably. "'ello, Maya. Sorry, just got a little engrossed in th'forms," he says, his smile returning with a vengeance. Glancing at the form one more time, he places it on the desk with a quick, "I'll be back in a moment," to the nurse before turning away. "Walk with me," he says, moving into the back room of the clinic.
Maya's grin returns, relief showing loud and clear. "For a moment there, I thought you were kidding me." She comment, the words coming out a little too fast as she turns to walk with him. "I know you are a charity, can't pay that much. I'm not expensive but some of the equipment might be." In way of a warning, but she walks beside him, her hands behind her holding the umbrella.
After moving through the door, Joachim stops just out of the way of traffic. After a moment he puts his arms out, and spins in a slow circle, looking at the area. "I'm not kiddin' you about wantin' t'get you workin' on a lab. We need one, an' I'm not about t'turn away a woman who's capable of gettin' one set up," he says, coming to a stop and turning to the woman. "An' if you can't hear the 'however' comin', well..." he says with a sigh. "Take a look 'round, for a minute. We have three rooms dedicated to the hospital - two exam rooms and surgery. Just outside those doors we've got a few cramped offices, an' two classrooms that we try t'keep as full as we can. We're not even t'the point of worryin' about equipment yet," he says, eyes fixed on Maya, looking to see as to how she reacts.
Maya's reaction is obvious, the mind behind her eyes working hard overtime to calculate the impact on a pathology service. "I see the however. Space is an issue, and I guess funds are tight. Can we fund raise for it? Try and explain the benefits of a good path lab to the people around here?" Her enthusiasm for her topic bubbles to the top of her mind, shining in her eyes. "I have some basic things of my own, I can use them, if you can clear me a workstation of sorts. I can even work out of my apartment if I need to..."
Joachim watches the reaction for a few moments, listening, his smile deepening toward the end. "Don't worry too much 'bout the fundin', that's my problem t'deal with. An', t'be honest, nobody around here has any money t'contribute, or they just don't care," he says, bitterness not making it into his voice. "If we're goin' t'do this, however, I'm goin' t'need t'know everythin' you're goin' t'need. Space requirements, outlets, fixtures, everythin'. On the one hand, it's a lot t'come up with on your own, and you're goin' t'be the one responsible for it," he says.
Vixen comes into the clinic area quietly, moving through the place with a vague sense of purpose, given to a general feel of belonging as she moves through the hospital. No cig.. no reason to call attention to oneself in a hospital, after all. She scans the people she passes lightly from moment to moment, her attention flitting from place to place as she goes. Though as she comes near enough to start catching on to the talk going on between Joa and Maya, she slows her pace, then comes to a pause nearby, though discreet in her eavesdropping.
She listens to what he has to say, her grin building all the time, and then, as before, she whoops! The little dance of joy is not a graceful thing but full of enthusiasm, and the accompanying "Yes!" adds to the picture of the woman, ponytails bouncing, dancing in delight. "I can write you a list, draw you a diagram, give you as much information as you need, director, thank you so much! I don't believe it, that is wonderful!" Her words practically roll into one long breath and she pauses speaking only to direct a hug in Joachim's direction.
Joachim chuckles slightly as the woman does her little dance, "I'm glad that you're so happy about it, but keep in mind that we may not be able to accommodate everything you ask. I'll do what I can, but there are several upgrades I'm goin' t'be tryin' to get underway, an' I probably won't be able to get 'em all, but I'll do what I can." A brief pause, and he continues, "I'm not sure what we're goin' t'be able to spare for your salary, at this point, an' I may need t'have you on rotation t'be workin' as a doctor, patchin' people up as well. If you're capable with that side of things?"
While not overt, Vixen doesn't do too much to disguise her eavesdropping, short of lingering in a casual blind spot mutely. She considers for a moment, then straightens and eases up towards the two. Speaking after she's come within a conversational distance. "I hear something about funds?" She asks this casually, as if she were already part of the talk. "There's always a way.. if you don't mind a little publicity."
Maya hugs him tightly, before releasing him, trying hard to look serious, but her hazel eyes are dancing. "I have a medical doctor cert, I can do that." She replies, the corners of her mouth twitching, the desire to grin obvious. "I don't need that much, I came to study the area, so as long as I cover my rent and living, I don't mind." Vixen's comment gets her full attention, a spin on her heel to look at the other woman, causing the bunches to fly out.
"Not saying much about charity events, but I got myself a little personal venture of my own that might be interesting to get a little word out for you folks." Vixen grins casually. "Never can tell just how many are listening, but my little radio program might suffice to get some word out if you're wanting a little publicity. Could help to bring in a few who might want to offer up some cred for the place."
Maya gives them both quick glances, practically jiggling in her excitement, "So there will be enough, and I don't have to run the lab from my bedroom?" Although she had offered, relief is obvious, and she nearly bursts with the enthusiasm. "I can write you a list, right now, and I can work as much as you need on the floor, and ..." Again, she seems to realise she is babbling and draws it in, juggling her things as she pulls a notepad from her bag, beginning to scribble.
Joachim's attention is brought fully to Maya as she nearly bubbles over. "There's no need t'be in any rush, Miss. We've got time t'get everythin' sorted, an' t'figure out everythin' that needs doin'. Better to give it a calm and thoughtful look over'n to do it in all the excitement an' get somethin' wrong. In the meantime, there's plenty t'do around here, an' I'm sure after a few night-shifts you might be a little less excited. Things can get pretty hectic 'round here. How're you at surgery, anesthesia, an' all that?" After asking, he glances back to Vixen, considering the question. "I'll think about it, but I think for a little while, at least, I might want t'keep things quiet."
"That's on you then, fella, but when you chance your mind, all you gotta do is drop a note in my box. Vixen's the name. Video Vixen, to be precise. Got my little radio gig running. Don't figure it it would be bad for either of us to find some common ground compromise on some advertising or the like." She grins, slipping a hand into her coat to draw out a simple, cheap little business card that she flips about to offer over to Joachim. She glances towards Maya then, her brows rising slightly. "Eager beaver indeed," she murmurs, lightly amused.
Maya tries to settle down, but the repressed excitement may cause something to rupture. She leaves the list, keeping the pen in her hands. "I can do surgery, psychology, whatever." She replies to JOachim's question, her enthusiasm undaunted by the threat of nightshifts. "Things seem quiet around here? You have plenty of security." She glances back towards the guards, before returning to the director. "I can bring down the stuff I have down, for the meantime, director?" The grin finally escapes as Vixen's comment reaches her ears.
Joachim reaches to take the card, only giving it a cursory glance as he slips it into his pocket. "Don't suppose there's anythin' else we can do for you, since you're here?" he asks, smiling warmly as he tries to manage the two conversations, nodding at Maya. "That's absolutely wonderful t'hear. We'll be able t'find you plenty of work. An' for now, I think we may just have to grindin' out some patients," he says, not yet dealing with the security issue.
"Talented too, it seems," Vixen muses idly as she considers Maya. She then looks back to Joa and shakes her head slightly. "Just make sure if you catch wind of any stories that might do with some airing, that you don't forget who has some air for you. The frequency is on the card, if you ever want to get a listen and know what goes on." She glances towards Maya then and slips a hand into her coat, flipping out another that she passes towards Maya. "What kind of gear are you sporting?"
Maya takes the card, tucking it into the pocket of her raincoat. "Gear? I have my microscope, some bits like that, a portable one as well, specimen cases, ..." Again, she checks herself, drawing back from a lecture. "You are a reporter?" The question adds a new note to her, caution and she glances towards Joachim, questioning, on unfamiliar ground. "Do I start today, Director, or when do you want me? I have arranged a place, well, the Inn had a place..."
Joachim glances between the two, "We do have a few of the basic things, and if you'd like to start today, or tomorrow, we can have one of the nurses show you around, an' where everythin' is. Otherwise, you can start any time over the next few days, if y'have things to take care of," he says, before turning to Vixen, "I'll be sure t'keep you informed of anythin' that comes up. In the meantime, if you have any questions, we might be able t'set up a time."
"More a truth teller," Vixen replies with a light smile. "I work for me and for the people that listen. Hence being 'Your Video Vixen'. With just me, I've gotta rely on myself.. and whoever might be so kind as to point me towards a good story or two every now and then." She then looks to Joachim and shakes her head a little. "Not got too many questions just now. Only having a little look. Not been here before.. heard about it and decided to have a look. Though a little talk might be a good part of getting some word out. The real story about this place, rather than the rumors that might be floating around."
Maya's enthusiasm outweighs the caution and she nods, almost turning to find a nurse, the umbrella tapping lightly on the floor as she does so. "Today is fine, I don't need to unpack any more. I've done the worst of it, broken its back, I can get dug in here." She hesitates, a concern raising its head. "Do you need me to go and get my labcoats? I have some of my own, I could use those if ..." She trails off, glancing between the pair.
Joachim nods at Vixen, smile not dipping. "Well, Feel free to look around, so long's you stay out of any of the restricted areas, an' don't interrupt anything that's goin' on," he says, merrily enough. "An' we've got a few lab coats layin' around you could borrow, an' there are boxes of gloves in the rooms. I should probably get back t'sorting out some of our inventory issues, right now."
"I'm on the level, don't worry," Vixen assures Joa casually, showing no upset over the words offered. "You just go on about yours, I'm sure I'll get it pointed out if I go down the wrong hall." She even makes a little shooing motion with her hand briefly. She then looks back to Maya. "I guess you're new around here, huh? Well, I've been gone a bit too, but most things around here don't change too much. So if you need a tour guide, I could point you in a direction or two for whatever you might need. Or about where you might find it anyway."
Maya's grin breaks out again, irrepressible and she nods at Joachim, almost shifting from foot to foot in her eagerness, but she does pause to talk with Vixen. "I arrived yesterday, traveling with some others, came to do some study here. I got a place at the Happy Days Inn for the moment, ..." She stems the flow of words, finally offering her name as an afterthought. "Maya. My name is Maya." Her grin is still there, crinkling the corners of her eyes.
Joachim nods at the two, "Alright, I'll send a nurse over with a lab coat t'help show you the ropes, Miss," he says with a final head-bow and smile. "I'll be around," and he's away, walking back to the front to resume his paper-pushing.
Vixen glances after Joachim for a moment before she looks to Maya once more. Letting him get off to his business. "Small world, I got me a little place there too. Maybe we'll run into each other in the Nightingale some time, Maya." she replies, grinning. "Though I guess I should let you get to your digging in for the moment. Just remember me if you ever get wind of something that the people might need to know, yeah?"
