[005] VOICE - FILTERED TO MEDICAL

[doc_pompous]

[Simon sounds all at once incredibly professional and slightly exasperated. It's enough to wonder if it's his default mode--and of course, the answer is yes. The slightly hesitant tone of his voice makes it clear that this is something he's wanted to say for a while, but just hasn't figured out the best way to articulate it.

Better late than never.]

So this is…probably not what anyone wants to hear so close to the jump, but I'm starting to think we're slightly overdue for a staff meeting. I'm willing to overlook a lot of things, but I am...of the belief that we'd benefit from a little group discussion. In...my opinion.

We're overworked. There are too many passengers and too few of us. Some of us aren't as familiar with the technology as we could be. It's hard, I know. There are bound to be...mishaps. Here and there. But in the past few months alone, we've had one botched autopsy, several missing bodies, and a human liver on the floor that...still doesn't have an identifiable owner.

I'd like to think we're more professional than this. The ship doesn't leave medical degrees in the lockers, so when someone joins this department claiming they have a certain amount of experience, all we can do is assess them and hope they're telling the truth.

[He's not saying that maybe some people are lying...but he's totally saying that maybe some people are lying.]

Ideally, we'll meet after the jump, once everyone is situated. In the meantime, however, if anyone has any concerns or...topics of discussion they'd like to bring to the table, please let me know. I'd appreciate it.

[DOESN'T THAT SOUND LIKE FUN.]

Comments

[andblockbuster]

You'd think someone would've claimed a missing liver.

[He's not touching the rest of that right now. He just wants to continue to prove he's why no one can have nice things. One of the "whys," anyway.]

[doc_pompous]

[Topher you are why we can't have nice things.]

It didn't match any existing passenger data. Which means it wasn't a murder, at least. Someone was probably just...playing with the synthesizers.

[AND HE HOPES IT WASN'T YOU.]

[andblockbuster]

Don't look at me, bro. If I was synthesizing anything, it'd be something better than a liver.

Not that I... think about cool organs to synthesize in my spare time. I've got a full plate.

[doc_pompous]

Please don't synthesize anything unless it's necessary.

[Please don't synthesize brains.]

How is the...neurology department?

[All one of you.]

[andblockbuster]

Surprisingly active. We've had a lot of call for brain surgery and weird malfunctions in our pseudo-robot friends here lately.

And now I can add "disarmed a bomb in a kid's brain" to my resume.

action; c:

[tumbleweeds]

[ She's still in medical most days, still convinced that they don't know what to do with her but unwilling to leave by herself because that's how the halls trap you, how they grab you and pull you away and change you (and how she'll never, ever leave them no matter where she is). Simon's broadcast is a change in routine, and it wasn't meant for her to here but she's practically a permanent fixture at this point, and that means she wanders over to tap him on the shoulder.

(She looks better than she maybe should, at this point. There's vampire blood to thank for that, for the length of her hair -- not the same but longer than it would be otherwise, for strength that even food and care couldn't give her this quickly.) ]

This is why I don't like hospitals, [ Jaye informs him, as if he's asked her personally. ] Can't trust doctors. Could inject you with more than they should, give you medications that will kill you instead of make you better, fuck up your life for fun instead of save it.

[ Considering she's still right up in his personal space, Simon shouldn't take it personally. ]

Don't really know any of them, do you?

[doc_pompous]

[Things Simon is not expected but probably should have: that. He's more than aware of Jaye's presence in the Medbay, but doesn't quite take into account that she might be covertly listening. When she makes herself known, Simon takes a sharp breath and clutches a hand to his chest in surprise before he realizes who it is, and any surprise dissolves into a sigh.]

It's not...anything you need to worry about. I'm not going to let anything happen.

[He shies away ever-so-slightly, more a reflex to having someone all up in his grill than anything.]

I know them in a professional sense. I hope I do.

[tumbleweeds]

[ There's a little bit of a giggle at Simon's surprise, and when he shifts away she follows, hand hovering near his arm. (She still craves contact, and right now Simon's the closest person and gives off entertaining reactions.) ]

You can't always watch.

If you did, you wouldn't hope you did.

[doc_pompous]

[He understands what she's saying, of course--if he could see the mysterious happenings of the ship, he'd wish he couldn't.]

If there's something going on in the Medbay, I'll find out what it is.

[tumbleweeds]

I can sniff, [ she offers, meaning both literally and otherwise. ]

You're River's brother. I like her.

[ They are, after all, both insane. ]

[secretlabtech]

I'd like to think some of us have proven our competency under fire.

[ But he knows what this is. Everyone gets reamed so that the underperformers aren't embarrassed. ]

An exam wouldn't be out of order.

[doc_pompous]

That's--yes, you have. We have.

[And he feels somewhat terrible about it, but someone's got to say it, he figures.]

No, it wouldn't be.

[secretlabtech]

You did the right thing, though. Said what needed to be said.

[ Simon he is not a very empathetic person but he can tell you just need beer and more man hugs in general. ]

Don't be too hard on yourself.

[doc_pompous]

Trying not to.

[Yes maybe some beer and man hugs are in order.]

[secretlabtech]

More time off. Let someone else keep an eye on the labs for a bit. I don't mind doing it.

voice;

[growling]

In the interest of honesty, I was just an orderly when you let me on as a nurse. But I've got a real degree now, promise. All that to say - maybe some kind of exam? See if people have basic working knowledge before we let them near any real responsibility.

And while I appreciate what you're doing here - and agree, really - I think the sad truth is that we're on a ghost ship in space. Weird things are probably inevitable.

[doc_pompous]

I appreciate that. I like to think I've made it clear that I don't...necessarily care whether or not the degree exists as long as everyone is honest with me about what they can and can't do.

I do interview and assess but unfortunately that doesn't catch ulterior motives, like...a desire to use the synthesizers without authorization and leave the spare organs on the floor.

[growling]

I'd almost finished my degree the first time - so I wasn't flying blind, anyway.

[ and... oh. yes, josh can see how that's an issue. ]

Probably better than them getting spare organs from other people, right?

[ bright side!! ]

[doc_pompous]

No, you're right, I'm glad it wasn't a murder, but--

[Organs on the floor.]

[growling]

... yeah, slightly unprofessional. Hey, I'm on-board. Meeting after the jump?

[ psych josh will be a dog at the time. but he'll be thinking of your meeting fondly, simon. ]

video;

[therangerking]

[ A thoughtful look. Aragorn isn't technically on the Medical team, but he's in the medbay to help out enough that he's probably recognisable. In any case- ]

There are surely many steady hands upon this ship, though they might be more accustomed to the holding of weapons than to healing. If they are willing, perhaps they might be taught the basics of healing.

[ A pause... ]

A human liver? [ HE CAN'T HELP HIS CURIOSITY OKAY ]

[doc_pompous]

I'm willing to teach whoever is willing to learn. Are you volunteering?

[Simon sure is doing a lot of sighing these days.]

Synthesized, yes. Synthesized and left on the floor.

[therangerking]

Synthesised? [ Headtilt. In any case: ]

I know the ways to deal with wounds incurred in battle, doctor, though my ways are different from yours. I ask not for the sake of myself: I have met some here who are willing to learn to fight to protect, and I do not think they will be unwilling to turn their hands to healing as well.

[ In his world, the two go hand in hand. ]

[doc_pompous]

Artificially...manufactured.

[Very helpful, Simon.]

We do offer instruction. Basic first aid, that kind of thing, if you'd like to stop in.

[therangerking]

[ Eyes slightly widening. ]

I was unaware of such a thing. [ And his polite implication is, of course, that you guys should do more to advertise that you have such things. ]