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audio; un: loveless

I'd like to keep this as efficient as possible, so I don't plan on talking your ear off.

Call me Daan. I'm a doctor. That should about cover all you need to know about me.

So, first question: is there already a clinic arranged by someone here? Have there been any injuries on top of there being a willing killer out there? Illnesses or whatever else. I can probably help you, even a little.

Second question: who has been here since the start of this whole mess of being trapped in a part of this city? Ideally, I'd like someone who can be informative, but I'm not overly picky.

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[There's a pause as he listens. Daan doesn't relish making him write it all out and top of it listen to all of it, but knowing what's led up to the injuries will help him determine how to properly care for this patient.]

Thank you. I know it's not ideal to summarize what you've been through, but it does help better understand your situation.

[He pulls out a small flashlight.]

I think the biggest complication is your laryngeal trauma. It's kind of a pain in the ass to let heal, but doable. I'd like to look inside of your mouth and throat for a moment, but it's probably about what I expect.

[Daan continues to explain as he goes on with his examination.] Steam in the air is good for the throat. I'm sure we can work something out there. Plus, there is a medication I can prescribe you. ...Ha, I say that as if I have to write you a note or something, but fortunately I can just hand you what you need with instructions on what to take. The real annoying part is eating, though. Your diet is about to get really boring for awhile.

Physically, you're going to be okay. Just be patient with yourself, mostly. Rest, don't push yourself, and so on. I'm sure you can manage that much. Are you in this city by yourself or do you have any friends you could stay with for awhile?

[ He's got no problem with opening up his mouth so Daan can take a look - and Daniel even seems to be listening to everything the other is telling him pretty attentively. It feels important to know what exactly is wrong with him and the best things he can do to help it while Daniel is still so unsure about this entire place, and just how bad things could potentially get here.

So he nods a little once Daan is done staring down his throat and Daniel can close his mouth again - seeming to ponder everything he's being told here, nodding a little bit at times at stuff Daan is saying.

Daan's the expert here, after all.

(And it helps that he seems so understanding about it all. Granted, most doctors probably are, Daniel figures, but it's not like he really sees one all that often. It feels a little bit like a reassurance in the face of everything he went through back home.)

When the other arrives at that final question though-- Daniel shakes his head, something in his gaze a little complicated. His eyebrows even knit together into a faint worried frown.

But in contrast to his expression, what he types out for his phone to read out is just: ]

It'll be alright. As long as you can give me instructions, I can do my best to take care of it all myself.

I see.

[There's a soft sigh that escapes him. It can't be much helped in that case. Daan isn't thrilled that this patient is on his own, but a lot of them are. That's just how it is.

So he considers, folding his arms for a moment before he offers:] I'd feel better if I could at least pay you a visit occasionally. Just to check on your health. Of course, I won't force the matter if you insist, but I'd like to know you're improving.

Is that acceptable?

[ Daniel looks Daan in the face when the other asks that. Not with any rejection in his gaze, but instead with surprise. Such obvious surprise that it's basically written all over Daniel's stare.

It even seems to stun the man into silence - actual silence, without even using his phone to make anything be read out loud - before he finally seems to regain the ability to think after a moment. ]

Are you sure?

[ Granted, maybe he shouldn't be surprised. Daan is a doctor, after all.. but Daniel knows it's not like the other technically has a duty to look after people here. He doesn't have to go this far at all. ]

That is a lot of effort for someone you don't even know.

Edited 2023-08-01 19:19 (UTC)

[It's not an unreasonable reaction. For Daan, it's a bit easier to think of cooperation after the bullshit he had to deal with in Prehevil, so this is actually a much simpler affair to work with.

Still, he nods in understanding.]

You aren't wrong.

But... hm, how to put this. I suppose it's trite to say something like "we're all in this together", but that's how I feel. Sure, a lot of us don't really know each other, but we stand a better chance of dealing with this city and our kidnappers if we cooperate.

[Daan shrugs.] And I don't really care to ignore something I could help with. Fortunately, your injuries are something I can actually tend to, which is refreshing after I dealt with so many I couldn't help in the last place I was in.

So, it's no trouble for me.

[ There's another pause, though a little shorter than the one from just now. Several emotions flash across Daniel's face in quick succession, but by the time he types on the phone, replies-- ]

You are a very kind person.

[ --it's settled into something that's definitely the closest to gratitude. Daniel didn't expect to find this sort of help in this place, especially not after what happened back home - and yet here it is. Just because Daan's the kind of good person who wants to help others. ]

If there is anything I can do in return for you at any point, please let me know. It doesn't feel right to only receive your help without giving anything in return.

[It always makes him feel odd when someone says something like that. "You're a good person." Or even "kind." Briefly, he feels awkward, and for once doesn't seem to know what to say.

So he tries to just move on by clearing his throat. Yep! It's cool dude!]

Hm, I understand the notion. Payment for services rendered and all that. Well, maybe I'll just ask a favor of you in the future? Nothing horrible. I'll just have to ponder what I would ask for.

[ Poor Daan. Daniel does feel like there's an edge of awkwardness to that throat clearing - though it's not like he can be sure of it. It's just that he's a guy who shoves down a whole lot of stuff too, so it feels a little familiar.

.. not that he's going to read too much into it for now. He's still just relieved there's at least some kindness in this place, trying to hold onto that feeling when everything else has been so miserable. ]

Of course. That would be fine.

[ Even if Daan hadn't added the 'nothing horrible,' really, since Daniel wasn't assuming it'd be anything bad after the other offered this much help already. ]

If you want, you could come over for dinner sometime. I make pretty great Italian food. [ Sure, it might not be much for repayment, but it's not like there's a whole lot to offer in this place other than company and food that.. isn't made by whatever weird of magic-ghost-spirits they've got going on in the restaurants where it just appears. ]

Italian. [It takes him a moment to try to translate the equivalency in his previous discussions with others. That means... Vatican-styled food? Not a bad one, actually. Not that Daan is that picky, but it sounds nice.]

Then I shall look forward to it. I'm not much of a chef myself, so it'll be nice to enjoy someone else's cooking, honestly.

For now, doctor's orders: make you rest properly, and then we can worry about dinner.

[ There's something about Daniel that actually seems glad that Daan is willing to accept this much in return. Not even just because he owes Daan, but-- it's nice to have a plan of something to do in this place that doesn't just involve feeling pain and making his thoughts run into circles about what happened. ]

I will do my best.

[ You know, re: the resting. Daniel isn't exactly a rest type, after all, but he knows he has to take it seriously here. He can't afford to forever be injured in this place. ]

You can send me a message when you have to come over for a check up. I will let you know my apartment number.

Sounds like a plan, then. I'll arrange something of a care package in the meanwhile. [it's medicine]

Do you need help to your apartment? I realize it's a bit demanding to have you move so much right now.

[ He could make a joke about how he suddenly feels so old, being treated this way.

But-- he can't. Not even because he can only talk through his phone. No, it's instead that he's way too touched by Daan's sheer commitment to the health of someone he's only just met. ]

Are you sure you have time for that right now?

[ It doesn't seem like an outright rejection of the idea - if anything, Daniel looks a touch awkward, like he might be worried about intruding here. ]

I am sure a lot more people must have contacted you after your message.

Oh, sure, I've had a few patients reach out, but my time is with you at the moment. Any other meetings I have aren't particularly urgent.

It's no trouble, and you don't need to worry about things like saving face or pride with me; we're mortal men, and sometimes we need help. That's what I'm here for. Besides, you're gonna pay me back with good food, which is a relief because I'm kind of a shit cook if I'm going to be honest with you.

[ ... ]

You really are better at convincing than you are at cooking then.

[ After staring at Daan for a moment, it's those words that come forth from Daniel's phone after he types them out on it.

And honestly - it is probably for the better if Daan walks him home, just given the way Daniel stands up so shakily from where he was sitting, having to rest one hand on the back of the chair once he's standing to keep him upright.

Which leaves the other one to type on his phone. It's a delicate balance, but he manages for now. ]

And it is not about saving face.

[ Another pause, and then, a slightly reluctant expression on his face: ]

Alright, maybe it is. A little. But I also just don't want to take advantage of your kindness. [ Which, to be fair, is the main reason he was hesitating just earlier, rather than mostly personal pride. ]

[He smiles crookedly and bows his head slightly.] You're considerate, but it's not taking advantage of if I'm readily providing my aid. Trust me when I say I don't do much I'm not already willing to do.

[Daan offers his arm. While he does really just look like he's kind of a beanpole, Daan was a field medic; suffice it to say, he's a fairly fit man able to provide a bit of his strength to support his patient.]

Let's get you back to your apartment so you can rest, then.

[ It probably helps that Daniel isn't exactly the biggest guy around either. Maybe not quite as lanky as Daan, but-- well, Daniel did catch up on his growth spurt a little compared to when he was a teenager, but he's definitely still smaller in build than most other men he knows.

The combination of that fact and Daan's experience with this sort of thing makes that he'll probably be able to help support Daniel well enough when the man moves to take Daan's arm, at least not seeming shy about the physical contact.

He seems able to still mostly support himself too, which helps. There's an occasional wince in his step or movements, but nothing too severe with the help he's getting here.

He gives the other a faint smile as he makes sure to at least say: ]

Thanks.

[ Before he allows the other to help him back home. ]

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that's a wrap! c: