hadriel_logs | ( log seven | clinic catchall | open | make 'em whistle like a missile, bomb bomb )

( if you're an early riser, the kind who stalks the streets of the city when the lights have barely begun to peak, you've probably seen kate hopping from roof to roof with her usual agility, or found her in the clinic at six am sharp, setting thngs up for the day and going through all the motions she has to.

as usual, she's here first thing. what isn't usual is that - instead of checking stock or the cleanliness of the place - kate's sat at the desk in the office, glaring at a sheet of paper with the heels of her palms pressing into her cheeks, elbows splayed across the desk. this is ridiculous. and not working.

her powers certainly work here, it's not something she's exactly shy about sharing. for her, unlike many people here, it is probably more advantageous to be open about her powers, because using them requires the cooperation of others. but the situation-

well, having to plan and adjust for each individual power and world she encounters is frustrating. and energy depleting when it doesn't have to be. back home, where everyone's powers worked like hers, it was a simple thing - she could manage hundreds of simple enchantments without worrying. but here, everyone has something slightly different and she can't just slip a simple enchantment onto her sunglasses and see everything in the full colour she's used to.

it's been months and she's tired of it, tired of the extra energy she has to exert in order to recharge the sensors and adjust them for every monster in the place. this project has been on the backburner for a few months now, kept at bay by other, more immediate things, but with the healing trinkets at a good level of stock and her recent deal with the guard.

well, it's back in her mind.

she stares at the page of notes for another minute and groans.

and maybe her head hits the desk with a gentle thunk. she's not smart enough for this power. why didn't she get the telekinesis? )

[Kate isn't the only early riser in the city; Glacius likes to rise with the sun--or the unnaturally generated light, as is the case in this cave--to get an early start to the day. He has routines that he likes to observe, usually starting with a specialized workout comprised of stretching and centering exercises to limber himself up and focus the energies that course through his body. Following that, he usually sets out to patrol the city to make sure nothing has crept in from the caves during the night, or that no one is in need of assistance, then heads to the guard's headquarters to report in on the morning's events.

Today's circuit takes him by the clinic. It's still bright and early--his preferred time to take a walk about, as the city is usually quiet and the streets less crowded than usual, as most of its inhabitants are still asleep--and so he nearly passes right by it. He remembers seeing Kate out and about during his patrols, however, even the earliest ones when few other beings have so much as stirred... so the ice alien decides to poke his head in and make sure everything is in order here, as well. After all, if he's devoting a chunk of his time to ensuring the safety of the general populace, it only makes sense that his friends get the same treatment.

Glacius knocks politely on the door, and then--finding it open--pushes it open and steps inside. He's greeted by the sight of Kate face-down at her desk; confused and a little concerned, the galactic marshal crosses the room and stands on the other side of the furniture, back straight and arms folded neatly behind his back.] Kate. Are you alright? Is... something bothering you..?

( she notes the sound of someone coming in but files it away for a moment to deal with her own frustration. those footsteps sound too calm and patient for someone in real trouble, anyway. if they need her they can fin--

and then glacius speaks, and kate shifts her head off the table and sits up, brushing herself into a more presentable state as she leans back in her chair. )

Brick wall.

( she gestures to the paper in front of her, which is filled with scribbles and lines and the fineries of her power that she doesn't bother to explain normally. )

Trying to make me power more efficient.

I'm sorry? [All Kate's expression earns from the alien is a confused tilt of the head; like most human expressions, this is one he hasn't heard before. It isn't until she carries on that he gets... well, a slightly better idea of what the woman is getting at.]

Oh. I see. You explained your powers to me once before, but that was so long ago I am afraid the details have become obscured by time's passage. Would you mind explaining it to me again... or does your mind need a break from this line of thinking?

( threading her fingers together behind her head, Kate exhales before replying. )

I can talk about it. Sit down. ( she nods to a chair beside him and contemplates how to begin. )

My power is to enchant things to react to other powers. ( with this, she checks her sunglasses, peers down at her arm through them, and hands them over. )

These can see my power, or the powers of anyone from home. ( but none of them are here, so, just her. )

Try looking through them. ( if he does, he'll notice how her power flows through her like a secondary circulatory system - light, cornflower blue that fades into lavender with pale yellow over her heart and in her head. )

Ah... alright... [Glacius takes the sunglasses very carefully between each of his two long fingers, because these seem extremely fragile and the last thing he wants to do is break them. His face is also bigger than hers, and his ears also aren't built like a human's which makes actually putting them on his face a little bit problematic. For now he settles for just holding them up before his face so that he can peer through them... and he's immediately surprised by what he sees.

The alien's eyes go wide and he lowers the sunglasses, blinks a few time at Kate, then brings them back up and looks through them again like he's not sure if he's seeing things correctly.] So... wait. Does this mean you can see my powers too? The way the metaphysical energies course through my body... the way I draw on them and focus them? Can you see... the heart of them?

( There's a short pause before Kate eventually shakes her head. )

I could. But... well, the best I can figure is that everyone's powers work differently. We're from different worlds and have different systems. Haven't been able to figure out how to see everything immediately. ( she's been configuring her enchantments individually so far and it's frustrating and exhausting.

and if Glacius looks at himself through the glasses, he'll notice she's telling the truth. Not that she's ever had a reason not to. )

[Right now he seems to be taking her word for it. Instead of looking for a mirror through which he can view himself he stares at Kate a moment longer, transfixed by the wide array of colors shifting like multi-faceted light through her body, before realizing that watching her for a prolonged period of time is probably a little on the creepy side. The alien removes the glasses again and holds them out for her, allowing her to take them back. They're undamaged, if not a little colder than they were when she first handed them over.] Yes, I remember you mentioning that. You wanted to... analyze people here with powers, right? Did anything ever come of that?

( Hey, she has done this her whole life. If it's creepy, she's plenty creepy. Although it is a bit unnerving when she's on the receiving end of it. Kate takes them back and places them to one side, nodding at his question. )

Had a couple of volunteers. Figured out how to make things work a bit more quickly. ( She leans forward and shuffles through the notes she's been writing, not for any particular purpose, but just because they're disorganised and annoying. ) Would be easier if I could just... ( she snaps her fingers. ) see everything, you know?

[That gets the alien to emit a deep chuckle that rolls forth from the pit of his throat.] Yes, I know. In fact, I imagine that if we had that capability, many things in life would be easier. Why stop with personal powers? If we could see dimensional forces as well, then we might actually be able to figure out the damn Door...

[But he has to stop himself before he goes too much further down that path. Thinking about it only frustrates and saddens him. There's a connection to other universes somewhere in this very city, a possible way for him to get home, and yet he has no idea how to utilize it... Glacius shakes his head, then folds his powerful arms over his broad chest and looks back at Kate.] ...Would a demonstration of some of my capabilities aid you in any way? [Considering how flighty he'd been about letting her study anything about him in the past, hopefully this comes across as the quietly significant gesture of trust that he's trying to extend. It's not a promise to start unveiling all the secrets or sensitive subjects about his people, but it is an attempt to assist her in ways he might not have been willing to before they had befriended one another!]

( good point, Glacius. she tries not to think about it, though. it's as frustrating for her as it is for him, even if she's not accustomed to dimensional travel. because she should be able to see these things, should be able to make sense of things and get everyone out of here.

at least get out of this cave, which is her only major objection to this entire life, nowadays. )

Hm? ( the offer catches her off guard, but she doesn't entirely miss how significant it is. and although it might not help her overall goal, or get them out of this place.

... well, understanding his powers could help with things, even if it's only knowing what to look for if they're affected in future. )

Aye. Think it would.

[Glacius seems to absorb this fact for a moment, tucking his head back slightly and clicking his mandibles a few times. It doesn't take him all that long to make up his mind, especially since he realizes they've already come to an agreement.] Very well. I wish this to be done in a more secluded location, however. When would you like this to transpire?

Can manage it any time outside of work. ( which, nowadays she's being a bit more flexible with her schedule. taking longer lunches, or leaving earlier.

that's a good thing. because someone needs to learn to relax a little. )

What time are your patrols?

Whenever I decide to take them, which is usually at regular intervals throughout the day, starting first thing in the morning. I just finished one now, actually... I have decided that I should include your clinic within that circuit, as this is an important location and... you are important to me. [He gives a small, awkward cough.] So, ah. Is everything in order here? Is there anything I should include in my report..?

( she nods at first and then-

well, it would be lying to say that she doesn't give a small, soft smile for a moment at that assessment. the clinic is important, but that she factors in enough to be included in that-

it's obvious, really, or should be, but it still brings a flash of happiness to her features, leaving something softer than before in its wake. )

I- No, we're fine. ( it's true. everything's in order here. at least, as much as it ever is or can be. )

And, er, I'm - ( trying this thing where I say actual words about my feelings but obviously suck at it, so awkward ear rubbing is the course of the day. and maybe her ears were a little red before that, the first signs of blush on her. so what? :| ) -glad you're looking out for us. ( for me.

that bit she doesn't quite get out, though. )

[You know what? The smile is nice. He likes the smile. It's the first reaction he's gotten where he feels like he can safely say that his attempts haven't left either party feeling like they're fumbling, where he feels like he's said the right thing and they're both happier for it. His mandibles twitch ever-so-slightly and his pronounced cheekbones pull up slightly.]

And I am glad that you are glad. If it helps, I will make sure to stay abreast of your activities in as much as you are willing to discuss them with me. Anyways, you look about as comfortable behind that desk as I am when I'm stuck in the Guard's office. Can I give you a break from your work, or do you need to be on hand for now?

( paperwork will never be her favourite part of admin, and he's right that desk-sitting doesn't suit her at all, but it's on the things that have to be done list, so she can tolerate it as needed.

but a break? a break never sounds bad. and there are other tasks to be done here. )

... Need to strip the beds, actually. You wanna help?

( she is quite happily going to leave those notes, because they are clearly not helping her at this point in time. and who knows, maybe someone will come along and figure them out for her.

~~a girl can dream, right?~~ )

I surely would. You will have to walk me through the steps, however. Your beds are different from what I am used to--as is often the case when comparing our cultures.

Not a problem.

( she heads for the door, guiding him towards the rooms that serve as something of a makeshift ward - this building seems like it was meant to be accommodation rather than a clinic, but it works. )

How do beds work for you? ( she's curious now, and guessing that they're probably not covered in sheets designed to keep people warm. )

We don't make beds so much as slightly elevated nests. Essentially we use our powers to shape fresh snow into thick, pod-like drifts, with depressions big enough for us to curl up in. Doing so keeps us nice and cold--not that is an issue on our perpetually frozen homeworld--and refreshes our icy shells. The accumulation of snow also provides a comfortable spot to lay and cushioning for the various spikes that protrude from our body.

( that makes sense, but she has to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from grinning at the mental image of Glacius curled up in a snow drift cocoon. it's really sweet, actually.

and, now that they're here, she moves to one of the empty beds, beginning to remove sheets. ) Watch. Once all the sheets are off- ( she bundles a mattress cover in her arms and tosses it into a basket in the corner of the room. ) -in there so they can be washed.

[Glacius watches her go about her business and gives a small nod.] I see. What about the bed itself? Does that need to be washed too, or are the various fabrics enough to protect it?

( she glances over at the beds for a moment before replying. )

These haven't been used recently. They're fine. ( they only need to be cleaned once a week then and they were done a couple of days ago. )

Alright. Let me see, then... [Watching Kate carefully, Glacius moves to an adjacent bed and begins stripping the sheets as she demonstrated. It's not all that hard, thankfully! Once he's got them all in his arms, however, he does not follow her example and toss them... instead he strides over and neatly lowers them into the basket, then gives a slight, self-satisfied nod.]

Like that?

Perfect.

( she smiles at the work, even the careful placement. of course he would.

well, they can get started, then! )

[It isn't L's first time here, but it might be his first time with the express intent of making sure that he isn't about to drop dead again. Something about experiencing a heart attack makes him wary that it will happen again; it's nearly impossible to shake the memory of the clenched pain, the cold sweat and the sudden weakness. It was the worst thing he's ever experienced by far, and if avoiding it means taking better care of himself, it's a sacrifice he's willing to make.

Not that it would be an easy one by any stretch of the imagination. He is in his mid-twenties but could pass for someone in his late teens fairly easily, with a rangy, scrawny build and overlarge eyes and messy hair. He appears under-rested and malnourished, pale and drawn. There's something absentminded and wayward about him, distracted and aloof and clearly preoccupied with something else despite being here for the purpose of making sure he's going to stay alive now that he's been granted a second lease on his life.

He wanders toward the check-in desk after loitering around for some time, gnawing at the pad of his thumb.]

Sometimes, doctor's offices have little hard candies sitting in a bowl for patients. I was wondering if you had anything like that; I haven't seen one, yet.

[He walks in...well...not exactly like he owns the place, but not as furtive as someone sneaking around might be. Ichigo's not one hundred percent sure he's supposed to be here in the back rooms, poking through the supply closets, but he also knows it's the best way to find out what he wants to know.

He glances around, then opens up a cabinet and starts rummaging through it. It's nearly empty, like most of the others, and it's missing a ton of what he's used to seeing in a stocked clinic. He purses his lips and lets out a sigh.]

[It's not exactly off limits- but it is unusual to find people here, so Bruce pauses by the doorway, clipboard in hand.]

Hello?

[He'd assume he was stealing, but there's not much to actually steal.]

[Ichigo freezes.

Busted.]

Hey, uh...I know this looks pretty bad, but I'm trying to help, I swear. D'you work here?

[The clipboard seems to imply so, since as far as Ichigo knows carrying around clipboards just because isn't exactly trendy, but Ichigo hasn't seen him before, so he'd like to make sure.]

Sure. Yes.

[Says Bruce, recovering his composure, pulling off his glasses and tucking his work under his arm.]

I'm Bruce- Doctor Banner, but Bruce is fine, and we always need new volunteers. You must be new.

Huh? Hang on, you've got the wrong idea! I'm not volunteering--I already got a job. I'm just trying to figure out what supplies you guys are missing around here.

Oh- well, nothing entirely, but everything in bulk. The problem we have here is that when something happens, it tends to happen to the whole population. We never need a tube of burn cream, we need a gallon of it.

[He nods. He gets it. That does make a place hard to stock.]

Is there anything that'd be useful for you guys to have that you can't get anywhere else? EKG machine, defibrillator, x-ray generator...?

You have some way to get your hands on an x-ray machine?

[He says, perking up.]

I've been trying to suss out broken bones manually.

I can't make any promises, but there's no harm in trying, right? An X-ray machine...is that what you guys need most?

I mean- sort of. Yes. Definitely yes.

[He says, thinking back over all the injuries he sees day to day. Mostly it's monster accidents and falls in the rubble, so.]

Where will you find one?

I'm gonna see what Hope'll trade me for one.

You're going to actively try to talk to them?

[He tries to keep his tone neutral, but the question blurts out rather leading all the same.]

Why not? I mean, I figure I've gotta be careful about how much of what they say I believe, but if they're willing to trade for things that might help us...

...is it that dangerous?

I don't honestly know. But if you're interested, you should talk to that nice new young man, Luke Landau. I know he was asking similar questions.

[But Bruce is staying the hell out of it, thank you.]

Luke who?

[He's not so great with names. He'll do his best to remember, but he's gonna need it repeated another time or two. Maybe a description.]

( log seven | clinic catchall | open | make 'em whistle like a missile, bomb bomb )

| kate. starters in comments.

| of analysis & frustration. open.

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this tag has been on hold bc i kept forgetting to research...

No problem! Always good to put effort in!

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L Lawliet | Visitor

Ichigo Kurosaki | Visitor | OTA who wants to catch him poking around but especially Bruce

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