[network] Day 169; @notasidekick; bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens [open]

[nursetemple]

[The video crackles and pops for a second while Claire sets things as she wants, tablet propped up against a window. She sits a way away from it, her upper body showing. She's still wearing the coat she got when first waking up in town, her hands stuck in her armpits - she still hasn't found gloves, even if she wrapped her hands in plastic wrap the day before, and kept them on the inside of her coat as she walked..

Still, she smiles, something tired in her eyes.]

Hello, Norfinbury,

If we haven't met yet, my name's Claire, and I'm new in town.

[She moves a hand to wave at the camera. If you look closely enough, you can still see faint traces of blood on her fingers, even though she did her best to scrub it off.]

I come to you with a couple of things. If you don't know, I am an ER nurse, and since I arrived I have been trying to get some supplies together to be able to help if someone gets into an accident. So far, I have found needle and thread, and I am getting some more of that tomorrow. I have some sterile bandages and antiseptic wipes, as well as scissors. If you have anything that you're willing to part with, let me know. I'm most looking for surgical gloves, bandages, surgical tape, gauze, closure strips, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortizone cream, forceps, a penlight, thermometer, stethoscope, and cold or heat packs. A scalpel and painkillers would also be very useful, but I don't imagine anyone can let go of them if you've got them.

Oh, some warm gloves and a hat would also be nice, but that's just for me.

[She pauses, looking down. She's been here three days, and already has faced a pretty dire emergency, and is about to walk straight to another one.]

I know it's a lot, and I don't ask for anyone to give me anything they want to keep. But just in case, if you find any of these things in the house you're staying in, keep me in mind. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, we can trade if you want, just tell me what you're looking for.

[Biting her lip, she smiles a little nervously at the camera.]

I'm headed to the hospital and will be there in a few days. If there's anyone on the way that has anything they're willing to give me, or trade me for, please let me know. And obviously, if you need my help, let me know about that, too - privately, if you prefer. My inbox is also always open.

Thank you.

[She cuts the feed, and at the end of the message, she attaches a list, as a reminder.]

Comments

@featherydouche; voice; private

[mrcreamsicles]

Okay, what happened to you, because that looks like blood. Like the kind of blood that gets all up under your nails and unless you've got a file or a lot of time with a toothpick, then it just gets stuck there for a while. You alright?

Anyway, I've got a thermometer, but it's the kind for a fish tank. Do you think it might be useful still? We're gonna be heading that way.

video; private

[nursetemple]

Someone had an accident. A very...bloody accident. Personally, I'm fine. He might be concussed, but he's got very intense companions that are looking after him, now. Funny, how you take some things for granted, like running water and soap, until you've got blood under your fingernails.

[She makes a face.]

If it's got a sensor and indicates temperature, it can be useful, definitely. These tend to be less sensitive than the ones we use, but it can give us a general idea anyway, which would help if someone ends up with hypothermia.

Do you know how far from the hospital you are?

private;

[mrcreamsicles]

[He winces.]

Wow, yeah, glad I'm not a nurse. Soap is a crapshoot, but you can find hot water at 52 and 163 on House's map.

Hold on, I'll show you the thermometer.

[It takes him a moment to dig it out, then he sends her a short video clip. He's outside, and he's holding the thermometer in his weird, orange hand. Then it's back to voice.]

It's like that. We're... two, three days from it? Depends if we scavenge for more stuff on the way there, but we're definitely headed south.

private;

[nursetemple]

Thanks for the info, that can definitely come in handy. [She pulls up her notepad file of random information, and jots it down quickly. Ah, yeah, one of them is the makeshift clinic place.]

I've already found some soap, but without water it's making things somewhat difficult. I'm just glad he's okay - or will be, anyway. I doubt his friends will let him push himself too far.

[Or she can hope, anyway. She left them some pretty strict instructions.

When Davesprite shows her the thermometer, she makes a mental note of the orangeness of his skin, but doesn't say anything. He's already made it quite clear that he's not human, and it doesn't matter anyway.]

Yeah, that would definitely work. Bit big, but we've got to make do, and I'd most definitely make use of something like this.

Oh, good. I'm probably three-ish days away as well. I have to backtrack a little to meet with someone for supplies first, but then I'll be making a beeline for it.

private;

[mrcreamsicles]

[Not just orange, but birdlike, too, with the scaly texture and the almost talon-like nails. So long as she's not asking, he's not offering the details.]

No problem. There's water at the police station, too, but cold only.

I don't know where we're going after that for sure or how long we'll be there, but if we don't run into each other I can probably leave it behind somewhere.

@hotstud_xxx; text

[rubikscomplex]

[House isn't going to trade her any of his supplies for the moment, but she has caught his attention.]

who've you been playing nurse for already?
rhysie?

[Given that message from the man yesterday, it seems likely.]

text

[nursetemple]

yes
wouldn't call trying to plug a half-dollar sized hole on the side of his brain playing

@Spoiler ; text

[spoileralert]

How is he? He's my friend and I totally don't trust him to give me an accurate assessment of his physical health.

@notasidekick; text

[nursetemple]

He's okay. Far from 100%, but he's got people looking after him. He doesn't have any extensive brain damage, which is very good news. He should be fine, but it'll take some time for him to recover.

[spoileralert]

I know Angel wouldn't leave him alone for long. Thank you for taking care of him.

text (cw: allusion to suicide)

[rubikscomplex]

so he really did pull out all his implants
hard cord
also gross
is he planning on dying to fix all that?
because i'm guessing dying would be easier

(cw: allusion to suicide)

[nursetemple]

he'll be fine. it'll take a while for him to recover fully, but he'll be fine, there's no extensive trauma, from what I can see. Obviously I'm not a brain surgeon but his GCS score is good, and I'm giving everyone very thorough instructions.

There's no need for dying.

[The fuck is wrong with you, 'hot stud'.]

[rubikscomplex]

i think you just said he has a quarter-sized hole in his brain
how is that not extensive trauma?

[There are... a lot of things wrong with him, Claire. A lot.]

@kingdomkey ; Video

[seekthelight]

[When Sora comes over the network, he's already gone through all of the stuff in his bag to see what he can spare.]

I'm several days away from the hospital right now but I have--

[He fumbles momentarily with the camera before it focuses on the items he's laid out. Tweezers, cotton swabs, an eye dropper, a bottle of disinfectant, surgical gloves, latex gloves and a strip thermometer.]

--all of this I can donate. If any of it works.

video

[nursetemple]

[If Claire could make hearts with her eyes, she would. Instead, she gapes for a moment.]

Oh my god. I'm also several days from the hospital, but would you be willing to meet me there in a few days? I don't know if you have things to do - you can also leave them somewhere and I'll go to collect it if it's easier.

[Seriously, this is such a haul.]

This is incredible. It'll go a long way to help. Thank you!

video

[seekthelight]

I could definitely do that! It'll probably take me...three days, I think. To get back to the hospital. But I can definitely meet you there!

[It meant backtracking but for someone like a medical professional? Sora was willing to do it. This was the sort of thing that Alfie had told him to do while running supplies, right?]

It's my pleasure, really. I want to make sure everyone has what they need--especially people that can help others when they're hurt!

[nursetemple]

It should take me about three days as well to reach the hospital. Is there anything I can do for you, for your troubles?

[Kid's nice, and he obviously wants to help and be useful - but there's no reason for Claire not to offer to help him if she can in return.]

@ASolomons; audio

[devoutish]

[Still no video for you, Claire. Be curious.]

Ah, Rhys. Is he worse off than he sounds?

[nursetemple]

[Rubbing a hand over her face, Claire takes a minute to answer. She's been trying to not let the sudden spike of stress of the day get to her, but the later it is, the harder it gets.]

He's okay now. But he's not good. There's only so much I can do - I'm no brain surgeon, and I don't even have gloves. I think he can be fine in the long run, but it will take a long time.

[devoutish]

Mm.

Did you perform the surgery?

[nursetemple]

The removal itself? No. No, he...he did it himself.

[The thought makes her wince, and she presses her hands to her face again, ignoring the way her fingers twitch.]

I cleaned up and wrapped up the wound as best I could. Angel can help further, but while I'm here I'll stand by, wake him up every few hours to make sure he's not slipping into a coma.

[A sleepless night is nothing new.]

@makeme; audio

[coyoteking]

Guess other people've already asked about the blood, so I'll skip it, but you really should wash that off a little better. People who didn't see this might think you did something.

Anyway. I got a stethoscope. [Which hasn't proven very useful, so he doesn't need it.] Might have other stuff, but I'd want to trade for it.

[nursetemple]

Is everyone that suspicious at all times? Or is it just you?

[Her voice and facial expression are both soft, not judging so much than curious. If it's the kind of thing she should be aware of.] By all means, I'm perfectly happy to explain what happened, so surely that should help, no? I have nothing to hide.

[At least he doesn't beat around the bush.]

What would you want for it?

[coyoteking]

Nah, not at all times. But there's some real motherfuckers out here. We had a pretty public murder not too long ago, don't know if you saw. The warning goes both ways; don't be too trusting.

But anyway, that's the free tip. For the stethoscope, I'd take clothing or extra food. Anything you could use for climbing. Alcohol maybe, if you've got it. Offer enough good shit and you might unlock the mystery box.

[Referring, of course, to the stuff he said he "might" also have.]

[nursetemple]

[She'll be as trusting as she wants to be, Charles, thank you very much. She's not a child, and she can take care of herself.

Anyway, moving on.]

As you know, I've only arrived in town a few days ago, so I have very little extra anything. I don't even have enough extra clothing for myself, and I haven't been to any of the food restock places yet. I've been entirely focused on medical supplies - I wouldn't part with alcohol if I had any, because it makes an excellent antiseptic.

[She pauses, running a hand through her hair.]

I imagine you don't take IOUs.