[OPEN]

[defibrillating]

WHO: Zian & any visitors
WHAT: Loud music in the med lab, and one bored eggplant nurse.
WHERE: Nurse's office, ground floor
WHEN: Today!
WARNING(S): Currently none. Just bad taste in music.

After the U-Men incident and the follow-ups, it had been rather calm in the medical department. A few scratches, sprains and a belly ache had been the only thing Zian had to worry about. Instead, he had taken time to familiarize himself with both the ground floor office and med lab, as well as the infirmary and research labs down in the sub-levels. The nurse's office was kind of his home, however, leaving the more serious stuff to the doctors.

That meant that he also ended up personalizing it a bit with some nice, comic-book posters to make the kids feel more at ease, as well as his precious water boiler for the days he just wanted something warmer in his feeding tube. (Though he usually said it was used for tea just in case he'd gross anyone out... plus some might actually want tea while talking symptoms.)

It also included one technopath-made boombox, because his dad had been awesome. It was currently playing rather loud music, easily heard in the corridors outside the nurse's office. Someone liked ridiculously chipper pop songs, right?

Comments

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Ah... I'll keep it in mind. The concern's certainly appreciated."

Alric complies, taking deep breaths, as directed, with all the signs expected of an athletic young man. He keeps quiet, although he speaks up between auscultations.

"...nn. If you don't mind my asking... 'Zian,' I must confess, seems like an unusual name. For Europe, at least."

[defibrillating]

Continuing to listen, the medic checks Alric's lungs and heart, moving down a bit to listen to stomach sounds before he withdraws, popping the stethoscope from his ears. "Sounds good in there. Everything is working as it should. You can put your shirt back on."

Pausing at the other man's comment, Zian shakes his head a little. "No, it's not exactly European at all. My parents flipped a baby name book and chose the first name that popped up. Unfortunately it was Chinese, but it sounds a bit culturally ambiguous so they went with it. I think they just didn't want to name me after my grandparents." He shrugs. "I'm not really an Vsevolod or a Rostislav with this face."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Oh..? I don't know, Rostislav has a ring to it."

Alric picks up his shirt, pulling it back on and buttoning up casually.

"I suppose mine's flattering enough--Alaric without all the Rome-sacking connotations that would be... unfortunate, perhaps, in my position. But I can't say it's anything much to do with my family, other than perhaps a grandiose vision for my future."

[defibrillating]

"Eh, it's mostly hockey players and politicians that are named that, anyway," he says with a little shrug. "Zian is fine. Nerdy, maybe, but it works."

Glancing over at Alric after the other man is done putting his shirt back on, he smiles a little again. "I can't say I know much about that name, but it does sound nice and fancy. A little unusual and very European."

Swiveling the stool to the side, he picks up another small tool. "Okay, all I need now is a finger-prick to take a tiny bit of blood to check for any abnormalities or infections and you'll be all finished!"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric chuckles at that observation, tucking in his shirt, and offers his hand cooperatively.

"...mm. Well, Alaric of course, was a leader of the Visigoths, in the early 5th century. Germanic name, means more or less 'Ruler of All.' ...like I said, a bit grandiose."

[defibrillating]

He takes his sample quickly and presents Alric with a nice bandaid for his troubles. A less cartoony one than what he gave the younger students, even. Putting the sample in a container, he closes it and puts it aside for Takakage or Dr. McCoy to look over later.

"...that is some name to live up to. I hope you aren't about to go sacking cities and whatnot."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric nods appreciatively for the bandaid, a little amused.

"Haha, no, no, I assure you, my inclination's to see rulership as being characterized more by a set of responsibilities than of entitlements; or, to express it another way, that the entitlements exist to... facilitate the responsibilities. ...even if they are often... misappropriated."

[defibrillating]

Zian pauses at that, a little thoughtful. "That's a good way to look at it." Fancy wording aside, the medic had to agree that in a perfect world, that should be how all power worked. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case most of the time. "I'd vote for you."

Pausing a bit, he writes down some new information in the medical journal, adding the day's date and that Alric had a clean bill of health. "There we go, that should be everything. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric chuckles, scratching at the back of his head lightly.

"...well... that isn't... particularly a 'thing,' as they say, but I certainly do sincerely appreciate the sentiment."

He pauses a moment as Zian speaks up once again, shaking his head lightly... then smiles to himself and continues in a half-jokingly playful tone.

"Not to my knowledge. Although, if you should ever tire of the clinic and thirst for adventure and daring deeds, I am interested in assembling an X-team for the purposes of helping people where we can, and improving the public perception of the 'mutant' community. The medical expertise might be valuable. Not to mention having someone who'd 'vote for me.'"

[defibrillating]

Listening, Zian shakes his head a little bit at Alric's offer. "I appreciate it, but I'm not exactly a good addition to human-mutant relations. People tend to view this," he gestures to himself, "quite the opposite way."

The medic shrugs a bit, somewhere between sad and mildly frustrated. "Besides, my call is here. I want to help the kids above all."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric nods and smiles, unfazed.

"Mm. I anticipated you'd feel that way. But I'm not certain I agree with your estimation of your appearance."

He pauses a moment.

"I'd be lying if I denied that it's... startling, and could even be disconcerting, and I'm sure you know that well. But I believe that to convince the rest of humanity that 'mutants' are not evil, and are in fact no less human, will require... in somewhat crass terms, spectacle. Specifically, those who would be most easily outcast demonstrating their humanity."

He smiles a little sheepishly, pausing a few seconds, mulling over how best to express himself, and holding a hand up slightly to indicate that he's doing so.

"In the simplest terms, the more different someone seems, the more they appear to the senses along to typify some particular class, the greater the impact of their actions. The kindness of the obvious working-class mutant speaks far louder than that of the wealthy, influential mutant who could spend his entire life unnoticed. To prove that those who can escape notice should be allowed their privacy, we need first to demonstrate, to implant the notion in public discourse, that those who can't help but be noticed must absolutely be acknowledged in their humanity."

He pauses again, momentarily, and smiles a bit more sheepishly.

"...or, at least, so goes my thinking on the matter."

[defibrillating]

Zian could understand where Alric was coming from... but he also knew the lives the morlocks lived, how they had to move into the sewers to get away from hatred and violence. How he had never been able to walk on the streets without being covered from head to toe, heart beating in fear every time someone passed him. He didn't hate humans, but he was afraid of causing a scene that could spin into violence.

"It does make sense, and I partially agree... but I'm not the right person to ask. I grew up fearing humans and their reactions to how I look. I don't want to jeopardize any of the good you guys are doing by possibly drawing violence from crowds." There were a lot of odd-looking mutants, but he kind of hit the top of the line before taking a turn to the completely inhuman.

"I want to help people... but right now, I think my most important work can be done with the young mutants here. Making sure everyone is healthy... and heal those that are injured while learning about their powers or fighting to protect both humans and mutants alike." The medic smiles a bit under the mask. "Thank you for the offer, though. It means a lot to me."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric nods and smiles a little, reassuringly.

"...mm. I understand. However... insulated I've been, I know, myself, the kind of rejection and violence you wish to avoid, and I cannot reproach anyone for that wish. Consider it an open door, should you change your mind, one day."

[defibrillating]

"Thank you." Zian replies with a small nod.

"You're all set, now, and you're in great shape. Nothing I really need to tell you other than go easy on the bruises and ice them. I have your information, your blood group and you details. Everything is just perfect." He stands up, offering Alric a hand to get up as well.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"Ah, yes. I'll take care."

He takes the hand, standing--and shakes it lightly.

"Thank you."

[defibrillating]

Shaking it back, Zian's own hand kind of engulfs and hides Alric's nearly completely. "Good. I hope I'll not see you again for a while!"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric blinks and chuckles at that.

"...or, at least, not in a medical context. Have a good day."

He nods, at that, and heads out if Zian has nothing else to add/ask!