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 Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:06 pm
It was dangerous work, but he was well suited for it. Running a children's clinic in Destiny City afforded him always having extra medical supplies around and be well stocked. He Xander Jacobs had always had something of don't ask, don't tell policy for years because of his sister, so it wasn't always just children that visited the clinic, and he figured that was why his sometimes substantial orders went over looked. Donations also went overlooked as it was a children's clinic. For how long? He wasn't sure. How long would he be able to keep this up.
Tonight was a delivery night and he was laden with a large box of medical supplies, a box of donations and what looked like a facility laundry bag with mixed things in it. Much of it was for the oasis, but some of it would be filtered out around the camp.
He smiled at his sister who was with him for the moment before she took a box from him and headed off to delivery it where it needed to go. "You know you'll get caught up in there. You do every time. And you should come visit you niece, she and Ulane both miss you."
He shook his head softly smiling lightly and making a note to visit the little spit fire and her dad before heading off toward the oasis. He was mostly ignored as he walked to where he would always drop the delivery after which, he was pretty sure it was sorted, counted and some it used.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:49 pm
Pen scratched against paper as Orah wrote down her list and checked off what the med tent had in supply and what it still needed. Tapping the end of the pen against her lips, the young woman counted bottles and made a note on her clipboard. Some things the Oasis would have to do without that a normal hospital kept well stocked... some of it was too hard to get in enough of a supply and others were just not used often enough, both reasons making it impractical to have those items. Other items a hospital would scoff at keeping, they found useful enough to keep around... and such was the difference between a field hospital and one set in a building in a bustling city.
Thank god for the people who sent supplies. The young woman didn't know how they'd get along without them and all the good they did, despite the risk to themselves. Hearing a step outside the supply tent, Orah turned to see who had arrived and her eyes widened, a brilliant smile appearing at the familiar face.
"Xander!" Orah laughed as she tucked the pen into her clipboard and set it aside, rushing over to help him with the box he was carrying. Once that was safely on the ground where it wouldn't be in danger of dropping, the young woman gave into the desire and threw herself at the red-head, wrapping her arms around his neck to give him a tight, warm hug. "Its so good to see you! I didn't know you were coming by today or I would have been out front to meet you. How are you? How is the hospital doing?" The questions bubbled up as she pulled back to look him over, her hands cupping his cheeks as she grinned.
It was a terrible shame that she didn't get to see him more often... they were both so busy with important hospital work, she couldn't resent that, but with him in the city and her out here, there was precious little time to spend with her friend.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:16 pm
Xander gave a smile at Orah, allowing her to remove he box he was carrying and quickly sitting the bag down. He was recieved the hug readily and gave her a small squeeze enjoying the warmth. It felt freeing in the way, he always felt the need to be keep himself at an arms lenght when inside the city. You never knew who you could endanger and he didn't want to put anyone at risk. It was bad enough to visit his sister and her family.
"The drop days are ever changing so I can understand that you didn't know. So don't worry about, but I'm fine. The most Ive really had to deal with lately is overtired children, and a bunch of bad summer colds. The kids just don't have the energy to fight them properly."
He cupped her hands with his and gave them a squeeze, "let's not depress ourselves though. Let me help you get this stuff in order and we can spend some time together before I have to go back. I can't stay away too long. I trust my employees, but not with my life."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:06 pm
The returned hug warmed Orah right through and she couldn't suppress the grin as he squeezed her hands in his. She really had missed him, even if working at the Oasis kept her busy. She missed a lot of people these days, friends she had held dear whose paths had simply gone different directions from hers. She had new friends, of course, but they could never replace the old ones... people she loved and trusted, who had helped her get where she was now.
"Summer colds? Oh, those aren't fun at all. We get a few of those, but not as many, being cut off from the normal round of viruses." She replied, reluctantly pulling her hands out of his warm ones when he offered to help her put away the supplies. She would have rather held onto him, but he was right, duties came first. Turning to the box, she hefted it with a grunt of effort, moving it to the folding table in the center of the tent. Retrieving her clipboard, the young woman began to add these new supplies to the list and adjust the numbers she had written. "We still get some colds and things though, and more injuries associated with living out in the 'wild' as we are. No malnutrition side effects though, thankfully... our food staff volunteers have been really careful about everyone's diet."
Pulling out bottles and packages and bags, Orah began to set them in their places, older supplies pulled to the front and the newer supplies set behind them. With each item she put away, some of her tension eased. They never had 'enough' of anything, but with how far they made what they did have stretch, this was a veritable windfall.
"What about you? Have you been taking care of yourself?" She said with a small smile, glancing over at the doctor. "Met anyone in your busy city life?"
Part of her hoped the answer was 'no', while part of her wished just as much for 'yes'. He deserved a partner, someone to share himself with. Someone who could be with him more of the time, who could take care of him when he was too busy or tired to do it himself.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:30 pm
Xander gave a smile grabbing the bag he had previously sat on the floor and bringing it up to the table. It held hosiptal linens, but inside the linens wrapped carefully were viles, medicines and several more valuable, breakable, or questionable for legality in large quantities, like the anitbiotics and aspirin.
He unwrapped them carefully and refolded the sheets and put them to the side. "I glad to here that you don't have to work so much about colds. Hopefully it isnt us who travel back and forth who are bringing them in. I can imagine the wild associated injuries are more than enough on top of the ones due to leading double lives without colds."
He didn't necessarily know exactly where everything went, but he put away what he could. He only got to help out when he was here or if he was needed in an emergency, so he didn't always pick up on changes. When Orah asked about meeting someone he eyed her carefully, before shaking his head. "I don't think that would be wise inside the city limits, you can never be to careful. I don't feel like I should be looking for love, right now, even knowing I could not ..." he said softly with a little emphasis on the word looking, but trailing off. Was he opposed to finding it though, he didn't think so.
"What about you," he said not entirely sure what prompted him to ask the question back when he wasn't all to sure he wanted to hear the answer.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:47 pm
Bottles clinked as Orah set them out, feeling her cheeks heat and keeping her face turned to her task so he wouldn't see it. Happy and sad... the mix of feelings was awkward, and on top of that, that reminder that things were hard enough for everyone without throwing relationships and all those problems on top of the pile. Still... she saw people like Chariklo and Avacyn, getting married, having kids... proving it could be done, even with how dark times had become, shining a ray of hope into the shadows. She wished he could find that, have that happiness like his sister.
The young woman shrugged, brushing off the question with a breezy air. "We don't get new people here at camp that much, so there isn't really anyone new to meet and besides that, I spend so much time in the hospital that I barely have time to stumble to bed, let alone entertain a relationship." She had friends though, people she cared about... her mind drifting to a couple of them in particular and then away again. They deserved more than she felt she could give, just like Xander did. Her hands slowed for a moment, and then picked up again as she brushed off that depressing thought.
"There is always something to do, you know how it is. Never enough hands." Which actually reminded her and Orah turned to lean her hip against the shelves of supplies, her face a little worried. "Are you doing okay making it out of the city with those new permit things they're doing? Maybe... maybe you should think about reducing your visits. I don't like the idea of you drawing too much attention to yourself, or getting questioned if you're found with the supplies you bring us... Its getting dangerous to move in and out of the city."
Slender fingers fidgeted with her clipboard, picking at a splinter in the corner. The thought of the gentle doctor being called in for questioning, or worse... it terrified her and some of that fear leaked into her face.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:16 pm
Xander nodded at her answer, "I'm not sure thats a good or bad thing. No the relationship bit, but the no new faces. I can't tell if that means people are staying out of trouble or vice versa."
He turned moving to put something away on another table and when he turned back Orah was leaning against the shelves, a classic questioning stance if he had ever seen one. Reading people had never been his specialty, but once he gained friends, he learned. He almost sighed at the question and moved over to Orah his hand going to still her fidgeting.
"I'm careful I promise. I am well aware of the permits, but I have no intention of getting one. I have to travel unnoticed anyway as I'm almost always carrying supplies, getting a permit, might draw attention to my coming and goings. I will be okay."
He brushed a stand of stray hair away from Orah's face, "I'm not going to reduce my visits. They are scarce enough, the hospital needs supplies and its nice to see a face I trust at least semi-regularly."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:31 pm
The young woman nibbled her lip a little as he came to stand by her, his hand as warm as ever as he placed it over hers.
"Its the no permit thing I worry about... what if you get seen and you don't have one? That would be even worse than being questioned about your coming and going..." She said as he brushed her hair back, her face warming as she reached up to catch his hand, her fingers curling lightly around his wrist.
As always, she was torn about how she felt... glad that he would still be coming to see them, but also worried, as she always worried when her friends put themselves in danger. Whenever Hver and Naer went on a run... when Xander made his trips... when Ganymede did, or Athene and Tsui as they did their work... All these people doing so many things that could get them killed and all she could do was sit in the hospital and worry about it. Cross her fingers and hope while she took care of the sick and injured in safety...
"I just worry." She said softly, dropping her eyes as she slid her fingers from his wrist into his palm, holding his hand to her chest protectively. "I'm sorry... I know it can't be helped and there is no way you'd agree to stay here, no matter how much I'd like you to. Everyone has their jobs to do... as long as you're careful, I'll trust you to be okay. I don't... know what I would do if I lost you, any of you."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:48 pm
He stood there looking at Orah feeling slightly guilty. He had her worry, her and many other's because he had people dropping off donations at his job, because he was sneaking in and out of the city.
"I'm sorry," he said softly a very when you dont know what to say apologize moment. "Do you really think I should try to get a permit. The only good reason I have is to visit Lily at the cabin and that would provide them her address. It's too risky, there is a lot involved to getting one Orah and I may not even been approved."
Xander gave her a sad look, "I'm sorry to worry you. I'll make you a promise okay. If I feel as though I have been compromised I will come and I will stay. I can be just as useful here as there, my job just provides me the opportunity to be useful in both places."
He pulled her into a hug for a moment before releasing her and smiling at her, "lets finish up here while it quiet. Get everything organized while there is the chance."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:23 pm
Her dark braid sweeping down her back, Orah shook her head briskly, giving Xander's hand a squeeze.
"I think you should do what you think is right and safest for you. I don't think I'm the right person to judge what's best for you, since I spend more time in the hospital than out in the thick of things." She offered him a reassuring smile as he made her his promise to find safety if the danger got too close. When he pulled her into a hug, she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his trim waist. For a moment, she let herself bury her face into his chest, her palms smoothing down his back as she breathed in the comforting smell of him. She'd always liked it when he hugged her... the way it made her feel safe and comforted. She could believe everything was okay, when he hugged her like that.
She nodded her assent when he released her, pushing down the fleeting feel of disappointment. Orah returned his smile with one of her own, hoping it reassured him. Turning back, she finished unloading the box he had brought, knowing without thinking much about it where everything went. She'd done this so many times, the whole of the supply shed organized how she felt it should be to be the most productive. He was right, really. It wouldn't be long before someone would be calling one or the other of them for something that needed them.
"Do you have any other news from the city?" She asked as she worked, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I don't hear much of it, since I don't go out to fight."
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