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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:35 pm
He knew Lorcan wouldn’t like this, not one bit, but he also knew his cousin wouldn’t like it if he saw anyone else. It put him between a rock and a hard place and he did not like such places, especially when his cousin was involved. But he was due for a chess game anyway so it worked out for him, thankfully, he didn’t have to go bothering Lorcan on day where he was busy with other things.
Knocking, he stood waiting at the other’s door, his hands folded in his lap as he stood there silently, he really was not looking forward to this. He knew there would be looks and perhaps some words…actually scratch that - there would be words. He knew Lorcan would have something to say and he knew it was because he cared, they had grown up together and were close, but he also didn’t want to hear it. His cousin knew where he was at, he’d told him so much recently…he’d told him too much really.
He had however come with a gift for his cousin, which he thought he might find amusing, they were tucked into a nice gift back with all the tissue paper he could fit into it. There were even ribbons, nice and neatly curled hanging, from it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:36 pm
Like clockwork and by this point Lorcan was beginning to swear that his cousin was psychic and knew just when he had started a game of chess. Taking a moment to reset the board, he’d let his cousin stand out in the cold for a bit for the inconvenience. Not too long though but just enough to let them know he was annoyed. He was still figuring things out after having spoken with Katya about some things and they both had come to the conclusion that something was going to happen one way or another. Begrudgingly he hoped that it would be them visiting the tart but they both knew it was a fifty-fifty chance that they would go find another so-and-so instead of facing the problem.
Opening the door finally, he moved out of the way for them to come in. “Hello cousin, what brings you in this time? I don’t see any blood which is good at least.” Double-checking the stoop for any, he nodded and turned the outdoor light off before closing the door behind his cousin. He noticed the gift bag and wondered if it was some sort of bribery which meant…. Sighing he figured that option two was what had happened. Or maybe it was going to happen and this would be a chance to convince them otherwise. He hated it either way, getting tangled up in such complicated things.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:42 pm
“I assumed we were due for a chess match, not that I’m really much for you to work against.” And he doubted he ever would be, it just wasn’t who he was, he thought and worked differently than his cousin did and that kept him from being good with the game. It was also why Lorcan was so good with it.
“I found these online and thought you might find some amusement in them…a bit dark in humor but I don’t think that’s something you’d be against really.” Infact, he wouldn’t be surprised if his cousin preferred a darker sense of humor, really. “I also might need you to test me again, I am aware it’s been a few weeks but I should be due for that as well.” And he was avoiding saying just way. He was leaving it as a due for it thing that incase anything hadn’t come up from his time with Rene that might now. It was easier that way and beating around the bush a bit…something he normally avoided doing but right now it was simpler.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:44 pm
“That’s true, it has been a few weeks since the last one. You aren’t terrible, I’ve seen much worse before. You’re getting better each time we play, so don’t feel too bad?” Walking back over to the chess table, he rifled through all the tissue and wrapping paper to get to the item inside the bag. It was cute, a small plush toy of a bacteria that he recognized. He’d seen them before at the main hospital’s gift shop when he was still doing his rotations in residency.
It didn’t quite fit with his decor but he liked the thing nonetheless and set it on the table beside the chessboard as a little witness to the game. “It’s cute, I’ll have to find a place for it but thank you.” And there it was, first had come the peace offering and then the request. Narrowing his eyes he tried to read his cousin, it meant that they’d done something with someone but the question really fell down to whether it was the lesser of the two evils or not. They hadn’t outright said it was the tart which didn’t bode well but he really didn’t want to hear about the alternative.
Sighing a bit, he gritted his teeth almost as he spoke. “I can check to see if anything lingered but it would have shown up before in most cases unless you are… active again.” It was just as awkward for him as it was for them but he shook his head and motioned for them to sit down. “I can do that in a bit though.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:47 pm
“I thought it was cute as well, even knowing that it represents a rather deadly virus.” He said with something of a laugh, something soft and light sounding, as he went to claim a chair for himself. One thing he was good at, and always had been good at, was gift giving. He always seemed to find something for someone, be it unique or from some unknown little shop, he was good at hunting for ideas to gift people with. Alexandre also had a habit of randomly gifting things, like plants, to people for no other reason than he felt like it.
“Alright, so in a bit…I suppose it gives me time to get my a** handed to me by you.” He said laughing a bit more. He really didn’t mind it, he never really had, because it was his cousin and it was family and this was something fun and bonding for them both. “You sound as if you’d rather I be with the one you dislike so very much dear cousin.” Tilting his head as he watched the other.
“Ya know….we’ll be twenty nine soon..time has flown it seems when I think about it. Other times it feels like it’s dragged on and then I feel my age, even if I don’t look it. At least I’m not the only one hitting that age soon.” Grinning now as he looked over the other, who also didn’t quit look his age. He had switched from one topic, giving an answer to his cousin without outright giving an answer, and shifted to something else to further cover what he’d said. He was good at these sorts of games, of trying to be honest and answer while directing to other things which might better gain someones attention, he knew it wouldn’t work here but he might as well try.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:48 pm
At least they were all laughing and smiling, even if he figured there was more to it. “They make ones of organs as well, it was a common gift for the surgeons who had specialties picked out in my graduating class.” Nudging the thing a bit next to the board he started off the game with his move first but as soon as he’d moved his peace their words made him pause. “So that’s how it is, I’ll run a few extra tests then to make sure.” And that was as much as he was going to say on the matter but he would reach back out to Katya about things after this game. It would be one thing if they found someone else for more permanent things but he knew better at this point with how everything had been going.
“I can understand that, with how you’ve been through the wringer without getting patched up properly. I’m surprised your joints aren’t worse off, I know I can feel it in my knees a bit from how much I walk for work. Maybe it’s time for you to settle a bit more in things after you finish up your botany degree this year, that’ll be this summer right?” It would be useful for that project they were working on together but he also wanted to nudge them to be a bit more cautious with things.
“Might make it a bit easier on us both when we his 30 next year. Don’t want to have to deal with more aches and pains than I need to by then.” Laughing just a bit, he settled in and waited for their move.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:53 pm
“I saw that but I didn’t think that would be as fitting.” He’d poked all around the site before he’d settled on what he wanted to get for his cousin, he was pleased he liked it, Alexandre had honestly second guessed himself a bit. It wasn’t over the idea itself but rather which plush he got for the other, though he was also considering ordering one or two more of them for Lorcan, he might just use them for stocking stuffers for the other at the end of this year. Alexandre was already coming up with holiday gifting ideas, and wrapping and other things, he was always thinking of ideas for birthdays and holidays and other things. It was hard in his family, with how large it was, to get unique things for people. It was a challenge which he enjoyed.
“Thanks.” A single whispered word, because he didn’t even want to say more on it, he was grateful for his cousin not focusing on it. Looking at his pieces he went for moving a knight this time, rather than a pawn like he’d typically do. Setting the piece down he leaned back in his seat, blue eyes looking over his cousin as the other spoke.
“Maybe, but I think as things set in slowly I get used to it and push it to the background so I don’t notice it. It’s a slow thing that just builds but not more than I can push off and adjust and get used to.” Thankfully battles, the ones which wore on him the most, weren’t as common now as they once were. But it made sense as people got used to pain and medications and other things, it just happened.
“Year, end of spring semester I’ll finish the degree.” So even before the summer, he’d been working hard on it, because he enjoyed it. “Thirty….I’m not sure how I feel about it really. I don’t think it’ll make much difference…it’s just another year. But at the same time it does seem bigger….but I’m not one who wants to avoid it like some people want to avoid, or deny, it. I think it’ll be fine but not easier…well not really. I’ll have a job by then and no more schooling.” But he’d still be alone aside from his family and his team…and thirty. But that was what he wanted really.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:53 pm
Lorcan wouldn’t outright admit it but he did enjoy the plush toy, it might come to his office with him and find a new home on his desk. He was used to the normal gifts that his cousin brought, plants, and was used to passing them off to his clinic to be handled by the secretary but if more of this found their way over he would be quite alright with a small army of them making their home on the bookshelves.
The thanks felt like a nail in the coffin of things so he nodded and focused on the board, moving another of his pawns out to open up a bit more space without being in a position for them to take either of the two pawns he’d moved out so far. “Pushing things to the back isn’t good for you either but it can be something that gets figured out in time. I would have to say we got lucky with our genes, otherwise, I feel like I would have gone grey in med school.” Running his hand back through his hair, he slicked back his bangs again. They stayed put for the most part since he did the motion quite often when working or reading.
“I’m sure you’ll find something that works out well with your degree or your interests. It’ll also help along with this project of yours we are working on. I think I should be able to start some more work with it in the next month or so, after I get used to the schedule of things and attend a few more of those seminars I spoke with you about. I think you might find some of them interesting, at least in part, due to how they talk about medical uses for plants.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:58 pm
Laughing he nodded his head. “I imagine most in the family got lucky. Even if we do go grey young, or anyone else in the family, it won’t be noticed really. I got luckier than you though, I already have some natural grey undertones.” If he went naturally grey he doubted he’d even notice it. “I imagine some people would look at our family and not appreciate, or even like, the genetic make up.” He was certain some people would have some rather colorful things to say, some imaginative even. He was sure he knew what some people would insult them all about already, it was easy to tell really.
“I imagine med school was a lot of stress for you, but you made it.” And he was proud of his cousin, not that he’d ever doubted the other, he knew he’d make it through med school as he was dedicated and had a passion for it.
“I’ve already decided to try something basic, at least for now, and baked some like people would pot brownies. I doubt it’ll work or give us the results we want. But we can at least test them and have a base to go off of.” He just didn’t think it would work as well as they wanted, and needed, but it was something to work off of. “Those would be seminars I would love to sit in on to be honest. You know I love my plants.” And he really did and he was smiling at the very idea of it, it was a passion and love of his. It was something he took comfort in. “I’ll have to watch them if I can. It’s what I’ve always done for medicine for myself, unless I absolutely can’t.” Such as with antibiotics and such, which couldn’t and wouldn’t be replaced by plants.
Moving his knight again he seemed rather eager, excited even, as he spoke. “Is there anyway I can see these seminars with you?” Oh, how he’d enjoy that. He might not be a med student, far from it, but he was a botany student and this was something he knew some about and learning more would be useful for him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:02 pm
“True true, I have a bit more brown mixed in from my father. Either way, it works out.” Stretching, he moved his bishop to take their knight and placed the piece next to the small plush. “To be honest the stress came from rotations in the emergency room, at least now I know a lot of it was caused by youma or powered people fighting and getting injured by magic or weapons. It gives me a bit more appreciation for those who work in the ER and less appreciation for the senshi.”
Nodding along he had in fact made it and was comfortable in his current position in life. “That could work and I am sure baked goods will be easier to pass off than something more in line with a standard clinical trial.” Tapping his chin, he chuckled a bit wondering if the Negaverse had its own ethics board for experimentation.
“Oh, of course, you can attend. As a student or an alumnus, you get access to the online streams for most seminars and can attend them live if there are available seats. I usually hope on things as soon as they are announced, I believe I have a few scheduled out as far as 2025 for some traveling exhibitions. I can forward some of them to you or if you want to come over I can cast them from my laptop to my projector downstairs or my television over there.” Pointing over to the slightly dusty TV above the mantle, he really hadn’t used it much but it had been a give for graduating.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:03 pm
“Of course that’s what you saw a lot in there, especially during bigger events I’m certain. Actually…I heard of a haunted hospital, which shut down I believe.” Trailing off as he tried to remember things he smiled. “I didn’t see, or know for certain, who was behind it but given what I do remember I’m fairly certain it was a General I’ve met before. I haven’t seen or heard of them since then though. There was also a walk in clinic run by someone, or by us as a whole, I wasn’t involved in that to be honest.” There was a lot of things which the Negaverse was behind in the city…and the senshi always got involved somehow. If they just let things go it wouldn’t end so poorly for everyone. Energy gathering would continue and people would go about their business unaware of it all. It was a background thing which should be made peace with.
“At least you don’t have to deal with those things anymore. Though we do own a hospital and a school now.” Which meant if his cousin ever decided to work in a hospital he could easily do that, he could handle officers and make sure they got good care.
“It would be easier to get someone to eat a brownie rather than outright telling them they’re gonna be a human guinea pig for us to test things on. Just offering snacks would work and then we can see the results without anyone having a mind over matter issue.” Someone thinking they should be hyped up and thus becoming such, without the food actually being the cause of it. He wanted everything as accurate as possible with gathering results.
“We just need to be safe about it and perhaps with this bases we can figure a proper blend…see the results and find out any after effects and check the levels of caffeine in our offerings.” He was not interested in dropping officers due to too much caffeine, or having them crash badly afterwards. “If we push the caffeine level too high we might need to warn officers of no more caffeine for the day…” Since there were dangerous levels of caffeine and he didn’t want to reach those levels, not with what could happen once hit.
“That would be perfect, I’d enjoy coming over to watch them with you and either option is fine for viewing them. I just want to see and hear what the speakers have to say. And I’m sure I’ll learn something from it, since it’ll be from a medical perspective, while some things I may know or could offer up from a botanists perspective. Since it crosses into both realms.” It was still odd to think that he’d soon have that title, along with teacher and artist, but he rather liked it. “Will they have someone like that, a botanist, speaking as well?” While it wasn’t his cousins realm, not entirely, the fact his cousin did seem interested and was this serious about it was exciting and warming as well. It was something he could share with Lorcan - they could share together. A merging of both their expertises where they both had a strong footing and neither would feel lacking.
Pouting as his knight had been taken he moved out a pawn of his, wanting to be cautious now.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:05 pm
Face falling flat he eyed his cousin. “You’ve got to be kidding me… ghosts too? Next, you are going to tell me faeries appear from rings of mushrooms and steal children away in the night.” And he almost regretted that as he said it because knowing things, he couldn’t be entirely sure that such a thing was impossible.
“I like having my private clinic, it’s small enough to keep things running smoothly while still allowing me to focus on helping out our family when needed for house calls. I still prefer to keep this separate from the Negaverse as well, to avoid any otherwise unplanned issues coming up.” He knew his staff, small as it was, and that meant he knew what information came in and where it went each day. Everything had been vetted and ran just as smoothly now as it had since day one.
Alexandre’s answer made his skin crawl, there must not be an ethics board or any sort of guidelines followed to protect participants. Sighing as he shook his head, he’d have to make sure he brought extra supplies to counteract any possible side effects. “I can test caffeine levels in things before people start to consume them but I will let you be the one who doses things out. I will… have to get used to the skirting of the proper procedure I feel when it comes to things in the Negaverse won’t I?” Even saying it left a bad taste in his mouth, he never skipped steps or skirted procedure.
“I can prepare proper waivers and things like that if needed, I wouldn’t want to cause any undue harm to agents. Though… senshi… who’s to say if they wouldn’t react differently regardless.” Moving another of his pawns out, he went back to a more passive playstyle as he opened up the board a bit more now that his cousin was back on the defensive.
“I believe one of the upcoming seminars will have a botanist in attendance and it will be virtual due to them being overseas. I believe they do research with the seed bank in Norway so it will be very early in the morning next weekend. I can send you the information so you can come over during it. I believe the topic was plant mutations and their effect on medications made from mutated species. It was the closest thing I found that might give me some primer on what to deal with when working with your plants.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:12 pm
“Not literally but I mean I’ve heard some knights have met their predecessor…so a ghost in that form yes. But I meant haunted in the sort of haunted you expect from a movie where it’s really someone being creepy and turning a hospital into a small house of horrors…or similar enough. Obsidian was a bit mad…I don’t know if the war got to him, he was a general before I even joined, or if he’d been that way beforehand. But he was a bit unstable and even creeped me out to talk to, though I was new at the time and only spoke to him once or twice briefly. He was unsettling…” And he did wonder what had happened to the red haired General but he also wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to know. He was another who he’d thought vanished off into the Rift like Tanzanite had seemed to do.
“I mean cousin, we are in a war and we’re dealing with people who join mostly as young adults or teenagers. Things are not always on the up and up…we’re working with magic and under the table things. Considering they are allowing me to do as I am, does it surprise you there is nothing watching what I do or how I go about it? This is a matter of my own ethics and what they are and aren’t. So for us we can work within your boundaries to the best of our ability in order to keep people safe. There isn’t anyone over me watching this project, it’s just me and whatever I do.” Which was why he’d kept meticulous records on the plants he was growing and how they were each progressing. It was why he’d asked his cousin to help and why he had the greenhouse and equipment he did. He was trying to take into account safety as much as he could, and he knew Lorcan would as well.
“You might but also things like this are personal projects, even if they are done for the benefit of the Negaverse, so you can set your own standards and procedures. Which means you can set yours as you normally would. I’m certain Tom does similar…though I do wonder what he’s been testing out in his lab.” He knew the other had a lab he conducted business in but he’d never ventured there to look about, though perhaps he would sometime soon. It did however mean Lorcan might want to look at anything other officers did, to see what procedure they went about and what safety standards they had, when it came to certain things.
“Mmm, like senshi and knights can’t consume starseeds without serious issues and pain. However it’s nothing for us, unless we consume too many in a go.” It would be interesting if it would affect senshi, and knights, badly because of where the plants came from and how they were grown. Ohhh, that might be something to look into as well…somehow.
“Ohhh, that does sound interesting. Because my plants did mutate and not just to gather energy but some flower now…when they are not known to do so. That’ll be a really interesting one.” Oh yes, he was certainly excited for it. If it was early morning he might just turn up in pajamas though and with a blanket so he could be comfortable while watching, but he would turn up. This one was similar to what they were dealing with really. “Do you want my notes on my plants as well? I did take notes on them as they were growing, each one in fact.” Because it might help his cousin more.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:17 pm
“Ah, that I could handle a bit easier than ghosts and goblins. Even if I don’t like magic I guess that makes more sense than the rest. I really don’t like the idea of a haunted hospital though, that is a little too close to my work for comfort. Though to hear you are unsettled by someone is interesting in its own way. I don’t think I’ve seen or heard of someone by that name so far so maybe they aren’t around anymore.” It seemed to be a running thing with people as they grew older or were injured and put on the sidelines by things. It all made sense, just as athletes were put down over the years from injuries.
“I would prefer proper procedure to a point if that is alright with you, young adults and teens aside, I prefer things on the up and up as much as possible. Even if my research never makes it to a medical journal I would want to hold it to that same standard. I just want to make sure I keep things running smoothly as well without any accidents happening.” It would help get better results as well if everyone involved had a clear understanding of things and the risks involved, even if they would be mild in most cases.
“I see, I wonder what would happen if one of them were subjected to more than one starseed. Not that I would be in a position to want to test that out…” In theory maybe but in actuality he wouldn’t do that, it was risky without knowing the results. That and even if he wanted to do something about the senshi, he knew he wasn’t in a position to do much if anything on his own against them.
Looking at the board, he moved his queen out and nodded. “Check, and mate again. I would appreciate your notes but you don’t need to bring them here. I can just look over them in your office or greenhouse here soon. I think it’ll be nice to hear your input on the seminar.”
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:25 pm
"I don't mind proper procedure, I would prefer it even, I want the results as good as they can be. I've already put in a lot of work so why waste it all by letting thigns slide now." He had no idea what proper procedure for his cousin would be but he wouldn't mind it either, he rather appreciated it especially with this.
"One of these days you will make it to a medical journal, I've no doubt about it cousin." Lorcan was that sort of determined and skilled, and he was sure his cousin would make a name for himself in time. It was all a matter of time really, it also might just help what family he was born to in part. But no one in the family simply got things handed to them which were not earned, that would be stupid and look poorly on the family when someone failed and fell short of where they were. No, everything was well earned and Lorcan would earn alot in time.
"If you really wanted to find out I could assist with that." He offered in a rather off handed manner, not a single worry or care given to what such an experiment meant. How many lives taken and whatever the outcome would be. Perhaps they'd wind up a youma just like any officer with a bad starseed addiction. It would be amusing to have a senshi turned youma as a pet....very amusing.
"I'll drop my notes by tomorrow night if you want. You'll have time to read over things." And he really wasn't surprised that he'd lost the match to his cousin.
"Tomorrow night...now though I think you get to play vampire." Standing up and stretching slowly, time to grab somethign to drink before he let his cousin stab at his arm. "Might as well get this part of the evening over with."
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