lifeaftr | [OPEN] Press 'E' To Call For A Medic!

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[OPEN] Press 'E' To Call For A Medic!

Who: Doctor Faust (

wanderingdoctorfaust) and everybody else brave enough to come within thirty feet of him!
What: Cleaning acid burns, writing to-do lists, perhaps receiving visitors?
When: Backdated to June 26th
Where: The Ensō Clinic & Infirmary (located on square B6)
Warnings: May contain trace amounts of medical malpractice (please mark your content warnings!)

The events of the past week have proven...interesting, to put it mildly. Mind and body alike were swapped, a particularly horrifying construct menaced the local populace, and a god they didn't even know was incomplete has been restored to their former greatness. The implications given by all of these extraordinary events are beyond astounding, and as such, time should be set aside and dedicated to studying and understanding them as soon as possible!

...at least, that is what the good doctor wants to believe, but frankly? He just spent a week and a bit navigating through the isles whilst controlling a stranger's body (deprived of his long-mastered abilities, no less!), had to fight an acid-spitting eldritch horror with naught but a weird sledgehammer and heartburn-inducing flame breath, and worst of all had to witness someone else waltzing around in his body with no concern for the consequences of his face being seen. So Faust might be just the slightest bit cranky.

As such, he'll endure the multitude of aneurysms he's most likely going to suffer from trying to process everything that's happened later; right now, he has an understaffed and ill-equipped clinic that is about to experience an influx of patients. After all, it's not like people are just going to sit at home ignoring the pain instead of seeking medical help, right?

Regardless, he won't be at the reception desk when you come in - Mini-Faust is currently commandeering it instead, though he's only able to spare a distracted half-wave, too busy swinging around a small stick like a wannabe Shaolin monk. Faust himself is likely inside the supply room, judging by the concerned 'hrm's and 'argh's and muttered curses of frustration coming from within. Welcome to the clinic!

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Oh, he hears it alright. Faust immediately cuts himself off mid-curse to plumb the depths of his memory for a face to put to the eerily familiar voice, only to realise he has none - of course he doesn't, he hasn't been able to find a single mirror anywhere in this faux saccharine dreamscape - and finds himself filling with dread at the dawning revelation this young man might very well be here to be treated for the injuries they themselves had no part in receiving.
And to make matters worse, as far as Faust is aware, there is not a single shred of baking powder nor salt to be found anywhere on the island.
Damn it.

"A-ah, one moment, good sir! I'll be right with you!"

As fast as he possibly can, the good doctor channels his ki into his hands in hopes of at least partially sterilising them, snatches an entire roll of clean bandages from a nearby shelf, and barely restrains himself from bolting out of the supply room to confront his latest failure to protect a patient from harm.
Fortunately, decades worth of delivering bad news means all Zidane will see is the lanky form of doctor Faust calmly walking up to him from a nearby room, giving a hearty wave to him.

"Sorry about the delay! Welcome to the Ensō Clinic & Infirmary! How can I help you today?"

With painful acidic burns that he has nothing with which he can treat them with. Fingers crossed this child is amenable to magical healing.

[Zidane did witness himself - or someone in his body anyway - fighting the clown box. He never found out who that person was though.

Instead, his first thought when Faust enters the room is WAIT THAT LITTLE GUY IS A MINI VERSION OF THIS DUDE? and he cannot help but stare.] Uh.....right. [Weirdo.]

Hey, you're the owner of this place, right? Somehow I got some acid burns and I'm trying to look after treat them as much as I can, considering there's not much in the way of treatment here if you don't know how to use healing magic. So I was just looking for some spare bandages.

This isn't the first time Faust has felt embarrassing amounts of relief in response to someone's visible bewilderment towards him - it means this is their first encounter with him, in turn also meaning they do not recognise who he is...
But of course, how would they? They never spoke whilst using each other's bodies, or at least, he doesn't think they did...?

"Ah, well...we do have bandages, but I am a highly trained medical professional - I'll be more than happy to take care of your injuries for you if you'd wish, mister...?"

One of the many benefits of wearing a bag: Nobody can read your facial expression and tell you're feeling extremely uncomfortable with all of this. How does he explain to the young lad that bandages should be the least of his worries right now...?
At least they seem to be taking the whole 'nine-foot-tall lanky giant towering over me' thing pretty well.

[Dude you have a bag on your head. The nine foot tall thing is something but not the weirdest thing about you.] Really? That’d be great! It’s sure hard to find the right treatment for these sorts of injuries in a place like this. [Maybe he needs to ask the Storyteller for more stuff besides baking powder[

Oh, and I’m Zidane! No need for the ‘mister’ part - I’m only 16. [He addresses most people casually anyway, even if they’re much older than him.]

"Indeed! The entire purpose of this building and its staff is to try and rectify that as soon as possible! My hope is that one day we'll be able to deal with whatever these accursed isles throw at us...ah, I'm Doctor Faust, by the way. I'm the Deputy Medical Director here."

He'll lead young Zidane through the doorway into the infirmary proper, doing an admirable job of keeping his voice clear and concise whilst he's internally panicking. Sixteen?! He nearly lead a sixteen year-old boy to their death without their knowing?!?!
WITHOUT EVEN STOPPING TO THINK HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE SUPPLIES READY TO TREAT THEIR INJURIES?!?!?!
Good grief, perhaps he really shouldn't have been given a medical license after all...

"Take a seat just here, please - you should have several on your upper torso, correct? I'll need to examine them first so I know the extent of the damage. How much do they hurt, if you don't mind me asking?"

[It's okay. Said sixteen year-old boy has almost died plenty of times! Comes with being a self-sacrificing hero. Anyway, he'll follow Faust.]

Well, we'll do our best until then. And I guess gather up more stories for that. [He might help out with that actually. Probably save up his stories for things like that first before he does something for the theatre.

Zidane sits down as Faust instructs.] Well, they don't hurt enough for me not to be up and about. And they hurt less than before but they're still sore....[And then something occurs to him.]....Hang on. I never said there were any on my torso?

[How would this guy know that? Did he just randomly guess? No, that's silly. So when....?

....

Hmmm...it is possible that Faust was at that fight with the clown box, although Zidane didn't see him. It be that he swapped bodies with someone. And that someone may or may not be....]

...............oops.

"A-ah, well, t-that's because...!"

Can he really just come out and be honest about this? This child needs medical attention immediately, the last thing they need to be thinking about is that their doctor is the one responsible for their injuries! But if they find out after the fact, they'll be even less inclined to trust him - they may even come to suspect him of committing malpractice or some other form of malevolent intent...
Damn this faux saccharine hell. Damn that giggling abomination. And damn him for allowing any of this to come to pass.

"...because I...I was the one occupying your body when you got them, young Zidane. I'm so sorry."

The dam finally breaks, and shame washes over him like a tidal wave. He let this happen. He should have just stayed on the sidelines and healed the sick, why did he have to go and get this innocent child involved with that blasted contraption...?!

So that WAS you?! GEEZ!

[He suspected it could be this old dude but wasn't completely sure. However, while the doctor was feeling great intense guilt about almost killing a young and innocent child, said 'innocent' child, who has the criminal record of a filing cabinet, can only think of one thought that fills him with utter horror...]

Tell me you didn't start running everywhere with a bag on your head......uh....I mean mine. [Which is clearly the most important thing here.]

"...I..."

...............

"...what? N-no, I don't think...so...?"

I'm sorry. The line you've reached is not in service. Please hang up or dial again. Thank you.

"...what?"

Edited (Removed gagtag.) 2019-08-06 00:36 (UTC)

Well, I hope not. Can't imagine how stupid I'd look if a pretty girl walked by when that happened. [He looks horrified as he says this because good god that would be the worst!!!]

...............

You know what? At this point, Faust's not going to dedicate any further effort to this line of thought. He can already feel his skull creaking at the sheer volume of baffled questioning and confused noises demanding to be released...but then, this young man hardly spared him more than a curious glance when they first met - perhaps he should actually extend the same basic courtesy to young Zidane, instead of standing here gawking like a moron?

"I...no. I kept my-I mean, your, head uncovered for the entirety of the situation. Rest assured that outside of my...questionable judgement to participate in the battle against that Thing, I performed no particularly unusual-"

-no, that's not true. As soon as he left what he now knows is Zidane's abode, searching for answers...he stumbled upon...!

"...ah, actually, I may have...found a young lady who was in great distress over what was happening. I assisted her as best I could with my medical expertise. That was it, though - you have my solemn word."

The good doctor neglects to mention that young lady was, in fact, being inhabited by someone very alien indeed to that kind of body at the time. Frankly, he thinks it's probably for the best. He hasn't violated doctor/patient confidentiality laws in several decades and he's not about to start now.

[It's best not to pursue this line of thought further, Faust. You will really regret it if you do.

So no silly bag over his head. Oh boy, thank the gods. Zidane has no reason to think Faust is lying so he sighs in relief.] Phew.

Well, if it helps, I fought that thing too so I can't really be the one to talk about questionable judgement. [Well, he did try his best to make sure Penny's body didn't get too badly hurt and, well, Faust was trying to fight to undo that curse and save everyone. It wasn't if he was trying to perform some stupid stunt or anything. It could have been much worse. And it's not as if he knew in advance that the monster was going to shoot acid. No more than anyone else.]

And you helped a lady in distress? Well, I sure hope so! Abandoning a pretty girl in distress would really not be in my nature.

[Well abandoning anyone else wouldn't be in his nature either but DETAILS.]

...good grief, to be young and reckless again. But, as much as the good doctor wants to lecture this young man on the finer points of basic self-preservation instinct, he still has a job to do and a patient in need of his assistance. To work!

"...yes, well...the important thing is that you're alright, young Zidane. Speaking of which, you've done a smashing job at cleaning these out! It shouldn't take much more to finish the job, I'd say! In fact..."

...out of the frying pan, and into the fire. Faust would be more than happy to treat these injuries as nature intended, but the empty shelves and boxes within the supply room continue to gnaw at his mind like a guilty conscience. The last time he was this deprived of basic medical equipment, he was working in the slums back home...and even then, he at least had saline solution and simple surgical tools at hand!
...damn it. He's out of options, isn't he?

"...tell me, young Zidane, do you have any special healers back home? Magical, spiritual, that sort of thing?"

The good doctor keeps a casual, conversational tone to his voice as he fiddles with the bandages, pretending to measure how much he's going to need for young Zidane's burns. Pretending that if the boy disagrees to what he's going to offer, there's little else he can do to help him.

[Reckless is Zidane's middle name. Especially when it comes to saving the lives of others. It's the reason why all his friends back home probably think he's dead - after all, he nearly did die back then.

On the plus side, he's not a particularly difficult patient. When he actually comes to the clinic, anyway.] Magical? Yeah, white mages and red mages can use healing magic. Magic's kinda not my thing though. Normally I have spare Potions on me when I'm hurt though. That said, I've kinda run out and need to ask the Story teller for some more at some point.

It's a start, to be sure. Are White or Red Mages secret practitioners of forbidden arts or socially acceptable magical healers? Does Zidane mean he is incapable of magic, or that he dislikes it? Are these potions arcane in nature, or are they just esoteric medicines?
So many questions to start with, and yet the one he picks is-

"Oh? Are you not comfortable with magical healers?"

The good doctor stops fiddling with the roll of bandages to make proper eye contact, tilting his head slightly in what may very well be a show of sincerity. And definitely not to hide the fact that he himself is a 'magical healer' and that the young man's answer may very will decide his fate here today. So, you know. No pressure.

Huh? No. I mean using magic myself isn't my style. [Otherwise he'd be avoiding Dagger, Eiko and Quina like the plague.] I mean, I can use a little stage magic but.....[He shrugs. Not something he's been interested in learning. Too much of a pain.]

I don't know any guys here who specifically use healing magic, anyway. Not ones who haven't left.

"Ah, but that is where you may find yourself mistaken, young Zidane."

Faust chooses to ignore the pang of grief in his chest at the mention of people 'leaving', especially now that he's found the perfect segue into breaking the news to his potentially soon-to-be-healed patient! He may yet have a chance!

"For you see...I am, in fact, a fully qualified cleric and magical healer!"

The good doctor immediately shoots back up to his full height, almost shattering his scalp against the ceiling in the process, and performs a dainty twirl as he strikes a pose worthy of only the finest of theatres! Gaze upon the pinnacle of decades worth of medical experience and academic study, and be inspired by the knowledge that you and all those you love will survive all of the coming trials and tribulations!

"Faust MD, at your service!"

...he seems remarkably oblivious to the sudden absence of bandages in his hand. Even as the roll audibly lands on the floor somewhere in the background behind him, immediately unravelling itself onto the floor like an unloved roll of toilet paper.

You can use healing magic? Wait, why didn't you say so in the first - [Hang on a moment. What he said earlier...] Oh.....

Did you ask that earlier because there are people back home who don't like healing magic? [Or maybe magic in general. There might be other worlds like that.

Then again, it could have been Faust got confused when he said that magic wasn't his cup of tea.]

"More that a nine-foot-three quack who wears a paper bag on his head isn't somebody people want using esoteric methods of healing on them."

Yes, believe it or not, Faust is actually very aware of how he looks and comes off. Not that that's particularly relevant here, considering how remarkably well Zidane is taking this. The good doctor will drop the pose and continue addressing the young man in a more serious and formal tone.

"To put it into simple terms, the method of healing I was trained in is a form of spiritual transfer - where I am from, it is common knowledge everybody has a soul, and that various parts of our physical and mental wellbeing are intimately connected to that. Without a soul, we are literally nothing more than lifeless husks, so it is in everybody's best interests to ensure one's soul is kept as healthy as possible."

It's at this point the formality is partially thrown back out the window as Faust's hands begin moving in a flurry of gesticulating motion, almost subconsciously providing real-time translations of his explanation into sign language as he does so.

"However, it turns out whereas good physical and mental health leads to good spiritual health, the system actually goes both ways. By transferring raw spiritual energy directly into another soul, it is possible to produce a restorative effect to both body and mind. Though I should mention that such a process is incredibly delicate, and can have a multitude of varying side-effects of an undesirable nature if performed by an untrained individual.
...fortunately for you, I've been doing this for over three decades! As your doctor, I can confidently say that your soul is in extremely safe hands, should you choose this method of healing!"

Faust shifts back into another dazzling, impressive pose, so as to inspire as much confidence in his abilities as possible!
And also to further withhold the fact this is literally the only option Zidane has, at the moment. Fingers crossed...!

Ah..........right. I guess....

[Well, the bag on the head DOES come off as weird. But whatever. It's not as if he's got any good reason to be suspicious of Faust, weird bag-wearing habits aside. Besides, he's got to do something about those acid burns.]

......Lifeless husks?

[Those words catch his attention. The black mages were supposedly soulless and yet the ones who broke free from Brahne's control were full of life. Vivi was full of life. And there were the Genomes, most of whom supposedly didn't have souls and acted like emotionless, functioning machines - well, except Zidane himself, Kuja and Mikoto, all three of whom had were given souls when they were created. And, well.....Zidane almost had his ripped out of him at one point. He did not want to dwell on that event, actually. And while the other Genomes did not seem very lively, they also spent most of their lives just existing for a purpose. They were free now and had just begun living their lives on Gaia. Maybe they would show more emotion and personality one day.

Zidane realised that Faust was still talking. He wasn't sure what the guy said except the last part. Instantly, he snapped back to reality. He had looked like he was somewhere else for the moment.] Oh.....right! Um......sorry. I'm sure it is. Go ahead.

...now, as much as Faust would like to just get the transfer over and done with already, he has always taken pride in ensuring that all of his patients are as well-informed as possible about the procedures they are going to be going through, and in spite of young Zidane already giving their consent to the transfer...

"Of course. I will warn you now, this is going to feel a little uncomfortable - that's normal. It can feel a little different from person to person, but most patients I have worked with in the past have described a sort of burning sensation. This is completely okay, and it just means it's working. However: If you feel something like pins and needles during the transfer, or you begin to feel lethargic, please let me know immediately - it could indicate a form of illness or magical sensitivity that will cause the procedure to only do more harm than good. Do you understand?"

Satisfied he has provided a sufficient enough addendum to his explanation, the good doctor once more drops the extravagant posing in favour of reaching out as if to offer a handshake, leaving one hand out to receive Zidane's wrist and pulling the devils horns with the other. Depending on Zidane's own innate magical abilities, he might see the vaguest sparks of raw energy dancing between Faust's extended pinky and index fingers, like electricity inside of a lightbulb. Time for your shots!

Uh....sure. I'm pretty sure I don't have any problems like that. [Well, not as far as he knows. Dagger, Eiko and Quina have healed him plenty of times and he felt fine.] But if it's gonna hurt, it's gonna hurt. [And he'll just let Faust take his wrist. As far as whether or not he has any innate magical abilities, he does not know. Either way though, Zidane does not have the patience to learn magic. He'll let Vivi, Dagger, Quina and Eiko deal with that.

Zidane closes his eyes, in anticipation for anything unpleasant. If he felt any burning sensation, he doesn't indicate it. Best get this over with so he doesn't get infected.]

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