asgardeventide | third designation ⇝ anonymous text

[Versed in biology as he is, Charles recognises what the Traveler is asking for almost immediately.]

If anyone were to supply you with Tryptophan, they most likely would have obtained it from the pharmacy or hospital anyway. Would it not be easier for you to purchase it yourself?

That's if there's even some for sale at the drug stores. Back home it might as well be on lock down.

You won't find out if its available by avoiding the pharmacies.

I'm not looking to go public with why I need it and how I use it.

Maybe just trust one person with the distribution, if I get lucky enough for trust to actually be accomplished.

Hm. [Rustling some papers on his desk to give himself some time to think.] If it is truly a necessity, I would offer my assistance.

However, I cannot in good conscience supply you with it until I know what it's for. I've shielded the conversation between us now; you're free to talk if you wish.

[Max comes on screen looking doubtful. She doesn't exactly want to give herself away but he did offer to help.]

I already gave one guy the specifics on why I need it. He wrote me a weeks prescription and told me to follow up with him later. He wants to be my doctor. To tell you the truth I don't really trust doctors.

So, if you can give me a better deal than that we'll talk.

Where do you stand on clinics?

I don't really trust them but I'm not very familiar with them either. They're in short supply where I'm from.

We aim to provide an alternative to the hopsital for less serious cases, or for those who simply want advice or more traditional methods of medicine -- including prescriptions.

As a licenced doctor in my own world, the hospital grants me acess to their medical supplies and I have contacts with Asgard's pharmacies. I see no problems in filling your prescription. In addition, I am bound by the code of my profession to respect patient privacy.

Maybe we could meet somewhere to talk?

Just tell me the time, place and dress-code.

You name the place. I'll be in a purple sweatshirt and a ball cap.

How about the library in -- a half hour or so?

[Watson needs to look up 'sweatshirt'.]

I'll be there.

Until then.

[And half an hour later exactly, Watson (having ascertained what a sweatshirt is) is taking a seat at one of the reading tables. There's people around but it's private enough they'll not be overheard, while still being far from isolated, should either of them wish to call for help. He's picked up a recent issue of a medical journal to read while he waits for his mysterious correspondent.]

[You probably weren't expecting a tiny not so threatening looking girl that's in her twenties, but that's what you get. Max sits down adjacent to him without saying anything. She's in a purple hoodie with her hair tied up in a cap.] Hey.

[Watson is not in fact expecting a tiny, not so threatening looking girl that's in her twenties, but he is a well-mannered Victorian gentleman and his surprise shows only momentarily.]

Good afternoon.

Keep your hands on the table. [She doesn't trust doctors worth a damn but she's willing to see this through. She puts her own, covered in black fingerless motorcycle gloves on the surface of the table and balls them together.]

[The things he does for patients. Watson's hands are bare, having taken off his gloves to read.]

I assume you have a few questions for me ... ?

Yeah, what's the charge? [Tryptophan was really expensive and impossible to find on the street where she was from. She had to go to a special stand full of illicit items and barter just to get it. When that didn't work she had to risk everything by breaking into hospitals.]

I did a little preliminary research. The hospital get their stocks from Utgard, at a rate of [ price that is considerably more reasonable than you are expecting ].

That's something I can manage. [She looks a little relieved but still on guard, fidgeting with the strap of her gloves to fill the silence between them.

She can only imagine his questions are coming next.]

[Oh yes.]

I do have to say that while filling your prescription should not pose any difficulties, I'd have to be satisfied that it is in your best interests first. I speak as a doctor -- to do otherwise would be unethical.

I guess I can understand that. [It's hard to say that with the frown on her face but she wouldn't trust someone like her either if they were asking like about an off the wall dietary pill the way she was. You had to give a little to get a little. Hard truth of life.] Go ahead and ask whatever you need to know.

[Watson's relieved that she's willing to talk.]

Tell me about your medical history. Why do you need the tryptophan?

[There was no possible way she could give him a detailed medical history, even without her need for it, but she could at least give him an overview.]

I have some wires crossed in my brain. [She gestures a little beside her head to play it off as no big deal when it really was.] I have seizures sometimes. The Tryptophan keeps it from having and it keeps it from getting worse when it does end up happening. They can lay me out and I don't need that here.

[Watson's hand shifts as if he'd like to reach for a pencil, but he stills it, keeps his hands on the table. Frustrating to be without his notebook!]

What causes your seizures? How severe are we talking -- loss of consciousness?

I just told you. [She looks pretty uncomfortable. She needed the supplement but not enough that she was willing to regale what she was and how it happened.] Sometimes. It happens in flares.

[Congratulations, Max. You've officially startled Watson.]

Wires -- literally?

Not exactly. I don't know. I've never been back there. [There might be a subtle hint in why she doesn't trust doctors like yourself in that last statement.] But that's the gist.

[There -- an institution? Watson's sympathetic -- he's visited his share of mad-houses and spent long months in a military hospital as a patient. He's decidedly not a fan.]

Tryptophan is used to treat epilepsy and depression -- both of which conditions are serious enough that medication should be taken alongside regular medical consultations. Your seizures -- have you been able to rule out epilepsy?

[If she knew what he was thinking she'd be the first to shoot that train of thought down. She wasn't crazy. Just not easy to trust and pretty withdrawn.

This place had been a learning experience for her when it came to communicating.]

Honestly? I've never been able to see my records. It's complicated.

[Honestly, Watson would be more worried if Max liked institutions -- his thoughts are no attack on her sanity. Unfortunately, misdiagnosis is common in Victorian England, and institutions house not only the insane, but the poor, the embarrassing and the immoral. It's all too easy for him to imagine a case of medical malpractice.]

I see. May I suggest a compromise?

[Well, at least he has that going for him. He's a lot nicer than any other doctor she's come across in the past. She'll give him that.]

You can suggest it but it's not a sure thing I'll agree.

[That gets a smile from Watson -- he appreciates that you're up-front about that, even if you can't tell him your complicated medical history.]

That seems fair.

I'd like you to consider making me your doctor. That means seeing me regularly so we can discuss your progress, letting me look into your seizures in more detail, perhaps even taking a few tests. I -- understand that this may seem a lot to you, so in addition to my word as a doctor and a gentleman, I'm going to suggest getting you a week's prescription. That should give you enough time to look into my credentials and think about your other options, without having to worry about your condition deteriorating while you make up your mind.

Does that sound agreeable?

[She looks reluctant but as far a deal goes this was the best she was going to get. No one was going to just hand over something like this without a story to back it up. They'd probably think she was a junkie first.]

A gentleman, huh? [She shifts in her seat. A little more confident now that she's gotten it out there.] That's reasonable.

Edited 2012-06-28 13:10 (UTC)

I never introduced myself formally, did I? John Watson, M.D.

It'll take me a day or two to get your prescription together. Meet back here tomorrow? Or would you rather somewhere different?

I'm Max. [Names couldn't hurt. Especially after sharing as much as she did. It was way more than she intended.] Here's fine. I can swing that.

[That gets another smile from Watson -- Max is certainly easier than 'the young lady in the purple garment with the unique name.' He stands, evidently intending to waste no time getting to work on that order.]

Then I shall see you tomorrow, Max.

[She smiles in return but it's still a little doubtful.] Same time?

Same time. If I'm running late, I'll try and leave a message on your post.
[Watson taps his bracelet.]

Fine by me. [Max raises a hand.] Catch you later, doc.

[With that she sticks her hands into her pockets and heads in the opposite direction. Not quite home, she has a few things to do.]

Tryt—trop—tryptophan? [wow that's a hard word] Isn't that the stuff in turkey that makes you fall asleep?

[the unspoken question being, why the heck does anyone need a monthly regimen of that?]

It has a different effect on me, but yeah.

O...kay...! Well, if I find any... I guess I'll let you know?

Thanks... I guess.

third designation ⇝ anonymous text

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