001 - Video

[holbydelboy]

So, um....

[There's a man on the feed. He's looking a bit beaten up, a nice gash on his forehead that's been covered up, but... Yeah. He's smiling. From what you can see of him, he's wearing dark-blue hospital scrubs.

When he speaks, his voice has an English accent. London, if anyone knows enough about it.]

I'm still tryin' to sort this whole "city-on-a-turtle" thing out in my head. It's kinda... a lot to take in. [He laughs.] Must've been a magic grenade. Anyway... Guess I'd better introduce myself. Adrian Fletcher, call me Fletch. I'm a nurse, so... if you need help in a medical capacity, I'm your bloke.

And, well, I can sideline as a mechanic, but you lot don't seem to have many cars around here... and it's kinda been three years since I last 'ad me 'ands on a motor proper.

[He then claps his hands.]

Right. First order of business... I'm gonna need a place to stay. Then... [He looks down.] I'm gonna need to change outta these scrubs. Ain't exactly purpose-built for bein' transported to another world.

And, uh... I know this was probably all covered by the lovely young lady at the visitor's centre, but... I kinda spaced out and just nodded... Sorry, love.

Comments

[holbydelboy]

Nothin' I can't handle, mate.

[And Casey is flashed with a disarming smile.]

Lead on.

[dragonaught]

Don't tell me. You just need a good meal and a night's sleep?

[ There's a bit of an eyeroll to that but they aren't close enough for Casey to push. ]

Did you have any questions? Or...

[holbydelboy]

I'm a nurse. I know how to take care of meself.

[Trust him, Casey. Trust him.]

Uh, no. None at the moment.

[dragonaught]

Okay.

[ There's a pause before Casey staves off the fidgets, tries asking something else. ]

How long have you been a nurse, Mr. Fletcher?

[holbydelboy]

Fletch, please. You don't have to stand on ceremony for me.

And about three years. I was a staff nurse in the Emergency Department at Holby City Hospital for two, then I took the Ward Manager's job on the AAU.

[Don't think your slightly awkward movements haven't passed him by, Casey.]

[dragonaught]

... Okay.

[ They're a little surprised by that information, and it shows. ]

Really? That's not very long, is it?

[holbydelboy]

Two years in A&E gave me all the experience I need, if that's what you're worried about, and AAU isn't exactly a cakewalk.

[He does offer Casey a smile, though. He's not taking it personally.]

[dragonaught]

Oh! I wasn't questioning your experience... it just doesn't seem like very long for a career.

[ Or is it not that? Hmm. Casey ducks their head, regardless. ]

[holbydelboy]

I started late.

[It's simply put... and true.]

[dragonaught]

Right... I started early, kinda.

[ It's a bit of a stretch, not quite the same, but they manage a slight smile despite it. ]

Not school, but work. Life, I guess. [ Casey shakes their head. ] Did you do anything before?

[holbydelboy]

[That's a bit cryptic, Casey, and you're getting a curious look.]

Mechanic. Used to own my own shop, and, well... the recession hit.

[dragonaught]

[ For the curious look, Casey manages something embarrassed rather than secretive. ]

Emancipated when I was fourteen, that's all. [ It was a lucky break more than anything. Technically within legal bounds but life was still difficult in those early years. ]

Recession? Oh... from mechanic to nurse, though...?

[holbydelboy]

Emancipated? From what?

[He can't help but ask... besides, small talk is part of the job.]

And yeah... Birth of my third, Ella. Saw how dedicated the nursing staff was... Kinda inspired me to give back.

[dragonaught]

Oh, um, from my mom. Divorce from parents, you know?

[ Not the best thing to admit to someone they've just learned is a dad, but it's too late to back out now. ]

That's a good reason, I think. Helping people.

[holbydelboy]

Fair enough.

[Fletch isn't judging. There's many types of toxic relationships, after all.]

And I thought so... That, and nursing's got a nice, five-figure wage attached to it... Figured it would be good... Provide for my kids, y'know?

[dragonaught]

[ That's as much as Casey really wants to say on the matter. There's a lot of reasons for the move and they're probably better for it. Still... it hasn't been long enough to really brush it off. ]

It pays that well? Heh... maybe I should've been working as a nurse myself. Um, how many kids do you have? Just the three?

[holbydelboy]

[A shake of the head.]

Four.

[And the more he talks about Evie, Mikey, Ella and Theo... the more he misses them.]

[dragonaught]

[ Casey just kind of looks at Fletch for a moment before finally looking away. ]

I'm sorry. They say... time doesn't pass at home while you're here, so... at least they don't know you're gone?

[holbydelboy]

Yeah, they say that...

[He shifts a bit, anxiously.]

Doesn't make it easier.

[dragonaught]

No, it doesn't.

[ Casey's got people back home they left behind, too. It isn't easy to rationalize but they just have to keep telling themself that. ]

Because... you know you're gone.

[holbydelboy]

Yeah...

[Something vibrates against his leg, and he reaches into the pocket of his scrub pants and pulls out an iPhone.

His expression drops further.]

Oh, yeah, rub it in... [He mutters, stuffing the phone back in his pocket.]

[dragonaught]

[ Casey gives an odd glance to the device. They've seen regular cell phones by now, but they're still strange and unfamiliar. ]

What happened?

[holbydelboy]

It's... [A pause.] It's a reminder to pick the kids up from school.

[dragonaught]

[ There's a stricken look on Casey, their face turning from curious to concerned before they turn away to watch where they're walking in the fog. ]

I'm sorry. I... I still have some messages from the day I got here, too.

[holbydelboy]

It's a recurring alarm. Just in case I get held up, y'know? In surgery or somewhere...

[He follows, almost listlessly.]

I should probably... turn it off. Save the battery, eh?