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

[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?

[dragonaught]

If you think it'd help.

[ Casey shakes their head. ]

But... I don't know. It wouldn't help me. There's ways to charge stuff like that, I've seen some around here.

[holbydelboy]

[He looks down at the phone still in his hand, frowning.]

To be honest? I don't know if it'll help or not.

[dragonaught]

[ There's a quiet sigh. ]

It's up to you. There's no one right way to handle it, right?

[holbydelboy]

That's assuming I know how to handle it.

[A heavy sigh.]

This... it's almost too much to deal with.

[dragonaught]

It's enough to drive anyone crazy.

[ And it sounds heartfelt. Casey really is having trouble with this whole thing, too. ]

But we don't get any choice, either.

[holbydelboy]

[A laugh there, and Fletch shakes his head.]

No... We never do.

[dragonaught]

I'd say at least we have each other, but that isn't exactly a comfort.

[holbydelboy]

Might be when I get to know you better.

[dragonaught]

[ Casey turns to look at Fletch, looks a bit surprised. ]

Well, that's... definitely true. I'm not the best person to hang out with right now, though.

[holbydelboy]

I dunno. We seem to be getting along fine so far.

[dragonaught]

Beginner's luck?