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]

[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?

[holbydelboy]

No such thing, mate.

[dragonaught]

Really? You think so?

[holbydelboy]

Yeah. I mean, what makes you think that you're not good to hang around with?

[dragonaught]

Well, right now I've just... been having a bad time, I guess.

[holbydelboy]

Yeah? How so?

[Tell your new mate Fletch all about it.]

[dragonaught]

[ Casey shakes their head. Talking about your own depression and fucked up head isn't the best or easiest thing to do. ]

It's, um... it's nothing. Sorry.

[holbydelboy]

[EYEBROW RAISE.]

It's clearly something, and nothing you need to be sorry about. [A shrug.] If you don't wanna talk about it, that's fine, but I've been told I'm a good listener.

[dragonaught]

N-no! It's okay... I just... sorry. [ They've been told the same about themself. It's just not easy. ] I guess being here in this fog all this time just gets you down after a while.

[holbydelboy]

[He's still suspicious, but it's a valid reason.]

How long's it been like this?

[dragonaught]

Um... a few months?

[ Internal sigh of relief, man. ]

[holbydelboy]

[You're not getting off that easily, Casey.]

Yeah, I can see how that'd drive you nuts.

[dragonaught]

It's probably not just me, I'm just the only one I can speak for.

[holbydelboy]

Well, there's a thing called seasonal depression. Because the body doesn't get enough Vitamin D from the sun in winter, it can mess with some people.

[dragonaught]

Oh. There's... reason for it?

[ They sound surprised, a little hopeful. ]

[holbydelboy]

Yeah. A chemical imbalance... At least, as far as I know.