video;

[upshore]

[There's a man in his late 20s on the screen, and he looks tired. Not like he hasn't been sleeping well - though that, too - but like 'tired' is just generally a state of being for him. His hands are out of frame. He's going to keep it that way.]

Not to diss Raine and Heather, without whom I would be dead, and I am very grateful for their help, I've got a question. Out of curiosity, are there any doctors here? Gonna be clear here - I don’t mean maniacs with rusty shears, I don’t mean someone with a penchant for making people into unwilling human guinea pigs for whatever the fuck, I don’t mean Dr. Strangelove’s crazier Nazi cousin who’s trying to turn mental patients into batteries for nanomachines with more tubes in them than that one senator guy called the internet.

‘Cause before I let anyone come near me with so much as a stethoscope in future, I’m going to need to see some medical credentials.

[A pause, and then:]

Also, if anyone comes at me dressed as a priest, this is the only warning you’ll get that I am going to set you on fucking fire. It worked on the last guy.

Comments

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine raises an eyebrow at him.]

Fletch is accredited by Earth standards. Regrettably, I have no such things to offer you, only the assurance that rusty shears aren't permitted in the Healers' Guild.

[Though he did say no dismissal of them was intended, Raine isn't sure what his intent is.]

You have bad experiences with priests?

[upshore]

Well, thank God for that. [He offers her a shaky smile.] Thanks. Seriously. I have no idea what it is you did, but since I am no longer coughing up my own liver, I'm grateful.

...yeah. Well, with a guy calling himself a priest. It's halfway his fault that I ended up how I did. [Seriously. Father Martin. Fuck that guy.]

[ruinsprofessor]

I can explain it to you, if you'd like. The basic principles behind healing artes, at least.

[Ah. No wonder he's taken a disliking to priests.]

He may have been. It's not impossible, for those of the church to do terrible things.

...in any case, I won't pry.

[upshore]

Okay. Yeah. I'll take some notes. [Magicky woo woo bullshit definitely is higher up on his "I trust this" list than doctors and science right now. Which is an unfortunate indicator of how bad his night in Mount Massive messed him up.

He sighs when Raine mentions that men of the cloth can commit atrocities. He doesn't disagree at all, but...]

No, he wasn't. He was just a victim, too, really. He was crazy, but crafty. [And looking back, a lot of what he said makes more sense. A lot of what Trager said makes more sense, too, which is awful, because Miles does not want to understand Trager.] Made up his own religion based on something I think he knew wasn't as mystical as he claimed.

He knew what he was doing.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine's expression warms. It's not every person who can find some compassion for someone who was cruel to them in turn, and her estimation of Miles is steadily ticking higher.]

A victim of what?

[She just said she wouldn't pry. If it isn't going to harm people, she doesn't need to know about Miles' trauma. Raine shakes her head.]

If you're inclined to talk about it, that is.

If not, are you familiar with the concept of 'mana'?

[Video]

[purered]

[A very concerned face appears on screen. Sorry about the slight accent though, Miles.]

There are a number of people here with medical credentials, though I don't think that any of the foreigners are fully fledged doctors. Fortunately, none of them have been known to experiment, let alone without a patient's consent. And I have yet to run into any clergymen, so I believe you are safe on that front.

I take it you have been through quite the ordeal?

[Video]

[upshore]

[Miles doesn't react visibly...much. His shoulders go a little up, though. G e r m a n.]

Yeah, I guess you could say that. I'm kind of a little averse to anyone who might pick up a scalpel, wave it around, and declare themselves a doctor right now.

[And water is wet.]

[Video]

[purered]

[Klaus is actually used to the reaction but he generally attributes it to his more unfortunate facial features.]

That, fortunately, does not happen with any sort of frequency. The worst I've seen is a gentlemen and young lady got into a minor altercation that wound up breaking the stairwell in the hotel.

I believe they are presently dating now, though.

[Video]

[upshore]

[After the Variants, Klaus' facial features don't even register. Check in when you've chewed your own lips off and we'll talk.]

...I'm not even going to ask.

Okay, yes I am, I'm curious. How did they break an entire stairwell?

[highprofilerichkid]

[Wow, dude. You sound like you have some issues.]

There's a Foreigner nurse, and there's kedan doctors. What do you need another doctor for? [What medical treatment does he need that Raine's not capable of?]

...And did you say nanomachines?

[upshore]

[YOU HAVE NO FRICKIN IDEA, KID.]

Just curious, really. Like I said. Legit doctors good, crazy assholes who think they're the guy from Saw, bad.

[Aaaaaand there goes the wariness.] Yeah. I did. [If you're a nanoscientist he is going to dropkick you into the next GALAXY.

But mostly hide under beds and in lockers because that's all he fuckin does lol]

[highprofilerichkid]

...Right. That's not a big problem around here, so I think you're safe. Unless we're talking about the cultists, and you definitely have permission to set them on fire. [Pause.] ...Maybe you should steer clear of a healer named Milyn, though.

[Reassuring!

Tony, the Patron Saint of Social Obliviousness, plows ahead.]

Using people as a... power source? For nanites? [He frowns slightly.] You mean as hosts? Is that why you need a doctor? One of my specialties is nanotech, if that's what you're looking for.

tony you ass

[upshore]

Cultists? [Color him intrigued.] Also, okay. Who's this Milyn person, and why should I stay away?

[If Miles were a cat, all his fur would be puffed out right now. He looks at this kid with great wariness. He ignores the questions for now.] You specialize in nanotech? I might have some questions for you. [And only some of them will result in facepunching if you answer wrong.]

[celticromanstone]

While you are quite welcome, darling, you aren't very socially adept are you?

[upshore]

I have never been accused of being socially adept in my life.

And I kind of feel like I need to cover my bases. I need to rule out the possibility that anyone's at all like the last few doctors I've encountered.

[celticromanstone]

Well, we'll have to work on that.

And I seem to remember promising you a dinner. Should I take your little broadcast to mean you're amenable?

[upshore]

[College students and journalists never pass up a free meal. Miles is still, at heart, a college student, so it really goes double for him.]

Yeah. I'm doing better now.

[Video]

[shroudofgray]

I am not sure what many of the things you said mean, but I do not think we have anyone like that here.

Why do you want to set priests on fire though? Is it because gods are evil?

[Video]

[upshore]

[Oops oh no he forgot there were kids here. Sorry Yorda!]

That's not why I said it. I don't believe in any gods. The last priest I met is the one who got me hurt.

[Video]

[shroudofgray]

They are real. But their words are threaded with lies, and they exist only to devour.

Is the priest the one who tried to sacrifice you? Did you have horns once, like Ico?

[Video]

[upshore]

[...neat!]

...no, I didn't have horns. [Weird question, but she's a weird kid.] But yes. He's the one who sent me as a sacrifice. He tricked me and sent me as a sacrifice to his god.

[no_light]

You do realize that this city is home to two different religions with their own priests, don't you? One of these cults is currently building a large new temple.

[ And there is nothing wrong with rusty shears. Every torturer's gotta start somewhere. Be a little more open-minded, Miles. ]

[upshore]

As long as they stay clear of me, we won't have a problem.

[Kylo, no.]

I'm mostly talking about priests using the Christian vernacular, anyway. [Even if it was very very very very not Christianity at all.]

[no_light]

They seem respectful enough, on the whole. It's actually rather surprising just how respectful they are. [ Yeah, he may be working for the twins, but so much religious tolerance leaves him actually very suspicious. ]

I have never heard of a Christian cult. Are their priests often set on fire?

[upshore]

Respectful or not, I would like them to stay at least one football field away from me at all times.

Um...no. Pretty much never. Like, when you say "cult", think Jim Jones, Peoples Temple, squirreled-away-in-the-jungles-of-Guyana-and-drinking-poisoned-Flavor-Aid kind of cult.

[Miles, he is not going to get that reference.]