The Life Criterion 4b/??
anonymous
May 15 2010, 13:23:03 UTC
The moment passed and Alfred stepped into the room, beaming. "Hey."
"Ah." Arthur jerked his head up from the pages. "I didn't notice that you were here. Maybe you should knock."
He laughed. "Dude, this is hospital, not some fancy hotel room."
"Still."
From that he knew he had somehow surprised Arthur, interrupted his reading so to speak. "It must be really interesting, that book."
"It would be more interesting if I were at home." He tucked the book away. Alfred saw the scarlet hard covers but didn't catch the title.
"I came to hand you this," he reached into the pocket of his coat, took out a small lidded jar. "It's a sterile container for your sample."
He handed Arthur the container, and went on while it was set in the other man's palm under survey. "Don't open it now. The best time to collect a sputum sample is in the morning, first thing after you woke up and brushed your teeth."
Arthur turned over the container, fascinated as if it were something new to him.
"Open it. Put the sample in it, screw the lid and hand it in." said Alfred, "Note that the sample must be directly put into the container. And spit is not sputum. No cheating."
"I know I'll have to cough it out." At this Arthur lifted his eyes from it and cast him a look that Alfred read as a scoff. He grinned in return and noticed something.
"You changed your mask, Arthur?"
"Um, yes. The old one was sodden so one of the nurses gave it to me. . ." He was touching the mask without knowing, his brows knitted together in thoughts. "All they talked about was you."
"Uh, what?"
Arthur scowled. "You don't know?"
"Well, I know they like me." Alfred scratched the back of his head. "Got me a really nice birthday party in the hospital a few weeks ago, saved my birthday."
"I thought someone like you would call the day off."
"Fat chance, man, I practically live in this place. And what are those patients gonna do if I'm off? They need me."
Only then did Alfred recall that Arthur was now one of his patients. No, Arthur is Kiku's patient. But what difference was there? Alfred let out a nervous laugh, not wanting to let go of the conversation just yet.
"Anyway, what did they say about me?"
"Oh, why don't you go and ask them? So to spare me from their bloody giggling."
"That's not gonna happen. 'Cause I'm awesome and they'll talk about me anyway." He chuckled. "So just tell me."
"Don't you have works to do?"
"Then tell me."
". . . I want to read. Alone."
"Aw, c'mon. I'm curious."
As Alfred watched the man ruffle, what the nurses had said about him became less and less important. Though it's not that obvious under the lamp and the mask, Alfred was amused to find that Arthur was brushing. Geez his ears turned red. Did they really say something that embarrassing?
Minutes passed. Knowing that Alfred would not leave him alone unless he got his answer, Arthur finally mumbled with great reluctance. "They all want to know why a doctor so- w-why a doctor like you would want to be here."
"That's it?"
"No. They wondered how berks could be doctors now."
"I thought they would want to know if I got a girlfriend."
A snort.
"Hey, y'know? You can tell them I'm looking for one."
"Like hell I will." Arthur grumbled under his breath.
Alfred stayed for a bit longer, not leaving for his night shifts until he thought Arthur was probably going to hurl the book at him. It was . . . refreshing (to him at least) especially after a busy afternoon in chaos. His heart lightened up as he walked through the evening corridors. Outside the windows, the thunders split up the dense rainclouds, shooting monochromes in rows. It might be another tough night but he was if not readier, ready as ever.
Re: The Life Criterion 4b/??
anonymous
May 21 2010, 16:00:28 UTC
I really like the medical diagnosis and the way you show the hospital life here. This way it looks more real and professional :D Well done dear author!anon, I'm waiting for more <3
"Ah." Arthur jerked his head up from the pages. "I didn't notice that you were here. Maybe you should knock."
He laughed. "Dude, this is hospital, not some fancy hotel room."
"Still."
From that he knew he had somehow surprised Arthur, interrupted his reading so to speak. "It must be really interesting, that book."
"It would be more interesting if I were at home." He tucked the book away. Alfred saw the scarlet hard covers but didn't catch the title.
"I came to hand you this," he reached into the pocket of his coat, took out a small lidded jar. "It's a sterile container for your sample."
He handed Arthur the container, and went on while it was set in the other man's palm under survey. "Don't open it now. The best time to collect a sputum sample is in the morning, first thing after you woke up and brushed your teeth."
Arthur turned over the container, fascinated as if it were something new to him.
"Open it. Put the sample in it, screw the lid and hand it in." said Alfred, "Note that the sample must be directly put into the container. And spit is not sputum. No cheating."
"I know I'll have to cough it out." At this Arthur lifted his eyes from it and cast him a look that Alfred read as a scoff. He grinned in return and noticed something.
"You changed your mask, Arthur?"
"Um, yes. The old one was sodden so one of the nurses gave it to me. . ." He was touching the mask without knowing, his brows knitted together in thoughts. "All they talked about was you."
"Uh, what?"
Arthur scowled. "You don't know?"
"Well, I know they like me." Alfred scratched the back of his head. "Got me a really nice birthday party in the hospital a few weeks ago, saved my birthday."
"I thought someone like you would call the day off."
"Fat chance, man, I practically live in this place. And what are those patients gonna do if I'm off? They need me."
Only then did Alfred recall that Arthur was now one of his patients. No, Arthur is Kiku's patient. But what difference was there? Alfred let out a nervous laugh, not wanting to let go of the conversation just yet.
"Anyway, what did they say about me?"
"Oh, why don't you go and ask them? So to spare me from their bloody giggling."
"That's not gonna happen. 'Cause I'm awesome and they'll talk about me anyway." He chuckled. "So just tell me."
"Don't you have works to do?"
"Then tell me."
". . . I want to read. Alone."
"Aw, c'mon. I'm curious."
As Alfred watched the man ruffle, what the nurses had said about him became less and less important. Though it's not that obvious under the lamp and the mask, Alfred was amused to find that Arthur was brushing. Geez his ears turned red. Did they really say something that embarrassing?
Minutes passed. Knowing that Alfred would not leave him alone unless he got his answer, Arthur finally mumbled with great reluctance. "They all want to know why a doctor so- w-why a doctor like you would want to be here."
"That's it?"
"No. They wondered how berks could be doctors now."
"I thought they would want to know if I got a girlfriend."
A snort.
"Hey, y'know? You can tell them I'm looking for one."
"Like hell I will." Arthur grumbled under his breath.
Alfred stayed for a bit longer, not leaving for his night shifts until he thought Arthur was probably going to hurl the book at him. It was . . . refreshing (to him at least) especially after a busy afternoon in chaos. His heart lightened up as he walked through the evening corridors. Outside the windows, the thunders split up the dense rainclouds, shooting monochromes in rows. It might be another tough night but he was if not readier, ready as ever.
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I love this fill
It is so great
Keep going, anon!
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