[Open Log] It's now my twenty-fifth hour with a scalpel in my hand

[gaveherwings]

Who: Open to all Skye Medical Personnel and Patients (and maybe a surprise NPC or two)
When: Tuesday through Wednesday, March 1st & 2nd.
Where: Skye Medical Center (Specify where in threads)
Summary: A terrorist broadcast has brought the hospital to a high level of alert, the life support systems threatened.
Warnings: Possibly some discussion of

Comments

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[The level of panic was thick in the air, this much was evident. He wouldn't have known the severity of the situation had it not been for the fact that he was in the midst of it all-the sheer paranoia showed amidst the staff, with how the talk broke down into whispered discussion of the threat of terrorists.

Had he not been exposed to crises of a similar kind Dr. Seward was unlikely to have reacted so calmly. He'd been checked at least three times for his identification, perhaps twice that for his credentials. Under the right conditions anyone could look suspicious. It was a close atmosphere to the madhouse, certainly.]

I beg your pardon!

[The Doctor pulled back as he was jostled roughly by an officer whose business hurried him on without a reply in kind. What good would these proceedings do if they were not allowed to go about their normal operations?

Such a displacement would likely increase panic rather than provide the comfort of security they wanted. In which case they were more at risk for mass hysteria than the actual threat by the pseudo-terrorists.]

General Floor

[gaveherwings]

[Dr. Yumeno, in turn, saw the extra 'help' as something intrusive, unnecessary jams in the already hodge-podged cogs of Skye's usual chaos. The medical center was often enough a jumble of gurneys and an over-full list of clinic outpatients waiting to be seen, and admittedly less of a well-oiled machine as the downtown hospital, although somehow by its well meaning overworked staff, by virtue of it's 'charms' (or an ongoing miracle) it managed to function.

It felt a bit like working under martial law, with more uniformed people in the facility then there needed to be.

He kept his lanyard out, and scowled at all the inevitable confrontation and critical eyes-

'Are you really old enough to be a practicing doctor?'

Or, under another police officer's appraisal-

'But you're that newcomer doctor who hid the woman that found the core, aren't you? Are you sure you know nothing about this cult?'

...Daedalus had that one hounding over his shoulder through half his rounds, hunching his shoulders as these dimwitted fools 'guarded' the machines reading vitals, and feeling the heavy scrutiny of their eyes as he changed out IVs.

Anxious, he felt like snapping back several times that if he'd wanted to pull the plug on any patients, if he'd any mad desire to do so, he'd had nine months working in this hospital without police leering over his shoulder to do so.

It made him guilty, on some privately uneasy level-

Nine months ago, back in Romdeau, he essentially had thrown the switch on the entire city. Eased along it's ending, assisted its inevitable suicide. And he had been a madman then. But in the panic of here and now, he felt a quiet, sinking rebound of shame for it, a sickness that tightened into nausea as the shift crawled by.

He smiled limply with commiseration at Dr. Seward, when he came across him in the hall.]

Are they giving you a hard time too?

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[There was a certain order to abide by even in the law of chaos, as paradoxical as the concept was. Even on a minute level each piece would eventually fit into a greater whole-greater, in part, to a scheme that not even the law enforcement of the city were privy to. Imposed government or no government at all, the simple rule was to let the officials within the hospital govern themselves. For as Doctor Yumeno's gut instincts were quite right in the assessment that this interference was a hindrance rather than a help.

They treated Seward with as much regard as they did a pauper, fueling the Englishman's emotional, if not mental strain. Prying eyes roved over the distinct bruising and bandaged pinpricks on his neck as though he'd the plague, which remained despite the treatment he'd received several nights previous to this one.

He still wasn't feeling quite his best, and this situation only elevated his blood pressure unnecessarily. At least he was hemodynamically stable. This was still enough to warrant a headache.]

They herding us like livestock. I would like to do my job.

[Brows pinched and jaw clenched, Dr. Seward appeared less-than-agreeable to the invasion, and rightly so. But, his irritation was not directed at Dr. Yumeno, merely towards the sheer audacity and thoughtlessness of their 'guests'.]

General Floor

[gaveherwings]

And just when you'd think we'd have had enough of that-

[A nod to the bandage on Seward's neck- he'd sported a similar one, just a few weeks ago. Livestock indeed, for bloodthirsty intruders.

At least the added security would keep vam- sorry, sanguinarians out of the blood lab.

Lowering his voice with concern, he kept his hands clasped around his clipboard, and fell into stride with the psychiatrist.]

How have you been recovering, by the way?

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[The acknowledgement, even a minor one, made him turn color-or at least what little color the blood vessels in his face could spare. It was more of a ghastly horror to him than he could ever describe.

Psychological recovery would take far longer than the actual physical recovery itself; The marks that he bore-those holes in his throat-weighed heavily on his heart. Though Raphael had been no Dracula Seward had no way of knowing if he himself wasn't afflicted with the blood-borne disease.

He'd not drank from the vampire in return but should he be inflicted he would forever live as half-damned. That was far more horrifying a prospect than he could ever say. To say that he was fine would be a blatant lie.

He stepped forwards into the corridor, keeping his eyes straight ahead despite the question.]

Ah..The fatigue has diminished considerably. I was told the transfusion went well.

General Floor

[gaveherwings]

[A curt nod, although his relief was gentler.]

Good. Yes, thanks to your friend the Professor. My apologies, for not-

[A shifting glance to a passing security guard, then, in a softer voice-]

For all these assaults being kept very quiet, around here. After the mess with that blood drive during Halloween, Dr. Pyke's been on dicey terms with the port's Sanguinarian Community, several of whom are anonymous donors to the hospital's funding, and so...they've kept public awareness about these attacks and break-ins relatively quiet and understated.

Mostly for the comfort and peace of mind, for our patients. Nothing's gone missing from the blood banks, though, since the night I was attacked-

But I don't like that he's still been prowling so close to the hospital...also down in the mall.

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[He'd make no excuses for them and their wretched kind-being politically correct was not a Victorian's strong suit. They were blood-sucking fiends borne outside the natural order of things. They were in no way of the natural order, but rather offspring of Satan.

The moment the mention of "Sanguinarian" crossed the other's lips he froze, stopping in mid-step. The threat of terrorism was veiled in white-hot fury, his entire body growing cold and steel-like.

Shock, then disgust, then anger swiftly transitioned across his grim countenance. He had not the same taciturn mannerisms as Yumeno, who may not have cared to understand the source of his hatred. But neither had he seen his loved ones destroyed and discarded by these creatures as nothing more than prey.

They were essentially buying off the hospital in order to have access to their blood supply. Bloody monsters.

He suddenly turned very quiet, his outrage barely contained.]

My Professor won't stand for this gross insult against mankind, and neither will I!

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

I refuse to work for a place that caters to their detestable whimsies-You were attacked? Why did you not come forward...?

[Good god! The other doctor was tainted as well! Giving him a quick glance over he noted that he showed no signs of the disease, but then...He always worked the night shift so there was no telling as much the same had happened to restore beauty to Lucy when she'd died. When was it that he had been attacked?]

Wait. How do you know they're a part of the anonymous donors, Doctor?

Re: General Floor

[gaveherwings]

Because of all the trouble back in October! [He explained, the idea of these bloodsucking people still frankly...uncomforable, and foreign. ]

We were running a themed blood drive, mock-vampire, plastic toy fang giveaways and that sort of thing, for the holiday? Well the staff thought it was a riotously funny idea. Printed up t-shirts, flyers, other promotionals-

But the Sanguinarians caught wind and were insulted, and so they gave Dr. Pyke hell about it, threatened to pull funding. So he pulled the theme. It was nearly a public relations fiasco.

[A sigh, and he tucked his hands into his pockets.]

I was attacked here, in the hospital. On February 9th. There was a suspicious man sneaking down the back service stairwell, and he drew a knife on me. I've heard of thieves making off with organs, for the black market. Or extracting medical records. So I tried to talk him down into at least telling me what supplies he was making off with, so that we could replace them.

But, he flung me against a wall, bit me, and ran off- out the fire door. I paged Dr. Xavier. When we told our supervisor, she said the incident would be reported to the police, as theft and assault, but that would be best to not speak of it too openly, and worry the staff...or the hospital's reputation.

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[If he'd been able to harbor any more animosity for these beasts he would have expressed it in an instant. His body spoke ever more loudly than his words, every sinew and tendon crawling beneath his skin. How could they! Plastic fangs? What sort of twisted sense of morality did these people have? Making light of demonic beings was a grave insult to a man whose very heart had been crushed under the heel of the soulless thing who'd taken his dear friend Quincey and his beloved Lucy from him.

He turned white and purple by turns, completely seething.]

Sanguinarians? They're vampires! Who are using this hospital as a means to gain acceptance for sating their voracious appetites and grotesque feeding habits. They are a blot on the face of God. A parasite. They have no heart nor conscience. They're cursed, foul beings of Unlife.

I don't give a damn for their being insulted, sir.

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[His hands clenched into balled fists at his sides, the vehemence permeating every syllable of what he would say next.]

If you yourself have fallen prey to them you should be aware of how dangerous they really are. You can't handle a vampire, or else the moment you let your guard down they will find a way to leech the life from you.

[He pivoted on his heel, pausing long enough to utter two words:]

I resign.

General Floor

[gaveherwings]

[Even for one who had been attacked by one blood-thirsting 'Vampire' in a back hallway, Daedalus had taken the policy of the hospital in stride, accepted the assault as a strange one- not from a monster so much as a sort of being with strange eating habits and not as fair manners as his 'brethren' of the same condition.

So when Seward snapped at him, strode away vehement, Daedalus blinked agape, a bit taken aback.

But then, maybe he'd taken the hospital's broad tolerance and careful powers sensitivity training too much to heart, to be so forgiving. Seward seemed to think them some kind of demons- well. Most people who hadn't known about the proxies would have thought them monsters also, he was constantly reminding himself. ]

...Doctor? Resign? Really- but that's- most of them are willing to co-exist peacefully here! That's why there are special arrangements with the blood banks! This one that's been attacking is something more like a rogue among- don't you think that's a bit of an over-reaction?

General Floor

[master_helsing]

[It was hardly avoidable; the sound of Seward's outrage managed to reverberate down the sterile hallways, to reach the approaching ears of the professor, who'd nearly halted mid-step at the alarming tone, one so unfamiliar to pass the placid lips of his genteel compatriot.

Rounding a corner he became an obstacle in John's tirade, cobalt eyes awide at the sight of his very vehemence as he stormed towards him and likely for the exit not far behind him.]

"John? John, hold a moment." [He interjected with a raise of his hand, genuine concern crossing him as his gaze swifted over the agitated doctor's shoulder to see the befuddled face of their co-worker Dr. Yumeno.]

"What's this, what's all this now?"

General Floor

[psyd_seward]

[As an Englishman he was hard-pressed to get angry-as a man if he were to be crossed and lose his composure he could throw every bit of internal agony into his emotions with cold, dark fury.

His temperament was indeed currently a volatile one, it was as though reason had quite fled from him and what was left was John and his ailing heart. He came to a dead stop when his Professor beseeched for him to stay, crossing his arms over his chest.

It was clear he was on the verge of a complete melt down.]

Abraham! They're endorsing vampirism. This...so-called establishment is taking dirty money to quiet the recent attacks.

General Floor

[gaveherwings]

[The outburst was alarming, for Dr. Yumeno, who...was as unused to wild passionate fits of outrage in the workplace as any other-

Particularly when the whole hospital was wound up tense, and agitated. Wincing, he tried to appease the situation gently, hands held up in reproachful defense.]

Now please, please don't stir a fuss, you might upset the patients! Skye's postion regarding the Sanguinarians is not an endorsement of violence, like the attacks, but for finding safe ways for beings which can only consume blood for sustenance to co-exist here in the city. The only reason we've been asked to keep it quiet is to keep the hospital from going into a state of panic.

[He cast a pleading look at the Professor, a helpless shrug- Really, it wouldn't do to get so worked up!]

If the threat of these break ins and assaults become a persistent problem, they'll just put it on the code sheets in case of an emergency, come up with a procedural means of handling it safely.

General Floor

[master_helsing]

[There was a twist of disgust that distorted his natural leniency, so much so it was as if he tasted bile on his very tongue through John's words. No, not even Yumeno pipping up to soothe the waters could cleanse the taste of rancor poison souring his demeanor.]

So they mean to quell the threat of frenzy through dastardly extortion.

[There was a tap of his cane upon the linoleum flooring to emphasize his repugnance, in favor of keeping his voice low for the patients about them.]

Reprehensible, for an establishment built on the foundation of preserving human life.

[The professor's very ears had turned pink with perturb, but he would not lose his temper with the seemingly detached young man. He turned a sympathetic gaze to Seward and lied his hand on his upper arm to allay him like a startled hound.]

...But we must not be rash. At this moment, this hospice is in crisis. We cannot simply abandon our post when we are in need most.