It's December

[lightconductor]

Who: Watson and you
What: December toplevel for your various Watson needs.
When: Throughout December
Warnings: Talk of old injuries/current disabilities, use of alcohol.



1.

With December comes the beginning of some colder weather, and for Watson, this has always meant the very physical reminder of the time he took a bullet in his shoulder, and the one that's still lodged in his kneecap. He's always had something of a limp, but these days? He's certainly leaning on his cane a little more than he normally does, as well as being a little more of a homebody.

The hot springs, however, are a tempting destination, particularly before the weather becomes bitter enough to keep him closer to home.

On a beach full of people, a bathing costume is, of course, necessary. Here, where it's a little quieter, it isn't, and after setting his clothes into a secure bundle, he slides into the water in the nude. He finds a comfortable seat, and closes his eyes.


2.

There are, of course, business hours.

Watson isn't so busy he won't sit at the front desk of the clinic himself if necessary, a cheerful little fire in the stove to keep the room warm while he writes. This has always been the way for him: quiet office hours are the perfect time to absorb himself in the task of writing some of the things in his head down onto paper. He writes with a dip pen, one where the shaft has been made with a rather familiar looking feather.

Pay no attention to the huge grey tomcat with the ragged ear who is often curled up by the fire, sleeping. He has a tendency to follow Watson to and from work, and comes and goes as he pleases. Watson might have given up on trying to control Diogenes's movements. It's easier just to let him in.


3.

In the evening, it's common for Watson to drop by the Oak and Iron and order a drink at the bar, or maybe a full meal if he has no other plans and does not want to attempt to cook himself. This is one of the little social things he does to keep himself sane, in fact.

He's quick with greetings, eager for conversation.

"How are you keeping yourself? Do you have time to join me?"


4.

Wildcard. Hit me up!

Comments

3

[medekh]

Artemy finds himself at the bar this evening for a similar reason.

He never has been one for the luxuries in life, but since arriving to Pumpkin Hollow, Artemy has now realizes that he actually can make money, and that there is no sense in hoarding money all to himself.

And that spending money locally makes sense, and helps to support the people around him.

It is still hard to get out of the hoarding soviet mindset, so today, he has forced himself out of the house for a meal that he does not have to cook himself. It feels uncomfortable, but it is good for himself.

He is genuinely glad to see Watson, and is happy to take a seat next to the other doctor.

"I do, Oynon, I was just hoping to order a meal myself." Artemy says joyfully as he looks at the menu, "Truthfully, I only stayed at the Oak and Iron but a night, so I never got a full taste of the menu here. What would you suggest?"

[lightconductor]

"Well, I --" Watson pauses and blinks. "I beg your pardon. What did you call me?"

It at least didn't sound like it was an insult, based on tone alone.

"The fare here is often simple but usually good. If you have a fancy for meat pies, theirs are a safe bet. I'm having the stew, myself. Something warm on a cold night will be very welcome, I think."

[medekh]

Artemy shakes his head slightly.

"My apologies, a word from my native language. Think of it as a title of respect, used between doctors and scientists and the like." Sometimes he still forgets himself, he should really explain himself more often, or just forgo the words entirely, he supposes, "... A meat pie sounds rather good. I would like to try that, I think."

He eagerly waves down a bartender to order one. It just sounds much too good to pass up. Most of Artemy's diet does consist of meatstuffs.

[lightconductor]

"Well, I'll take it as a compliment, in that case. Oynon. Hm."

Watson sounds pleased with it, at least. He takes a swallow of his drink. "I'm glad we have another chance to speak, Doctor. I fear I was not at my best, when last we met."

He was really not at his best the entire time he was at the casino, if he's honest.

2

[misbegottendreamer]

Drelasa scrambles to shut the door behind her, a gust of a wind and a few stray snowflakes threatening to follow her in.

“Oh, thank Celestine, to be out of that biting wind,” she shivers, unwrapping her scarf and slipping off her claw-friendly gloves.

“I suppose it will not surprise you to hear, Dr. Watson, that a volcano-dwelling womer such as I does not have the friendliest relationship with the cold.”

[lightconductor]

He stands as she comes in, absently closing his book as he does so.

"We are in complete agreement, madam," Watson sighs, rather wistfully. "I am far more suited to tropical climes myself. Take a moment to warm yourself by the fire, if you need to. Is your visit social or professional?"

The cat by the fire opens an eye to look at Drelasa, but does not stir, other than the tip of his tail.

[misbegottendreamer]

“Professional, although I would not decline a little pleasant conversation. I would like a follow-up assessment of the joints you operated on. They feel like the tissue is remaining even, but I can only palpate the tissue so much, given my claws. At the very least, the pain has been minimal.”

[lightconductor]

"I'm glad to hear it," Watson says honestly, because frankly that had been probably the most interesting medical case of his entire career. If it went well, that's something to be proud of: his skill with a procedure he'd never conceived of before. "I'd be pleased to take a look. Come into the examination room, where we won't be disturbed."

1

[preacher_in_reticence]

"Ah! I see I wasn't the only one thinking to soak and steep and become tea today." Degas is still fully dressed as he approaches, and will remain so until he knows he's welcome to join Watson.

[lightconductor]

"Become tea. Oh, I do like that."

Watson gives a drowsy little chuckle; he glances up to see who's joined him. "Well, there is fortunately plenty of room."

[preacher_in_reticence]

"Good, I'm going to occupy some of it."

Degas has no shame stripping in front of Watson, his body soft and doughy. He had spend some time after Melly's death Not Eating, but he's gained the weight back and now looks comfortably cushiony, like a proper old man who isn't in shape should. He slides into the water beside Watson, letting out a heavy sigh.

[lightconductor]

Watson politely looks to one side while Degas undresses, as casually as he can.

"I am rather glad we have this," he says, conversationally. "It may not be precisely the same as a Turkish bathhouse back home, but I will not say it is worse, either."

1

[lahire]

Jack's approach to the hot spring is a tentative one, and at seeing someone else is already there, there's a bit of a squeaking yelp sound as he moves to retreat, not sure he'd be welcome company. But he has brought a towel, so his original intentions are clear.

[lightconductor]

Watson sits up abruptly at the sound, for a moment looking as though he's ready for a fight. It's only just a moment, though; he relaxes immediately.

"Mr Jack," he says in greeting. "Lovely to see you again. Please don't let me scare you away."

[lahire]

"You...would not mind? If I were to join you in the water?" The time off hasn't managed to cure Jack's skittishness yet, and he's still surprised to be offered any courtesy, let alone kindness.

[lightconductor]

"Not at all," Watson says, surprised. "These aren't private pools, after all."

It seems unkind to discourage what seems to be an earnest attempt at doing some very important nothing. He wouldn't dare.

2 with Rex

[pineapplesalmon]

César set up an appointment for Rex in early December to both get a physical and get vaccinated. Of course he's going to accompany his brother because Rex is nervous, a minor, and absolutely a whirlwind experience that no one can truly be prepared for.

"All right, we're here." César holds the door open for his brother and closes it behind him. "Remember what I said."

[rexthebuilder]

"I can be polite!" Rex insists, slightly put out as he pulls off his gloves and scarf, shoving them straight into his coat pockets as haphazardly as possible.

[lightconductor]

Watson tries to hide his smile in his sleeve as he stands.

"Welcome, welcome." He waves them inside, taking the moment to look Rex over. "This must be Rex, then? A pleasure, young man, a pleasure."

2

[bardish]

Here comes a man limping into the clinic, looking a bit like a miserable mess thanks to both the winter chill and... whatever's given him that limp, probably.

"Hey, doc--" At least, he's assuming this guy's the doctor? "I-- ooh! Hello, cat!"

Okay, and he's instantly distracted by the big grey cat napping by the fire. Focus, Jeff.

"Ahhh, uh, anyway-- hey, health insurance isn't a thing in this world, right?" Please say no, please say no...

[lightconductor]

The cat looks at Jeff for a moment, in the critical way of sleepy cats, then seems to decide it's safe to roll over again.

Watson attempts to hide a smile behind his moustache and his hand. He's mostly successful. "The cat is Diogenes. If you're concerned about my fees, I have always aimed to keep them reasonable and fair."

He is frankly not sure how to answer Jeff's question about health insurance. He lacks the cultural context to understand predatory healthcare models of this particular variety.

[bardish]

"Diogenes," he repeats with a smile. It's a familiar name, though he can't immediately place it. Either a mythical Greek hero or, like, a philosopher? Maybe an astronomer. "Dignified. Looks like it suits him."

And Jeff breathes out a sigh of relief. Reasonable fees, no mention of insurance bullshit, which makes sense, why would a place like this have some dystopian system from his particular corner of the universe? But he still felt compelled to ask, just in case.

"Oh, good, okay." He nods. "So, I was going for a run, out, you know--" He makes a vague gesture in what he assumes is in the general direction of the woods. "--around nature, and I kiiiiind of took a slip and fell down a-- a gulch? No, wait that's too big. More like..." He moves his hands closer together, until his palms are a couple inches apart. "A small ravine." Hence his disheveled appearance. "Anyway, now my knee's aching, my back's kind of pissed off, and I got a few scrapes, which got me thinking, 'huh, I don't know if there's some kind of bacteria or diseases here that my body's totally not equipped to handle', and 'am I going to get exposed to them and die?'"

Totally normal thoughts. Which is all a roundabout way of getting g to the actual point:

"Do you do vaccines?"

2

[redlightgreenlight]

Of all the things to do in the moment, slicing her hand open with one of the only weapons in existence that can actually cause her harm was not the best one, but it had done what it was supposed to do.

And yet that was hours ago and the injury shows no signs of healing, in fact, the cloth wrapped around her hand is soaked with blood that won't stop flowing either. Somehow she has to get it fixed before she goes home to Max.

Luckily there are plenty of clinics in town and she goes to the first one she sees.

"Hello?"

[lightconductor]

Watson looks up with an automatic smile, which freezes when he sees the bloodied cloth. Immediately he's on his feet and moving to her side. If she walked in alone, that's a good sign, but it's still a terrible thing to see.

"Oh, good lord. Come in, come in. The examination room is just this way. Tell me what happened?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Oh. She’s at least heard good things about Dr. Watson so when she sees him and he immediately jumps up to help her, she can’t help but smile as if she isn’t concerned.

“I sliced my hand on a weapon designed specifically to kill my race, and well…as you can see, it’s being a little stubborn when it comes to clotting.”