19∙00∙00 ☇ audio.

[saidrepent]

Do the hospitals around here — assuming there's more than one — offer elective surgeries?

I think I need to get something removed.

Comments

[eiremagic]

Got an ugly mole?

[saidrepent]

[He was expecting this, sooner or later.]

Not exactly.

[eiremagic]

It depends on the doctor and what it is. No one around here will take out your appendix unless you're dying.

[saidrepent]

I'm not in any danger of dying from it. [A beat.] At least not here.

I'm just tired of having to look at it every day.

[eiremagic]

So it's not a mole and it's not an internal organ.

Tattoo?

[saidrepent]

Sort of. [She's close enough, really, considering its lack of function here in the City.] I didn't exactly elect to have it in the first place.

[eiremagic]

I'm sure you can find someone in the hospital who'll do it. We've got a plastic surgery department.

[vicodincrutch]

You can't remove ugly.

It's on the inside.

[saidrepent]

That's what I'm counting on.

[eiremagic]

Just don't go underground, yeah?

[saidrepent]

[Cute.] Good thing that's not what I'm looking to remove.

[saidrepent]

Wasn't planning on it. [But...]

Any reason in particular?

[eiremagic]

Because 90% of the doctors down there aren't.

[saidrepent]

[He had a feeling.] Then I'll keep that in mind.

[vicodincrutch]

If you have a growth, make an appointment.

[saidrepent]

It's not a growth.

As far as I'm aware, I'm the only one in this entire city who has anything like it.

[mintjulep]

Your clock?

[saidrepent]

[Raymond just snorts.]

How'd you know?

[mintjulep]

Lucky guess.

[saidrepent]

Figures.

[There's a pause.] I'm tired of having to look at it. I don't even need it as long as I'm still here.

[mintjulep]

How much time is left on it?

[intheblanks]

There's one, a couple of clinics, and a couple of places in the underground you might prefer to avoid.

Speaking for the hospital: yes.

[saidrepent]

[He takes a deep, audible breath before answering.]

Two seconds.

[saidrepent]

Hadn't planned on going to the underground for this, but thanks.

[intheblanks]

Just a head's up.

We're unlikely to agree to remove something you might need later. Other that that the policy's flexible, as long as the procedure's run by the head of surgery.

Which would be me.