poly_chromatic | [ 89th consult

|| morning at the hospital

[Anyone who's at the hospital might notice the head of oncology standing at a station with a nurse, reviewing some charts. It's good news, apparently, since after discussing the patient, he leans in and plants a dramatic, passionate kiss on her lips.

After a moment, he pulls back, slightly flustered - he hadn't intended to do that, clearly - but she's giggling and slips a paper in his labcoat pocket before heading on her way. He takes it out and glances at it. A number?

He blinks, and... puts it back in his pocket.]

|| evening in the city

[After one particularly eventful day, Wilson is on his way back to the apartment. He's rather accustomed to curses that come with kissing compulsions, after being in The City for so long, so while he's weary from the day, he's (mostly) taking it in stride as he makes his way through the square.]

[ooc: Hit him up pretty much anywhere. Slow tags and back tags expected as per slowatus, but I will answer all ♥ ]

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[He smirks slightly at that, giving a little sideways incline of his head.]

Well, at least without exhibiting outward symptoms.

Do you find a fair amount of people here with their insanity not outwardly apparent, then?

I think that, anywhere you may happen to be, most people don't let on to their issues. Most places don't have the City's talents for dragging them out onto public display, of course.

Not that it means they're insane, of course... but the place does get to all of us. More than a lot of people are willing to admit voluntarily.

It might be more insane if the City didn't get to a person, I think.

[He nods slightly at that.]

I'd have to agree, there.

We do get by, though, for the most part. I suppose the best that could be said for the City is that it tests your resilience; certainly, it proves that many of us are capable of coping with much more than we'd have expected - or considered possible within even the most flexible interpretation of reality.

True, though ultimately unfortunate, as I imagine most of us have no desire to have our resilience tested in such ridiculous ways.

No... no we don't. I can't say I really appreciate the opportunity, but we're here regardless of whether we appreciate it or not.

[A slight pause as he shifts his tone, realizing he hasn't introduced himself. So he extends a hand.]

I'm... Doctor Wilson, by the way. Under the circumstances, I think I might forego the welcome.

Andrew Ryan.

[He shakes the other man's hand.]

How long have you been here?

[He hesitates a bit, pursing his lips and glancing down. Because this is an answer no new arrival likes hearing.]

Well, it's a little awkward to keep track of, since I did leave and come back once. But... all told, about three and a half years. [He's very quick to add-] Which is unusual; most people aren't here for that long.

Delightful.

[A frown.]

When you say most people aren't here for that long -- where do they go?

It's generally accepted that they return to wherever they were brought here from. When I left, I went back home... exactly where and when I was before I came here. I didn't recall the City at all until it brought me back.

I see. That's both simultaneously reassuring and extremely frustrating.

You know, I think that about sums it up. It's certainly good that we're not actually missing everything in our respective homes, but... it also means nobody realizes we're gone. A friend of mine was here for more than a year, before I got here, and I had no way of knowing that.

[A frown, and he shakes his head as he speaks almost to himself.]

And yet, it means that my city is not crumbling into the sea as I might have feared.

[Interesting phrasing there.]

Your city?

[Emphasis on "your".]

[A brief nod, and the hint of a small smile.]

My city. I own it. I designed it.

I suppose, then... all things considered, it's probably for the best that's on pause from your perspective.

[Huh.]

You know, even here, I can't say I've met too many people who can say they personally own cities.

I don't think there are many.

[He says it matter-of-factly, but there's pride in his voice, too.]

You'd find it interesting, I think. It's underwater.

Underwater? Really?

[Yes, he's interested. His brows arch slightly.]

There must be some impressive engineering behind that.

There is. Engineering is a particular interest of mine. I hired only the best, and did much of the initial design myself. I only wish everyone here could see it.

Well, you never know. The City has taken it upon itself, once or twice, to show us glimpses of our worlds.

Has it really...

[He doesn't sound as thrilled by that as he should, given his elaborate description of his city.]

It has - not as a legitimate way out, but... some of the illusions have been surprisingly accurate.

[But Ryan's response does seem incongruous, doesn't it? Wilson doesn't comment on it yet, but frowns slightly as he considers it.]

I imagine that only serves the purpose of making people feel more homesick than they already do.

[He'll try to paint it as homesickness. That should be effective.]

[He's not... totally sold on that, but he just nods, slightly. He'll let it pass for now, but he never lets anything like that go forgotten.]

Dangling what so many of us want the most just out of reach. Probably unsurprisingly, it's been a trap at least once.

Re: [Action]

rianofski - 2012-09-28 19:41 (UTC) - Expand

[Action]

dr_conscience - 2012-10-01 00:51 (UTC) - Expand

rianofski - 2012-10-01 16:15 (UTC) - Expand

[ 89th consult | action ]

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