citylogs | [ open ] kaveh's permanent catch-all

She and I are pretty close. Trust me, she does everything she can, even for me.

[There is a distinct fondness in Daan's voice. She is the closest thing he's ever had to family, and he couldn't be gladder for it.

The bank earns a side-eyed glance, but little else. Instead, he remains at Kaveh's side, considering his question.]

Maybe two or three examination rooms, office, waiting room -- ideally there'd be storage for equipment in the future, too. Five or six rooms? That's about the size of the clinic I used to work at.

She seems to be incapable of leaving hopeless cases alone, yes. [ wry, ] But she needs to be careful as well. She does more than she ought to, at times.

[ but, kaveh thinks, this is good to know. tsuruno is reliable and unlikely to endorse daan's more self-destructive tendencies. but there's also the other way around. tsuruno needs eyes on her as well. kaveh worries.

still, the task at hand has him considering a few of the storefronts nearby. ]

Are there any water, plumbing or electrical requirements? The rooms I can easily partition out of the existing storefronts - it's just the time it will take the source lumber and nails, and to wait until enough plaster reappears in the stores. Rewiring the space isn't an issue, either. But I don't know much about the running of a clinic - is there a need for higher water pressure than usual, or any particular lighting arrangement?

Oh, I'm aware. I know how it sounds from me, but she certainly pushes herself harder than necessary, but... I guess she and I are learning to not test those limits so much. Hopefully she's adhering to my advice for her ribs.

[But yes: the clinic. Daan considers, then closes his eye.]

No more water pressure than a hose, I imagine. I'm hoping I won't have to wash away blood often, but you never know in this damned place. Lighting doesn't have to be anything special because if I'm doing surgery I'm going to get a lamp anyway to make sure I have as much lighting as possible.

I don't expect a lot of equipment right now. Not unless a hospital opens up in our range anytime soon. ...Which I know I'm gonna have no choice but to get into, even if it means a world of trouble for me.

[ tsuruno's ribs.

kaveh closes his eyes. he opens them. ] You, and a select rest of us. [ kaveh says, firmly. ] How much equipment or medical supplies could you salvage out on your own? Many hands make light work, and if the city turns several individuals in the group violent, the others in the group can subdue them.

If nothing else, I doubt Vergilius will let you go in alone, will he.

...Right.

[Daan has to remember. He doesn't have to do it alone. Even people he doesn't know would be content to help him, probably.]

Yeah, no. He wouldn't, I'm sure. [He clears his throat and admits:] The man was patrolling the apartments I was staying at, because he was worried about me. I'd be surprised if I could do grocery shopping without him.

[But for all Daan says that, he doesn't mind. Not really.]

Ah, so that's why he's at your apartment today. Could you blame the man? He had to see your arm the way it was. If I were him, I'd contrive all kinds of ways to sit on you until I was sure this wasn't going to happen again.

[ kaveh considers this, ] About that - do you want me to knock down a wall in your apartment and expand the size of your room? It seems as if it's a bit cramped for two men to share.

He might as well. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame him. ...But I'm not sorry, either.

[Ugh. Daan rubs the bridge of his nose, but it doesn't exactly stop part of a blush growing on his pale face. While he bears no guilt for attempting to revive Vergilius, Daan isn't certain if he's ready to share that technically the Fixer has moved in with him.

So he doesn't!]

Mm, maybe. Let me keep it in mind, but if I feel like we need to expand I'll let you know.

[ kaveh, who considers the question answered with the agreed potential for an expansion, merely marks down in his mindmap of another potential project in that regard. he does have to figure out if anyone lives next door. perhaps that's something to do later. ]

Fair enough. Then, shall we do a walk-through? If you're thinking about a location around these parts, I'd recommend starting with that building over there. [ kaveh points. a small clothing boutique is nestled in the same block as a convenience store. ] Clothing stores are plentiful around these parts, so it wouldn't be a loss if we converted it into a clinic and got rid of all the stock. There are also little dressing rooms that can serve as changing rooms for your patients.

Hm. [Daan glances at the clothing boutique, then has something of an amused look on his face.] Honestly, that's not a bad call.

[plus like, what if there's nice clothing in there. that is important to daan]

Fine. Let's go have a look, shall we?

[ because i'm assuming we're not here to rp an entire episode of house hunters (tm), kaveh does so: he takes daan through two walkthroughs of two different commercial buildings. he points out electrical fixtures and non-negotiable load-bearing walls. he makes an educated guess on the plumbing and the HVAC, and marks down any additional needs based on daan's questions. he flays apart an entire line of suit jackets in one of the men's boutiques because the line of the suits are stitched in such a way that they're terrible unintuitive to tailor, and the actual design of the line seems to be made in such a way to emphasise the square of a male body, which, in kaveh's mind, is sacrilegious to the art of tailoring itself. for what purpose do you design clothing if not for it to fit? did the human body ever seem like a square?

two hours and an entire dossier of questions later, kaveh emerges with two potential floorplans roughly sketched out in his heavy-duty drafting pad. he stretches as he emerges back out into the afternoon light. potential designs and room layouts swim in the back of his mind. he flips to another page to add in another consideration: a hose, and drainage for the floors. kaveh had promised himself he would never mess with the plumbing of this godforsaken land, but there is always a first time for anything, and it hadn't been much of a promise anyway. just an assertion of despair. ]

Well? There's no need to decide right away, of course, but I'd be pleased to hear any initial thoughts you had. Would any of these locations serve?

[ok but please note that also daan is a multitasker who is snatching up some nice clothes cuz that's how he works. where did all of his aesthetic go? clothing, apparently, which he has draped over an arm. Priorities.

anyway]

I'm admitted a bit partial to the clothing boutique. Bias aside, I think the changing rooms could be quite beneficial with some minor adjustments. Spacious as well.

Of course, I can only improve my current office.

[ at least, kaveh thinks, daan doesn't dress himself terrible. the number of terrible bachelors that kaveh has had to intervene on in the city is a number higher than he would have liked to report. the pieces daan's picked out are congruent, they fit the line of his body, and most importantly, they have style.

kaveh, considers this. he nods. ]

Then, for now, let's use that as the baseline. Think on it, though. I'll send you a few draft designs and you can review them. If there are adjustments you'd like me to make, or if you'd like to view a few other blocks, we can arrange that as well. The important thing is to find a space that works for the vision and the practical realities of your clinic.

Do you also want to try the mobile option as well?

Bit of a workaholic, aren't you, Kaveh. [It's not even a question; Kaveh is a busybody, the sky is blue.] Doing all of this on top of every other project, giving me food -- who else do you give food to?

But we're out here. We might as well.

Says who? You?

[ pot, kettle etc. ]

And didn't I say I made too much? I made too much again this morning; [ kaveh wrinkles his nose, here, ] but I'm not sure if Ghost will be glad if I dropped another container at her door, or if she'll throw a book at me.

[Daan waves his free hand dismissively.] Hey, I hate working. I just happen to do it anyway, because people won't stop getting hurt.

You said I drove you to make whatever-that-was. C'mon, Kaveh.

Oh, that was just you. I was furious that you haven't had mortadella before. What kind of a man can go on in life without proper mortadella? I did make too much of that, too. Who else have I fed?

[ kaveh thinks. day threes are much like this: a little too bright, his thoughts a little like scintillating stars. it's getting harder and harder to recall, and far too easy to recall. ] Tighnari, Cyno, I made Tsuruno take a container, too, and a whole basket of fruit. It's too bad that Midnight doesn't eat homemade food, otherwise I'd drop the rest on him and be done with it. Ah. [ kaveh brightens, satisfied with the conclusion: ] I'll give the rest to Netzach.

Right. [Daan sniffs, a little amused.] Workaholic, like I said. You really do fuss over people.

So who's fussing over you?

[ the look kaveh gives daan is a bit wry in form. ]

It seems that you are trying to, in your own way.

Nah, no thanks. I don't care to Mother Hen much.

[he said, like a liar]

I'm just getting the feeling you're something of a hypocrite. I don't say it to insult you; a lot of people tend to go with the "do as I say, not as I do" mindset.

Come now, Daan. You became a doctor to lend a helping hand - you are, and I say this with much affection and some exasperation, a professional Mother Hen.

[ kaveh looks. he studies daan for a moment. ]

No, I don't take that as an insult. In fact, a few people have told me so in not so many words. You must also understand, however, that the mind comes up with reasons all on its own, when trying to justify a course of action.

I don't fuss the way you do. I just give medical attention.

[He glances at Kaveh, raising a brow.]

Great, so I'm not the only one. Look, I'm obviously... not unfamiliar with having my own reason and justification for what I do. The same is for you.

But if I have to advise you the way I do to Midnight, then it's a bit worrisome.

Now, don't go that far. You took offense to being compared to Midnight; you should understand that I would take similar offense. The bar is entirely too low! In fact, that particular bar is touching the floor, and is at risk of sliding downhill at any given moment.

[ the barb leaves kaveh's tongue. he breathes out. ] Daan, like I said to you before, my biggest problem right now is a long-standing argument. In the grand scheme of things, it's hardly a real problem.

Then you should know how serious I am when I'm saying it.

[A shrug.] But a problem nonetheless. Is it your entirely-too-long-of-a-list companion, Alhaitham?

Or spiteful. Is this about me being critical of your sandwich-making skills? You can just tell me these things instead of going for the low-hanging fruit.

[ but there is no heat in the censure. kaveh looks for a moment. and then: ]

Not-companion. [ kaveh says, looking grim. ] He is merely Alhaitham. He is himself, and only ever himself. If you must know, the two of us are not on speaking terms right now. Or rather, I don't know what to say to him.

Look, I could be walking slightly wrong and you'd probably get on my ass about it. It's not that. ...It's... hm. How do I put this... when I was learning how to be a doctor from my mentor, it was strict. There is always a rule of proper exchange. So, I suppose, I like to give as good as I get; if you're going to worry about me, then I'm keen to do a bit in return.

[It's a roundabout way of saying that he is legitimately concerned for Kaveh, but such is the way of Daan having been too practiced in protecting his heart of glass.]

...But he's important to you nonetheless. What could this argument possibly be that's keeping the two of you from speaking to each other?

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