ArchivedLogs:Anti-Anti-Vax

Anti-Anti-Vax
Dramatis Personae Corey,Flicker
In Absentia	2015-02-08 A quick visit to the clinic
Location <NYC> The Mendel Clinic - Lower East Side
With its sharp crystalline edges and sleek lines knifing up into the sky, this building is one of the most /distinctive/ new additions to the neighborhood. An angular structure in glass and steel, the tall tower has a deceptively slender look to it that is belied by the heavy security as soon as you enter the doors. The front doors are frosted with the Clinic's logo -- a rising sun over a rod of Asclepius -- a motif echoed in many places throughout the building. Visitors to the clinic must first pass through a small mantrap, guarded by some of the Clinic's security guards; once they make it through the metal detector and airlock's double doors they emerge into the much more hospitable lobby. With dark wood floors underneath and comfortable black and red couches at its edges, the high windows give the room an airy feel. A bank of elevators to one side carry visitors to the many destination floors, while the wide welcome desk at the other side is manned by a security guard ready to help point visitors in the right direction. Saturdays are busy at the Clinic. Not as much with the patients -- though there are plenty of people stopping by for appointments -- but with the *protesters*, often out in force given the lack of workday. There's a small crowd gathered, picket signs and chanting, marching up and down the walk both because not-loitering-outside is the law and because it's *cold*. Flicker is just escorting one young girl, pale red skin and huge black eyes, through the crowd and into the lobbg. His red and black uniform is partially hidden beneath a coat and scarf and gloves but the long polycarbonate shield he carries makes it clear enough he's On Duty. It's somewhat scuffed up, though today bears only a melting-ice coating of snow. Couple thrown snowballs. No thrown /rocks/. Quieter day than some. Making his way into the clinic, Corey looks relaxed in a mix of ems gear and warm poofy winter wear, the mix at least showing he's finished his shift for the day. No worse for wear he seems as alert and awake as his powers allow him to remain, he doesn't even seem to mind the presence of the protesters at first. Of course that could also be due to him towering over most of them, and being a good half again as broad at the shoulders. Seeing someone he recognizes escorting someone in, he pushes his way in to follow through the doors. "You'd think they would have better things to do with their time than interfering with people in need of medical assistance," Corey says towards Flicker's back as he looks around the lobby to see if things are any busier today than usual. "Snow helping to keep their numbers down some at least?" "Helps," Flicker agrees, escorting his charge to the welcome desk and turning to give Corey a warm smile. "Rowdier in summer. But in summer they throw rocks and not snowballs. Trade-off, I guess." Shrug. He leans against the riot shield, shivering and glancing towards the wide front windows. "Lots of people like getting in everyone's business, I guess. Keeps me in a job, anyway." He sounds -- a little wry about this. "Don't suppose /you're/ in need of medical assistance?" His brows lift. Offering the other fellow a hand to shake in greeting, Corey grins at the warm smile. "Yeah, people get stupid in the summer. Happens every year, you'd think they would understand that the temperature will be over a hundred and so will the humidity. Ya know, find something cold to do instead of being a hot head." Chuckling at the question of needing medical assistance, he shakes his head. "Nah, wanted to swing by to see if everything was going fine here, or if there were any patients needing a boost. And after Kate lost her job, it's not like she wouldn't be able to come quick to help me even if I ended up riddled in bullet holes." He lets out a sigh and shakes his head. "How're things doing outside of the knuckleheads on the sidewalks?" Flicker claps his hand into Corey's, brief. "Think it melts their brains a little." After this a wince. Maybe about Kate. Maybe about bullet holes. "I'd advise against the bullets. Healing or not. Still hurts like /mad/." A small shake of head. "Heard about Kate -- heard she was applying here. Fingers crossed. There's good people here." His eyes shift back outside at the last question. "Guess it's -- always busy. You been alright?" "Shame, they have so little brains they really ought to be more careful with what little they have," Corey says with an eye roll. He nods at the wince and the advice though. "Yeah, it's not exactly on my to do list to end up with any more holes in my body. And yeah it sucks about her old work, but they pretty much always treated her like shit anyway. At least here I don't see it being a problem." He glances outside at Flickers eye shift, "Maybe hire a street sweeper to clean up the sidewalks before she comes in to work. And me? Yeah I'm good. Nobody in my ambulance has gotten sick all throughout the flu season thus far. I think they are glad enough to put aside any unpleasantries for that alone." "Nobody?" Flicker sounds slightly envious. "Here, we've been slammed. Security, medical, dental. Even optometry didn't get a pass this year." The smile he gives Corey is a little crooked. "Don't suppose you'd want a second job. Sit around. Read books. Sleep. Keep us all well." "Yeah, seems to be a side effect of ya know, me," Corey says with a nod. "I think we were the only group not hit with it, so as much as there's general bitching about me being there, management can't complain about it much. Have you guys had any patients with measles through yet? The flu alone seems to be half my calls." He chuckles at the offer of a second job. "Tempting but I'd need some concessions, after all I kinda prefer sleeping in beds to cots. Pretty sure Kate likes to see me at least an hour or two out of the day too, since I end up picking up the extra shifts as it is." "Thank goodness, no. Don't think it's spread into the City yet. It's in the county outside, though." Which puts a small scowl on Flicker's face. "Thankfully I don't think our pediatricians really put /up/ with that anti-vaxxer nonsense? We have so many patients through who have /actually/ serious medical concerns." His lips press together, eyes still fixed on the shift of protesters outside. "Lots of flu, though. Lots and lots. Which leads to no end of fun times with misbehaving powers." "We're on the look out for it, but yeah I haven't had one yet either. I really wish I could understand why people are willing to risk their own children and the lives of everyone around them, that apparently Death is preferable to the imaginary possibility of having a child on the spectrum?" Corey just has a look of disgust on their face. "And glad your pediatricians here wont put up with it. With the people you have coming through, who knows what allergies they might have to the normal medications to begin with." Shifting his body so he can keep a watch on the outside crowd with Flicker, he lets out a sigh. "Oh man, I hadn't even thought about that. Has anyone gotten hurt from a flare up yet?" "I don't really know why. Media scares? Really irresponsible reporting? People profiting off --" Irritation flits across Flicker's expression. Then passes. Quick head-shake. "Definitely have some people here who -- need to be careful. So I'm glad, too." The last question, though -- just a /grin/. "Only us." He gestures between himself, another guard, one outside. Maybe security-in-general. "S'what we're here for, though, right?" "Yeah, people are idiots. Best not to get too fretting of that, we have enough idiocy to deal with on a daily basis," Corey's gaze at the protesters pointing out which idiocy he's talking about then. "I'm just glad this place is here for the people who need it. Though I think I prefer visiting this way instead of visiting after Jax and all end up here..." he frowns and shakes his head, not liking to remember the last time. Or the time before that. "And yeah you get to be the big hero. Maybe you guys can wear capes. Little kids would feel better knowing they have honest to goodness superheroes keeping them safe when they are sick." "No capes." Flicker doesn't have an excellent Edna Mode voice but the alacrity of his reply and crooked smile get the picture across clearly enough. "Gotta admit --" His prosthetic arm twitches, slightly. "I prefer you visiting this way, too." The smile evens out, warmer, brighter. "You should come visit. For real. Not-the-clinic. -- Oh, shoot." Outside there's a clamor, another patient approaching to try and break through the crowd. "That's me." Flicker holds out his hand for a fistbump before disappearing to reappear on the sidewalk outside, parting the cluster with his shield to get through to the potential visitor. Chuckling at the Edna comment he nods. "Yeah I know, I don't think anybody legit actually wears one. And yeah I'll come visit sometime." Frowning at the clamor outside he nods. "Yeah you go take care of that. I wanted to stop and visit some other people here anyway after all. I'll give a call if I don't see you on my way out." He provides the fist bumpage before Flickr disappears, and he turns and heads towards the admittance area to have a chat with the people on duty.