A toast to that invincible bunch, the dinosaurs surviving the crunch [OPEN]

[primogen_vampirate]

WHO Mina and OPEN
WHAT Dealing with massive amounts of owwie
WHERE The pharmacy/clinic
WHEN Evening, Day 13
NOTES Multiple threads and threadjacking welcome and encouraged
WARNINGS Blood and medical stuff, most likely

Mina rarely indulged in sloth. Despite all appearances, it was her least favorite of the Seven Deadly. But after the whole disaster with the box, she gave herself an entire day and night just to stay in bed. She didn't rest. Not much. For the most part, she lay there stewing in her own juices. But at least her body had a chance to recover.

Slightly.

The problem with a limited blood supply was that she had to ration how much blood she used to heal her wounds. And so it was practicality, not the Masquerade, that left her to wake up still lacerated and bruised the next night.

Feeling sulky and bitter, she dragged herself out of bed. She didn't bother pulling on her suit, as she had absolutely no intention of speaking with anyone. Instead, she pulled on an oversized, button-down shirt she'd found in the closet of the master bedroom. Slipping into a pair of boots, she made her way out the door, crossing the sleepy, little village. She didn't particularly care about the wolves. At this point, she was just as likely to eat them as ignore them. But none gave her much bother as she made her way into the clinic.

It was beneath her dignity. Far beneath her dignity. But once inside, she peeled off her shirt. Dressed only in her unmentionables and her boots, she sat down on a cot that she had set up against the far wall, taking out a suture set. Gritting her teeth, she started to stitch up the slashes along her arm.

Comments

[happytobleed]

After seeing that Sam was alive and returned to them, Castiel had gone back to slinking around quietly. After Loki had attacked him, he'd been startled by what he'd remembered. Dean didn't know. Sam certainly didn't know. He was alone with his realization and so he kept to himself, mainly perching in his gazebo and watched the handful of wolves cross back and forth ignoring him.

A few times, he's started to wander trying to see if there is any pattern to the animals, but largely he's avoided people, especially his own.

He saw Mina walking towards the clinic she'd helped set up and after a moment of hesitation followed her inside a few minutes later.

"Mina?"

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina was just beginning to stitch up the first gash in her arm when she heard a voice behind her. She was, admittedly, surprised to find herself with company, but it didn't register on her face as she turned to look up behind her.

Castiel. Well, he was alive. Good. And somehow, it seemed only fair that he should see her in a state of undress.

Of course, her scars couldn't compare to his.

She crossed her legs, covering up the P-shaped brand on her thigh. "Good evening, darling."

[greenisnteasy]

Bruce has mostly spent his time since the box opened rolling about in a sea of guilt. It's a never-ending string of questioning if he should have just let the Hulk out and all that could have been avoided -- except, of course, Castiel getting his head smashed in, which would have been avoided if he'd listened to his gut and never opened the thing at all. Maybe he should just leave the science alone and focus on being a doctor. Science just gets him into trouble these days.

He heads over to the clinic to see if there's something there he can do, some way he can feel useful. Maybe check the supplies, maybe he'll put out a call, asking if anyone needs any medical help or advice. He's following Kurt's advice, a can of hairspray in one hand and a lighter in the other, but he reaches the clinic relatively safely, just in time to see what he thinks is -- huh?

Hurrying in after him, he enters the clinic to run into Castiel, which attracts enough of his attention before he notices Mina, and -- okay, then. He can handle barely clothed. It helps that this is like a double-punch to all the guilt he's been feeling lately.

"Hi." He's glad to turn his eyes firmly to Castiel while he gets his bearings. "You look really good for someone who had his head smashed in."

[happytobleed]

Was that what had happened? All Castiel remembered was getting knocked out and waking up again. "I think you'll find that I am more resilient than I look. I'm fine." At least physically, he was. He hadn't even given thought to the physical damage.

"I'm more concerned about Mina." His attention was largely staying on her. He was pretty sure that he couldn't heal her the way he could humans, but there had to be something he could do to help. "Do you need a hand?"

He was unconcerned with her scars or that brand. He'd seen all of Dean's scars and they were just as unimportant. Human modesty was something he only somewhat understood. It seemed silly when the two of them both knew what the other was. Neither of them were human, anyway.

[primogen_vampirate]

She pursed her lips. Bruce's appearance was a bit less comfortable for her, although she couldn't quite put her finger on why. Castiel was a creature. Bruce, on the other hand, was a man.

Well, she supposed, she ought to put on some clothes.

With her good hand, she leaned over, picking up the button-down. She pulled it back on, over her shoulder to cover her tattoo. For all of her bluster and eccentricity, Mina didn't like feeling quite so exposed. She often found herself thanking God that she didn't need a doctor. She would make a bloody terrible patient.

"Nothing to be concerned about, darling," she said, feeling at least somewhat more defended. "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

[greenisnteasy]

Sure, after ascertaining that the guy who was brained is doing excellently, the next area of concern is Mina. He turns his attention to her as well, but averts his eyes as she dresses. Suddenly finding yourself way more underdressed than everyone else around you is a feeling Bruce knows well, and he's trying not to really make a thing about it.

"Is that all you walked away with? Or are you especially resilient too?"

He smiles at her, pleasant and calm, but it's clearly covering up his worry and concern for her health. And the guilt; that too.

[happytobleed]

Not bothering to avert his eyes, Castiel moves closer. He doesn't really care about her clothing or lack thereof. Why would he?

"I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself, but there's nothing wrong with taking help when it's offered." It's a lesson he'd had to learn himself. Her stubbornness on the topic reminds him of Dean almost immediately. They are very similar, aren't they? It's fascinating how two creatures can come from such different circumstances and still be so similar. He wonders if she was like this when she was still human.

[primogen_vampirate]

"How, exactly, were you planning to help, darling?" Mina asked. "Do halos come with medical degrees as well?" It wasn't an unkind question. Simply a statement of fact. She was a doctor. And as far as she knew, Castiel was little more than a confused creature.

Bruce was a bit more surprising, really. After all, he had been a witness to her little light show. She respected his intelligence too much to deny what she'd done. But she certainly wasn't going to bring it up unless he did.

It wasn't something that she was particularly happy about.

She turned her attention back to Bruce. "Is Lydia all right?"

[greenisnteasy]

He doesn't know what light shows equal out to in terms of resilience, or healing powers; having sparklers for hands occasionally doesn't automatically mean you can bounce back from being killed. Regardless of whether or not Mina fared wore than she looks now, he's glad the guy who did get killed is pretty calm about it. He raises his eyebrow at the halo comment, but shelves that momentarily to focus on Mina.

"She's fine. We ducked into the library and kept ourselves safe." He jerks his head at Cas and takes a step closer. "He doesn't have a medical degree, but I do. Want me to help you get patched up? Unless..." And here he turns to Castiel. "You need a halo for that."

[preytosociety]

Lydia had learned from Bruce that Mina could sometimes be found around the clinic. Fellow doctor and all that.

After what happened with Loki, Lydia felt obligated to at least see if Mina was okay. She'd be lying if her visit didn't also have something to do with her own curiosity. At least part of her wanted to know how Mina was doing. Part of her wanted to help. She felt responsible and just slightly guilty about the whole situation. Only slightly...

She knocked on the door before peeking inside, "Hello? Is anyone here?"

[primogen_vampirate]

Glancing up, Mina's lips parted just slightly. She hadn't been expecting to see anyone tonight. Already, she'd had several visitors. Still, Lydia was, perhaps, the farthest from her mind at the moment.

But, on the whole, she certainly wasn't an unwelcome sight.

"Hello, darling," she said fondly, tucking her half sutured arm underneath her button-down, just in case the girl was squeamish. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" There was some admiration in her tone. Mina liked a bold and assertive soul.

[preytosociety]

"Checking on you, actually." Lydia smiled.

It was still dangerous, possibly moreso now that the Loki was free, but there was nothing that could happen to her here that would be any worse than what she'd already been through. That, and the fact that there were people here who would likely intervene if necessary, was what made Lydia chance the danger and head out on her own.

Basically, Lydia Martin didn't give a fuck.

"I would have brought a flower arrangement, but we seem to be severely lacking a gift shop. We're severely lacking in shopping in general, actually." Such a tragedy. She was really upset about that. "Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?"

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina smiled. She really liked this girl's spirit. Back home, she would have been an excellent candidate for a Valkyrie. Something that had been on Mina's mind a lot lately, as she finally face the reality that she would never be a Sire.

That had never once bothered her. Not until she no longer could.

"Flowers are for funerals," Mina said with a shrug. "Never waste them on the living."

Or semi-living.

[preytosociety]

"So you're fine, then? You went up against a newly-freed god and you're fine."

Lydia stepped forward, clearly intrigued. It was hard to hide the curiosity now. "What are you? Are you like Castiel? He wouldn't explain, but I need to know."

Doctors don't usually do battle with gods. Or know old Norse.

[primogen_vampirate]

She actually laughed at that. A deep, throaty, genuine laugh.

It felt good.

"I've been accused of being many things in my life, my dear," she said, beckoning her closer with two fingers. "An angel was never one of them, I assure you."

Sorry this took so long!

[preytosociety]

She smiled despite her apprehension and moved closer. It's not that she was scared of Mina. Not even close. Not yet, anyway. She was more scared of what non-human things were out there that didn't laugh like that and didn't provide cover for others to get to safety.

"So Castiel is an angel and you're something else." Not a question. Most definitely a fact. "I'm not accusing. Just confirming. You haven't provided a reason for anyone to grab the pitchforks and torches. If anything, I owe you."

Her smile turned apologetic. It's a tricky subject and she just wants Mina to know that she doesn't see her as a threat.

Not yet, anyway.

No worries!

[primogen_vampirate]

"I much appreciate that," Mina said. "I do hate pitchforks and torches. They remind me too much of farming. And I grew up in Devon County, where there were more sheep than people, I'm sad to say."

She patted the space next to her. "Sit here," she said, holding up her arm. There was a loose bandage near her elbow. "Hold this for me, will you, darling? Bruce is an excellent scientist, but his fingers get a little clumsy."

Admittedly, she'd probably made the poor dear nervous.

"As for your question, about what I am, I respect your intelligence too much to try and dismiss the light show from the other day," she continued. "But as to what I am...well...I'm someone who's survived a very long time by finding ways to evade that question."

[porcelainpride]

Have a tentative knock-knock on the door by little red riding sweatshirt. "Hi. I'm...oh.

"Oh." Cue Kurt turning significantly paler. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry."

[primogen_vampirate]

She glanced up. She hadn't seen this man...no...boy...before. Although his voice was familiar. Perhaps she'd heard him over the network. It was no matter, really. She had neither care nor modesty at the moment.

Not after this night.

"It seems," she said, tucking her arm under her button-down in case he was squeamish--and he certainly looked squeamish, "that this room is more popular than Grand Central Station tonight."

[porcelainpride]

Not squeamish! Totally not. It just...caught him off guard?

All right, yes, Kurt's totally squeamish around blood, but not to the point where he's going to pass out/run away. In fact, he'll step inside and close the door, setting his large basket down on the nearest table.

"Well, we are sort of living in dangerous beastie central."

[primogen_vampirate]

"I suppose that's true," she conceded. "Which, of course, leads me to my next question: What the hell are you doing walking around at this hour of the night?"

Mina knew better than to judge on appearances. Especially in this place, filled with strange and wonderful creatures. But from the looks of this boy, he seemed very...breakable.

[porcelainpride]

Kurt draws himself up to his full height -- which, while decent for a boy of his age, is still not quite in proportion to his weight, because he's a slim and lightweight teenage boy -- and unzips his sweatshirt. "Delivering muffins. Care for one?"

Yes, he's out among wolves wearing a red hood and delivering baked goods. He revels in the irony.

[primogen_vampirate]

It was so absurd and so completely unexpected that Mina let out a laugh. A real, genuine laugh. "I appreciate the thought," she told him. "But I probably shouldn't be handling anything that makes crumbs right now."

She beckoned him over with two fingers, nonetheless. Something about him in intrigued her. "What's your name?"

[porcelainpride]

"Let me know if you'd like any in the future. I'm very good at making them."

He hesitates a moment, then obediently walks over, folding his hands in front of himself like he's aware he's on display. "Kurt Hummel."

[primogen_vampirate]

"A pleasure to meet you, Mister Hummel," she said, crossing her legs to cover up the P-shaped burn on her thigh. "My name is Doctor Mina Barrett."

She reached out, offering him her good hand.

"Chicago, 1932. And yourself?"