Do No Harm; Do Know Harm

Grayson Riddle . 33 . Veterinarian at Penny's Pet Palace

[angelofmore]

wolfsbaneward‌:

A place that he does frequent.  The luxury of having a screen as big as a house on which to watch the general garbage of mental fodder that played as a form of entertainment.  Rather different to a small laptop with tinny speakers which had been his main window to the world for a long time.  And in general it is garbage.  That doesn’t mean he doesn’t like it.

He also has absolutely zero qualms about attending alone.  A life in exclusion meant that the oddity to him was the persistent company that people felt the need to acquire.  As though an activity wasn’t ‘worth’ doing unless it was in the presence of another, a witness to their life.  

Which is why he already has an ( extra large ) bucket of sweet-and-salted balanced in one hand, the other dropping a few pieces of popped deliciousness into his mouth.  Already chewing thoughtfully as a few words seem to fall into the air, maybe not meant for anyone - maybe meant for him.  And as he seems to be the only one immediately present, he’ll guess it’s the latter.

“What’s more fun than a tornado full of sharks?  Apart from a tornado full of sharks and dinosaurs and alien robots…”

A quick glance sidelong and a grin.  Smashing together the main titles on the board in front of them into one rather questionable ‘blockbuster’.

“Also, if you ain’t seen the first, I don’t think there’ll be a lot of mental gymnastics to catch up to the plot.  Which is… Sharks.  In a tornado.  So… You’re all up to speed and ready to go.”

Grayson’s vague comment hadn’t really been meant for anyone, but he was never one to turn down the chance for a conversation about something as inane as the title of a ‘Blockbuster’. Especially when the stranger had such a clever retort, and he found himself answering in kind, “But if you fill the tornado with sharks and dinosaurs and alien robots, won’t they just destroy each other in the whirlwind before they can do any real damage to the populace?”

He returned the man’s quick grin with one of his own, and eyed the rather large bucket of popcorn, wondering why he himself hadn’t made it to the concession line yet. “No gymnastics, check. Although, seeing sharks do gymnastics is...a rather funny image, and just the type of movie I need after this week.” He’d lost a tech this week, the man simply not showing up for his shift the entire week, and the entire staff had been working double trying to cover him. Grayson hadn’t really known him well enough to worry, but he wished the man hadn’t decided to skip town when he had back-to-back surgeries lined up for most of the week. Right now, he was looking forward to shutting off his brain for two hours, eating his weight in popcorn and sugary snacks, and then going home to pass out. It sounded delightful. “So what are you watching this evening, if you don’t mind me asking, since we’ve already established I’m going to be enjoying everything Sharknado has to offer.”

[angelofmore]

dclphiinium‌:

There was something appealing, even calming about being all alone. Delphi surely valued the moments when she didn’t have to work and entertain others. So, watching a movie seemed like a decent option. Movies were a source of inspiration but also comfort, a portal to another imaginary world where most people lived happily until the end of their days.Delphi wasn’t a fan of such movies for she knew that those films were only giving people false hope, and false hope was the worst thing in life. But that also didn’t stop her from occasionally watching something in that genre. However, on this particularity night, her eyes landed on something quite different and utterly ridiculous, but the thing that surprised her the most was the man who had approached her.’’They’re not actually made up. There are more than a few prequels! It seems people just enjoy in movies about sharks… in a tornado. So, because it’s called Sharknado’s Revenge I’m guessing that the main shark wants some retribution. It could be fun, you know. If you don’t pay attention to the horrible filming, acting and  CGI effects, you get a really nice comedy.’’

Grayson wasn’t expecting such a detailed response from the relative stranger, but he was amused by her knowledge, nonetheless. “You sound as if you have first hand knowledge of said Shark...nados.” Just saying the word felt ridiculous, and Grayson couldn’t help the grin on his lips that grew, “How many prequels are there, and just how many sharks are there left in the ocean at this point if they keep getting sucked up by tornadoes?” Regardless, the sheer insanity of the movie seemed to be right up his alley that night, and he knew without a doubt what he’d be watching. “That being said, are you interested in watching sharks fling themselves from a whirlwind, or were you looking at something a little more...traditional.” 

[angelofmore]

handscanheal‌:

Grumpy seemed to be the word in everyone’s mouth that morning. It never bothered Winston when nurses came to him with the weather report of how everyone they received at the center. If anything, he smiled with a nod and chose to ignore the way they enunciated ‘angry’ or ‘distraught’ as if they were explaining its meaning for the first time to a child. He was young and he knew that. It would take time before they started calling him Winston instead of Dr. Moreau. But, he thought, he had buried the boy some time ago. It was thoughtful of them to be concerned and so it was grumpy that he was told to expect when he went to their newest patient.

It was a way to describe the patient, sure, Winston thought, as he slid back the curtain and adjusted his glasses. A single word was hardly enough for any singular person. Humanity was too complex for that and he simply listened with a gentle smile. At the word surgeries, his interest was piqued and he absently ran his thumb over the corner of this manila folder. The man’s astute observation of his predicament was telling and Winston hummed low in his throat.

“Well, I ain’t plannin’ on bein’ sloppy,” he said after a beat. He dropped the folder to the side and looked at the bloodied bandage. A crease formed between his brows. “I’m Dr. Moreau, but Winston’ll do just fine. You work nearby?” He gestured for the arm and waited before he cleared his throat, an apologetic smile fixed on his face. “You said surgeries an’ I was just wonderin’…Anyhow, alright if I get to takin’ a look at that?”

Grayson hadn’t even been aware of the tension building up in his chest in the isolated silence of his curtained off bed, until the curtain was pulled back and some of that tension was released in a long sigh. The doctor who appeared was wearing the typical white coat, stethoscope, and the almost harried look that came with working in an Emergency Room, faint and with an edge of desperation. It wasn’t different here, when you weren’t in the middle of a warzone, but it was no less trying to be in the midst of chaos nearly twenty-four seven. 

Holding out his arm to the rather young doctor, he tried his best to put on the usual smile he worked with and let him get to work, “Yes, I do. I’m the vet over at Penny’s Pet Palace.” He wiggled his fingers as the doc started his examination, certain that his own analysis would be what he would fine, he’d done enough stitching up wounds and incisions over the years. “This is the busy season, apparently, and they fired the other vet a week before I moved here, so I’ve been playing catchup ever since.” He wiggled his fingers, the faintest twinge of pain let him know that he was going to be in pain for a little while, but he’d still be able to finish his work for the day. If the doctor was quick, at least.

[angelofmore]

Where: Galaxy Theaters Who: Open

Another night, another opportunity to explore the city he felt like he’d barely scratched the surface of, and tonight he had set his eye on the movies.Only he seemed to be the only one that felt it was appropriate to go on his own. As yet another couple breezed by him, his gaze set on the movie options screen, he debated going home, or finding something else to do with his evening--tired of being the unknowing third, fourth, and fifth wheel. That’s when he caught sight of a similar soul nearby, gazing up at the screen in quiet contemplation as he was, and he found himself drifting closer out of commiseration, “I’m fairly certain some of these movie titles are made up, because there’s no way they would willingly make something called ‘Sharknado’s Revenge’.”

[angelofmore]

sweetxarsenic‌:

This wasn’t what she’d come here for. Definitely not. But, the longer she watched her target and came to the conclusion he was the wrong guy, her reason for being there shifted. It was no longer a job and she could leave if she wanted, but for the time being…well she didn’t have anything else super pressing to get back to just yet. Nodding, Sun looked around. She could understand that. Her parents had never felt having a pet was a high priority so she’d grown up without them and she’d never had the urge to get one once she arrived in the city. The Sphynx cat though. That was something she hadn’t thought about. “So if you’re allergic, hairless cats don’t bother them?”

Grayson smiled as the possibility of making another adoption that day was growing stronger by the minute. He debated going in and bringing out the Sphynx cat so she could play with her, but wasn’t sure about just how severe her allergy was. Shrugging, he lent against the glass and turned to look inside at the cats, “No hair, no allergies. Give her a bath at least once a week and you’ll both be the happiest you’ve ever been.” 

[angelofmore]

thusnarcissuswept‌:

you’ve no idea how lonely i sometimes am pulp kitchen, post-gala open to all !!

Julian was, for once in their life, perfectly content to stay right where they were: smack in the middle of a beautiful sunbeam, leather-clad feet propped up on the windowsill they sat beside. Settled in with a book in hand, they were prepared to spend the afternoon reading in peace. Or rather, leaving everyone else in peace. Within minutes of starting the book, however, that constant inclination toward striking up a conversation with basically anyone crawling into their very bones. 

They fought it at first, adjusting in their seat and refocusing on a line of text they had already read three times without absorbing one bit. If someone wants a conversation with you, they’ll approach you, they chided themself. Besides, alone time was supposed to be good for you, right?

Wrong, wrong, definitely wrong. Five minutes later they were out of their seat, heading toward the first person they recognized armed with a smile. At least nobody could say they didn’t try.

“Pardon the interruption, but you look so engrossed it’s hard not to take interest,” they said, almost theatrical in tone. “What are you reading that has you so fascinated?”

Reading a Crime Thriller was, perhaps, hitting a little too close to home for Grayson, but he was allowed his guilty pleasures from time to time. What he loved most about Pulp Kitchen, besides the cats that he helped bring into the wandering bookshelves, was that there was always something, or someone, new to see. Every time he came, there was a different face, or a new set of books, and Grayson could lose himself in people watching, or reading, whichever took his attention first. 

The interruption was almost welcomed by the time the stranger appeared at Grayson’s elbow, he’d reached a part in the book that hit a little too close to home, and he turned to them with a slight grin, “You’re not going to laugh if I say, Gone Girl, are you?”

[angelofmore]

batibat & lucifer

batibat: talk about the worst nightmare you have ever had

Already Answered

lucifer: what are you most proud of?

I want to say I’m most proud of my clinic here in town, but it’d probably be the animal shelter, to be honest. We’ve been able to rescue more animals in the short time I’ve been here, than they have in years past, and that feels...good.

[angelofmore]

batibat!

batibat: talk about the worst nightmare you have ever had

Already Answered

[angelofmore]

batibat & mammon

batibat: talk about the worst nightmare you have ever had

Really? I guess...it’s a nightmare probably everyone’s had. Of being behind bars. Unable to break myself free...Nothing more terrifying than being trapped, right?

mammon: when were you most greedy? for what?

Have you ever had to fight over the last dessert in a mess hall filled with starving marines? Because I have. And it was delicious.

[angelofmore]

ornias & lix tetrax

ornias: talk about a time where you felt drained of energy

There was one day, at a clinic I worked at a few years back, there’d been an outbreak in a neighborhood. One of those diseases that sweeps through the animal populace almost too fast to catch until it’s too late. We had a lot of grieving family coming in and out of our doors that day...

lix tetrax: if you could travel by wind, where would you go?

Already answered.

[angelofmore]

Mephistopheles and Verrier!

mephistopheles: have you ever helped  a loved one destroy themselves?

Yes, but I didn’t realize it at the time.

verrier: do you find yourself disobeying or obeying most authority?

If the call fits, I’ve no trouble listening to it. If it’s a stupid call, well--I’ve learned ways to work around idiots for most of my life. And there’s a reason I don’t work with other vets anymore.

[angelofmore]

lix tetrax

lix tetrax: if you could travel by wind, where would you go?

Wind? Well, I guess I’d want to go to all of the tallest places on earth, wouldn’t you? Mount Everest, Empire State Building, That one giant building in Dubai. What’s the point of, essentially, being able to fly, if you don’t take advantage of it and go where only birds can go. With an oxygen tank strapped to my back, of course.

[angelofmore]

cassiopivm‌:

She reached for her fork and cut off a piece of the french toast, popping it in her mouth and chewing while he busied himself with the syrup. He returned it and Cass thought that was that - not a lot of people in Dertosa were friendly enough to keep a conversation going after that - but he went on. “Well, I mean, I’m not just scrolling through the internet. I could do that on my phone,” she said after she swallowed, as if that were obvious. “Besides, coffee shop tables are too small. And if I actually want to eat a full meal and get work done, multitasking is the way to go.”

Grayson’s interest was piqued and he sent the young woman a bright grin, “Oh really? So if you weren’t surfing the web, then what were you doing? Writing the next big hit on the New York Times bestsellers list?” He really should let her be, should go back to his meal that he’d been looking forward to all day, but he was in a chatty mood and that meant he wouldn’t be able to stop himself until he’d exhausted his curiosity. 

[lunar-butch-deactivated20160510]

"ask me about my demons"

[valentinexbomber-blog]

lilith: what was your biggest rebellion against authority? why did you do it? raum: do you have a tendency to hoard anything? if so, what? jezebel: talk about a time you used your sexuality to get your way mephistopheles: have you ever helped  a loved one destroy themselves? verrier: do you find yourself disobeying or obeying most authority? asmodeus: on whom do you want revenge and how would you take it? baal: if you were a god, how would you prefer to be worshipped? lamia: how do you feel about children? lucifer: what are you most proud of? sonneillon: do you hate anyone? batibat: talk about the worst nightmare you have ever had abaddon: what person, place, or thing have you most wanted to destroy? belias: do you gossip? abraxas: do you believe in any higher power? if so, what? ornias: talk about a time where you felt drained of energy lix tetrax: if you could travel by wind, where would you go? astaroth: have you ever falsely accused someone? carreau: do you consider yourself compassionate or harsh to others? why? leviathan: what do you believe lies in the unexplored areas of the ocean? belphigor: if you could pick 3 forms to shapeshift into, what would they be? azazel: talk about a time when you were falsely blamed for something mammon: when were you most greedy? for what? verrith: are you a patient or impatient person? pythius: out of all the lies you have ever told, which is your favorite? berith: do you often argue with others?

[angelofmore]

salvatin‌:

there is the urge to tug his hand back, to let it disappear into his pocket but grayson is faster, already inspecting his blue and slightly swollen knuckles. ‘ no she didn’t. ’ the injury obviously not from molly, no reason to lie about that. ‘ she just got too close, is all. ’ he won’t explain the injury, won’t explain that jaw and cheekbones his fist met look worse than his hand. the official explanation if asked, he’d injured himself training, boxing. not quite a lie given he had been boxing, but not the truth either. not that he needed to explain himself frequently. ‘ it’s fine. ’ an attempt to brush him off, give it a week tops and his hand would be back to normal, nothing new, nothing unusual. ‘ I’ll make sure she has her favourite chew toy until my hand’s properly healed. ’ another attempt to brush him off, to downplay the injury.

Now that Grayson was able to get a better look at the man’s knuckles, it was easy enough to tell they came from something far more vicious than a puppy’s teeth. Humming under his breath, he dug through the groomers’ things next to the table and found a small antiseptic wipe, some gauze, and bright blue stretchy wrap. With a slight grin he cleaned the small wounds, and then proceeded to wrap up the worst in the gauze and wrap, and left Isaiah with brightly colored knuckles. “There, now there’s no way her little razor teeth can get in there, and in a few days you’ll be good as new.” Setting Isaiah’s hand free, he turned to clean up the mess he’d created and give Molly a few scratches for good measure. 

[angelofmore]

cassiopivm‌:

Every so often, Cass took her work out of the office. It was nice to get a change of scenery and get away from the bustling hotel, a place nearly bursting with wealthy people and luxury. Who would have ever thought that Cass would want a break from something like that  after all she had been through? So today she had treated herself to the cafe’s very unhealthy french toast and was tapping away on her laptop when the man got her attention. “Oh sure, no problem. I’m done with it anyway,” Cass responded as she passed the syrup over to him. “I’m sorry about your sad pancakes. Melancholy food is the worst.”

Grayson grinned as he took the offered syrup, shifting enough to pour a decent amount over the lackluster pancakes, and then reached over to set it back down on her table. That done, he took a moment to rest his chin atop his crossed arms placed on the booth’s backing and gestured at the laptop, “Isn’t it a bit of an odd time to be scrolling through the internet at a diner? Thought that’s what coffeeshops were for these days?” Gray wasn’t often so nosey, but the diner was practically empty, and he’d finished his book a half hour ago, there wasn’t much else for him to do.

[angelofmore]

sweetxarsenic‌:

Dark eyes followed his movements and she genuinely chuckled a little when the cat sniffed his hand and completely ignored him. Her kind of animal. “My animal fighting ring?” a part of her was immediately perked up, if those did exist in Toxic City, they had to know about it. Any kind of animal fighting rings usually involved drugs of some kind, unfortunately there were a lot of cases of those going hand in hand. But she held back. He was joking, obviously. Cracking another amused smile, she softly laughed. “Do I look like the animal fighting type?” She held up her hand quickly, “don’t answer that.” Teasing, she laughed again, glancing around the store. “So, do you have any pets or do you just find them homes?”

Grayson chuckled as she responded how he hoped, taking his words as a joke, despite the number of animal fighting ring people he’d had enter into the various vet clinics and animal shelters he’d worked in over the years. They didn’t try adopting or bring their beaten animal to him after the first time, and he’d gotten good at recognizing that type of a person. Grinning he shrugged away her teasing and then turned back to look into the animal enclosure, “I’ve moved around a lot the last few years, so never really had the chance to have one of these furry guys.” He’d had a pet, or two, over time, but they’d never lasted long in his care alone. “So if you’re allergic to these guys, what about that little one in the corner?” He grinned and pointed to a section of the enclosure, high up, where a Sphynx cat, mottled pink and black, was doing its best to groom itself while staying unnoticed.