Panacea

| Kevin Osborne, 30 | ~   | Healing Touch |  | Institute Physician | The Newest Addition to The Nightingale Institute Staff ~

[sladesforce]

Oliver glanced up at the door as it opened slowly. “You’re late.”

[kevin-osborne]

"Am I?" Kevin glanced at his watch. "Admittedly not the best way to start a meeting." 

[jakebohm-deactivated20231122]

"And just how do you know what my bedtime i—" he paused and stared at Kevin for a long moment when he mentioned parents, specifically the word ‘mother’ … and a melancholy shadow drifted over his dark gaze. He didn’t know why, but the word ‘mother’ made him feel … deeply sad, a cold and heavy emptiness gripping his heart; he thought, perhaps, it had something to do with his own mother, a mother he could not remember; and finally, after several awkward beats of silence, he muttered with a sudden drastic and solemn change to his mood and demeanor. "Yeah. Maybe you’re right. Goodnight, doctor."

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin bit back a response when Horus's entirety seemed to endure a mental flinch. It was a thrilling thing and a horrible thing, watching his demeanor derail into something dark, something depressed. Kevin's gut tightened when he realized his mistake. After the heavy silence, after Horus's heavy words, Kevin spoke. "Horus-" Kevin cursed himself. "Will you be alright? I'm deeply sorry." 

[sia-malikov]

"I’ve tried, but I don’t know, I just find them pretty boring," Sia joked with a wink. Being cautious only lasted for a few moments before the girl got bored and decided to go build something, or participate in a dangerous activity. "Are you saying you want to hang out with me Dr. Osborne? Because that’s what I’m getting from that." With that she smirked a bit though her intentions were all good. "Now if we did hang out would I still have to call you Dr. Osborne because that would be weird." Since they were just talking, Sia found her mind wandering a bit while she started to get bored. Instead, her eyes wandered over to the table with his instruments on it. "Hmmm, I suppose I do too…"

[kevin-osborne]

"I find Arithmetic boring, doesn't mean it's not important." Kevin's smile was short-lived and replaced by his characteristic concerned pout. It was too often on his lips, but Kevin would disagree. His life was revolved around care, it should only have made sense that he looked the part. At her words, Kevin's brow came together. "Of course, Sia. Was it not obvious? So long as you don't pour me any of that alcohol of yours. You've got rubbish taste in drink." He crossed his arms. "Hardly. You're already welcome to call me Oz. Or.. Kevin." He spoke his name like it had a bitter taste. It wasn't his fault that his father had been dreadfully boring. He was a remarkable man, but lacked imagination. "Well I'm glad we can agree on something." 

[kevin-osborne]

Silence in the Library || Oz and Nik

[reveriestardust]

"Thank you," he whispered, opting to stand perfectly still as he waited for the man to gather his things; Nikolai kept his gaze downcast, just in case something in his usual icy gaze gave anything away about how uncomfortable he was waking in the library, and in doing so, he missed the doctor’s reassuring a smile, but the motion in his peripheral vision let him know Dr. Osborne had stepped beside him. He nearly protested the words. Nearly. But he kept his thoughts within himself, not wanting to argue with a physician regarding sleeping habits. His own were … odd, unpredictable … and he didn’t want to sleep.

Ever.

Nikolai hated sleeping. Sleeping meant dreaming. Dreaming meant nightmares—uncontrollable visions of the future. Instead, he ignored the topic completely and tightened his sleeve-covered grip around the straps of his satchel as they started toward the door. "Hestia House, yes."

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin pulled his satchel over his shoulder with a labored grunt uncharacteristic of his normal professionalism. It was nearly comical the way that it bulged off of his small frame like a jutting hip. He patted it as if to assure its presence, and then he began to walk. "Hestia House," Kevin said. "It's very beautiful at night. The reflection of stars off of the glass windows. I'm sure you've seen it before." 

Turning to the wall, Kevin flipped a switch, and the library metamorphosed under the moon. Shelves of brown cherrywood became blue as the film of nightlight washed across the carpeted floor. "The librarians have me close up," Kevin explained, "In case you haven't noticed, we're the only ones here." 

[jakebohm-deactivated20231122]

He smiled a bit when the doctor started laughing, and that smile grew into a bright grin. But at being told what time it was, he gasped and gripped his chest with a look of mock incredulousness. "Knowledge has no BED TIME, doctor! How … dare … youuuuuu?!”

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin scoffed at the mealodramaticy in Horus's reaction. "You're absolutely right, Horus, learning is hardly ephemeral-- but in the grand scheme of things, you are. While Ancient Babylon is incapable of rest, you certainly are, and it's well past your precious bedtime. Come now, I'm not your parent, don't make me mother you."

[jakebohm-deactivated20231122]

"Does an insatiable desire to learn count as a marvelous excuse? The quest for knowledge cannot be quelled, doctor. It will not be stifled by little old ladies who hiss menacingly through their teeth at anything louder than a sniffle! My mind will NOT be hindered by some old hag’s schedule!"

[kevin-osborne]

"Horus-" There was a damper in Kevin's throat, nullifying anything that he wanted to say. He could have talked about the black forked tongues behind the librarians' clenched teeth, which Kevin could swear to have seen, or their gnarled talons that grew as thick and yellow masses at their cuticles. The library, which had been silent not a moment before, filled with Kevin's laughter. "It's two in the morning," he said with utter bewilderment. "The old hags are nearly all metamorphs. It's how they know so much. Little old- they'll bloody kill you, Horus, I swear. Go to sleep." 

[jxnning]

Chris hid a grin behind his hand, choosing to glance at the floor for a minute, flattered. “i’m glad to hear that.” he regained his composure and sternly folded his arms across his chest.

The stumble in his words almost made him feel guilty, he seemed so keen on the idea… “You sound so disappointed …I guess you could always come up to my apartment for a drink.”

[kevin-osborne]

Movements scarcely went unnoticed by Kevin. Nervous twitches, winces of pain and limps; all indicators of a person's being. He had to notice these things as a doctor, he'd trained himself to notice these things so that he could become a doctor, and while he could pinpoint evidence of discomfort twice as easily with his ability, broken bones were not a difficult diagnoses from a distance either. Kevin watched Christopher's poorly disguised amusement in concern. Perhaps Christopher found him to be a ridiculous man; a bumbling doctor unfit of his PhD.. Kevin cleared his throat and mirrored the way that Christopher crossed his arms. 

The action felt alien in such an informal setting, so he let his arms fall to his sides in defeat. "Always," Kevin said blandly. "I don't like being a trouble, Christopher, don't say it unless you mean it." 

[kevin-osborne]

Silence in the Library || Oz and Nik

[reveriestardust]

At being told the time, Nikolai continued to stare at the doctor like a deer in headlights. Confused. But that was all; he gave absolutely no indication of how stressed and lost this situation made him feel. So when the healer asked if there was somewhere to which he could be escorted, the boy felt a trickle of relief down his spine; with as disoriented as he’d been as of late, a little help was appreciated. “Yes … thank you … if not too much trouble …” he replied softly. Was everything all right? He avoided the subject with a vague answer. “I must have fallen asleep …”

[kevin-osborne]

"Just a moment," Kevin's eyes dropped to his display of folders and paperwork, organized obsessively into stacks held together by black binder clips. Hastily, he slid the piles into his briefcase one at a time before clipping the bag shut and slinging it over his shoulder. "I was just going, so there's no need for guilt. It's not a problem." Kevin offered the boy a smile, followed by a step to his side. "Hestia house, I presume? Come now, Nikolai, we shouldn't dawdle considering the time. It's really not a good hour for brains in need of a human number of hours for rest." 

[sia-malikov]

The hint of a smile was evident on her face. “Careful and me don’t exactly get along,” she winked, joking with him. Seeing Dr. Osborne was a rather common occurrence due to her carelessness. “Besides, then you wouldn’t get to see my lovely face quite as often. And you wouldn’t want that, right? No, I’m joking, I suppose I could try and exercise more safety precautions in my life. That seems fair.”

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin crossed his arms in an act of defiance, "You should endeavor to establish relations." His expression was grim. She was a delightful girl and owned Kevin's heart, but there was danger enough in that vulnerability that he surrendered to her. It was too often that they met under the roof of The Infirmary and not somewhere devoid of the smell of rubbing alcohol and medicine. Kevin might have as well associated her face with the tan-colored bandages that Nightingale Institute bought by the dozen. "I assume you'd get lonely without me and meet me another place. That would be my hope at least." Kevin chuckled softly. "Thank you. I rather prefer your skin on your back than the alternative."

[jakebohm-deactivated20231122]

"Stuff … and … things? What are you doing here?”

[kevin-osborne]

"Just grading, Horus. I've got special permission from the librarians to stay late. They're scary women, I'd scuttle if I were you -- that, or think up a marvelous excuse." 

[sia-malikov]

As the bone was mended, Sia let out a slight groan. The process did involve slight pain, though once the process had completed most if it was alleviated. “Thanks, Dr. Osborne, what would I do without you?” she joked wiping off remnants of blood with the back of her hand. At the question she pursed her lips a bit. “Well, I guess it’s a bit embarrassing. I was teaching this freshman some self defense, and taught them the move to break someone’s nose. When I asked them to demonstrate the motion, the put in a little too much force.”

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin winced at her discomfort and mumbled an apology. He stroked her cheek with his thumb before pulling his hand away to let her clean herself. "Of course, Sia." His words were laced with uncertainty. He understood the meaning of her words well enough, and injury in itself seemed a serious enough matter to warrant separation from humor, and so her smile confused him, and his brow came together to exemplify his bafflement. The story was funny enough, but Kevin's smile was still forced. "Careful next time, yeah? I'd like for your life to be as painless as possible." 

[kevin-osborne]

Silence in the Library || Oz and Nik

[reveriestardust]

"… what …?"

[kevin-osborne]

"The library's closed, Nikolai. It's nearly two in the morning. Is there- somewhere I could escort you?" Kevin hesitated, "Is everything alright?" 

[jxnning]

"Oh god, I wouldn’t trust my taste…" he shook his head, "Are you trying this music just because I listen to it?” he teased although with his usual monotone. 

"I was going to say we could do this another night… I’m not a huge fan of driving around aimlessly."

[kevin-osborne]

"But I do," Kevin insisted, and then nodded with a bashful shrug. "I don't see why not, Christopher. I trust you in most every aspect." 

"O-oh, of course. I've got papers to grade anyways." 

[sia-malikov]

"Do you have a first aid kit? I need one. I think I broke my nose."

[kevin-osborne]

The infirmary was scarcely empty of students, amongst who were scarcely unbloodied. Kevin was pressing a roll of gauze into one of the nurse's hands when he heard the doors reopen. He turned swiftly and gawped in surprise. "Sia," he rushed to her and searched her for other evidence of injuries before brushing the back of his hand against her cheek, willing her splintered cartilage back into place, mending the bones, closing her broken veins. "How did you manage this now?"

[jxnning]

"Just classical music and soundtrack, Kev, I don’t know if that interests you.

The Rolling Stones are good though, admittedly.”

"God, is that the time?" Chris checked his watch in slight shock, not realizing how early in the morning it was, one drink wouldn’t hurt… "I was thinking The Fainting Goat but if that’s not open then… I suppose we’ll just have to head home."

[kevin-osborne]

"Maybe not," he admitted, "though I wouldn't mind giving it a try. You listen to it, and I trust your taste." 

Kevin laughed breathlessly. "Yeah. Just past two ten. Don't know if The Goat's open, but we could try? Or just drive along until we find somewhere.. I can drive, unless you wanted to." 

[jxnning]

"Probably not. Are you into the London Philharmonic? I did listen to some Rolling Stones too… Maybe that’s more your thing."

Sounds just like me. Chris’ expression softened somewhat. “Ah. How about we go for some drinks then?”

[kevin-osborne]

"I've never heard of them, but you've definitely piqued my interest." He chuckled, "I do like them."  

"Drinks? At two in the morning?" Kevin hesitated, "Yes, okay. Where?" 

[sia-malikov]

"Shit, it’s one already?" the woman blurted out, going to gather her things. How had she not gotten tired? "Ah, but I do too…sort of. I’m good friends with a lot of the faculty. So some of the rules are a bit more laid back for me." Well that and the fact that she helped the Elites a lot. She was very trusted on this campus, and for a good reason. "I’ve just been looking at some designs for different weapons. I guess I was so engrossed in it the sleepiness hasn’t settled in. What about you? What’s keeping you from sleeping?"

[kevin-osborne]

Kevin nodded slowly. "Well don't let me interrupt your studying, then if you're being productive." He listened patiently with his head cocked to the side. "Weapons!" he couldn't help but exclaim, "For a class, I hope? Oh- my, my ability.. I heal very quickly, exceptionally quickly even for Healing Touch I've been told. My body doesn't need as much sleep to function properly. Yours, on the other hand, does."