010

[a_gentle_boy]

[action, Medical Center Wednesday]
Welcome to the Medical Center!

[Instead of the usual receptionist, anyone who visits the Medical Center in the afternoon will instead be faced with an awkwardly smiling boy who is barely visible above the counter.]

I'm sorry to say that many of our, um, highly qualified healers are... are busy... right now.

[He gives an awkward smile as some loud bellows echo from the hallways behind him.]

But our staff today would be happy to make you comfortable while you wait!

[...]

...Um, well, that's actually just me. My name is Lucas, and I've been training to be a medic for a year and a half. If you'd like to tell me what's wrong, I'll see what I can do to relieve the pain while you wait for a professional's opinion.

[Crashes and bangs.]

...T-There's a Snorlax, you see. It tried to eat some of our equipment...

[More bellows.]

Actually, it ate a bed...... and the chair and the table and the... bedpan. But don't worry! It's under control, and you shouldn't be waiting longer than a half hour. Please don't try to go back there; it's restricted access.

[.........To anyone who continues to stare at him in horror, Lucas will wipe away the beads of sweat pooling on his forehead before thrusting forward something furry and cuddly.]

A-Ah! Would you -- Would you like to hold our therapy Eevee...?

[therapy eevees are not a real thing]

Comments

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Lenna's just here to pick up some cold medicine for her Probopass. She didn't expect all of this.]

Um... is everything all right? Do you need some help?

[She actually cranes her neck to try to look back behind Lucas, but is stopped short by therapy Eevee.]

Oh! It's so cute!

[Crisis averted, apparently?]

[a_gentle_boy]

[yes look into therapy eevee's eyes]

He is!

[Avey glowers at Lucas for a few moments before he sniffs and settles into Lenna's arms. Please pet according to the contours of the fur.]

What are you here for, miss?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Awww, he's so soft...

[Lenna smiles, gently running her hand along Avey's back. It's only after a moment she realizes Lucas asked her a question.]

Oh! I'm here for some cold medicine for my Probopass. I think he has spring allergies, and I've been worried about him.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Maybe he can get used to this Therapy Eevee gig. Avey yips softly in satisfaction.]

Cold medicine for --

[Lucas blinks at this for a moment before he turns and coughs into his fist, perhaps a little too obviously trying not to laugh.]

Y-Yes! Um! I can't write you a prescription, but -- there are generic medicines in the Pharmacy.

[he really shouldn't be laughing]

A-Ah, what sort of things do you think he's allergic to?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Lenna loves cute little fluffy things. She is perfectly content to continue with the gentle pettings.]

I'm not really sure. Spring flowers, maybe?

[She realizes a huge sneezing nose is funny, but she feels too bad for her Pokemon to laugh about it. Especially remembering the time he sneezed all the iron filings right off his face.]

[a_gentle_boy]

That's... That's very unfortunate!

[That's one way of putting it. Lucas will try to regain control of himself long enough to be professional.]

If you'd like to wait for a little bit, one of the doctors might be able to make a better diagnosis... Otherwise, I can go ahead and tell you where the generic medication is.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I'll try that for now, and come back when everything is less..

[Peering briefly past Lucas again.]

...hectic.

[a_gentle_boy]

...Er.

[Lucas laughs a little stiltedly.]

Sorry for all the trouble... I think it should be sorted out soon enough.

[There is the sound of glass breaking.]

Though the doctors might need doctors after this...

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

It's all right. I didn't know the medical profession got quite this exciting.

[a_gentle_boy]

They do tell us to expect just about anything here...! I've seen a lot of strange injuries while I've been here, but this is the first time there's been a... rampage like this. Usually, bonded Pokémon aren't so aggressive.

[Lucas is flipping through some files now and after a few moments, he comes up with -- ]

OK, you should look for a drug called [insert random name like "Sneeze-B-Gone"]. Um, make sure you don't take the ["Sneeze-B-Gone4Eva"] since that's meant for organic Pokémon.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Whose Pokémon is it...?

[Lenna's eyes bounce between watching Lucas look through the files and nervously watching the scene behind him, at least until he finds what he's looking for.]

All right. I'll try that first and come back in a few days if it gets worse.

[a_gentle_boy]

Someone who let Snorlax sleep outside and hibernate all through the winter... Then it woke up.

[and started eating everything]

Do you want me to take a look at Probopass now, too?

[he promises he won't laugh]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

If you're sure you don't mind, I'd certainly appreciate it.

[Lenna adjusts her Warp Band a bit and summons in Galuf the Probopass. He's got a bit of an oddly shaped nose for the species - thinner and taller - with a mustache that's obviously been custom groomed to fit the odd shape a little better. The iron filings vibrate back and forth as he makes sniffling noises.]

Galuf, this is Lucas. He's going to help you with your allergies, okay?

[a_gentle_boy]

[OK, it's a little less funny when he sees the patient in person, though that enormous nose will never not be slightly comical. Lucas will fumble at the desk for a few moments for some extra extra small gloves before he comes around.]

Hi, Galuf! I'm just going to see if there's anything else that might be making your problems worse...

Miss Lenna, have you noticed if it's worse inside or outdoors? Or are there any special situations that make it worse - people or Pokemon he's around?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Lenna stands there to keep a comforting hand on the side of Galuf's giant face. He can be a little shy sometimes.]

It's definitely worse outdoors. It seems to get worse the closer we get to the Industrial District.

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh?

[Lucas blinks for a moment or two.]

Rock and Steel-type Pokemon sometimes react badly to impurities that come up in metalworking. They incorporate it into their bodies and it doesn't go very well...

Maybe Galuf is rejecting the stuff in the smoke that the factories spew out.

[He'll slowly get on his knees and begin to peer up the large Pokemon's nose.]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I thought Steel types were immune to Poison attacks... but I guess factory smoke isn't exactly the same thing, is it?

[There are some weird metallic formations up there that look like they're clogging things up a bit. Galuf sniffles, and they shift around some.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh...!

[Lucas blinks in alarm before peering even more closely - one hand will slowly begin to emit a gentle glow as he uses it as a makeshift flashlight.]

That's... not supposed to be there. Um. I think he's got something like polyps. Or - it would be polyps in an organic Pokemon.

[what to do what to do]

It might just be general debris, too... Would it be alright if I checked inside there, Galuf?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Polyps? Oh no! Is he going to be all right?

[Lenna probably isn't helping if the idea is to stay calm, but she worries. Galuf seems nervous.]

It's okay, Galuf... I'll be here with you.

[She puts her hand on the side of his nose, rubbing gently. After a moment's consideration, Galuf nods slowly.]

Okay. Go ahead.

[Once Lucas looks, he'll see that it's really just a lot of congestion. Just... metallic congestion.]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh, no, it's alright! They're usually very easily treatable... And it's not very dangerous, either, just a little annoying.

[Lucas murmurs slightly as he... sticks his hand up the giant nose. This is kind of weird and gross, but he has made a vow to heal and protect!! ...Or something along those lines, anyway.

After a few minutes during which he... prods and shifts, Lucas will emerge, blinking slowly.]

...Um.

[His diagnosis is to reach behind the desk and hand Galuf a roll of paper towels.]

I think he just needs to blow his nose a little more.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

...Oh.

[Lenna is feeling some secondhand embarrassment at this point, blushing a bit as she looks back at Lucas before taking the paper towels.]

W-well, I'm happy it wasn't anything too serious. I'll make sure he takes his medicine and keeps his nose clear.

[At this point, Galuf lets out a huge sneeze. There's a metallic clattering sound as some iron chunks hit the floor. Lucas just narrowly avoided being inside there when the sneeze finally hit.]