farsickness | Log: Moving right along

Log: Moving right along

WHO: Herbert West
WHEN: May 4th
WHAT: Herbert has found a rhythm in this world
WHERE: Around, anywhere really.
WARNINGS: Will update

The first week had been spent mostly wandering around, speaking to people and filling his little notebook, and smoking through his cache of cigarettes. The second week he started his job at the apothecary. Life was more quiet then, he had found someone who was willing to launder his clothes, which helped, only now it meant he had to have some clothes in the style of this world. He tried to keep it as close to his suit as he could, realizing he was going to need to make more money to get his wardrobe the way he would like. Which means working more and freelance work.

Ideas in mind, nothing in practice.

Of course, since he ran out of his main vice he was a bit more moody, he missed coffee, missed his life back home. Well, mostly.

Today, he made his way into the apothecary his mass of hair was tied back as best he could with a bit of twine, wearing a white baggy shirt, tied at the front, with a blue vest, and blue pants to match the vest, his oxford shoes stood out with the old world outfit. He had worked quietly for a few hours before he started looking through inventory.

"Come on, I know you're here." He grumbled under his breath as he shifted through items.

Later, once he was done working, he made his way to the inn, stopping long enough to eye the bullition board before moving on to take his normal, well favored, seat in the inn to return to people watching and drinking. Just like being back in college.

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There had been quite a few changes to the staff of the apothecary already since Wen Qing started working here, with the fellow physician working alongside her one of the most interesting ones.

With her living above the apothecary, she always arrived early and today was no exception. She's already at work in the backroom working her way through a list of pre-orders for various mixtures, currently weighing herbs on a scale before grinding them into a fine powder. She still wore the plain red peasant dresses she had taken to quickly, her hair braided back.

"Good morning, Doctor West," she said, not looking up from the scales, adding just one more pinch before she deemed it perfect. "I hope you didn't bring a hangover."

Herbert had come in a few times hung over from his nights at the inn. He didn't have much else to do, it wasn't like he had a library of books to real or a means to get back to his life's passion yet. However when he heard Wen speak, he looked up, blinking owlishly from behind his spectacles.

"Good morning to you as well, Physician Wen." He greeted, his voice as soft as it usually was. Once again looking back around the shop. "Not today, no. By the by, where do we keep the tobacco? I know we have some. I've seen it." He muttered as he looked around. "Have I missed anything this morning?" He added since he did like to be kept up to pace on what was happening around them.

When he didn't take her up on the jab, she finally looked up, a little bit amused by his refusal to be goaded. She wiped her hands off on the apron she wore and faced him properly.

"Nothing much. You missed Widow Reed's daily visit to complain about the smell of her diuretic tea and as you can see, I've started on the pre-orders." She pointed further towards the back, to one of the storage rooms. "I don't think there's any left in the store but I saw tobacco on the list of the latest shipment from Pirna."

It really was nice, she mused to herself, this quiet, content life of medicine and pharmacy, tending to the well-being of a town without war and politics.

He rarely did raise to jabs. He was oddly a peaceful type despite his cold nature. And he found it more amusing this way. He sighed after a moment.

"Oh, however will I survive without her daily complaints." He replied, and actually gave half a grin. Someone's in good spirits today, he must have actually slept some. "I suppose I could look into the smell of the tea, but she should be happy we have it at all." He looked back the way she pointed and he nodded again. "Would you like a hand? And, if by chance when the shipment comes in if you could keep some aside from me I would be grateful... next time the order is made I will ask that they triple it, and some lavender."

She nodded. "Of course, I'll set both tobacco and lavender aside for you." An odd combination, did he have a moth problem at the tavern? None of her business, though, it would be nosy to ask.

Wen Qing finished pouring the powdered herb she had been fussing with into the right glass jar and wiped her hands off on a rag. "Since you'll be checking the new shipment anyway, what do you say we store that away now? It's been a quiet morning so far, and we will hear if any customers come in."

It would also give her an opportunity to speak to her colleague while he was in such a good mood, and hear how he was settling in.

He nodded in return, that should at least help with his nerves. He pushed his hair back out of his hair once more, pulling a ribbon from his jacket pocket to tie the blond hair back. "I can handle that."

He moved to where the shipment was kept to start handling putting things in their spaces while she worked on the powered herbs, one thing that always kept Herbert happy was having work to do, things to keep his idle hands busy.

"I am not surprised, there was a rather rowdy crowd at the inn last night. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them are not sleeping it off."

"That should bring us some business later in the day when they stumble in asking for a hangover cure," she scoffed, though she sounded more amused than annoyed.

Wen Qing didn't quite smile but she felt some contentment as they worked side by side, both busy with their own tasks but still working together to handle the work at the apothecary. It felt nice... calming, a little bit like working side by side with her younger brother back home. Then, though, she was mostly a teacher to him, now she worked with an experienced colleague.

Which did make her wonder... She eyed him thoughtfully, wondering. Maybe. It couldn't hurt to ask.

"The things you know as a doctor. Have you ever taught them to others?"

Duo was tired. Not in the sense that he hadn't gotten enough sleep. He could live with that. No, this version of tired came from working a long day in the heat and with very heavy instruments. When he agreed to work at the blacksmith's as a way to earn money, he didn't realize just how much work went into just beating a hammer to metal. His everything hurt, even after having been there for about two weeks. Or was it three? He was sure he lost track after two days.

Cut yourself some slack! The colonies didn't have blacksmiths!

With a sigh, Duo pushed open the door to the inn. His white, long-sleeved shirt was untucked from the black pants he wore. The utility belt he had bought a week back was draped over his shoulder, and his boots was speckled with dirt and ash. His hands were as clean as he could get them, soot still stuck under his fingernails. He didn't know it was there, but a streak of soot mixed with sweat covered his forehead.

He had plans to just get a drink and food ordered to his room, but he spotted the one and only Doctor Herbert West sitting off by his lonesome. Still surly as ever. With a tired smile, Duo made his way to the table and sat opposite of the man.

"Hey there, Doc." Duo probably looked a hot mess with his braid trying to come undone and his bangs trying to stick to his face. It was becoming a new look for him, apparently.

AS Duo spoke and took his seat, Herbert looked up from his book, those pale blue eyes taking in the sight of the other, if there was a smell, well his time at the mills and the battlefields made it stand-able.

"Good evening Duo." He spoke in return as he sat back and reached into his coat taking out a handkercheif and holding it over. It was made from scraps of faberic he had bought along the way. "I dare say, you this more than I. How is the Smithy working out for you?" he inquired seemingly in better spirits, despite his surly look.

It took Duo a moment to register exactly what Herbert was saying about the handkerchief. He stared at the cloth before he realized what was going on, his cheeks flushing a bit in embarrassment as he laughed. He reached out and took the offered cloth.

"Thanks," he muttered, using the cloth to wipe his face a bit. Or maybe he was hiding behind it until he could get his brain to catch up. He was more tired than he realized.

"It's goin' as good as it can. We didn't have this back home, so's a bit more...taxing than I thought it would. S'pose that's what happens when you only use torches and solderin' irons to make things 'stead of giant hammers." A tired laugh escapes him as he lifts his arms above his head to stretch. With a lopsided grin, he tilts his head a bit, reminiscent of a dog.

"What about you? You doin' good doctor work?"

"You are quite welcome." He replied as he sat back once more, lifting his mug to take a drink.
Of course, he watched as Duo cleaned up his face. He wasn't too bothered by it. Not after years of taking care of the mill workers.

"Oh, yes, I am sure it is. Even if my time was much less advanced than yours we at least had the industrial revolution, we still had mills. I used to have to patch up the Mill workers when they would get caught in the machines or get into brawls. So do not worry about that, if you get hurt or burned, come find me. I work at the apothecary and I will patch you up. "Though, be glad, I doubt I could lift one of those hammers."

He could, he's a lot stronger than his body or he gives himself credit for, but he prefers to make people think he's weak. They expect nothing of him when he appears as delicate as he looks.

"I am mostly mixing medications and helping Physician Wen, it is peaceful, but not at all what I am used to. I was a surgeon before this. Most consider it buchery, but I am used to cleaning up gorey wounds and saving lives. Not that I do not love making chemicals and medications. It is just a culture shock. I am a Miskatonic graduate, mixing herbs." Thank Goodness he speak his youth around the Whateleys, it helped with that.

Duo hummed a bit as he finished cleaning up his face. He took a glance at the piece of cloth and wrinkled his nose a bit, muttering something about getting it washed before he focused on the good Doc.

"I'll definitely visit if I'm needin' some patchin' up." He lifted his arms above his head and stretched. "I think I've been doin' good so far, but good luck runs out 'ventually, right? Only a matter of time 'fore I smash my thumb real good." Or take a piece of shrapnel to the eye. Or burn his eyebrows off. He usually kept his braid put up out of the way, so at least there's no threat to losing his hair...

"Surgery isn't butchery. Gotta sometimes get in there just to patch someone up. 'Less they wanna die from bleedin' out." Duo shrugs, and it's a moment before he blinks, recognition lighting up his eyes.

"You work with Wen Qing? That's pretty cool! She's the one who found me when I first got here! She's nice!"

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Log: Moving right along

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