Simon Tam (i_conform) wrote in we_coexist, @ 2008-02-29 18:41:00 |
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Entry tags: | simon tam, william wollcott, zz:status complete |
Guys' night in? [+Bill, the maler side of Promethea]
Simon didn't know how or when he'd accomplished it, but some how he had - he'd gotten out of the hospital and made it home. The trip to the park had helped greatly, but he had charged right back to work. Whether John came along or not, Simon had to help. Then again, it was the best way to keep his mind off of everything - his sister, Kaylee, his own situation. Where and when was he. Simon had too much to think over and not enough will to do so. John had been a nice break from the worry that was Simon's life.
The doctor rode quietly in the lift waiting. He felt as if he'd been waiting more in his life than actually doing, always waiting. Waiting for the next school day, waiting for River to outshine him, waiting for his parents to say 'yes' because they usually did, waiting for the next patient, waiting for the Alliance to catch up. Always waiting. Now, he was waiting for his floor so that he could get to the door and wait until he got the key in the lock. Yes, waiting.
His head tilted sideways as he watched nothing; he'd have to do something about this lagging feeling soon - he couldn't work on someone when he wasn't fully aware. How long was this damn elevator ride anyway? He was only going up two floors. He looked down at the panel, rather glad no one was there to see that the brilliant doctor had forgotten to press the third floor button.
The elevator doors opened before the doctor had a chance to correct his mistake. Bill was glad to be himself again. His pressed shirt was now wrinkled, his tie loose, the thick coke bottle lenses of his
glasses crooked. He was completely exhausted and a little dehydrated. Come to think of it, Bill really hadn't made time to eat the past couple of days during The City's transition.
He made a to-do list in his head. First, he was going to sleep for a minimum of twelve hours. Second, he was going to fix himself a large bowl of ice cream and eat it in bed and watch tv for at least three
hours. Then he would shower and see about getting a job in the The City newspaper as a cartoonist in addition to his comic gig.
He finally crawled out of his own head space long enough to recognize the doctor in the elevator. The coincidence made him marvel.
"It's been one heck of a month."
Had it been that long? It certainly felt that way.
Simon didn't get flustered; he was above being flustered. Plus, there was no way this guy would know what he was doing in the elevator anyway. The good doctor stepped out of the way, allowing the more than slightly mussed man in without having to bump against him. Simon rather liked keeping his personal space free of others, on some occasions anyway.
"Mm." Simon wasn't exactly up to commenting; sure, it was rude, but Dr. Simon Tam had been called worse even when he wasn't even trying. He finally reached over and pressed the proper button. He wouldn't be waiting much longer, surely.
Simon finally turned his attention to the guy; looked a little..."You don't look well."
"Like I said, heck of a month."
He smiled.
Bill pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and then remembered how unpopular the things were. It used to be that everyone smoked. That you could smoke just about anywhere, including the work place. He put them back and decided to save them until he reached his apartment.
"Sorry, old habits."
"Right. You do know that those have been linked to cancer? I'm guessing that they've discovered it by now. Of course, the carcinogens aren't just in the cigarettes, but they certainly help nudge things along." Simon nodded slightly, holding back a sigh and an inner growl at himself. He wasn't on duty; he didn't have to look after someone he didn't know. He wasn't the world's hall monitor - not that Simon knew exactly what that might be, but the concept of watching everyone to make sure they were doing the right thing - for power and prestige of it all - he probably understood rather easily.
"Then again, who am I to stop you?" The elevator paused now on the second floor. "Been out helping? What with the City going crazy?"
"And addictive to boot." Bill was still happy enough to continue smoking. Smoking hadn't been the cause of his first death and he had no idea how long he'd be in this world or if he'd experience another.
When asked if he'd been helping people, the comic artist shrugged.
"Just doing my civic duty. Lot of frightened people out there. You seem to be doing pretty well, doc."
Bill saw that the third floor was pressed. Whatever was setting the doctor on edge, it probably wouldn't help to point out that they both lived on the same floor.