Dr Strange is Master of Mystic and Martial Arts (icanlose) wrote in angellogs, @ 2020-02-17 22:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, armitage hux, combeferre, stephen strange, tony stark (iron man) |
Who: Tony Stark, Combeferre, Stephen Strange, Hux
When: Current
Where: Above Tony's shop
What: Tony's a little loopy from a migraine, but there's conversation about medical care.
Rating/Warnings: Stephen's got external fixators. They're described. It's kind of a disturbing concept.
Status: Complete
Tony should probably be being a better "Let's talk about medical stuff in a sane sentient manner" guy, but right now he's flopped on his back on some pillows with some tea. There's coffee at least, and some stuff set up, but no, his migraine meds hadn't really caught up, and while he didn't want to be alone, he didn't feel good enough to bluff about it.
"I think that counts for something, that I'm acknowledging I don't want to bluff that I'm fine?" Tony asks. Combeferre's off doing something in the kitchen.
“I think that is fairly reasonably done.” Hux is sipping his own tea and studying Tony. “Don’t people say that accepting and admitting such things is a strength?” he smiles faintly. “I suppose I have more difficulty noticing. I’ve turned things off for far too long.”
“THAT’S definitely a thing.” Stephen’s hands are covered up in a lot of stuff. There’s some metal poles, small ones, sticking out of his wrists and fingers that travel up his arms a ways,. And he’s got more bandaging around some wounds. He’s, well, he’s present, and not in the hospital. He does look vaguely out of it, there’s morphine involved in that, but he’s not as upset about things as he could be. Well, for his own sake.
“Bluffing doesn’t do anyone any good.” he adds. “I know I’m not okay right now, at least. Well, physically. Is it weird I can just...go with the new setback? They’re no worse than they were when I first hurt them. AND...I know what surgeries and attempts aren’t going to work.”
"Well, I mean, a lot of my stuff is -" Tony frowns. "God, I feel like we're the Three Musketeers, which is a metaphor that'd work if my head wasn't a mess and you were from the same century." He tried to think of it. "I mean, Dr. Combeferre's really good at pushing himself to do what he has to, and I'm the same way, even if we don't talk about the same way. I'm clueless about categorizing how I feel, and awkward like a teen for figuring out how to work around it."
Tony thinks for a second. "I think the thought I had, before I got distracted, was that I could top off your cup if you'd like me to, Stephen? I know you can, but I can do that." He shifts to sit up a bit and the world spins pleasantly a bit before settling down. "Basically I get pretty bad headaches, and last theory was that my low blood pressure might be comorbid with it. Which is why I'm on some semi strong stuff right now."
Stephen snickers at the mention. “Wow, now that you mention. Do we get a d’Artagnan? Is that you?” he nods at Hux. “Whatever you’re ignoring. Looks digestive.” He’s seen Hux trying to eat and looking sort of pained, after all, but in a casual way, like he’s used to it.
“And Combeferre IS, yeah. I DO see what you mean. We’re all pretty good at keeping on. Mine’s more about being stubborn and refusing to let fate win. But that’s why I’m a surgeon. Was.” he frowns a little. “And that’s...thanks. Right now’s not great for trying. Fixators.” he makes a face.
Hux nods slowly at that. He gets, well. Some of that. The bad headaches. He can understand it.
“That must prove difficult.” Hux says. “How do you feel through that? Beyond the actual pain? Any sort of...fuzziness? I’ve heard people mention that?”
“Migraines are...kind of the worst.” Combeferre’s heading back out. “Well, that IS in a more general sense, saying they’re bad. I’m not trying to play pain olympics.”
"Usually I get light sensitive and stuff gets halos? Think -" Tony leans to top off Stephen's cup for him. "Looking through a greasy window. I've had it for years though. Sometimes it flares up, and sometimes I'm doing things and realize that no, I'm probably going to regret this later. I'm pretty bad at recognizing what triggers mine though. I'm not sure it really works like that either. It's not like - uh - filling out an order form for one bad headache later. I think."
Speaking of digestive. "How long has your stomach been a little unsettled?" Tony asks. "Not changing the subject as much as - I've had a bit of that when I got back, and Bucky was pretty ill when he first got here. I don't know if he talked about anything with Combeferre."
“Less unsettled as much as. Well, that’s less the main problem I’ve noticed, if I’d term it as that.” Hux frowns. “More that it burns a bit, with eating, and then after, there’s a bit of...different pain. Or after more strenuous activity. That’s been going on for…” He considers. “ A few months before I arrived here. It IS odd, though. It’s not quite the same as...there was a flu going around the ranks a few years back, terribly destructive for a few weeks, and this hardly feels like that one did. ...Duller.”
Tony blinks slowly at him. "It's your choice, if you want to talk to anyone about anything, trust me. But it sounds like that's something that might be helped? My issue was more - uh - pain in here, and didn't get a ton of regular meals before I got back. So food was hard for a while." He leans to try another cracker to see how that'll sit. "Want us to change the subject away from you? It's fine if you do."
“Does it sound as though that’s actually something?” Hux blinks. “I’d assumed it likely psychological in nature. Unpleasant, but hardly life threatening and had got used to putting it aside for now. The sort of thing best dealt with in the ideal sense, but…” He shrugs.
“That definitely sounds like something.” Stephen’s frowning, thoughtfully, more than AT Hux. “I’m not in gastrology but I’ve done my share of emergency room hours when I was just a baby doctor. I’d guess that’s..”
“Some kind of ulcer.” Combeferre says. “Probably best diagnosed with imaging. I can set you up with someone. It’d be easier than dealing.”
"And I'm not that kind of doctor, but I would've guessed acid reflux just via commercials. But there's stuff out there that can help." Tony looks curious. "What sort of imaging would that be? A full MRI? I was told the magnetic nature of the shrapnel meant I'd need anything other than that."
“Could probably be both.” Combeferre says. “You said there’s SOME pain but there’s the rest too? The good news is it’s not hard to fix. And Hux wise, I’d say we’re looking at a barium study. Your brain, Tony...we could definitely go a lot of directions without MRI. Offhand, I’d say CT.”
"To check out what it's doing when it hurts?" Tony blinks.
“You mentioned it was more than usual.” Combeferre says. “So it’s a back burner sort of an idea to throw at it if things keep up.”
"Thing is, I was -" Tony sighs. "It's a good idea. I could've had more and didn't notice with everything going on. Pre getting my chest messed up."
“See yeah. I was thinking that.” Combeferre gives him a quick nod. “It does seem like you’re having more stuff like this happen along the way.” He frowns a little. “Better you find out if it’s something now. AND the good news is that here…” He nods at Stephen. “I know YOU don’t do magically based operations but there’ll be someone who can apply some method to deal with things as non-invasively as possible if it IS anything.”
"Sounds like an idea. I'm up for checking it out. I know Morgan worries." Tony sips his mug. "How've you been, Combeferre?"
“Not bad.” Combeferre says. “Well, mostly. Good and bad days, but it’s better having a fairly standard idea of what I’ll be doing. I never know what patients will come in with but...it’s better than running trauma cases that you can’t predict. The stress made things far worse.” he adds, shaking his head a little. “I miss it, the rush, but...you have to kind of go with stuff.”
“I hated the ER.” Stephen shakes his head. “The uncontrolled chaos more than the people. I realize it’s supposed to be a controlled type of chaos but...give me something that’s planned and regimented and where the order’s already in and can be maintained.” He frowns. “They rushed me in a few days ago, when this happened. It was stressful even being rushed in. All it really means is that you get to wait in a bed and not an uncomfortable couch.”
"I always -" Tony made a face. "I think it's a spoiled thing, but something about the smell of hospital beds and the room temperature thing always made me a lot worse."
“Sounds less like a spoiled thing and more a hospitals suck if you’re in them.” Combeferre might as well be honest. “Trust me, I hate them too. Well, hated. Now that I know what my problems are, I end up staying around a lot less. Every couple years I get one of THOSE migraines, but hey, that’s what we’re trying to avoid for you, so we’ll go about the proceedures OUT of the hospital while we can.”
Stephen nods a little at the conversation. “They CAN be pretty awful. As for migraines. There’s this author who’s had a continuing one for...at least a few years now, but she says it ebbs and flows to easier to live with sometimes. Christine got me a copy of her book about it after everything. Well, before we officially had a massive fight because of me being an entitled asshole. I got around to reading it, when things calmed down. She’s not my... I kept everything she got me, even after we stopped being a couple and even when she wasn’t speaking to me. There’s just something about the two of us that was meant to be some kind of a unit. Best friends, it turned out. The kind that want to kill each other half the time, but so, the book. It actually did help, perspective wise.”
Or he’d needed to be in the right one to appreciate it.
"And with luck I won't faint on your rug." Tony smiles. "Stephen was being super patient with me, and my daughter from another timeline walked in the room and I kind of -" Tony gestures. "Felt pretty out of it."
Combeferre grins. “Morgan seems fantastic, actually. And well, I’m USED to people fainting on my rugs. Not this lifetime necessarily, but consider who my best friend is. Enjolras fainted ALL the time on us. Forgot to eat. He probably still would here and now, but he’s got an alarm.”
"She's an amazing alt cool daughter. Still, it's rude to just show up to do it on your rug instead of my own? Seriously though, it was a one time thing, I think." Tony leans to refill his mug. "Tea, Combeferre? Or coffee?" He quietly tops off Stephen's mug as well.
“I mean, in my case?” Stephen says. “I’d have PREFERRED a warning, but that’s not your FAULT. More of a, I’d have made sure there weren’t sharp objects to fall onto.” He smiles at Tony, a little. “Thanks.”
“Coffee would be amazing.” Combeferre smiles. He’s got a mug in hand, so he’s moving around closer. “So. Really. Let me know when you could do a scan and I’ll talk to my people about getting you in. Hux, I think you probably want to see someone who specializes but I know people in that too. I can rec a good one, who isn’t going to get weird at you. This world jumping thing’s bizarre for some of you, I know. If I’d gotten here before my reincarnation, I’d be weirded out too. Coming to terms with that was...a mood.”
"And I've got - like I suspect a scan would scare me, but I'd be like that if I was home." Tony fills up Combeferre's mug. "Sugar and cream's over there, near the veggies."
“I’m good, actually.” Combeferre grins and sips. “And well, I think they have open ones and you could have someone come along to talk you through it. Still not fantastic, but better than they were about twenty years back.”
"I think I was unconscious when I had one before, after Afghanistan," Tony says and picks up a bit of cucumber to nibble.
“It’ll probably depend on what they want to look for.” Combeferre says. “I had a few where they wanted to compare brain activity while awake and unconscious and while doing certain things. Well, while thinking of certain things.” He amends.
“Zones of the brain.” Stephen nods. “You can tell a lot about what’s going on. And I’m willing to read if you want someone to give another opinion. I’m still licensed and keep up with the literature and the academic concepts.” He glances at his hands, sighs, and then sips his tea.
“Really, I’m good for that. I had a look at some of Emmett’s recent ones, and still remembered everything.”
“How IS that going?” Combeferre’s grabbed a couple carrots now. “I mean, Jacob dragged him down last week to confirm the flu thing, but we didn’t talk about…” He taps his head.
“Waiting until there’s sufficient recovery time to factor in.” Stephen looks thoughtful. “James can be my hands, I'm fairly sure. If I’m literally directing him, it shouldn’t be too difficult. And it may immediately be okay with Emmett, but it might also...there’s a few potential risks with cutting off the nerve controlling that. If it’s one that doesn’t have much of another job, that’s fine, but it could also affect some other functions. I’m wanting to start by freezing it, and then, if all holds, severe it after.”
“Freezing would imply that if it did cause...I don’t know, temporary blindness that he’d get it back.” Combeferre nods. “Smart. I can scrub in as an assistant and I’d bet Dr. Angela...I forget Mercy’s full name. Zeigfield?”
“Ziegler. And definitely if we go all the way, she’s worth asking. That woman took what was left of a dead man, and she gave him an entire body.” Stephen sounds, frankly, really awed. “Sort of like putting an actual human into...has anyone explained Vision to you, Tony?”
"Read enough stuff? Kind of -" Tony sighs. "It felt like the movie stuff never dealt with the fact that JARVIS was a person. Or that's my opinions on AI personhood coming up."
“You know, yeah. That’s kind of true.” Combeferre says. “I guess with Genji it was more...imagine putting human Jarvis into Vision’s body. That sort of thing. That’s about what the result is after Dr. Angela did her thing. And hey, you wouldn’t be the first person here. One of my patients? His Home Health Nurse used to be an android. Markus says no one here takes that sort of thing seriously enough, the idea of what we’re creating by being jerks to AI now. He’s sort of like...if Enjolras were an android, but...gentler..”
"It's one reason why I haven't tried to build an AI here? I miss JARVIS, but - I'm not a business mogul, and I'd need a lot of technology." Tony hms. "Sort of - getting the constant power supply with backups for power outages and everything else you'd need."
“It makes sense.” Stephen nods. “Probably best not approached by people who don’t understand the implications. There’s a lot I wouldn’t trust this world with. On a general level, of course. You always get exceptions but humanity as a whole is simply not ready.”
"I'm a futurist and I still think a lot of humanity is kind of terrifying when you give them something vaguely gun shaped." Tony frowns. "Or that may be the migraine talking."
“I suppose that is a point.” Hux muses. “I have known plenty who, given a weapon, treat it less as a means to survive than as a means to power. Not only guns of course, but it seems the most convenient metaphor and example.”
"I can build stuff, and I don't want it to be a gun." Tony smiles. "So I guess that makes sense."
“It’s a stance I can admire.” Combeferre says. “I like guns. I don’t like what people do with them, and I don’t trust most with one, anymore. It’s changed, from when people used to take them seriously.”
"I mean, I did it too? But a lot of people say that death's just part of war, but the people who are hurt aren't only the soldiers who chose to be there." Tony frowns. "And a lot of countries are pretty bad about making the military an option for people who don't have options."
“True.” Combeferre agrees. “Enjolras killed a man for that. For killing a civilian, so that our barricade was not dishonored by someone doing something as vile as that.” It’s an odd memory, really, but… “I don’t think many now would be so principled as that in insurrection or elsewhere.”
"Probably not. Though I'd think if you were that principled, you might also find it hard to find a balance for yourself, but that's on him." Tony leans back. "Questions, Hux? Or is this okay? Just us talking?"
“This works out fine.” Hux says, and nods. “That balance IS near impossible, I can agree.”
"And well, we're not having war like stuff afoot per se." Tony leans to refill his cup.
“He did.” Combeferre nods. “Still does, of course. Though, to be honest, Enjolras is not exactly...I don’t think he realized that he’s allowed to have a life and interests until lately. So, definitely a struggle. Or it was when there were problems afoot.”
"I hope he's doing better. I know Tadgh's been talking with him a lot." Tony waves a hand. "He came by and I patched up his watch and offered some options for repairing it."
“Training him.” Combeferre nods. “Admittedly the thought of him as an assassin makes a LOT of sense, Enjolras. And Molloy’s...He’s like we were, two centuries ago. Well. Give or take a couple decades, but close enough. I feel like he’d have been one of us if he was French. I don’t know about the reverse scenario. I don’t know enough about the IRA to make any judgment calls. On an individual level, he seems like we’d share values. Well, to a point.” he grins. “He’s ACTUALLY religious. I can respect that, but it doesn’t work for me, really.” Then he eyedarts. “DON’T tell my grandparents that, on the offchance they turn up here. It would really disappoint them.”
And he’s frowning a little.
“Speaking of home, I do feel bad about the Courfeyrac thing. I know he’s happy with Balthier and it’s working out. And I do make the time to spend with him, it just feels sometimes like I abandoned him too. But, then again, he’s not the one from, well, my lifetime. Only Bahorel and I completely match up.”
"I'd say maybe talk to Courfeyrac about how you feel?" Tony hmms. "I guess it's just - it sounds like his parents didn't care if they didn't have time for him, and it might help him to hear that you're feeling bad about it, even if it was the best option you had?"
“They were sort of the worst.” Combeferre says. “Well, relatively speaking, technically. That’s worth attempting, just to make sure it’s working out well. There may be adjustments we can make.”
"And I bet there's stuff that only you'd get that the Bunansas don't understand?" Tony grimaces. "I'm going to grab some more chips. Want me to grab anything else?"
“Likely so.” Combeferre nods. “And I’m okay.”
“Would you mind bringing over a bigger thing of them?” Stephen asks. And he pauses. “I’m going to magic in front of you, fair warning everyone.”
“Fair.” Hux nods. “You haven’t abused it.”
"Want a shallow dish of any of the dips?" Tony's digging around in the kitchen. "How's this bowl for size?" It's got tumbling puffy bluebirds on it. Tony saw it in the shop and it was the perfect size for pancakes.
Look, Bucky loves pancakes.
“Looks about right.” Stephen laughs. “You must have the most eclectic, but tasteful mix of dishes of anybody here.”
Tony filled it up and brought it over. "Seriously, I help run a second hand shop. Stuff like that happens. I do have a horrifying mug, at least?"
“Baby’s first trip to the pottery studio terrible?” Combeferre laughs. “Jehan has...an interesting collection of mugs like that. I think he made most of them.”
"Commercial, but it's just a weird color and not terribly well balanced. Had a chip, so I got it for cheap, and it kind of grew on me." Tony settled back in again. "I wouldn't mind a Jehan mug, if he wanted to share? If Steve didn't mind."
“Aww, I get the impression Steve would be good with that, somehow.” Combeferre laughs. “He doesn’t strike me as jealous about pottery.”
"It's just - he's the artist?" Tony smiles. "So there might be secret art lingo that I don't get."
“Hmm..” Stephen looks thoughtful. “I guess asking’s polite. Maybe it’s like someone asking for a different doctor’s opinion and ignoring yours. Unless it’s a specialist type of thing. Sort of like how if I was practicing, I’d be really annoyed you two see different people for your migraines.”
“Aren’t those boring?” Combeferre leans back a little. “I seem to remember a certain someone’s movie, where he refused to take any boring cases. Including a certain Colonel Rhodes.”
“...That was War Machine?” Stephen frowns. “Well, shit. Still a boring case that other people could have done just about as well, but no, professional courtesy means I’d revert back a bit for people I actually li...tolerate. People I tolerate.” he says quickly, and Combeferre snorts.
“Did you say you like us? Tony, you have a security camera right? Does it do sound? I want to remember this moment.”
"No?" Tony squints from where he's sprawled out with his tea. "I like you too, Stephen."
“Aww.” Combeferre grins. “See? You can’t escape it.”
“I…” Stephen considers. “This doesn’t leave this room. But fine. I like you both.”
"I'm probably not legal to drive right now, even if I could be," Tony points out. "I've got an excuse."
“I’m DEFINITELY not legal at the moment.” Combeferre says, nodding. “I’d need a good couple hours to use anything but transporter. You’re safe.”
"I'm not sure I trust myself punching in numbers," Tony admitted.
“I’m definitely out.” Stephen laughs, nodding to his hands. “I’m also on some heavy duty opiates at the moment, but…”
“I can do it.” Hux gives them all a nod. “No worries there. You all have people at home, don’t you?”
Tony looks thoughtful. "Do you want to hang around awhile, Stephen, and check in that you've got folks around? Since most of your people are younger? I bet Noah or someone like that could come over. I've got - Yvette's out having lunch right now with folks. I think she's letting a guy who works with her talk military stuff while she's conveniently out of the room."
“Sure.” Stephen says. “They’re all over in Scotland for the moment. Or at least Ellie and James and Morgan. I know Wanda had the invite but I’m never entirely sure where she’s comfortable. Hasn’t been around long enough for me to have a better feel for her. I’ve got the feeling they wouldn’t mind me crashing. KIND of hoped to avoid being injured around Ellie, because this whole thing with the demon got manipulated into making it look like her actual FAULT, which it isn’t, and she’s clearly not comfortable with the fact, but...it’s not the worst idea in the world. I’m not up to properly warding the sanctuary at the moment, so I don’t want to go back there until I can. Well, not to stay. To grab my stuff that’s not protected, that’d be fine.”
"You see, that's the -" Tony grimaces. "So I'm weird on magic. But the idea that someone's an ass to you, and it's your fault because you said they could come over really gets me uncomfortable. And it pops up, when you hear horror stories. Does that make sense?"
“That does.” Stephen nods. “And yeah, exactly. It’s more of a...if it didn’t have to do with holdovers from Thedas, it’d probably not be as present in the way it is. They throw demons around at mages, as if their existence is going to bring them up.” He sighs.
“Not to mention the blood magic thing. It’s just...a cultural holdover. I’m hoping eventually that’ll fade.”
Tony smiles at Hux. "Want to help us get a call in to the Scotland contingent?"
“That I can do.” Hux gives them a nod. “Sounds like there’ll be no problems there. I’ve had offers enough from them until I was settled, after all.”
And he’s moving to grab a phone to double check that. He’s not sure whose he picks up, actually, since most of them are similar looking among this group. Really, he’s thinking about seeing if anyone’s made colored cases for the model they all get when they arrive, the same as other phones.
"I swear, I should make cases for folks. And some kind of phone book thing. Even if it's just paper so you can write down numbers." Tony leans for another chip.
“I’d been thinking of looking.” Hux admits. “Well for the first one. I think the idea with the rest IS contacts save those things. “It would make distinguishing these a bit easier. And I know you are not from the films, exactly but the vague impression I had from those is that you would be very good if you worked in technology here.”
"I can make a test one, if you're interested?" Tony nests back in with his pillow. "Just got to pick a color."
“That would be fantastic.” Hux looks a bit surprised, but pleased. “Thank you for the offer.”
"I was thinking silicone, but we could do something more mundane." Tony closes his eyes.
“And I’ve no idea about materials.” Hux admits. “Not here, at least.” There’s an answer on the other end then. “Doctor, did you want to take this or…”
Stephen’s grabbing the phone by floating it across the space and perching it close to his ear. “Got it now.”
Noah sounds very cheerful and rumbly on the other end. "To make - of course, I can give you coordinates. What'd be easier for eating for dinner? Anything you can't have?"
“Offhand…” ANd then Stephen pauses for a moment, and groans. “..Forget THAT unintentional pun, but I can’t think of anything that I can’t do. I’m going to end up using magic more than likely, if that doesn’t bother anyone.”
"I suspect she'd want to see you," Noah continues, bits of what he's saying not being audible if you're not in the call. "I know Aedan's issues, but it is not like he is eating easily to start with. I can talk to him. But you're welcome."
“Aedan’s...that’s an interesting thing. Stress impacting the rest, considering his associations, I’d say.” Stephen says. “And yes, it’d be good to show them all I’m okay. I’ve TALKED to Ellie, but...not in person. It’d be better to try there, I think. I’m worried about how this is going for her.”
"I get the feeling she did not know what was the worst that could happen, or thought the worst was worth the rest. Which does not make what happened justified or right, but I think it was a shock for her." Noah trails off. "Would you like someone to come there, to meet you? We can help carry things, or fetch them."
“The bad thing is, that honestly, it was not as if she summoned him.” Stephen shakes his head. “If inviting people you meet online to hang out in common areas at your school is that big of a problem, there’d be a LOT more horror stories at colleges and boarding schools. The demon part is honestly negligeable. At best. And I’d actually appreciate that if no one minds.”
"Me or someone else? And even when people are bad at colleges, they face consequences." Noah sighs. "I can get my brother, or Balthier's family? Or there is myself."
“Right, but I mean this sort of thing was hardly...it’d be happening a lot more in places like that, if that was at all a normal way that normal people handle things in the real world.” Stephen says. “It’s not like you’re looking at people turning on you in the library, there. And anyone would be fine.”
"Then I'll come over. Some new books would be nice, if the shop's open." Noah rustles a bit. "Just give me a bit to grab a bag if we've got to get some of your things from home."
“I’m fairly sure,” Stephen says. “That Tony would be willing. Knowing him, he’ll have recommendations.”