an apple a day

[tactician]

There came a sharp rapping on the metallic door. Spoke the raven, nevermore.

It was near mechanical in its precision, a steady one-two-three beat fit for a quick-time waltz but lacking all the feeling and expression to make it anything akin to music. It did fit in with the whirring and slight hum of machinery that always existed on the ship - the dull, metal white noise of a its gears and engines doing good work, a constant reassurance that no one was going to get thrown into zero-gravity or sucked into the nothingness of space. It was too loud and too localized, though, for it to be mistaken as part of the regular background.

"Doctor," said the knocker, perfectly spaced between two series of three-note beats, though he stopped right after the last knock-knock-knock following the word. It wasn't a common voice to hear around the sick bay area of the ship, but it wasn't one Bentley hadn't heard before. Calibri sounded quietly commanding as normal, if a little more impatient given the bitten off end to the 'R' of Bentley's title. "Doctor, I am in need of your assistance."

Comments

[aphelionix]

God, that's terrifying, Bentley thought, swallowing.

"Your work. I'd like to see it," he repeated, seeming to have ebbed from his doctor persona back into his jumpy self. Bentley's hands waved about as he explained. "I mean, I'd like to know how you became... well, so resistant to certain treatments. It's rather interesting. Maybe some new medicines could be developed out of your discoveries."

[tactician]

"You...would." Calibri blinked, looking down at his hands. He looked...almost flustered before the look faded into suspicion. "You expressed a certain aversion to my practices the last time we met, Doctor."

HEE is that a medical side effect or are you blushing calibri-

[aphelionix]

"They're completely and utterly unsafe!" he assured, "but nonetheless fascinating."

HE IS JUST SO CONFUSED

[tactician]

He set his hands on his lap, narrowing his eyes. "This is quite a change of heart," Calibri commented, flexing the fingers of one hand. The leather of his gloves creaked with the movement. "You aren't possibly fishing for Organization secrets are you?"

kawaii yandere-kun

[aphelionix]

"No! God, no," Bentley said, hands up in defense. "I'm simply curious."

[tactician]

"Because you've certainly been expanding your horizons since you've arrived, Doctor Foster," Calibri continued, folding and refolding his fingers over his bandaged abdomen. They were nearly swallowed by the black coat he had yet to take off, even if the bottom hem of it, like his shirt, was stained with blood. It seemed to be a favorite of Calibri's, considering he was hardly seen without it (even on Death's door, apparently). "You're friends with the First Circle's reconnaissance sub-unit, aren't you? And friends with Boss' only son. Those are hardly two groups that frequent each other's company..."

is bentley considered part of the first circle

[aphelionix]

Bentley laughed a little wryly.

"I don't necessarily seek them out, but they seem to find me all the same." He leaned back in his seat with a sigh. "It's nice to know the other specialists. Who I'm meant to be working with."

yes

[tactician]

"You must be very peculiar," Calibri answered, smirking just as wryly. "For you to be so sought-after, especially in a group full of peculiar individuals itself."

ok cool

[aphelionix]

"'Peculiar' is a rather mild term for them, don't you think?" Bentley said, not noticing that the smile with which he said it was almost fond.

[tactician]

A beat.

Calibri cradled his chin against the thumb of one fist. "Oh. I see."

Then, he let it fall. "Very well, Doctor. I will allow you to spectate a live experiment. If you'd like to go to the laboratory now-"

[aphelionix]

"No, no, no," he chided, back to his stern, doctor voice. "You're staying right here for a while. You can show me later."

[tactician]

Calibri stared blankly, unused to being the one given orders, especially when they weren't coming from Garamond himself. "But I'm already treated and will be fine. A period of inactivity is unnecessary. I think you will find that the wound will have stopped bleeding already. I tested the viscosity level of my blood just this morning," he said, in what was probably meant to be his reasonable tone of voice.

Because no morning routine was apparently complete without a customary blood thickness test.

[aphelionix]

Bentley looked downright confused for a moment, before shaking his head. Though Calibri was certainly smart with chemicals and medicines, his knowledge of the medical field was limited.

"If you aggravate your wound, it won't heal correctly. The tissue and muscle could be damaged. I can arrange a wheelchair if you want to get around, but otherwise, it'd be ideal if you stayed in bed a while."

[tactician]

A wheelchair clearly appealed even less, judging from the stoic expression that remained on his face. What a mess. "Ah, yes. But that won't be necessary. You should have other patients to attend to, Doctor? I shouldn't take up any more of your valuable time."

He could probably make his getaway while Bentley's back was turned, he reasoned.

[aphelionix]

"They can wait," he answered. Bentley could be easily swayed on many things, but this was not one of them. He propped his leg on his other, clearly comfortable where he was. "How about some chess?"

HE KNOWS, BENTLEY

[tactician]

A little furrow appeared between Calibri's brows. "I was not aware you were so desperate for company that you would seek mine out."

No one sought him out.

"Perhaps you should arrange another on-planet visit to certain downtown establishments with the Dominico siblings again."

NO...!!!

[aphelionix]

The corner of Bentley's mouth twitched.

"You... know about that?"

[tactician]

"About what, in particular, are you referring to?" Calibri asked, canting his head.

[aphelionix]

Oh god, he knows multiple things.

"Nothing," Bentley said, something displeased in his expression. He cleared his throat. "Anyway. Chess? Checkers? I've got Pictionary, or..."

[tactician]

"Truth or dare?" Calibri added, light glinting off his glasses. "Never Have I Ever. The King's Game," he continued, sounding almost bored as he listed off the options, all of which happened to be...drinking games, oddly enough. Calibri hardly seemed to be the type to indulge in liquor, though, so why was that? "I don't have much interest in those sorts of things," he concluded at last. "Is it in your health regimen to keep me awake and occupied as well?"

[aphelionix]

The doctor fidgeted in his seat, setting the tablet in his lap and crossing his arms.

"I'm no idiot, Calibri. You plan to leave as soon as I turn around, don't you?" he said, rather than asked. "It's not just you. Many of you are too impatient to sit and rest. It seems to be a symptom of being a Circle 7 member. I don't blame anyone, what with important duties to tend to, but do you know how many of them I have to treat again in their follow-ups? How many I have to assign physical therapy? Almost all of them. Now, which is more of a hassle: resting for a few simple days, or coming back several times a week for a month for therapy or more procedures?"

[tactician]

Calibri slowly raised his head and fixed Bentley with a blank and long stare.

It was very blank.

And very long.

[aphelionix]

Bentley stared back.

It was very pitiful.

"I-I stand by what I said, Mr. Calibri," he stammered. Falling victim to that stare could only be human. "But you're no fool. You know I can't force you to stay. I just suggest it. Highly."

[tactician]

"And attempt to keep me entertained with party games," Calibri corrected, settling back upon hearing Bentley's unease, as if that calmed him. He settled a less antagonistic look on the Doctor, who, ultimately, had helped with a very messy situation and who ultimately deserved some humoring of his own. "Very well, you pick your favorite game. I'm not very accustomed to playing them."

[aphelionix]

Rather than question or explain, Bentley just nodded. The game wasn't for his own sake, but it certainly couldn't hurt to get to know Calibri over a game of chess.

...Could it?

Bentley set his tablet aside, getting up and pulling something from under a nearby cabinet. It was an old-fashioned, wooden chess set. (Old-fashioned, because digital ones were all the rage in this day and age.) He set the board on the table at Calibri's bedside, beginning to set up the pieces.

"Do you know how to play?"