As a doctor, one might assume the answer is yes, but the reality is more complicated than that.

For instance:

* Testing subjects put themselves at risk, in order to help others. Sometimes this is voluntary, sometimes it isn't.

* Sometimes the removal of one (or several) lives will ensure life for many others. This isn't "the greater good," this is cold, hard numbers.

* Sometimes it is a one to one ratio. One person gives up their life for another. Sometimes the first is dying anyway, other times, it's done for different reasons. 

Thoughts?

Dear Diary-

L dropped by last night to tell me that Y is back in town and needs to talk to V. Problem is, V is with O, and M (not that M, but the other M) suggested having V (the other V) create a cypher with B12 PDQ. IIRC, he's OAB, possibly MIB, but said he would BRB, but you KNOW how he is. UTItE. 

Anyways, here's the cypher:

LKVIHJBVICJ hyLbVIYUIVGji,m ';:PUHOIBNjiHUvgiTvkin;.HTYKIUF HGFKJUHVGHJL JKHJVJKK<ghKK;LGCVGH BKHUKGBKILJVYDKL":PJKNJN MKL:M<OPUIOBVK<LGHGH


I swear, it's like cat scratchings to me.


Anyways, A and A4 got together with Linear-A to discuss the MOtD. Wait a second, need to go AFQ.

Ok, back. 

Anyways, been considering comissioning a new alphabet, this one is too limited. WAYT?

I gues the main question is...WWDD?

*Mostyn's tattoos have stopped. Well, mostly.

*Sebawhassit weak, but healing from the stitches. Taint is another matter, but he has yet to sprout fangs and tentacles.

*Raphaela De Sorgo broke a rib when Patient Fiamme (sp?) fell on her. Apparently, she was suffering from side effects of the vaccine by being insanely hyper, and was tossing books about in the library. Benedict cut the table she was on out from under her. She landed on Raphaela De Sorgo.

*Note: Curb bedside manner with Benedict. Asking "how did you manage to misplace your hand?" not a good greeting. Should you find me cut into little bitty pieces later, please let Ambassador Servalle know. Do not tell my son, he'll just be conflicted and frown alot.

Went to Kitezh.  Sewed up a Thane. More importantly, watched Lucretia work...I was only really there as support.

The child definitely has potential, and is filling my old post well. Her field mode is distinct from her social one and her research one. Interestingly familiar.

Politics is apparently alive and well everywhere...Thane Heart and some servant of the Kitezh gods Had Words.  And there was a lack of decision on using the vaccine on Seba...Sepatopash...Thane North.  Lucretia says she knows someone who can temporarily remove the corruption...my hunch is that would be the best time to apply the vaccine.

Regardless, the man is not going to die of his wounds.




Overall, I'm starting to approve of our new field doctor.

Shame about the name, though.  Cosimo really does like tempting fate.

Four deep slashes in Mostyn's leg, not in the best of shape, or clean gashes. "Well," Cay says, "That doesn't look good."

Servalle says, "Can you treat it?"

Carolyne chuckles. "Of course. But he needs to be bedridden for a few days, and splint it a few days after."

Mostyn looks distinctly alarmed. "Couldn't I just keep it propped while at my desk?"

Servalle looks at Mostyn, but speaks to Carolyne. "Bed rest and a splint, of course."

Carolyne says, "I'll need to treat it mostly in the traditional way, unless you have somene you dislike intensely that you wish to transfer the wounds to."

Servalle's look at Mostyn is suddenly sharp and warning.

Mostyn suppresses his brief expression of bright-eyed hope. "I'm sure the traditional way will be fine, m'lady."

Unexpected: Depends on who you ask

Apricot Brandy Bottles: 1

Truths: Dangerous

Daring: Definitely

Feet: Jello

Fires died down: 1

Fires seriously kindled: 1

The bowls disappear in the same mysterious way that they appeared, and glasses suitable to a white wine take their place. A bottle of just such a thing is presented to and approved by Servalle, and then the glasses are occupied. Taking his up, Servalle smiles. "Is it a good thing, that I amuse you so?"

Carolyne takes hers as well. "From my side? Good. Yours is for you to decide. Answer may vary over time."

Servalle sips his wine, just before the dish to accompany it is brought. A small medallion of some white fish, set atop a matched cylinder of fragrant rice and sauced with a lightly acidic citrus concoction. "Hm. I believe that I enjoy seeing you smile, and would like to be the cause of it."

Carolyne arches both eyebrows amusedly, and says, jokingly, "You are aware," she begins, flaking off a bite of the fish, "That I have no actual tangible power in my house," She spears the fishbit. "So that should be a sincere sentiment." She nibbles on it.

Servalle swallows a piece of fish. "Oh, in that case..." he leaves her hanging long enough to take a sip of wine. "My statement stands."

Once again, Cay completely fails at suppressing a grin. And a slight flush. "You keep this up, and you may add a rather rare accomplishment to your trophies."

Servalle says, "Oh? What might that be?"

Carolyne says, "Striking me speechless."

Servalle says, "My. I find myself conflicted."

Carolyne eats more fish. "Oh?"

Servalle says, "One the one hand, I am not known for letting a challenge lie." He eats. "On the other hand, it would cost me your conversation, and that is a heavy price to pay."

Carolyne seems to be avoiding the rice itself. Not to the point of keeping stray bits off the fish, just not actually delving in. "Oh, well, it doesn't last long, so you should fare alright."

Servalle seems satisfied, perhaps understandably, with a small portion of his fish. Instead, he concentrates on his wine. "In that case, I accept."

Carolyne blinks, finishing off the medallions. "Well. How much trouble did I just get myself into?

Servalle smiles, subliminally sharklike. "My Lady, I am now sworn to find the words to take yours away."

Carolyne takes her wine up. "Words. Not TOO much then. Or all too much, mostlike."

Servalle leans back in his chair for a moment as plates are removed, and small sorbets are brought out to accompany the last of the white wine. "I am not a man given to hurrying along an enjoyment, Carolyne."

Carolyne says, "Cay. At this point, if innuendo is bantered about, you may call me Cay."

Servalle smiles. "It still feels so inequitable, but if you insist. Cay."

Carolyne says, "Well, I just keep saying Ambassador because I like the word." Carolyne winks and pokes at the sorbet.

Servalle says, "Now, we cannot have such a broad gulf in our familiarity. It is simply not done, and I will have to tell you embarassing tales of my youth to bridge it."

Carolyne chuckles. "Baby pictures, too?" Well, that was pseudo-random. She takes a bite, grinning around the fork.

Servalle says, "Only if you insisted on using my full title would a bridge so long be required."

Carolyne says, "I could call you Abby."

I've been asked out on a date.

I think I was.


I'm not sure.

Oh, my.

Carolyne is sitting in a chair opposite Servalle, leaning back, legs crossed at the knee.

Heulwen slips out of the secretary's office with a smug little grin. She looks as if she is trying to decide if she can get around the room without her Uncle noticing her.

Servalle looks up and over at Heulwen, very clearly noticing her. He does not say anything, though.

Carolyne looks up, as well, head cocking to one side, watching the girl as she goes.

Heulwen curtseys briefly to her uncle, then tries to make a straight line to the door. The grin is gone, she now looks as if she expects to be called out on some shortcoming of her own.

Servalle tracks Heulwen's movement by pivoting his head, eyes locked on her and voice silent.

Heulwen's fingers splay briefly over her abdomen as she walks just a touch faster toward that door. She's definately guilty, but her fingers close about the knob as if freedom were so very close and releases the sigh just an instant early of actually escaping the room.

Servalle, perhaps contrary to expectation, lets her leave. "My niece," he comments, "Who unfortunately /does/ take after her mother."

Carolyne says, "Ah. She...is very comely. I expect that's part of the problem."

Servalle says, "Yes. Some scandal or another had her shipped off to my doorstep."

Carolyne says, "Ah." She seems to like that word. "And you have to find something to do with her, or is she merely flirting with your secretary and shouldn't be?"

Servalle says, "They have a history of antagonism."

Carolyne arches both eyebrows. "They're married?"

Servalle's eyes widen in alarm. "Goodness, no. She's his sister. Siblings, you know."

Carolyne blinks. "Oh. Well, then." A pause. "It is good that they're not married."

Servalle says, "I cannot even begin to imagine the devastation."

Bits and pieces of a torn letter, found in the fire.


..debonair...


...rare find, he's actually older tha...

damn fine liquor

secretary

...cute...

creche

 (A letter arrives for Cosimo...sealed in a blue glass bottle. The script inside is in flowing script, the ink black.)


Dearest-

I have returned from Rebma, safe and sound.  I fear the Hommunculus I made of you does not appear to be working, so I am resorted to using paper, quill, and Sigmund to notify you thus.  I will be staying, for a short while, at the Ygrayne House in Amber, as they've modified it to remind them of home (it's so quaint!)...so I'll be using it as a sort of halfway house until I get my land legs. Besides, this is where we're setting up the octopus creche.


Is my room at the Goose still available, or have you rented it out? I bet you rented it out. A year gone, you could have made money off that suite, why am I even asking?  I will be setting up shop back at the Hospital, in my research wing.  Must send for more sweets from the ranchero...the recent leather crop should have produced plenty of pairs for soaking. Hopefully, they got the solution right this time...too much cinnamon last time, and not quite enough agave.

Must also check on the spidersilk farm.

Regards-

Aunt Cay

PS: Don't let Erasmus know. I want to suprise him.


 

Desirats's pen waggles in the air, and dances with the same golden flame that seems to spark in the brunette's gaze. "But you said you were studying marine life, yes?"

Carolyne says, "Oh, yes. The octopus creche should arrive soon."

"The... what..." Desirata seems only able to blink at Carolyne after such a statement.

Carolyne says, "Creche. Breeding tank, really."

Desirata shakes her head and pushes around a few vials. Mostly positioning ot see the next. "I'm not familiar with a creche or breeding tanks for that matter. My heart lies more with the more flora, I fear."

Carolyne says, "I've discovered a passion for tentacles. They're FRIGHTFULLY useful."

"... tentacles," notes Desirata. Her shoulders rolls and twitch with an involuntary shiver. "May I ask why?'

Carolyne says, "They're not restricted by joints and straight bone, mostly."

Desirata nods, still not ready to go squid-hugging. "Yes, but they don't seem the most... well, tentacles tend to draw ones mind to think of sea-monsters or deadly cephalopods or something."

Carolyne says, "Well, yes...NOW. But they could be adapted."

* Check on Erasmus. Make sure he's feeding his hounds.

* Check in with this Servalle fellow. I'm sure I probably should have done that BEFORE going to Rebma, but better late than never. He might be quite relieved to have me out of his water.

* Remember to pack blowfish.

* Remember baby octupus creche.

* Milk Sigmund. Travel can upset him. Besides, may need the ink.