Hallo, you have reached Dr. Faust. If this is an emergency, go to the nearest clinic, but if it is not and I can still help you, please leave a message.
ROFL, I've been working with machinery all night, Johann
srsly, I'm fine, I'll be right there
[It's really more like 30 minutes because he underestimated how long it would take him to walk from the abandoned fairgrounds to the clinic, but hey! He's here. He's a little unsteady and more than a little wan and disheveled as he staggers into the empty clinic and calls out to Faust.]
Hey, Johann? Are you---are you still around? This place is a ghost town.
[Because seriously, Faust didn't know Rick did that on the regular. Or irregular. He's not quite certain if it's a joke or not, even now.]
Here!
[Faust is quick to appear when Rick announces himself, although there was the slight sound of something dry and clattery being shuffled around before that point.]
Nheh... a ghost town, perhaps, but I am not uneasy around death. Fortunately.
[Oh, it's not a joke, but they can discuss machinery later.]
[Anyway.. Was that a skeleton, Johann? Were you messing around with a skeleton just now? Is that---You know what? He's not going to think about that! You... do you, Johann.
In any case, he throws out a hand to brace himself against a nearby wall as he flashes Faust a sloppy grin.]
I don't---I don't know if that's a joke, Johann. All bets are off with you.
[That grin gets an immediate quirked brow from the nephilim, because yeah, it's a little concerning. Then again, it isn't exactly the first time he's seen Rick seeming kind of off-kilter.
In fact, he can't think of a time he has seen Rick on-kilter.
[A blank, slightly glassy stare. Then slight, neurotic laughter in response to Rick's. He watches as Rick wilts into the wall, hovering in case his services are necessary. As always. One could practically accuse of him of existing in the hopes that someone, sometime is going to need a doctor.]
I don't consider it getting stuck. It's a privilege to serve my community.
So---You're really all in there, Johann. Just---just reveling in the privilege of working the night shift. And the day shift, and...
[He trails off, slumping over a little and frowning contmpatively. Now that he's thinking about it, how often has he seen Faust ousude of the clinic over the past eight months? Suddenly, his head snaps back up and he blurts out a question that he probably should have asked long before now.]
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