milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

autor,
guppy sandhu

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Hm. So. Guppy wasn't in last night, but he did read the report his oldest son wrote, and has looked at the pictures, so he has a fair idea of who is going to be sore today.

They may not get his most impressed look, but his clinic sign is up.

Free Walk-in Clinic
The doctor is in

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"Hi, Guppy," Autor says as he approaches, head down and tone subdued. He has a wicked bruise blooming along his cheekbone, as well as a small cut, as if his glasses have sliced into his face. His knuckles are swollen, with small cuts lacing across them.

He can't meet Guppy's eyes.

"C'mere?" Guppy says, very gently, standing and offering him a hug.

Autor is not the one he's disappointed in here.

Autor raises his head. He blinks a few times, and then takes one step, then two, eventually accepting the hug. The boy sniffles once, clinging to the doctor.

Guppy pats him gently on the back.

"Fry said you had a rough night."

Autor draws back, his eyes tight. "I... I hurt a lot of people."

"I've seen Fry's report. Nobody there who couldn't hold their own." Guppy says.

Autor tilts his head. "You think so?" he says, wrapping his arms around himself. "I still hurt them."

"Did you hit anyone hiding under the tables?" Guppy asks, stepping back to look Autor's injuries up and down.

"Of course not," Autor says, furrowing his brow. He holds his fists up, displaying his bruised knuckles.

"Then I doubt you walloped anyone who wasn't joining in." Guppy says. "Fry says the bystanders all took cover."

"I didn't even see Fry," Autor says, looking away again. "I'd hate to think of him being part of that fight."

"He climbed up to the rafters and watched." Guppy says. "At one point he had some popcorn, apparently."

He did tell Fry that he was proud of him for not joining in, but suggested next time he should go home instead.

"Oh," Autor says, glancing up to the rafters. "I suppose he would have had the best seat in the house, in that case. I'm glad he stayed out of the fight."

"He was quite tempted to join in." Guppy says.

"Shall we go and get you cleaned up then?"

"That would have been bad," Autor says, shaking his head. "If you don't mind helping me clean up, that'd be great."

"I don't mind. There are people who behaved badly last night, but I'm not including you in that. I think you needed to let all that out."

"You should include me in that," Autor says, frowning. "Just because I needed to let out my anger doesn't mean I behaved well. There are healthier ways to vent."

"Yes, but you still looked like you needed it." Guppy says.

He steers Autor into the infirmary and starts mopping him up.

Autor sighs. He winces at the antiseptic Guppy applies to the ex-soldier's knuckles. "Just because I may have needed it..."

"You're the only one beating himself up today." Guppy says.

"How do you know that?" Autor says, holding out his other hand to be tended to.

"I know who else is on Fry's list." Guppy says.

"So, what are you saying? They're all sociopaths?" Autor says, frowning again.

"Not all of them. But Vyvyan apparently got a free dinner."

"Vyvyan was arrested?" Autor says, blinking at Guppy. "Huh. I wonder how many people were, after the fight. I ran away from an alien with a mouth in his hand before the chaos died down."

"I'm not sure. He probably did it on purpose though, knowing him." Guppy says. "He must be hungry again."

Autor flexes his knuckles. "I hadn't considered that being arrested guarantees you a free meal."

"Even prisons feed people." Guppy says. "Think how bad things must be for Vyvyan at home."

"Hmm," Autor says, shaking his head. "I wonder how many times he's pulled that trick."

"Several." Guppy says. "I don't have the heart to tip Baze off."

"Baze?" Autor says, tilting his head. "If there's a new Security member, I need to update my job list in the guide."

"That would be good." Guppy says, handing him an ice pack for his swellings.

Autor places the ice pack on his knuckles, wincing. "It's been a long time since I've updated that. And the bar is always changing. It's possible there are some new features I don't know about yet."

"Maybe. Oh, before I forget, did Bonnie catch up with you? Something about a Halloween party."

"She didn't," Autor says, furrowing his brow. "I'd forgotten that All Hallow's Eve was approaching."

"Okay, well she's throwing one for the little kids and wants to invite you to come along, I think was the gist." Guppy says. "For the little ones like Billie and Gil who don't want to be too scared."

"She'll probably need help setting the party up," Autor says, nodding thoughtfully. "Do you know where it will be held?"

"Scout hut." Guppy says. "I don't think she expects you to stay all night, she's probably just after someone taller to hang decorations. I'll be there with my brood but I may have my hands full."

"Sure," Autor says, inclining his head. "Thanks for telling me. Is there anything else I should know?"

"I don't think so." Guppy says. "She just wanted to catch you before Halloween, I think."

"All right, thanks," Autor says, transferring the ice pack to his other knuckles. "And thanks also for cleaning me up. I'll see you around, Guppy."

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