epidemiology | ( closed-ish? )

Oh! [ he smiles, though he didn't really mean to. he can't help it these days. ] Same, actually. Don't worry, you're in the right place. She tends to be busy, what with... [ he makes a subtle hand gesture towards the moderate chaos around them. ] —you know, things being like this, but we can probably catch her at some point. I usually do.

[ he offers the same hand in greeting. ] Vaughn. Nice to meet you. Do you need her for something, or are you just saying hi?

( Graham is not what anyone would call especially emotionally attuned. so it's really sort of saying something that he catches a hint of something in that smile at the simple mention of Olivia's name. he doesn't much know what to make of it, though, if that helps. he nods at the introduction, not repeating it, but he certainly will remember. )

No, I was just hoping to say hello. I was here for work, and thought I might be able to catch her. ( Vaughn is right, though; with things in the state they are, the hospital seems electric with activity. it might not be a good time. ) We were roommates for a time, about a year ago. I like to check in when I can.

Roommates, huh? [ what a coincidence. ] That's what we are now, actually. We, uh... [ he fiddles almost unconsciously with the silver band on his left ring finger, idly twisting it around. ] We're married. I mean, for... [ he lowers his voice to a mutter, glancing down at his hand. ] For the mission, you know. As a cover.

[ it's No Big Deal™. ]

Anyway, like I said, we'll probably spot her eventually. I doubt she'll have much time to chat, of course, but we can at least say hi. [ he's about to ask what the other man does when he abruptly notices the uniform. whoops. ] A cop, huh? Should I even ask what happened to bring you here?

I see. ( there's something oddly vacant in his tone, though his eyebrows lift in slight curiosity. it seems even the heartless guy can see through that one, Vaughn. he might have to ask Olivia about her new husband later, but at the very least, Graham probably won't do it when he is around. at least he's not entirely socially absent.
)

If I miss her, just let her know I said hello. I don't want to interrupt her work. ( it's pretty important work, when all of Woodhurst was in such a state of crisis. he wouldn't want to slow her down if he didn't have something important. ) A man leapt through a window of a closed convenience store in attempts to find something to eat. I brought him here to get looked after. ( chances were good the man was infected, the hospital seemed the best place for him. )

[ ah... oh, well. he's not terribly subtle in general, especially about this stuff. but as long as no one blabs, it's fine, right? he shrugs a little sheepishly when Graham seems to pick up on it. don't worry about it, man. ]

Sure, I can definitely do that. [ his smile contorts into a grimace as Graham goes on about the (probably) infected guy he brought in. christ. ] —Wow. That's... damn. Poor guy. I'm glad you brought him in. I mean, I'm not necessarily saying I've never felt hungry enough to do that before, but... well. You know. I'm sure he's sick.

[ sick or on a lot of drugs, he guesses. the former seems a bit more likely in this particular instance. ]

( will Graham blab to Olivia? well, probably not. he is more likely to be curious about her stance on her cover husband than blatantly point out that things might be deeper than simply a cover on one side. it is weird how cover relationships seem to bring people closer... Graham himself might have a thing or two to say in that respect, wouldn't he...

if he ever talked about Emma he might, anyway. )

He showed classic symptoms of Bristol, so it seemed safer to bring him to the hospital over the precinct. ( limit the spread of the virus the best that they could, even though it seemed that wasn't proving to be enough these days. the infected were increasing in number dramatically, every day, and there was still no hint of resolution in sight. an intimidating thought. )

[ yeah, it's possible there might have been some wish fulfillment going on when she asked him to fake-marry her and he said yes. it sure is going to suck when all this is over, isn't it?

...you know, aside from the fact that this mission as awful in basically every other way. ]

Yeah, definitely. You can always deal with the legal stuff afterwards, right? [ assuming the guy lives. god, this is depressing. ] I do kinda wonder how that's gonna play out... you know, people who are so sick they're getting into trouble. I'm sure most of them never would have acted out normally. But I guess we'll be gone by that point, huh?

[ because they'll have found a cure, of course. he prefers not to think too hard about the alternatives. ]

In legal systems back home, there were exemptions for those out of their mind. I suspect Bristol suffers will get some leniency, it's true that the virus makes them react in ways they might not have otherwise.

( sadly, though, Vaughn makes a good point in that they'll be long gone before they know the answer to what will happen to the afflicted. it might be a pointless hypothetical, too, until they have a cure in the first place. )

We ought to find the cure before we worry after the consequences of it. You're right that it might be a puzzle they'll need to sort themselves. ( they were here to stop Bristol, ultimately the rest was up to Woodhurst. ) I ought to get back to work, I'm afraid. When you see Olivia, will you tell her I hope that she is well?

Oooh, good. I hope it's the same here. I'd hate to get things all sorted out only to find out the people we saved are gonna get screwed over anyway. You're right, though... a cure comes first, for sure.

[ it's a subject of much anxiety for him, even though he has nothing but confidence in the more science-minded of them. it's hard not to worry when someone very close to you is sick. despite those thoughts, though, he smiles up at the other man, nodding once in agreement. ]

Got it. I'll tell her. Stay safe out there, okay?

( it's fair to be anxious, though Graham himself can't manage that level of connection to the situation. as far as Graham is aware, this sort of feat is normally accomplished over years, and not weeks. so it is quite a feat they are expecting of very few. Graham doesn't know enough to actually be of much service in concocting a cure, yet he can't help but feel a little useless. especially as the need rises and rises in Woodhurst for a solution instead of maintenance.

the huntsman nods at the request to stay safe. it may be easier said than done, yet Graham has no interest in dying. not here or anywhere, for that matter. ) I will. Keep an eye on yourself, and Olivia, too. She pushes herself far too hard.

( there's a tinge of unhappiness, there, the weight of a story untold. if Vaughn knows much about Olivia, perhaps it doesn't have to be. Graham worries about what will be left of her if she keeps on as she does, but he has accepted that he can't be the one to convince her that her own health had value. hopefully someone could; maybe it was the man so charmed by her that he warmed even at the mention of her name. )

( closed-ish? )

never!!!

oh... well don't then i don't care!!! b-baka!!! cries secret tears

omg don't cry i'm sorry

i suppose i can sustain my tears for such a sincere apology

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