video;

[beautifullies]

[ Claire is sitting at her desk in the clinic and clears her throat as the video comes up. ]

Good afternoon. I realize there have been quite a few concerns regarding the announcement of war, but unless I've simply missed it, I haven't seen anything specifically regarding triage. We don't know what sort of battle this may be, and perhaps it won't be needed. That's just it though, we don't know, and personally, I would rather be prepared.

As for my credentials, I've been a war medic. I've seen my share of fighting, and I have a medical degree, I'm a surgeon. What I would like is for those who can heal to be people I can count on. Since the last time I've requested this, individuals have come and gone, I'd like to be sure of our assets if you're willing. If not, there's no reason to feel you must.

I can train those of you who might like to learn basic first aid, I'll be in the clinic, and I'll be available here as well if you'd like to have a conversation via the device. Thank you for your time.

Comments

[beautifullies]

[ Claire stands and gets two plates out of the closet, apparently very intent on eating because until now, she didn't realize she had no idea when the last time she ate something was. ]

A few. Perhaps a half dozen? And an equal number of magic users who've volunteered to step in and heal if magic is even on the table during events or the war. I've even managed to get a bit of a swap out of it: teach some of what I know about herbalism to a woman with magic, and she'll teach me her craft in return.

[mucked]

Goodness.

[ well, that's a heck of a thing. isn't it? peggy reaches for a plate, curling her fingers over its lip, but stands in a mild stun as she considers exactly what claire is describing. ]

I didn't realize that sort of thing could be taught. [ honestly, she's not certain how she feels about it. ]

[beautifullies]

I didn't either. But apparently, some forms of magic can be. To be clear, I don't think every world is the same when it comes to that.

[ Claire isn't sure either, how she feels, but she does know that if it gives her a skill to help people who need it, she's willing to at least hear it out, to try. ]

Believe me, coming from the 18th century the idea of learning magic isn't one I take lightly.

[mucked]

I should imagine it's an idea that no one would take lightly -- quite independent of their century.

[ a lift of the brow; a puff of the cheeks. peggy helps herself to a cuppa, putting nothing in it before taking a seat a few feet away from any actual clinic beds. ]

Although some people here do talk about it as though it's as normal as breathing. [ alarming, honestly! ] And here's me, still trying to come to terms that it might be their very strength that wins us this war.

[beautifullies]

To them, it must be quite that normal.

[ If it's all they've ever known, that they live and breathe magic and always have, people being stunned by it must be boring by now. Claire gets her own serving of tea with just a splash of milk before sitting as well. ]

For as powerful as the magic users are, Wonderland does somehow have the ability to strip that all away. I'm not sure how, but it's like playing dirty, I think.

[mucked]

The other side always does.

[ it sounds naive at first -- but a flicker in her expression suggests that their side is much an 'other' side as any other. what was s.o.e. except a very serious and very successful attempt at playing dirty?

speaking of: ]

Which means we need all the edge we can get. I learned, not long ago, that during a previous crisis a now-departed someone stockpiled supplies in the tunnels. I doubt there's anything of much use left down there -- but I also think we might want to think about how that space could serve as a bunker of sorts.

[beautifullies]

I've never explored those tunnels. Or the caves. God knows what might live in the latter. But it might not be a bad idea to have stores of rations down there and check them every so often to be sure they do stay.

[ She's thinking of weapons and MREs, things they can hunker down with if they need to. If they don't vanish along with the mansion. ]

[mucked]

Rations. Spare supplies. It wouldn't hurt to make a sort of -- fall-back position, I suppose, that's leagues more defensible than the mansion proper.

[ she rattles the idea loose. it's not that she expects claire to do it -- no, that expectation had once rested with evelyn. but claire's help might be needed because... ]

I've already told you I don't know head-from-tails when it comes to medical outfitting. But if you could prepare some crates, perhaps, then I can make certain they get down there.

[beautifullies]

I can help with all of that, I think. Being right there, on the front lines, I saw quite a lot of what worked for defense and holding positions. And being the wife of a soldier now, I quite often sat in his war council. Organizing, gathering and directing is my speed. I can be stubborn and rather grating when something that needs to be done hasn't been seen through.

[ And then, she can't help but smirk at herself. ]

Simply ask my husband.

[mucked]

Having never met the man, I believe I'd rather simply take your word for it.

[ it's said friendly. but there is, perhaps, a bullheadedness beneath that warmth. as thought peggy doesn't quite abide by the thought of dragging husbands into this conversation -- although on some very rational level, she understands that isn't at all what claire is doing. and, naturally, she supposes people must reach a point where they enjoy discussing the people who mean so much to them.

peggy doesn't know what that feels like. not really. ]

[beautifullies]

[ Would've met him if you weren't busy boning down, says the player. ]

Fair enough. If you think of anything else worth implementing, feel free to let me know? I'd like to help in other ways if I can.

[mucked]

[ yes, well, at least back then there weren't any icky feelings involved. how far down things have spiraled since then. ]

I'm certain something will come up. As much as we might prepare for the worst, there's always one way or another for a plan to go off its bloody rails. And given the sheer unpredictability of what a conflict with the mirrors might look like...

[ a huff. ]

They can't all possibly be siding with her.

[beautifullies]

Actually. I don't know that they all are.

[ She's wondered about ever bringing this up, if she should. But now it's presented itself so why not? ]

I met your mirror at the holiday party just before New Year's. She was quite distraught at the idea of not being able to simply enjoy things like the party, have a good time. She hardly seemed like a fighter, though that could have been a ruse, I suppose. Or she likes the best of both worlds.

[mucked]

[ peggy scowls, but it's hardly directed at claire. ]

This is the second report I've heard of her. [ peggy bites into a chelsea bun, chewing thoughtful on a raisin for a beat longer than she needs to before swallowing. ] As to whether we can trust such a front, I suppose it depends on what parts of me are 'mirrored' in her.

I was told she was a bit of a -- crier. [ an uncharitable crinkle of her nose. ]

[beautifullies]

Admittedly, she was doing her fair share of that. Crying, I mean. But she was still plenty cordial. It actually gives me hope that more of them on that side are willing to be our allies than we think.

[ Even if they're passive and don't fight - if it comes to fighting - no action is better for this side than more of them up in arms. ]

[mucked]

[ peg can't help but wonder how such behaviour reflects on her. ordinarily, she wouldn't care. but there's something so bizarre in considering this creature, this other margaret carter, as a mirror image of herself. surely, who she is must reflect on her by necessity.

it's a headache she doesn't want, but also can't ignore. ]

-- Every side has its dissidents. In one way or another. [ she looks carefully at claire and then decides, in the end, that this is one of those moments where the official secrets act ought to fall to the wayside for the sake of speaking clearly and plainly. ] There was quite a clandestine effort, during the war back home, to raise up local forces and fighters in occupied Europe. All very hush-hush. But I imagine it turned a tide or two.

But it's delicate work.

[ more delicate, perhaps, than how others are pursuing it. however, that's only peggy's rather subjective opinion. she was s.o.e. before she was s.s.r. and those old lessons in irregular warfare have never quite left her. ]

[beautifullies]

I think I remember telling you about the part I played in trying to manipulate bonnie Prince Charlie's beliefs. But more than that, and relevant to our conversation, I spoke with one of the mirrors recently, in the clinic. well, the best way I could. He reached out to me, first.

[ She'd been hesitant to respond, unsure of what might happen if the Queen knew of defectors. ]

He's asked me to provide medical supplies. I asked if the other side was ready for whatever war this might be and he said most are quite excited for the chance to wreak havoc. Not avoid a fight.

[mucked]

[ her first thought is dreadful mercenary: does that desire to wreak havoc extend only to havoc wreaked on the opposite side? because if havoc's all they want--

no. peggy chides herself in silence. she isn't a saboteur, these days. she isn't a propagandist. her strengths have grown in other avenues, down different paths, and those are the places where she needs must put her efforts. still, what claire has to say remains deeply intriguing. ]

If he's looking for med supplies, [ and she in no way begrudges claire her choice of indulging this mirror or not -- both sides need bandages, after all, ] then that might be some clue as to the nature of this oncoming war. One might expect they would know better than us what their queen's got planned.

[beautifullies]

[ To Claire, it isn't a choice. A doctor is a doctor and if someone needs medical attention, nothing separates his dying body from anyone else's. Everyone bleeds the same red. In theory, anyway. ]

I don't think they do. And I only say that because he has no idea what he's actually preparing for. He didn't ask for any specifics, so I really do think they're doing their best to guess, same as we are. Only more of them actually want to fight us.

[mucked]

-- And yet he might know more than he realizes. [ passive knowledge, gleaned simply by existing in a place peggy hasn't had the chance to so much as glimpse. she can taste the copper quality of curiosity on the back of her tongue. questions she wants answered. ]

Can you remember exactly what he said? How he said it?

[beautifullies]

Well, he was very open about understanding why I might not trust him. But he did say that he wasn't sure how long it would be before the Queen noticed he was even trying to offer some kind of medical aid on their side.

[ Why it would upset her, Claire can't fathom. ]

He also said that mirrors are afraid because of what the war could mean for them. If they lose, her temper doesn't seem to be at all gracious. She can 'unmake' the mirrors that disappoint her with a simple snap of her fingers.

[ Or something like that, she's sure. ]

[mucked]

"Come home with your shields, or on them," -- that's what it sounds like. [ she butchers the quotation, perhaps, but the sentiment rides high in the words while peggy tears her way into another chelsea bun. ]

As if their Queen has no patience for diverting anyone's energies towards the wounded. Come back in one piece or don't come back at all. [ a click of her tongue. it's hard for her to dredge up sympathy for the mirrors for a lot of reasons -- most of it involving the hard compartmentalization between herself and them -- but she can recognize a ruthless dictator when one is described. ]

[beautifullies]

She certainly sounds like the type to do what she wants when she pleases. I do wish there were an easy way to find the ones who would rather help than hurt.

[ As it is, she just isn’t sure how to do that. ]

I would like to ask for a day, or at most a couple of hours of your boot camp’s time, to teach basic first aid. You already have such a well built program, and admittedly, I’ve had some trouble getting people to come to the clinic on their own time. If that’s not feasible, I understand, of course.

[mucked]

[ claire leads into a natural advocacy of her request and peggy -- although happy to hear it out -- is quick to put her at ease with an answer. ]

I think that's a cracking idea. [ she leans in, an elbow on the desk, and digs into her own enthusiasm. ] Clinics, hospitals -- I suppose they spook some folks. But we could all use a good lesson [ or a refresher ] in field medicine. I'd love to have you 'round one morning, Claire.

[beautifullies]

Bless you, Peggy, thank you. They might not think it's important but just knowing how to simply dress a wound properly could make such a difference in whether or not someone lives.

[ Claire smiles, both at the agreement and the understanding. ]

I'm not sure why people avoid this place, but you're right, they do. They think just stepping foot inside will lead to a physical exam.