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

[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.

[mucked]

Lucky you, then, that I'm a rather willing advocate.

[ -- it's at this point that she sits back in her chair. and although peggy doesn't lift her blouse, she does pat a space low on her abdomen as if to indicate there might be something underneath the clothing. nothing fresh, of course, given the ease with which she walks around these days. ]

Not long before I turned up in Wonderland I had to avail myself of someone else's medical knowledge. Although I suspect I'm only courting your disappointment when I tell you I refused to go to hospital over it.

[ it's not that she didn't want to -- but there's no way the council wouldn't have found her there. ]

[beautifullies]

I would say if you didn't seek medical attention you had a damned good reason. If only because you don't strike me as too daft to know when you need serious attention.

[ Now, if Peggy says that she simply didn't want to go, she will absolutely get a lecture about which vital organs had been in danger. ]

[mucked]

True enough. A hospital, in this instance, wouldn't have been the safest bet. [ and she'll leave it at that. ] But I had access to a clever nurse. Clever, and discreet. She patched me up.

[ a beat. ]

And then I got pulled here. Since then, I've healed up -- but I can't help but wonder whether my inevitable return will come with some regression on that front.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire winces in sympathy at that. ]

I can't say I'm looking forward to going back to 'the exact moment you left' part of my next return trip, either. I was drowning in the ocean and it's only thanks to my husband being from just a touch ahead of me that I at least know I'm not dead.

[ Thank God for small miracles, at least. ]

[mucked]

[ she nods -- after all, claire had shared this particular misfortune the day they'd crossed paths in the library. bound (by happenstance) for america. ]

It's a strange sort of relief. To know you don't die -- to be told you've got a future ahead of you waiting to be lived.

[ peggy, however, has paid close attention to what other people have said. she's narrowed her own death down to a span of four years. but they are oh so far away. ]

[beautifullies]

It is something. It's...an odd sort of relief. I suppose you never know what someone's going to tell you from home if they arrive further ahead in your own timeline.

[ A part of her is nervous about that. If Jamie ever leaves and comes back with news of a terrible fate for either of them. Their lives aren't exactly free of dangerous confrontation. ]

In any case, I appreciate everything you've done, all of your support.