(Under Control) Where's Waldo?

[West]

The day began like any other at the hospital. The sun came up, people got hurt, or sick, or simply imagined they did. Some got better, some didn't. Some even died. During it all, the people in the machine went about their routine: dodging paperwork, arguing about schedules, catching naps, the usual. Even in the chaos of the ER, there was the normal flow. Every cog in the machine learns it's place, and the machine grinds onward.

And sometimes there's a wrench. Something unusual.

In this case, it was at a water cooler, the very same one Dr. Hoang had decided to approach to quench his thirst.

Two orderlies, an ambulance driver, and a man in a cheap suit. Raised voices. Gesturing. There's indignation, incredulity, and occasionally a snicker. From snippets of the conversation, Dr. Hoang can gather that there was a body, slated to go to the morgue, which is now missing​.

[TheMalkCat]

We need a water cooler in Urgent. Havin' t' walk all th' way t' ER fer a drink? Jesus. This crooked thing with sewn skin and mismatched eyes poured himself a paper cup's worth of icy water. A picture hanging from his lapel identified him as Dr. Khue Hoang, Medical Doctor and Attending Physician at Sutter Memorial Hospital. Lies of course. Very easy lies. Thao Dinh Ngoc stood idly by with one hand tip-tapping on a wall as he tipped back the paper cup to his thin cracked lips and let the water trickle down. Not t' mention th' water tastes terrible here. Ah mean. How do you mess with water?

With nothing much to do in this rare break in his schedule, Thao's attention wandered around the ER's manic sights and sounds. His eyes fell upon a man in a noticeably tacky suit arguing with hospital staff. This error in the whirring medical machine caught Thao's eye, a hiccup in the gears of chaotic clockwork. Curiosity mixed with boredom was reason enough to stay a while and listen. He wasn't able to catch all the words exchanged between but the precious few he did hear told him enough.

They lost a body? How th' hell did they lose a body? Thao finished off his drink and tossed in a rubbish bin before looking back at the staff and suit. From their body language alone, Thao could tell that he didn't want to interpose in the middle of that mess. Instead, he looked around for anyone else watching the argumentative gaggle. If he finds anyone, preferably a nurse, orderly, or fellow physician, he'll ask, "Any idea what's g-goin' on with Ambulatory services an' th' man in a suit over there?"

[West]

"Ohhhhh it's not good. No sir."

Orderly Ron is older than dirt, and comes from that era where everyone is 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Of course, he's also from that era where he's pensioned, loves that about his job, and isn't going to do anything to jeopardize it. He's got a stack of fresh sheets piled high.

"Somebody disappeared, yes sir. That man there, he's somebody. Gov'ment. I heard they also lost that poor soul's personal effects. Everything's missing, yes sir. That's all I know, and got that from around." He's eager to share, and just as eager to throw that last disclaimer on, in case anything later proves to be inaccurate.

Cheap Suit's sleepy and bored eyes have moved over to appraise Thao and Ron, finally fixing on Ron's chin area.

[TheMalkCat]

Damnit we do not need non-staff screwin' around in th' middle of ER. Thao did a half turn toward Cheap Suit when he noticed Ron and he. He shoves his hands into his pocket and resolves to get rid of this interloper so he doesn't get in the way of any hospital employees.

"Thank you very much. Ah'll see iff-...('If' not 'iffen,' Thao) Ah can p-pry him off o' those staffers and point him over t' legal or somethin'. He's j-just in th' way o' everyone else as it is." The Chirurgeon gave the orderly a curt but respectful nod while Thao moved to the side to let Ron get back to his business. Then, he stepped toward the man while he reached for a Contract that he found handy and informative when it came to dealing with uncooperative patients. He cleared his throat and let the Wyrd run through his veins as he spoke to Cheap Suit, studying him for any "personality quirks" with his Glamour infused eyes.

"Excuse me, sir, b-but only an' hospital staff an' patients 're authorized t' be here. Ifff you need assistance, Ah c-can point you over t' th' receptionist an' she'll b-be able t' answer any questions." Firmness underlies the politeness smeared across his tone.

  4 Successes to Lunatic's Knowing Glance: Catch fulfilled, dressed and acting as doctor.

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-05-01 20:15:57		Thao Dinh Ngoc rolls 6 to Lunatics Knowing Glance (Wits+Wyrd+talking to subject) (10 Again)		10, 10, 8, 10, 6, 7, 6, 1, 1		4 successes

[West]

The man cocks his head, and boredom changes to annoyance. The others fall silent.

"How do you think we got over here?" he asks, pointing at the receptionist and drawing an invisible line to the orderlies.

A hand dip in a breast pocket. It's a lazy, lethargic motion which eventually produces a worn leather ID holder. It flips down. It's one of those really cool IDs. You know, the kind with three initials. DHS in stark blue letters top a presidential seal. A large picture of the man holding the badge, a name, and a barcode flesh out the card. There's a shiny badge, too.

"Gus Kordecki, Department of Homeland Security. I'm 'authorized' to be pretty much anywhere I want."

Gus gives Thao an appraising look, and focuses on his name plate.

"Can I see some identification, Dr. ... Hong?"

Thao can tell it's not a deliberate slur, just the mispronunciation of the lazy or ignorant. He can also tell the man is completely sane.

Ron slips away, deciding those beds aren't going to make themselves.

[TheMalkCat]

Oh shit.

In a single instant, this man went from Cheap Suit to Mr. August Kordecki, Federal Agent with the express purpose of tracking little discrepancies in the system and fixing them with extreme prejudice. Oh god. He's not an ambulance chaser. He's a Homeland Security.

Thao spent nearly two years scrounging money for forged licensure in Houston and a year getting his feet under him in Sacramento. A handful of favors, dozens of Pledges, months of restless work in the back-alley of a Wallgreens with nothing but sewing spools, a bottle of Everclear, and a letter opener. All for a briefcase of papers that barely proved he was Dr. Khue Hoang from Mississippi.

Mr. Kordecki could put his thumb on the metaphorical carotid of Thao's new life and watch it die.

   Scared shitless

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-05-01 22:22:57		Thao Dinh Ngoc rolls 1 to (Manipulation-Untrained Subterfuge; Wizened Curse) (Chance)		1		Dramatic Failure!

Thao felt a sudden dryness in his mouth as he stared at those three initials in fine blue lettering. His face tried to match the white of his lab coat and he licked his cracked lips. His body went rigid with the liquid fear pumping in his veins. His struggled to keep But the Wyrd itself conspires against him. His shaking fingers reached up for the ID at his lapel, crackling behind the Mask in ways that they simply shouldn't. His heart spasmed without rhythm within his hollowed out chest. A shooting pain behind his ribs reminded him to breathe.

"O-o-of c-c-c-co...c-c-..c-...."

The hospital ID slipped from his lapel and clattered onto the floor. He stared blankly at the ID for a solid fifteen seconds. He then stooped down and scooped the ID in one hand and held it out. He remained perfectly still.

"KhueHoangM.D.UrgentCare."

[West]

In cartoons, there's that light bulb. The one that says "Ah-hah!". It happens in real life, too. That slight widening of the eyes, that moment of epiphany when maybe just fucking with someone who was fucking with you yields more than momentary satisfaction. It wouldn't take a detective to see Thao's panic.

Unfortunately for Thao, even though one wasn't necessary, one did.

When INS was first rolled under the DHS umbrella, it had annoyed Kordecki. More work. It didn't take long for him to realize that it was easy work. Roll an illegal every now and then, lie about how much legwork it took, and make it look like you did something. And it was good work. He was making jobs for Americans.

His hand folds his ID, returning it to his jacket. He'd pulled it out without unbuttoning his jacket; odd, then, that he found it necessary to unbutton it to return it. No move was made to take the hospital card.

"Sir, I'm going to need to see some form of official identification, issued by a State or Federal government agency."

[TheMalkCat]

Thao slowly clipped his ID back to his lapel. His arms jerked and stuttered as he reached back for his Driver's License in an eerie imitation of lagging video. Why did Ah have to get involved? Why couldn't Ah just've kept my goddamn mouth shut an' walked away? Now he's suspicious an' everythin' Ah've worked for is goin' t' crumple up like a dead leaf. His fingers wrapped around his wallet and withdrew them with painful deliberation. Thao's eyes never left Mr. Kordecki, as if the Chirurgeon clung to the irrational belief that as soon his eyes strayed too far from the G-man's dark eyes, Kordecki would fall upon him with impunity.

The wallet emereged from Thao's pocket and the Wizened flicked it open to the see-through holding pocket to show the DHS agent the license forgery which had served him well since he had it made by a Darkling who kept his old lips and nose in a barber-shop jar back in Houston. Their prices were steep, but to a desperate Thao nearly three years ago, the price was worth it. It had to be worth it. The ID had all the trappings of a proper driver's license. Or at least, it seemed so to Thao. He had been pulled over a grand total of twice since he obtained this license and so far the police had been duped.

But a voiceless Fae whisper tickled his ear. Third time's a charm.

[West]

"Why don't you guys go sort that mess out."

Gus tosses the suggestion out to the orderlies and driver in the form of a question... but it's not a question. He's got his face on. The face of The Man™. The Man™ that is the flesh and bone embodiment of The Establishment™.

They teach you that stuff, you know. At The Academy™.

"Please remove the card from the wallet."

He's working it. Going to see if Thao's gonna crack like an ice cube in boiling water.

"Slowly."

That last bit, he delivers sternly, implying he's already begun to consider the good doctor A Threat™.

[TheMalkCat]

"Yessir."

Thao's voice came quickly and quietly. His eyes slide down to his wallet. He teases out his license with his thumb and forefinger.

"Rightawaysir."

Thao no longer made eye contact with Mr. Kordecki. He looks at Mr. Kordecki's jawline. It is well made.

"Yessir."

Thao did as he was told. He was good at that. He was very good at that. His fingers are slow. They shudder and shiver, but they are slow.

He doesn't drop the card this time. That is good.

The license came free from the wallet. Thao pressed the card between his forefinger and thumb. He gave Mr. Kordecki the card.

Thao waited. He didn't move. He breathed, but only a little. He blinked, but only once.

He was good at waiting.